29 april

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

Mussels and muscles...

Plett’s beaches have been awash with mussels and shells of all kinds for the past few weeks, presenting a feast to sea gulls and a host of other creatures... and muscles of another kind entirely will be showcased in Knysna during the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival that takes flight today and concludes on Sunday - find out more on page 10

FREE Photo: Timothy Twidle

29 April 2015

Local women attacked in their homes p3

Searches on in Bloukrans, Knysna p5

Who’ll be King of the Hill 2015? p16

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

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CXPRESS

News & Views

29 April 2015

Of mice and men - and how the Mudd couch got a rodent revamp JACK MUDD tells the tale of the latest long-tailed temporary residents at their home

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FTER arriving back home at Buffalo Hills from a week’s break in Cape Town a fortnight ago, we opened up the house, and as usual unpacked hastily to get everything squared away, so we could relax and enjoy the rest of the sunny afternoon.

After a quick walk at dusk with our two Staffies, it was time to iqqk"c"fqr and settle down in front of the TV to see what new and innovative ideas our experts from Eskom had mustered up to keep the lights on, or if we were at any moment to rush and flash up our genie.

Then we heard a feint highpitched “peeeep!”

At first I thought it was some electronic “thing” in the room that needed charging or was in distress. They usually do this to you when they are about to expire.

No matter, I did a quick walkabout but found nothing after checking all our fancy cells, chargers, etc.

“Must be some new bird’s call that’s arrived,” I mused, and went back to ogling the silver screen.

“Peeeep!” - there it was again. “Lucy, did you hear that squeak?” I asked, looking at her sitting in her chair opposite me. I muted the TV and we both held our breath, listening. The dogs were also alert, following our lead.

“Peeeep… Peeeep!”

“It’s definitely in here somewhere, that’s for sure,” Lucy confirmed. Okay, so now I’m up and searching all the iccvlkgu in the living room.

Finally, behind the curtain in the far corner, a movement catches my eye. There on the floor is this tiniest pink “thing” with feint stripes slowly dragging itself pathetically forwards.

You know, like when in the movies a ship-wrecked okie, half drowned and wkvigrwv and very lucky to have escaped certain death by shark attack or drowning, drags himself up the beach, gasping for air? This little blind Pinky looked just like that.

“Peeeep…Peeeep!”

(Help…Help!) he seemed to whisper. Hqgkvqi.

‘What to do now?’ I wondered. ‘There’s not a hope in hell I can deal with this tiny laaitie - he’s just too small.’

The swiftest and humane solution would be to simply put him out of his misery and suffering… a quick whatever, then forget about it.

Hey, this little chap has survived for how long? I couldn’t tell but he’d actually left his nest to find his Ma - where she is, or was, God alone knew. ‘This chappie actually needs a break, and deserves a chance at the very least,’ my conscience hailed within me.

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

Lucy and I have raised countless wildlife orphans over the years, but definitely not a miniature field mouse.

Ja well no fine. He’s going to die soon, so if we try and don’t succeed... Nothing ventured. He’s sure to die anyway, my savvy reasoned.

Into action it was then. I found a tiny box, stuffed it with shredded bog roll paper, and put him into it. Then, after some serious searching, found a plastic eye-drop bottle with a very small spout, cleaned it thoroughly and filled it with a tepid milk mixture (a recipe we used with our orphaned bokkies).

Holding him gently between thumb and forefinger I administered the hapless fellow a drop (that drop alone was almost as big as his head!) - most of it just trickled ineffectively down the side of its tiny mouth.

I just hoped some got down.

The next thing was to get him warm. He was literally “as cold as death” to touch. I dug out an old electric heater pad we had used with the tropical snakes years back, plugged it in and put the box on top.

Hell, it still worked. Great stuff. Soon after, our little chappie was warm as toast.

All we could do now is wait.

We would check him in a few hours.

Once again we settled down in front of the TV. There was another “peeeep” but this time right close to the couch I was sitting on. “There’s another one somewhere right underneath you!” Lucy exclaimed.

I got up, moved the Staffies and with torches both of us began to search for this other peeep. After turning the couch over and lifting it up, there was nothing. The miserable “peeep” continued.

“Do you know what?” Lucy muttered with a look of disbelief on her face. “That’s coming from the inside of the couch! The damn mice have a nest in there, can you believe it. How the hell do we get in there?”

“We don’t,” I said. “The only way is to cut the couch open, and no-ways am I going to do that. We will just have to wait ‘till the morning, it’s too late now.

“I agree, that’s best,” Lucy concurred.

I attempted to administer a further feed to our chappie before bed, but sadly with the same depressing result. ‘Ag… he will be dead by morning, but at least we’ve tried,’ I pondered as I turned in.

Next morning at dawn I was up and almost too scared to go and see our chappie. It was a foregone conclusion that he would not have made the night, I figured. ‘But there’s always hope,’ as I approached the box.

I lifted the lid with dread.

Amazingly, the little bloke was alive. This time when I attempted to feed, I could see him drinking, although pathetically. Wow, there’s a thing!

(Feeding this tiny curled-up thing, holding it gently between two fingers, felt like holding one of those large soft white, segmented cutworms that got dug out of the manure heap.) I wondered in disbelief.

“Lovey, look, there’s another one of ‘those’ here next to my chair,” Lucy announced casually.

“Oh no, it must have got out of the couch,” I replied.

On closer inspection, this sibling was even smaller and in worse shape than the first chappie. I quickly tossed it into the warm nest with its pal. Later I did the messy feed on both, still convinced they were not going to make it - but survive they did.

Soon, they were feeding every two hours. A proper milk formula was thankfully supplied by Kerry Tindall from Robberg Vet in Longships. (She had done her MSc on the Four-striped field mouse, so we were now in good very hands.)

The rest, as they say, is history. By the middle of the month, our two little mice were weaned and ready for the great outdoors. They were released by April 13 and who knows, they may thrive well.

There’s one other piece to the couch saga. We decided to find out where the nest really was. Unfortunately, we had to cut a hole into the upholstery, and lo and behold. there was a huge field mouse eco-system within, and a cosy but empty nest built from soft threads nicked from our woolly carpet, pqicn.

That old couch had provided comfort to all and sundry, it seems, but was now beyond repair, and we had to replace it - at some expense I might add.

But the satisfaction of seeing the resilience of nature was humbling, and well worth the effort.

If there’s a moral here, I’m sure something like “oqgpkg" iccp"mtcr"civgt"fkg"dgti"pkg” would be appropriate.

No good deed...?

EYE-DROP RESCUE MISSION: From the first see of the Fourstriped field mice, chances were very slight that they would survive and first feeds hardly hit the target – but perseverance paid off and these pics, taken between April 2 and 13, show the chappies gaining strength until they were bold enough for release into the great wild at Buffalo Hills

News & Views

29 April 2015

CXPRESS

Calls for increased vigilance after brutal assault in The Crags A quiet week night turned into a nightmare for Loredo North resident Joy Burns and a friend, when gangsters burst into her home and assaulted them in search of perceived treasures

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OY Burns, who manufactures bracelets and other trinkets to sell from home and at local craft markets, returned to her home in rural Loredo in The Crags around 11:30pm last Wednesday night after a dinner with local friends.

A friend from Port Elizabeth, Handré Bennetta, drove her home and joined her for a cup of tea on the stoep. Nothing warned them of the imminent danger.

Suddenly, an armed man burst onto the stoep and pointed a pistol at Bennetta while other members of the gang flooded in, one of them striking Handré over the head with a blunt object and covering him with a blanket.

Pepper spray, cable ties to immobilise the victims, and repeated beatings then followed.

After trashing the entire house, the men fled with both the victims’ cellphones, some cash and a bag of small items. Bennetta and Burns untied themselves and then tried to remember friends’ telephone numbers to call for help from the landline.

‘The men hit her legs and feet with such severity that she broke bones in one foot, all the while shouting “give us the gold, give us the money!”’

Crags resident Stan Roberts was among those first contacted and he accordingly alerted more immediate neighbours who came to the couple’s aid.

A nearby neighbour, who wishes to remain anony-

mous, was among those who overheard the victims’ feedback to the police while waiting for the emergency medical services team to arrive.

“The men hit Joy’s legs and feet with such severity that she broke bones in one foot, all the while shouting ‘give us the gold, give us the money!’

“They had obviously been talking to locals and heard that she made ‘jewellery’, and so assumed there must be valuables in the house.”

By Thursday morning, word of the attack had spread like wildfire and an email by Fred Oelschig of the local neighbourhood support group reported that the thieves gained access to the property by cutting a hole in the fence.

The SAPS crime investigation unit was on the scene

‘Aggression and anger’ of attackers haunt Wittedrift school teacher A Wittedrift teacher is on the road to recovery after the violent attack she endured in her home during the early hours of Saturday morning April 11 - NIKKI RIDLEY reports

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ATRINA Olwagen’s efforts to fight back probably saved her life. She remembers the assault vividly.

“I woke just before 3am with two men next to my bed. When I woke up, I started speaking and the one attacked me. One man ran to the lounge while the other kept on hitting me.

“I tried to get to the door and away from him, but the first guy came back, and then I was being kicked on the lounge floor.

“He told me that he was going to kill me. I fought, and bit his finger in a final effort to try to stay alive. The other guy came back and hit me on the side of my face to get me to open my mouth.”

Olwagen says both attackers then ran out of the house, and her neighbours called the police.

“The first van showed up in about 15 minutes. Two more vehicles followed and they all started looking in the streets.”

The police soon had a suspect, but they also sent out word to the clinics and pharmacies to look out for a man with an injured hand after they were unable to find him.

The attack left Katrina bloodied and bruised, particularly on her back, legs and feet, but she also sustained injuries to her face. She lost teeth and has had to undergo liver and kidney tests due to the severity of the blows to

her back.

Apart from her extensive physical injuries, Katrina is taken aback by the viciousness of the assault. “I merely woke up in my own bed. The aggression and anger that they displayed were very unnecessary.”

She has returned home after staying with her mother in Plettenberg Bay to recover, and has installed burglar bars, but is still suffering from her injuries, and wakes at 3am every morning.

• The investigating officer is currently in Gauteng and there has been no confirmation of any arrests by going to press. Phone 08600 10111 to report crime or visit www. crimestop.co.za for info.

for a large part of Thursday while Burns and Bennetta underwent tests and treatment for their injuries at Knysna Hospital.

“An extremely shattered Joy had badly bruised and swollen feet from the assault.

X-rays revealed inner bone damage so a cast was fitted.

After his head wounds were stitched up, Handré showed signs of concussion, so was

taken through to George for a scan to assess any internal trauma. Both were released late that day and returned to The Crags.”

The surrounding community rallied to tidy Burns’s trashed house and on Friday she bravely joined them to assist.

Fred Oelschig called on residents to increase vigilance, reminding neighbourhood watch patrollers of their commitments.

“There has been a marked reduction in the number of

3 patrollers on our roads in recent weeks, so crooks are finding it easier to perform their nefarious deeds.

“Please be aware that we are always being observing by people looking for weaknesses to exploit.

“I am sure that these men did proper planning for their attack and that they were observing the property for a long time. I am also sure that someone, sometime, observed them but thought nothing of it and did not report it.

“Please be aware of what is happening around us and report any suspicious movement of people and vehicles.”

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News & Views

29 April 2015

House arrest doesn’t prevent George dentist from allegedly assaulting child again Yolandé Stander

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HILDREN’S rights activists have vowed to take action after a prominent George dentist was released on bail after allegedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy while under house arrest - this just over four months after he was convicted and sentenced to four years under house arrest for performing sexual acts on a minor.

The 43-year-old father of three, who cannot be named until he has pleaded, appeared in the George Magistrate’s Court on Friday April 24 for bail application following his arrest on April 17.

He was arrested by members of the George family violence and sexual offenses unit following the incident which allegedly happened during a sleepover at his Herold’s Bay home on Saturday April 11.

According to the police report, the accused allegedly went into the guest room where the 12-year-old boy was sleeping, and between 8pm and 9:30pm pulled the child’s pants down and touched his private parts.

He was released on R5,000 bail under condition that no child under the age of 16 “enters his premises”.

Magistrate Nelson Malaudzi said it was not in the interest of justice to deny the accused bail as he, among

other circumstances, was the sole breadwinner and caregiver to his three children.

He also said that if the man, who runs his dental practice by himself, did not work, he would not earn any money to support his family.

Malaudzi was also convinced the man was not a flight risk and would not interfere with the complainant or witnesses in the case.

State prosecutor JJ Marx, however, opposed bail arguing that it would be in the interest of society to keep him behind bars.

Marx referred to his previous conviction in November last year and said that the modus operandi of the first crime and the latest alleged crime was very similar and that both happened during a sleepover at the accused’s home.

“Granting of bail would lead to public shock and the loss of confidence in the justice system,” Marx said.

The matter was postponed until May 29.

Renowned woman and children’s rights activist Dr Lesly Ann Foster labelled the man’s release on bail as “unacceptable”.

“The fact that this allegedly happened while under house arrest is unacceptable and his release could endanger society. He should be left behind bars and the keys

should be thrown away,” Foster said.

She added the fact that he was the only breadwinner and caregiver to his children was not an adequate reason to grant bail. “What about his own children, what stops him from doing this to them.”

Foster said she would be writing to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) about the matter.

Spokesman for Woman and Men Against Child Abuse Germaine Vogel said she was appalled by the court’s decision to grant the suspect bail.

WMACA has been involved in several efforts to bring an end to the granting of bail to alleged sexual predators where children are involved.

Just last week, the group had been protesting outside courts across the country as several suspects allegedly linked to an international child pornography network appeared in court. All of the suspects had been granted bail.

“Who is going to protect this country’s children while these suspects are out on bail? Who is making sure that they are not harming other children? In this particular case we are especially appalled as the alleged crime happened while the man was under house arrest. Someone has to take responsibility.”

Vogel said they would be following up on Friday’s case.

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News & Views

29 April 2015 NO HOPE HELD: Teacher Dean Dempsey’s parents, who have now left the Tsitsikamma and returned to their home in Vereeniging, said that he had a history of depression, and did not expect an investigation outcome other than suicide after his abandoned car was found close to Bloukrans Bridge on Tuesday April 14 Photo: Netwerk24

Knysna Police still looking for Leslie de Vos

Knysna detectives have appealed to the community to assist them in finding 48-year-old Leslie de Vos, above, who disappeared from his home situated at KKN 167, Kanonkop, on April 4. Further reports revealed that he was seen near or at Wing Street in Knysna on April 7, although family members only reported him missing on April 13.

Knysna police immediately started a huge search assisted by members of the public, Working for Fire, Knysna Fire Brigade, EMS, ER24, SANParks and Municipal Law Enforcement, but so far to no avail. De Vos is well known in the areas of Hornlee and Kanonkop, often begging for food from local residents. Anyone with information regarding the missing person is requested to call the investigating officer, Constable Davids at Knysna Detectives on 044 302 6652 or 073 763 2595, or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Freedom is your own bathroom

In celebrating Freedom Day, the Kranshoek DA branch constructed a bathroom inside the home of Mrs Margaret Snell, third from right in the pic - a widowed diabetic pensioner who only had access to an outdoor bathroom facility. Said Member of Provincial Parliament Mireille Wenger, at left, to CXPRESS on the day: ‘Volunteers painted the bathroom inside and out this morning, completing this project that has been ongoing for months!’

The team also included, from left with Mireille, Leoni Bruinders, ward councillor Annelise Olivier, Paul Olivier, branch chairperson Molly Lucas, Dumisani Shandu, and pastor Ivan Rudig, with Johnalene Andrews in front.

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Search continues for body of missing Malmesbury teacher Nikki Ridley

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Y Monday April 27, there was still no finality in the case of missing Malmesbury schoolteacher Dean Dempsey, 25,who vanished more than two weeks ago - the only clue to his whereabouts being his abandoned vehicle in the parking lot of Tsitsikamma Khoisan Village.

Dempsey was last seen alive in Malmesbury on April 10, when he left work at Swartland High School to go to a braai at a friend’s house in Bloubergstrand. He never turned up. He was reported missing by Monday the 13th, and his car was found the following day in Bloukrans.

Dempsey reportedly suffered from depression, and is presumed to have taken his own life after suicide notes were found in the car.

Constable Henry du Rand of the Malmesbury police, who is heading the search for the missing man, confirmed that they were looking for a body, and that there was no evidence to suggest an alternative outcome.

The ground and air search was called off last Thursday due to inclement weather, with rain, mist and fog making an already difficult search through inhospitable terrain almost impossible, but was resumed over the weekend - although “now on a smaller scale” according to Du Rand. Sniffer dogs are used to locate the body during this final search week.

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News & Views

29 April 2015

Water-wisdom learnt by Adopt a Swimmer students Adopt a Swimmer chairperson LOUISE AUERSPERG shared this photo and feedback Children with foetal alcohol being sponsored.

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LENN Murray took time out from his busy schedule to film Adopt a Swimmer in action recently.

Each child has a ‘miracle story’, but maybe the most extraordinary tale is that of Charlotte - a child who has survived against all odds.

Born to an alcoholic mother and then abandoned, Charlotte could not sit at the age of one. As a toddler she was found floating face down in the lagoon, but fortunately Plett NSRI volunteers were on hand and got her breathing again. She is a living miracle with a will to live.

Celia from New Beginnings took Charlotte in and through pure determination and unconditional love, has given her hope. She has done the same for many of the children who feature in Glenn’s picture.

I have been working with her for a while and she can now blow bubbles, put her head under water and is starting to kick. It is my goal to get her water-safe.

syndrome have low muscle tone, problems with vision and memory, poor attention span and coordination, and below average height and weight, to mention but a few of their challenges.

I will be taking Glenn’s film to Atlanta, Georgia to present Adopt a Swimmer there and will be under the watchful eye of coaches that specialise in special needs, autism, and Down syndrome.

I will shadow these coaches to grow my teaching skills and prepare me to teach Leigh Dunn’s special needs class, one of whom is already

Recently I read an article on ‘what to look for in a small fqtr if you are thinking of a lifestyle change. Number One was ‘finding out what the community does to enrich the lives of those who don’t have a voice’.

I thank Jane Donald and salute all our Plett volunteers - you make our fqtrkg stand out in South Africa for your sterling community work. ß" Rjqpg" 2:4" 674" 446:" qt" g/ockn" nqwkugBcfqrvcuyko" ogt0eq0|c" cpf" xkukv" yyy0" cfqrvcuykoogt0eq0|c"hqt"cf/ fkvkqpcn"kphqtocvkqp"qt"kh"{qw" yqwnf"nkmg"vq"eqpvtkdwvg0""

FISH IN WATER: Louise and NSRI volunteer Wayne Craig are surrounded by some of the kids who benefit from the Adopt a Swimmer programme - Photo: Glenn Murray Photography

Notice Board Jcxg"{qw"dggp"vjg"xkevko" qh"vqqn"vjghvA A reader popped in to report that he had found a large trolley tool box in his driveway last week, in Plett’s Julia Avenue, saying that some of the tools had been taken but the trolley had probably proven too heavy for the thieves.

If you’ve been dispossessed of same, give him a bell on 083 304 0175 with a clear description of colour, etc. to reclaim your property. [qwpi"hcp"pggfu"c"hwtt{"rgv CXPRESS received a Letter to the Editor with a difference when this note rolled in from Plett reader Ella, 7: “I read your paper every week because of the Plett Primary newsletter and funny jokes, and was wondering if you

know of anywhere I could buy an adorable bunny to love and care for... pretty please!”

Well, here’s hoping someone reading this can help our devoted little animal lover in her quest. If you have a bunny to sell in Knysna or Plettenberg Bay, please call Gerhard on 082 492 4417.

Dgcv"vjg"rkpm"|gdtc"vtckn" ykvj"Rngvv"Cvjngvkeu"Enwd May 1 is the third instalment of Plett Athletics Club’s annual Zebra Trail Run - always a popular event, hosted

by Sankofa at Mahlangeni Farm in Wittedrift. Registration is from 9am for this fun non-timed run for the whole family. Participants have a choice of 3km, 7km or 12km fynbos trails. There will be a bring and braai afterwards

with tame zebras to feed.

Everyone is encouraged to ware pink, as all funds will benefit the Pink Drive Comrades Race 4 Charity. Real men wear pink! PAC members pay R30, kids R20 and non-club members R50.

There will also be a raffle with super prizes and a cash bar. Remember to carry your own water on the trail. Walkers and new runners are most welcome but sorry, no dogs.

Call Vicki on 072 271 0788 for details.

Gttcvwo" Please take note that in Henk Bolhuis’ story in the previous edition, it should have read Sandstone Stars, not African Stars. Turn to page 6 of the April 22 edition at www.cx press.co.za for the full story.

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29 April 2015

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Business

29 April 2015

A guide to style during job interviews

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F you’re looking for work, here are some answers you can use when you hear the three most traditional stupid questions during a job interview. Each question is followed by two answers.

The first answer is snarky and might be the one you’d really like to give, but you probably want to use the second answer instead. If you’re going to be snarky in the interview, you may as well get

up and leave the building.

You should try doing that some time, by the way. It feels great to leave a bad job interview halfway through.

You won’t get the job, but you will grow your mojo that day!

When you go on an interview and it’s a mess, when they leave you sitting for hours, or when they don’t know what the job opening is, just get up and go.

Why should you stay?

Your time is valuable.

hire me. There might be someone better suited to the job - after all, you will meet or have already met the other candidates for the job, and I haven’t met them.

But I’m confident that if you and I are meant to work together, both of us will know it.

Q: If you could be any animal, which one would you be?

Cpuygt"Qpg Some kind of deadly virus,

so I could infect competitors.

Cpuygt"Vyq I’ll share my favourite animal, if you will. You will?

Okay! My favourite animal is the coyote, because they can adapt to any environment. Your turn!

Q: What’s your greatest weakness?

Cpuygt"Qpg You: I’m too honest.

Interviewer: Too honest? I don’t think that’s a weakness.

You: Who gives a #$&%

what you think?

Cpuygt"Vyq My greatest weakness? I used to think I had a lot of weaknesses - things that I really should do better than I can do them now. But as I matured, I realised that there’s no benefit to believing that I have weaknesses.

I need to focus on my strengths rather than worrying about things I don’t love doing and will never excel at. So, I try focusing on getting better at things I’m passionate about, like financial modelling. *yyy0jwocpyqtmrnceg0eqo+

Upctm{"cpuygtu"vq"uvwrkf" kpvgtxkgy"swguvkqpu Q: With all the talented candidates we are meeting, why should we hire you?

Cpuygt"Qpg You don’t know how to make a hiring decision? I can help you with that for my usual consulting rate.

What other parts of your job do you want me to perform while I’m here?

Cpuygt"Vyq Great question! I couldn’t honestly say that you should

Behavioural finance plays a major role in retirees’ investment returns

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N order to invest effectively, we need to master our emotions. Behavioural finance gives us great insight into tendencies of investor behaviour that can negatively affect investment returns.

The behaviour gap refers to the under-performance of investments due to the effect of emotions on decision making, specifically market timing.

Most credible research on individual investors suggests that the behaviour gap can reduce returns by an average of between 1% and 2% per year, although this can be substantially higher, says The Wealth Corporation director Peter Nieuwoudt.

“The three primary effects of our emotions on our investment decisions are loss aversion, inertia, and myopia,” he explains.

“With loss aversion, we tend to care more about what we stand to lose than what we might gain. For example, despite the best laid financial plan, our tendency towards loss aversion can bring us to choose to invest too conservatively, even though we

know this decision will mean that we will not get the return on investment required to meet our financial goals.

“Inertia is the reason we tend to either choose the most convenient route, or do nothing at all. We feel overwhelmed by the complexity of saving and investment decisions and the number of variables involved.

“For this reason, we either choose to defer the decision or we choose the option that’s easiest to comprehend, even when we know this may not be the best option for our circumstances.”

According to Nieuwoudt, myopia refers to the inability to imagine our future selves some decades further along the road.

“When the future seems less like a reality to us and more like an alternative universe, we’re less likely to prioritise our future needs and desires.

“For this reason, many of us only start saving for our retirement later on in life, at which point we have missed out on taking advantage of the power of compound in-

terest - the so-called ‘eighth wonder of the world’.”

He suggests that the solution to this conundrum is to find a financial advisor who can assist you by building a financial roadmap to the future you want, and who will walk that road with you, with the strategic patience to reach your goals.

An expert in retirement readiness will understand that planning and preparing for retirement is an exciting prospect, if often daunting.

“The Wealth Corporation’s advisory solution offers a complete view of the retirement planning and management process, looking at all aspects of financial and personal well-being. We call this process Integrated Insight,” Nieuwoudt concludes.

Readers who plan visits to Durban, Gauteng or the Cape and who are interested in learning more about behavioural finance in retirement may want to diarise his retirement-readiness seminars in those centres from June 8-11.

Visit www.welcometomor row.co.za for more details.

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29 April 2015

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Social Scene

29 April 2015

People, places & events

THE PINK IS UPON US! The 15th Knysna Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival starts today, transforming the town into a carnival ground until Sunday May 3.

Organisers have expanded the programme to include the glitzy Mr Gay World Grand Finale as well as SA’s inaugural Wigstock Premium Drag Event. The festival kicks off with meet n greets at Zanzibar and on Knysna Mall’s upper level at the Pink Candy Club. The beauty at right was photographed during last year’s Street Parade, which this year takes place on Saturday from 3pm. Visit www.pinkloerie.co.za or follow www.facebook.com/PinkLoerie for the full programme and further information.

Photo: Timothy Twidle

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THREE CHEERS TO THE TRIO: At the third KnysnaPlett Concert of the year held on April 20 and featuring an impassioned performance of Baroque Swing by the Charl du Plessis Trio were, from left, Mia Swart, Corlia Goris, Barbara Onderweegs and Guido Cornelissen, all of Knysna.

ANGIE’S G SPOT ALIVE AND KICKING: CXPRESS received this pic accompanied by great news from owners Angie and Harold: ‘After meetings with the relevant parties, Angie’s G Spot will definitely not be closing down in 30 days as feared by the concerned author of a letter published earlier this month (read ‘Angie’s G Spot closedown will leave many fans homeless’ on page 11 of the April 15 edition at www.cxpress.co.za). We thank all our loyal bikers and other supporters - see you at the G Spot!’

MMMMM! Patrick the friendly Belgian waffle-maker at The Market in Plett’s Main Street treated some of Plett’s Nippers, at top left, to his delectable fare last Tuesday.

Pop in and choose your topping - syrup, chocolate, cream, custard, berries and more - or give him a bell on 083 746 3793 to place your order.

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29 April 2015

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CXPRESS

Interval

29 April 2015

“Simon, if I had eight apples in my right hand and 10 apples in my left hand, what would I have?”

“Huge hands, Sir.”

I’ll think about it...

• A man was granted two wishes by God. He asked for the best drink and the best woman ever.

He got holy water and Mother Teresa.

• There are three kinds of men in this world: Some remain single and make wonders happen.

Some have girlfriends and see wonders happen.

Then some get married and wonder what happened.

• A teacher asked her class: “Why do women live a better, longer and a more peaceful life than men?”

A very intelligent student replied: “Because women don’t have wives.”

• Husband to his wife: “Honey, I’ve invited a friend home for dinner.”

Wife: “What? Are you crazy? The house is a mess, I haven’t been shopping,

all the dishes are dirty, and I don’t feel like cooking a fancy meal!”

Husband: “I know all that.”

Wife: “Then why did you invite a friend for dinner?”

Husband: “Because the poor fool is thinking of getting married.”

• Cool message to motherin-law: “Dear Mother-inlaw, don’t teach me how to handle my children. I am living with one of yours and he needs a lot of improvement.”

• When a married man replies: “I’ll think about it,” what he really means is that he hasn’t asked his wife for permission yet.

• A lady says to her doctor: “My husband has a habit of talking in his sleep. What should I give him to cure it?”

The doctor replies: “Give him the opportunity to speak while he’s awake.”

The broken lawnmower

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HEN our lawnmower broke and wouldn’t run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed but, somehow, I always had something else to take care of first: the shed, the car, making beer… always something more important, to me.

Finally, she thought of a clever way to make her point. When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snip-

ping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors.

I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a minute, and when I came out again, I handed her a toothbrush.

I said: “When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway.”

PS: The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp.

Don’t mess with this cowboy

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mean lookin’ cowboy was sitting by himself in a saloon. He was a pretty intimidating sight, so no one bothered him as he downed a few whiskeys and beers.

After chugging his last drink he slammed some coins on the table top and got up to leave.

Right after he left though he came storming back in and said: “Listen up you mangy lot,” and everyone, terrified, immediately fell silent.

“Someone done took my horse. Now here’s what’s gunna happen. I’m gunna order me another drink, finish it, and when I walk back

outside this time my horse BETTER be there or else I’m gunna do what I did in Texas… and believe me, I don’t want to do what I did in Texas!”

Like he said, after he finished his drink the cowboy walked outside and sure enough, someone had returned his horse.

He was getting on it when one of the bar patrons ran up to him and sheepishly asked: “Sir, I don’t mean to bother you but I just have to know, what did you do in Texas?”

The cowboy looked him square in the eyes and replied: “I walked home.”

Track record

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OW that she’s running for President, US voters should remember that they cannot trust Hillary Clinton to create jobs.

The last time she had a meaningful job, she outsourced it to Monica Lewinsky… and Monica blew it.

Eskom introduced Stage 4 load shedding now.

It’s when they come to your house and blow out all your candles...

Home & Health

29 April 2015

CXPRESS

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Better late than never - South Africans benefit from updated influenza vaccine research This statement released by Netcare last week explains how a delay caused by vital vaccine modification now means that potent flu strains have been matched

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ETTING vaccinated against the flu will be even more important for South Africans this winter after the Northern Hemisphere experienced one of its worst flu outbreaks in recent years, resulting in the death of nearly 30 children in the United States alone.

Residents in Europe and North America were unfortunately poorly prepared, as the flu vaccine that was made available to them did not provide adequate protection against two new strains of the virus.

Fortunately a new vaccine, which is now available in South Africa, has been produced to match these changes in two of the three strains.

“The flu vaccine is usually available nationally by early March, but delivery was delayed this year due to the fact that the vaccine had to be modified to better match the strains of flu that are currently doing the rounds,” says Dr Annamarie Richter, medical director at Netcare’s Primary

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S Eskom struggles to balance constrained supply and rising demand for electricity, it is inevitable that the cost of power is going to increase, adding to the financial burden on struggling South African households.

Although there’s little you can do to stop the price increases, you can lessen their impact by taking steps to reduce your electricity consumption now.

Says Gavin Moir, head of marketing at Direct Axis. “By implementing a few simple steps most households can cut their electricity bill by 20%.”

Ocpcig"{qwt"ig{ugt Heating water is hugely energy intensive. By limiting the time your geyser works to when you need hot water, rather than all day, you can

Care Division.

“Each year flu vaccines are modified to comply with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The vaccines available for the Northern Hemisphere’s flu season in 2014/15 unfortunately proved to be only 23% effective in the USA, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”

With this winter’s flu strains proving to be even more virulent, Dr Richter advises that South Africans get vaccinated as soon as possible, as it takes about two weeks after vaccination for protective antibodies to develop.

“Children over six months, the elderly, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to infection and severe flu-associated complications, so it is vital that they get their flu vaccinations now.

“Complications from flu could include pneumonia, bacterial infections, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and neurological conditions.

However, it is never too late to vaccinate,” she explains.

“There are a few misconceptions about flu vaccinations, including the belief that you can get flu from these vaccines. It is impossible to get flu from a flu vaccine as it does not contain any of the live virus.

“There may be some mild side effects such as minor headaches, a slight fever or swelling and soreness at the injection site. However, a flu vaccination is still the most effective way to protect you and your loved ones against flu and its complications.”

Adds Dr Pete Vincent of the Netcare Travel Clinics: “Even if a vaccine is only 10% effective, it can still prevent an estimated 13,000 hospitalisations of older people in one flu season in the States, according to the CDC.” Three advantages of the flu vaccine, according to Dr Vincent, include: • The vaccine not only shields you from getting flu, but it also protects those around you

Take back the power! save a lot of power. The most convenient way to ensure your geyser is off when you’re at work is to install a timer. Alternatively you can manually switch it off when you leave and switch it back on when you return home. You can also save by turning down the thermostat and insulating the geyser to reduce heat loss.

Ytcr"kv"wr During winter about half the heat in your home can escape if it’s not properly insulated.

Rather than crank up the heaters, make sure that gaps around doors and windows have sealant strips and that the roof is properly insulated.

Nkijv"ykvj"NGF Replace your light bulbs with the LED equivalent. LEDs

use at least 75% less energy and last up to 25 times longer, so you’ll also save money on replacing bulbs.

Uykvej"qhh"cv"vjg"uqemgv You can save up to 6% by turning off appliances at the wall. TVs and items with standby features still draw power even when not in use.

Wprnwi"{qwt"fgxkegu Unplug cellphone and other chargers when not in use as these still use power even if your phone isn’t plugged in.

It’s also not a good idea to allow phones and other devices to overcharge as this can limit the battery lifespan.

Dg"uvqxg"uoctv Use flat-bottomed pots and pans and make sure you’re cooking on an appropriately

who are more vulnerable, such as the elderly, children, pregnant women and people with certain chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, lung and heart disease.

• Although flu vaccines do not always completely prevent contraction of this virus, they do make your illness much milder if you do get sick.

• The risk of hospitalisation and death from this virus is significantly reduced with flu vaccinations.

“It is important that people wanting to get vaccinated choose reputable facilities.

This will ensure that the vaccine includes those strains recommended by the WHO for the Southern Hemisphere’s flu season and will also guarantee that the vaccine is legally registered in South Africa.

“The vaccines are available from Netcare Travel Clinics, Medicross family medical and dental centres, Prime Cure clinics and the Netcare pharmacies located in the group’s hospitals,” concludes Dr Vincent.

sized heating plate. Using a lid when you’re boiling water for eggs or vegetables will speed up cooking times and save power. According to industry experts just these tips can save up to 25% of the power used for cooking. Use your oven sparingly and remember that microwaves use a lot less power than a traditional oven.

Dg"eqqnkpi"engxgt Many people have their fridge and freezers set too low. This wastes electricity and also increases the defrosting intervals. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Cxqkf"jgcvgtu Heaters are huge power guzzlers. By ensuring you home is well insulated and putting on a jersey rather than firing up the heater you are sure to save power.

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CXPRESS

29 April 2015

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Classifieds

On the Soapbox

29 April 2015

Letters to the Editor

CXPRESS

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

No war called for by Bitou’s housing officials All government spheres have pledged to uphold the Batho Pele principle. After the riots in Qolweni/Bossiesgif, Human Settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela intervened and in an agreement with the community, a housing committee was established to, among other functions, assist Bitou Municipality with housing allocation while being the vanguard of the community by ensuring that agreed criteria is adhered to and in line with the National Housing Policy.

After the last allocation of houses, we learnt through the grapevine that the committee had been disbanded. One of the committee members took the initiative to call and inform the community. He booked the community hall and followed all procedures, including paying.

But the community hall request was refused and we were not allowed to use the facility.

A community meeting on April 1 gave mandate to a

delegation to approach the executive mayor with the hope of inviting him to come and give clarity about the disbandment of the committee.

Who would be the eyes and ears of the community moving forward?

On April 12, a municipal vehicle made announcements, calling a Public Housing Meeting for April 13, which was addressed by a Housing official and councillor.

Conflicting statements were made by the officials, that “the executive mayor has disbanded the committee”; but “the National Housing Policy called for all housing committees to be disbanded” because it was alleged that they were allocating houses to their friends and families.

What shocked us were threats levelled against the community by housing officials - and I quote: “Let’s rather close the Housing Office and go to war.” At this stage, the meeting became chaotic.

This is unacceptable and can never be tolerated.

Do residents’ requests get sucked into a black hole?

PEDESTRIAN PERIL: Trying to cross the road at the Longships turnoff in front of BI Kwikspar equates taking your life into your own hands - but the powers that be have not yet acknowledged numerous requests for intervention

I find it remarkable that emails or correspondence to Bitou Municipality are neither acknowledged, responded to, nor acted upon.

Basic courtesy would be to simply hit the ‘reply’ button on the email and advise the writer to which department the issue has been referred so that one knows that it has been received and may be attended to sometime in the future, and has not disappeared into a black hole.

It is most important that citizens receive replies to their concerns addressed to their local authority.

I wrote some months ago about the traffic congestion and chaos outside Beacon Island Kwikspar in high season - no response...

Motorists do not stop at the Longships stop-sign, even when they see pedestrians teetering on the pavement trying to cross.

There are vehicles coming from three directions and crossing the road is taking your life into your hands. Then there are the numerous cars doing U-

turns from both directions.

The picture demonstrates this mayhem.

Two weeks ago, a double yellow line with a red stripe in the centre was painted in the middle of the road - but no pedestrian crossing.

I realise that it is a tricky area but feel that something should be done about this hazardous intersection, as well as upgrading the parking area around the tree.

Will council wait for a fatality to occur before action is taken? Perhaps our councillor can persuade some serious interest in this long overdue issue.

Another concern is that certain citizens feel entitled to encroach into the road reserve outside their properties by placing large rocks, stones, boulders and picket fences along the edge of the tarmac.

These are an obstruction to pedestrians and a potential hazard to vehicles.

Their properties end on their boundary lines and not halfway into public thoroughfares.

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We were also informed that the Head of Community Services, Mr Monde Stratu, gave instruction for the community hall not to be opened.

The Qolweni/Bossiesgif community has asked the officials to call the executive mayor and MEC Madikizela to come and give clarity before calling for a war.

We are calling upon Bitou’s executive mayor to come and rectify the conduct of his officials and clarify the disbandment of the committee.

We would like to remind the mayor about the loss to businesses and motorists caused by the previous riots that erupted in this area.

Vjgodgnc"Ojncpc."qdq" Wpkvgf"Htqpv"Rngvv Jgcf"qh"fgrctvogpv"*JQF+" hqt"Dkvqw"Eqoowpkv{" Ugtxkegu"Oqpfg"Uvtcvw" tgurqpfgf"cu"hqnnqyu< The statement by Mr Thembela Mhlana is mischievous in the extreme and is a calculated step to gain cheap popularity on issues he has no understanding on.

What the housing office has explained - and this was confirmed by Western Cape Human Settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela when he was in town this month is that all housing committees will not be involved in the allocation of houses, but can perform all other housing project related functions.

For the purposes of beneficiary selection and allocation, they cannot be involved.

Housing committees can only play an oversight role to ensure that the selected beneficiary does indeed meet the agreed criteria.

The delegation that was sent to Bitou Municipality regarding a public meeting and the use of the community hall was given an audience by the HOD Community Services and all issues regarding their

booking were explained and clarified. They were satisfied with the explanations.

They were then given access to the lists of people to be allocated houses and since then there has been no problems. It is worth noting that Mr Mhlana was not part of that delegation.

I have, since the public meeting that he is referring to, met with the leader of that delegation (Mr Mbilana) and he has distanced himself from Mr Mhlana’s statement, as he is not speaking for the committee or the community.

I have met with Mr Mhlana regarding this issue and he agreed to refrain from using my name in issues he has no grasp on.

It is also worth mentioning that since the public meeting, the allocation of houses has begun in Qolweni, in the presence of some of the committee members (including Mr Mbilana, who opened the function with a prayer) and no incidents have been reported.

The allocation of houses in Qolweni is a transparent process and anyone with a query is free to approach our offices. Calling for war is being extremely irresponsible, especially on matters people have no facts about.

The community of Qolweni and the ward councillor know exactly what the process is and what Bitou Municipality is doing.

People with uncontrollable ambitions will always try and poke their noses into matters they have no knowledge about and mislead people to engage in activities that are completely unnecessary.

As HOD Community Services responsible for human settlements, I reject any attempts by anyone to use housing matters for their own political or any other objectives and to use my good name to get attention.

Thumbs up to Bitou for swiftly fixing dangerous drains

Liz from Plett sent these ‘before n after’ pics and wrote: ‘I would like to thank Bitou Municipality - especially Wayne Terblanche - for excellent service, after a complaint about unsafe open drains in areas used by many pedestrians, including school children. Within a week after making the complaint, it was all fixed and neatly closed up. Thumbs up to Bitou Municipality!’

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Sport & Adventure

29 April 2015

JAGUAR SIMOLA HILLCLIMB - MAY 14-17

Shooting it out for the title of ‘King’ during 19 hours of racing aggression

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HE 2015 Jaguar Simola Hillclimb packs a massive amount of action into a four-day spread of spectacular entertainment from May 14 to 17.

Apart from a predicted record 15,000-strong spectator attendance at the track itself, thousands of locals and tourists will have a great deal to see in the very heart of Knysna during the event.

Off-track, the programme is launched by an upmarket celebrity Charity Golf Day on the Simola course with a limited field of 96 players at one of the golfing world’s most spectacular venues.

The format is a four-ball alliance with two scores counting, teeing off at noon.

Also on the Thursday is the documentation, scrutineering and vehicle display of a 53-strong Classic Car Friday field at Knysna Waterfront, starting at 9am and reaching a climax with a dramatic town parade from 2:15 to 2:30pm.

Another town-heart highlight is on Friday, when 80 entrants to the King-of-theHill Shootout go on show during their documentation and scrutineering at Knysna Waterfront from 9am to 1:30pm, and then move to Main Street for a one-hour static display from 2pm.

The really dynamic and dramatic track action out on Simola Hill is quite formidable: from Friday through

Sunday in total there will be no less than 1,361 individual timed runs of the competing machinery in 19 hours of real racing aggression up the hill.

Live track action begins with three practice sessions for the 50+ Classic Car Friday competitors (8:30 to 11:10am) and then three elimination rounds both sides of the on-track lunchtime entertainment, starting at 11:15am through to 2:20pm.

The first Classic Car Friday class final for the 24 leading cars is from 2:25 to 2:50pm and then follows the climax of the day, when the 10 best contenders go head-to-head from 2:55 onwards.

The Classic Conqueror will be crowned at the prize giving in the pits, starting at 5:35pm.

On Saturday and Sunday, the tension and competition build to a resounding climax of the final five-minute King of the Hill ‘shootout’ between the fastest 10 contenders for the overall winner of the 2015 Jaguar Simola Hillclimb.

The essence of five elimination rounds is the fact that the fastest 10 cars are sent off, one at a time in reverse order (slowest to quickest) to see who can be the best of

READY, STEADY... Start line excitement during last year’s event

FLASH OF ORANGE: Reigning King of the Hill champion Franco Scribante in action - he will defend this coveted title in Knysna next month

the best.

The 2014 event literally had everyone on the edge of their seats as the times tumbled after each of the top 10 runs, with Franco Scribante heading off last and spectacularly snatching the title from Des Gutzeit by a mere 0.546 seconds in a record-breaking time of 41.159 seconds in his

1970 Chevron B19.

That’s an average of 166.185km/h for 1.9km from a standing start!

Less than one second separated the top four competitors in last year’s King of the Hill battle, proving just how close and intense the competition is at the sharp end of the field.

Most of the qualifiers for last year’s top 10 are back at it again, and a host of newcomers have joined the fray.

The first five practices involving all 80 contenders for the King of the Hill starts at 9am on Saturday May 16 and the final top 10 shootout launches at 3:55pm on Sunday the 17th - don’t miss it!

Canon and Pennies make ‘em sport-smart, back and front Wittedrift High School thanks Canon for sponsoring its first team netball girls with sportswear and backpacks. The athletic lasses pictured here in their new kit are, from left, Verushka Damons, Anesipho Songongo, Anelisa Jebese, Maria Gerber, Mariska Gqomfa, Anjo Duarte (vice-captain), Petro Marallich, Palesa Monkhe (captain) and Megan van Tura.

Grateful, too, for Pennypinchers’ sponsorship of new warmup jerseys are the school’s U/19 A-team rugby players. The gear was handed over by Kurt Lange of Pennypinchers Plett recently to coach Jacques Steyn, team manager Dr Paul van Senus, and some of the players.