29 April 2020

29 April 2020

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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Labour of lockdown love...

Photo: Chris van Gass

Plettenberg Pl P l tt b B Bay Country C t C Cl Club l b manager G Greg Ph P Phillips hill iillllii and dh his i wife if D if Darell l are pictured ll i t dh here on th their i ‘i ‘‘iron-horse’ h ’ llawnmowers while giving this iconic Garden Route golf course its daily shave on Tuesday afternoon. Turn to page 2 for the full story, and find out more about the selfless labour of local volunteers who are preparing for Covid-19 worst-case scenario on page 3.

Dagga peddlers busted - p3

Tiger & Co show the way - p4

Nature gets a breather - p5

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CXPRESS

29 April 2020

NEWS & VIEWS

Country club’s short-back-and-sides maintained thanks to mowing prowess of Mr and Mrs Phillips Words & photo: Chris van Gass

OING the extra mile has become almost second nature for Plettenberg Bay Country Club (PBCC) manager Greg Phillips and his wife, Darell.

The two have jumped in boots and all to ensure that the local golf club is kept in shape for when lockdown finally reaches the stage where golfers can again shout “fore!” - without facing arrest for contravening the current Covid-19 restrictions.

Both have taken to driving heavyweight ride-on mower tractors to give the course grass a daily “haircut”.

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Their actions have been lauded by PBCC chairman Howard Garmany, who also highlighted the plight of the club which, like many other small businesses throughout South Africa, faces severe financial challenges with no income having been forthcoming for the past two months.

Says Garmany: “Our efforts have been focused on managing the finances, managing our staff, and trying to avoid any retrenchments while keeping the golf course and other facilities in good order.

“But the best story worth telling at the moment is the effort our club manager and his wife are making to keep the golf course maintained. Both of them are driving the heavy mower tractors with great aplomb,” he says.

Greg has taken the extra responsibility in his stride while Darell jokes: “If it were summer, I suppose I could do the job in a bikini…”

The reason Greg and Darell have “volunteered” for this considerable chore is that the club is only allowed 15% of its normal course staff complement of 22.

“So these five ‘essential’ workers, who are

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Greg and Darell Phillips regard maintaining Plett Country Club as a labour of love in light of the current dearth of ground staff, and derive great joy from keeping the course in shape while waiting for sporting activities to resume after the lockdown

only allowed to work for three-and-a-half hours a day because of the stringent travel restrictions in place, look after the greens and fairways. That means that we have to do the first cut and the semi-rough,” ex-

plains Greg.

The magnanimous manager concludes: “I’ll do everything I can for my golf club so that we’re ready to open the course as soon as the lockdown becomes history.”

The DOs and DON’Ts of online communication UR lives have pretty much been turned upside down over the past few weeks.

The lockdown has presented some unique challenges, from maintaining our jobs and finding ways to meet online, hooking up with that hot babe or connecting with family and friends while stuck at home.

There’s no doubt about it - it’s been weird and it’s been real. And, as per the president’s most recent announcement on lockdown levels, it’s far from over.

But rather than focus on the negative, it’s important to realise that every problem presents a potential lesson. As most of our communications have had to move into a virtual space, take note of these guidelines that will show you how to shine online during this time.

DO • Consider lighting and camera positioning for video calls. A shot of your forehead or you mumbling from the shadows with only a creepy glow from your computer might not be the impression you want to put out there. Side lighting is best.

• Dress appropriately. Your onesie may be cute but it might make it hard for your work colleagues or clients to take you seriously. And, for dating online, your troll suit or PJs might be a little too familiar right off the bat.

We know it is tempting, but get dressed for online success! Even if you keep your trackies on for comfort, throw on a smarter top.

• Be aware of your video settings and mi-

O 10 000 FREE copies distributed every Wednesday along the Garden Route Tel: 044 533 1004 Fax: 044 533 0852 Email: editor@cxpress.co.za www.cxpress.co.za Distributed along the Garden Route, CXPRESS is an independent community newspaper that serves as a platform for news, views and discussion along the Garden Route.

Views expressed in this paper are not necessarily those of the Editors or Staff of CXPRESS. Pseudonyms may be used, but all correspondence must include the writer’s name and contact details. We reserve the right to edit where we see fit and also to accept or reject advertisements or paid public announcements.

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082 659 2392 watty@cxpress.co.za 044 533 1004 linda@cxpress.co.za

Or Email: advertising@cxpress.co.za CXPRESS is a registered newspaper published by CXPRESS 2006 (Pty) Ltd, No. 6 Park Lane, Plettenberg Bay. Editorial material and advertisements created by the CXPRESS staff are copyright and may not be reproduced without the express permission of the Managing Editors, PO Box 1449, Plettenberg Bay 6600, Tel: 044 533 1004

CXPRESS Distribution READ CXPRESS ONLINE DURING LOCKDOWN As safety measure during the remainder of the national lockdown, currently reduced to Level 4 from May 1, CXPRESS will not distribute a printed version.

The complete newspaper, including bonus features, will be posted at

www.cxpress.co.za every Wednesday, while regular updates on the state of Covid-19 on the Garden Route and in the Western Cape, along with related articles, are being posted on our website as well as the CXPRESS Facebook page.

Advertisers keen to benefit from the online exposure are invited to get in touch with our agents as soon as possible.

Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa

crophone settings. No doubt you have important stuff to share, so rather than have your words fall on muted ears, make sure your two-minute monologue lands audibly on the other side.

• Be on time. Much like in real life, being late ain’t great.

• Mute your microphone whenever you’re not speaking. Background noise can create interference and no one wants to hear your flatmate let one rip from the kitchen.

• Look into the camera. When you’re up to talk, rather than checking yourself out on the computer screen, look straight into the camera. Engage with eye contact. It really will convince others on the call that you are 100 percent present, interested and counted.

• Be confident. We know this might be a fairly new domain, but if you look and

I SEE YOU: Pick a space where you feel relaxed so you can be yourself confidently

feel your best - fresh, awake, sparkly and wonderful - you can put forward the top version of yourself.

DON’T • Abandon your make-up routine. Makeup can be an instant mood booster and taking even a few minutes to polish your look before going online can make you appear more in charge, more together, and simply amaaazing.

• Check or read emails or your messages on your phone while on the video call. Focus, peeps! You can check everything after the call but while online, give it your full attention to show the boss, clients, friends or family that you are in it to win it.

• Forget the background. The view behind you should be work-appropriate and your surroundings clean. So, remove that tattered Bob Marley poster, clean up, or find a different space. This includes your desk! Three dirty coffee mugs and an empty spag bol dish won’t convince anyone that you mean business.

• Finally, don’t force it. If you are not comfortable in your space, it will be very apparent during your video call. Just pick a space where you feel relaxed and settle in so you can be yourself confidently.

That just about covers the basics. If you have top tips to share or want to show how truly awesome you are in the comfort of your home space, join the convo on #yourtimetoshine and visit www.mars.com for additional information.

NEWS & VIEWS

29 April 2020

CXPRESS

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Economic Freedom Fighters bay for blood after alleged food-parcel corruption The EFF in Bitou has opened a theft and corruption case with local police following widespread allegations of irregular activities during the delivery of food parcels in Plettenberg Bay over Easter Weekend - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports OCAL EFF spokesman Bandile Mlindazwe said they had been made aware of officials not following the correct procedures with regards to distributing food parcels in Plett, and that some parcels were allegedly given to households for po-

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litical favour.

He added that some households allegedly received up to 50 food parcels.

More than 15,000 Bitou residents with no means of putting food on the table were supposed to benefit from a relief effort, funded

by Bitou Municipality, over the Easter Weekend.

The municipality contributed more than R1-milllion towards purchasing food for locals suffering due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

With this money an order for food, to make up 3,500

Update on Bitou’s Covid-19 response

Pictured with Bitou Covid-19 response team leader Dr Nicola Whiteman, seated, are, from left, core team members Maggie Ubsdell, Dr Sian Hartshorne, and Jess Robertson - all of whom are intricately involved in the current drive to transform the Piesang Valley Community Hall into an isolation facility meeting international health standards. Bitou Municipality has agreed to spring for essential upgrades to the hall’s maintenance, which will be effected by volunteers with a range of required skills, including plumbers, painters, landscapers and those who sign up to help cleaning and sanitising the entire building. “We have received about 30 beds and mattresses, and tons of linen,” says Dr Whiteman, adding that a local carpenter is building more beds. “We are setting up decontamination areas, as well as areas where staff can put on their PPE [personal protective equipment]. Several volunteers are assisting with curtaining, partitioning, and other maintenance jobs. Local GPs are working closely with the frail care facilities in Plett to ensure that they are capable of managing patients with Covid-19. We will supply them with PPE and oxygen concentrators where needed, and educate them on using the equipment.” According to Dr Hartshorne, home teams from all corners of the town have managed to produce 38,500 masks to date, but that is still a long way away from the goal of availing a mask or two to each Bitou resident. A total of 50,000 meals were distributed throughout Bitou last week by Rob Bokelmann and his team of volunteers, and the Covid-19 Response Team has funded the acquisition of 320 25kg JAM (Joint Aid Management) porridge, which arrived in Plett last Friday. It is currently being distributed and will provide approximately 100,000 meals. Adding to this combined effort, Sabrina Love Foundation and Africa Tikkun donated 1,033 boxes of vegetables to the 40+ soup kitchens currently feeding Bitou residents. Visit https://plettcovid19.pythonanywhere.com/ for more information or to contribute, and see the U3A letter on page 7 for bank account details.

Dagga worth R650,000 seized on N2 near Plett HURSDAY April 23 yielded two arrests of suspects charged with possession of and dealing with drugs, after they were stopped during routine vehicle checks on the N2 near Sedgefield and Plettenberg Bay respectively.

Southern Cape police spokesman sergeant Christopher Spies says the driver of a white Toyota Hilux bakkie was stopped at a roadblock near Plett and was unable to produce any form of documentation.

“Subsequently he was escorted to the Plett police station to verify his credentials.

On arrival, the police con-

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ducted a thorough search of the vehicle and found dagga stashed under vegetables being transported.”

The police confiscated 109 parcels of compressed dagga with an estimated street value of R650,000 and arrested the 35-year-old suspect on charges of dealing in drugs.

It is believed the drugs were destined for distribution in the Southern Cape.

By the time of writing, the suspect was still in custody and would make his first court appearance in the local magistrate’s court once he had been charged for illegal dealing in dagga.

Meanwhile, Knysna po-

CONFISCATED GREEN: Dagga bound into 109 parcels was hidden under bags of vegetables in the back of a Toyota Hilux bakkie, but was sniffed out by vigilant local police members

lice arrested a 25-year-old suspect after 216 grams of dagga was found in the vehicle he was travelling in on the N2 highway near Sedgefield on the same day.

“Vigilant members of the Knysna Visible Policing unit conducted routine vehicle checks when they stopped a Nissan NP200 bakkie. Upon searching the vehicle they found a backpack with two parcels and a plastic bag containing dagga,” says Spies.

The suspect was arrested on a charge of possession of drugs and was due to appear in Knysna Magistrate’s Court on April 28.

food parcels, was placed with the Spar group and subsequently more than 73 tons of food was delivered in Plett.

Each of the area’s seven wards were allocated 3,500 parcels and, as part of the criteria, beneficiaries should not have earned an income or received a grant - people with little or no means of buying food.

Lists of beneficiaries were drawn up by the municipality from the existing indigent

list and the database of people who filed SASSA application forms in recent weeks.

The handing out of food was supervised by councillors and community development workers, who recorded details of all beneficiaries receiving parcels.

Some wards were done on a door to door basis; some batches were dropped off at a point and distributed from there, and some parcels were distributed direct-

ly from vehicles.

Police spokesman lieutenant Colonel Sheila Palmer confirmed that a case had been opened relating to the distribution of the food parcels. “It is currently under investigation,” Palmer said.

In the meantime, Bitou mayor Peter Lobese said they did not take these allegations lightly and that the municipality would act accordingly.

Garden Route Media

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CXPRESS

29 April 2020

NEWS & VIEWS

Sports legends lead by example in troubled times Schalk Louw

T’S easy to be overwhelmed during times of misfortune, but admitting defeat and giving up won’t make anything better.

Three examples from sport show that what we do now can be key to our future success.

Muhammad Ali made headlines in 1964 with his shock defeat of heavyweight boxing champion Sonny Liston. Refusing military service meant he wasn’t allowed to box again for four years. His next attempt at the title ended in defeat in 1971.

Many saw this as the end of his career, but through sheer willpower and dedication, he won one of the most famous boxing matches, The Rumble in the Jungle, just over three years later against George Foreman - one of the hardest punchers in the history of boxing.

Formula 1 racer Niki Lauda won the world title in 1975 and started the 1976 German Grand Prix top of the leader board. In the second lap, however, a brutal accident saw Lauda’s car go up in flames. He was so badly burnt that a priest was summoned.

But through incredible determination and hard work, he got back into his racing car six weeks later. He lost that season by one point and went on to win his third world title again in 1984.

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Finally, Tiger Woods made headlines for all the wrong reasons following his victory in the 2008 US Golf Open. By 2014, his back was so badly injured that his chances of playing golf again seemed questionable, at best.

But his iron will and sheer dedication saw Woods winning the 2019 US Open, 11 years after he last won the title.

Three different champions from different sports disciplines have one remarkable characteristic in common: their ability to use misfortune to write their final chapters, rather than using it as an excuse for failure.

Covid-19 is causing misfortune for many of us. Whether it’s our businesses that are struggling, our health that’s suffering, or our financial, retirement and investment planning that have taken the proverbial ‘hits’, we can apply the wisdom of these sports stars to help build our future success.

Stay in control of what you can Lauda once said: “I’ve been through a lot and I realise the future can’t be controlled.

I’m not worried. You can always learn to overcome difficulties.”

The moment we realise that life is full of surprises, we can start acting accordingly.

Plan so we don’t end up in ruins when surprises are negative; plan for the day the same unpleasant surprise might rear its ugly head again.

This may come in the form of an emergency fund, sufficient insurance, a welldiversified portfolio, a fuller wine cabinet or even a jumping rope for home exercise.

Whatever the case may be, we are now in this situation, so what am I going to do to stay positive?

Ali said: “It’s not the mountains to climb ahead that wear you out, it’s the pebble in your shoe.”

Focusing on what you can control is a start, but it’s not always enough. Split your big challenge into smaller, more manageable challenges. Keep the pebbles out of your shoes, take one step at a time, and you will conquer that mountain.

Misfortune brings new opportunities If you cover your eyes in misery, there’s a good chance you’ll be blind to the opportunities that present themselves during times of misfortune.

Let’s look at the last four big corrections where the JSE dropped by 30% or more.

Had you sold out of the market at its lowest and vowed never to invest stocks again, in the 12 months following each of those four corrections, you would have missed out on an average recovery of 28.3% on your investment.

Important work lies ahead - you cannot

change the past While lockdown has many of us counting the days, Ali said this is exactly the wrong thing to do. His words “don’t count the days, make the days count,” instruct us to use this time to plan, and even to implement those plans.

Make no mistake, the road ahead won’t necessarily be easy. There will almost certainly be times when you’ll want to give up.

But Woods gave us some inspiration when he said: “Days when you just don’t have it, you don’t pack it in, you give it everything you’ve got. You grind it out.”

Be led by your masterplan, not

your emotions Whether it’s related to business or financial planning, short-term adjustments can be made, but your personal long-term masterplan should always form the foundation of your decision-making process. Any other adjustments are based on emotions and this makes them incredibly dangerous.

Always keep the bigger picture in mind.

While we may find ourselves in unexplored territory right now, I have no doubt that we as South Africans will get through this, and that we will emerge stronger than ever.

• Schalk Louw is a financial advisor at PSG Wealth.

Lockdown: there will be a backlash ‘It is starting to bubble on the surface, but people are still patient… for now,’ writes GERHARD PAPENFUS

LABOURING FOR THE CAUSE: Gerhard Papenfus fights at the forefront of industry to protect and empower employers across SA and, along with his team, continues making a difference in the South African labour law regime; as the voice of Neasa, he is a regular on TV and radio, as well as mainstream newspapers and related media

NSTEAD of calming the mood, the envisaged relaxing of our lockdown has increased the discontent, and not suppressed or relieved it by any stretch of the imagination.

Totalitarian leaders will tell you that their biggest mistake was relaxing the totalitarian grip on their population. In this respect, populations are strangely ‘ungrateful’.

South Africans are still living in the euphoria of the lockdown, the sacrifice to save lives, the false economy created by government aid, the food parcels, the R350, the ‘right’ not to pay rent without risking being evicted, the temporary sense of purpose created by the hype.

Although there are people with no food who now suffer more than usual, the harsh economic reality of this lockdown has not set in even remotely. When life returns to ‘normal’, people breathe normally and shake hands; commitments and accompanying demands return.

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But without the ‘normal’ economic abilities we once had, only then will the harsh reality start kicking in.

When the food parcels and increased social grants disappear, when those who sustained many family members with wages find themselves without work, when the full impact of the downgrade, then the coronavirus, followed by the sharp drop in GDP strike home, that is when the true impact of the lockdown will surface.

The scientific models that informed the lockdown approach will now be questioned; ordinary people (like the author) will come to their own conclusions and weigh up the cost of the lockdown.

This is when the scientific views of other scientists, currently completely ignored by decision makers, will suddenly be broadly recognised and ordinary people will conclude that the Covid-19 mortality rate is not the 1 or 2/100 we were made to believe, but perhaps less than 1/1000 - even far less.

People will realise that, although Covid-19 did claim lives, so will poverty and famine. The lives versus economy narrative will no longer be sustainable, and people will understand that it is, and always was, a matter of ‘lives versus lives’. The economy is also about lives.

It is then that the backlash will come and the current heroes will become the villains.

By then the food parcels and grants will be all forgotten and the hand that provided this interim relief will be bitten.

• Gerhard Papenfus is CEO of Neasa (National Employers Association of SA) its national footprint boasts offices in Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, PE, Bloemfontein, East London, George and Kimberley.

NEWS & VIEWS

29 April 2020

Lockdown not long enough for dramatic recovery, but benefits health of S-Cape marine and coastal habitats

BREATHING SPACE: Wilderness Beach is but one of the stretches of local coastline that has been deserted for weeks, courtesy of Covid-19 lockdown regulations and, according to Cobus Meiring of the Southern Cape Landowners Initiative, ‘the situation offers authorities a blank canvas to radically rethink the way we manage natural resources and implement drastic measures to allow critically threatened marine resources and coastal ecosystems a last-ditch opportunity to return from the brink of total collapse’

ILES of deserted Southern Cape beaches have for weeks now had the rare luxury of only cormorants, Black Oyster Catchers and seagulls going about their business in glorious sunshine, without a trace of even a human footprint to be seen.

“This is a sight extremely unlikely to ever be repeated,” says Cobus Meiring of the Southern Cape Landowners Initiative (SCLI).

“Continued marine and coastal monitoring by Garden Route District and Knysna Municipality disaster management teams, SCLI, SANParks and CapeNature, as well as ongoing environmental programmes, provide interesting insights during abnormal conditions.”

He adds that these include the Sea Turtle Rescue project along with other conservation and protection drives such as the SCLI Cape Floristic River Corridor Revival Programme.

“In as much as international reports in the media reflect an extremely high successful sea turtle breeding season along the coast of India, as well as an abundance of returning sealife to crystal clear waters in the Venetian waterways and channels off the Italian coast, we are unlikely to witness dramatic changes to nature in the Southern Cape in such a short time-span.

“In as much as nature is resilient, and ecosystems that are on the brink of collapse, supporting species such as the criticallyendangered sea turtle and South Africa’s ever-dwindling fish stocks can recover significantly if left unhindered, much more time is required for any radical

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recovery than what the national lockdown will facilitate.

“What the lockdown does allow, is time to reflect on the way we manage our collapsing natural infrastructure and resources. It presents us with a one-time opportunity to make structural and far-reaching changes, availing both humankind and nature a last-ditch chance to survive the coming onslaught of climate change.”

Meiring reminds that government-enforced legislation banning driving on Southern Cape beaches caused outrage and was much criticised at the time.

“Enforcing strict fishing quotas and prohibiting fishing in newly-established marine protected areas also enraged the angling community. However, the results were magnificent, and the stricter measures were eventually accepted as a new normal.

“Perhaps Covid-19 opened up a window of opportunity all thought unthinkable mere weeks ago.

“Conservation bodies in the Southern Cape must take time to do an in-depth review of conservation practices in the region to the long-term benefit of a very fast-growing population, putting ever more and relentless pressure on the protection of our environment,” concludes Meiring.

• The Southern Cape Landowners Initiative is a public platform and think tank for landowners and land managers with a mutual interest in invasive alien plant management, water stewardship and land management. SCLI is supported by the Table Mountain Fund - a subsidiary of WWF SA. Visit www.scli.org.za for additional information.

CXPRESS

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CXPRESS

INTERVAL

29 April 2020

A ‘taste’ of humour SA Covid-19 - Level 4: From May 1 dining out is still off the table… although restaurants and take-away outlets may open for home deliveries only. Herewith memories of the good old days when eating out was an alternative to yesterday’s left-overs: • A restaurant is a fantasy - a kind of living fantasy in which diners are the most important members of the cast. - Warner LeRoy • I don’t know when pepper mills in a restaurant got to be right behind frankincense and myrrh in prominence. It used to be in a little jar that sat next to the salt on the table and everyone passed it around, sneezed, and it was no big deal. - Erma Bombeck • Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant? I’m halfway through my fish burger and I realise, oh my gosh... I could be eating a slow learner. Lynda Montgomery • Nouvelle cuisine, roughly translated, means: I can’t believe I paid $96 and I’m still hungry. Mike Kalin • In a restaurant, choose a table near a waiter. -

Jewish Proverb • Last night I ate at a nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going. - George Carlin • I was eating in a Chinese restaurant downtown. There was a dish called ‘Mother and Child Reunion’. It’s chicken and eggs. - Paul Simon • I went to a fancy French restaurant called Déjà Vu. The headwaiter said: ‘Don’t I know you?’

- Rod Schmidt • A cannibal is a person who walks into a restaurant and orders a waiter.

- Morey Amsterdam • Memories are like mulligatawny soup in a cheap restaurant. It is best not to stir them. PG Wodehouse • When you wait to be served in a restaurant, doesn’t that make you the waiter? - Author Unknown

Special offer gone wrong OBERT walks into a restaurant and notices a large sign on the wall: R500 IF WE FAIL TO FILL YOUR ORDER! When his waitress arrives, Robert orders elephant nuts on rye.

She calmly writes down his order and walks into the kitchen where all hell

breaks loose.

The restaurant owner comes storming out of the kitchen. He runs up to Robert’s table, slaps five R100 notes down on it and says: “You got me that time buddy, but I want you to know that’s the first time in 10 years we’ve been out of rye bread!”

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Have chopsticks, wanna chow friend of mine lunching at a Chinese restaurant noticed the table had been set with forks, not chopsticks. He asked why that was the case.

The waiter said chopsticks were provided only on request.

“But,” the man countered, “if you gave your patrons chopsticks, you wouldn’t have to pay someone to wash all the forks.”

“True,” the waiter shot back, “but we would have to hire three more people to clean up the mess.”

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ON THE SOAPBOX

29 April 2020

Letters to the Editor

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

On the state of my heart during lockdown I feel a deep sadness within me, as I have not walked barefoot on the beach in weeks, painted a single thing, written the 21 poems I thought I would, or read the beautiful new books glaring at me from my bedside table since the lockdown started.

However, with the help of many, I have managed to do some things. They are not the type of things I ever hoped to be doing.

A couple of friends and I have started working at a soup kitchen and, since lockdown, have managed to feed hundreds of people, mostly kids and the elderly, every single day in Kranshoek - a local township of mostly Griekwa, coloured and Malawian residents.

At the time of writing, the government has only

managed to hand out 350 parcels in this township of more than 10,000 people. These hungry, jobless, penniless people welcome us with smiles and open arms and grateful faces despite their current dilemma and the uncertain future they wake up to daily.

My fear is the hot-headed police who has harassed and intimidated us even though we have all the necessary legal permits. My other fears include government’s endless red tape, and the great hunger clawing at our people’s insides.

Every single day I have to close my bakkie doors in someone’s face and say: “Sorry, the food is finished for today.”

We do not have the capacity to cook for more

than 500 a day, even though we have 10 cooks and two bakers on our team of volunteers. It breaks one’s heart.

We are extremely grateful and in awe of those who donate food, cook soups, bake breads, give their time, use their hands, volunteer their minds, or fund the pop-up soup kitchens that have sprung up all around the country since the start of the lockdown.

Government’s apathetic and slow response to the food shortage, the economic disaster and the hunger this has caused, is despicable.

In the news we read about their endless meetings regarding the new laws about cooking food and its distribution.

While they are drinking sparkling water during

their meetings held in airconditioned offices, many families are going to sleep with empty stomachs.

My country bleeds.

Every late afternoon after our rounds, we drive home hot and close to tears, wishing we could wash our hurting hearts and sweaty brows off in the sea.

But, we all know now, this is deemed preposterous, dangerous to our health and considered an illegal activity.

Absurdities abound, laws that don’t make any healthy sense are being policed. I feel like I am losing my beloved, she is slipping away, dying a little, every single day.

This is the state of my heart and of the nation I love. God help our beloved country.

‘Annie’, Plett

CX Country’s ‘third-agers’ appeal for Covid-19 support The committee of Plett U3A (University of the Third Age) shared this letter, penned by the chairman of their colleagues in Knysna and Sedgefield, with CXPRESS last Monday We have a policy of not communicating with our members regarding nonU3A core business, but felt that the new coronavirus disaster is an exception, hence this appeal.

We are all aware of the Covid-19 crisis globally and in our communities.

Limited medical facilities worldwide has resulted in added strain on healthcare infrastructure and healthcare workers.

In addition to the fear of the virus itself, the lockdown in South Africa has created a hunger problem on an unprecedented scale.

The WHO [World Health Organisation] and countries around the world are now realising that masks, no matter how simple, can assist in preventing the spread of Covid-19. After the lockdown period there will be an exit policy, which will include continued social distancing, hand sanitising and hand washing, and the wearing of cloth masks in public. This may have to continue for many months.

Between Knysna and Plett we have approximately 150,000 residents.

For these measures to be effective at least 80% will need masks. Some already have masks or have been supplied with masks, but the making and distribution of them has a long way to go.

In the past three weeks there has been an increasing need for food support as many households have no financial assistance. As a community we can assist.

A heartfelt thank you to all those who are already helping. We all need to step forward if we can, even if it is only in the smallest of ways. U3A is doing this by asking if you could please forward this message to as many friends, family, groups, and organisations as possible.

Masks for Knysna, Sedgefield and Plett Drs Ken Sprenger and Dee Richman are heading up the Knysna programme (that incorporates Sedgefield) for mask production. In Plett, Dr Sian Hartshorne spearheads the home sewing groups and is a member of the committee working on providing masks.

To produce an adequate amount of masks, all teams need more ‘home sewers’ and, as there is a shortage of materials, donations of fabric, cotton, elastic, ribbon, and wool. The masks fbe very simple to make, and instructions are provided.

You can also assist by just sewing mask ties.

The teams have found that cotton sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers make excellent masks. Tshirt material and wool can be used to make ties.

If you can donate any-

thing or wish to join the sewing teams, this is the information you need: For Knysna and Sedgefield-based sewers, fabric donations and general information, please email doug@ccxpe.co.za - I need your name, street address, contact number and details as to how you can assist, and will prepare a data base to share with the team leaders.

Drop-off zones for materials: FreshStop (open 24 hours) at Caltex in Waterfront Drive, Caltex Van Halderen at 1 Main Road, and The Clean Shop (open 9am12 weekdays only) on the corner of Green and Queen Street.

Potential Plett sewers can join the Home Sewers Group on the WhatsApp number 060 820 6595.

Donations of any materials can be dropped off at Beacon Island KwikSpar.

Food donations in Knysna and Sedgefield must be directed to Rotary, who are coordinating a food project (see below under ‘Funds’).

Plett drop-off points are the Methodist Church off Marine Way (9am12), and all the large grocery stores - Spar (town and BI), Woolworths, Pick n Pay and Checkers.

For those already helping other groups doing food support in Knysna, Sedgefield and Plett, we are sure that your assis-

tance will continue to be gratefully received.

Funds for food supplies and masks The Rotary Club of Knysna has stepped forward to assist our Knysna and Sedgefield communities, as they have done for more than 50 years. The Plett teams do need urgent assistance.

Knysna and Sedgefield: account name Rotary Club of Knysna, Nedbank (branch code 198765), account no 1089 027 257. Please indicate whether your donation is for Food or Masks or both by using one of the following deposit references: ‘SurnameC19Masks’ or ‘SurnameC19 Food’ or ‘SurnameC19 General.

Plett Masks4All: account name ARSG, FNB (branch code 250665), account no 6250 2987 904, reference ‘FREE’. Dr Sian has informed us that Plett is running very short of funds, so assistance from Plett members would be greatly appreciated.

We would like to encourage you to please pass on this appeal to all your contacts in Knysna, Sedgefield, Plettenberg Bay and beyond. It is sure to be a very important contribution towards the greater team effort.

On behalf of the U3A Knysna committee, I thank you all.

Doug Emanuel, Knysna

CXPRESS

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29 April 2020

Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service