Seaplane s landing revisited Seaplane’s landing revisited p5

Remembering seaplane Singapore’s Knysna lagoon landing in 1928

Plett’s favourite amateur historian Derek Frielinghaus has been sharing some fabulous stories with CXPRESS over the years. Last week, we were privy to correspondence between Derek and another old friend and contributor, Martin Hatchuel (fi nd out what Mart can do for your businesses or pleasure at www.tourismcontent.co.za), with Knysna classic boat expert CAMERON SEARLE

AN amazing sight greet- eral functions and took day. Railway access to ed Knysna residents off the next day at 7am, in Cape Town would be the on March 28, 1928 as Sir a northerly direction from end of the steamship transAlan Cobham landed the Brenton on Lake. port business between the seaplane, on loan to him Of interest are the boats Cape and Knysna, just as from the Air Ministry, that tendered to her. In steam had replaced sail. in the main channel of 1928 I’m assuming they There is a report of anKnysna Lagoon. He was were either private builds other fl ying boat visiton a 20,000 mile journey or products of Thesen In- ing Knysna in May 1934, around Africa to explore dustries. The clinker row- however, it’s not clear how the potential of air travel boat has fenders over the regular these visits became. from the UK. sides, possibly fi lled with Sunderland fl ying boats

The Singapore was en sand, but she’s very stable were to play an important route from Durban and with four crew. The sharp role in World War II huntwas the largest all-metal bow of the rowboat behind ing for submarines on the fl ying boat in the world, shows a different design, surface and reporting on weighing in at 10 tons with also four up, with one man enemy shipping. a wingspan of 100 foot. Sir to each of the two oars. A full account of Sir and Cobham was accompanied The year 1928 was also Lady Cobham’s visit can by his wife, also a trained when the railway bridge be found in the excellent pilot, and four crew. was constructed which book entitled Knysna the

They stayed overnight in proved a promising view- Forgotten Port by Margaret the Royal Hotel after sev- point for take-off the next Parkes and Vicky Williams.

IS IT A PLANE? Sir Alan Cobham, accompanied by his wife and four crew, landed the seaplane Singapore in the main channel of Knysna Lagoon, the town being one of his stops on a 20,000mile journey around Africa to explore the potential of air travel from the United Kingdom

BOATING HEYDAY: This handsome inboard launch must have turned heads in her day; the stern fl ag isn’t clear, but judging by their dress, the gentlemen aboard are possibly dignitaries - it’s 92 years later, but anyone with information on these boats are invited to email Cameron at info@ boatshowknysna.co.za and visit https://boatshowknysna.co.za/ for more information

Support Famsa’s virtual tinless street collection

FAMSA usually has two for all people. information, as well as bankstreet collections per Unable to have a collec- ing details of which shopyear, which contribute in tion in June due to the Cov- pers could take a pic and a major way to its annual id-19 lockdown, the team at EFT a donation. The virtual budget gaps for running Famsa has explored vari- collection takes place for costs to continue essential ous options and decided ONE day only: in Knysna services to the community on a virtual tinless street on December 5 and in Plett - enhancing relationships collection to reduce risk of on December 12. Also keep and emotional well-being spreading the virus. an eye on the Famsa Knysna through counselling, train- Look out for the A3 post- Facebook page and see the ing and community work ers with Famsa’s SnapScan advert on page 9.

Tackling unemployment by creating more in-demand skills, not just jobs AS lockdown is pushing up South Africa’s unemployment rate, local Digital skills, in particular, are in high demand. According to last year’s world with crucial digital skills so they can take part in the digital economy. Nwaneri explains. Interested individuals should register on the GSI and international stake- ICT skills gap survey by “In South Africa, we website, after which each holders have upped their the Johannesburg Centre aim to recruit at least applicant’s needs, intergame to turn the tide. The for Software Engineer- 50,000 unemployed, un- ests, and aspirations will focus is on creating em- ing and the Institute of skilled, under-skilled and be assessed allowing them ployment, through ena- Information Technology economically marginal- to be channelled to the bling tens of thousands Professionals in South ised individuals, including correct learning pathway. of individuals, including Africa, shortages are youths, and set them up Nwaneri says ATS got young people, with the in- most prominent in soft- for life so they can take involved in GSI as it fi ts demand digital skills they ware development, com- part in the growing digital in with its Cradle to Caneed to compete for the puter network and system economy,” says Nwaneri. reer 360º development thousands of hard to fi ll engineering, ICT systems “Of these recruits 20,000 model. This youth upliftvacancies - free of charge. analysis, programming, will go to the next round, ment strategy empowers When looking at South ICT security, and busi- in which we will deter- disadvantaged South AfAfrica’s most pressing ness analysis. mine their best learning ricans from the age of two socio-economic problems, Nwaneri stresses these pathway and support until they are independent unemployment - particu- and other digital abilities them to access and com- and employed adults with larly amongst youths - is are not just in demand plete at least one of the education, core and techone of the most urgent is- among IT employers. many courses available.” nical skills, and employsues. The government es- “As the global and South The remaining candi- ment or self-employment, timates that 58% of 15 to African economies are be- dates will benefi t from while also helping to meet 24-year-olds are not being coming increasingly digit- selecting and following their nutrition, health, employed, educated, or ised, digital skills have be- their learning pathways and social needs. trained. Creating more come more relevant in all on their own, according “What makes the GSI economic opportunities is industries. That includes to Nwaneri, who notes a powerful development only part of the solution. fi nance, engineering, and that this trajectory is of- and empowerment solu“The fact is there are business management, fered free of charge. tion is that it taps into the thousands and thousands but also education and “We are also offering human resources South of positions available. The travel,” she says. to pay for or reimburse Africa already has at its problem is that employers For this reason, ATS has 1,500 unemployed people disposal, training individstruggle to fi ll these va- partnered with multina- to complete Microsoft uals and providing them cancies because they can’t tional technology compa- vendor certifi ed exams with the right skills to fi ll fi nd candidates with the ny Microsoft in its Global in the technical pathways the vacancies we can’t fi ll. right skill sets,” says Onyi Skills Initiative (GSI). As of software developer, “This is more effi cient Nwaneri, CEO at Afrika a response to lockdown- data analyst, and net- than creating new jobs, Tikkun Services (ATS) - a induced economic crises work administrator. We especially considering the recruitment, placement, and job losses worldwide, will help a minimum of extremely tough economic and training company this global programme 500 fi nd jobs or work ex- climate we are fi nding ourspecialised in corporate intends to empower 25 perience placements, and selves in,” she concludes. transformation. million people around the assist 50 entrepreneurs,” Google ATS for details.

Western Cape celebrates entrepreneurial resilience

THE Western Cape En- need it most. trepreneurship Recog- “They are role models for nition Awards (WCERA) others, especially young took place as a hybrid vir- people, who can learn tual event at Cape Town from them and be inspired International Convention to start their own busiCentre on November 26, nesses. We support and enwhen 12 inspiring entre- courage our winners, now preneurs were lauded for more than ever, because their hard work and resil- their entrepreneurial spirit ience during the Covid-19 is exactly what we need as pandemic. we continue to fi ght both

Taking the grand Busi- a health pandemic and an ness of the Year prize was unemployment pandemic Ntombi Nonxuba from in the Western Cape. Rise Uniforms, which is “And so, since the start based in the Philippi area, MASKS ON, HATS OFF! From left are Western Cape of the Covid-19 panemploys 46 people from Economic Development and Tourism department head demic, in addition to our the surrounding area and is a manufacturer Solly Fourie, winner Ntombi Nonxuba of Rise Uniforms, and Finance and Economic Opportunities minister David Maynier at the hybrid virtual awards evening many initiatives to support businesses, we have and supplier of locally also been working hard to produced uniforms, cor- Now in its eighth year, winners during the key- support entrepreneurs in porate wear and comple- the WCERA celebrates note address, Western the Western Cape. mentary garments. the hard work of entrepre- Cape Finance and Eco- “I’m incredibly proud

During the Covid-19 neurs and their contribu- nomic Opportunities that we have been able to pandemic, Ntombi piv- tion to job creation and minister David Maynier help our entrepreneurs, oted her focus to also economic growth in the said: “Our entrepreneurs because it is their brave provide Personal Protec- Western Cape. Important- deserve to be celebrated leap into the unknown tive Equipment and in so ly, winning businesses are because they play a criti- that results in disruption, doing was able to keep awarded with prize money cal role not only in cre- in competition, in bether business going and and support services that ating jobs, but they also ter ways of working and her staff employed during will help them to sustain or support skills develop- in the new ideas that we a very challenging time. A expand their enterprises. ment and provide op- need to bounce back in well-deserved winner! Congratulating all the portunities for those who the Western Cape.”

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

The confi dence versus pessimism debate

BETWEEN the ‘lost • Containment of the ginning to happen and, • Retailers to look for 10 years’ and the vi- civil service wage bill. again, it is ironic that the are Spar (where you get rus, we fi nd South Afri- Ironically, the more la- more political wars we good rand hedge proteccan investments valued bour unrest the better, see, the better. tion) and Pick n Pay in at their lowest rating in as it will show that the • The investment drive the food sector, with Fos50 years. Shares are cur- government is digging its is accelerating. We see chini in the clothing retail rently priced for maxi- heels in. the spectrum auction, department. mum pessimism, with • No further state renewable energy, and • Property equities and bonds offering an un- owned enterprises (SEO) changed government Growthpoint will ultiprecedented real return bailouts. A few insol- regulations allowing pri- mately recover. of almost 5%. vencies would be a good vate/municipal energy • Telecoms - both MTN

Much of the uncertain- thing. SAA will be the lit- generation as signals of and Vodacom continue to ty created by the virus mus test. gradual success. produce good dividends. has begun to dissipate. • Eskom reconstruction A sound equity portfo- The concept of a “diviThis is accompanied by and repair. We already lio of quality shares will dend recovery” is imporextraordinary global and tant for retirees. local monetary stimulus The next 12 months (negative rates are now ‘The next 12 months will see most of the will see most of the faalmost the norm) accom- favourite dividend stocks resuming payments’ vourite dividend stocks panied by massive fi scal resuming payments. This spending by governments see Madupi under full be rewarding over the will bring relief to your around the world. The oil production, better debt next three to fi ve years. income projections and price is well contained. collection, and new en- This portfolio should in- compensate for extreme-

The extreme value of- ergy sources being pro- clude: ly low interest rates. fering of South African moted. We should receive • Banks, in particular Now start watching out equities is best seen in a more details of the recon- Standard Bank, First for the swing from extreme comparison with other struction by Christmas. National Bank, and pessimism to a gradual reemerging markets. The • Government infra- Capitec for the more ag- turn of confi dence. average PE ratio of South structure rollout. This gressive investor. African shares is ±9, will focus on schools, wa- • Diversifi ed miners like • Malcolm has been in while that of our peers is ter, sanitation, housing, Anglos and Billiton will the investment industry ±12. In other words, our ports, rail, and roads. participate in the global for nearly 50 years. He shares are 25% cheaper Many of these projects recovery, with growth in has written this column than those of our peers. have been gazetted, and China as a focus. in CXPRESS for the last

The catalyst that will several are already under • Global equities 22 years and is a specialtransform our current construction. like Bats, Prosus (or ist in managing retired pessimism to a more con- • High profi le criminal Naspers), and Multi- wealth. See the MPK adfi dent mood will depend prosecutions for corrup- choice all offer good vert on this page for conon several factors: tion. This is clearly be- rand hedge qualities. tact details.

KYLE’S A WINNER IN EVERY WAY: Plett’s fi rst-ever Mr South Africa Top 10 fi nalist Kyle Hans was certainly a hot favourite, and top contender in many categories of the contest, including the areas of charity work throughout the year and physique. So although he did not win the recently-concluded Mr SA 2020 title, Kyle is grateful for the exceptional support received over the past year, since he fi rst entered the competition. He thanks his main sponsors, Rice and Linen, along with JAM Design, BAG, Jansen’s Transport, Sharat Lahb, Ricardo’s Glass and Enrico ‘Oom Bul’ Apollis from Oom Bul Coffee Shop in George. “Thank you to Sybil and Jeanine of The Grand for hosting me, and my beautiful mom Felicia for the photoshoot and gift voucher,” says Kyle, who also expresses his thanks to the friends and family from far and wide for supporting his charity initiatives throughout the year. “Top of this list are the mental health and breast cancer awareness drives. Those memories will be cherished, and specifi cally the events at T’Niqua Stable Inn and being a crucial part of their latest promotional video, which has been well received both locally and internationally,” he says. At left, Kyle is pictured with his “greatest supporter”, Felicia Hans. - Photo: Leigh Dunn

Photo: Adam van Rhyner

People, places & events

FOR A SAFER COMMUNITY: The newly-elected Plettenberg Bay Community Policing Forum (CPF) structure had its fi rst orientation meeting with Western Cape Department of Community Safety (DoCS) deputy director Justin Lottering on November 24. Pictured here on the occasion in the lecture room at Plett Police Station are some of the members in attendance - seated from left are Collin Wildeman, Warrant Offi cer Qhukani, Sally Turner, Elaine Paulse and Linnys Freecks. CPF member Adam van Rhyner is not pictured, as he was responsible for shooting this photo of his colleagues and their esteemed visitor from DoCS in mid-instructional mode.

CLEGG THE YOUNGER AT FANCOURT THIS MONTH: Eager to get back on the road as South African restrictions open up, Jesse Clegg has announced the dates for his upcoming end-of-year tour which will see him performing around the Eastern and West-ern Cape in December and January. The tour follows the successful release of his latest single, ‘Speed of Light’ - an upbeat pop-inspired track about how life can still hold inspiring surprises, even at our lowest points - which was charting on stations around the country within a week of being released to radio. “This song is about dealing with disappointment and regret and then rediscovering your passion and sense of connection; the tour symbolises a culmination of what 2020 has represented and taking a positive approach moving into the new year,” explains Jesse, who wrote and produced the song with Nick Furlong (Avicci, 5 Seconds of Summer, Kygo, Steve Aoki) and Nick Petricca (lead singer of Walk the Moon). ‘Speed of Light’ follows on the back of Jesse’s previous chart-topper ‘Let It Burn’, which marked his fi rst new original music since the release of ‘I’ve Been Looking’ in March 2018 - the fi rst and only collaboration he did with his late father, the legendary Johnny Clegg. Catch Jesse at Fancourt in George on December 20 and see the advert on page 5 for details.

NOU REGTIG IN DIE EG VERBIND: Leon Smith en Wilmien Strydom het getrou op 31 Oktober in Thornham in die hart van die Tsitsikamma, en geniet hier die heugelike geleentheid saam met hul kroos Liz-mien en Jaundri. Ons wens hul als van die beste toe vir ‘n gedeelte toekoms vol geluk en liefde.

GOOSE PLAYS HOST TO SOUTH CAPE PROS: The annual PGA Pro Am was held at Goose Valley Golf Club (GVGC) on Monday November 23. In conjunction with title sponsors Cape Summer Villas (CSV), the event saw 16 of the Southern Cape’s

PGA professionals and their team mates playing for the title. Each team had one professional and three amateurs playing a four-ball alliance with two scores to count as well as the PGA professionals competing in their own section against each other. Cape Summer Villas along with Srixon

Golf SA produced a fantastic prize table of golf equipment and fi ve-star accommodation vouchers and hampers for the winning teams. The prize-giving was held at Sky Villa - just one of the many hotels in the collection - with a fabulous spread of salads, desserts and a perfectly-cooked lamb spit braai that was enjoyed by all. The winning team on the day was pro player Andrew

Jamieson from Scratch Golf and his amateurs Eugene Kok, Glen Moller and Ruan Smit. The winning professional was Terence

Boardman from Simola, with a score of three under par. “On behalf of Goose Valley Golf Club, I thank our sponsors for what was called the best event thus far on the Southern Cape PGA calendar. We look forward to next year’s competition, which may turn into a two-day event with even more to play for,” said Goose Valley head PGA pro Daniel Gouws. Cape Summer Villas has a corporate membership at GVGC as of December 1, which is sure to add value add to guests. Pictured from left above are Ruan, Eugene, Andrew and Glen with CSV Boutique Hotel Collection Group GM Paul Duverge at right.

HOSPITAL VISITOR RESTRICTIONS

As part of its responsibility in ensuring everyone’s safety, the

Department of Health will continue to restrict

visitations to its health facilities in line with national safety regulations.

Some facilities are in a position to allow one birthing partner and one parent/guardian for paediatric patients. Facilities will also consider visitation on compassionate grounds i.e. when a patient is at end of life stage.

However, anyone going to, or planning to go to a health facility, is the facility to enquire about visitations, as this varies daily due to the number of factors at a

Diarise these unique concerts featuring three of SA’s most memorable musicians

Ouland Royale Baroque Barn and Hum Bee Flora Garden are to host fundraisers for Hospice Plett on December 12 and 13 respectively

DRAKENSBERG BOY SCORES BIG: Makudupanyane Senaoana will perform with Dr Lisa Engelbrecht at Ouland Royale and they will be joined by Mike Bhayibhile at Hum Bee Flora on the following Sunday; next year, Makudu is due to attend masterclasses at Italy’s Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy

PLETTENBERG Bay will resound with wonderful music and song at two concerts to be held over the weekend of December 12 and 13.

The concerts have been arranged by soprano and pianist Dr Lisa Engelbrecht, who is the operatic vocal coach at UCT’s Opera School where she also lectures in lyric diction.

A renowned musician, she performs regularly in both South Africa and Europe and coaches specifi cally in London at the Royal College and Academy of Music, and Trinity Laban at the University of Greenwich.

Lisa is also part of the dynamic Cape Town-based duo The Opera Angels with mezzo soprano Lindsay Thomson. They create unique programmes encompassing many musical genres, whether it be an introduction to opera, an evening of cinema greats, or a taste of Italy.

Tenor Makudupanyane Senaoana originally hails from Lesotho and cut his cords with the Drakensberg Boys Choir. He completed his Masters in Music at the Hochschule in Cologne and has performed internationally with Cape Town Opera and in William Kentridge operas in the USA and Europe.

Makudu also performs regularly with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra in oratorio and symphonic works, and has been acknowledged in two international online voice competitions this year.

Apart from claiming third prize in the International Grand Prix of Romania Trophaeum Artis Cantorum, he scored the scholarship prize at the Giovanni Consiglio International Competition, which allows him the opportunity to participate in masterclasses at the Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy in Italy next year.

To have won this prize out of 256 participants from 29 countries, adjudicated by a jury composed of opera singers, casting directors, conductors, voice teachers and agents, is a tremendous accolade.

As regular CXPRESS readers will know, Plettbased baritone Mike Bhayibhile performed with Dr Lisa Engelbrecht in two livestreamed concerts organised by Plett Tourism in its fi rst virtual Arts Festival earlier this year.

Themed ‘La Vida Local’, the festival afforded home grown artists like Mike, who lives in Kwanokuthula, the opportunity to perform and as a consequence he has been awarded a prestigious double scholarship to Berlin.

Next weekend’s two concerts will have totally different content and should delight music lovers no end. “And since Makudu and Mike have never performed together before, it’s sure to be an exciting experience for them both,” says lady Annabelle Conyngham of the PlettAid Foundation.

The Foundation and Hospice Plett are grateful for the support of Wilja Reitz of Ouland Royale and Hum Bee Flora’s Bruno and Ulrike Baldzuhn for hosting the events and tickets for both are available from The Market Square Info Centre on 044 533 3219.

The Ouland Royale concert on December 12 starts at 7pm (gates open at 5:30pm and close at 6:50pm, tickets R400 each) and the Hum Bee Flora concert starts at 5pm on December 13 (gates open at 4pm, tickets R250 each).

Most importantly, strict Covid-19 protocols and precaution plans for both concerts have been drawn up by Hospice Plett. Email aconyngham@telkomsa. net for more information.

My dokter sê hy kan nie presies sê wat fout is met my nie... dis moontlik al die gedrinkery... so ek sal maar teruggaan as hy nugter is. WITTY AND WISE

QUOTES Bill Murray

Knowledge is like underwear. It is useful to have it, but not necessary to show it off.

Eddie Murphy

The advice I would give to someone is to not take anyone’s advice.

Ellen Degeneres

Follow your passion. Stay true to yourself. Never follow someone else’s path unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path. By all means, you should follow that.

Jerry Seinfeld

Men want the same thing from their underwear that they want from women: a little bit of support, and a little bit of freedom.

Jim Carrey

I can tell you that the effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is.

Jon Stewart

If you don’t stick to your values when they’re being tested, they’re not values, they’re hobbies.

Ricky Gervais

Just because you’re offended, doesn’t mean you’re right.

Robin Williams

See, the problem is that God gives men a brain and a willy, and only enough blood to run one at a time.

Ryan Reynolds

Believe me, airplane toilets are extremely aggressive. It wasn’t until I got back to my seat that I noticed my pants and testicles were missing.

Stephen Colbert

There’s an old saying about those who forget history. I don’t remember it, but it’s good.

Steven Wright

I almost broke both my arms yesterday trying to hold open a revolving door for a woman.

Will Ferrell

Whenever someone calls me ugly I get super sad and hug them, because I know how tough life is for the visually impaired.

Woody Allen

The difference between sex and love is that sex relieves tension and love causes it.

Dick Gregory

When I lost my rifl e, the army charged me 85 dollars. That’s why in the navy the captain goes down with the ship.

Jimmy Durante

My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe.

Police have arrested the World TongueTwister Champion... They said he’ll be given a tough sentence.

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Quick crossword no 15,

CROSSDRESS O S I Z T R TUTEE BEEL INE A A R R M N L FRI CT ION GULL E V T F S I HI ATUS BEDECK T B N O D Y WEPT FOOTHOLD E M K Y A R A HAI ROI L TYROL

C L O E O O

BANKRUPTCY

Municipality dishes out houses to those who own homes already, or have moved away

In 2008, my sister Nomfuneko Mafana, 39, applied for a Rural Development Programme (RDP) house in the Bitou district. She was diagnosed with depression in 2010, but fortunately, she is stable at present.

She has been receiving a government disability grant for the last 10 years because of her condition. Doctors have confi rmed her incapability of being employed whatsoever.

Her son, Inga Mafana, suffers from a digestive condition and has thus been on a government grant since 2014. His situation requires a convenient working bathroom and toilet facility.

We have great uncertainty in our lives, since we are never really sure of the roof over our heads, e.g. when our landlord will decide he needs his house.

We have been in all offi ces of the Bitou Housing department, and met with the highest seat in town. We have been tossed around from one offi cial to the next, just to realise we have just been going in circles.

We have submitted every single document and all the necessary paperwork that they required. But now I have lost all faith in the system.

A few weeks ago, names were being called out for benefi ciaries of houses in KwaNokuthula Phase 5; most of these people are known by the community to already own houses, or to have sold their RDP homes and moved away from Plett many years ago.

It’s a sad state of affairs that we have been in Plettenberg Bay for the past 15 years, but see people who have arrived long after us receiving their own homes.

Please help if you can.

Nondyebo Mafana, Plett

(This letter was forwarded to Bitou Municipality as well as the Western Cape Government’s Housing department, so we sincerely hope that your plight grabs the attention of someone who is in a position to help you, Nondyebo. Please keep us posted. - Eds.)

Rates rip-off refl ects badly on Bitou, province, and CXPRESS The full page report by ing from the poor. Bonus- rely on the Ratepayers As- (Mr De Wet, there’s literPlett Ratepayers Associa- es after already receiving sociation for information? ally hundreds of examples tion [turn to page 4 of the R9.2-million in “over- Where were they when over the past 22+ years of November 25 edition at time” cannot be justifi ed. all these dubious deci- our reports on municipal www.cxpress.co.za] does For how long can the sions were taken? misdemeanours, to put it not make for good read- taxpayers of Plettenberg Did they object, did lightly, in all the Garden ing. In fact, tax payers in Bay (specifi cally those in they walk out, did they Route towns served by this town should be wor- Ward 2) continue paying report to their constitu- CXPRESS. ried - very worried! rates and taxes for ALL ents? When is the West- A quick run through

It is clear that this town the inhabitants of Bitou? ern Cape Government back issues on our website is run by a mayor and Bear in mind that an- going to put a stop to will reveal as much - look ANC councillors who are other 1,300 houses are to all this? Surely they have for these in the form of totally unaccountable. Is be built in Qolweni and been informed… hard news reports, inforthis not the sad story of Ebenezer in the near fu- I also have to ask: where mation furnished by orevery single municipality ture, complete with free was CXPRESS? Is it not ganisations such as Plett governed by the ANC? water and electricity. your duty as a commu- Ratepayers Association, Do these councillors pay Brace yourself for an- nity newspaper to keep and letters from our readtheir rates and taxes? other steep increase in your readers informed? ers as they take a stand on

Looking at the fi gures rates and taxes in the Don’t you attend these the soapbox - a platform supplied, I doubt that near future. Soon we will council meetings? offered to the community very much. not be able to afford liv- We marched against free of charge.

Using Covid money as ing in this beautiful town. Zuma two years ago. I Do keep in touch, as we bonuses for the 300 fat My biggest concern is would be the fi rst to vol- value the input and opincats who already receive the silence of the oppo- unteer to march against ions of our readers more the highest salaries in sition DA councillors in this municipality and all than can be expressed givtown, and didn’t work light of all this informa- its wasteful expenditure. en the space constraints during lockdown, is steal- tion. Why do we have to H de Wet, Plett on this page. - Eds.)

Who’s supposed to save this young tree?

Traute Brueck shared this photo and wrote: “The young tree pictured here is dying, and has been lying for many days alongside White Caps Way, where sewage blockage needed fi xing. Will it be replanted? Is there no nature conservation in Plett?” (Upon our enquiry, Henk Nieuwoudt of CapeNature immediately referred us to the correct person at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), advising that the particular case falls within the DAFF mandate. CXPRESS forwarded Mr Brueck’s query after chatting to friendly staff at the department’s Knysna branch but, to our disappointment, no response had been received by going to press. We’ll be sure to share a response if and when it lands. - Eds.)

State of ‘90 Trees’ will make Madiba turn in his grave As one nears Plett from ing the area visually at- mothers have even no- tion for Madiba and for the Harkerville side, there tractive and honouring ticed the dilapidated all that he achieved for is a group of trees called Madiba. Sadly, today, the fence. Whether they South Africa, our fi rst Madiba’s 90 Trees. fence lies in ruins, proba- have or not, they show citizens should delegate

Once upon a time there bly with parts stolen and disrespect to Madiba by someone to either repair was a fence surrounding the rest vandalised. allowing the fence to re- the fence or to remove it these trees, producing a I wonder if our illus- main in ruins. altogether. neat border while mak- trious town fathers and Surely, out of apprecia- Kevin Meineke, Plett

On Covid...

You have gone Before goodbyes Were said Years of touched Memory unspoken No hand that could Be held No gentle kiss Just gone

- Paul Deans, Plett