2 November 2016

2 November 2016

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

Go matrics!

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10,000 wishes CAN come true p2

Tour bus robbed at Lookout p4

Uschi’s gift unveiled p5

These Wittedrift High matrics along with headmaster Jeremy Marallich celebrated the end of their schooldesk days with a communal plunge at Plett’s Central Beach before the serious business of final exams, now in its second week for the vast majority of the country’s Grade 12s.

We wish every single matric scholar in CX Country and beyond the very best for their remaining papers - you can ace it and you know it!

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

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

2 November 2016

HELP CXPRESS TO MAKE 10,000 WISHES COME TRUE

There’s a full 10,000 ways of brightening a lessprivileged child’s life this festive season C XPRESS, Algoa FM, and Rotary are joining hands in launching the 10,000 Wishes campaign, which kicked off on October 31 and runs until Friday December 9.

The project is partnered by all Group Editors titles from as far west as Riversdale, inland to Oudtshoorn and GraaffReinet, and including Mossel Bay, George, and Knysna.

The campaign’s main aim is the uber-important objective of putting a smile on a less fortunate child’s face by giving him or her a special Christmas gift over the festive season.

Says Group Editors spokesperson Lorraine Verhagen: “Children are our most valuable asset and we would like to bring a little magic to their lives this Christmas.”

So how can you contribute?

It’s very simple, indeed!

Collection boxes have been placed throughout the region and readers are now invited to drop off new or used toys at any collection point nearest their neighbourhood.

A huge thank you go to Stuttafords George for the donation of boxes.

Every single toy will make a difference, regardless of size or value. With the help of Rotary, the toys will be distributed in the area where it has been collected, so ensuring your gifts are shared with less fortunate children in your very

RUDOLPH REVISITED: Look out for these bins, kindly availed by Stuttafords George, at central points in Knysna, Plett, Sedgefield, George and elsewhere in the S-Cape to donate your new or good second-hand toys

own area.

In CXPRESS Country, the bins are available at the Plettenberg Bay Information Kiosk next to Mugg & Bean at The Market Square shopping centre in Beacon Way, at The Market on Main (in Plettenberg Bay’s main road opposite

the Mellville’s Corner shopping centre), at the CXPRESS office (6 Park Lane - behind the Traffic Department), at Knysna & Partners in Knysna Mall (next to Village Pharmacy), at Knysna Tourism in Main Street Sedgefield, and at Food Lovers Market in Water-

front Drive.

For more information about the project, or about collection points outside of the CXPRESS distribution footprint, contact Lorraine Verhagen at lverhagen@groupeditors.co.za or on 044 874 2424.

Also see the notice below.

NEWS & VIEWS

2 November 2016

NPA urged to prioritise child-abuse cases Following a series of ‘slap on the wrist sentences’ and prosecution bungles in court cases involving sex crimes against children in Plett in recent weeks, a local anti-child abuse group has intensified efforts to put an end to the scourge that is plaguing the coastal holiday town - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports

EMBERS of Plett’s Green Hearts have not only joined workshops of the South African Law Reform Commission to provide input regarding “the need to change inadequate and antiquated laws including those relating to child pornography”, but has also approached the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to urge it to prioritise cases involving children.

This follows several cases in which the group felt the “system had failed” young victims. The latest incident happened on October 19, when an 83-year-old man, initially accused of raping a nine-year-old girl from The Crags, was handed a suspended sentence in the Knysna Regional Court.

This just days after it came to light that the case against a man allegedly linked to the distribution and possession of nearly 180,000 images of child abuse - including infants being raped and tortured - was at risk of being struck off the court roll due to a bungle with the charge sheet.

Green Hearts spokesperson Yvette Wilschut said they were shocked when the elderly man, Christian Donson, entered into a plea agreement and was

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subsequently convicted and handed a five-year suspended sentence. While he was initially accused of rape, he pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

Wilschut labelled the sentence a “slap on the wrist” and said it highlighted the shortcomings of the justice system in terms of child abuse. She added that such sentences added to the trauma that the victims had suffered and was not a deterrent for criminals who planned on committing similar crimes.

Wilschut also bemoaned the court shock when magistrate Eugenia Jacobs indicated there was a possibility that the matter against the Plett computer engineer, accused of having links to a horrific child pornography network, could be struck off the roll over issues with the charge sheet.

The charge sheet has not yet been compiled, and the state indicated that the DPP wanted each of the 179,000 images to be individually described. This was expected to take months.

Jacobs allowed one final postponement to November 30.

“This is just another example of the justice system failing child victims,” said

Avoiding toll fees?

Wilschut.

She added that these were also some of the reasons the organisation had intensified efforts to have laws around sexual offences against children changed.

“We are in court with every appearance to try and place the matters in the serious light they are. We participated in law reform workshops in an attempt to have laws around child abuse change - including campaigning for harsher sentences and less-traumatic court experiences for young victims.

“When we feel, like in the Donson and the computer engineer cases, that the state is letting victims down, we bring it under the NPA’s attention.”

Wilschut said the last few cases had also highlighted the need for preventative measures. “We can try as hard as we want to have the system changed, but at the end of the day we need to do all we can to ensure that these things don’t happen in the first place.”

One of their programmes includes offering “protective behaviour” workshops at schools, equipping youngsters with the skills to protect themselves against sexual predators.

Reader Roger Davis sent this photo of an obstacle placed in the Bloukrans Pass, prohibiting cars from passing through, with ‘Newest obstacle to stop people from avoiding toll payments’ in the subject line. “This is so unnecessary. We often used to take a drive through these Tsitsikamma passes. This barrier is on the Eastern Cape side as, unlike Western Cape provincial authorities, they are not prepared to maintain the road. Do they not realise what this is doing to tourism in the area? This drive should be a real showpiece.”

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

2 November 2016

Reward offered for expensive but untradeable equipment stolen from Germans’ tour bus Cape Town-based tour operator PETER SMULIK wrote the below communication to CXPRESS ‘in desperation’ after a theft from the bus of upper echelon tourists during a recent visit to Plettenberg Bay

HERE is cause to urgently address the increasing crime incidents affecting tourists, and foreign ones at that, in the Plettenberg Bay area.

Because of the lacking security, my group had the extremely unfortunate experience of a break-in into our bus two Sundays ago at the Lookout parking area, when parked adjacent to what appears to be the pump station.

Despite there being (completely useless) “official” car guards on duty, our bus was broken into by forcing open a sliding window on the side of the bus.

The curtains inside the bus were drawn closed and, in any case, nothing was visible from the outside.

One of my guests left his camera bag containing substantial equipment worth about R150,000 under one of the seats, not wanting to take it to the beach, but having it with him for the day, as other

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activities were planned during the afternoon.

While my guests were at the beach, I remained in the bus reading, but joined them for lunch between 12 noon and 2:30pm, during which time the breakin happened.

The incident brings some questions and comments to mind: Are these “guards” trained in any way to prevent break-ins into vehicles?

Currently, they are obviously completely inadequate, and may even be in cahoots with the thieves - a view expressed by one of the officers at Plett police station.

The restaurant manager informed me that breakins at the parking area are a regular occurrence.

If that is so, why is there no surveillance equipment installed, and/or more effective alternative measures taken to prevent such incidents?

Bushes adjacent to the parking, especially at the upper level, are an ideal

hiding and observation spot for would-be vandals.

The window through which the bus was entered is not large enough for an adult; it had to be a very small person - indeed, probably only a child would be able to squeeze through.

As the side windows are not linked to the bus’s door locking system, the alarm did not sound.

Maybe Plett should recruit Cape Town’s very effective but recently “redeployed” safety and security officer, Mr Smith, in order to implement the improvements necessary to keep Plett safe and viable for tourists into the future.

For information of the thieves, I wish to offer the following: the two Apple iPhones, models 4 and 5, that were part of the haul are completely useless in South Africa, as they are of German origin and are locked. Even with a local sim card, they will not operate.

The camera equipment is of a nature primarily used by professionals, the camera being a very new model Sony with all sort of electronic functions, whereas most of the loose lenses are old, of Leica marque, and will not fit many other cameras.

Although being of substantial value, the stolen goods will not easily be tradable. However, if the stolen equipment could be “found” and handed over to Plett SAPS, I am willing to offer a R5,000 reward to the “finder”.

The incident was reported to Plett police, who have opened a case of break-in and theft.

Judging by the case number 235, there must be approximately 10 similar cases reported in the Plett area every day. Not a proud record, I dare say.

• Reach Peter Smulik at Far and Wide Tours on 021 510 7751 or Skype smuliksp if you have information regarding the stolen goods mentioned.

Bushbuck dies despite Knysna crew’s best efforts SRI Knysna duty crew on Monday around 2pm heard eyewitness reports of a juvenile ram bushbuck seen to be swimming across from Featherbed Nature Reserve towards the eastern side of the Knysna Heads.

NSRI rescue swimmers responded to the scene and the buck was found to have reached the shore where it was trapped by the tide in a cave at the foot of the Eastern Head.

Said spokesman Craig Lambinon: “The buck bolted and again launched into the surf and swam

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back towards the Western Head. NSRI Knysna duty crew then launched the sea rescue craft Jolen.”

On arrival on the scene, the exhausted buck was found to be caught in the surf in a gully in among rocks, and being washed against rocks by waves.

NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the surf and they managed to get the buck onto rocks, but it was found to be critically injured and pulseless.

Crew members commenced CPR efforts, but to no avail.

“After all efforts to re-

suscitate the buck, it was exhausted and was sadly declared deceased,” said Lambinon.

The buck’s remains were loaded onto the sea rescue craft and brought to shore before being handed into the care of SANParks rangers.

NSRI headquarters in Cape Town commended the efforts of the Knysna crewmen in this difficult rescue effort.

--Plett station commander Marc Rodgers reported that his crew received a call around 1:30pm on

Friday to assist a man suffering a seizure, who had sustained injuries during the episode along Odlands Road. NSRI medics stabilised the man, believed to be a municipal employee, before he was transported to hospital by ambulance.

On Monday just before 1pm, Plett’s duty crew launched Farnham Rescuer to assist a man on a Hobie-cat that sustained technical problems offshore of Central Beach.

The boat was towed to shore and no further assistance was required.

NEWS & VIEWS

2 November 2016

CXPRESS

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Knysna estuary’s biodiversity celebrated with Uschi’s bronze NYSNA conservationist Uschi Schultz and her family unveiled a lifesized bronze statue of a fisherman, which was donated to SANParks as a token of their appreciation for these custodians of SA’s number one estuary.

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In attendance as invited guests of the Schultz family and friends were Knysna speaker and former mayor Georlene Wolmarans, councillor Mark Willemse, members of the press and local business fraternity, as well as past and current SAN-

Parks managers Peet Joubert and Owen Govender, and communications officer Nandi Mgwadlamba.

Said CXPRESS contributor Gigi Lewis: “We were all invited by Uschi to this amazing hand-over of her donation, erected at

the viewpoint at Knysna’s Eastern Head. Members of Uschi’s family came from far away and we all enjoyed bubbly and snacks along with the different local representatives who were involved in the process.

“The area was cordoned

off for the duration of the presentation and I was fortunate to get a photo of the first tourist couple from The Netherlands who, along with their baby, came to pose with the fisherman soon afterwards.

“This charming landmark

will certainly form a small but most significant part of Knysna’s colourful history,” mused Gigi.

Kudos to Uschi and her clan for realising this aesthetically pleasing celebration of Knysna’s biodiversity conservation efforts.

A TOAST TO NATURE: Uschi Schultz, Georlene Wolmarans, and former SANParks area manager Peet Joubert drink to the estuary’s good health - Photos: Gigi Lewis

Knysna phoenix rises from ashes Words & photo: Timothy Twidle

LE de païn, the iconic Knysna eatery on Thesen Islands that suffered extensive collateral damage from a fire on the evening of May 6 last year, and which was forced to close thereafter, is to open again in the near future.

After long months of recompense, redesign and rebuilding, île de païn 2.0 is almost ready. The café has been reconstructed to a clean, minimalist look with the emphasis on state of the art equipment for the

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bakery, patisserie, kitchen and retail counter.

The atrium is clothed in glass that allows for the interior to be bathed with sunlight and warmth, giving a cheerful and friendly ambiance. Much of the furniture that was previously in use has been refurbished and will be familiar to île de païn aficionados.

At present the café is a hive of activity, the staff complement of 45 immersed in commissioning equipment, hands-on training, testing and formulating new recipes, and preparing for anything and everything

HIVE OF ACTIVITY: Work continues apace on the exterior of île de païn 2.0 as the staff continue with training and testing inside

the big day may bring.

Founders Liezie Mulder and Markus Färbinger, who have always been the life and soul, inspiration, and very essence of île de païn, are moving into more executive and supportive roles to allow for the rise of new stars.

Says Färbinger: “The staff must shine, they are the next generation of île de païn, they must grow and develop and we want them to express themselves and be efficient - nobody, but nobody must feel excluded.”

As the builders put the finishing touches to the new île de païn, there is a palpable feeling of excitement, a sense of drive and commitment to deliver the best.

Färbinger says they should reopen around midNovember. Will there be a grand, ceremonial opening?

“No,” says Färbinger.

“When we are ready, we will open our doors, walk across the street and tell people that we are open again, and then await developments.”

Hold your breath, it’s going to be big - seismic, even, what with the recent Knysna tremor in mind…

HAIL THE ANGLER: Uschi before unveiling the bronze statue at the Knysna Heads viewpoint

FIRST SELFIE WINNERS: The first visitors to take a selfie with the statue were a couple from Netherlands with their baby

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

2 November 2016

Jewels of the Route revealed to students on tour in Plett Words & photo: André Bouwer

ES, we do live in what can aptly be described as one of the most beautiful areas of South Africa - indeed, of Africa and the rest of the world.

Yet this week I once again became acutely aware that the beauty of our area is and always has been enhanced and complimented by the people we share it with.

Albertinia High School instituted an award to encourage the development of positive peer pressure - a move away from disciplinary retribution, to the rewarding of positive goaloriented achievements. All classes participated and specific goals were set, each aimed at encouraging the best possible behaviour and work ethic among students.

The class to come out tops were the Grade 11s, comprising a group of 40 boys and girls. As reward for their consistent dedicated effort throughout the past year, they were treated to a weekend n Plettenberg Bay, during which they could relax and experience the full beauty of what we

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SHARING SOME OF OUR DAILY JOY: As reward for their consistent and dedicated efforts throughout the year, Grade 11s of Albertinia High scored a trip that included some of the best treats on offer in Plett, including a close encounter with the award-winning Bloukrans Bungy crew

enjoy every day.

It should suffice to say that they were totally enthralled.

What a privilege it was to witness their awe and share their joy as they walked the Bloukrans Bridge, watched two of their class friends jump, strolled through the forest-filled beauty of Birds of Eden, and then heard the roar of Angelo the white Bengal tiger at Jukani.

None of this would have been possible without the generosity and spirit of goodwill of Lara (Birds of Eden/Jukani), Devon and Braden (Face Adrenalin/ Bloukrans Bungy), Org (Pick n Pay), George (Mel-

ville’s Spar), Paula and Duncan (BI KwikSpar), Suzette de Villiers and Beverley Booysens, as well as Mr Marallich, Mrs Grootboom, and the supportive SGB of Wittedrift High, its hostel accommodating the group for the weekend.

Thank you to each one mentioned above - your gift and generosity has added so much to the lives of this group of young people.

They went home with hearts filled with joy and minds brimming with memories.

You are indeed the true jewels of the Garden Route, and deserve all of its many blessings.

More ocean kids brewed in Bitou! new group of beneficiaries could be selected for Plett’s Adopt a Swimmer (AaS) programme, after Sasfin funds enabled the addition of 13-14 kids to this allimportant local drive that aims to prevent drowning while teaching kids muchneeded water skills.

Says AaS founder and CEO Louise Auersperg: “As sponsors of Plett’s Wine & Bubbly Festival, Sasfin also supported two incredibly interesting sessions during which John McCarthy of Ocean Child and The Greener Surfer taught two groups of local youngsters many skills relating to breathing and being proficient in the water.

“We’ve all learnt from these interactions and after having interviewing kids from all over Bitou, John’s skills can now be shared with more children from about five and six years up to 14 years of age.”

She adds that one of the new intake is a kid of four who fell victim to a serious childhood disease, and who

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WATERWISE: Louise and Peter Auersperg of Adopt a Swimmer and ‘Ocean Child’ John McCarthy, at centre, with some of the kids being trained by the programme

will benefit greatly from the programme.

There is also a follow-up course on the cards, John’s travels from KZN once again funded by Sasfin, and this time he will join Louise and husband Peter Auersperg when they take kids into the lagoon for an open water exercise.

“Normally training takes place in the pool at Piesang Valley gym, but now we will be exploring rock pools, teaching them to snorkel,

and ultimately John would like to get our children surfing,” she says.

Louise was interviewed for an SABC2 news broadcast on October 9 - view this insert by Googling ‘Sasfin Adopt a Swimmer on YouTube’, and watch this space for more info on a Sasfinproduced documentary on AaS and Ocean Child. Call Louise on 082 452 2248 if you would like to contribute, and visit www.adoptaswim mer.co.za for further details.

Register TODAY for Sunday’s Spay Day RAGS Vet and Moya Animal Outreach will host a sterilisation day at Kurland Community Hall on November 6, where surgical sterilization of dogs and cats will be done for community members.

Registration to have your

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pet sterilized at a discounted rate (on Sunday only) will include vaccination, parasite treatment and microchipping of your pet, prior to surgery.

This afternoon (November 2) is the last chance to register from 3-4pm in the

Community Hall, prices ranging from R250 to spay femal dogs to R100 to neuter male cats. Bring along these fees, your pet/s and any relevant vaccination books or cards.

Call Crags Vet Clinic on 044 534 8038 for details.

BUSINESS

2 November 2016

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Plett estate agents scoop awards WO agents from Plett won national annual awards at a Sotheby’s International Realty function recently.

Carrie Maclean won top agent with the highest units sold, as well as the Private Property Online Excellence Award for outstanding achievement online. Desré Reck walked off as runner up in the category Top Agent for High-

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est Units sold in Developments, and a third place for Highest Turnover.

In the Garden Route region, the following accolades were bestowed upon Plett agents for the quarters mentioned: March to May 2016 • Highest units: Carrie Maclean • Highest units in developments: Desré Reck • Highest turnover in de-

Investor Focus NCERTAINTY has become the buzzword in nearly all investment circles. We are all aware of the political potholes that we face over the next 12 to 18 months.

The media keeps both the local and foreign news on the front pages; stories on Facebook, sentences on Twitter, or short articles on many of the other social news services all add fuel to the fire. They thrive on marketing this uncertainty almost to the extent that many have become soapbox issues.

Will Hillary or Trump become the next US president? You will have to wait for the November screening of this soapy. Will our Prez survive 2017? Who will replace Ms Merkel?

How will Ms May negotiate the extraction of the UK from the EU? These are all cliff-hangers, but do they really matter, or will they affect markets in the long term?

You can well expect

Said Plett office principal Hein Pretorius: “I congratulate our agents on their awards for 2015, for all the hard work in making it a record year, and for improving on this even further in 2016.”

For all your propertyrelated needs, contact the Plett office on 044 533 2529, and see the adverts on the cover and on this page for current listings.

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

The uncertain sentiment

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velopments: Desré Reck • Second highest turnover: Carrie Maclean • Marketer of the quarter: Plett office June to August 2016 • Highest units in developments: Desré Reck • Second highest units: Sue Harvey • Highest turnover in developments: Desré Reck • Third highest turnover: Carrie Maclean

knee-jerk reactions as these events unfold, but their real long-term impacts are yet to be seen.

The US political system with its three centres of power - i.e. the President, the Senate, and the House of Representatives - will keep any renegade president in line. They can block most proposals or modify them, or even delay them almost indefinitely. So does it really matter who becomes president?

In our country, the voters spoke in a loud voice during the municipal elections, so our democracy does have teeth. Civic protests are building to a crescendo. Political parties have learnt that they must deliver or else. So one can probably assume that a degree of stability will return to our politics in the not too distant future.

Euroland has a really strong will to survive, as we have seen with the Greeks. It may change many of its rules, but it

still has to trade with the UK as well as the rest of the world.

So, as long-term investors, should you not be looking for bargains amid all of this uncertainty?

Markets have hardly changed over the last two to three years, but many companies have still shown good growth. Many have increased their dividends, while their share prices have stagnated.

In South Africa, our banks are cheap. These are well-managed companies that have grown their dividends during the flat market and poor economy of the past two years.

They offer retirees attractive yields with very low levels of tax.

The insurance sector also has some handsome yields in the offing. Many of our domestic industrials and retailers have been unduly depressed.

So while they may offer low capital growth in the short term, your income will certainly grow above the inflation rate.

In the UK, we have seen a massive devaluation of Sterling in the face of uncertainty over Brexit.

However, they now have a stable government, zero interest rates, and a very attractive export industry (with the exceptionally low currency).

UK property offers some attractive yields and its tourist industry should flourish. (It is probably one of the best and most economic theme parks on the planet!)

The global economy is most likely at, or near, the bottom of a cyclical downswing that started in 2008. This includes our own economy.

So it’s high time to go bottom fishing. Look for opportunities that will appear as the political soapies unfold.

• Malcolm has been in the investment industry for nearly 50 years. He has written this column in CXPRESS for the last 18 years and is a specialist in managing retired wealth.

CURRY CUP OF ESTATE AGENT EXCELLENCE: Pictured at the recent awards evening are, from left, Lew Geffen, Desré Reck and Carrie Maclean of the Plett office, with Yael and Sandy Geffen at right

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CXPRESS

INTERVAL

2 November 2016

Beware, they walk among us... guy bought a new fridge for his house.

To get rid of his old fridge that was still working, he put it in his front yard and hung a sign on it saying: ‘Free to good home. You want it, you take it’.

For three days the fridge sat there without anyone looking twice.

The guy eventually decided that people were too mistrustful of this deal, so he changed the sign to read: ‘Fridge for sale R100’.

The next day someone stole it.

--One day I was walking down the beach with some friends when someone shouted: “Look at that dead bird!”

One of my friends looked up at the sky and asked: “Where?”

--While looking at a house, my brother asked the estate agent which direction was north because he didn’t want the sun waking him up every morning.

She asked: ‘Does the sun rise in the north?’

My brother explained that the sun rises in the east and has for some time.

The estate agent shook her head and said: “Oh, I don’t keep up with all that stuff… ” --I couldn’t find my luggage at the airport baggage area and went to the lost luggage office and reported the loss.

The woman there smiled

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and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and said I was in good hands.

“Now,” she asked, “has your plane arrived yet?”

--While working at a pizza eatery, I observed a man ordering a small pizza.

He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if he would like it cut into four pieces or six.

The man thought about it, then said: “Just cut it into four pieces; I don’t think I’m hungry enough to eat six pieces.”

--A noted psychiatrist was a guest speaker at an academic function where Nancy Pelosi (Speaker of the United States House of Representatives) happened to appear.

Ms Pelosi took the opportunity to schmooze the good doctor a bit and asked him a question with which he was most at ease.

“Would you mind telling me, Doctor,” she asked, “how you detect a mental deficiency in somebody who appears completely normal?”

“Nothing is easier,” he replied. “You ask a simple question which anyone should answer with no trouble. If the person hesitates, that puts you on the track.”

“What sort of question?” asked Pelosi.

“Well, you might ask: ‘Captain Cook made three trips around the world and died during one

of them. Which one?’’’

“You wouldn’t happen to have another example would you? I must confess I don’t know much about history,” Pelosi said.

--A man was driving when he saw the flash of a traffic camera.

He figured that his picture had been taken for exceeding the limit, even though he knew that he

was not speeding.

Just to be sure, he went around the block and passed the same spot, driving even more slowly, but again the camera flashed.

Now he began to think that this was quite funny, so he drove even slower as he passed the camera again, but again it flashed as he rolled past, this time at a snail’s pace.

Two weeks later, he got five tickets in the mail for driving without a seat belt.

Sign of the times?

Don’t let your friends steal WO boys, John and Tommy, walk into a sweet shop.

While in the store, John steals four candy bars and puts them in his pocket.

When the boys leave, John brags: “I stole four candy bars, beat that!”

“No problem, just follow me,” Tommy says.

They go back into the store and Tommy ap-

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proaches one of the shopkeepers, and asks: “Would you like to see some magic, Sir?” The man says yes and Tommy opens four candy bars and eats them as fast as he can.

The angry shopkeeper demands: “Where is the magic?”

Tommy replies: “The candy bars are now in my friend’s pockets.”

SOCIAL SCENE

2 November 2016

MUSIC AFICIONADOS OF CX COUNTRY UNITE: The penultimate Knysna-Plett Concert of the year, held on October 19 in Knysna, saw Bridget Rennie Salonen on flute and James Grace on guitar give a delightful recital of works by Béla Bartók, Mauro Giulani, Peter Klatzow, Celso Machado, Francisco Tárrega and Astor Piazzola.

The evening was enjoyed by, from left, Cecilia and André Ruthven of Knysna, and Cecilia and Albert de Vos of Plettenberg Bay. Above right are François and Inge van Tonder with Carl Lambert of Sedgefield. Regarding this coming weekend’s entertainment, do diarise Friday’s Scrabblethon in aid of PlettAid at Lederle’s from 11:30am onwards (phone 044 533 5616 to book), and the Leisure Isle Festival in Knysna on Saturday (9am-5pm) and Sunday (10am-2pm), when you can mingle among beautiful things and do your Christmas shopping at leisure.

Back in Plett, the Airport Road celebration at Cairnbrogie Estate takes place from 11:30am to 6pm on Sunday.

This true community feast for the entire family will offer food stalls, a beer hall, live music, an artisan market and spit braai, the Lucky Manure raffle, Cairnbrogie’s MTB pump track, sky divers and lots of fun for kids, including jumping castle, waterslide, Puff the Pony, sand art, face-painting and Raoul the stilt man. Entry costs R20 per car and you can visit www.facebook.com/airportroadcelebration for details. - Photos: Timothy Twidle

CXPRESS

PLETT GOSPEL GALS VICTORIOUS IN GEORGE: The Family Saints gospel singers were the winners of the best local gospel group in the Southern Cape at an awards evening on October 30 in George. These proudly Plett ladies - pictured from left with Monwabisi Nzimela of Bay TV at centre are Nonkululeko Tomsana, group leader Thandazwa Mpepho, Khululwa Tyali and Phelisa Booi - have put their town now firmly on the regional gospel map. Explained Monwabisi to CXPRESS on Monday: “The awards evening was held at George Civic Centre and we at Bay TV are very proud of these young ladies who praise God through hardships and despite disadvantaged backgrounds, using their talents to glorify their Creator through music. As producer of ‘Ezokholo Gospel’ on Bay TV Channel 260, I am blessed to have interviewed them, exposing their talent to the world. My message to them? This is only the beginning - the sky is the limit! With God, anything is possible.”

People, places & events

IN THE PINK FOR CANSA CAUSE: With the help of 114 enthusiastic supporters who attended the Cansa Breast Health Walk in Plett on Friday October 28, a whopping R5,370 was raised for this important cause.

Says spokesman Hanlie Sinclair, pictured above with Ian Macmillan of Music Box: “As always on these occasions, lots of fun was had by all while walking down Beachy Head and back, before catching up with friends over a boerie roll and cool drink while the kids compared their multi-coloured coifs.

Thank you sincerely for making such a huge difference.” Hanlie also pays tribute to sponsors and contributors Cash Man, CXPRESS, Elizma of Avon, Events & Tents, KwikSpar, MS Plumbing, Music Box, Patrick Barnard Properties, Plett Methodist Church, Plettenberg Bay Primary School, Plett Security, Remax, Richard Hume, Robberg Ready Mix, Seeff, Signtec and Zumba - “and all the volunteers who helped on the day, and continue to do so!” The pictures above tell the rest of the event’s happy story.

YOUNG OAKIES EXCEL: It’s seven out of seven distinctions for these students of Marie Skeen’s Oak Note Music Academy, all of them nailing their UNISA external exams. The average percentage of the group was 84%, so here’s three cheers to, from left at back, Limor Katz (gr 4 theory) and Sarah Duncan (gr 6 theory), with Milla Kruger, Evah Montagna, and Mia Roberts (pre-gr 1 piano) and Kaitlyn Noble (gr 1 piano) in front, and Shannon Amoils (gr 4 piano) in the inset. Call Marie on 072 514 8525 for more information.

La Luna

DAM-SE-BOS SENIORS GET HOMES: Knysna mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies and Western Cape Human Settlements minister Bonginkosi Madikizela handed over houses to elderly residents in Dam-se-Bos South Project on Friday, the minister thus keeping a promise he made at a Community Meeting in 2015, when those in attendance requested his prioritisation of houses for the elderly. The housing development is part of Knysna’s Upgrade of Informal Settlement Programme and consists of 165 serviced sites and 165 houses. The project will spread across Dam-se-Bos, Concordia, Nekkies East and Oupad.

Pictured above at back from left are Ward 3 councillor Mncedisi Skosana, beneficiaries Amos and Hilda Matoka, minister Madikizela and councillor Velile Waxa of Human Settlements, with beneficiary Myeko Price and mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies in front.

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CXPRESS

2 November 2016

Handyman on call - 082 492 4417 / 072 724 6590

CLASSIFIEDS

ON THE SOAPBOX

2 November 2016

Letters to the Editor

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CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

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

To Bitou mayor regarding roaming cattle “Achieving unity among all races and classes�

- this quote as part of your statement to Mike Kantey, as written in CXPRESS of October 19, refers [turn to page 4 of that edition at www.cxpress. co.za and read ‘Where two bulls fight, it is only the grass that suffers’].

Firstly, congratulations on your appointment and best wishes for the years ahead.

Secondly, cattle belong in fields. Let me explain something that, if corrected, will bring unity and harmony between two important communities in Bitou where at present there is unhappiness For a long time now, cattle from KwaNokuthula have been herded, from time to time, into New Horizons where they graze

what they can find. This is much resented by residents for the following reasons: • They eat the flowers which people have planted to create a pleasant suburb; • They are a traffic hazard to all road users; • Small children playing in the streets are terrified by them; • They leave dung which smells and attracts flies, thus making a health problem; • The herders and owners when asked to remove them are extremely rude and threatening; • Repeated requests for this to stop seem to have come to nothing, making people angry.

Cape Times of Friday October 21 on page 16 under the heading of ‘National Transport Month’

has a plea from the Road Traffic Infringement Agency asking all citizens to make our roads safer.

Since the cattle in question come from KwaNokuthula, it is obvious that at some time of day or night they are herded across the N2, making a very serious traffic hazard on a national road.

Some years back, the ANC-led Council bought land down the dirt road to Wittedrift with the intention of helping those with livestock to farm there. To

Never mess with a ninja THE PICTURE THAT UNLEASHED THE POISON: This photo’s kicker in last week’s edition described Galliano Boni as a ‘ninja in training’

Plett street light mechanics elucidated After a letter of complaint received with regard to non-functioning street lights in Plett [turn to page 11 of the October 19 edition at www. cxpress.co.za], Bitou Electrical & Mechanical Engineering manager Peter Harpestad supplied this information: For a municipality to purchase materials for new or maintenance work, a specification needs to be drawn-up specifying the materials required. Once adjudicated to a supplier, the materials will be ordered by the Stores Department and kept in stock for use by the user departments.

Tenders were called for the supply and delivery to the Municipal Stores situated at 17 Marine Drive for a whole host of different items of different sizes, wattages and ratings.

These include high and low voltage cables, high voltage switchgear, miniature substations, low voltage circuit breakers, high voltage fuses, streetlight luminaires, streetlight poles, and streetlight lamps including types such as high-pressure sodium, metal halide, and compact fluorescent.

Once tenders are awarded to successful suppliers, it still requires guidance from the departmental manager to ensure that stores staff order the correct materials, as there are endless variations to the materials, which can easily be incorrectly specified when the order

is made out.

This has now happened concerning streetlight lamps: the successful tenderer, Voltex in Knysna, received an order to supply the lamps required, but could not perform this function as someone had submitted incorrect tender prices.

They have since submitted new prices, but the urgently-awaited lamps have not arrived. I have managed to source 133 of the 57-Watt compact fluorescent lamps from another supplier, but will be short of at least 200 more.

Plett Main Street is a construction mess, as the street-lighting cables were not installed in a proper manner with control boxes at strategic points to sectionalise sections when faults occur. The fact that a nonstandard floodlight was used to illuminate the street furniture resulted in continuous failure of these light fittings.

It is of utmost importance to install good quality materials so that maintenance is kept to a minimum as well as the cost involved - which presently cannot be upheld.

Readers are encouraged to contact Bitou Customer Care on 044 501 3174/5 or the afterhours number 086 124 8686 - please ensure that a reference number is received. Please contact me at wcraig@plett.gov. za if no response is subsequently received.

Wayne Craig - Bitou Ward 2 Councillor, Plett

what extent it is used, I do not know.

The reality is that people living in towns cannot bring the farm with them!

No one has asked me to write this letter, but from visits to New Horizons, talking to people and seeing the cattle myself, I do so in support of your wish for unity between all communities.

Please could you and your Council put a stop to cattle wandering in places where they should not be?

Peter Stratten, Plett

I should like to point out that ‘ninja’ has nothing whatsoever to do with the martial arts. Ninjas are nothing more than cold-blooded killers for hire, normally using deadly poison.

The system works like this: there is no contact whatsoever between the victim and the person wanting them killed. The victim’s name is left in a pre-determined place.

At some stage, this is retrieved, unobserved, and replaced surreptitiously by a quote. If the quote is acceptable, it is replaced by the money and the ninja clan thus honourbound to carry out the contract, by any means.

Are we really training little ninjas?

A Forbes, Plett (Now that’s inside information if ever we’ve been privy to suchlike.

Mr/s Forbes is, of course, referring to a caption in our previous edition [turn to page 7 of the October 26 edition at www.cxpress. co.za], where young Gal-

liano Boni is labelled ‘Ninja in training’, according to the caption’s kicker - if you’ll excuse the terminological pun.

Seeing the photo of that youngest-ever Grand Champion Trophy-winner in martial arts action reminded us so much of a young Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle that the rather obscure reference made its way onto the page.

Now that we’ve learnt about the poison, it’s obviously no light laughing matter any longer. Someone dropped a chocolate bar at the office in gratitude the other day, but it’s in the bin now; we’re making use of royal tasters before daring to take a bite!

But seriously now: we contacted Galliano’s dad, Roberto Boni, to apologise for making his youngest son sound like a contract killer, and he just chuckled, saying they found the caption especially amusing because, in martial arts circles, the talented youngster is generally referred to as ‘the Italian Ninja’. - Eds.)

Three cheers for Plett Tourism team I wholeheartedly endorse the letter from Timothy Twidle, which was published in CXPRESS [turn to page 11 of the October 19 edition at www.cxpress.co.za], congratulating Peter Wallington and his Plett Tourism team on the quality of events they have organised in

Plett last month.

I would like to add ‘not only during October, but throughout the year’. The team at Plett Tourism is unfailingly courteous, supportive and helpful, and is one of Plettenberg Bay’s greatest assets.

Annabelle Conyngham, Plett

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CXPRESS

SPORT & ADVENTURE

2 November 2016

Local lady golfers gun for SA Women’s Mid-Am Champs OUTHERN Cape duo Sonja Bland and Sandra Winter spearheaded the local challenge in the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship that teed off at the magnificent George Golf Club on Monday.

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The 2013 champ, Bland is targeting a repeat performance, while Winter - who claimed back-to-back victories in 2011 and 2012 - is gunning for an unprecedented hat-trick in the prestigious national championship.

Both players came into the event in great form, having helped Southern Cape to B-Section glory in the SA Women’s Inter-Provincial at Umhlali Country Club last month.

Bland certainly gave cre-

dence to her belief that age is just a number this season when she saw off several of the country’s top-ranked amateurs to reach the semifinals in the Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur Championship at Ebotse in July,

Karate kids impress in Joburg and Mossel Bay

We congratulate all the Plettenberg Bay Karate Kyousei students who took part in the African Goju Ryu Karate Federation Championship in Johannesburg on October 1. Each and every student delivered excellent performances and received medals according to their age categories, winners pictured here with their medals are Caudlyne Paulse (1st kata), Jenayra Jansen (3rd kumite) and Anda Maselana (3rd kata and kumite) in the front row; Mackenzie Wates (2nd kumite), Hylene Cedras (1st kata and 3rd kumite) and Whitney Pasja (2nd kata) in the second row; Aviwe Grootboom (3rd kata and kumite) and Hailey Kivetts (2nd kata and 2nd kumite) in the third row; while podium finishers with Sensei Jonathan at left in the back row are Thenique Arnolds (2nd kata), Henrico Terblance (2nd kumite) and Josh Rossouw (3rd kumite). We also congratulate Thenique, at right, for scoring second place in kata in the Elite competition, and for subsequently being chosen to take part in the international championship in Romania next September to represent her New Horizons community, her hometown Plett, and her country South Africa. “It is a dream come true for this student,” says Jonathan. “If anyone can assist us in any way with even the smallest amount, feel free to contact us on 083 306 4189 or 083 369 2200,” Banking details are as follows: Plettenberg Bay Karate Kyousei, First National Bank, acc no 624 9709 7868. Finally, Jonathan also congratulates his students for impressing at the Karate Kyousei National Championships in Mossel Bay on October 8, where a vast number of national medals were gained. “The team made a good impact at the competition and we thank all the parents for their wonderful support, as well as team manager Jurine Pasja and table official Elizabeth Cedras.”

and she followed that with victory in the International Austrian Amateur Women’s Championship.

“I turned 50 in June, so my husband John gifted me with an all-expenses paid trip to compete in the Austrian event,” said the Fancourt golfer, who made the best possible use of her present.

Bland lagged one off the pace after rounds of 80 and 76, but overhauled the overnight leader Anna Dzurenda from the Czech Republic in the final round with an eagle at the second hole at the Golf Club Kremstal.

A double bogey at 10 saw Bland drop back into a tie with her Czech rival, but three solid pars over the closing holes ensured she could celebrate a three-shot victory on 232.

The winner of last year’s Southern Cape Closed at George Golf Club is certainly a favourite heading into this year’s championship, but she is taking nothing for granted.

“I expect some healthy competition from Sandra and you cannot discount the defending champion Vanessa Smith from Western Province, who is also hunting a third victory,” Bland said.

IN HER PRIME: Sonja Bland is in top golfing form, aged 50 Photo: Pieter Els

“Sandra showed some great form at the SA Women’s Inter-provincial and she is a very experienced player.

She finished second last year and I definitely won’t bet against her with this year’s championship being played in our backyard.”

Other top contenders for the title include Boland’s Lynne Behagg, Adele Beytell from Gauteng North, Border’s Millie ZimDondashe Lisa Kowen from Western Province, Limpopo’s Desiree Earle, and Lynn Slogrove from Eastern Province. The SA Women’s Mid-Am Champs conclude by the end of today (November 2).

Wittedrift newbies gain valuable lawn skills Adrie Teunissen shared this photo of teams competing in a lawn bowls challenge, organised by Mossel Bay Bowling Club on October 22.

The Wittedrift High U/15 (aka The Hashtags) and U/20 (The Twitter Bugs) teams, pictured at left in the pic, are trained by coaches of Plett Bowling Club and this event hailed their first time of being exposed to a competition with their peers.

“George and Outeniqua won the day, but our youth group from Wittedrift are getting better all the time!” said Adrie.

NSRI Emergency numbers Knysna - 082 990 5956 Plettenberg Bay - 082 990 5975 Wilderness - 082 990 5955