2 October 2019 by CXpress

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

A dog’s life…

FREE

…is not always a bed of roses. We are grateful to Knysna Animal Welfare Services for sharing this picture of ‘Odie’ - find out more on page 10, and turn to page 5 for a report by two local guardian angels of Plett’s township cats and dogs. On page 6, you can read all about the deserving seeing-eye dog clan that benefited from Karoo to Coast 2019.

Support Mona family on Friday

Update on Plett Airport

All eyes on Robbie’s Otter run

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Photo: Melinda Werth

2 October 2019

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

2 October 2019

‘Howzit bru, watching the match?’ The rugby fans’ guide to English… With a scrum of rugby fans from all corners of the world congregating in stadia, pubs and around any available television set, there’s a chance you could miss out if you don’t know your braai from your barbie or a bevvie from a brewski O help bewildered fans navigate this Babel, British Airways’ cabin crew - who between them speak 45 different languages, from Arabic to Zulu - have put together a glossary of words and phrases which may be heard quite often between now and November 2 as fans swap stories and favourite moments in the air and on the ground. All of these examples could be used by fans who think they’re speaking dinkum English and may be puzzled why other fans don’t understand them. Here they are: • Arvo: Australian for afternoon. “The Wallabies are playing this arvo.” • Braai: South African term for a barbeque. “As soon as I get home we’re going to have a braai to celebrate.” • Craic: Irish term for fun or gossip. “Great craic watching the game.” • Dwtty: Welsh for someone who is little. “That scrumhalf is dwtty.” • Fairy-dust: An American expression meaning something is too technical or obscure to understand. “The refereeing of

the ruck is fairy-dust to me.” • Gutted: English slang for bitter disappointment. “I was absolutely gutted we lost.” • Hayibo! Derived from the Zulu meaning ‘definitely not’, this expression is used by all South Africans when something seems unbelievable. “Hayibo! There’s no way that was a try.” • Isnae: Scottish for ‘is not’. “That yellow card isnae fair.” • Jandals: What New Zealanders call flip flops. “It’s going to be hot so I’m wearing my jandals.” • Kerfuffle: Canadian term for an awkward or stressful situation or commotion. “That was a bit of a kerfuffle on the tryline.” • Lekker: A word used in Namibia and South Africa to describe something that is good, great, cool or tasty. “The T5 lounge is a really lekker place to watch the match.” • Naff: English word for something that’s uncool. “You look really naff in that anorak.” • Owt: Yorkshire term for anything. “You get owt for nowt.” You don’t get anything for nothing.

• Quid: What the Brits call a pound. “I bet you 10 quid we’ll beat you.” • Rark up: Kiwi expression for giving someone a good telling off. “The ref gave him a good rark up.” • Scrag: Australian term for holding someone by the neck or garment. “He got scragged just before the line.” • Toque: Canadian word for a woollen hat or beanie. • Uggs: Warm Australian sheepskin boots. “It’s freezing, best wear your beanie and uggs.” • Vuvuzela: A long, colourful plastic trumpet some South African fans use to make a loud braying sound - apparently derived from the Zulu word for making a noise. • Whinge: Originally an English world for whining, sometimes used by Australians to describe the English. “Stop whinging and accept the better team won.” • XXXX: Pronounced ‘four x’ it is a brand of beer made in Queensland, Australia, and is also referred to as “Barbed wire”. • Yabber: An Australian expression for talking a lot. “I

wish the ref would stop yabbering and get on with the game.” • Zonked: English expression for totally exhausted. “The team must be totally zonked after that defensive effort.” Flying to almost 300 destinations, more than 2,000 British Airways cabin crew speak at least one other language. Hundreds of crew and ground staff can fluently speak French, Spanish, German, and Italian. The airline also has crew who speak Finnish, Punjabi, Mandarin, Korean, Portuguese, Afrikaans, and sign language. “Good service is the same in every language and we know that our customers value the efforts our cabin crew go to, to make sure they have an enjoyable and comfortable experience when they fly with us,” says Sue Petrie, British Airways’ Regional Commercial Manager Trade for Southern and East Africa. Rugby fans who are Gold and Silver Executive Club members or are flying in Club or First will be able to see matches, highlights, and replays in British Airways lounges around the world.

Notice Board • U3A Plett this month completes the showing of Richard Dawkins’s discussion of the work of Charles Darwin and begins a six-part exploration of the rise of cities, their civilisation and culture in The Ancient Worlds from Mesopotamia to the Roman Empire. October’s speakers are all home-grown members of the committee: Michael Lond will present the two-act ballet La Fille Mal

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Gardée (Act 1 today, Act 2 October 9); newest member Jan Hough will tell about his life as a medical physicist (October 23). The ever-versatile Henry Timme will introduce a discussion of the improbability of evolution without design as a riposte to Dawkins, and David Hall-Green will disclose the secret life of yet another masterpiece. Meetings generally take place at Formosa Garden

Village - email Lynette Timme at u3aplett@gmail.com or call 044 535 9041 for details. • KwaNokuthula Community Police Forum is holding its AGM on October 3 at Kwano Library in the Simunye centre at 10am. Contact acting detective commander JM Schwulst on 044 501 4214 or 079 894 1910, or email kwanokuthula. cid@saps.gov.za with queries. • Tour de Plett 2019 is sched-

uled for October 12, its new start and finish venue at Keurbooms Lagoon Caravan Park promising a great race vibe for this proper MTB challenge organised by riders, for riders. Choose between 70km, 45km and 16km distances through glorious local scenery (e-bikes welcome). Enter online at www. tourdeplett.co.za and email muddyfoot@roystonfarms.co. za or call 082 925 7885 for info.

NEWS & VIEWS

2 October 2019

CXPRESS

Community called to arrive en masse to support Sandisiwe’s family at Plett court on Friday Women’s rights activists have started a petition in an attempt to ensure that bail is denied for the man accused of murdering a Plettenberg Bay teenager - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports EVENTEEN-yearold Sandisiwe Mona’s remains were recently found in Ladywood and a 56-year-old man was subsequently arrested in connection with the murder. Motseki Palasi is set to apply for bail on Friday. Mona went missing between 6am on April 8 and 2pm on April 13. Police said initial information revealed that her grandmother left her at their home in KwaNokuthula while she attended a funeral. On her return, the grandmother discovered that the girl had gone missing. A search party was established by the KwaNokuthula police but was eventually called off after no positive outcome. Her remains were however found on August 5

by a passer-by walking his dog in the Ladywood area. DNA confirmed her identity. Candice Ludick of the Total Shutdown movement said they decided to start a petition as communities could no longer “overlook gender-based violence” simply because perpetrators were known. “As long as the law allows accused perpetrators to walk free while the wheels of justice turn, perpetrators will continue to believe that they are able to get away with their crimes. #TheTotalShutdown has assisted the family of the late Sandisiwe Mona with the creation and circulation of a petition opposing bail for the man accused of her murder.” #TheTotalShutdown urg-

ed residents to show their support: “As womxn [sic], we call on all the womxn of Bitou to gather outside Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court on Friday October 4 to stand in solidarity with Sandisiwe’s family as they seek justice for their child.” Ludick added that members of #TheTotalShutdown traditionally wore black with a touch of red at court cases to symbolise their mourning for all the lives lost, and to acknowledge all the blood that had been shed due to sexual and gender-based violence and femicide. - Garden Route Media • Readers can Google ‘justice for Sandisiwe’ and click on the awethu.amandla. mobi/petitions link to sign the petition.

Fire risk looms as drier months approach November marks the month when a year ago over 100,000 hectares either side of the Outeniqua Mountains burnt to tinder, with several lives lost and millions of rands of damage to infrastructure and grazing, resulting in significant loss of income to the region, according to Cobus Meiring of the Southern Cape Landowners Initiative, which together with Garden Route District Municipality is now preparing the region for a changing climate and related risks visit www.cxpress.co.za for the full story - Photo: Pixaby

Copycats of Cape Town scam gang now on the prowl in our midst Ludumo Tede

OCAL residents are warned of a group of scammers pretending to have fallen on hard times and asking for money at Plett’s Market Square and Mellville’s Corner shopping centres. They are said to even go as far as using a child as bait for public sympathy. One concerned Plett resident took to social media platforms to warn fellow townsfolk against falling into their trap. It is believed the scammers belong to the same ilk of con artists dubbed “the Kumars” in Cape Town circles. Their method of operation is not new, but seems to be efficient enough when dealing with unsuspecting citizens. It involves telling sob stories to a point where potential victims part with their money. Usually no amount of cash is enough and they would sometimes sell what is believed to be a counterfeit spice or some of their

possessions to extort more money from their victims. In Plettenberg Bay, they have been spotted around the main shopping areas and it is said that their appearance varies from scruffy to presentable, depending on what yarn they are spinning that day. They are reported to generally be five in number: three men, one woman, and a toddler. These con artists would typically approach people on foot, stopping drivers in their cars before going about convincing potentially compassionate targets of their sad and sorry state. One woman who had risen to the bait and parted with her money realised her mistake and refused to give more when they tried to persuade her. “I gave them R60 and then the man wanted to hand me his phone and a wedding ring, telling me to go draw more money. I said no!” Apparently, they are not only operating in Plett but have also been seen around

Knysna, using the same scheme of enticing sympathy in their bid to con people. In March 2016, a group of scammers (by then generally referred to as “The Kumars”) made the headlines in Cape Town when operating with a similar modus operandi. Finally, a case of assault was opened against them after an altercation with a security guard. The Kumars had allegedly verbally abused and physically assaulted the guard when he tried to intervene during an altercation between themselves and a wood-be victim, who invoked their ire when refusing to part with his hardearned cash. Another factor that makes these scammers easy to spot is that they share the same ethnicity. No one knows how long they will hang around our shores - some even claim that they are known to return annually – but for the time being, residents of CX Country are advised to be on the lookout.

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

2 October 2019

Plett Ratepayers Association Update

On Plett Airport - still grounded after all these years… Read CXPRESS online at www.cxpress.co.za

E all know where Plett Airport is situated, but may not be familiar with some facts about the facility. It is 66 hectares in extent with an elevation of 450 feet. It has a single tarred runway that is 1,240m long and 20m wide. There are 42 privatelyowned hangars situated on the airfield and it is an uncontrolled airfield, meaning no active controlling, with pilots broadcasting their position on a common frequency. There are no runway lights, and there is a single NDB (Non-Directional Beacon) for basic nonprecision approaches. At present, it is licenced RFF (Rescue and Fire Fighting) Category 4, i.e. sufficient for scheduled aircraft up to the size of CemAir’s Dash 8. To put Plett’s airfield into perspective: Margate Airport also has a single runway (of 1,344m x 30m) with a single NDB, but it has pilot-controlled runway lighting. At present Plett Airport, which falls under the Department of Community Services within Bitou Municipality, has what appears to be an excessive staff complement for the amount of traffic handled. There is a Senior Operations officer - a Mr Davidson - who oversees the daily operations. There are two general assistants, one admin clerk, four refuellers/marshals/baggage

Mike Pearce

HE AIN’T HEAVY: The Plett Airport runway at 1,240m long and 20m wide is sufficient for scheduled aircraft up to the size of CemAir’s Dash 8

handlers and one general assistant/cleaner. The budget for 2019/20 is R5.73-million for operational expenditure (including salaries) and R39,500 for capital expenditure (a new guard house). With R3-million of revenue, due to the relatively scant income from landing fees, hangar rentals and fuel sales, the facility is operating at a significant loss. Of course, the big question on everyone’s minds is, when are we going to get a scheduled airline to service Plett once again? Plett Ratepayers Association members met with CemAir recently, after they have finally succeeded in getting the vindictive and inefficient CAA to restore the Operating Certificate for their B1900s. They now plan to slowly build up operations again, perhaps starting with the Cape TownPlett-Cape Town route. This means re-staffing two offices and coming to some sort of agreement with Bitou Council, among a host of other

administrative issues. Regaining public confidence is another major hurdle. The reality is if CemAir doesn’t do it, there is currently no other airline that has the right type of aircraft or will to start a scheduled service to Plett, it being a difficult route to make any profit, due to the seasonal nature of the operation. Lack of fuel at the airport is another major concern. The supply contract with BP expired and the town council, after putting it out to tender, selected EML Energy - a dodgy outfit with a known history of nonperformance, and run by a high-flying music promoter - to supply fuel. Between the Plett Ratepayers Association and councillor Dave Swart, we managed to put a stop to this process. Council is currently in the process of finding someone to supply fuel on a shortterm basis while the longterm supply goes out to tender again. Another contentious issue is the Sub-Fire Station at the airport. The

contractor awarded the tender to builders, who walked off the job last year without having completed it - after, believe it or not, having been paid in full! Legal proceedings were instituted, but it now appears that the same contractor has struck a deal with the council not to prosecute, in exchange for finishing the job. Will we ever see the construction properly completed? Methinks this is too much of a fairy tale… Long-term management of the airport is another complex question that Bitou Council is trying to deal with. We hope to be able to report on this issue in the not too distant future. In the meantime, we at Plett Ratepayers Association will continue to monitor, and assist where we can, in all matters pertaining to the airport. • Mike Pearce’s designation at Plett Ratepayers Association is airport portfolio manager. Email info@plettratepayers. co.za for additional information.

The new traffic demerit system is now law HE new demerit system for South African road users is now law, since president Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) bill.

How it will work? The Aarto law, passed by the National Assembly in March of this year already, is a demerit system for drivers who lose points for traffic offences, which may result in the loss of a driving licence. Some key factors include: • Each driver will start with zero points, irrespective of the number of classes of vehicle licences held. • Depending on the severity of the offence, one to six points are allocated for offences. If a driver collects more than 12 points, it will result in the suspension (disqualification) of the driving licence. Three suspensions will result in its cancellation.

• Failing to pay traffic fines can lead to a block on obtaining a driver’s licence and an administrative fee, in addition to other penalties. • The driver may apply for the return of the licence on expiry of the suspension (disqualification) period. • Demerit points will be reduced (for all persons/ operators) at a flat rate of one point every three months (or as otherwise prescribed), except when it is evident that the process has been deliberately delayed to obtain a reduction in points. • Where documents previously had to be delivered by registered mail through the Post Office, authorities will now also be able to serve documents electronically and send reminders via WhatsApp and SMS. Also in the pipeline is the establishment of an appeals tribunal, which will preside over issues

raised under the bill. According to Wesbank, “the new demerit points system is similar to what is already in use in several European countries and has been adapted for South African road users. A driver who is disqualified for the third time will permanently lose the licence and will have to reapply for testing, as if they were first-time licence applicants.” The new system will also prevent you from renewing your drivers and/or vehicle licence if you do not pay your traffic fines. The system will help reduce road carnage Transport minister Fikile Mbalula said he was optimistic the demerit system would help to reduce road carnage. Addressing the media, he said the government was determined to win the battle against disobedient motorists and persistent road fatalities.

“They must know when they see a police officer that the laws must be respected. Not even an attempt must be made to think that you can bribe an officer,” said Mbalula. Assessing law enforcement in Johannesburg and Tshwane, where Aarto is now being implemented, he said the system was not just about punishment but intended “to ensure compliance and change of road users’ behaviour”. Mbalula added: “We look forward to working with officials at all spheres of government as we put in place the necessary regulations for the rollout. “We’ve won an important battle, but the war against road fatalities is not yet over, as we look at many victories ahead of ensuring safer roads.” See the chart on this page for additional information on demerit points and categories set by Aarto.

NEWS & VIEWS

2 October 2019

CXPRESS

Our main objective is keeping Plett pets healthy and happy UDDY Pooches is an initiative run by ourselves as main members and we are supported by an amazing group of volunteers who host Dip Days next to Dunlop Zone in the Plett industrial area. This has created a safe space where kids and pet owners can learn to love and care for their furry friends. Responsible pet ownership is encouraged and rewarded. Our main focus is education and sterilisation of dogs and cats, as well as parasite treatment, deworming, and vaccinations. But the project’s main objective is sterilisations to try and control the population of dogs and cats in the area. It is a never-ending battle with more and more puppies being brought to us with diseases and starving while wandering the streets without owners. Our fully-registered NPO has been making a difference in the Bossiesgif/Qolweni informal settlements for just over two years and is growing from strength to strength. We believe it has created an awareness in the community who now know that someone is at hand to offer help when needed.

An average of 210 children visit us every Saturday (with 200+ dogs and cats) and besides getting educated with regards to respect for all living things, responsibility, compassion and kindness, these kids from very poor homes are also part of a club, as they each receive a membership card. They are proud of their pets and are now schooling the adults on how to care for their animals. These children arrive every Saturday at 8am - some walking great distances with their pets (even in the pouring rain) to get to us. We offer each kid a nutritious meal and fruit and try supporting them in many other ways. Judge is a nineyear-old boy who attended our Dip Day for the first time a few months ago. Covered in sores and severely malnourished, he would not speak a word. After earning his trust, we managed to help him with medical treatment and today he is one of our most loyal volunteers, helping us every Saturday. We can only offer these children love, encouragement, and support. We are proud of the fact that, this year alone, we

have managed to sterilise 70 dogs and a few cats. We believe that this is the only way to eradicate the suffering that we see in the informal settlements. We have vaccinated over 200 dogs and are starting to see a decrease in the amount of Parvo cases. We can definitely see an improvement in the overall health of the animals in these areas. The community has commented on how wonderful it is to see the bond between the children and their pets and we have had a few of the local schools (Raphaeli and Wittedrift) volunteer on Saturdays, since they are so impressed with the initiative. We have started a rewards programme where the children bring in recycling in exchange for credit which they can use for vaccinations and it is really working well. This also creates awareness with regards to our environment. In conclusion, we are more driven now than ever before, as we can see the difference that Muddy Pooches is making in our community. Plett residents have been incredibly supportive as we progressively gained their trust - it is clear to see what we are trying to achieve.

We are incredibly grateful to Natures Valley Trust and The Table Mountain Fund for backing us and believing in us. We could not do any of this without our wonderful support group,

Marelé Pretorius and Tanya Hyde

which afforded 14 full spays (R850 each = R11,900) and 12 neuters (R650 each = R7,800) totalling R19,700. • Muddy Pooches is now a household name in Plett, thanks to the good work of

these ladies and their helpers. Call Marelé on 082 400 6431 and Tanya on 083 555 0567 if you would like to contribute, and see the notice below and on page 2 for additional information.

Knysna gardeners enlightened by knowledgeable duo at The Red Shed

First Annual Charity Golf Tournament in aid of Ladies and gents attached to Knysna Garden Club enjoyed an informative and fun morning at Plett’s Red Shed Nursery at Old Nick Village recently. Owner Anthony and his plant production manager, Bonfess, presented a most enlightening talk on germinating seeds and propagation from cuttings. The spring weather was glorious and plenty of retail therapy was enjoyed by all Garden Club members after the meeting. See the Red Shed Nursery advert on this page for contact details and to find out more about this week’s amazing specials.

The Living Cornerstone 6 October 2019 @ Sedge Links R125 per person Includes light lunch

First Round @ 8H30 Second Round @ 11H30 Awards Ceremony @ 14H30

Bookings @ Hamilton’s Property, Sedge Links or contact Marietjie on 082 428 0639

SWD EAGLES Rugby Players and Management will support the day with Rugby Legends Lots of Prizes to be won!

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

2 October 2019

SightFirst project initiatives make a crystal clear difference LION’S SHARE: At the finish of the Lions Karoo to Coast mountain bike challenge on Sunday September 22, the SA Guide Dogs Association was presented with a cheque for R100,000 by the Lions Clubs of Knysna and Uniondale, who host the event seen here accepting the donation from Knysna Lion Sue Fitzpatrick, centre, on behalf of the SA Guide Dogs Association are Lindsey Concer, left, and Jackie Quail, along with Tommy and Impi Photo: Maryann Shaw

AVIN Bezuidenhout is a music teacher at Oakhill School in Knysna, and every year he dons a black t-shirt to become a crew member at the Lions Karoo to Coast Mountain Bike Challenge, which sees up to 4,500 riders race from Uniondale to Knysna over Prince Alfred’s Pass, and finishing at Knysna High School. Gavin has received lifechanging assistance from the SightFirst project - an initiative run by the Knysna and Uniondale Lions Clubs, who host the Karoo to Coast. All proceeds from the event are used for SightFirst projects across the Southern Cape. SightFirst is a Lions Club International initiative to fight the major causes of preventable and reversible blindness by providing eye health care to those who cannot afford it. Gavin has a condition

called Keratoconus - a progressive eye disease in which the cornea thins and begins to bulge into a cone-like shape. This cone shape deflects light as it enters the eye causing distorted vision. For Gavin, who wears contact lenses to correct his eyesight, this also meant his eyes would become red and painful within a few hours of wearing the lenses. At one point Gavin thought he may have to have a cornea transplant, but with the recent intervention, which has involved consultation with an ophthalmologist in George and the prescription of special contact lenses, Gavin’s life has been transformed without surgery, for now. Olwen Toms from Knysna Lions Club explains how the SightFirst projects work locally: “With additional assistance from some very generous medical service

providers, we supply an average of 340 pairs of spectacles every year. “To date, 5,009 cataract operations have been sponsored and 28 corneal grafts done, among various other interventions.” Zandile Meneses, race organiser of the Lions Karoo to Coast and the Dr Evil Classic, says she is excited for Gavin and grateful to the Lions Clubs: “We have seen how life-changing the SightFirst interventions can be. Gavin struggled hugely with painful red eyes and this year he is like a new person.” The Lions also support the SA Guide Dogs Association and were able to hand over a cheque of R100,000 to the Association’s team at the event finish in Knysna. “They will be using the funds to raise and train a guide dog, Elva, who is currently a 14-weekold puppy,” says Toms.

These camping champions are taking action against gender-based violence HUMZILE Sonjani is the founder and director of New Horizonsbased upliftment organisation South African Youth Expeditions. He is also in charge of Amadoda Leadership Restoration Foundation, which hosted a unique event for local men during the weekend of September 13-15. “It is with great excitement that I report on our camp at Outward Bound in Sedgefield. Focussing on gender-based violence and themed #NO EXCUSE, all of the men in attendance pledged to stand side by side in support of women,” says Phumzile. The 18 campers - all residents of KwaNokuthula and Bossiesgif - were serious about addressing issues of gender-based violence and

BIG ON VIBE AND TEAMWORK: The men who attended the inaugural Amadoda camp plan to go camping together again to further develop this great programme

creating awareness around the subject. And in between these thought-provoking discussions, activities like paddling and hiking ensured that everyone had a most memorable excursion in the great outdoors. “We had such a vibrant group, and we are now going to carry on with the work of educating our com-

munities in Plett’s schools and churches. “The men want to maintain the vibe and teamwork experienced, and we plan to go camping together again soon to further develop this great programme for men,” Phumzile concludes. Email him at sayexpedit ions@gmail.com or call 044 533 0207 for details.

BUSINESS

2 October 2019

CXPRESS

Companies countrywide are seeing the advantage of being more flexible Rosanna Stofberg

OUTH African companies are starting to see the benefits of adopting more flexible work arrangements, especially to attract and retain individuals with skills that are in high demand. This is due in part to the fact that technology is maturing at such a rate that many tasks and activities that would have been impossible to complete remotely before, or too expensive, are now quite feasible. Although there is no specific data on the current uptake of flexible work arrangements in South Africa, many members of the South African Reward Association (SARA) already have a variety of these practices in place, or are considering or piloting some flexible work options. People associate flexible work arrangements with “non-traditional ways” of allowing people to do their work. The following practices have already taken hold: • Flexible working hours where people start their day early and end early, or start and end late; • Flexible work locations where people are allowed to work from home, a coffee shop or any other location that is suitable to them; • Compressed work weeks where people work longer days in order to have one weekday free or half a day free; and • Job sharing where one person works part time in the morning and another works part time in the afternoon so that between the two employees, they

complete the equivalent of a full day’s work. When companies are considering flexible work arrangements, we always recommend that they first understand the nature of the work that an employee does. In every business there are roles that are well suited for flexible work, and others that are not. The benefits Companies are finding that flexibility is becoming a necessity, particularly for employees who have scarce skills and are in high demand. Many are expecting some degree of flexibility from employers. Employees who are looking for new opportunities will certainly consider the level of flexibility on offer, and this may be a way for employers to differentiate themselves. Many South Africans have to deal with the practical reality of severe traffic congestion when commuting to and back from work, and the high cost of fuel or transportation. Many spend in excess of three hours commuting to their workplaces daily. Eliminating or reducing the time, cost and stress of that commute from their lives - even if it is just one or two days a week - can dramatically change their work life balance, their wellness and their engagement with the company. Flexible work arrangements can also lead to financial savings for companies. If the entire workforce does not have to come into the office every day, less floor space, parking, desks

Investor Focus

and IT infrastructure is required to get the work done. That can translate into large cost savings for the organisation. Technological advances Many companies will need to invest in technology to enable their employees to work more flexibly. This could mean data allowances or having to invest in the necessary software that will allow greater access to business systems remotely. Virtual meetings - such as Skype or Google Hangouts - have gained significant traction in the last few years, enabling companies to have conference, team or meeting calls with many remote participants, often with video feeds. The widespread penetration of home internet connectivity via ADSL and fibre solutions has allowed more people to have access to data in many more places. That has changed the landscape quite dramatically. Managing a remote workforce Many companies are starting to grapple with issues such as the remuneration and performance management of a remote workforce. At the core of these issues is trust between employer and employee, open communication and clear expectations. Some managers may struggle with the idea of how to manage employees who they don’t see all or every day. Practices to address these fears include setting clear expectations and giving regular feedback to employees who

work remotely. These practices can generate the same or superior, performance outputs. The potential dark side Despite all the benefits of a more flexible workforce, there is also a potential dark side to it. People who are mainly working away from the office may tend to overcompensate for the perception that they may be slacking off a bit, and actually work longer hours. There has to be a deliberate focus to create boundaries and balance between work and rest. There are also concerns about the potential impact of flexible work practices on social connections in the workplace. Relationships and networks are critical to empowering people to collaborate and perform well, and many top companies are ensuring their flexible solutions enable this social connectivity for remote workers, and deliberately create opportunities to connect. Trust and communication between managers and employees is critical for flexible work practices to be effective. Although it seems like a big shift for many people, if good management practices such as regular check-ins, feedback sessions, and clear expectations are in place, then a lot of these transitions will feel more natural and less jarring to the new workplace relationship. • Rosanna Stofberg is a member of SARA’s Professionalisation Committee. Visit www.sara.co.za for more information and follow @SA_reward on Twitter.

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

What you should know about your advisor HE investor world is undergoing quite radical changes. We progressively see AI (artificial intelligence) being used, or “robo advisors” starting to appear. These are computer programmes that ask you a series of questions, i.e. your age, financial circumstances, and goals before offering you an off-theshelf solution. But they ignore some core functions of a good advisor. A good advisor learns to “manage the investor, not the investment” - to quote Alan Gray. This involves establishing an ongoing relationship that helps investors to manage their behaviour. The advisor should have both financial plan-

ning skills so as to build your financial plan, while also having the skills to manage the human aspects of investing. Humans have incredible herd instincts. We often feel the fear or exuberance of our neighbours. It is extremely difficult to grow a cloak of protection against these particularly human emotions. The last five years have been difficult; many investors have succumbed to the negative pressures and uncertainty of markets. Locally, our politics and national finances have been in turmoil. This caused a run to so-called “safe-haven” investments, i.e. cash or even emigration! Globally, we have Brexit, Trump, the trade war

and massive protests, due in the main to inequality. An investment advisor must have the skills to manage and understand a client’s fears. This takes wisdom, experience, and insight. He or she must have developed the client’s trust, and must communicate regularly. Your financial aims must be clearly defined; the concept of “return on investment” should be replaced by “return on life”. Performance in the investment industry is generally defined by asset value performance. (Take note that all asset managers compete on performance.) But as we grow older, we should consider the concept of asset/income protection. It is no good

retiring if you cannot sleep at night worrying if you will outlive your retirement nest egg. Your advisor should help you to manage this transition, to understand the emotions of the herd, to re-establish your new retirement goals, and hold your hand at all times. Your advisor should not just be a product picker, but should be your financial coach especially in times of uncertainty and fear. • Malcolm has been in the investment industry for nearly 50 years. He has written this column in CXPRESS for the last 21 years and is a specialist in managing retired wealth. See the advert on this page for contact details.

Read CXPRESS online at www.cxpress.co.za

CXPRESS

INTERVAL

2 October 2019

Things our mothers said over and over...

• Thomas Edison’s mother: “Of course I’m proud that you invented the electric light bulb. Now, turn it off and get to bed!” • Abraham Lincoln’s mother: “Again with the stovepipe hat? Can’t you just wear a baseball cap like the other kids?” • Albert Einstein’s mother: “But it’s your senior picture. Can’t you do something about your hair? Oh! Styling gel, mousse, something...?” • Columbus’ mother: “I don’t care what you’ve discovered, you still could have written!” • Michelangelo’s mother: “Can’t you paint on walls like other children? Do you have any idea

how hard it is to get that stuff off the ceiling?” And to the rest of us… • “Life’s not fair.” • “It’s just growing pains.” • “Go put on a sweater, I’m cold.” • “Wait ‘til your father gets home.” • “You’re going to put somebody’s eye out with that.” • “If your friend jumped off a cliff, would you?” • “Finish your dinner, children are starving in Africa.” • “It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye.” • “Why? Because I said so.” • “Don’t make me stop this car.” • “Don’t assume. It makes an ASS out of U and ME.” • “Don’t make me count to three!” • “Eat what you can and then finish the rest.” • “The wind will change direction and you’ll get stuck like that.” • “Stick that lip out any further and a bird’s gonna poop on it.” • “Do you want people to think you were raised by wolves?”

Mary’s list throughout the ages HAT I want in a man - Original list: 1. Handsome 2. Charming 3. Financially successful What I want in a man Revised list (age 32): 1. Nice looking (prefer hair on his head) 2. Opens car doors, holds chairs 3. Has enough money for a nice dinner What I want in a man Revised list (age 42): 1. Not too ugly (bald head okay) 2. Doesn’t drive off until I’m in the car 3. Works steady splurges on dinner out

occasionally What I want in a man Revised list (age 52): 1. Keeps hair in nose and ears trimmed 2. Doesn’t belch or scratch in public 3. Doesn’t borrow money too often What I want in a man Revised list (age 62): 1. Doesn’t scare small children 2. Remembers where the bathroom is 3. Doesn’t require much money for upkeep What I want in a man Revised list (age 72) 1. Breathing 2. Doesn’t miss the toilet.

A laugh a day

Money for the man ITTLE Johnny rushes inside, out of breath and shouts: “Mother! Mother! Give me some money for the poor old man that’s

shouting along the road!” Concerned, his mother asks: “What is the man shouting?” “Ice creams! Come get your ice cream...”

SOCIAL SCENE

2 October 2019

CXPRESS

People, places & events

A PARLIAMENT OF OCTOGENARIANS: Carole Damp shared this merry pic and wrote: “These Glen Eden Village residents - all of whom celebrated a milestone 80th birthday this year - were our special guests on September 27.” Imagine the combined wisdom to be found in that village? Our best wishes for health and happiness and a whole lot of laughter are conveyed to, from left, Maggie Barnard, Ansie Olivier, Corrie Nel, Veronica van Eeden, and Hamsa le Roux.

SPRING ART AT QUARTET: A Spring Art Exhibition arranged by Veronica Olding of Plett Animal Welfare Service (PAWS) was held at Quartet hotel from September 27-29. On display were works by seven local artists - Thomas Jung, Shirley Jacobson, Jenny Coxon, Denese Leathwhite, David Kantey, Di Bowling, and Sarita Pretorius. On the first two days of the exhibition, David Kantey gave talks on creativity, neuroscience and artistic endeavour. David Hall-Green spoke about realism in watercolour painting, and Clive Noble gave an overview of the origins and development of modern art. The raffle of a painting donated by David Hall-Green was won by Avine Lubisi - a trainee manager at Quartet, pictured above with artist Denese Leathwhite and Quartet staffer Donald Jack at right. The proceeds of the raffle were donated to PAWS. Veronica and Clive are pictured above, rubbing shoulders over art and animals. - Timothy Twidle

A FINE AFFAIR INDEED: At the launch of her latest book ‘Net Mooi Fine’ at Christiana Lodge on Plett’s Solar Beach, David Hall-Green interviewed well-known Afrikaans author Lanie van Reenen, above. An author of memoirs, Lanie writes about her adventures and experiences of joy and pain, as was done in her popular debut page-turner ‘C’est la Vie’. Enjoying the September 25 launch, above right, were Marietta van Rooyen, Christiana Lodge proprietor Christa Joubert, Marsja Hall-Green, and Terry du Plessis at right. - LM Dunn

CELEBRATING OUR SUPER HERITAGE: On September 24, members of staff of SuperSpar in Melville’s Corner, Plett, wore traditional dress to celebrate Heritage Day. From left at back are Welile Mbali, Asange Masicothoze, Devia Cola, Vuyokazi Kaleni, Busisiwe Ntetha, Thembalethu Matshaya, Athenkosi Mencane and Michael Mgcuwe, with Babalwa Mahlathi and Bukeke Mkosana in front. Pictured from left ABOVE are Mihlali Mvandaba, Nothemba Mauwa and Brendy Soyisile. - Timothy Twidle

THE BIGGER THE BEAUTIFULLER: New Horizons was abuzz when Miss Heritage Day Full Figure was crowned last week, with ladies from Plett, Knysna, and Cape Town competing in the third annual event. People weren’t disappointed when their favourites took to the stage and cheers roared when the new winner was announced. The organisers congratulate Miss Heritage Day Full Figure 2019 Sharifa Andrews, first princess Sasha-lee Mpondo, second princess Samantha Milne, and Miss Personality Laticia Karelse. They are grateful to Plett Tourism, Ruby Kiss’s, Ambrose Graphic Design, ACE Models and Cecil James Currie for the support.

BEST WINELISTS AWARDED: Diners Club celebrated its coveted Winelist Awards with events across SA this month, and Southern Cape winners were announced at a function at Monet’s at Fancourt in George last weekend. Many congrats to Platinum Award winners Chatter’s Bistro in Knysna, to Plett’s Hunter Hotel Group, and to The Fat Fish, which was awarded for both its George and Plett restaurants. Pictured at left is Johan Kamffer, who manages the George eatery off York Street. Notably, this is the third Platinum Award bestowed upon The Fat Fish Plett.

CXPRESS

Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

2 October 2019

CLASSIFIEDS

ON THE SOAPBOX

2 October 2019

Letters to the Editor

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

Who are ‘our people’ really, when looking from Cyril Ramaphosa’s particular vantage point? In his Heritage Day speech, president Cyril Ramaphosa - when addressing the issue of ownership and forfeiture of land - said that the land must be given to “our people”. But who does he deem to be part of the “our

people” collective? Are they ANC supporters or perhaps Ramaphosa supporters? Would people from a certain tribal background, language group, or racial group be included as “our people”? If some people are

called “our people”, it infers that there are people who are not “our people”. Who may they be? Does the president refer to foreigners, perhaps? May these be people with a different religious view or some other form of differ-

entiating classification? Would we be correct to suspect that there is something sinister underlying our president’s Heritage Day statement? Or did he simply commit a serious Freudian slip…? Kevin Meineke, Plett

A whole lot of reasons why you’re wrong about SA Discovery chief ADRIAN GORE penned this positive letter in the run-up to the World Economic Forum that took place in Cape Town last month - definitely worth sharing with CXPRESS readers Whenever I make the call for positive leadership in South Africa, to liberate the country’s incredible potential, what fascinates me is the criticism I receive for my naivety. People point to the challenges South Africa faces, and it’s certainly true they exist: GDP growth is at 0.8%, youth unemployment at 54.7%; we have a bloated public sector wage bill and a hefty budget deficit to fill; and tragic inequality. My plea for positivity is not in spite of these challenges, but because of them - and it is rooted in science. The optimism paradox - the gap between private hope and public despair - is an intriguing idiosyncrasy explained by behavioural economics. On the one hand is our belief, that in our personal lives, our future will be better than our past, known as the optimism bias. According to 2018 research from the Nobel Prize-winning economist Angus Deaton, based on data collected on 1.7-million people across 166 countries from 2006 to 2016, individuals are unwaveringly hopeful - to the point of consistently but irrationally believing they will be better off five years from now. This difference between expected future well-being and current well-being was largest for Africa, roughly twice as much as the world. The optimism bias can be explained by evolutionary biology. With our earliest ancestors facing threats posed by violence, disease, child birth and so on, the average lifespan was 21-35 years. To make any kind of progress in life, we needed to imagine a reality that was different, and one we believed was possible. Counter-intuitively, however, this private optimism is contrasted with a persistent and pervasive public pessimism, known as declinism - the belief that our world (or country) is on an irreversible downhill trajectory. Declinism, too, has its roots in evolutionary bi-

ology. Hunter-gatherers were faced with constant environmental threats and were coded to seek out negative cues, a fundamental conditioning for survival. The global market and opinion research organisation Ipsos MORI surveyed perceptions of 26,489 people across 28 countries as to how the world is changing; 65% of respondents believe the world is getting worse, fuelled by misperceptions of how the world has changed. The degree of optimism about the future differed hugely according to the level of people’s knowledge about global development - those that were most pessimistic about the future tended to have the least basic knowledge on how the world has changed for the better. We South Africans suffer from this declinist outlook acutely. Not only are we gloomy about how the world has changed and what the future holds, on a broad range of issues, but South African respondents gave the least accurate guesses of where the figures on global and national development stood - out of all 28 countries. We are not just impervious to the facts on progress; the study revealed we are confident in our erroneous perceptions. Declinism could easily be dismissed as a cognitive peculiarity, except it has real and dangerous consequences that impede our progress. Firstly, we fail to see our country’s progress. Using SA as a case study, it - like the world - has become a fundamentally better place as time progresses. Our GDP is 2.5 times the size it was in 1994 on a dollar basis; formal housing has increased by 131% from 1996 to 2016; new HIV infections are down 60% from 19992016; and the murder rate per 100,000 is down 50% from 1994 to 2017. Our country is also larger and more relevant than we think. Our individual provinces square up against other countries in terms of

GDP: Gauteng is bigger than Kenya and Ethiopia, and the Western Cape is almost the size of Ghana. Our economy is substantial: in terms of stocks traded in 2017, South Africa trumps the Middle East and North Africa region, Singapore and Norway; we hold 82% of the pension fund assets in Africa, 18 times that of its secondranked peer, Nigeria (in spite of Nigeria’s GDP being larger than our own, and their population being 3.4 times larger). Our market also enables the building of massive companies. Discovery’s revenue footprint (including Discovery Health Medical Scheme) is more than half that of Mauritius; according to The Banker’s 2018 Top 1000 Worlds Bank Report, both Standard Bank and FirstRand are bigger than all Nigerian banks combined on a tier 1 capital basis. Secondly, we see problems as insoluble anomalies, and our decline as inevitable. What blinds us further from recognising our progress is a myopic obsession with the problem of the day. Pre-2005, the issue was HIV/Aids. Then we experienced crime in the early 2000s; followed by xenophobia in 2008, and the Eskom power crisis and labour unrest thereafter. In the past two years #FeesMustFall, state capture, and land expropriation have occupied the public’s attention as issues signalling our impending demise. But the fact that these problems change shows that they cannot be intractable. They are all tragic and need to be solved. But we have the ability to gain traction on them, albeit at times in a messy way. The effect of the above is that we start perceiving our country and its economy as risky, and we avoid investing, when the opposite should be the case. South Africa has a relatively stable economy, as seen by its GDP growth, which has been the lowest in volatility when compared against BRIC peers

over 1994-2017. This suggests that we mis-price risk and miss opportunities. The rand, however, is one of the most volatile currencies among the same peer set, over the same period. If we consider the country as a “company”, we can then use GDP as a proxy for the “revenue” of the country, and the currency exchange rate as an indicator for the “share price”. If we then take the standard deviation of our currency over the standard deviation of our GDP, South Africa has the consistently highest ratio over time relative to the above cohort. This suggests a profound gap between perceived risk and real risk. Our country has remarkable potential, but we need to deliver economic growth vital to addressing our serious challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality, and to delivering real improvements to quality of life. Looking back, had South Africa mirrored the rate of global or emerging market GDP growth, we could have been 17% or 38% bigger (respectively). The Bureau for Economic Research puts the cost of the last 10 years at R500-billion, and the opportunity cost at 2.5-million additional jobs. Our rudimentary calculations show this could have halved poverty. As leaders in South Africa, and one can argue Africa at large, we have a choice: a problem-centric leadership approach as per the above, perpetuating declinism, or a vision-based leadership approach, which is an antidote to declinism. The latter involves acknowledging our country’s progress and creating hope; seeing our problems as real but solvable, and seeking positive cues alongside negative ones when reading our environment; and recognising the potential of our economy and investing in it. This is how change happens. Attitude drives fundamentals, not the other way around.

CXPRESS

SPORT & ADVENTURE

2 October 2019

SA record-holder may kick mud in the eyes of older Otter trail experts CT Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering graduate Robbie Rorich has spent most of 2019 cycling slowly through Africa on the trip of a lifetime. A talented sculptor with an international calling card, he is also one of SA’s stand-out trail athletes, distinctive not only for his flowing long hair, baggy shorts and leather sandals, but also for his many podium successes. Rorich burst onto the trail-running scene with a remarkable victory in 2017’s The Beast 50km trail run on Table Mountain and has enjoyed a number of other successes, in both solo and team events. Having completed the gruelling Cape Epic on no fewer than four occasions, he has also run the Otter faster than any other South African, and will line up at Storm’s River rest camp in just over a week as one of the pre-race favourites. Aged 24, Rorich will be running his third successive Otter - a 40km traverse along the coast of the majestic Tsitsikamma National Park - and is one of the exciting younger generation

LONGLOCKED TRAILIE: Robbie Rorich in action during his Otter debut in 2017 Photos: Stephen Granger

of trail athletes, threatening to triumph over their older and more experienced rivals at this year’s Otter. After following Christiaan Greyling and Kane Reilly across the line in his 2017 Otter debut, Rorich was first South African home last year in the reversedirection ‘Retto’ - an event that doubled as the Golden Trail Series Grand Finale. He placed an outstanding eighth in a field stacked with the world’s best trail athletes, defeating Rory Scheffer and Greyling in a sprint finish. His 2018 time of 4:10:54

now stands as the fastest by a South African in either direction, and Rorich will have every hope of further success, based on an unusual training regime. “Cycling a heavy bike through Africa is pretty good training,” he reflected. “And there has been time for some good runs as well. So it will be interesting to see how this new regime works out in practice!” Otter race director Mark Collins has every confidence that it will indeed work out well. “I think this is a year for the young guns - for the next generation to consoli-

date their claims. And for two of them, there is a rare chance to get their names on the trophy,” said Collins. “The runner that has most excited me in the last three years is Robbie Rorich. He has the fastest time for any South African either way. He is just a bundle of talent and personality and a fantastic all-round human being.” An indication of Rorich’s confidence is that he has challenged Collins to put up R100,000 for the first South African to run the Otter in under four hours, vowing to donate all of it to the Global White Lion Projection Trust. Just three years ago, Collins lost the R100,000 incentive he offered the first athlete to break four hours: Swiss athlete Marc Lauenstein gratefully took the loot, and repeated this feat in successive years in both directions. Rorich, his sister Michie and friends initiated ‘Our Africa Pole Pole’ journey, the name taken from the well-known Swahili mountain-summit mantra, meaning “slowly slowly”. The team set out in January, embarking on a dream journey cycling from Cairo

FASTEST IN THE ZAR: Robbie Rorich en route to a South African record in the 2018 Otter African Trail Run (Retto)

to Keurbooms in Plett, on a mission to engage with fellow Africans to explore the question: ‘What do we want our Africa’s future to look like?’ The team reached Blantyre in Malawi recently, but Rorich is now taking a short break to attend a friend’s wedding and to run the Otter, before returning to complete the journey.

Chances are that when he starts out on the iconic hiking track alongside South Africa’s leading trail athletes next week, he won’t be going pole pole… • The Otter African Trail Run takes place from October 9-12, starting in Storms River National Park and finishing at Nature’s Valley. Follow them on Facebook for updates.

Adventure racing alive and well - both on the Route and around Rodrigues Island! IGHTEEN teams from as far as Limpopo Province contested the recent Schools South Africa Adventure Racing Champs in Cape St Francis a fortnight ago… and that was just in the Junior category! Garden Route adventure racing kids impressed in particular, with Team Painted Cubs from Knysna winning the Juniors, and Plett’s Team Bike Shop doing extremely well on the same route (the older the age group, the longer the course) - until a navigational issue on the last 500m pushed them back to a stillcommendable sixth spot. Team Dynamite, also from Knysna, crossed the finish line first of all Subjunior teams, while Knysna Ones were the fourth team home among the Seniors. Aged 14 one and all, Painted Cubs team members Kate Tanner, Andrea Collins, Benji Tyrrell and Mark Canny only started training together in April, and Schools SA was their first official adventure race. Explains Belene Collins: “Andrea was the navigator and Benji the trial finder, while Kate and Mark ensured that the compulsory equipment accompanied the team at all times, and that everybody was eating and drinking enough. They worked together like a very well-oiled machine.”

WELL-OILED MACHINE: Knysna’s Team Painted Cubs scaled top spot on the Juniors podium - from left are Benji Tyrrell, Andrea Collins, Kate Tanner and Mark Canny

Storms River

TIN HOUSE Self-catering accommodation

HAVING A BLAST: Plett participants Brian Fraser Mackenzie, Dylan Hemmes and Tayo Scott - aka Team Bike Shop - in action during the Schools SA Adventure Racing Champs

Earlier this month, a total of 60 international teams took on Expedition Africa Rodrigues, presented by Kinetic Events on a small volcanic island in the Indian Ocean east of Mauritius. Among those who took up the challenge were Plett AR Team members Drew Scott, Steph le Roux, Jeanette Wylie, and Petrus Maree. Their combined skills and determination gained this local outfit an incredible eighth place. And, says Drew, the entire experience was truly incredible and

memorable, apart from the fact that it was “a really great race”. Other Garden Route contenders on Rodrigues included Plett veteran Andrew Damp, and Knysna locals Graham Bird and Hanno Smit who along with fellow Team Merrell members, Capetonians Tatum Prins and Lance Kime, managed to finish Expedition African Rodrigues in spectacular third spot. • Look out for news on Sunday’s Robberg Xpress in CXPRESS of October 9.