3 june

Photo: Cormac McCreesh - www.cormacmccreesh.com

3 June 2015

Published every Wednesday by CXpress 2006 (Pty) Ltd - PO Box 1449, Plettenberg Bay 6600 - 6 Park Lane, Plettenberg Bay - Tel: 044 533 1004 - Fax: 044 533 0852 Email: editor@cxpress.co.za / advertising@cxpress.co.za Web page: www.cxpress.co.za Printed by Group Editors

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Good news as Environment Day dawns p3

How will we protect our children? p4

Plett parents off to US Open p12

Paddle out

Photographer Cormac McCreesh created this image of Dori Moreno swimming with blacktips to promote Sunday’s annual Paddle Out for Sharks, of which he is the founder, and to stimulate debate in this regard - read more about this year’s event on page 12

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CXPRESS

News & Views

3 June 2015

Memories of WWII

Voices in the night lead to discovery of ‘onderduikers’ secret HENK BOLHUIS shares his recollections of growing up in war-torn Netherlands during the late 1940s

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N last week’s edition [see page 2 of the May 27 edition at www.cxpress.co.za], I described how daily life in the Netherlands deteriorated rapidly towards the end of the war and how feeding our family became more difficult by the day.

So my father, a municipal police officer, endeavoured to supplement our meagre meals by catching pike and sometimes bartering the fish for veggies, dairy products and even meat.

My dad was one of 15 children and after primary school had apprenticed as a house painter, but he had studied in his spare time and later joined the local Municipal Police Force.

I was very proud of my father, especially when he was wearing his black uniform

with the polished high black leather boots and the silver buttons on his jacket.

Occasionally, at specific official functions, he had to wear a long ceremonial sabre in a scabbard alongside his left leg.

Dad had a police bicycle and a carbide portable lantern that he used while performing night duty, as well as a thick rubber riot stick and a whistle - for obvious reasons, firearms were not permitted by the German authorities.

My father and mother were strict disciplinarians, as were most parents in those days, and children were usually kept on a short and tight leash.

Supper, for instance, was exactly at six in the evening, unless my father had to work the nightshift, when we would eat even earlier, at

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5pm sharp.

Bedtime for me was strictly at seven, every day of the week, the only exceptions being a birthday in our immediate family or, for instance, on the feast of St Nicolaas on December 5, when I was allowed an hour or more extra playtime.

I remember one warm evening in August, in the summer of 1944: after my mother had put me to bed, I could not fall asleep because it was so hot.

After some time, as I was lying there tossing and turning, I suddenly became aware of muffled sounds and the voices of several people from the room just below my bedroom.

This was quite strange because the room in question was a spare bedroom seldom used - only when we had family or friends staying over. But we had no guests.

Sometime later I also heard the downstairs guest toilet flush a number of times in quick succession. Soon thereafter, everything became quiet again.

I was very curious about what was happening downstairs, but by now I was already extremely tired and sleep soon overtook me.

The next morning after I woke and washed up, I quickly went downstairs and, remembering the unusual events of the previous night, I opened the spare bedroom door and peeked inside.

It all looked normal - there was absolutely nothing different from the way it always was. The large double bed was still in its usual place and so was the rest of the furniture; the wardrobe, small side table with its white enamel washbasin and porcelain water jug - everything was exactly in its place.

As I walked around bare feet on the thick dark brown carpet, I wondered what had happened the previous night.

Had it perhaps all just been a dream?

Although inquisitive by nature, I was too afraid to ask my mother. Dutch children in those days were completely unlike the children of today; we were there to be seen, but not to be heard.

Children who continually asked questions were called yklupgwulgu - an expression for those who wanted to know everything.

And, if a child carried on asking questions, a parent would be quick to respond with a remark such as: ›Pw" oqgv" lg" qrjqwfgp" cp/ fgtu" mtkli" lg" ggp" ftcck" qo" lg" qtgp0fi" (You must stop it now or I’ll box your ears.)

The next night was the same. By this time I was totally perplexed and could not begin to imagine who these strange people were whose voices I heard in the downstairs bedroom.

Where did they come from and what were they doing here?

The following morning, however, I gathered up my courage and faced my mother, who was in the kitchen busy peeling potatoes.

My mother then cupped my chin in her hand and, looking straight into my eyes, she said: “Henkie, you must never speak to anybody about it because, if this gets out, the Germans will come and arrest our visitors as well as your father and me.

This must be our secret!”

I obviously gave her my word, as I certainly did not want the Germans to come and take my parents away.

And so, over the next couple of months, people came and went. Some would stay for one night only, others for a few.

I was never allowed downstairs during the time they were there, and I personally never saw them, but every

‘It was now obvious to me that the things my parents were involved in were not a game’

FRIGHTFUL FACE OF WAR: Gestapo and German SS soldiers round up fugitives - Photo: Wikipedia (http://strangevehicles. greyfalcon.us/MERCEDES%20260D.htm)

I blurted out: “Mom, who are those people I hear in the spare bedroom below in the evenings after I’ve gone to bed? Where do they come from, and where are they now?”

I still remember the look on my mother’s face - a kind of tenderness mixed with apprehension - as she said: “Henkie, sit down, I have to talk to you.”

My mom began to explain to me that, because of the war, people sometimes needed to hide from the Germans, as they might otherwise be arrested and taken away, and that our house was sometimes used for a few nights to shelter such people, called qpfgtfwkmgtu.

It was probably not easy for my mother to explain all these things to a little boy, but I certainly understood the gist of it.

now and then the nightly noises would tell me that we had visitors; the number of times the toilet was flushed gave me an indication of how many there were.

Then, early one morning, while my father was already at work, some vehicles with members of the dreaded Gestapo, and three German soldiers, stopped in front of our house and rang the doorbell.

When my mother opened the front door, one of the Gestapo officials explained that they had heard we were hiding people in our home and that they were going to conduct a search.

My mother and I were told to move to the kitchen and remain there with one of the soldiers keeping an eye on us, while the others proceeded to search the house, room by room.

The search appeared to be very thorough and meticulous and occasionally I could hear them knocking on walls, probably to check for hidden spaces behind them.

When I saw them entering the spare bedroom my heart, which by that time was already in my mouth, nearly stopped. I vividly remember that I was very afraid and asked the soldier permission

to go to the toilet as I nearly peed in my pants and was scared that I would give our secret away.

He was a young fellow and quite friendly and allowed me to go. I took as long as I dared, and when I came out of the toilet the German officials had finished inside the backroom.

They had found no trace of qpfgtfwkmgtu.

Soon thereafter they left without saying another word; not even an apology for the mess that they had left behind, such as upturned furniture and scattered bedding.

My mother was still shaking and made a cup of tea to help us calm down - that had been a very close encounter and a most frightening experience.

It was now obvious to me that the things my parents were involved in were not a game, but that this was deadly serious business.

Later, during the afternoon, the reality of this became even clearer when some colleagues of my father brought him home: he was severely beaten up and could hardly walk, or even stand up.

Dad was immediately put into bed and our doctor was called to examine him. He told my mother that, among other minor injuries, my father had suffered a few broken ribs and had severe concussion.

My father was confined to bed for a considerable period of time while my mother nursed him back to relative health. Unfortunately, he never fully recovered from this severe beating.

As a result of his head injuries, he continued to suffer extreme headaches and dizziness for years, and subsequently had to resign his work as a police officer.

This decision was a very heavy blow for our family and had a lasting impact on my parents for the rest of their lives.

A few days after this terrible incident, my mother told me that someone living on our street may have noticed the people arriving and leaving during the night, and that this person had probably betrayed us to the German authorities.

How fortunate we were that the Germans had arrived during the morning and not at night, and that the room had been empty at the time of the search.

With the approach of autumn and winter, the lack of food became worse every day and with my father incapacitated, it was now up to my mother to try keeping us alive.

I hope to share more of that and of the liberation of the Netherlands in the next and final article.

News & Views

3 June 2015

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CXPRESS

WORLD ENVIRONMENT WEEK 2015

Nikki Ridley

Southern Cape Afromontane forests up for World Heritage Site status SANParks and partners

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ANPARKS recently announced that the 2014 submission of our unique Southern Cape Afromontane forest areas for World Heritage Site status is being processed for approval by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

According to an IUCN evaluation, the area within which the forests are contained along with fynbos “is an outstanding example for a number of biological, ecological and evolutionary processes”.

Most of our Afromontane forest area is protected within the boundaries of Garden Route National Park, but if the application is approved

this area will also now receive recognition as part the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (CFRPA) property, inscribed in 2004, and over 100 further plant species will be added to that already contained within the World Heritage Site (WHS).

The current WHS comprises 557,584 hectares and includes the Table Mountain National Park, the Agulhas Complex, the Langeberg Complex, and the Garden Route Complex. If approved, the extended WHS will include the Wilderness area, state forests and mountain catchment areas.

SANParks spokesperson Nandi Mgwadlamba also

News Briefs

OFFICIALLY MISSING: Debra Williams vanished on April 29 the same date on which this photo was taken in 2006

Uvqngp"rtqrgtv{"tgeqxgtgf"d{" Rngvv"UCRU Local police have recovered a number of items at various locations in and around Plett and are requesting that members of the public contact them if they have lost or are missing any of the following from break-ins: A silver bicycle, blue bicycle, ceramic plate and container, jewellery, weed-eater bowls, two laptops, fishing reels, jacket, towels, and an umbrella.

Contact Constable Rita Bosman on 044 501 1914.

The SAPS are also urging the Plett community to mark their property, and keep records of

the make and serial numbers of items such as laptops.

Crtkn"fkucrrgctcpeg" pqy"qhhkekcn Last week, 33-year-old Debra Williams was officially reported missing to the SAPS. She vanished after a court appearance in Knysna on April 29 and did not return home to her family as expected. She has not been seen since.

At the time of her disappearance, Williams was wearing blue jeans, a grey pullover and green shoes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call D/C Edwin Smith on 044 501 1933.

explained that the sum of the protected areas submitted included buffer zones between ongoing plantation and indigenous forest.

These form part of an “exit strategy” whereby companies such as Cape Pine are handing over plantation areas bordering the indigenous forest to SANParks for rehabilitation.

These areas will be apportioned each September - a process that has already begun, its goal being to extend the size of the indigenous forest and create corridors that will not only promote a greater range for animals such as the Knysna elephant, but also promote the rehabilitation of natural biodiversity.

World Environment Day

(WED) is celebrated annually on June 5 and is a global United Nations driven event aimed at encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment.

It is a global platform for public outreach with participation in over 100 countries around the world; individuals, groups and organisations are encouraged to participate through localised environmental efforts.

Mgwadlamba cited the SANParks effort for WED 2015 involved an ongoing initiative called the Wave of Change Campaign which, along with the Plett Hope Spot, focused on public education with regard to environmental matters.

Visit www.unep.org/wed to find out more about World Environment Day.

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make waves

HE Wave of Change initiative is a multiple partnership environmental collaboration involving SANParks, Plett Hope Spot, the Knysna Basin Project, WESSA, Knysna Bird Lakes, the Knysna Municipality, BioWise and other stakeholders.

This initiative plans a campaign inclusive of youth programmes and public sessions to address various environmental issues affecting local residents.

The idea behind the campaign is to help people see themselves as integral parts of a whole; to under-

stand that we depend on our environment for our economic wellbeing, and that we need to act as individuals to work towards a sustainable future for all.

On the Garden Route, this does not only include the health of our oceans, but also the wellbeing of our terrestrial environment as that affects our oceans.

The focus of this year’s campaign is educating locals regarding turtlestrandings along our beaches and reducing our use of plastic bags, with various other educational themes planned.

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CXPRESS

News & Views

3 June 2015

PLEASE HELP! My name is Cleo and I have been missing from Bell Rock (off Longships) in Plett since Saturday May 23.

I’ve been spayed and I am about 10 months old.

Please call Emma on 084 728 1086

Are rights of accused placed above those of child victims?

Plettenberg Bay children’s rights activists made their voices heard in George last week - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports

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HE group staged a protest at the local magistrate’s court when a prominent local dentist, 43, took his place in the dock again on Friday.

The father of three, who was last December sentenced to four years under house arrest following his conviction on several charges including sex with a minor, was arrested on April 17 after claims that he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old boy.

The incident allegedly happened on April 11 during a sleepover at his Harold’s Bay home.

He was subsequently released on R5,000 bail, which caused a massive outcry from child protection organisations including Woman and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) and the Green Hearts of Plett.

Several members of both organisations sat in the court gallery on Friday wearing Tshirts with anti-child abuse slogans printed on them, while their counterparts waited outside the court building holding posters with slogans including ‘No excuse for

child abuse’ and ‘No bail for sex offenders’. Garden Route WMACA spokesman Yvette Wilschut said the reason they made their way to court last week was firstly to show support to the victim.

“It is a sad reality that young victims of abuse often go through the court process feeling that they have to prove their innocence,” Wilschut said.

She added that they had also decided on protest action after the man was released on bail, despite having been

convicted and sentenced for a similar crime.

“It seems the rights of the accused are placed above that of the child victims’. We have said it before and will say it again, we will not stop until bail is denied for alleged sexual offenders.”

She added that she hoped their presence would also bring attention to the seriousness of the crimes involving children.

After court proceedings the group decided to stage a silent and peaceful protest NO EXCUSE: Local WMACA members staged a peaceful protest at the court when the dentist was back in the dock last week Photo: Yolandé Stander

outside the dentist’s practice in George after one of the protesters phoned his practice and made an appointment with the accused for her 15-year-old son.

Because of his previous conviction he has been added to the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) and is therefore not allowed to work with children.

One of his bail conditions in the current case is also that no minor child may “enter his premises”.

The matter was postponed on Friday until July 10 for further investigation.

The dentist was arrested by members of the George family violence and sexual offenses unit following the April incident when, according to police, the accused allegedly went into the guest room, where the 12-year-old boy was sleeping, pulled his pants down and touched his private parts.

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Tackling the task of protecting our children

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ATIONAL Child Protection Week from May 31 to June 7 is commemorated in SA annually to raise awareness of the rights of children as articulated in the Children’s Act of 2005.

The campaign, which began in 1997, also aims to mobilise all sectors of society to ensure the care and protection of children. Led by the Minister of Social Development, it is truly incumbent on everyone to play a role in protecting children and creating a safe and secure environment for them.

South African children live in a society with a constitution that has the highest regard for their rights and for the equality and dignity of

everyone. Protecting children from violence, exploitation and abuse is not only a basic value, but also an obligation clearly set out in Article 28 of the constitution.

The aim of child protection is to ensure the safety, wellbeing and care of children through an integrated multidisciplinary approach.

Despite the best efforts of government and civil society to protect them from abuse, neglect and exploitation, many children still remain vulnerable.

Reducing the high levels of violence against children is among SA’s most overwhelming tasks. Despite the country’s progressive child protection laws, policies and

programmes preventing and addressing violence against children, it remains a major challenge.

The Department of Social Development has a 24-hour call centre dedicated to provide support and counselling to victims of gender-based violence. Call 0800 428 428 (0800 GBV GBV) toll free to speak to a social worker for assistance and counselling.

Callers can also request a social worker from the Command Centre to contact them by dialling *120*7867# (free) from any cellphone. You can also get help at Childline SA on 0800 055 555 or contact Child Welfare SA on 0861 4 CHILD (24453), or email info@childwelfaresa.org.za.

Internet fraud rife in Knysna

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NYSNA police observed in increase in fraud cases over the past month and therefore urge the general public to be vigilant at all times when doing electronic transactions, whether on the internet or at ATMs. Says spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies: “Our analysis indicates that most cases relates to internet fraud. Perpetrators lured victims into paying huge amounts of cash through bank transfers or other payment methods for goods or services.

“Victims also buy products advertised through the internet or social media. These items are never delivered and include motor vehicles, trailers and horses as well as rental accommodation.”

Victims are normally asked

to deposit money into an anonymous bank account, followed by a request for extra money to cover expenses for completing the deal, transport or insurance.

Once the money has been paid complications seemingly arise that necessitate the payment of yet more fees. The seller of these items also becomes untraceable as soon as the money has been transferred.

Note the following when you consider entering into a business transaction with an unknown person or business: • Check credentials to ascertain whether or not the person operates a legitimate business that actually exists.

• Never pay anything in advance unless you are sure that goods or services are go-

ing to be delivered.

• Never provide the other party with blank letterheads or invoices.

Readers are further advised to be very careful when and to whom they disclose their bank details.

“In most cases, we are only informed about these incidents after a while,” says Spies. “It may sound inconceivable, but many people have fallen prey to such questionable schemes.”

He adds that there are no reliable figures to illustrate the extent of these crimes, as victims do not always report incidents due to the embarrassment it may cause.

Contact the Knysna police on 044 302 6678 or at knysna saps@saps.gov.za for more info or to report fraudsters.

News & Views

3 June 2015

CXPRESS

5

Local insurers pay out for tusker damage, but Facebook abuse not on

Riaan Stander of Knysna logging company ZD Stander & Seuns Vervoer & Ontginning has reported a successful insurance pay-out of R13,000 for a tyre punctured by a Knysna elephant - a first-ever for local insurance companies! NIKKI RIDLEY chatted to him...

FACEBOOK ELICITS ABUSE: One of the photos posted by the Standers on social media and which received negative comments, accusing the loggers of destroying the elephants’ habitat Photo: Riaan Stander

A

CCORDING to a spokesperson, the Standers’ documentation had to be supported by SANParks camera trap footage of the animal in question - as proof for the “unbelievable” claim.

The Standers recently drew media attention after posting photographic evidence on the company’s Facebook page of their continuing encounters with the elusive elephant.

“The elephant has flipped the Bell over a few times, and it has punctured a lot of tyres, so badly that we’ve had to throw them away, and it has broken our signboards.

This has been going on for about 15 years, although workers seldom see it, and usually only when its walk-

ing away, but this is the first time we have claimed from insurance.

“We used to think it was aggression, and we also used to think it was a male, but lately we think it’s a female, and she is flirting with the machine,” said Riaan Stander.

Amused SANParks spokesperson Nandi Mgwadlamba could not back up the Standers’ idea that the elephant was getting frisky, but said camera trap footage of the female had shown “agitated” behaviour.

She also stated that while SANParks only had complete empirical evidence to date of one elephant in the Knysna forest, independent researcher Gareth Patterson

had published evidence of many more.

Happy with the insurance pay-out, the Standers have nevertheless been upset by social media “abuse”.

“We received a lot of bad comments, but people don’t know how it works. We harvest the Cape pine plantations only. We don’t ever touch the indigenous forest.

My oldest brother read some of the comments to my father and it really upset him.”

Stander explained that they loved and respected the elephant. “My father worked the forest and he knows this elephant has been around for the last 50 to 60 years - they would sleep in the trees to stay out of its way.

“My family is also one of the last families to have logged the forest for generations, the ‘Circles in the Forest’ people from Dalene Matthee’s book. We feel very close to the elephant, like it’s a part of us.”

SANParks explained that there are no fences between

FRISKY, AGGRESSIVE OR AGITATED? Definitely elusive and very special... and possibly the Knysna elephant responsible for the Standers’ damaged equipment - Photo: SANParks

the indigenous forest and the Cape pine plantations, with animals free to move about at will. Encounters like this happen in the “buffer zones” bordering the indigenous forest.

And the Standers are not the only “victims” of the busy elephant; SANParks boardwalks are regularly ripped up and turned over.

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CXPRESS

Business

3 June 2015

Have you taken advantage of the second-hand trade yet?

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The Evening Market was an unbelievably successful event. Thank you to all the staff, teachers and parents who contributed to making this a superb evening for all. WOW, what a turnout we had!

Most of the delicious food cooked by the SGB members or their selected chefs sold out completely - big thank yous to Roberto, Hilton, Matuschka, Sarie, Celeste, Anita and Memory.

We’re also grateful to Andries for covering security and Deon for rocking the bar. Thank you to all the parents and pupils for supporting our Term 2 FunGUDLVHU DQG D ¿QDO VSHFLDO WKDQNV WR RXU VSRQVRUV Events & Tents, Knysna Elephant Park, The Treatment Room, Confeti Events and Designer Frames.

HE buy and sell concept is simple: buy low and sell high. This model is driving the trade of second-hand goods in South Africa, as witnessed first-hand by websites like gumtree.co.za that hosts over 700,000 live ads at any given moment.

Entrepreneurs are taking full advantage of the profits that can be made through buying and selling secondhand goods online.

A number of factors affect the second-hand economy, but top of the list is the proliferation of the internet in SA, which has made it easier and more affordable for entrepreneurs to reach a mass audience of buyers.

Online classifieds have become both the sales venue and supplier for the buyto-sell entrepreneur. Never before has it been so easy to compare and source a limitless amount of in-demand products from local suppliers.

‘Gumtrepreneur’ Johnson Njoroge began buying and selling on Gumtree after losing his job as a truck driver.

Unemployed, he planned starting a brokerage service but was shocked at how expensive it would be to furnish an office.

He then saw the opportunity to buy used furniture, fix the broken items and sell it at a higher price on Gumtree.

Today, Johnson owns Design A Couch, which specialises in custom couches while still making use of the site’s free advertising.

You don’t need to be an expert to find success; anyone with a smartphone can do it, but there are a few important points to consider: 1. Pick a few niches, starting with things you are interested in and already know about.

You could focus on anything from tools and electronics to furniture and baby gear, depending on your knowledge.

2. Know the price ranges for your niches: If you’re buying to sell, you need to find the best bargains. Check prices in-store and learn which ones equate a steal. If an item is priced well, it will sell fast so you will want to buy quickly.

The same applies for selling: ascertain what’s a fair price so you know in which price range to sell.

3. Know the brands - this is essential savvy in many niches. Find out what brands sell quickly and hold value and then buy only those. Remember that popular brands are trusted so buyers are more ready to part with their cash than with others.

4. Inspect potential purchases before buying. Make sure the item is in great condition for when you are ready to resell. However, if a damaged item is a bargain, you could make a good profit by spending a little on restoration before selling.

Business jargon buster: Repo rates

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ENTION the repo rate, prime rate or compound interest and for many of us, it means eyes glazing over. But it pays to take an interest in interest rates because they directly affect your wallet.

Says Direct Axis head of marketing Gavin Moir: “The repo rate is mother of all interest rates. Set by the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, this is the rate at

Investor Focus

which it lends money to the country’s commercial banks.

The Reserve Bank adjusts this rate in order to keep inflation within its 3-6% target range. “The theory is that by upping the repo rate, the Reserve Bank makes it less attractive to borrow money. This reduces the amount of money in the economy, so there’s less to spend. As spending slows, it’s harder to increase prices

and this helps keeps inflation in check.�

So how does this impact you? When the repo rate goes up, commercial banks and other lenders increase their interest rates. This means, unless you have a fixed interest rate, you will pay more on your loans.

In short, an increase in the repo rate means the cost of borrowing money increases.

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

Revisiting the fundamentals of SA economics

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The kids loved excerpts of ‘A Dog’s Life’ performed by Lunchbox Theatre director Stuart Palmer and his dog :DÂż 1RZ WKH\ NQRZ DOO DERXW DQLPDO welfare and how to treat their pets thanks Stuart!

Thank you to Marko Wasserman from Plettenberg Bay Mowers for replacing the motor on our lawnmower free of charge.

If you would like to get involved with our fundraising initiatives, please feel free to contact Taryn Antunes on 044 533 2126.

PLETT PRIMARY PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY:

S markets hit uncertain times and enter that churning mode, it is useful to re-appraise the economic fundamentals to ensure that we are not about to fall off an economic cliff.

Much has been written about our growth rate (GDP growth) and it is common cause that we will be lucky to see growth of 2.1% this year (after 1.5% in 2014). The factors affecting this low growth are: 1. A slowdown in the economic growth of our major trading partners - this includes Euroland, China and, to a certain extent, our African neighbours.

2. Low commodity prices.

The slowdown in China has resulted in a Âą50% drop in the price of iron ore and a similar drop in the coal price.

Both of these commodities make up a huge percentage of our exports.

3. Then there is the Eskom factor, which severely depresses the productivity and profitability of the manufacturing sector.

4. The recent drop in the oil price was poised to present our economy with a good stimulus. However, as we all know, our government saw fit to in-

crease the tax on fuel, which has now virtually negated the benefits of cheaper oil.

Despite all these woes, economic growth is expected to accelerate through 2016, very possibly reaching 3.5% by 2017.

With regard to inflation, the sharp drop that accompanied the lower oil price has now been negated and a gradual rise is expected over the next 18 months. Projected figures are as follows: • 2104 - 6.1% • 2015 - 4.6% • 2016 - 5.6% • 2017 - 5.3% These are annual averages, as we will see inflation breach the 6% upper target limit over the next 12 months before settling down below the 6% level.

For retirees, this news is almost academic, since “retired inflation� is assumed to be above the 10% mark.

The Rand as we know is almost impossible to project on a short-term basis. It has devalued by an average of 4%pa since 1994, although on a very volatile path.

One of the most used measures of valuing the Rand is its Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) - this is effectively the difference between the US

and SA inflation rates over the long term.

The PPP currently values the Rand at 9.4 to the US$.

However, there are many extraneous factors currently in play, the main one being US interest rates. On average, most economists project the Rand to trade at ÂąR12 to the US$ for quite some time.

SA interest rates are on an established rising path.

They are expected to rise by 0.25% before year end, and by a further 0.5% during 2016. This is of little help to those retirees who are depending on interest income to meet their expenses.

So, while the SA economy looks to remain boring, it does not appear to be that fragile. Our economic partners should recover over the next 18 months, which will drag our economy upwards.

The greatest threat to the market is thus not our economy but the degree and rapidity of rising US interest rates.

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News & Views

3 June 2015

CXPRESS

7

Lunchbox takes vital message about xenophobia to the international stage

C

XPRESS chatted to Lunchbox Theatre chairman Stuart Palmer fresh back from a memorable trip to Zim last month.

“We had intended to arrive in Zimbabwe with our South African flags flying high, but quickly decided to keep

a very low profile, as the shocking news of xenophobia broke all around us.

“For the second time in my life I was embarrassed to be a South African. The first time was during the Apartheid years in the 1980s,” says Stuart.

“However, our show kNkhc."

Vjg"Kpjgtkvcpeg, is the exact antithesis of our country’s problems and we were proud that we could convey a positive message about our South Africans and our willingness to work together with the world to make our planet bet-

Plett Fringe combines creative arts and award-winning drama

P

RESENTED by Kids of Kurland as part of the 2015 Plett MAD Festival, the third annual Fringe will be entertaining festinos with timeless classics, top-class performances and memorable musical acts at The White House Theatre for five exciting days of Music, Art and Drama (yes, that’s MAD!) from June 25-29.

OQVJGT"QH"CNN" GCVKPI Vjwtufc{"Lwpg"47"/"9ro Written by renowned South African writer Zakes Mda, this elegant production explores the culture of corruption, expressed as ‘eating’.

In the two-man play, a shady government official, The Man, and his conscience are directed superbly in a tale about tender corruption, avarice and excessive opulence.

A morality play, it shows the tragic effects of unbridled greed and the abrupt end of a life spent ‘overeating’.

Described as “a timeless classic, Oqvjgt" qh" cnn" Gcvkpi has played to audiences in SA and overseas, and has proved perennially popular and relevant. Tickets: R100.

WPFGTOKPGF Htkfc{"Lwpg"48"/"9ro This vibrant and engrossing play is directed by multiaward winner Tara Notcutt and choreographed and acted by a superb professional crew and cast.

It was acclaimed at the 2014 National Arts Festival, where it received a Standard Bank Ovation Award and was invited to perform at the International Fringe Festival

in Australia, from where it recently returned.

The true story tells of one man with a remarkable gift - not an unmixed blessing.

Through song and spellbinding storytelling we follow Madlebe as he leaves Mozambique for the mines of Jozi. A joyous production of hope, persistence and an unexpected hero, this is storytelling at its most exciting.

Tickets: R100.

KNKHC." VJG"KPJGTKVCPEG Ucvwtfc{"Lwpg"49"/"33co" Lunchbox Theatre brings you an interactive and entertaining family play about self-discovery and a great inheritance.

When Themba loses his grandfather he sets off on an eventful search for the huge inheritance that has been promised to him. His mind firmly fixed on the wealth that is coming his way, he searches for the magical Mzantsi Tree where his treasure is being kept safe for him.

The show premiered on the Main Programme of the 2014 Grahamstown National Arts Festival and has recently returned from an extremely successful performance at the Harare International Festival of the Arts in Zimbabwe.

Tickets: R65 (children R50).

DCT"PQPG Ucvwtfc{"Lwpg"49"/"9ro" Dct" Pqpg tells the funny yet poignant story of a family who has run a bar in New York for decades. This charming musical romance will transport you to a happy place, filled with nostalgia, laughter and

the occasional tear.

The acclaimed cast of Alex and Lucy Tops combine oldtime storytelling with the music of past times, including memorable songs such as Dcd{"Kv‚u"Eqnf"Qwvukfg, K"Iqv" Tj{vjo, Ot"Dqlcpingu, Rkcpq" Ocp and many more. At the end of this show, you may just find you want to stay right there, in the comfort zone of the theatre... Tickets: R100.

DQTFGTNKPG Uwpfc{"Lwpg"4:"/"9ro This one-man show combines comedy, music and drama in the story of Van Heerden, a naïve Afrikaner conscripted in 1976. His experiences present him with new questions (Is this worth fighting for?

Will she wait for me?), and he discovers a passion for music.

Only his transistor radio and his sacred Beatles songbook get him through the physical humiliation and moral uncertainties of each day.

Pierre van Heerden is a remarkable vocal artist and comedian well-known for his roles in Ecvu, Tqem{" Jqttqt" Rkevwtg" Ujqy, Ejkeciq. and Vjg" Nkqp" Mkpi. He shines in this rite-of-passage production inspired by real-live events. Tickets: R100.

YJCV"VJG"GHHA" Oqpfc{"Lwpg"4;"/"9ro As a South African, you might ask: “What the F?” every now and again - or very frequently, even. Nik Rabinowitz thinks a more relevant question is: “What the EFF?” We know that feeling.

You’re about to enjoy one of life’s great pleasures, dinner in front of the TV, and then... load-shedding! Or you return to where you parked your car, and find only an empty space.

Whether it’s the robots that haven’t worked for so long that drivers are confused when they do, politicians in parliament in Pep Stores overalls, hard hats and Italian shoes, at some point you’re going to ask yourself: “What the EFF?” Fortunately the outstanding South African comedian Nik Rabinowitz is here to answer the question - or maybe not answer it so much as shake it a bit and see what falls out.

Tickets: R150.

• The White House courtyard opens at 6pm each evening with live music, light snacks for sale and a cash bar. Performances start at 7pm sharp.

ter for everyone.”

The Lunchbox Theatre team of Mncedisi Ncedani, Amanda Valela, Claire Oosthuizen, Nomzamo Maga, and Nkosinathi Xipula accompanied Stuart for an unforgettable experience at Zimbabwe’s well-known HIFA Festival.

Assitej is an organisation dedicated to ‘changing the world, one child at a time’ through children’s theatre.

Their support enabled Lunchbox to create kNkhc."Vjg"Kpjgt/ kvcpeg, which centres on the rights that every child needs to understand, in order to become confident leaders.

The Assitej Ideas to Action Programme brought delegates from four Southern African countries and Sweden together to debate, discuss and perform shows about kids’ rights.

The official HIFA newspaper Jkhcnwvkp‚ had this to say about the Lunchbox Theatre production: “As most of us know, of late, South Africa has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons, namely the violence witnessed over the preceding weeks. With

SAY NO TO BULLIES: Lunchbox Theatre actress Amanda Valela looks on with glee as Mncedisi Ncedani bullies little Nkosinathi Xipula, so covering one of the many themes of children’s rights in ‘iLifa’ which features at the Plett Fringe Festival on June 27 at 11am - Photo: Anja Weil

this in mind, this show came to us from the Rainbow Nation and provided the audience with a more positive perspective of that country.”

Not only did the show have a profound impact on the audiences of HIFA, but it also brought amazing opportunities to these Garden Route actors. Venturing out of their country for the first time, in-

Notice Board • The next PAWS Car Boot Sale will be held on June 7 from 9am to 1pm at The Market Square lower parking area. Contact Margie Hollely on 082 551 6301 for more information and space reservation. ß" Views restaurant overlooking Wilderness Beach is the venue for this year’s Bon Vivant Charity Dinner where guests will be able to enjoy breath-taking

views while singer Louise Carver provides worldclass entertainment. This exclusive charity event has become a highlight on the Garden Route’s social calendar and this year takes place on June 11. Only 50 tickets are available in aid of Carpe Diem School for kids with special needs.

Contact headmaster Karools Hauptfleisch on 044 874 4074 for more info.

teracting with international theatre makers and artists, and attending a multitude of performances from over 15 different counties allowed much deeper insight into their craft.

Want to also make a difference? Considering that June 4 is International Day of Innocent Children (http://www. gov.za/international-day-innocent-children-victims-aggression-2015), perhaps you know of a person or organisation that would like to fund the staging of iLifa to local children? Visit www.lunchbox.org.za to find out more about kNkhc; it should be part of every child’s inheritance.

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CXPRESS

Interval

3 June 2015

Whisky is a brilliant invention…

One double and you start feeling single again.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

• Colonel Sanders: I missed one?

• Pat Buchanan: To steal a job from a decent, hard-working American.

• Machiavelli: The point is that the chicken crossed the road.

Who cares why? The ends of crossing the road justify whatever motive there was.

• Thomas de Torquemada: Give me ten minutes with the chicken and I’ll find out.

• Timothy Leary: Because that’s the only kind of trip the Establishment would let it take.

• Fox Mulder: It was a government conspiracy.

• Freud: The fact that you thought the chicken crossed the road reveals your underlying sexual insecurity.

• Darwin: Chickens, over great periods of time, have been naturally selected in such a way that they are now genetically predisposed to cross roads.

A

• Richard M Nixon: The chicken did not cross the road. I repeat, the chicken did not cross the road.

• Jerry Seinfeld: Why does anyone cross a road? I mean, why doesn’t anyone ever think to ask: ‘What the heck was this chicken doing walking around all over the place anyway?’

• Martin Luther King, Jr: I envision a world where all chickens will be free to cross roads without having their motives called into question.

• Dirk Gently (Jqnkuvke" Fg/ vgevkxg): I’m not exactly sure why, but right now I’ve got a horse in my bathroom.

• Bill Gates: I have just released the new Chicken 2000, which will both cross roads AND balance your cheque book, though when it divides three by two it gets 1,4999999999.

• MC Escher: That depends on which plane of reality the

chicken was on at the time.

• George Orwell: Because the government had fooled him into thinking that he was crossing the road of his own free will, when he was really only serving their interests.

• Plato: For the greater good.

• Aristotle: To actualise its potential.

• Karl Marx: It was a historical inevitability.

• BF Skinner: Because the external influences, which had pervaded its sensorium from birth, had caused it to develop in such a fashion that it would tend to cross roads, even while believing these actions to be of its own free will.

• Jean-Paul Sartre: In order to act in good faith and be true to itself, the chicken found it necessary to cross the road.

• Albert Einstein: Whether the chicken crossed the road

or the road crossed the chicken depends upon your frame of reference.

• The Sphinx: You tell me.

• Buddha: If you ask this question, you deny your own chicken nature.

• Emily Dickenson: Because it could not stop for death.

• Ralph Waldo Emerson: It didn’t cross the road; it transcended it.

• Ernest Hemingway: To die.

In the rain.

• Saddam Hussein: It is the Mother of all Chickens.

• Joseph Stalin: I don’t care.

Catch it. I need its eggs to make my omelette.

• Dr Seuss: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why he crossed, I’ve not been told!

• OJ: It didn’t. I was playing golf with it at the time.

Placing an obituary

lady walked into a newspaper office. She approached an employee and said that her husband had died and that she would like to have an obituary appear in the paper.

The employee gave her a form and told her to write the obituary on it.

She wrote: ‘Earl W Worth

died Saturday December 2 at his home. Services are at The Baptist Church at 3pm.’

The employee looked at the form and said: “I’m sorry, Ma’am, but obituaries are limited to seven words apiece.”

The woman took another form and wrote: ‘Earl died.

‘57 Chevy truck for sale.’

submarine racing so intense

Fresh in… blond dude jokes • A blond man is in the bathroom and his wife shouts: “Did you find the shampoo?”

He says: “Yes, but I’m not sure what to do... it’s for dry hair, and I’ve just wet mine.”

• A blond man goes to the vet with his goldfish.

“I think it’s got epilepsy,” he tells the vet.

The vet takes a look and says: “It seems calm enough to me.”

The man says: “Just wait, I haven’t taken it out of the bowl yet.”

• A blond man’s dog goes missing and he is frantic.

His wife says: “Why don’t you put an ad in the paper?”

He does, but two weeks later the dog is still missing.

“What did you put in the paper?” his wife asks.

“Here boy!” he replies.

• A blond man is in jail. The guard looks in his cell and sees him hanging by his feet.

“Just WHAT are you doing?” the guard asks.

“Hanging myself,” the blond man replies.

“The rope should be around your neck” says the guard.

“I tried that,” he replies, “but then I couldn’t breathe.”

• An Italian tourist asks a blond man: “Why do scuba divers always fall backwards off their boats?”

To which the man replies: “If they fell forward, they’d still be in the boat.”

• A friend tells the blond man: “Christmas is on a Friday this year.”

The man says: “Let’s hope it’s not the 13th.”

Social Scene

3 June 2015

CXPRESS

THANKS FOR THE BLANKIES: The Seeff Plettenberg Bay team shows off the blankets and warm clothes collected for its winter warmer campaign. A huge vote of thanks goes to all members of the community who helped with contributions. The folk at St Thomas Methodist Church will now distribute these to the needy.

STEINWAY TO HEAVEN: Next up for the Knysna Plett Concert Series are cellist Anzel Gerber and Steinway pianist Ben Schoeman, who will perform in Knysna DRC hall on Monday June 8. Award-winning SA musicians of the highest calibre, they have won many prizes together and on their own, at recital as well as orchestral level. They have performed all over the world and in many top international festivals including those in Romania, Canada and the UK. Anzel is currently lecturing cello performance at Stellenbosch while Ben is completing a doctoral thesis on the piano music of SA composer Stefan Grove at City University in London and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Their programme will include works by Beethoven, Britten, Schumann and Chopin, and you can buy tickets at the door from 6:45pm at R120 (R30 for scholars).

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SAY ‘WINE’! Recently, 11 Born in Africa teens who participate in the Eden Hospitality programme enjoyed a most educational visit to Bramon Wine Estate in The Crags, where winemaker Anton Smal enlightened them on an array of interesting facts about the process and industry locally and countrywide. In the pic with the students at back from left are Anton, Jannie, Yron and Hendricka - all staffers who ensure that the estate’s excellent products reach our tables intact. Call Nadia on 079 486 8257 or email nbeutler@ edenhospitalitygroup.co.za for more information.

DANCING DOWN THE AISLES: Reverend Pam Berning of St Michael’s sent this pic and wrote: This photo taken on the afternoon of May 31 at The Crags Community Hall pictures the song group from St Mary’s in New Horizons. Our smaller group from St Michaels hosted the event attended by song groups from Sedgefield, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. It was a beautiful concert of gospel songs and an afternoon of great joy with dancing in the aisles and lots of clapping. Thank you to all the singers and musicians in the Archdeaconry of Knysna who came to encourage St Michael’s Crags.

People, places & events DIANNE ENRICHES KWANO KIDS: ‘The Name of the Tree is Bojabi’, published by Human & Rousseau, was runner up in the 2013 SA Early Childhood Development (SAECD) Award, when illustrator Piet Grobler and author Dianne Hofmeyer shared a prize of R20,000. Since 2003, this prize has been awarded to books that instil a love for reading among toddlers and young children.

The SAECD award programme is supported

by ABSA and the National Development Agency. Diane Hofmeyer, who owns a home in Plett, has put part of her share of the prize money back into the community by donating 25 hardback copies to children with little access to books. These were distributed to The Children’s Book Network in Cape Town for the benefit of kids in informal settlements, to Children of the Wilderness (a project developed by Wilderness Safaris to make books accessible to kids in remote areas), and now 10 books have been donated to Phakamisani Primary School in Plettenberg Bay for their Grade 4 English Enrichment lessons. ‘Bojabi’ is also available in Afrikaans - visit www.nb.co.za/ Books/14270 to find out more.

ials c e p S r Winte ember y - Sept Ma

Photo: ‘Delighted Dad’ Danny Aaron

GREENWOOD POOCHES TREATED TO TALES: Reading to dogs is a wonderful tool in helping kids to overcome their fear of reading out loud. Dogs are non-judgemental, attentive and perfect listeners! Says new headmaster Luke Perkins, who introduced the concept to Greenwood School in Plett: ‘This works really well with kids. The dog doesn’t judge or criticise and so it helps to build self-esteem as well.’ Research suggests that some children find reading aloud to adults stressful, and a dog or cat can be an excellent alternative. Mr Perkins has brought his specially-trained dog, Maus, to school and says he always sees positive results when children read storybooks to their pets. And what could be cuter? In the pic, Mia Aaron reads her homework assignment to her dog, Mosby.

inner) ourse. nch & d DAY NUS (lu e, R210 for 3 c EVERY E M T E S rs u .

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Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

Tel: 044 533 2030 Fax: 044 533 2074 40 Church Street, Plettenberg Bay www.collectionmcgrath.com/plett/

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CXPRESS

Classifieds

3 June 2015

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

03 June 2015

04 June 2015

05 June 2015

06 June 2015

07 June 2015

08 June 2015

09 June 2015

Cloudy Cl d with i ha thunderstorm

19° Lo 12°

Precipitation: 59% Thunderstorm: 40% Sunrise: 7:24AM Sunset: 5:25PM Wind: W 22km/h Gusts: 33km/h W

Very windy in the morning

16°

Lo 8°

Precipitation: 41% Thunderstorm: 20% Sunrise: 7:25AM Sunset: 5:24 PM Wind: W 32km/h Gusts: 56 km/h W

Clouds and sun

Spotty showers sho h wer

17°

17°

Lo 8°

Precipitation: 1% Thunderstorm: 0% Sunrise: 7:25 AM Sunset: 5:24 PM Wind: N 11km/h Gusts: 17km/h N

Lo 4°

Precipitation: 60% Thunderstorm: 20% Sunrise: 7:26AM Sunset: 5:24PM Wind: W 20km/h Gusts: 41km/h W

Partly l sunny

17°

Lo 6°

Precipitation: 10% Thunderstorm: 0% Sunrise: 7:27AM Sunset: 5:24PM Wind: S 4km/h Gusts: 15km/h S

Partly P tl sunny

21°

Lo 7°

Precipitation: 0% Thunderstorm: 0% Sunrise: 7:27AM Sunset: 5:24 PM Wind: E 4km/h Gusts: 15km/h E

Mostly M Mo stly l sunny

20°

Lo 4°

Precipitation: 1% Thunderstorm: 0% Sunrise: 7:28AM Sunset: 5:24PM Wind: S 4km/h Gusts: 13km/h S

MOON PHASES: June 2015

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

Wed 3 June Full Moon Wed 10 June Last Quarter

TIDES: 03 June - 16 June

03 Wed 04 Thu 05 Fri 06 Sat 07 Sun 08 Mon 09 Tue 10 Wed 11 Thu 12 Fri 13 Sat 14 Sun 15 Mon 16 Tue

LOW

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

10h19 10h55 11h33 12h13 00h39 01h32 02h35 03h55 05h26 06h40 07h36 08h24 09h06 09h46

04h13 04h51 05h30 06h12 06h57 07h47 08h48 10h06 11h37 00h17 01h17 02h10 02h57 03h41

22h31 23h10 23h52 12h56 13h46 14h48 16h11 17h49 18h59 19h53 20h40 21h22 22h02

16h41 17h19 17h58 18h41 19h30 20h28 21h41 23h04 12h53 13h52 14h42 15h27 16h08

On the Soapbox

3 June 2015

Letters to the Editor

CXPRESS

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

Contribute to train carers for our seniors Bitou Skills and Training aims to present a Home Care course in the near future, and sponsorship to finance the project is now required, as this essential training will cost approximately R3,000 per student.

There is a grave need for qualified carers in Plett and surrounds, as many of our older residents require assistance on a daily basis, but can’t necessarily afford the services of available frail care facilities.

The Homecare Course

will be presented by the SETA-accredited organisation Uku-phela George (Lucinda on 044 871 2770 can provide more info) and will cost R2,900 per student for a minimum of 10 trainees, i.e. R29,000 of which a 50% deposit is payable upon registration.

The duration of the course is three months, comprising: • First month - six days of lectures throughout the month (not every day); • Second and third months - 28 shifts of 7/7 practical at

Formosa Garden Village or Stromboli’s (number of shifts can be reduced).

A minimum requirement for students is Grade 10 and they must be able to speak English. Bitou Training will present a five-day short course in basic requirements to assist patients, e.g. making beds, doing laundry, and the preparation of light meals.

We are now calling for sponsors for at least R30,000, ideally 10 donors of R3,000 each. It is suggested that the students pay R300 each, that

would be payable over two months, i.e. R150 at registration and R150 at the beginning of course. Bitou Training students will be given the first chance to apply.

Readers in a position to assist are asked to contact Sanet van Rooyen on 082 856 4150. Your donations would be greatly appreciated and would be instrumental in providing this vital service to many Plett seniors.

We thank you in advance!

Eqppkg"Rggv"qdq" Dkvqw"Vtckpkpi

We’ll make great use of your old wool, ribbons and sheets!

Elsen educator Leigh Dunn sent these pics and wrote: ‘The special needs class at Formosa Primary School is busy with art and recycling projects and we are hoping that CXPRESS readers could help us with materials for this purpose. Wool, ribbon and orange bags for threading activities will come in very handy, as well as old sheets for fabric painting. If you are able to assist, please call me on 082 084 2636 and feel free to visit www. elsensa.co.za for more info on our work.’ In the pic at right, Chaldrin Julies shows one of the threading projects; at left, Jonathan Kapank and Bernadette Plaatjies at back and Ashton Oelf and Keenon Ruiters in front enjoy the fabric painting.

This is where Tsitsikamma people party - all night long...

When it comes to party places, be it a night club, shebeen or disco (do those still exist?), it’s all in the name.

Driving through Woodlands (between Kareedouw and Storms River) recently, I noticed this very nondescript beige building - no Coke signs, no beer or hard tack promotional posters, nada.

I did not take much notice until I saw the sign on the roof, also nondescript, with the three words ‘DIE HELE NAG’ on the same beige background.

I was finished - nearly fell out of my vehicle laughing!

I also noticed that the words were neon light backed, so it will be visible DIE HELE NAG (all night long).

The locals assured me that this jol place lives up to its name, with one bloke muttering that the men don’t like their wives and girlfriends frequenting the club, as they end up looking after the children… yes, you guessed it: DIE HELE NAG! Hkpkujgf."

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CUTTING THE RUG IN WOODLANDS: This party place doesn’t need a sign to indicate business hours - the name says it all

Smiling Dogs - a poem Walking Robberg beach is a treat indeed, From Sanctuary to the Wreck, there is no need, For dogs to be on their leashes at all, That’s why dogs and walkers have such a ball.

People arrive and park their car At Sanctuary Boardwalk, then it’s not very far, Just a hop and a skip and off the dogs run Free from restraints, to have some fun.

The anticipation on their faces is a sight to see, There is no other place they would rather be, They run to the water, tails a-wagging, Turning to see why the folks are lagging.

In the doggie world, it’s the place to greet Their furry friends, or new ones to meet.

Noses to tails, legs straight and stiff, Making acquaintance with a nudge and a sniff.

Big or small, fat or thin, One with a beard hanging from its chin.

Brown or black, tan or white, These happy dogs are quite a sight Collies are crouching low on the sand, Waiting for the quick movement of the hand, That will throw the ball far down the beach, Then racing each other to be first to reach.

The black giant Schnauzer

sits patiently waiting, For his master to give the sign, dictating, That he now may run, so free and so fast.

He impresses us all with how long he can last.

Trotting along on legs very short, Big stick in his mouth, for show, not for sport, The little black Dachshund keeps his nose in the air, He likes to pretend that you’re not even there.

Then there’s the poodle, white and fluffy, She would rather die than be seen looking scruffy.

Her steps are so dainty, controlled and neat.

Despite being haughty, she is rather sweet.

The miniature Yorkie runs into a wave Yapping and yelping to show she is brave, She emerges, and appears to have lost all her fat Looking exactly like a scraggly, drenched rat.

The golden Alsatian plods sedately along, Though he is quite old, his legs are still strong.

A blind Labrador trustingly follows his master, With confident steps, but won’t go any faster.

Retrievers, Jack Russells, Pavement Specials and more, so many dogs, walks are never a bore.

The smiles on their faces are a joy to behold…

They’ll be back tomorrow, they don’t have to be told!

C"Owug."Rngvv

11

Anyone keen on the Bitou Braai Master crown?

My NBF (New Best Friend) or no-one’s bloody fool, Malcolm, asked me why we do not have a braai competition in Plett.

Well, LM in Plett had that cook-up series, but he was thinking of a Sunday in the Main Street, in the parking bay between LM and the bookshop.

Now if there are any potential braai masters who would like to try their luck, phone me on 083 264 5992 and I will try and arrange it.

Alternatively, give Luiz a bell at LM on 044 533 1420 or 082 879 8965.

May well put the fun back into Sundays!

Rcwn"Fgcpu."Rngvv

12

CXPRESS

Sport & Adventure

3 June 2015

Plett’s Van der Walts heading for the US Open to cheer on son Tjaart P LETT reader JP van der Walt popped in at the CXPRESS offices last week to share the exciting news that his son, pro golfer Tjaart, had just qualified for the US Open and was on his way to the States for this legendary big one of golf, with wife Vicki in tow.

He brought along the clipping of a recent Dwtigt article, too, where writer Marizanne Kok explains how both Tjaart and compatriot Thomas Aiken recently qualified for the Open with

FOUR-BALL: JP and Petro van der Walt of Plett, right, photographed recently with their professional golfing son Tjaart and his bag-bearing wife, Vicki BEHIND EVERY GOLF GUY... Both Tjaart’s wife Vicki and Thomas Aiken’s wife Kate, left, served as caddies during their US Open qualifier in Surrey recently

P

their wives as caddies.

Vicki van der Walt has been carrying Tjaart’s golf bag since 2013 and, writes Kok, it is an arrangement that bears more and more fruit. “She was there when he won the Cape Town Open in 2013, and attained top-10 results in five of his last nine tournaments.”

At the qualifier in Surrey, England, Aiken and Van der Walt were joined by Garth Mulroy who also made the grade in a playout for the final four Open spots.

But none of the other South Africans qualified with quite as much aplomb as Van der Walt, hitting two eagles and a birdie in his last six holes.

And that’s the stuff JP and wife Petro hope to see when cheering on Tjaart at Chambers Bay Golf Club at the US Open from June 18-21.

We wish Tjaart, 40 - who has been playing out of Fancourt along with fellow stellar golfers Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace - and ‘caddie’ Vicki the best of luck at their US Open debut.

Paddle out this weekend for the planet and its sharks

ADDLE Out for Sharks 2015 is planned for Sunday June 7, to tag onto World Oceans Day on Monday the 8th. This latter is an international event calling on people around the globe to celebrate and honour the world’s oceans.

Having originated in KZN four years ago, Paddle Out for Sharks highlights these animals’ plight in response to commercial shark fishing in SA and Mozambique while taking a stand against shark-hating discourses.

This year’s World Oceans Day theme is Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet and organisers of the paddle feel it’s fitting that sharks get the nod for their role in maintaining the wellbeing of our seas.

The nearest event to CX Country takes place in Mossel Bay on Sunday, where Fiona Ayerst is organising a paddle out. Meet at 7:30am on Santos Beach and take along any boat, paddle or surfboard as well as a wetsuit, as it’s bound to be a lit-

Bay College students de-stress by kayaking down Keurbooms

Plett local Cathy Henderson shared this pic of Bay College students who took part in a kayaking weekend on Keurbooms River last month. ‘Such fun was had by all and it was a happy, bonding time for the teens before the stress of exams. A big thank you goes to Johan Loots for organising this outing.

Here’s to the next adventure!’ says Cathy, who chaperoned the team along with hubby Pete. Johan hopes to make these paddling trips a regular event for Bay College pupils and if any other groups or individuals are interested, feel free to call him on 082 556 2520 or visit www.paddleyak.co.za for further information.

tle chilly.

Find Fiona on Facebook and visit www.worldoceans day.org and www.facebook. com/paddleout4sharks for additional information.

• Plett Paddling Club is hosting a Paddle for the Planet on Saturday June 6 (register at 9am, paddle out at 10am) before running a number of kids and surfski and anything that floats races with lots of prizes up for grabs. Email jess@sabrina love.co.za or call 083 246 1716 to find out more.

Roxy word ‘n medalje ryker

Melissa Joel van Kranshoek bedank graag vir Yvette Smit van Knysna Gimnastiekklub nadat haar dogter Roxaan, hierbo, ‘n silwer medalje gewen het tydens die Kaaplandse Kampioenskappe wat onlangs in Mosselbaai plaasgevind het. ‘Roxy is in Graad 5 by Kranshoek Primêr en doen nou maar eers vir ‘n jaar lank gimnastiek, maar sy vorder uitstekend,’ vertel die trotse mammie. Hou so aan, Roxy, en sterkte met jou blink toekoms in dié skouspelagtige sport.

Gawe borge ondersteun Wittedrift se eerstes Die eerste rugby-span van Hoërskool Wittedrift spog met nuwe sportsakke geborg deur Plett Sports en Plett Carpentry. Hier staan die seuns trots in die skool se kleure, met hul nuwe sakke waarop die Wittedrift embleem pryk. Saam met die span van links is Barden Brummer van Plett Carpentry, afrigter Jacques Steyn, Deon Coetzer van Plett Sports en skoolhoof Jeremy Marallich heel regs. Die skool is dankbaar vir hierdie reuse borgskap.