4 february

4 February 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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Made it!

Plett’s Dr Pete Berning, second from left, recently scaled Mount Vinson with four friends: at left is Ken Watt, with brothers Zack & Barney and dad Iain Buchan at right read all about it on the back page

Shocking Bitou bust

It’s Plett Music Fest!

Go on, have a laugh...

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

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CXPRESS

News & Views

4 February 2015

Driving Miss Crazy

Why drive if you can fly?

JEEVES shares his adventures as Garden Route chauffeur extraordinaire...

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IARY note for Friday: “George Airport 16:30hrs. Collect Mrs Higginbotham - Kulula Flight X Y Zee. First fetch car Leisure Isle; connect battery ±15:00hrs.”

Damn... have to forego my regular lunch date with pals at Harry B’s. What would lunch be without a pre-drink,

and a glass of wine to accompany the meal?

Wednesday a.m. My smart phone Skype-call bleating.

Aah! Graham, a buddy from Joburg on holiday in Plett, and who hosted a braai-dinner thrash a few nights ago.

“Just wanted to say thanks very much for that wine you brought,” he said. “We had it

last night and loved it. Where can we get some?”

I told him I had first discovered it in Port Elizabeth, and that I also had found a stash in a George bottle store.

He thanked me, saying he would get some before leaving on Saturday.

I told him I was going to George on Friday to collect someone and that I could get the wine at the same time.

“We’ll keep in touch,” he said.

Friday a.m. Graham again.

“We are leaving for home tomorrow morning, early. Can you believe it? We were told you could get fuel at Plett Airport. Now I’ve just found out it’s for the new airline only!”

(He and I took up flying at the same time in the 70’s during the fuel restriction era, in order that we could still commute at weekends to places like Mbabane, Maputo, and Durban.)

“So. I’m going through to George this morning to fill up,” he continued. “Do you want to come for a flip?”

A plan was beginning to formulate in my mind... Seeing that I was going to the airport anyway later that day, could we not combine the two missions?

--After collecting Mrs Higgy’s car, I drove to Plett and found Graham busy doing pre-flight checks to his aircraft.

In the air he circled over Plett town, dipped the wings from side to side over his house where his wife was on the lawn furiously waving a sarong with both arms, and off we headed, hugging the coastline.

Amazing the amount of ‘castles’ and mansions that have sprung up en route to Knoetzie, hanging precariously from the cliff’s edge.

At 2,000 feet he offered me the controls. Quite dull really trying to hold course watching the instruments.

I was quite chuffed at my ability to hold her so steady since it was many years since I had last piloted a plane.

He congratulated me, then giggled, advising we were on

auto-pilot! Boys never grow up... I cursed and thumped him on the arm.

Twenty minutes later, we touched down in George and taxied towards a waiting petrol bowser next to the terminal building. Fuelling took as long as the flight, and many thousands of litres later we picked up a little red Fiat 500 from a hire company, and with roof down drove into town.

Four cases of the special wine, some meat and biltong from a famous butchery, cheese from a factory shop, and back to the plane.

Mrs H’s flight had already landed and was off-loading. I waited with trolley for her at the luggage carousel.

“Hello Jeeves! What are you

AUTOPILOT REQUIRED: What would lunch be without a pre-drink, and a glass of wine to accompany the meal? But our flight from George Airport had to be negotiated first, so refuelling of another kind was required...

doing in here? You’re supposed to be on the other side of that,” she exclaimed, pointing to the glass exit doors.

“There’s been a minor change in travel plans, my dear,” I told her, swinging her round with the trolley and guiding her back to the apron from whence she had just come.

“No! No! Jeeves. I’ve only just arrived; I’m not leaving!” she yelled.

She was totally bewildered.

I gently explained the situation, and her confused state turned to one of excitement.

“Yippee!” she shouted as we walked towards Graham loading up the shopping, adding with glee: “I’ve never been in a private plane before, what fun!”

She loved every moment of it, apart from being a little nervous at first; gazing out the window all the way, and pointing at the coast and recognisable landmarks with a huge smile, wide-eyed with excitement.

An hour later we were back at her home in Knysna.

“You may as well have fetched me by car,” she said with a grin. “It’s taken us just as long to get back... Only joking!” handing me a fat tip.

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OBITUARY

Our 10 000 free copies are distributed every Wednesday to a multitude of outlets along the Garden Route, with emphasis on Knysna and Plett and drop-offs at *Sedgefield Tourism *Caltex StarMart in Wilderness *Lynn Schroeder, Build It and other select outlets in George *Storms River Village and Bridge in Tsitsikamma - phone 044 533 1004 (o/h) with distribution queries.

If you’ve missed out on a hard copy, read the electronic version online at www.cxpress.co.za

PASSED IN PEACE: Ray Goodwin died peacefully early on Sunday morning January 25, aged 82, at Plettenberg Bay Mediclinic

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Good-bye, birdman Ray Goodwin

EAR friends, Ray wished that no memorial service be held, that his wife and children be present at the private cremation, and that his ashes be scattered at his beloved Robberg.

We thank you all for your love and support.

Guoê."Yctykem"cpf"Ickn

*EZRTGUU" ycu" rtkxkngigf" vq"hgcvwtg"Tc{‚u"dktfkpi"eqn/ wop"hqt"ocp{"{gctu"kp"qwt" hktuv" fgecfg" qh" gzkuvgpeg" cpf" yknn" cnyc{u" tgogodgt" jko" hqt" jku" mkpfpguu" cpf" mpqyngfig" cpf" mggppguu" vq" ujctg" jku" nqxg" hqt" vjg" ykpigf"qpgu0"Qwt"vjqwijvu" ctg"ykvj"Guoê"cpf"vjg"hco/ kn{0"/"Gfu0+

News & Views

4 February 2015

CXPRESS

Two electricians among senior officials suspended for alleged electricity theft Heads were rolling in Bitou yesterday after more than 40 municipal employees, including several senior officials, were allegedly linked to electricity theft last week - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports

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N internal forensic investigation was launched after Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu, in his audit report last year, highlighted that Bitou Municipality had suffered about R9-million in electricity losses in a single year.

The investigation, headed by independent auditors, revealed that 47 municipal employees had not purchased electricity for extended periods - some for as long as five years.

In an effort to establish why, the municipality put together

a team including members of the police, auditors and independent electricians to carry out a sting operation last week Tuesday.

Independent operators were brought in as there were suspicions that municipal electricians were among the culprits.

The team visited the properties of the employees and found that 40 of the identified had bypassed electricity metres.

The team could only access 40 homes, as they experienced resistance from some

employees - some even showing up at the front door with their pitbulls, while others claimed their spouses had the keys to the property.

Municipal manager Allen Paulse vowed that all senior officials implicated in the matter would be suspended with immediate effect. And he delivered on his promises this week.

Paulse said all of the employees would face disciplinary hearings and if they were found to be guilty of electricity theft, they would

Koeberg now Bitou’s number two COPE member Romeo Koeberg - here with local lawyer Perino Pama pointing out the dotted line - was not only sworn in as a Bitou councillor yesterday, but was also elected as new deputy mayor, replacing Adam van Rhyner who was recently suspended by the party after breaking COPE’s coalition agreement with the DA. Photo: Yolande Stander

Mandrax worth R700,000 confiscated travelling from at Tsitsikamma tollgate cupants, Queenstown to George, was

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WO men appeared in the Plettenberg Bay magistrates’ court on January 26 after Mandrax with an estimated street value of more than R700,000 were discovered in the boot of their car.

Vigilant members attached to the Flying Squad based in George stopped a white Ford Figo on the N2 near the Tsitsikamma tollgate on Sunday January 25 at about 8:40am.

The vehicle with two oc-

NOT ON OUR WATCH: Brigadier Phumzile Cetyana commended the police members for keeping this kind of stash from being sold on our streets

searched and 15 packets containing Mandrax tablets, weighing in at 23.5kg, were found in a box.

The accused - 34-year-old Tso Vumani from Zone 6, Thembalethu, and 45-yearold Songezile Dyasi from Port Elizabeth - were expected to appear again on Tuesday February 3, until which time they were held in custody.

Acting George cluster commander Brigadier Phumzile Cetyana emphasised that the SAPS would continue their efforts to act against those who peddled illegal drugs into the province to sell on our streets, so threatening the safety of our communities.

be dismissed.

He added that it was also the municipality’s responsibility to report these thefts to police so criminal charges could follow.

He further said that a decision was made to suspend the senior officials immediately as they “abused their positions of trust”. The rest are required to continue their

duties while the disciplinary hearings are being held.

This, Paulse said, was not only to minimise the impact on service delivery, but he also did not want the employees “sitting at home earning a salary” while there was work to be done.

Mayor Memory Booysen said this was most likely only the “tip of the iceberg” and

3 that a decision was made to start rooting out the problem by “cleaning our own house” before looking at the greater Bitou community.

Booysen said the next step was to establish if any residents were involved, too, in tampering with electricity boxes.

• By yesterday morning at 9am, five senior officials of whom two were electricians had been suspended. The number of houses visited totalled 47, with 11 homes having had their power switched off. Paulse said they expected the power to be cut at homes of all perpetrators by the end of yesterday.

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CXPRESS

News & Views

4 February 2015

Bitou’s geyser management monitored this month

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SKOM and Bitou Municipality joined forces to install a residential load management (or geyser control) system in Plettenberg Bay last year.

These geyser relays were installed to enable the mu-

nicipality to move a substantial portion of the residential evening peak geyser load to the off-peak period (after 8pm), when there is less strain on the national electricity grid.

A total of 970 new relays

were installed and 780 old relays were reconnected, which brings the total number of relays that can be managed during peak demand times to 1,750.

The municipality and Eskom thank Plett residents for

their positive attitude and support in allowing the installation of these relays.

As part of the regular and necessary testing requirements before the commissioning of the system, the Institute of Technology at Ford Hare University is now undertaking measurement and verification tests.

According to Energy Insight project manager Willie Botha, Bitou’s geyser con-

trol units require switching off for five minutes every half an hour for the duration of one month as part of the notch tests.

The tests commenced on February 1 and will take place until Saturday the 28th.

Homeowners should hear a clicking sound as the geyser relays receive an On/Off signal every 30 minutes during the testing period - this is completely normal.

No inconvenience on the part of residences is foreseen as a result of these testing procedures.

The University will also conduct a cold load pickup test today (February 4), when all Bitou’s geysers will be switched off from 10:30pm and 4am on February 5 for test purposes.

Call 012 345 5215 or email willeb@energyinsight.co.za with queries.

News Briefs Lqkp"flPq"Dckn"hqt" Rcgfqrjkngu‚"rtqvguv"octej" qp"Ucvwtfc{ A child protection march, in protest of bail granted to those awaiting trial for offences against children, takes place in Plett on Saturday February 7. Starting off at Phakamisani Primary School in KwaNokuthula at 10am, it will proceed down the N2 and Marine Way to reach the Plett police station at 12:15, when a petition will be handed over.

Readers are reminded that this is a peaceful march, with traffic and police officers, Law Enforcement and members of Plett Fire Department all standing by in support of the cause: preventing that any more children suffer at the hands of this evil.

The event will be filmed and marchers are asked to dress in white. Call Yvette Wilschut on 082 423 8077 or Phindiwe Seyisi on 073 784 5144 for more information.

Uvtcvgikgu"qp"etkog" rtgxgpvkqp"fkuewuugf" qxgt"dtgcmhcuv The Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) works towards the greater good of everyone in Bitou, but now needs to realign current visions, missions and crime prevention operations. To this end, readers are cordially invited to a breakfast meeting on February 11 at 9:15 for 9:30am at Rod & Reel restaurant.

This invitation is extended to PBCPA and SAPS mem-

bers, local NGOs, neighbourhood/farm watch groups, municipal officials and council members, Bitou Law Enforcement and Traffic officials, business people and anyone else with an interest in improving safety and reducing crime in Plett.

Email ina@plettsecurity. co.za to RSVP (guugpvkcn before February 9) and bring along R20 to assist in financing this important strategic crime prevention session. Donations or sponsorships are welcome (FNB Plettenberg Bay, Branch 210 514, PBCPA Account No 62327296548).

Call the PBCPA on 082 251 8134 to report crime in Bitou, or if you want to report suspicious actions that may lead to criminal activity.

Eden gives green light for transport On Monday, department of Green Valley pupils spokesman Jessica Shelver Yolandé Stander

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REEN Valley parents breathed a sigh of relief when the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) reinstated school transport for Grade 8s after an eleventh hour cancellation before schools reopened.

When the parents of 33 Green Valley learners arrived at Plett Secondary School for registration on January 19, they were told their children would have to attend Wittedrift High - this after the school received a letter from

the WCED stating that transport from Green Valley to Plett Secondary had not been approved.

The department provides transport for pupils in poor communities who live more than 5km from their nearest school. Although transport for Green Valley learners had been provided for years, it was not approved again because Wittedrift is their nearest school.

Parents were not informed as the letter only arrived at the Eden District office during the school holidays.

confirmed that the matter had been addressed and transport had been reinstated.

She explained that when the decision to cancel school transport was taken in November, Wittedrift High had a 33% spare capacity, so there was room for the children to attend the closer school.

By the time parents were informed, this had changed.

The district office had to apply again and the green light was officially given this week. Eden will now be looking at ways to increase capacity at Wittedrift High.

News & Views

4 February 2015

CXPRESS

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Priceless diamond ring miraculously recovered more than a year after disappearing in Plett surf A story of tears, hope, persistence, prayers and, eventually, tears of happiness - this is the tale that John Mulder of the Metal Detect Team shared with CXPRESS last week

LOVE TOKEN RETRIEVED: The beautifully designed ring has ‘ILY’ inscribed inside - Photo courtesy Kodak Photo Shop Plett

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ECEMBER 2013: Glenda and husband Ricci, on holiday from Jo’burg, were holding hands as they waded into the surf at Robberg Beach.

Then, suddenly, her beautiful diamond ring of great sentimental value and with the inscription ILY (I Love You) inside the ring, slipped off her finger and disappeared under the water.

At that time, the Plett Metal Detect Team could not find the ring due to it having been lodged in deep potholes in sand below the water.

During the ensuing weeks, sand levels remained high and it was decided that the team would keep an eye on conditions and conduct another search in future, when the levels dropped again.

By early January this year,

the team noticed that sand levels had ebbed to the exact position it was like on the day in 2013 when the ring was lost. This presented a window of opportunity to conduct another search for the ring.

On January 8, more than a year after the ring was lost, it was finally recovered from the surf within a few metres from where it had disappeared.

Yet another miraculous recovery by Plett’s highly experienced metal detectors - and indescribable happiness to Glenda and Ricci. Don’t you just love a happy ending?

Contact the Plett Metal Detect Team on 044 533 2117 or at lostringfinders@gmail. com if you’ve lost something valuable that they might be able to find.

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CXPRESS

News & Views

4 February 2015

Drill squad now donning dropdead gorgeous sashes

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ATE January hailed the joyous occasion of wool&more’s handover of sashes to drill marchers at the Masizame Drop-in Centre.

Says sash drive champion, Joy Sachs: “I would like everyone who contributed to see where their efforts went. We have also received the great news that a number of the marchers have been enrolled at school from the start of this academic year, and we

wish them all the best for their studies and future.”

Joy added that her popular Plett CBD shop’s current community project aimed to provide strip-blankets for the Masizame Shelter, which currently houses 20 children aged from three to 17 years old.

“The strips can be knitted in any yarn, any colour and any width, but must be one metre long exactly. Crocheted

AT EASE: Drill sergeant Rhonwin Koopman, above, with some of the marchers he has been helping to take through their paces MARCHING BANDS: Masizame Drop-in Centre programme coordinator Chandre Claasen, right, pores over the pile of sashes, each bearing a special personalised message of motivation for its fine-drilling recipient

Eden College campus now in Knysna CBD

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S of Monday February 2, the academic campus of Eden Community College is to be found in its new premises at 61 Waterfront Drive, i.e. slap-bang in the centre of Knysna.

If you are able to assist in

any way, whether it be by offering a labourer or paint, cleaning materials, garden services or anything else you may think an academic campus requires, please contact Christine on 044 382 0601 or 072 605 1556.

strips are also welcome, as long as they’re handed in by mid-March so we can sew them together in time for finished blankets at the beginning of winter.”

Joy and her team require approximately 120 strips, to be handed in at wool&more in Gibb Street. They also need volunteers to knit or crochet them together during March.

See the wool&more advert on page 11 for contact details.

News & Views

4 February 2015

CXPRESS

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Feast of music kicks off in Plettenberg Bay today

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TARTING tonight at 7pm, the second Plett Music Festival in support of the Kids of Kurland School Project offers five days of world class music, ranging from choral to jazz, Caribbean rhythms, music from Mali and classics from the past.

The programme kicks off with the enchanting bistrostyle Café Chantant by seasoned performers Mia Swart on vocals and Olga Schoeman on guitar and keyboard.

Celebrated sax ace Andrew Young presents two performances: a morning of wellloved melodies tomorrow at 11am and, on Friday evening at 8pm, a high-energy performance of fiery Caribbean music.

Newcomer to the Plett Music Festival is the outstanding guitarist Derek Gripper, who will perform his globally acclaimed adaptations of music from Mali on Thursday at 8pm.

Another first for the Festival is the Rhodes Univer-

sity Chamber Choir, who will present a performance of choral music on Saturday night.

Their programme includes African-American spirituals, popular music and South African traditional songs.

The festival ends on Sunday evening with local favourite jazz master Martin Wolfaardt in concert with the Anda Masala Jazz Quartet. C"Lqwtpg{"vjtqwij"Lc||"/" htqo"Chtkec"vq"vjg"Cogtkecu" commences at 8pm.

There will be live entertainment in the White House courtyard from 7pm, Thursday to Sunday, and a cash bar will be open with snacks for sale. Space is limited so if you haven’t booked your seat yet, swing past The Old House Shop in Plett CBD, or call Ann Fermor on 082 452 8764 for more information.

VJG"CTVKUVU Okc"Uyctv is originally from Holland, and her natural musical gifts combine with a delightful European charm. She

has sung professionally since her teens and is accompanied at the Plett Music Festival by multi-talented Qnic" Uejqg/ ocp from George.

Olga is the daughter of well-known pianist Anna Bender and studied the harp, piano and guitar. She has a B Mus. degree and, like Mia, boasts a long and successful concert career. Their musicality and choice of songs fit perfectly into the Café Chantant genre.

An incredible saxophonist, Cpftgy" [qwpi has performed to wild enthusiasm of local audiences on three previous occasions in Plett.

Born in Liverpool, Andrew started studying the clarinet and saxophone at the age of eight, and is now an internationally renowned recording and performing artist.

He has worked with artists such as Dionne Warwick, Shirley Bassey and Jonathan Butler and had the honour of performing for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles at

GETTING A GRIP ON MALI’S MELODIES: Derek Gripper will perform his globally acclaimed adaptations of music from Mali on Thursday at 8pm

Entertainment Diary The Korngold Project is this year’s first Knysna Plett Concert Series feature, when they perform at Knysna’s DRC hall in Fitchat Street on Monday Hgdtwct{";.

Famous for his symphonic film scores in the 1930s and 1940s, Erich Wolfgang Korngold was also an established composer of concert and chamber, opera and stage music. The Korngold Project brings together seven top musicians from six countries.

The show starts at 7:30pm and tickets at R120 (R30 for scholars are sold at the door.

Readers heading east next week are invited to step back in time in the unique and his-

toric village of Rhodes for its Stoepsitfees from Hgdtwct{" 33/37, with plenty to do, see, hear and tell on 16 participating stoeps. Revel in the ageold tradition of stoepsitting in the peace and tranquillity of Rhodes. Contact Dave Walker on 045 974 9290 or at con tact@rhodestourism.co.za.

The first-ever Geezer Rage hits Plett from Hgdtwct{" 49" vq" Octej" 3 - visit www.gee zerrage.co.za for details.

Diarise Knysna’s Celtic Fest, sponsored by Investec, and Sundowners Celtic & Bluegrass Concert on Saturday Hgdtwct{" 4:. Check the advert on page 6 for details.

the Royal Festival Hall.

Hailed as ‘The Prince of the Saxophone’ in Beijing, Andrew gives his audience an evening of awesome music fired by the energy of one of the most talented sax players on the world scene today.

South African-born Fgtgm" Itkrrgt" was the first classically trained guitarist to adapt and integrate the repertoire of West African music and the guitar. His albums have received accolades such as

“a staggering achievement”, “impressive and passionate rendering of Malian music” and “of hypnotic beauty”.

His 2012 album One Night on Earth resulted in invitations to perform in the US, the UK and numerous European countries, as well as Swaziland, Zimbabwe and South Africa. He collaborates on an ongoing basis with ethnomusicologists from various countries and, in the classical tradition, with guitar

master John Williams.

Founded in 1953, Tjqfgu" Wpkxgtukv{‚u" Ejcodgt" Ejqkt is South Africa’s oldest university chamber choir. It maintains a rich and celebrated tradition of choral excellence. Its extensive repertoire includes sacred music, African-American spirituals, popular music and, its speciality, South African traditional and contemporary music. Choristers are graduate and undergraduate students.

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CXPRESS

Interval

4 February 2015

Silly comments on interesting facts • If you yelled for eight years, seven months and six days, you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee. (Jctfn{" uggou"yqtvj"kv0) • A pig’s orgasm lasts 30 minutes. (Kp" o{" pgzv" nkhg." vjcv‚u"yjcv"K"ycpv"vq"dg#) • A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death. (Etggr{"/" K‚o"uvknn"pqv"qxgt"vjg"rki0) • Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour. (Fqp‚v"vt{"vjku"cv"jqog"/" oc{dg"cv"yqtmA) • The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male’s head off. (›Jqpg{."

K‚o"jqog0"Yjcv"vjg”"A#fi) • The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It’s like a human jumping the length of a football field. (52"okpwvgu”" nwem{"rki#"Ecp"{qw"kocikpgA) • The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds. (Yjcv" eqwnf"dg"vjcv"vcuv{"qp"vjg"dqv/ vqo"qh"c"rqpfA)

• Some lions mate over 50 times a day. (K"uvknn"ycpv"vq"dg" c"rki"kp"o{"pgzv"nkhg”"swcnkv{" qxgt"swcpvkv{0) • Butterflies taste with their feet. (Uqogvjkpi" K" cnyc{u" ycpvgf"vq"mpqy0) • Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people. (Kh" {qw‚tg"codkfgzvtqwu."fq"{qw" urnkv"vjg"fkhhgtgpegA) • Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.

(Qmc{." uq" vjcv" yqwnf" dg" c" iqqf"vjkpi0) • A cat’s urine glows under a black light. (K"yqpfgt"yjq" ycu"rckf"vq"hkiwtg"vjcv"qwvA) • An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain. (K" mpqy" uqog" rgqrng"nkmg"vjcv0) • Starfish have no brains. (K" mpqy" uqog" rgqrng" nkmg" vjcv." vqq0) • Polar bears are left-handed. (Kh" vjg{" uykvejgf." vjg{‚f" nkxg"c"nqv"nqpigt0) • Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure. (Yjcv" cdqwv" vjcv"rkiA)

Neighbourly advice...

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man knocks on his neighbour’s door: “Hi. I noticed you painted your bedroom last month and since we have a similar house, I thought I’d ask you how many cans of paint you bought.”

“Sure thing! We bought seven cans.”

“Awesome, thanks!”

A few days later, the man knocks on his neighbour’s

door again, looking a bit ticked.

“Hello again, what’s up?”

“Well, the other day you told me you bought seven cans of paint for your bedroom, right?”

“Right.”

“Well, the whole room is painted and we have three cans left.”

“Oh, you too?”

I don’t snore!

I dream I’m a motorcycle!

A donation to the church

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ATHER O’Malley answers the phone.

“Hello there, is this Father O’Malley?”

“It is!”

“This is the Taxation Department. I wonder if you can help us?”

“I’ll try!”

“Do you perhaps know a Ted Houlihan?”

“I do!”

“Is he a member of your congregation?”

“He is!”

“Did he donate $10,000 to the church?”

“He will!”

Social Scene

4 February 2015

CXPRESS

SEDGE COMMUNITY COPS GET SHOT IN THE ARM: The Sedgefield Community Oriented Policing (COP) team received a welcome donation that will further its efforts to curb hi-tech crime when ADT Security sponsored a state-of-the-art portable surveillance camera equipped with nightvision capabilities, on-board memory, and video & photo sharing. Authorised personnel - such as the Sector Manager of the local South African Police Service and senior COP members - have immediate wireless access to footage recorded by the camera. ‘The camera will be moved regularly to monitor hotspots around Sedgefield,’ said Mike Hofhuis, of the SCIC. ‘We are extremely grateful to ADT for their donation of this valuable crime-fighting equipment.’ Arno Hattingh, manager of ADT Security’s Garden Route Branch, said they were proud to have been able to help. ‘We can only achieve positive results in efforts to curb crime if all stakeholders and role players - including the public, community safety groups, security companies and the police - work together.’ Hearhear! From left in the pic are John Moore, Mike Hofhuis, Arno Hattingh, and Gideon Moore.

People, places & events

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HEEERE’S JACK! Strapping young Jack, firstborn babe of former Plett locals Steve and Camilla Whiteman, here shows off a range of expressions at the tender age of just one month. Born to the proud young couple on December 20, the boy is also doted on by grandmothers Gail Behr and Ineka Henderson, along with a whole host of family members and other near and dear ones, all of them bursting with tender feelings for the beautiful boy.

WE MAY BE GREEN BUT WE’RE HERE TO STAY: Enjoying the brand new experience of ‘big school’ are Greenwood’s Grade 1s with their clever teacher, Mrs Stewart.

From back at left are Daniel Spurrier, Matthew Joseph, Matthew Tindall, Summer West and Jayden Trebilcock. In front are Onge Mdatyulwa, Ruby Evans, Chris May and Dhiya Neufeld.

VAN ‘SQUABS’ NA VOLWAARDIGE GRAAD 8S: Die nuwe Graad 8s van Hoërskool Wittedrift het op Vrydag 30 Januarie die week van inhuldiging afgesluit met ‘n prettige groentjiekonsert, wat in die skoolsaal gehou en deur die prefekte gereël is. Die nuwe leerders het verskeie danspassies uitgevoer op maat van onder andere Kurt Darren se ‘Voorwaarts Mars’ en ‘I need a Hero’ deur Bonnie Tyler. Die konsert is deur die graad 8s se ouers bygewoon en die aand is afgesluit met die jaarlikse ouerbraai wat op die skoolgronde gehou is. ‘Ons is baie trots op ons nuwe leerders wat met soveel toewyding geoefen het vir die konsert,’ sê meneer Jeremy Marallich, die skoolhoof.

‘Ons glo dat dit ‘n aanduiding is van hoe toegewyd hulle ook teenoor hul skoolwerk sal wees.

Wittedrift sien uit daarna om die volgende vyf jaar saam met hulle te stap.’ Hier sing die nuwe graad 8s die skoollied uit volle bors by die konsert.

Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

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CXPRESS

4 February 2015

Classifieds

On the Soapbox

4 February 2015

Letters to the Editor

CXPRESS

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

Kettle is on... but hospice haven can only operate once adequate funding is found It was both an honour and a privilege to welcome Justice Edwin Cameron to Plettenberg Bay on January 15, and to listen to his dissertation on ‘Commitment and Hope in South Africa after two decades of Democracy’.

Justice Cameron has been a Justice of the Constitutional Court for six years, having previously been a Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal and the High Court respectively.

A patron of The Hospice and Palliative Care Association of South Africa, of which Hospice Plett is a member, Justice Cameron thus most generously agreed to speak at the fundraising event for Hospice Plett.

Over R160,000 was raised and the directors of the PlettAid Foundation would like to publicly record our sin-

cere thanks to the following benefactors: • Tony and Trish Trahar for an incredibly generous donation of R100,000, and the other private donors for their financial support. It is greatly appreciated and an inspiring start to our fundraising effort to open Invicta Haven and make beds available to patients in need of 24-hour nursing care.

• Suzie Ovenstone of The White House and Old House Shop.

• Natalie and Jacqui of Nguni Restaurant.

• Herman Kapp and Lucille Strooibants of Knysna Fruit & Veg. • Rikke Dammann of Insite Solutions.

• Florence and Jane of Le Fournil.

Thank you all for your contribution to the outstanding

A poem for dog lovers Woof woof woof woof woof woof woof woof Woof woof yap yap whine Howl whine yap yap woof whine yap yap Whine whine howl yap whine Howl yap howl yap howl yap yap yap whine whine whine Woof woof woof woof howl yap howl tap Woof whine woof whine yap Yippee hi whiiiiiiiiine -

yippee hi waayiiiii Whiiiiiine whiiiiiine whine whine!

Repeat this verse 1,120 times between the hours of 11pm and 5am, and on moonlight nights go right through the night the neighbours will love it.

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success of the evening.

The PlettAid Foundation, a community-based civil society organisation, has during the past decade established Hospice Plett. This service, which includes palliative care, is accessible to all residents of Bitou as a homebased care programme, regardless of ability to pay.

Invicta Haven is a fullyequipped nursing unit which will be an extension of this home-based care. It is poised to open - the beds are made and ‘the kettle is on’ - but the opening must be postponed until the PlettAid Founda-

tion can raise, from civil society and philanthropic donors, R1-million per year to ensure that it remains a financially sustainable entity.

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Mayor’s motivation may restore faith in local recycling efforts Steve Crutchley’s letter in the January 28 edition of CXPRESS sums up the frustrations of all who recycle - and cut down on refuse - in Bitou.

Last week I attended a Ward 1 meeting in Kurland during which mayor Memory Booysen explained the problems Bitou Municipality currently faced with the collection of recycling. These are understandable and, hopefully, fixable in the near future.

If this information were relayed to Bitou residents, possibly as an article in CXPRESS, there would be greater understanding and less frustration among those of us who try doing our bit for the environment.

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Don’t let this excellent opportunity pass you by I would like to let the parents and young people of Plett know that there are still vacancies for the Tourism course at the Bitou Campus of the South Cape TVET (FET) College. Students can register until Tuesday February 17.

This course is a three-

year qualification that leads to a Vocational Certificate equivalent to a Grade 12.

It is, however, particularly practical and your chances of getting a job in the tourism industry are very good.

Students can apply for bursaries, which means that their parents will need to do a sim-

ple means test. Candidates need to have good marks in Grade 10 or 11, or even a Grade 12, as this vocational qualification is a direct pass to the world of work.

The Bitou Campus has excellent facilities and quality lecturers. It is situated on the N2 just after the Kwa-

Nokuthula turn-off, at left as you leave Plett towards Knysna.

Do not let this opportunity for getting a great qualification for yourself or your child slip through your fingers.

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11

12

CXPRESS

Sport & Adventure

4 February 2015

Welcome home, Doc - and congrats on surviving yet another awesome ice-cold quest...

When CXPRESS asked Plett GP and veteran arctic explorer Dr Peter Berning about reasons for his latest extreme adventure - scaling Antarctica’s Mount Vinson, before taking on a virgin peak in the Ellsworth range - he joked that he joined the expedition because he had ‘nothing better to do on New Year’s Eve’... so he saw in 2015 over bets with buddy Iain Buchan and a sip of whiskey brought along by a Russian party at Low Camp!

O

N one of the many blogs and websites buzzing with excitement over the recent Antarctic mission of Plett’s adrenaline-addict doc and four likeminded friends, the words below echoed some of our own sentiments: “To conquer a mountain that has never been climbed in conditions that are brutally cold... is it sheer madness or is it inspirational? Whatever your view, in January 2015 it became a reality for five South Africans when they set out for Antarctica to make history by climbing both Mount Vinson - the highest peak on the frozen continent - and an

unnamed peak that has never been climbed.”

Suffice to say, Mount Vinson is the most remote and coldest of the Seven Summits (the highest peak on each continent), and when Pete’s old friend Iain Buchan asked him along, he just couldn’t resist the challenge.

Iain’s sons Zack and Barney Buchan, and Ken Watt completed the group on what was soon named The Twin Peaks Expedition - brainchild of the Buchans, who are founders of the financial services company The Unlimited.

Readers will remember that lifelong friends Pete and Iain

ENDURANCE MAXED: When summiting Mount Vinson, the temperature was -25°C with a 25-knot wind so understandably Pete, right, and his climbing party didn’t stay up top for long

As fit as we were in the 70s...

T

HE Unlimited Twin Peaks Expedition started on Friday December 26, when the team travelled from SA to Puntas Arenas in Chile. After a compulsory briefing on Antarctica, they took a six-hour flight to the frozen continent followed by an immediate transfer to the Vinson Base Camp.

After a couple of days acclimatising at Low Camp, which is another 9km closer to the summit, they started the ascent on January 5 (depending on conditions, the Mount Vinson climb can take anywhere from four days to two weeks). Climbing is slow as the terrain is pocketed with lethal crevasses, so they were roped together all the time.

AWESOME TWOSOME: Pete, left, and Iain have been ‘playing’ side by side since running out for their university’s rugby team four decades ago

Frequent breaks were essential as they were either dragging 30kg sledges or carrying 20kg backpacks with equipment and sufficient provisions for 14 days. So the team took fitness particularly seriously.

Through a tough training regime, they all started out stronger than ever before.

Said Iain Buchan: “This was not a trip where you could build fitness as you climbed, so the whole team had been training four to five times a week, pulling 20kg tyres, kettle bell training in the gym, and climbing mountains whenever possible.

“In fact, Peter and myself had not been this fit since we played rugby for UCT in the 1970s!”

had teamed up on a crazy cold quest once before when successfully journeying to the South Pole in 2012. Also reported on these pages was Pete’s race to the North Pole a decade or so ago. But it was during the latter trip that the Twin Peaks plan emerged.

Said Iain before setting off on their recent ramble: “During that trek, we knew that we had to return to Antarctica. It is a cruel and harsh environment but within it sits a pristine beauty unlike anywhere on Earth.”

He explained that hiking to the South Pole was a trial that pushed mind and body to the max, but Mount Vinson was the ultimate test. “So we took up the challenge and decided that while we were there, we would really push ourselves by adding an unclimbed peak into the mix.”

A blog describes the team as “unbelievably lucky with the weather” and then proceeds to say that, when summiting Mount Vinson, the temperature was -25°C! “The 25-knot wind knocked this even lower to around -50°C - the maximum of human endurance. You just can’t go beyond that, so we weren’t on the summit for long.”

Then, a January 9 posting reads thus: “We have just tackled the second summit successfully. It was very hard climbing up to the peak, which we measured at 1,859m. Considering that we started our climb at 700m, our total ascent today was 1,159m.

“It was a very special moment to stand at the top of this mountain and know that no human being has ever been there. One just feels incredibly humbled by this, as well as the sheer beauty of what we are experiencing down here.”

And just to show off some more mettle, the Twin Peaks team accomplished all of this in less time than expected. Said Pete last week: “We returned days earlier than planned, mission accomplished.”

So how did the good doc - who last featured on our cover of October 29, when training at Robberg’s Witsand dune with better half Joan Berning - enjoy that extra time when landing back in Plett a little prematurely?

“We spent the Saturday on Robberg and the Sunday up Keurbooms River.” We reckon it must’ve felt pretty good, revelling in the great outdoors without all those many layers... Welcome back, Pete!

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