5 April 2017

5 April 2017

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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NEWS & VIEWS

5 April 2017

Meet Di Butlin - a true crusader for animal welfare Over the years, Plett residents have become familiar with Plett Animal Welfare Services (PAWS), but not many are aware that chairman Di Butlin and her family have played a key role in the development of animal welfare along the Garden Route over the past 60 years - MARSJA HALL-GREEN sat her down for a chat I Butlin’s grandfather, Dr Eric Robinson - or ‘Prof Robbie’ as he was affectionately known - was a founding member of the world-famous Onderstepoort Faculty of Veterinary Science.

Doc Robbie was the son of one of three British vets brought out to SA in the early 1900s to fight the outbreak of Rinderpest in cattle. He was responsible for monitoring the area from Mossel Bay to Port Elizabeth… on an ox wagon.

He retired to Knysna in 1965 but continued to practise and was the only vet from Wilderness to Nature’s Valley.

He gave up his practice to concentrate on animal welfare after Dr Andre Reitz came to Knysna, and then became the first president of Knysna Animal Welfare Society (KAWS).

Di recalls going out with Grandpa on his rounds: “I loved visiting all the animals with him and even saw a newly-born double-headed calf at Harkerville. We would collect animals from far and wide and then my grandmother would nurse them back to health before they were placed in small kennels near today’s Knysna sewerage works site.”

Now a well-known Plett personality, Dr Reitz eventually became the Knysna Society’s second president. Its committee decided to change the name to Knysna/Plett Animal Welfare Society, to more accurately reflect the extended area of operations.

Di was born in Matatiele where her father, Dr David Wacher, was a vet as well as agricultural officer for the region.

When Di was three the family moved to Lesotho’s capital Maseru, where her father was employed as Director of Veterinary Services.

Holidays, however, were always spent in Knysna, and this is where Di was exposed to her grandfather’s animal welfare activities. After the Wachers moved to Knysna, Di’s father served on the Plett/Knysna Welfare Society committee for eight years, from 1982 to 1990.

Two other well-known Plett ladies also served on this committee over the years: Jacqui Struben and Pamela de Vos Bonthuys. Di joined during the late 80s and these Plett girls raised a huge amount of funds for the charity.

PAWS was founded in 2002, when a group of like-minded individuals realised it was an impossible task for the Knysna organisation, given its limited resources, to cover the vast area from Sedgefield to Nature’s Valley.

An NPO called Plett Animal Welfare Services was registered and the first meeting was held

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in 2002, when Di was elected chairman - a position she has held ever since.

After operating from the back of a donated bakkie for a while, PAWS was given access to old buildings previously used as municipal pound, as well as a disused reservoir that was converted into a holding area for large animals. A caravan was donated for use as an office, but problems arose very soon.

“We were constantly being burgled, our inspector was assaulted, and the assistant threatened. The caravan was stripped for the metal overnight and animals were being deliberately released from the holding area.

“We had to abandon this isolated location for our own safety, and were then reduced to working from the bakkie again,” says Di. Robert Ruiters was employed in 2005 as the third PAWS inspector. Until 2012, impounded and lost animals were sent to the KAWS facility in Knysna.

Many were fostered by willing helpers, or placed at Nuweplaas Kennels for the PAWS account.

It was clear that PAWS could not continue to offer extensive primary health care services without its own facilities.

A fundraising campaign, the PAWS Premises Project, was launched with its own dedicated committee.

“These wonderful volunteers worked tirelessly and eventually raised R1-million which enabled us to buy land and build our own small but highly-functional kennel complex,” beams Di. It was a proud occasion when the PAWS kennels were opened in 2012. Tracy van der Byl, who had joined the team in 2011, was appointed Kennel Manager.

With extensive experience of animal care, Tracy ensures that this is a safe and happy space for the residents. Several open exercise areas allow them to run freely and spend most of their time outdoors.

Di has successfully managed to obtain R650,000 in funding from the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund (‘the Lotto’) for sterilisation of about 3,000 animals over five years - a particularly important preventative measure to eliminate unwanted puppies and cats.

Regrettably, the Lotto will no longer avail funds to animal charities, so PAWS will have to raise even more funds than in the past to maintain the same level of sterilisations.

Another bright feather in Di’s caps is the fact that she managed to introduce, after extensive consultation with role players, a set of bylaws relating to fireworks and animal acts which were accepted by the Bitou Municipal Council.

When asked about the chal-

ENRICHED BY CREATURE CARE: Di Butlin with one of the thousands of animals that have benefited from her care and dedication over the years

lenges faced by PAWS, Di says: “We have a number of areas of concern. We are in a good financial position today, but have to manage our funds extremely carefully to ensure the sustainability and continuation of our services.”

PAWS’s monthly operating costs amount to about R72,000 that include veterinary services and imported medical supplies, as well as salaries, vehicle expenses, kennel maintenance and security, municipal charges, and accounting, banking, admin and insurance charges.

“We have accumulated a surplus of just over R1-million but are now facing substantial expenses, including the purchase of two new vehicles, fencing the adjacent leased land for our use, and increased costs of our expanded sterilisation programme without the Lotto funds.

“Also, our multi-faceted community education programme, an essential aspect of our work, requires equipment and materials,” she says.

PAWS has to keep at least R500,000 in reserve to ensure the continuation of services, in case of emergencies, or a drop in income.

The enormous workload associated with the comprehensive primary health care service, offered to the less-privileged in Plett is also of some concern.

PAWS organises spay days and dipping clinics, attends to emergency call-outs, collects strays and rehomes them, returns lost animals to their owners, manages the kennels, answers endless calls (while struggling with poor cellphone reception), conducts education programmes, and advises animal owners on health and welfare issues.

Di explains: “Tracy and Rob-

ert do all of this with enormous patience and very limited resources. They are called on daily to be diplomats, psychologists, grief counsellors and mediators, while hiding their own stress and dealing with demanding members of the public who expect instant results.”

PAWS has maintained a great adoption rate, but at times the kennels are overcrowded and this can be stressful for the animals. Adoption fees of R650 per dog and R500 per cat include sterilisation, dipping, vaccinations and chipping, representing a cost of about R3,000 per animal.

Di feels strongly that if people cannot afford these modest fees for a pet, then perhaps they will not be able to afford to care for the animal in future.

“We have been investigating the possibility of employing our own vet to try to save on our soaring veterinary costs. This would require additional premises for consultations.”

Employing a full-time vet and equipping a special prefab container clinic will be prohibitively expensive.

“The committee will continue to explore various options but in the meantime, we can rely on local vets who provide excellent services at discounted rates.

We are most grateful to them for volunteering their time for our regular spay days, free of charge,” says Di. The opening three years ago of the PAWS Charity Shop was a great blessing, as it makes an important contribution to funds. Its expansion is a great credit to the abilities and commitment of Roger Davis.

“We are grateful to Graham and Toy Black for making their factory available, and to Roger, Sandra Lawrence and their team of dedicated volunteers for running the shop so efficiently. We also thank Plett for the generous donations of goods, without which there would be no shop.”

When asked to comment on her years of service, Di says: “I feel privileged that I grew up in a family of animal lovers, learning early on about the value of giving back to the community.

“It has enriched my life enormously and I am fortunate to have had the time, health, and energy to devote to making the lives of abused and neglected animals a bit easier.”

Today, Di is grateful for the incredible support received from so many generous donors, a community placing such trust in PAWS, and all volunteers who have contributed to its past achievements.

We salute you, Di Butlin, you are Plett’s unsung hero and may PAWS long continue to be of service under your selfless leadership.

NEWS & VIEWS

5 April 2017

No foul play suspected after tragic death of high school student on Plett N2 Parents, students, and staff of a Plettenberg Bay high school are in shock and mourning after a pupil was killed in an horrific accident as school came out last Wednesday - NIKKI RIDLEY reports RADE 9 pupil at Plett Secondary School Angelo Plaatjies, 17, died after he tried to board a moving bus that had just collected children from the school on March 29.

A number of corroborating eyewitness accounts tell of a tragically avoidable situation where the child fell under the wheels of the bus.

The bus had allegedly just turned out of the school grounds and was already on the N2 when the victim ran to catch it, and the door to the bus was closed.

One witness said that one of the other children already on the bus tried to open the doors for the boy as the bus driver started pulling over the side of the road.

Another eyewitness said: “The bus was already in motion when his friends opened the door for him to jump into the moving vehicle.

“The bus driver told them not to open the door. He misjudged his step, fell and then both the front and back wheels went over him.”

All accounts say that the boy did not die instantly but was visibly mortally wounded, and that an ambulance was on the scene within a couple of minutes. Plaatjies died shortly afterwards.

Rumours that started up, including on social media,

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FATAL MISJUDGEMENT: Angelo Plaatjies succumbed to his injuries after trying to board and then being run over by a moving bus

to the effect that the bus driver was inebriated, have been refuted by both a member of the school staff who witnessed the accident and its aftermath, and by local law enforcement authorities.

The teacher, who asked not to be named, said: “The bus driver was definitely not drunk. He was tested in front of the principal. He was, however, in shock and did not handle the situation well. He ran away from the scene in shock.”

The teacher added that the incident was partly caused by an “ongoing problem at the school with kids running to the bus, bullying other kids to get on the first

bus”, adding that it was something you had to experience to believe.

“They are warned almost every day by teachers and bus drivers. They swear at drivers and have no respect for them. There is also overcrowding on the bus.”

“However,” the teacher concluded, “this was a terrible accident, but that was all it was. The driver must feel miserable but there was nothing he could have done.

“We had people at the school for traumatised learners that afternoon and the next day. There was a little sermon at the school the next day and the school teachers went to Angelo’s parents that evening.”

Police spokesperson Captain Marlene Pieterse confirmed that the learner allegedly fell while trying to get onto the already moving bus at about 13:25.

“While running, the teenager fell and was run over by the bus. He sustained serious injuries to his head and right foot. He was transported to the mediclinic, but died in the ambulance as a result of his injuries,” she said.

Although no foul play is suspected, police are investigating a case of culpable homicide. A funeral for Angelo Plaatjies is due to be held on Thursday April 6.

National roads ready for Easter traffic CCORDING to a South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) statement on April 2, most major highways are in excellent condition and road users will encounter only limited construction activities during the Easter holiday.

Going towards Cape Town

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from the north, congestion will be experienced at the Huguenot Tunnel, and going northwards again on Easter Monday. There will be heavy traffic on Thursday April 13 on the N2 towards Caledon, and again on Easter Monday, going towards Grabouw.

The introduction of automated pay systems at toll plazas on the busiest highways connecting Gauteng with the KZN Coast, the Western Cape, and the Limpopo border will have an impact on traffic flow and contribute to safer journeys (turn to page 8 for details).

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NEWS & VIEWS

5 April 2017

No plans to shut down services, but all of Plett called to show lack of confidence in president Yolandé Stander

LETTENBERG Bay residents will be standing in solidarity with the rest of the country who are expected to protest against president Jacob Zuma come April 7 - this after, among other issues, Zuma’s decision to fire Finance minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas during a cabinet reshuffle last week.

There has been a call nationwide on social media platforms to bring the country to a standstill in protest against Zuma and to sign a petition in an attempt to bring a vote of no confidence in the president.

A march is also being organised in Cape Town in front of Iziko Museum at 12 noon, and the Democratic Alliance has called on all South Africans to join in a march at Luthuli House on Friday to sign the

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#NoConfidence petition.

In Plettenberg Bay, resident Janet Harding said while she and most residents did not believe that shutting the country down would solve the Zuma issue, it was necessary for all South Africans to stand together.

She added that citizens could no longer stand watching “one man destroy the country South Africans love”.

She said therefore a decision had been made that anyone who believed the same gathered at The Table restaurant in Plett’s Main Street at 12 noon on Friday.

“We want everyone to take hands in mourning for our country. We plan on then singing the National Anthem and spare a thought for our country,” Harding said.

She added that this would be

a peaceful gathering and that it was not to be regarded as political action. “There will be no speeches and we are asking political parties not to turn the gathering into a political activity.”

She said that the gathering would be a peaceful one and reminded residents and visitors to keep that in mind.

“We don’t want anything to do with the suggestions of shutting down highways and bringing services to a standstill. This will be a peaceful gathering.”

Another supporter of the gathering, Joanne Barrett, said that they encouraged as many people as possible to participate.

“It is not political, it is to rid our country of a thief,” Barrett said.

Another gathering is expected to be held at 3pm at Cen-

tral Beach and employers are encouraged to allow their employees to participate should they wish. This event, too, will be non-political and peaceful.

Garden Route Media • CXPRESS asked the communications team at Knysna Municipality about plans for protest action in the pipeline for Knysna, to which the Acting Municipal Manager responded: “We have received one application for a peaceful march in Knysna. A panel will decide if permission for this application will be granted.”

Apparently the panel as a rule convenes on Thursdays, so Knysna readers may have to watch social media platforms later in the week to ascertain whether and where they may join like-minded gatherings.

Four candidates, one Bitou ward up for grabs today ODAY’S Ward 2 byelection came about after the resignation in January of Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Wayne Craig, who put politics aside in order to pursue a career in the family business Robberg Fine Foods [read all about it on page 4 of the January 25 edition at www. cxpress.co.za].

There are three voting stations in Ward 2: • Piesang Valley Community Hall for residents south of the Piesang River to the Kranshoek border (including Ladywood, Robberg, Roodefontein).

• Plettenberg Bay Primary School for residents north of the Piesang to Bitou River

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(including Castleton, Formosa Garden Village, The Hill, Goose Valley).

• Bossiesgif Crèche for residents of Bossiesgif.

The DA’s Dave Swart appears to be the public favourite to win the battle for Ward 2 - a traditional DA stronghold. The owner of Amakhaya Backpackers, Swart has also served as chairman of the Plett Accommodation Association for a number of years.

Active United Front (AUF) candidate Mike Kantey hosted an informative public meeting at Piesang Valley hall last week - along with the party leadership, which of course includes Bitou mayor Peter

Lobese - to present the movement and its principles and policies to local voters.

“My late father, engineer Basil Kantey, designed the road between Plettenberg Bay and Knysna. He was a founding member of the Progressive Party, while my mother stood for the Progressives with the late Jan van Eck in Stellenbosch before serving as an Independent Councillor in Cape Town for 23 years.

“In the 1960s, Basil employed the famous Rivonia triallist Denis Goldberg and his cousin, the late Bernard Gosschalk, was detained without trial under the Suppression of Communism Act.

“Basil taught us boys the classic dictum by Voltaire that ‘I disagree heartily with what you say, but I will defend to death your right to say it’,” wrote Kantey in a mailer preceding the March 28 meeting.

No information was available of African National Congress (ANC) candidate Thobeka Memani or Nzuzo Ndinisa of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), other than their faces and party affiliation on roadside posters along Bitou’s main drags.

If you’re eligible to vote for the new Ward 2 councillor and haven’t yet, go cast your ballot at once. Here’s hoping the best candidate wins…

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NEWS & VIEWS

5 April 2017

CXPRESS

Invasive Species Control Plan is now required of all landowners

Workshops on alien vegetation and the responsibilities of property owners in this regard recently informed Bitou residents and officials - TIMOTHY TWIDLE reports WO workshops on the management of alien vegetation were held in Plett on March 16 and 17; the first for the benefit of Bitou Municipality, and the second being open to the public.

Both sessions, held at Piesang Valley Community Hall, were facilitated

by Pamela Booth, who specialises in the management and control of alien invasive species.

The eradication of alien vegetation along the length and breadth of the Garden Route has assumed ever greater importance in the wake of numerous brush fires that have broken out during recent weeks, as the presence of alien vegetation tends to exacerbate the ferocity of any conflagration of this nature.

Management in this regard is legally binding on all owners of land or immovable property in terms of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (#10 of 2004) and the Alien and Invasive Species Regulations of 2014.

A total of 379 terrestrial and aquatic plant species are now listed as invasive in SA. These species are best identified by way of a manual entitled Alien Weeds and Invasive Plants

by Lesley Henderson (ISBN 1-86849-192-7).

During the workshops, Booth explained that it is incumbent upon all landowners to have an Invasive Species Control Plan (ISCP) drawn up, which in essence sets down the alien species present, its distribution, and measures for clearance and control.

The pro forma of an ISCP will be dictated by the area of the land and the extent of invasion.

Consultants who can as-

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ALIEN ERADICATOR: Pamela Booth of Sedgefield specialises in the management and control of invasive species - Photos: Timothy Twidle

READY FOR BATTLE: The second of two Alien Vegetation Management Workshops on March 17 was attended by, from left, Bruce Halana of SANParks, Charmaine Mapondo of the Biodiversity Social Projects (BSP), and Allan Carelse of SANParks

VEG VETS UNITE: Also at the workshops were, from left, Polly Bramham (Brackenburn Crew, The Crags), Julie Carlisle (Nature’s Valley Trust) and Plett resident Jean Sparg, a passionate advocate of the beauty and worth of South African flora

sist with the formulation of an ISCP are listed (visit www.invasives.org.za/.../ item/1123-invasive-species -control-plan-guidelinesreleased) and your ISCPs should be submitted to the Compliancy Officer: Biosecurity Services at the Department of Environmental Affairs (14 Loop St, Cape Town) for landowners in the Western Cape to be legally compliant.

It should be noted that landowners wishing to sell their properties are also required to furnish a signed declaration of infestation of the land.

At the conclusion of the workshops, Booth gave a field demonstration of some of the techniques used for the control and eradication of invasive trees and plants. All participants in the workshops evinced an eagerness to come to grips with alien vegetation and there was positive and useful interaction on both days.

NO FUNDS, NO ALIEN CLEARING, NO WATER Last week we reported on the fact that Bitou had one day left to provide cofunding for an essential alien eradication project that has been positively impacting Plett’s water sources. The Department of Environmental Affairs availed ±R1.5-million for this purpose, on condition that the municipality provided ±R250,000 toward the same project.

Since Bitou did not pledge such funding by the March 30 deadline, the DEA sum had to be returned, effectively grinding to a halt alien clearing of the Keurbooms catchment area. Turn to page 4 of the March 29 edition at www.cxpress.co.za to read the full tale of woe.

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NEWS & VIEWS

5 April 2017

Plett consumers, your ship is about to come in…

Read CXPRESS online at www.cxpress.co.za

RO M M E DA R I S , a well-known and established household goods retailer in Jeffrey’s Bay, will open its second branch in Plettenberg Bay on April 12.

The premises of this new shop is at 1 Robberg Road, on the corner of Robberg and Piesang Valley Road, where Plett Yamaha used to trade.

Word is that at Drommedaris you can’t buy a house, but you can most surely buy a home. They stock massive amounts and large varieties of almost all household good items, including large and small appliances, TVs and sound, beds and linen, furniture, patio gear, braais and fireplaces, cutlery and crockery… and then some!

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FORMER BOAT SPOT: The Drommedaris team has been very busy preparing the premises where Plett Yamaha used to trade on the corner of Robberg and Piesang Valley roads - above is the brand new Harley Davidson up for grabs in a soon-to-be announced customer competition

Raring to get on air HE Bitou Community Radio team had a successful special AGM on March 18. The meeting was held at Simunye Community Centre at KwaNokuthula and many people came along to attend.

The aim of the occasion was to fill vacant positions on the board of directors of this new community station. The following people were invited to forward their CVs in order to allow current members to best fill in the gaps: • Local attorney Sabelo

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CUTTY SARK

Hlohla was chosen as secretary • Crèche teacher Yandiswa Nocezo was selected as his deputy • Zikhona Ncera, who works in the finance department at Bitou Municipality, became treasurer • Mxolisi Sijama was elected as deputy chairperson.

Apologies for not being able to attend the meeting were received from other contenders, who became additional committee members.

Chairperson Vuyani Sikawu welcomed and

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nication channel, where the community will have an opportunity to express their feelings on all the things happening in our midst.”

Call Khaya Mbesi on 083 514 6618 for further information.

BROAD CAST: New board members of Bitou Radio are, from left, Zikhona Ncera, Mxolisi Sijama, Vuyani Sikawu, Sabelo Hlohla, and Yandiswa Nocezo - Photo: Khaya Mbesi

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praised those who joined the committee. He added: “Those not present today will support the radio station by raising funds - it is essential to have a fundraising team.

“It is great that Bitou will now have a commu-

Also take note that one lucky customer will win a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle worth R125,000 as part of the Plettenberg Bay store’s opening festivities.

Drommedaris is part of the Herholdt Group an independently-owned family business established in 1930, which has stood the test of time for four generations so far.

Apart from their retail stores in Middelburg, Graaff-Reinet, and J Bay, a nationwide online retailer called eHome.co.za is also part of the group.

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5 April 2017

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BUSINESS

5 April 2017

Calls for action after cabinet reshuffle

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O L L OW I N G the cabinet reshuffle on March 30, the centre of political gravity and last hope for democracy is said to rest with the people of South Africa and their parliamentary representatives.

According to a Corruption Watch statement, “the events have clearly established that renewal will not come from within the ranks of the ruling party, which has evidently been captured by a narrow clique around the president and his corrupt business cronies”.

The statement called on the SA public to voice their dissatisfaction on the streets, in the branches of political parties, and at the ballot box, and to convey in no uncertain terms their rejection of the ruling clique to elected representatives in their communities, their provinces, and their Parliament.

“It must be understood that the target of the reshuffle was the National Treasury. This will impact on the critical functions of the treasury itself and also on the cluster of financial institutions of state.

“The reshuffle also represents a slap in the face of Parliament. It recently called for the removal of Faith Muthambi; she has been promoted to political head of the public service. Parliament expressed its acute dissatisfaction with Bathabile Dlamini; she has been retained.”

Corruption Watch also stated its desire to see a motion of no-confidence in the president debated in Parliament “which, we demand, be recalled for this purpose”.

The Corruption Watch statement concluded: “The public can then see who stands with the rogue president and who supports the SA democracy.”

Visit www.cor ruptionwatch.org. za to find out more and see the report on page 4 with regard to nationwide action planned for Friday April 7.

BUSINESS

5 April 2017

CXPRESS

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Kluyts MakerSpace helps return historic furniture factory to production Advertorial

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE CAN PREVENT ‘THAT SINKING FEELING’ OLD GUARD, NEW LIFE: John Kapp, left, has worked for Kluyts for 20 years, and Louis Bothma has been with the company for 38

F it takes a village to raise a child, does it take a community to revive an icon?

Yes, believes the Eden Community Initiative’s John Noble, “especially given Knysna’s need to find innovative ways of creating jobs”.

John said that one of the businesses that contributed significantly to Knysna’s reputation for fine furniture was Kluyts & Co. “Founded by Oom Hertzog Kluyts in the 1950s, it quickly became famous for its highquality finishes.”

Unfortunately, though, new owners bought it from the Kluyts family just before the global economic downturn, and dwindling sales forced them to close the factory some four years ago.

“It stood unused but still fully equipped for about two years before we bought it to operate as a MakerSpace.

Kluyts MakerSpace MakerSpaces are defined as facilities in which people with similar interests gather to work on projects while sharing ideas, equipment, and knowledge.

“The collective power of the MakerSpace makes it possible for even tiny businesses to operate in a town that’s generally

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become too expensive for doing business,” said John.

“But it’s also created an ecology that’s made it possible to return Kluyts to production.”

The Kluyts MakerSpace now houses 15 separate businesses that collectively employ more than 50 people - and that collectively spend more than R2.5-million a year on locallysourced goods and services.

“This is the only MakerSpace in the country that’s not funded by government, the only one that focuses on timber, and the only one that houses both established and emerging companies while also providing skills training and work opportunities for people who are disadvantaged in the market - which is why we say it’s ‘blended’,” said John.

“It’s a challenging and exciting process of intentionally merging and building bridges between black and white, rich and poor, and skilled and unskilled people to enable the development of the local economy by working together to find and develop value-added products, and to stimulate thinking about new ways of doing business.”

Visit https://www.facebook. com/kluytsmakerspace/ for further information.

By Louw Kannemeyer Potholes are the bane of many motorists who take to roads across South Africa. The persistent rains in recent months across large parts of Gauteng and the northern provinces have again led to frustration among road users who have to deal with potholes, mostly on roads that are not managed

by SANRAL. It is scant comfort to note that this aversion is not restricted to South Africa.

In Brisbane, Australia, the Courier Mail recently complained bitterly about “calf-deep” potholes that opened up on the Bruce Highway, the busiest road along the country’s east coast. Canadians, too, love to recount tales of how they have to manoeuvre through “obstacle courses” on the freeways, especially at the end of the winter season.

In warmer climes, such as South Africa, the beating sun results in surfacing layers drying out and becoming brittle, which results in cracks developing in the surface layer. If no maintenance is performed on these cracks, then with the next rains, water is able to reach underlying crushed rock and gravel layers that are used in the construction of most South African roads.

These crushed rock and gravel layers reduce the cost of road construction in South Africa by nearly 40% when compared to countries in Europe and the United States.

The downside, however, is that as soon as these layers become moist, they lose most of their strength, and along with that their ability to carry the imposed tyre loads, which results in the formation of potholes.

This ingress of rainwater through the surface is the leading cause of most potholes on South African roads, and that is why most potholes appear after prolonged periods of rainfall, and also why potholes are more prevalent on roads in wetter provinces of South Africa such as Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.

In addition to the obvious cost that motorists have to incur for damaged tyres and suspensions, potholes pose major dangers to road safety. Drivers who hit a pothole at speed, or swerve to try and avoid it, can easily lose control of their vehicles and cause accidents.

The best cure for potholes, is to prevent them from developing KP VJG TUV RNCEG That is why preventative maintenance has been at the core of SANRAL’s approach to managing the 21 946 km of national roads under its jurisdiction. SANRAL’s preventative maintenance approach consists of daily activities to ensure rainwater drains away from the road as quickly as possible.

This includes the opening and clearing of blocked storm water pipes and culverts, the cutting back of vegetation, the collection of litter and debris and the repair and reshaping of gravel shoulders. The next focus of our daily activities is to identify any surface cracks that have developed and seal them as soon as possible.

Each of the 21 946 km of national roads is covered by a VJTGG VQ XG [GCT TQWVKPG OCKPVGPCPEG EQPVTCEV VQ RGTHQTO the above mentioned daily activities In addition, the preventative maintenance approach also includes periodic activities that are performed every 8 to 12 years. These consist of the application of a new surfacing layer on top of the old surface layer, ensuring that risk of rainwater penetration is minimised as far as possible, even though aging cracks not visible to the human eye.

Preventative maintenance is 18 times cheaper than following a reactive approach (wait for a pothole to develop, and then repair it). In addition, it has enabled us to prolong the life of most national roads well beyond their original 20-year design life – currently more than 75% of the SANRAL national road network is older than 20 years. This is further corroborated by the condition of the SANRAL national road network of which currently only 3.3% is rated as in poor condition, which is well within the international norm of 10%.

For the road user, the success of SANRAL’s preventative maintenance approach over the past 19 years should be obvious when they compare the number of potholes they encounter on a SANRAL national road, to the number of potholes on roads managed by other authorities.

Louw Kannemeyer is the Network Manager at The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited.

BLUEPRINT 1193/E

Words & photo: Martin Hatchuel

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INTERVAL

5 April 2017

A special message to the man on the moon HEN NASA was preparing for the Apollo Project, it took the astronauts to a Navajo reservation in Arizona for training.

One day, a Navajo elder and his son came across the space crew, who were walking among the rocks.

The elder, who spoke only Navajo, asked a question.

His son translated for the NASA people: “What are these guys in the big suits doing?”

One of the astronauts said they were practising for a trip to the moon.

When his son relayed this comment, the Navajo elder got all excited and asked if it would be possible to give the astronauts a message to deliver to the moon.

Recognising a promotional opportunity when he saw one, a NASA official accompanying the

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astronauts said: “Why certainly!” and told an underling to get a tape recorder.

The Navajo elder’s comments into the microphone were brief. The NASA official asked the son if he would translate what his father had said.

The son listened to the recording and laughed uproariously. But he refused to translate.

So, the NASA people took the tape to a nearby Navajo village and played it for other members of the tribe.

They too laughed long and loudly, but also refused to translate the elder’s message to the moon.

Finally, an official government translator was summoned.

After he finally stopped laughing, the translator relayed the message: “Watch out for these guys!

They’ve come to steal your land.”

Two wrongs don’t make a right, but three lefts do!

When I arrived here...

R Peterson, a tourist from Toronto, arrived in Cape Town. In an airport taxi, he asked the driver: “Say, is this really a healthful place?”

“It sure is,” the driver replied. “When I arrived here I couldn’t say one

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word. I had hardly any hair on my head. I didn’t have the strength to walk across a room, and I had to be lifted out of bed.”

“That’s wonderful!” said the tourist. “How long have you been here?”

“I was born here.”

I was having lunch with Bobby Fischer, the former world chess champion, and the table was covered with a checkered cloth.

It took him two hours to pass the salt!

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Lace-up now for the Hi-Tec Garden Route Walking Festival T’S time to dig out your walking shoes, book your hikes and head off to the Hi-Tec Garden Route Walking Festival, which once again promises to add great-outdoors excitement to your Easter holidays.

The wild and beautiful Garden Route is best explored on foot, so it’s the perfect playground for an event of this nature.

Hi-Tec has become synonymous with hiking in South Africa and its sponsorship of the event has enabled organisers to offer a wide range of walks catering for all levels of fitness, and varying senses of adventure.

Many of the walks are offered free of charge, so there’s no excuse to stay on the couch and miss out on this celebration of spectacular nature trails.

Now in its second year, this inspiring event has been thoughtfully designed to incorporate the best and most beautiful of the Route’s natural assets: the secret forests of Knysna, the sweeping beaches of Plettenberg Bay and Sedgefield, the Outeniqua peaks of George, sculpted gorges

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of the Tsitsikamma and much, much more.

Walkers are incredibly spoilt for choice, as the programme comprises over 52 different rambles between Mossel Bay and Storms River.

Whether you’re after a leisurely saunter or a more strenuous full-day adventure, there is something on the programme for everyone, young and old alike.

While many popular, well-trodden routes such as the Brown Hooded Kingfisher Trail and Circles in the Forest Elephant Walk are included, the community of local walk leaders has been particularly creative, peppering the programme with a host of delightfully unique, educational, and memorable walks.

Many of the walks are led by professional and accredited field guides who are exceptionally knowledgeable about the environment and its fauna and flora.

Certain walks are free of charge while others have a reasonable fee attached.

Some merely require permits from CapeNature or SANParks - the custodians of our nature reserves.

Instead of a registration fee, participants are encouraged to make a donation to any one of a list of local environmental institutes, including The Garden Route Biosphere, Pledge Nature Reserve, Nature’s Valley Trust, Knysna Basin Project, Plett Hope Spot, and the Orca Foundation.

All of these organisations work tirelessly to preserve and protect the Garden Route’s precious natural environment. You can choose one or more and indicate how much you would like to donate when booking your walk.

“The Hi-Tec Garden Route Walking Festival is about giving back and sharing. Share the trails of our region with friends and visitors while exploring the magic of our pristine environment and supporting those who keep our nature awesome,” says festival founder Galeo Saintz.

• Visit www.walkingfesti val.co.za or call the festival hotline on 082 888 8181 to book your walks, and see the advert on page 17 for additional information.

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CLASSIFIEDS

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ON THE SOAPBOX

5 April 2017

Letters to the Editor

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

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online at www.cxpress.co.za

Robberg Beach is big enough for all of us It is with great admiration we have noticed the dedication of Bitou Law Enforcement officers with regard to keeping dogs on their leads on Robberg Beach. Up to four BLE members are patrolling the dedicated doggie-beach several times a day, issuing owners with summons of

R500 per dog [when not on a leash].

Yes, we all want the world to become a better place. Yes, we all make peace with paying our rates and taxes for law and order to be implemented.

But as a Plettonian and regular dog-walker on Robberg Beach, I now feel our tax-money is be-

ing used to restrict our own freedom. We all pick up dog poo as well as any litter we encounter on the way and so, in fact, we help the community.

The Plettenberg Bay logo and pay-off line ‘It’s a feeling’ have always been interpreted by us as referring to a happy and beautiful environ-

ment with great people and, taking all our own encounters into account, friendly dogs.

Let’s avail at least one part of Robberg Beach for free-roaming dogs and their happy owners… please? The beach is big enough for all of us.

Irme and Walter Hammel, Plett

Did traffic authorities take note of CXPRESS letter?

I assume the traffic department and/or Traffic Management Technologies (TMT) took note, because as soon as you published my allegations that speed trapping down Odlands Drive was being done illegally [turn to page 11 of the March 15 edition at www.cxpress.co.za], all of a sudden on March 22 the speed signs had a camera

sign attached.

This now complies with the prescribed manner of a road traffic sign.

Previously there was a sign with a camera in Strand Street just below The Table. Any vehicles entering Odlands from Sewell, Le Valliant, Perestrello, Sinclair, Harker or Meeding streets did not pass a speed sign in the prescribed manner.

This would make trapping illegal and all fines issued before March 22 invalid, so these should be withdrawn. Persons who paid fines should also be refunded. However, we all know that there is no chance of this happening.

Further, I believe there may not be two cameras on the same stretch of road. The fact that there is a fixed camera on the

corner of Meeding Street and a mobile camera behind Plett’s Spur also makes trapping illegal.

I would also like to know whether the specific speed camera location is registered with the Director of Public Prosecutions. Perhaps Bitou Traffic department or TMT could furnish proof thereof.

Motorist, Plett

Fear increases as reality of local water crisis hits home I read with dread your article on the critical water situation in CX Country [turn to page 5 of the March 22 edition at www.cxpress.co.za].

Sadly, everything is pointing in the direction of consumers - and this fact is of great concern.

Nothing is mentioned about the relevant organisations responsible for the complete deforestation of CX Country, despite all the warnings issued by world organisations reporting on this global crisis about the impact of deforestation on ground-water protection and erosion filling up our dams with valuable top soil.

It was with great heartache that I saw almost all of our pine plantations having been harvested, leaving vast areas lying barren with no protection of ground-water resources

against the extreme heat, and no sustention of water to drench the ground.

Everything is just running away, causing erosion and filling up of our dams with top soil; not to mention the dreaded effect this has on the local economy, worsened by the devastation by harvesting trucks of roads leading through the forest.

Local businesses suffer directly: not too long ago, thousands of cars used to travel through the forest from inland destinations, bringing valuable tourism to our town. Now this trade has disappeared to a point of non-existence.

Moreover, the farming and tourist community on the other side of the forest who used to contribute to local coffers now prefer to travel to Uniondale or Oudtshoorn for their business, in less time and a fraction of the wear and

Groot gevaar lê voor as jy dié plaas wil betree...

“Hierdie waarskuwingsteken het begin om as afskrikmiddel te dien vir die plasies langs die Wittedriftpad. Dit het later ‘n paar stertjies bygekry, wat gereeld toeriste en ander padgebruikers laat giggel. Wel gedaan, Dennis Hoffmeyer!” - Philip Naudé, Plet

tear on their vehicles.

It’s a sad fact that all those trucks run straight to George and the Eastern Cape after destroying local roads. They are boosting other economies, not ours.

I wonder what environmental studies showed with regard to the impact on water and other resources before they started the deforestation of pine. Believe me, I am all for nature conservation but at what cost?

Why is this not done in controlled sections,

one at a time; and why in the middle of a severe drought? Maybe all those world organisations know nothing about the impact of deforestation and erosion on water resources, CapeNature and Knysna Municipality proving them wrong by their impact studies.

Please type “impact of deforestation on water resources” in your Google search bar to read the terrifying reports I’m referring to.

Chris van Rooyen-Linde, Knysna

Ha-ha, ta and ta, and calling old friend Shirley Sharp Dear editors, I refer to ‘Order, Order’ on your Interval page of March 8 [turn to page 8 of that edition at www.cxpress. co.za]. Your funnies are the best, and this one is doubly funny.

Chris Gow, Knysna --Thanks for publishing my letter in CXPRESS [read ‘Sharing a miracle: the power of prayer’ on page 11 of the March 8 edition]. So many people stopped me in town to thank me for sharing it, and they were all amazed by the story.

Many said they took extra copies of that edition of CXPRESS to give to others to read. So ‘till next time - next miracle!

- lots of love to you.

Leela Verity, Plett --Bitou Municipality delivers! Congratulations, well done, and thank you for the excellent (shady, too) new parking area opposite

Beacon Island KwikSpar.

This is an excellent upgrade, improving safety for motorists and pedestrians alike. Great work!

Jean Sparg, Plett --I see Shirley Sharp and her husband recently moved to Plettenberg Bay [see ‘Blessed from Bloem to the Bay’ on page 9 of the March 22 edition].

Many years ago, Shirley and I both attended Greenhill Convent in Bloemfontein - I was Rita Smit back then. (Die enigste boertjie op kloosterskool - kan jy jou indink hoe stout ek was?!)

I suspect Shirley’s husband Andrew van Niekerk would have known my late husband, Jannie van Rensburg, since Jannie represented the Free State in five different sports disciplines in those years.

If you read here, Shirley, please call me on 082 5602 606.

Rita Hardaker, Plett

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SPORT & ADVENTURE

5 April 2017

Sam rips the Groms after only six months in the surf Words & photos: Glenn Murray

EVEN-year-old Mossel Bay surfer Owethu ‘Sam’ Tabata recently won bronze at the 25th annual Billabong South African Grommet Games, held at Port Elizabeth’s Pollock Beach. As part of the Eden provincial team, Sam participated in the Boys U10 division.

Over 120 boys and girls aged from eight to 16 represented their districts from all over the country in this event, which is generally regarded as SA surfing’s premier entry-level interprovincial tournament.

Despite Sam’s unfamiliarity and the fact that he has only been surfing for six months, this grom from the Surfer Kids organisation came home with a medal and a Grommet Games Stars trophy, awarded each year to inspirational surfers at the event’s prize-giving.

Surfer Kids is a not-forprofit organisation that aims to empower youngsters from marginalised communities in Mossed Bay through the sport of surfing. They are no stranger to

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PLE SO TTEN UT BE H RG AF B RIC AY A

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info@equine-librium.co.za

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INSPIRED: Sam Tabata, top, brought back a bronze medal and a Grommet Games Stars trophy, awarded to those participants who inspired most with their performance on the waves above, the Eden Surfriders show their stoke in full regalia

Get ready for BUCO Adventure Weekend ASTER Weekend (April 15-16) will again see Plett come alive with sporting action, the bulk of events on offer forming part of the BUCO Adventure Weekend.

After nine years of Pennypinchers backing Easter activities in Plett, BUCO is now ready to show what it has to offer in terms of events showcasing the area’s adventure potential and natural beauty.

When Steinhoff bought BUCO, it was decided to absorb the smaller Pennypinchers group into the bigger BUCO brand.

“We are extremely excited to be part of this changeover and through our events over Easter we hope to show that the change will be a positive one for everyone, especially the loyal supporters who have been attending our events for the past 10 years,” says James Stewart of Team BUCO Adventure.

The weekend kicks off with the Plett Easter Games Golf Classic on Friday April 14 - a 4-ball alliance

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PRINCIPAL: PROF SYBRAND V.D. BERG VICE PRINCIPAL: MARINETTE TEELING M.D.: RONEL VAN DER SIJDE TEL: 044 533 9513

the Grom Games, but this is their first surfing podium - just reward for their five years of hard work in the community and ocean.

Eden was well represented at the event and our kids surfed very well in tough conditions to claim a fifth place over all. Highlight for the Garden Route district, however, was the gold won

by River Gericke from Wilderness who surfed superbly to win the highly competitive Boys U12 category.

Bigger teams from the Cape and Durban took home most of the silverware, with Cape Town Surfriders successfully defending the title they have held for the past six years.

competition sponsored by CemAir (call Daron on 072 232 6760 to book).

For the more energetic, the Muddy Foot Adventures Crew aka Team BUCO Adventure offers a host of activities, made possible by BUCO, PPC Cement, and IDM Cement.

Saturday the 15th will see the action taking place at Cairnbrogie Farm on Plett Airport Road, kicking off at 8:30am with a selection of trail runs from 1.5km to 18km. All finishers will receive ice cold fresh milk and a chocolate chip cookie.

The team will also treat the Sterreweg special needs kids to their annual Easter Egg Hunt around the farm yard.

Later in the day it will be time to take out the mountain bikes and helmets, with a Kids Fun X Country ride at 5pm (U13 and U9s taking on a 2.5km course and riding as many laps as they can in one hour).

The Big Guns come out to play in the BUCO Adventure Nite MTB Relay, where teams of two race for two

hours in the dark to complete a max amount of laps.

“There will be some new sections and a couple of great new features on this Nite Bike Relay, sure to keep riders on their toes and inject some adrenaline into their veins,” says Stewart.

Sunday morning will see the Pennypinchers Easter Surfski Challenge at Central Beach. Now in its 10th year, doubles and singles will dice it out over a 12km course.

“In the afternoon we will run the second Round the Blinders Dash for Cash.

After a successful first event last year, we are loading this event with prize money to attract some top paddlers.

“A knock-out format will see paddlers completing the 1km loop with winners advancing to a two-man final, with R15,000 of prize money up for grabs. This is a great spectator friendly event,” concludes Stuart.

To book a ride at Cairnbrogie that day, call The Bike Shop on 044 533 1111, and visit muddyfootadventures.co.za for more details.