5 December 2018
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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Students party up a storm at the festival hub during the first weekend of Plett Rage - which was running smoothly, if at significant decibels, by going to print. Find out more on page 4.
Photo: Kgosi Motsepe
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CXPRESS
NEWS & VIEWS
5 December 2018
Driving Miss Crazy
No tulips from Amsterdam, but St Nic’s tales shared by Dutch tourists This story is meant to enlighten local readers, but may well make any Dutch readers a little bit homesick on today’s Festival of St Nicolaas, writes Garden Route chauffeur extraordinaire JEEVES recent road trip with tourists from Amsterdam proved quite informative, while also jogging the old memory on my experiences as guide with Garden Route Tours back in the 70s. These were invaluable as I described our environs and history, and made mention of other points of interest along the way. Remember the wild horses that once graced the Sedgefield lagoon, and swans that co-habited in the contrasting salty Swartvlei and fresh water of Groenvlei? The topic of Christmas arose, and I learnt that December 5 (today!) is celebrated throughout the Netherlands (and I believe Germany and Benelux countries) as the Festival of St
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Nicolaas who, during the 17th Century, was the patron saint of Amsterdam sailors and children. The story goes like this: St Nicolaas, dressed as a bishop and accompanied by his Moorish sidekick Zwarte Piet, carries a sack of presents which, when emptied, is large enough to carry away naughty children! They arrive from Spain in a steamboat and then ride over the rooftops on a white horse. The children place their clogs by the fireplace with a carrot and some hay for the horse. In return, they hope to get sweets and a small present from St Nicolaas. On December 5, there are usually parties and everyone has fun exchanging presents. But Christmas day in Holland is very much a family occasion -
as it is in many other countries. I learnt that it was celebrated calmly, in sharp contrast to the festive and lively atmosphere of Santa Claus and the New Year. The day starts quietly with a brunch of assorted breads, sliced cold meats and cheeses, and the popular Christmas Ring (Kerstkrans) with its filling of almond paste, glazed with warm apricot jam, and decorated with glacĂŠ cherries, angelica and chopped almonds. Coffee accompanies this meal but later everyone has a few drinks - sparkling wine or beer, and Bols Genever (a juniper-flavoured gin which is the national drink of Holland) served ice cold and thrown back in one gulp! At 7pm, the family sits down
to a dinner of soup or seafood cocktail, followed by either hare, rabbit, roast beef, turkey, duck or goose. Usual accompaniments are cranberry sauce or canned peaches or apricots, red cabbage, petit pois, carrots, and boiled potatoes. Dessert is vanilla or chocolate blancmange topped with whipped cream or a more elaborate confection such as ice cream sundaes or Charlotte Russe, which is similar to a trifle. The feast ends, traditionally, with hot chocolate and plain cake. I found all of this very interesting - particularly for those of us with Dutch ancestry. Tot slot wens ik u allen een zalig Kerstfeest en prettige feestdagen. Buckle up! - Jeeves
Bidding farewell to a pen pal sans equal T’S impossible to peg exactly when CXPRESS first had the pleasure of meeting Knysna resident John Magill, who passed away peacefully in his hometown last month. Suffice to say, he was a pen pal sans equal who entertained and informed and sometimes crossed swords with us for the best part of this paper’s 20-plus-year existence. On the rare occasion that we would meet in the flesh, most often in the line of culinaryaward duty, John was always dressed to the nines and charming as a prince. But it was the jokes and puns and silly stories
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shared electronically - some of which made it to the pages of CXPRESS - that will be most sorely missed. Said John’s son, Kevin, in a personal note to friends and family: “During Dad’s 85 years he put the ‘full’ into fulfilled. He was humorous, witty, and a great conversationalist. He read widely, travelled extensively, and was a mine of information. He enjoyed a good discussion whether it be on wine, politics, history, travel or even Donald Trump.� John leaves behind Kevin and a daughter, Allison, who live in Canada and the UK respec-
tively. In order to allow all the far-flung family - especially his grandchildren currently writing university exams in Canada - to attend, a memorial service for John will be held in February. We thank Ann Thomas, who advised of John’s passing, and Margaret Brown for additional information and for swapping stories of her old friend with us. If you read here and feel in need of a giggle, Google ‘John Magill CXPRESS’ and a string of links to said funnies will appear. Your absence, Monsieur Magill, leaves a hole so big it makes Kimberley blush.
JOHN STANLEY MAGILL: 8 September 1933 19 November 2018
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NEWS & VIEWS
5 December 2018
CXPRESS
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Lifeline to Bitou lifeguards as raised salaries and benefactors hike beach safety There is good news for Plettenberg Bay lifeguards after Bitou Municipality agreed to a salary increase and several sponsors came on board to boost beach safety this coming season - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports HE positive turn of events for this important sector of Plett’s emergency and safety corps came after complaints by local lifeguards about not having received an increase in three years, and about
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deteriorating equipment and infrastructure. Local lifeguard Nexus Lurie, who took the matter up with the municipality, said over and above the “meagre” remuneration of R260 per day, lifeguards
worked under trying circumstances including dilapidated lifeguard towers and dangerous sea conditions. Lifeguards in neighbouring coastal towns also receive substantially more. Lurie explained the cost
SANParks loses one more life as a result of Beervlei fire OUTH African National Parks (SANParks) on Monday announced the tragic death of Sandra Davidson, wife of employee Hendrik Davidson, who sustained critical burn wounds during a fire that gutted three of the 13 houses in the Beervlei SANParks staff village on October 29. Davidson was transferred from George Hospital to Tygerberg in Cape Town to receive further emergency care after the fire. “We are saddened to lose Sandra, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Davidson family during
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this trying time. Our team will continue to provide the necessary support to the family and all affected people,” said Garden Route National Park manager Paddy Gordon. Davidson’s death brings the number of people who have died as a result of the fires in Farleigh and Beervlei to 10. Eight people died in Farleigh (Rooikraal) including two adults - Elsabe Florina Windvogel and Lesley Andra Bewee - and six children: Eljade Jaylene and Ethan Calin-Lee Windvogel; and Aliyah Simone SimeLeandre, Nalaya Nashay,
Niah Na-Lee, and Nalani Brienne Oelf. The Farleigh fire - part of a blaze that claimed thousands of hectares and several structures - also claimed unborn baby Andrea Oelf when her mother died in Rooikraal on October 29. Gordon thanked Pine Lake Marina for offering discounted interim accommodation to the affected families, including SANParks staff, pensioners and private residents, adding that costs were absorbed by SANParks through its insurance company.
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of living had gone up tremendously over the past three years, yet their salaries had remained the same. Bitou Municipality, however, confirmed over the past week that lifeguard salaries would increase to
R325 per day this season. Municipal spokesman James Sijama also confirmed that sponsors had been secured for lifeguard clothing, lifeguard tower branding, and the refurbishing of lifeguard towers. There have also been donations of flippers and binoculars. The sponsorships and donations total more than R150,000. The lifeguard clothing has been sponsored by Grand
Africa Rooms & Rendezvous, the tower branding by Buco, and refurbishment of the towers by Plett Rage. Plett Surf Lifesaving Club donated the flippers and binoculars. “Bitou Municipality would like to thank all who contributed by sponsoring our lifeguards,” Sijama said. Plett lifeguards man 13 beaches in Bitou for six months of the year. Garden Route Media
These car attendants are registered and ready to assist Plett motorists
On November 22, a handover ceremony was held at LM in Plett to ensure that the town’s group of vetted car attendants received their kit to look the part once seasonal visitors converge. Sponsored by Beacon Island KwikSpar and the Plett Clean Campaign, the bright new kit comprising caps and jackets feature the backers’ logos and a unique number per attendant. All members of the group have completed a training programme and have been approved by the local SAPS and Bitou Municipal Law Enforcement. The organisers thank Melvilles Spar for sponsoring cooldrinks, Local Butcher and Pan di Sofia for the boerie rolls, and LM’s Luiz de Fonseca for the venue.
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CXPRESS
NEWS & VIEWS
5 December 2018
So far so good as students rage through weekend without incident Thousands of school leavers have been partying the past few days away in Plettenberg Bay after the annual Plett Rage student festival kicked off on Friday - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports HIS is our first opportunity to let our hair down after the final exams and probably our last before we start our studies next year, so we plan on having as much fun as possible - this according to Corni Thuynsma,18, from Pretoria. For 18-year-old Durbanite Derrick Smith, it is a similar scenario and he plans on spending his days on the beach and his nights partying. “And the first few days have delivered. The weather was fantastic, the girls are pretty and the entertainment is awesome,” Smith said. Organisers were working hard behind the scenes to ensure the first few days lived up to these expectations and according to organisers it got off to a smooth start. “We are pleased to report that there has not been a single incident at any of our venues so far,” festival founder Ronen Klugman said.
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He added that the transport system also ran smoothly and the volunteers were in action ensuring that each youngster arrive safely at the venue and back at their accommodation. “The feedback from everyone has also been overwhelmingly positive,” said Klugman, adding that they had invested substantially in creating an experience catering for all the senses, including major décor additions. “Festivalgoers seem to be eating it up.” In terms of safety Plett Watch’s Marius Venter, involved in keeping an eye on the youngsters, confirmed that the first few days had gone incident-free. “All the youngsters that went through the gates were counted with digital counters and all of them got back to their accommodation establishments after festivities,” Venter said.
Klugman said they expected between 6,500 and 7,000 youngsters to attend the festival over the course of the event. For Plett the festival, which started on Friday and runs until December 7, is more than just making sure school leavers have a good time. Not only does it provide a boost of close to R50million to the local economy each year, but it exposes the town to future tourists. On the entertainment front, organisers have put together a variety of activities including performances by some of SA’s top music acts as well as VIP parties and other entertainment “It’s extremely difficult to name one highlight seeing as the festival is such a monumental period in a matric’s life, it’s their celebration of coming of age and stepping into adulthood. “We work day in and day
PASSE-PARTOUT: Organisers expect between 6,500 and 7,000 youngsters to attend Plett Rage over the course of the event, and offerings like this Friends of the Festival discount booklet are but one of a myriad drawcards to the event - Photo: John-Henry Bartlett
out for more than a year making sure that we are able to deliver on the best and safest festival production possible,” said Plett Rage spokesman Ashley Brown. For the second time Plett Rage is being hosted at outdoor festival grounds dubbed CoCo Valley just outside of town. This is where students gather for evening entertainment while daytime activities take place at the so-called Bikini Beach just off Central Beach. “Klugman has gathered some of the very best suppliers and team members for this year’s festival to ensure that we do not just deliver with a festival with some of the best South African artists, but also one of the best festival experiences.” Brown said one of the most exciting new aspects of this year’s event was installing a large number of
decor and artwork. “One is an art piece of blue petrel birds built by Mouth2Mouth from recycled plastics. These birds are highly affected by pollution and our goal with these types of installations is to shed a light on issues that we believe should be addressed by the future leaders of South Africa the youth.” He added that another new addition was an exclusive, invite-only party called The Oasis hosted at Grand Africa Rooms and Rendezvous in the town’s Main Street. “This event series is limited to 200 people per day and was scheduled for two days, but due to us receiving more than 1,600 applications, we’re expanding it to a three-part series allowing us to cater for a total of 600 lucky Plett Ragers.” Keeping thousands of stu-
dents safe over the festival period is a mammoth task and therefore a detailed safety plan has been put in place which involves the cooperation between police, local law enforcement, local and provincial traffic departments, private security companies, the Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA), local neighbourhood watch groups, and volunteers. “Other than the exciting entertainment, we also pride ourselves in the safety and security measures that we have in place. We believe that we’ve not only created a safe space for these young adults to explore and express themselves, but we have also installed extensive safety and security measures to allow parents to feel at ease.” • Turn to page 9 for more images taken one the first two days of this year’s Rage.
Wilderness Blue Flag catch-up in full swing Local authorities are seeking to regain credibility after the 2017 beach debacle - BOB HOPKIN reports AST year’s pre-vacation period in the George/Wilderness area was marked by heated criticism of George and (then called) Eden District municipalities’ alleged tardiness and incompetence, in fudging the application for Blue Flag-status for Wilderness beaches by each assuming that the other was making the application. Local hospitality stakeholders and residents were outraged that the accreditation was not obtained for the all-important December/January holiday period, when Blue Flag-status could and should have attracted more visitors to the area. The concept of using a distinctive blue flag to denote safe bathing beaches was started in France in 1985 and was subsequently adopted internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), now responsible for monitoring the condition of vacationfriendly beaches worldwide. Among the many crite-
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FULLY BLUE BY 2019: George mayor Melvin Naik raises the interim ‘pilot’ Blue Flag next to Wilderness Beach - Photo: Bob Hopkin
ria to be met include water quality, beach cleanliness, availability of ablutions, drinking water, lifeguards, access control, and disposal of waste. A visit to an accredited beach virtually guarantees a safe and enjoyable seaside experience. The annual awards are announced on June 5 for
northern hemisphere resorts and November 1 for those in the south. When an application has lapsed, as in this case, the new applicant is awarded pilot status for the first year before full Blue Flag compliance is given. The international FEE delegates the local Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) to monitor beaches on its behalf. This year, the newly renamed and energised Garden Route District Municipality made no mistakes and, on Monday December 3, announced that pilot Blue Flag-status had been achieved - and making double sure by having George mayor Melvin Naik personally raise the WESSA pilot pennant adjacent to the main beach. In his keynote speech, Garden Route DM councillor Khayalethu Lose emphasised that the public must now do their part by obeying the rules and taking their litter home with them.
NEWS & VIEWS
5 December 2018
George Airport’s cancer drive sparks countrywide support Correspondent BOB HOPKIN reports on how a Southern Cape initiative has moved a national corporation to join the counter-cancer army HE scourge of cancer is so widespread in this country that sources say one in four South Africans is touched by it in some way; either by contracting it themselves, having a suffering family member, or knowing affected friends or colleagues. The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) is a non-profit Section 21 group that uses volunteers and voluntary donations to provide education, diagnosis, support and a limited amount of national research to help ameliorate the effects of the disease as
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much as possible. CANSA teams countrywide also encourage early testing, when medication is most effective, to act as a preventative measure. The George branch of Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) has been giving financial support to the Southern Cape CANSA area offices in George and Oudtshoorn with their 10-strong staff for several years but, thanks to the efforts of airport manager Brenda Vorster, this local initiative will now be extended to all of the
DELIGHTED: A few of the Southern Cape CANSA staff react to funding from Airports Company SA
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SERIOUS STUFF: ACSA George communications head Tuli Mkatshwa announces the national initiative
other eight airports under ACSA management. This support will consist of an annual contribution of R800,000 while staff at all nine airports will be encouraged to volunteer their time and skills to cancer awareness programmes. The national partnership was launched during an event at George Airport last Thursday, when Brenda and CANSA’s national Sustainability head, Maria Scholtz, signed a memorandum of agreement of ongoing national commitment from ACSA.
COMMITMENT: George Airport manager Brenda Vorster, left, and CANSA’s Maria Scholtz sign the joint agreement
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NEWS & VIEWS
5 December 2018
Born in Africa graduates are the pride of Plettenberg Bay
EDUCATED AND ELATED: Plett’s most-recently graduated BIA-supported students jump for joy Photos: Michelle Brink
ORN in Africa (BIA) is mighty proud of its graduating tertiary students of 2018: Alberto Wilskut and Tarric Davids (national diplomas accounting), Adija Hartley (B-Ed intermediate-phase education), Shanice Davids (BCom accounting), Beugene Green (BA journalism), Carey
Anne Davids (national diploma culinary arts), and Tameryn Zondage (national diploma somatology). Says BIA director Isabelle de Smul-Brink: “We pay tribute to these incredible young people for overcoming so many adversities to obtain their qualifications. They have reason to jump
for joy! “Currently our programme supports just under 400 Bitou children, of which 42 will be continuing their tertiary studies in 2019. We thank each and every individual for working so hard at making our children’s dreams and desire to succeed a reality.”
Adija Hartley, who is one of five siblings, just obtained her intermediate phase teaching degree. She dedicates her success to her mother who raised her children to all become outstanding members of their community. Adija has big goals for the future, one being to become minister of Education of SA one day!
Tarric Davids from ‘Bosdorp’ in Harkerville is the hero of his community, as he has now graduated with his national diploma in accounting. Not only did he obtain this diploma at NMU, but he was also part of the university ballroom dancing team that took part in national championships and brought home gold and silver medals.
Carey-Anne Davids recently qualified with her national diploma in culinary arts and management at the prestigious François Ferreira Academy in George. To perfect her qualification she is currently completing a course in management at the same institution. A better chef than Carey-Anne you’d be hard pressed to find!
Beugene Green, or ‘Bee’ as she is fondly known, has just graduated at Rhodes University with her degree in journalism and media studies. She has signed up for a fourth year, with a post grad majoring in television in 2019.
Alberto Wilskut from Kranshoek just graduated with his national diploma in accounting at NMU. Not only is he an up and coming accountant, but balances academic life with sport and is part of NMU’s cycling team.
Shanice Davids from Kurland Village grew up in complex circumstances. Never letting this stand in her way, she has graduated from Stellenbosch University with her B Com degree. She, too, will pursue her honours degree in 2019.
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PROMOTION
5 December 2018
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NEWS & VIEWS
5 December 2018
ADVERTORIAL
First Cape Winelands Festival boasts an excellent array of estates Read CXPRESS online at www.cxpress.co.za
HE Fat Fish, in partnership with Sanlam Private Wealth, is proud to announce the launch of the first Cape Winelands Festival in Plettenberg Bay on Monday December 17. The event, to be hosted at The White House, is set to become an annual fixture on the local tourism calendar and will offer festivalgoers the opportunity to sample more than 80 breath-taking wines from 15 of the Cape’s finest estates, while enjoying a relaxed afternoon in one of the bay’s prettiest venues. In addition to the quality tipple on show, delicious light meals will be available to purchase throughout the day, courtesy of
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FROM ‘BOSCH TO BAY: Anura Vineyards is a familyowned and run wine estate situated in the foothills of the Simonsberg outside Stellenbosch, and festivalgoers will be able to sample some of its produce along with that of several other Cape Winelands estates on December 17
the team at Nguni. Estates that will showcase their wines on the day include Ataraxia, Anura, Boschkloof, Diemersfontein, Doolhof, Fairview, Groote Post, Hartenberg, Kaapzicht, Moreson, Ormonde, The Post House, Strandveld, Weltevrede,
and Zewenwacht. With a string of Diner’s Club Wine List awards under his belt, The Fat Fish owner Simon Ash is no stranger to the South African wine industry. Aside from it being a personal passion, decades in the hospitality trade has
Entertainment Diary • The Plett GQOM experience on December 15 will see DJs Mlungu, Zodwa Wabantu, Lulo Cafe, and Ed Harris converge on KwaNokuthula for a memorable midmonth bash. GQOM is a style of mosono music that emerged a decade into the 21st century from the city of Durban in KwaZulu Natal. The word ‘gqom’ derives from an onomatopoeic combination of click consonants from the Zulu and the Xhosa language that represents hitting a drum. Visit www.pletttourism.com for details. • GoodLuck’s popular Get Lucky Summer series on the lawns of the BI is back this season to the joy of local and visiting music lovers. Catch them on December 16, 23 and 31, and on January 6. GoodLuck will also be joined by the iconic Freshlyground, dance music powerhouse Kyle Watson, and folk-pop sensations Rubber Duc to ring in New Year at the Get Lucky Summer NYE Party at Bitou Rugby Club. Along with the Get Lucky Summer Series, this concert is set be the most memorable of 2018.
Celebrate Season
resulted in Simon having nurtured many close relationships with winemakers throughout the country. “Hosting the Cape Winelands Festival at the very start of Plett’s peak season will allow locals, our beloved annual swallows, and holidaymakers alike the perfect opportunity to not only meet the makers, but stock up on a wide selection of quality wines at cellar-door prices for the festive period,” he says. Entrance to the festival will allow for a tasting of every wine on show, and tickets at R150 are available from The Fat Fish (off Central Beach parking area). For more information, call 044 533 4740.
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
5 December 2018
Photo: Kgosi Motsepe
Plett Rage 2018: Oh what fun!
These images show some of the beach and nocturnal antics of Plett Ragers during the first few days of the festival, which concludes on December 7 - read the report on page 4 Photos: John-Henry Bartlett
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PROPERTY
5 December 2018
Keeping your home cool this summer ONDENSATION drips from your water glass as the sun streams through your living room. The dodgy ceiling fan whirrs wildly above your head, but you’d sooner risk decapitation than endure another minute of this heat. Summer is here but you needn’t dread it. There are loads of ways to prepare your home so that it stays cool in the weeks to come. Rather than quick-fix solutions, such as portable fans and thick curtains CEO of RE/Max Southern Africa Adrian Goslett suggests that homeowners consider more permanent improvements to their home. “Installing an air-conditioning unit, having proper insulation installed in your ceiling, and installing block-out blinds are some of the most effective ways of keeping your home cool during the summer months. “Yes, these options are more expensive than purchasing a R100 fan at your local supermarket, but such purchases will not be money wasted. Unlike most cheaper options, these solutions will make a noticeable difference in the temperature of your home, as well as increase the resale value of your property should you ever decide to sell,” Goslett explains.
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However, considering our current economic climate, he acknowledges that it might be more useful to suggest budget-friendly ways of keeping the temperature down in your home. Below are Goslett’s pocket-friendly solutions for beating the heat this December: Utilise your doors Homeowners should carefully consider the air-flow of their home. Smaller spaces heat up quicker, so leaving doors and windows open can allow for cool air to flow through the home. In larger spaces, close the doors of adjoining rooms so that the cold air is more concentrated in the space instead of flowing into the unoccupied rooms. This only works when the air outside isn’t warm. On warmer days, keep your windows open in the evening (only if you live in a secure suburb or have burglar bars) so that the cool night air fills your home. Then, first thing the next morning, make sure windows, doors, curtains, and blinds are kept closed to trap the cool air inside. Create shade outside Plant large, shade-bearing trees outside the windows of the rooms in which you spend the most time. Alternatively, you could install awnings over these win-
dows to help prevent direct sunlight from streaming into your home. Cook outdoors On particularly hot days, try and avoid using your stove as it radiates heat and warm up any space when in use. On the up side, this means more outdoor braais. Splurge on summer bedding While it is obvious to ditch the woollen comforter in favour of some silk sheets, it might be less obvious to consider purchasing a summer pillow. The buckwheat pillow is a trendy new homeowner’s item known for all kinds of sleep aiding benefits - one of which is that it is naturally cool and comes highly recommended for anyone who gets hot when they sleep. As a final piece of advice Goslett says those who know local estate agents should give them a call to find out if they have any suggestions of reputable local suppliers who could install air-conditioning units, awnings, or any other of the above-mentioned reovations. “As suburb experts, good real agents often have established relationships with local businesses and could even get you a referral discount for working through them,” Goslett concludes. • See the Remax advert on the back page for listings.
FUN CITY: From left, winning agents Desré Reck, Werner Harris, Sue Harvey, and Paul Jordaan raked in awards and podium positions in the shadow of the Pilanesberg recently
Plett agents receive national accolades IVE Plett estate agents received national awards at the Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty National Convention recently held at Sun City. Paul Jordaan - who has won numerous previous awards and a trip overseas scored the Agent of the Year award for the highest turnover in residential property. Werner Harris won the Rookie of the Year award for the highest number of units sold, and second place for the highest turnover. This is an excellent achievement for a small-town agent who has not been in real estate for many years. Sue Harvey received third place for the agent with the highest number of units
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sold. Again, Sue has received numerous awards throughout her career and has also won an overseas trip previously. Desré Reck received third place for highest turnover in development sales. Desré is the onsite agent at Thulana Hill and attributes her success and multiple awards of the past to the exceptional lifestyle and value for money the complex offers. Elbie Pama, though she could not attend the award ceremony, once again received third place nationally for farm properties. Elbie has also won an overseas trip previously. Plett principal Hein Pretorius says: “The convention was a lot of fun this year
with such a big contingency of award winners from Plett. It was a privilege to see some of our team being acknowledged and awarded for their hard work, dedication and success. “Our agents continuously win national awards even though we have tough competition from the major metropoles and some of the best agencies in the country, regardless of brand. So I really must hand it to them on these achievements. Congratulations and keep it up!” If you are interested in buying or selling property, or need a free valuation, contact Sotheby’s International Realty in Plett on 044 533 2529 and see the advert on the cover for listings.
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BUSINESS
5 December 2018
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Dear graduate, you should take that crappy job Experience cannot be taught, but rather it is something you pick up. It offers transferrable skills that can serve you as you grow your career. For example, a successful call-centre agent develops the ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and communicate effectively - skills that can be transferred to a sales environment or a management role. In-house training Once employed, companies often provide in-house training to their staff. It may be in the form of a learnership, or technical training. These make you much more em-
ployable. On the job skills, training and experience are vital for an employee to remain competent, relevant, and productive. Increase in social capital Studies have found that a lack of social capital contributes to unemployment. In other words, if among your immediate circle (family and friends) a few are employed, then the chances of you finding employment decrease exponentially. However, once in the workplace, you will have a brand-new network of people who are part of the formal economy. They come with their own contacts and experience and
can be instrumental in helping you find a long-term career which is in line with your qualifications. With approximately 3.3-million (32.4%) out of 10.3-million South Africans aged 15-24 not in employment, education or training, graduates looking for secure employment should not overlook entry-level jobs, no matter how far they are from their qualifications. Entry-level jobs assist in giving graduates a leg up in gaining experience, creating a network of contacts, and learning new skills - all of which can be transferred into other roles.
BLUEPRINT 2647/E/REV
HE reality is that a crappy, lame, “Ididn’t-study-for-so-long-to-end-uphere” job is better than sitting at home waiting for your perfect job to come along and find you, which (unless your name is Kim Kardashian) ain’t gonna happen. Bleak unemployment statistics mean that many will not find immediate employment in their field of study; 38.2% of all youth aged 15-34 are unemployed. The graduate unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2018 was 10.2% among those aged 25-34, while the rate among adults aged 35-64 was 4.7%. The reality is that entering the labour market is tough, even for graduates, and a tertiary education is no longer a guarantee to securing employment. Taking that crappy job is in fact a strategic career move. Here are five reasons why:
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A foot in the door is priceless in today’s economy Before you get a job, you are just another CV or number. But once you get a job even an entry level one - you have a face. You will be able to interact with senior staff members and even across departments. Access to a network of information and people allows you to be the first in finding out about new opportunities, which will assist you in moving up the proverbial ladder. Your existing manager can also vouch for you in internal vacancies, if you do a good job. If you come across an opportunity within a large organisation, even if it’s way below what you believe you are qualified for, consider taking it. Often in major corporations there is a lot of room for growth. Companies spot talent quickly, and if you distinguish yourself, you will be noticed and recommended for a higher position. There is strategy in joining a specific organisation Dovetailing from the above point, if there is a certain company that you would like to work for, it is worthwhile to take any position you come across at that organisation. It is so much easier to move up a company’s ranks from the inside than it is from the outside. Preference to existing staff is common they already know the culture, the operations, and the company’s mission. Existing staff are a known quantity and it is also a lot easier to upskill and train them than someone from the outside. Experience is king Qualifications are one part of attaining employment, experience is the other. Experience even in lower positions makes you a more valuable asset to the organisation because it shows that you have resilience, tenacity, and problem-solving skills.
AARTO - MAKING THINGS EASIER FOR YOU Receiving a traffic fine can be stressful and so is paying for one. But with AARTO, you qualify for an automatic 50% discount if you pay within the first 32 days after receiving an infringement notice or you can arrange to pay in instalments. To learn more about the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences process, your rights and options as a motorist, go to www.rtia.co.za. Change the way South Africa drives. RTIA, giving you peace of mind on the road.
All AARTO infringement payments must be made within the official state building at the cashier’s desk not to individuals. Motorists are also advised to make use of the alternative legitimate payment platforms indicated below:
Payments can be made at:
• • • •
FNB; Standard Bank; ABSA; Nedbank;
• Post Office; • www.paycity.co.za; • Checkers, Shoprite; SPAR; Usave.
• Applicable Authorities (Registering Authorities, Driving License Testing Centres, Metro and Local Municipalities)
Please note that RTIA is a public recipient listed under the above mentioned banks. Motorists only have to quote their 16 digit infringement notice number as a reference.
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CXPRESS
INTERVAL
5 December 2018
If animals could talk • A man goes to an auction and while there, he bids on a parrot. He really wants this bird, so he gets caught up in the bidding. He keeps on bidding but keeps getting outbid, so he bids higher and higher and higher. Finally, after he bids way more than intended, he wins the bid - the parrot is his at last! As he’s paying for the parrot, he says to the auctioneer: “I sure hope this parrot can talk. I would hate to have paid this much for it, only to find out that he can’t talk.” “Don’t worry,” says the auctioneer. “He can talk. Who do you think kept bidding against you? • A grasshopper walks into a bar. The bartender laughs and says: “Hey, we have a drink named after you!” The grasshopper looks at the bartender with an air of extreme confusion on his face, and says: “You have a drink called Steve?” • A guy sees a sign in front of a house: ‘Talking Dog for Sale’. He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. The guy follows the owner and sees a nice looking Labrador Retriever sitting there in the yard. “You talk?” he asks. “Yep,” the dog replies. After recovering from the shock of hearing a dog talk, the guy asks: “So, what’s your story?” The Lab looks up and says: “Well, I discovered this gift when I was pretty young. I wanted to
help the government, so I told them about my gift. “In no time they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping. “I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running, but the jetting around really tired me out and I knew I wasn’t getting any younger so I decided to settle down. “I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security work, mostly wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals. “I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I’m just retired.” The guy is amazed. He asks the owner what he wants for the dog. “R50,” the owner says. “Only R50? This dog is amazing! Why on Earth are you selling him so cheap?” the guy replies. “Because he’s a liar. He’s never been out of the yard.” • This morning I saw my neighbour talking to her cat; it was obvious that she thought her cat understood her. When I got home, I told my dog... we laughed a lot. • Three racehorses are in the stable waiting for the big race. Trying to psych each other out, they begin bragging. The first horse says: “I’ve been in 38 races and
Smith’s dear old aunt AVING looked the other way for weeks, the boss finally called Smith into his office for a sit-down. “You know, Smith,” he said, “I’ve noticed that every time you have to take
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your dear old aunt to her doctor’s appointments, there’s a rugby match over at the stadium.” “Wow, sir. I guess you’re right,” Smith said. “I didn’t realise it. You don’t think she’s faking it, do you?”
Husband: “Have a nice day.” Wife: “Don’t tell me what to do.”
have only lost twice.” The second horse replies: “Well, I’ve been in 47 races and have never lost.” The third horse says: “Huh, I’ve never lost either and I even beat Red Hardy Eusrace twice.” Just then, they hear a chuckle by the stable door, and a greyhound walks up to them, and says: “That’s nothing. I’ve been in over 200 races and have won every one by at least three lengths.” The first horse shouts: “Wow! That’s amazing a talking dog!” • A tortoise got mugged by two snails. When the
cop investigating the crime asks the tortoise if he got a look at his muggers, the tortoise replies: “No, officer, I didn’t. It all happened so fast.” • Two dog owners are arguing over whose dog is the cleverest. “My dog is so smart,” says the first owner, ‘that every morning he waits for the paper boy to come round. He tips the boy and then brings the newspaper to me, along with my morning cup of coffee.” “I know,” says the second owner. “How do you know?” “My dog told me.”
What does an educated owl say? Whom... Whom...
“How much is the rent for this gorgeous apartment?”
“Sir, this is a liquor store.”
SOCIAL SCENE
5 December 2018
CXPRESS
People, places & events BLING XMAS THAI STYLE: For the past 14 years, a gaggle of Plett gals have been celebrating the impending season by throwing a Christmas party at one of the gang’s abodes. Says Mandy McNicol, who shared this pic: “This year we had our ‘Shimmer & Shine’ theme party at Delia Johnson’s farm on November 24, and Delia prepared a four-course Thai menu to die for!” Pictured here in no particular order with Mandy kneeling at left are Jolyn Ferreira, Bridget Jackson, Angie Murray, Delia Johnson, Claudine Badenhorst, Jennine Holland, Abby Milner, Shinel Crerar, Jane Pitchford, Lauren Foote, and Liesje Hirschberg. Cheers, chiccas!
BRIDGE FOR BITOU KIDS: At a Charity Bridge Drive held on Tuesday November 20 at Plett Country Club, 22 participating teams contributed to raising funds for four crèches sponsored by the Parish of Formosa: Siyakula, Flamingo, Greenhill and Pinelands. The competition, closely contested, was won by the Pickering Team - at left from left are Norma Gradwell, Russ Parkinson, Louise More and Monica Pickering - and organised by members of the congregation, above from left, Di Faragher-Thomas, Lin Gubb, Annabelle Conyngham, Joan van Schoor, and Babs Davies. Said the organisers in a letter to parishioners after the event: “It is a privilege to belong to a community that takes to heart the plight of those less fortunate than themselves, and who give so very generously to alleviate the condition of those who struggle to make ends meet. Times are tough and the crèches we help are struggling with decreased subsidies from the government and non-payment by some of the parents who have low-paying jobs or are unemployed but who know that, if their children are ever to cope in our changing world, a good education is essential. You gave of your hard-earned profits, you gave of your time, and you helped us to succeed in raising much-needed funds for these crèches. Our heartfelt thanks go to each one of you. May we continue to prosper in our efforts to help others.” Call Beatty-Anne on 044 533 5558 to find out more about the Parish of Formosa, and see the advert on page 8 for local Anglican Chuch service times this season.
THEY’RE SMART… STREETSMART! At a function held at the Grand Africa Rooms & Rendezvous in Plett on Friday November 30, StreetSmart South Africa chair Melanie Burke presented certificates and two cheques to persons who carry out work on behalf of the organisation in and around the town. Certificates of Appreciation/ Contribution were presented to The Grand’s duty manager Sybil Harker, pictured at right, and to Patty Butterworth and Michelle Pyper - the latter being pictured with Melanie at far right. Both Michelle and Patty are steering committee members of the Plett branch of StreetSmart. A cheque to the value of R20,000 was handed to Elisabeth Wenz of Bitou Family Care while Brenda Wall and Elaine Smith-Cunningham of Masizame took receipt of a cheque for R60,000. StreetSmart SA oversees and facilitates the rehabilitation of ‘street children’ through endeavours such as Bitou Family Care and Masizame, and is funded by way of voluntary contributions from patrons of establishments in the hospitality industry; typically these are restaurants, eateries, hotels, guest lodges and wine tasting tours. Plett eateries that contribute to StreetSmart are Ice Palazzo, Nguni, The Fat Fish, The Med Seafood Bistro, and The Pie Shop. - Timothy Twidle
QUIZ FUNDS FOR YOUNG SPORTOS: During last month’s Trivia Quiz Night at Plett Bowling Club, R2,500 was raised for the town’s lifesaving club, and R2,350 for Roscoe Ruiters, who is currently representing SA’s U19s at an international Rugby 7s tournament in Dubai. Pictured at left and above, organiser Barry Rickets hands these cheques to Roscoe’s dad Robert, left, and Plett Surf Lifesaving Club captain Nexus Lurie respectively. Robert, who has been serving Plett as animal welfare inspector for many years, attended the fun evening to personally thank the quizzers for their support. Congratulations to quiz winners The Bowlers team, with members Steve and Poogie Serfontein, Di Bowling, Val Hellman, and Ann and Peter Doig. In second place were the Stealth Bombers with Michael Lond, Sonja and Mike Kantey, Jackie and Don Dent, and Paul West. Barry thanks all the teams for coming along and supporting a great cause, as well as prize sponsors Nineteen89 restaurant and Plett Ski-boat Club.
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CXPRESS
Paws
Plett Animal Welfare Service
5 December 2018
CLASSIFIEDS
ON THE SOAPBOX
5 December 2018
Letters to the Editor
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
CXPRESS
Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za
More burning questions regarding Bitou Municipality’s forensic investigation Last week’s article on Bitou’s imminent forensic investigation [read it on page 3 of the November 28 edition at www. cxpress.co.za] makes for some very worrying reading for any taxpayer in Plettenberg Bay. Even more worrying was the frivolous reply by the spokesman for Bitou Municipality (read: ANC), Mr James Sijama, in a local paper. According to him, this is all an effort by the MEC for Local Government to bully Bitou because it is not governed by the DA. In his reply, Mr Sijama thinks nothing of criticis-
ing the judge of the Western Cape High Court. The judge stated that each complaint was sufficient to warrant forensic investigation and that the municipality’s lack of cooperation was “unlawful” and an attempt to cover up. Saying that they were not given sufficient time to reply to the allegations is just a lot of hogwash. We all know that the forensic auditors - sent to save Bitou from bankruptcy - were refused entry to the municipal buildings, and that employees were threatened in case they should speak to any
of these auditors. Can Mr Sijama also explain why the municipality had to get a loan from a local bank for R54million after spending the R60-million that was in the bank when the ANC took over? Once again, like in the recent past, taxpayers will have to foot the bill for the High Court application. I am totally fed up with the way my money is being spent by incompetent thieves. At almost every ANCgoverned municipality in this country, corruption is the order of the day and service delivery has
ground to a halt. Yet Mr Sijama wants us to believe it is not the case in Bitou. Overburdened Taxpayer, Plett (Yet another author of a ‘letter to the editor’ who chooses to remain anonymous... Perhaps that’s the best plan when bandying about labels like ‘incompetent thieves’? We stick to our tolerance of nom de plums in a bid to ensure that this page continues to serve its purpose as forum for discussion and debate, but reiterate that letters acknowledging the identity of their authors will enjoy preference. - Eds.)
Our Telkom saga continues… Herewith the next exhilarating instalment of our phone thriller that started in June this year [read ‘The saga of the wireless phone…’ on page 11 of the October 31 edition at www.cxpress.co.za]. Judging by comments from other victims, there are quite a few people who might be interested in our experiences… Two weeks after our expedition to Telkom in Knysna, we received a phone call (courtesy of Vodacom) to tell us that our wireless phone had now been repaired and could be collected. We felt hurt by the fact that the three men in the truck had not been sent to deliver it - also by the fact that it was going to cost a full day of our time and about R200 in petrol. We arrived at about 11am and took our place in a long queue of dissatisfied, highly vocal Telkom customers. As usual, there were not enough chairs. Eventually our turn came and we explained to a young lady that we had come to collect our phone, which had now been repaired. She went off and returned some time later with a technician who told us that the
phone was irreparable. We unreasonably refused to accept this explanation and demanded another phone. A box was brought and handed to us. We asked if the sim card was inside and ready for use. The expensivelooking box was unwrapped from its elaborate packaging and it was found that it did not have a sim card. A bearded gent, whom we thought might be the manager, now bustled up and told us that we had not paid Telkom’s account and had been struck off their roll! I responded by offering to prove that Telkom had unilaterally removed R512.31 from my savings account only the previous week. He then put the sim card into the phone and assured us that we could go home, plug it in, and use it. We went home, plugged it in and, guess what? Right first time: the phone didn’t work! I have now learned to use a cellphone and wasted hundreds of rands of airtime listening to Telkom’s so-called music while waiting for our “first available consultant”. In the meantime I have
received yet another account. This one addresses me very flatteringly as “Mnst MA Prior” and accuses me of living at 386 Hog Hollow Road, Longridge, N2. (Would “Mnst” perhaps be an acronym for Minister?) I believe that a Hog Hollow Road does still exist somewhere, though when we arrived at Plettenberg Bay 17 years ago, it had long been replaced by the N2 highway. This account is for R1,134.01, which seems excessive, considering that we have not been able to make or receive a call since June and that Telkom has religiously deducted money from my bank account every month. We managed to contact a gentleman known as Oom Jan, who seems to be the only person in Telkom who knows anything about anything. He assured us that our problem was simple, involving only the pressing of a switch. Unfortunately he could not do this until instructed to do so by his manager. Perhaps the manager gave permission, for we were told a few days later that the phone was working. We rushed to try it out and were delighted when
our call was answered. All was still, however, not quite in order. We can now phone out, but nobody can phone us! Most of this afternoon was spent in a dialogue with “one of our consultants”. She was obviously working with an instruction manual different from the one that came with our phone, as most of the buttons she told us to click were neither in the book nor on the phone. After a fruitless hour or so she gave up and put her phone down on us. To cap the afternoon’s work, a questionnaire came up, asking us to rate the assistance we had received by a number from 0 to 10. As we had achieved nothing, I returned a rating of 0. The phone refused to accept it! Could it be that some ‘tenderpreneur’ has concluded a very profitable deal with a Chinese company for millions of pretty “wireless” phones? If millions of Telkom customers were to switch to cellphones, millions of Telkom jobs would be lost. They could not be replaced by those men in trucks delivering sim cards… Mervyn Prior, Plett
Sies vir daai swak spinnekop grap As ‘n gereelde leser van CXPRESS wil ek my misnoë uitspreek oor ‘Skrikwekkende spinnekop storie’ in jul afgelope koerant [lees dit - en grens! - op bladsy 12 van die 8 November uitgawe by www.cxpress.co.za]. Nog nooit het ek so ‘n swak storie gelees nie. Die skrywer probeer “obviously funny” wees. Niemand praat so Afrikaans nie. Daar is nie in Afrikaans ‘n woord soos “balpie” nie - nie eers as
‘n anglisisme nie. Eintlik weet ek nie eers waar om te begin nie. Ek kan net weer sê: Sulke patetiese kamma gesegdes en grapperigheid, en ‘n oorywerigheid om snaaks te wees, het ek nog nooit teëgekom nie. Woorde ontbreek my. Ek sien min hoop vir Afrikaans as dit die vlak is waartoe dit gedaal het. Ek vertrou net dat CXPRESS meer oordeelkundig tewerk sal gaan met wat julle publi-
seer, want al die lesers is nie van ‘n lae intelektuele [sic] vlak nie. Ek geniet altyd die grappe op hierdie blad, omdat die humor gewoonlik fyn is. Dankie dat ek my sê kon sê. Derrick, per e-pos (Eina! Byt so ‘n spinnekop ons nou in die binneboud... Maar dankie in elk geval, Derrick - goed om te weet ons lesers is op en wakker en paraat aan’t kwaliteittoets vir die afgelope twee
dekades plus. Ja, twintig en ‘n half jaar van streef na topvermaak eis elke nou en dan sy tol. Maar ons weier om ons humorsin langs die pad te verloor! Terloops: dit maak so bietjie seer dat jy nooit vantevore pen aan papier kon slaan ter gelukwensinge vir die ‘fyn’ grappies wat jou laat giggel nie, maar een flou poging en daar slat die lat. Bly ingeskakel, asseblief... - Reds.)
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The only pharmacy in Main Street
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CXPRESS
5 December 2018
SPORT & ADVENTURE
Robberg Fine Foods to back 2018 beach regatta yet again HE annual Robberg Fine Foods Classic Beach Regatta is all set for December 15-17 and as always, will take place from Plett’s Hobie Beach. The sight of a fleet of beautiful, multi-coloured sails in the bay has become an integral part of Plett’s season and one remembered by visitors and residents as far back as their childhoods. Local culinary icons Robberg Fine Foods has agreed once again this year to sign up as main sponsor of the event, with ClemenGold and PostNet Rustenberg also
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coming on board to back this spectator-friendly event. For sailors, the legendary regatta is one for the bucket list. Traditionally, participants from all over South Africa compete in this fun regatta with among them a number of Hobie national and world champions. Get up close and personal and watch as the boats do a beach start, race “round the cans” (a set of buoys in the bay), or do a long-haul trek from the mouth of the Keurbooms lagoon all the way across to Robberg 5. While things may look
calm from the beach, they’re anything but tranquil on the water as boats jockey for position on the start line and then race each other for finish line honours. Hobie sailors are easy-going and members of the public are welcome to descend upon Hobie Beach and “meet the fleet” when the boats are on the beach. Who knows, you may like it so much, it might just be you out in the bay next time ‘round. Contact Kevin on 084 226 0809 or plettregatta@gmail. com and see www.hobie. co.za for details. HAPPY HOBIE SAILORS: It is well known that Hobie sailors are very easy-going and members of the public are welcome to meet the fleet around Hobie Beach when the boats are on the beach
COLOURFUL FLEET: The sight of beautiful, multi-coloured sails in the bay has become an integral part of Plett’s festive season and one remembered by many since childhood
Storms River
TIN HOUSE Self-catering accommodation