6 December 2017

6 December 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

Rage brings sexy back

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Bitou rubbishes vote of no confidence p3

School’s out... let’s have a laugh! p8

Enticing holiday activities p11

Photo: Tasmin Weir

Plett’s bars and beaches have been swarming with school leavers since Rage 2017 kicked off last weekend, and what a sight these recentlyliberated guys and gals offer the jaundiced eye! Not only does the Plett Rage influx attract national music celebs and an array of special offers to town, but the bucks spent by students during this week’s festivities are deserving of your most welcoming smiles… look out for CXPRESS of December 13 for more images.

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NEWS & VIEWS

6 December 2017

Victoria Falls to Plettenberg Bay: Christmas 1947 UK national and avid CXPRESS reader GRAHAM ANDREWS shared this account, adding: ‘I’ve been writing these recollections while on my annual visit to my sister’s home in Victoria Falls, where she has lived since 1945; participants in our 1947 adventure were my father Howard Andrews, 34, mother Win Andrews, 29, sis Paddy Morrison (née Andrews), aged five, and yours truly, aged three at the time’ UST after WWII ended in 1945, my father secured a job as Superintendent at Victoria Falls Township. I was a mere six months old and my sister was three years old.

I figured out years later that the day we arrived at the Falls, my parents had immediately embarked upon a plan for their first family holiday; it was to be to Lookout Beach Caravan Park in Plettenberg Bay. No excitement for me, I’m afraid, since I was too young.

But for Paddy, absolute elation!

My father was a superb linguist having learnt all the local languages whilst growing up, and was exceptionally clever with his hands. He set about building a caravan in his spare time, starting with a set of axel wheels.

I guess it took him about two years to build, as he had to acquire all the materials from miles away; it being just after the war, everything would have been in short supply.

Excitement apparently building up all the time, departure day finally arrived. My folks could not hold back so we left the Falls in the early afternoon in our 1934 Chevrolet Imp with caravan in tow, only to pitch camp about 21 miles out of town.

The caravan was packed, amongst other things, with WWII army surplus dry rations that weighed - literally - a ton.

Any plan to save holiday funds was obviously put into action.

The second night was spent at Wankie [as ‘Hwange’ was known at the time], another 50 miles down the road.

Our third overnight stop was Bulawayo, seemingly because my father was getting used to towing the heavy load. The

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Jeffreys Bay 22 Jeffreys Street 042 293 1040

TRAVEL-READY: Our clan raring to hit the long road south-east

BARE-BOTTOM BUDDIES: Paddy and Graham on Lookout Beach

HAPPY CAMPERS: Parked in the shade on a stop en route to Plett

‘road’, by the way, consisted of two parallel strips of two-foot wide tar with a gap between just enough to take one vehicle at a time.

When another car approached from the opposite direction, you would both have to get off and each car passed using only one of the strips. This made for exciting driving. Speed was in the order of the 40mph (50km/h) variety… if you were not towing a caravan!

The next leg of the trip was pretty uneventful as we were now riding on nine-foot mat

tar. What luxury!

We then arrived at the bottom of the Zoutspansberg Mountains and Wylie’s Poort.

Today the road passes through the Hendrik Verwoerd Tunnel towards Louis Trichardt and takes a mere few minutes, but in those days you had to navigate to the top of the mountain and then slowly down the other side.

To aggravate the situation further, this section of road was not tar but dirt. In order to meet the challenge of getting this circus up the mountain, we had to unload the caravan of its

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contents for the old man to tow it empty to the top of the pass.

He unhitched it there and drove down again to load up the contents of the caravan into the ‘bakkie’ and drive loaded up to the top of the pass.

All the while, the old man had to ensure that the car did not overheat and boil over...

Third trip down was to collect the family, who had been waiting patiently at the bottom of the pass. The exercise was reversed for the journey to the bottom of the pass on the Louis Trichardt side. What a mission!

We then glided happily on to Plett, taking two weeks in all to get there.

We must have arrived in the bay during November 1947 and according to family legend, we had a fantastic time over the following three months in the caravan park overlooking Lookout Beach.

I had my third birthday there and can just about remember the odd incident.

Other families we met in Plett at the time were the Kitcheners (John and Pat and two daughters, Colleen and Judy - they went on to run Kob Inn in the Transkei), the Arnolds, and the Mackays.

My old man was in paradise with fishing rod in hand, whilst the rest of us enjoyed the beach - some of us for the first time.

Needless to say, the journey home was a lot easier, as the load was substantially lighter.

We headed for Cape Town on another family holiday in 1951, for which purpose my father converted our Chev Imp into a ‘safari wagon’, as my mother refused to go on another caravan holiday!

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NEWS & VIEWS

6 December 2017

CXPRESS

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Lobese alliance rejects ANC’s no-confidence claim ‘with the contempt they deserve’ Bitou leadership has labelled a motion of no confidence against its mayor by the ANC as a ‘cheap political publicity stunt’ by the opposition over ‘bitterness’ following their loss of control of Bitou - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports HE ANC was set to bring a motion of no confidence against Bitou mayor Peter Lobese on Tuesday, claiming “exorbitant spending” and the lack of service delivery and leadership as motivation.

This took place after the mayor came under fire for spending about R60,000 a month on a luxury SUV while insurance claims, following an accident in Port Elizabeth, was being processed on his official vehicle.

Lobese was also, among others, criticised for spending more than R100,000 on home security.

ANC sub-regional coordinator Putco Mapitiza said the action was as a result of a culmination of issues with Lobese’s leadership over the past year, in-

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cluding his spending habits.

Mapitiza said that very little had also been done under his leadership in terms of service delivery.

“We have asked questions in council meetings about these issues, but have only received wishy washy replies,” Mapitiza said.

He added that they had become troubled over these issues and believed that this would result in Bitou’s first qualified audit in several years.

Bitou’s leadership, however, denies these claims.

“These three allegations of exorbitant spending, of lack of service delivery, and lack of leadership are too vague and lack substantiation.

“We have decided to respond, however, we deny all of them and further

reject them with the contempt they deserve. These are nothing but a cheap political publicity stunt by the ANC which remain bitter over losing power and control of Bitou,” municipal manager Thabo Ndlovu said in a statement.

He added that it was very clear that the ANC did not have the numbers to carry the motion through and the agenda was not to succeed with the motion.

He added that they therefore called upon those bringing the motion to provide more details and substantiate these allegations with concrete evidence.

“It should be added that the mayoral committee is functional and sits as per the meeting schedules and a non-sitting is a sign of

Youngster’s quick alert ensures tragedyfree Sunday for Kwano mother RETTY clued up. That’s how Ross Badenhorst describes his six-year-old son, Cameron, who on Sunday greatly contributed to the rescue of two local boys not much older than himself, after they were caught in a rip at Plett’s Hobie Beach.

Badenhorst dispelled reports of his son running from the scene of the neardrowning to Plett’s NSRI Station 14, saying it was rather a case of the youngster joining them in the control room, other volunteers present being Brett Esterhuizen and Laurent Eray.

“We were all in the control room, but Cameron was the only one who looked out towards Hobie Beach at our left at that exact moment.

“Noticing that two of the swimmers were further out and waving their arms, he turned to us and said: “Dad, look at those people out there. Brett and I grabbed some torpedo buoys and

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YOUNGEST RECRUIT: Cameron Badenhorst on his sixth birthday this year, when he chose an NSRI theme for his birthday cake

ran to the scene, several hundred metres down from the NSRI station.

When we got there, one of the Plett lifeguards had already reached the kids and handed them over to us. Robbie Gibson [a fellow Station 14 volunteer] arrived with oxygen and the

kids were treated for nonfatal drowning symptoms,” explained Badenhorst Sr. The official NSRI report pegged the time of the callout at 11:41am on December 3, and states the local youngsters’ ages as nine and 11 years of age respectively “The male casualties were transported to hospital by a Med-Life ambulance in stable conditions for further treatment and for observation for secondary drowning, and they are expected to fully recover,” concluded the report.

Badenhorst said when questioning the mother of one of the saved children to check if there were more kids missing in the surf, she berating the kids in a state of shock.

“But she soon started translating my questions about how much water they had swallowed, and then started relaxing, knowing that the children were safe.”

dysfunctional leadership and this is not the case in Bitou. The Bitou Municipality is stable.”

Ndlovu further said in the statement that they had made significant strides towards improving the living conditions of residents.

“When the people of Bitou voted us into power in

August 2016, their message was very clear and the will of the people must be respected. Their voice was clear and they unequivocally stated that the task and mandate of Bitou Municipality is to take our people out of the grinding poverty trap, mass hunger and unemployment rate.

“They call upon us to put their interest first and to subordinate our personal interest. The interest of the people must reign supreme.”

STOP PRESS! Shortly before going to print, the motion of no confidence against Lobese failed during Tuesday’s special council meeting.

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

6 December 2017

There’s strength in unity as Bitou’s security and emergency forces display their combined command

Plett’s Main Street was alive with the sound of marching bands and pelotons of police, fire-fighting, and emergency personnel on Wednesday November 29, when participants in the town’s Unity Parade trekked to LM in Plett where top brass of the local police and PBCPA (Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association, of which members are pictured in yellow jackets) addressed the crowd.

Tertius Myburgh of Plett Air Safaris (www.plettairsafaris.co.za) caused major excitement with his low-level fly-over down the length of Main Street before the official start of proceedings.

As is invariably the case, the Plett Pioneer Field Band provided the morning’s highlight with their lively and well-rehearsed tunes.

Photos: Yolandé Stander

NEWS & VIEWS

6 December 2017

CXPRESS

Minister visits Kwano’s award- a Fashionista L winning Home Affairs team Words & photos: Khaya Mbesi

ATIONAL Home Affairs minister Ayanda Dlodlo visited the KwaNokuthula Home Affairs office to encourage the staff, and also spoke to around 50 elders who awaited her arrival at Simunye Hall on Monday morning December 4.

On the topic of the 16 Days of Activism against Women and Child Abuse campaign launch, she said: “I know women are abused by men, but women are also abused here by their children who drink and use drugs.

“Please partner with the police so that you can fight this form of domestic violence. The abuse of women by their children is a scourge in our country, as children want to be intoxicated all the time either by drugs or alcohol.

“My department works closely with Social Development and with the police to resolve this matter, and will lend our support to a strong victim-em-

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STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP: Minister of Home Affairs Ayanda Dlodlo, left, hands Nobuntu Molose her brand new identity card

powerment programme.”

The minister invited residents to call at their local Home Affairs office with problems of a serious nature, saying that they would then be linked with the Department of Social Development.

She then made a case for the new smart ID cards, adding that the old green identity documents were still valid, and that people would be informed when they were scrapped.

“I know there are false

STERLING SERVICE PROVIDERS: Kwano Home Affairs office manager Nokonwaba Mtonjeni, right, with colleague Mninawa Nkomo display the Best Office certificate and trophy they had won in March this year

statements issued on Facebook and Twitter telling people that the green ID book has been abolished. It is still valid, but we encourage people to do the card.”

She handed out two new IDs to people who had just applied at the Home Affairs branch in Simunye Centre before departing for a constituency meeting at KwaNokuthula Primary.

Also on hand was Eden District director of Home

Affairs Mosiuoa Ngaka, who said that apart from the promotion of smart ID cards, the minister’s visit also served to encourage the registration within 30 days of children being born.

In Knysna, Ngaka personally handed over birth certificates to the parents of babies born recently.

KwaNokuthula Home Affairs office manager Nokonwaba Mtonjeni said since her team had won the Best Office award in 2017, the minister came to personally congratulate them and encourage the staff to continue their good work and serve the community.

Knysna resident Hermann Kapp, who was at the office to help his daughter to obtain her ID, said he always came to KwaNokuthula because of the efficiency of its staff there.

“I don’t ever have to wait too long in this office. My applications go through fast and when I applied for my ID, I was immediately informed of its arrival,” said Kapp.

HELP AT HAND: The minister at Kwano’s Victim Empowerment Support centre, with Station Commander lieutenant colonel Nkosayithethi Khewana as expert guide

George airport birds get their feathers

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INEMA-GOERS with long memories might recall the charming and quaint 1994 film Forrest Gump in which symbolism played a vital role.

Opening (and closing) with the random movements of a floating feather gliding across rooftops, under cars, and through trees before coming to rest on the toe of the leading character, played by Tom Hanks, characterised the haphazard nature of life, marked by events often beyond our control.

Less random and more deserved were the Feather Awards presented recently to associates

and service providers of Airports Company SA’s George Airport.

These awards are presented annually to those businesses who, based on strict pre-determined criteria, have performed the best in terms of customer satisfaction, either to the public or ACSA during the last year.

This year there were 14 categories encompassing airlines themselves through car hire services, maintenance companies, retail outlets and security companies, down to the purely subjective Airport Manager’s Award.

George Airport manag-

er Brenda Vorster hosted the event and explained that the major airport for the Garden Route is experiencing a period of unprecedented growth, with passenger traffic up between 10% and 14% year over year.

“To date, we’ve had some 750,000 passengers arriving and departing so are on target to reach our expected year-end total of 800,000 transits through the airport in 2017,” she said.

Keynote speaker and George mayor Melvin Naik, standing in for Eden mayor Memory Booysen, was generous in

Bob Hopkin

his praise for the benefits of having this facility on the doorstep.

“There is no doubt that having this vital link to the major metropolitan areas of the country and, by association, transit facilities for overseas visitors to connect to this tourist destination, is a huge bonus for the area.

“I live in hope that, in the not too distant future, this airport will be upgraded to international capability so that direct flights from abroad can arrive without the inconvenience of transiting through Cape Town or OR Tambo,” he said.

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

6 December 2017

Adult education initiative uplifts deserving Crags residents

MILESTONE FOR ALL: Residents of The Crags who successfully completed a course in Adult Basic Education Training proudly display their certificates at the conclusion of the awards function, held on November 30 - at centre in the back row are Dewald Lotter and Philip McClean of Tolcon; at centre in front are Ziyanda Rala of Triple E Training Holdings who facilitated the course, next to Bitou deputy mayor Jessica Kamkam

Words & photos: Timothy Twidle

ERTIFICATES were awarded to 20 residents of The Crags, some 20km to the north-east of the town of Plett, on Thursday November 30 at Kurland Village community hall, to recognise their successful completion of a course in Adult Basic Education Training (ABET).

The three-week ABET course was initiated and arranged by Tolcon, an organisation that provides transport infrastructure management services and which is a subsidiary of Murray and Roberts Holdings Ltd - the large South African construction engineering company that operates internationally.

Present on behalf of Tolcon were Scenivision GM Dewald Lotter, group technical manager Japie de Meyer, and project manager Philip McClean, who officiated and made the awards.

Operations manager of the Southern Region of the SA National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) Roland Thompson also attended, as did Bitou deputy mayor Jessica Kamkam, who took time out of her busy schedule to be there.

In a short speech, McClean explained how the ABET initiative made available to these 20 Crags residents had focused on numeracy skills.

The training was jointly and generously funded by Tolcon and SANRAL and was facilitated by Ziyanda Rala of

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BRIGHT FUTURE ENABLED: Philip McClean of Tolcon shakes hands with Erica Swartz as he presents her laptop and wishes her every success in her new business venture

Triple E Training Holdings.

Said McClean: “Education is the passport to the future and this ABET initiative is the first of its kind in this community. At Tolcon we are passionate about uplifting and enhancing the future of communities.”

Kamkam, who also serves as municipal ward councillor for The Crags and environs, enthused: “Thank you very much Tolcon for your funding and implementation of this ABET course in order to uplift the people of The Crags.

“We are truly grateful and trust that this is just the start.

We look forward to developing a partnership with Tolcon, Congratulations to all participants on completing the course.”

Rala added: “There was full attendance throughout

the three weeks and all were good learners. Well done to all of you on finishing the course, it was a pleasure to teach you.”

Another award was made at the function, by way of a most magnanimous and quite wonderful gesture on the part of Tolcon, to Erica Swartz of Kurland Village, who was presented with a laptop computer and the means to start her own business.

Swartz, who intends to launch a food/catering outlet, rejoiced in saying: “I feel very blessed and privileged, having been unemployed for the past nine months. I will be making take-away food for sale from my home.”

At the end of the formal proceedings, all those in attendance enjoyed snacks and light refreshments.

BUSINESS

6 December 2017

CXPRESS

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Taxing times ahead as government scrabbles for more pocket money Stuart Murray

UR sartorially elegant Finance minister Malusi Gigaba has been given the nod to take fiscal measures (ways of finding more money) to kick-start our ailing economy - and in doing so to pay particular attention to appeasing the rating agencies, which have downgraded our credit standing to varying levels of “junk”.

What lies ahead?

Well, we can expect higher taxes. Over the years finance ministers, including Pravin Gordhan, have all been scratching at this historic fall-back for cashstrapped economies.

However, until now the

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government has appeared to acknowledge that raising taxes can be counterproductive. What’s more, we are close to an acceptable peak of taxes as a ratio of GDP. One grown-up way of balancing the books would be to cut government over-spending, which has reached ridiculous levels.

Weeding out our bloated and overpaid State manpower should be a priority.

But such steps would create an outcry - particularly unappetising now as the ANC elective conference is all but upon us.

Contrary to such palliative steps, in his recent

mini-Budget speech Gigaba announced a plan to run a deficit of 3.9% a year. With our economy growing at between 1% and 2% annually that leaves us with debt accumulating at around 2% to 3% every year, creating a debt trap of horrific proportions.

It is estimated that just short of R1,000-million will be required to fund the government’s current deficit. This will take total debt to R3.5-trillion!

Just to put things into perspective, we haven’t always been in this mess.

From 1994 South Africa enjoyed an 18-year period of growth, including strong foreign exchange reserves,

It’s a property buyer’s market for next year, says Seeff HE property market has shifted notably over the last 18 months as the fall-out from the weak political and economic climate, poor growth and credit downgrades continue. The inevitable result, says Seeff Property Group chairman Samuel Seeff, is that this rather good performing economic sector is now also taking strain.

“Where it was a sellers’ market until early last year, we have seen a progressive shift this year which has manifested in lower demand, rising stock levels combined with a decline in buyer confidence, flat price growth and deals taking longer to conclude.

“The outcome, is that we head into 2018 with a buyers’ market for most areas, even in the Cape.”

Of concern, he adds, is that there is still a lag on the sellers’ side of the equation with price expectations out of step with the market. The result is an overall weaker market with low levels of liquidity that now favours buyers in most areas.

Overall, the market is down by about 15% to 20% from the 2015 highs. “Yet,” says Seeff, “we operated in 2017 with slighter fundamentals compared to 2016, being a lower repo rate

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(6.75% vs 7% in 2016) and slower inflation (5.3% vs 6.5% in 2016).

“Even the stand-out Cape is beginning to slow down, although it continues to benefit from a broad base of demand such as the constant flow of semigrating buyers from other areas, investment and holiday demand.”

Seeff notes that the reported slow-down in semigration is also attributable to the slow rate of sales in other provinces combined with the high prices in the Cape which has now also put a dampener on this market.

The mid-market below R2-million remains the most active, but susceptible to financial strain. The upper end, despite being able to better absorb economic fluctuations, says Seeff, has seen a notable slow-down in the Gauteng market above R5m and in the Cape above R8m, and above R18m on the Atlantic Seaboard.

The holiday and investment market has also slowed as an inevitable fallout from the weak confidence levels.

Seeff notes further that the Finance minister painted a subdued outlook in his mini-Budget.

“We are in for a tough economy and property market in 2018. While by no

means gloom and doom, a period of prudence in property lies ahead.

“While looking forward to a busier summer period, especially the first part of the year when there is always higher activity, the biggest challenge for the economy and market remains the unstable political climate and poor economic decisionmaking,” he says.

“That said, history has shown South African property to be a good investment, with growth rates that generally outpace inflation during a positive economic phase as we have seen over the last few years.

Property remains a good investment, especially if it is your primary home. Seeff reiterates that there is nothing more important than owning the roof over your head as it provides stability and a base upon which to build a life and wealth.

Regardless of the state of the economy, Seeff says there will always be people who need to buy or sell for a variety of reasons and there is opportunity in every market.

“All economies and property markets go through cycles and it is always best to take a long-term view,” he concludes.

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controlled inflation and lower unemployment.

Over this period our credit ratings increased nine times across the three ratings agencies, peaking at A3 in 2009.

And now? We can, surprisingly, still borrow. But the agency downgrades mean that future borrowing costs will increase, as will our debt burden.

We will also have to keep our interest rates attractive to foreign investors.

We have a relatively strong bond market which continues to appeal to emerging market managers.

But back to pumping up the State coffers… Internally, nothing much is expected until next year’s Budget.

Income tax (aimed at the wealthy) will go up and some current deductions allowable may disappear.

But in the front line is VAT as a likely target, focussing on the zero-rated items. The government estimates that around R40billion is “lost” through VAT-zero items. If fuel alone is taken out of the net, this alone will raise R18-billion. But it will also hit the consumer - hard.

Hardest hit will be anyone who is not VAT-registered. Treasury estimates that about 80% of petrol is taken up by the final consumer and 90% of diesel by businesses.

Also in the firing line could be the basic food items which are zero-rated. These include brown bread, dried mealies, dried beans and lentils, pilchards and sardinella in tins, rice, fresh fruit and veg - all items directly affecting the daily needs of lowincome households.

Tampering with them could be political suicide, but doing away with the zero rate could bring in a tasty R21.5-billion.

So much for the underprivileged. What about the wealthy?

There is a (small) body of opinion that the marginal rate of tax should be raised from 45% to 65%. That could haul in a whack of money. But it would more likely be counter-productive - perhaps even breaking the well-heeled camel’s back.

Anyone recall when UK income tax was 19 shillings and sixpence to the pound?

• Stuart Murray (stuart murray758@gmail.com) is a former senior assistant editor of Financial Mail and co-founder, editor, and CEO of Finance Week.

He is retired and lives in Plettenberg Bay.

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CXPRESS

INTERVAL

6 December 2017

School’s out… but it was a laugh a day!

TEACHERS’ QUESTIONS… • Teacher: “If you add 34,312 to 76,188, divide the answer by three and times by four, what do you get?”

Pupil: “The wrong answer, Miss.”

• Teacher: “If there are seven flies on a desk and I hit one with a ruler, how many are left?”

Pupil: “Just the squashed one, Miss.”

• Teacher: “In music, if ‘f’ means ‘forte’, what does ‘ff’ mean?”

Pupil: “Eighty?”

• Teacher: “What can you tell me about the Dead Sea?” Pupil: “I didn’t even know it was ill!”

• Teacher: “Where do bugs go in winter?”

Pupil: “Search me.”

Teacher: “No, thanks, I just wondered if you knew.”

• Teacher: “Emma, spell ‘mouse’.”

Emma: “M O U S.” Teacher: “Yes, and what’s on the end of it?”

Emma: “A tail?”

• Teacher: “Anyone who doesn’t bring all their homework to class tomorrow morning will get an F.” Pupil: “And anyone who does bring all their homework to class tomorrow morning will get a hernia.”

• Teacher: “Define ‘procrastination’.”

Pupil: “May I answer that question tomorrow?”

• Teacher: “Rudolph, describe a synonym.”

Rudolph: “A word you use when you can’t spell the other word.”

• Teacher: “Can you spell ‘banana’?”

Pupil: “Banana. B A N A N A N A N… I can spell it, all right, I just don’t know where to stop.”

• Teacher: “Spell ‘javelin’.”

Pupil: “That’s too hard and long for me.”

Teacher: “And I guess you’re not all that sharp, either.”

• Teacher: “Can you spell

‘caterpillar’?”

Pupil: “How long do I have?”

Teacher: “Why?” Pupil: “I want to wait until it changes into a butterfly. I can spell that.”

PUPILS’ REMARKS… • Pupil: “I wish we lived in the olden days.”

Teacher: “Why is that?”

Pupil: “We wouldn’t have so much history to learn.”

• Pupil: “Miss, I ain’t got a pencil.”

Teacher: “No, not ain’t.

I haven’t got a pencil, they haven’t got a pencil, we haven’t got a pencil, and you haven’t got a pencil.”

Pupil: “Gosh, Miss, what’s happened to all the pencils?”

• Pupil: “Him and me helped clean up the yard.”

Teacher: “Now, don’t you mean ‘he and I’ helped?”

Pupil: “No, Mr Jones, you weren’t even there.”

• Pupil: “It’s not going to school that bothers me so much; it’s the principal of the thing.”

• Pupil: “I have one teacher who is so forgetful; he gave the same test three weeks in a row.

If he does that two more times, I may pass it.”

EXCUSES FOR WHY YOU DON’T HAVE YOUR HOMEWORK… • My father had a nervous breakdown and he cut it up to make paper dolls.

• A sudden gust of wind blew it out of my hand and I never saw it again.

• I was kidnapped by terrorists and they only just let me go, so I didn’t have time to do it.

• The lights in our house went out, and I had to burn my homework to get enough light to see the fuse box.

• Another pupil fell in a lake, and I jumped in to rescue him. My homework, though, drowned.

• My pet gerbils had babies, and they used it to make a nest.

• I put it in a safe, but lost the combination.

• I left it in my shirt and

my mother put it in the washing machine.

• I didn’t do it because I didn’t want to add to your already heavy workload.

• My little sister ate it.

• Teacher: “Alexander, on Monday you said your homework blew away. On Tuesday you said your father accidentally took it to work with him.

“On Wednesday, you said your little sister tore it up. On Thursday you said someone stole it.

“Today I asked you to bring your parents to school. Now where are they?””

Alexander: “Eeerm, my dog ate them.”

SCHOOL OUTINGS… • A party of schoolchildren from the city went on a trip to the country.

One of them found a pile of empty milk bottles and shouted: “Look, Miss, I’ve found a cow’s nest!”

• Angela was telling her aunt about her school trip to Switzerland. Her aunt had never been there.

“What’s the scenery like?’ she asked.

“Oh, I couldn’t see much because of all the mountains,” replied Angela.

• I came home from a school camp with 12 pets that I found in the woods.

So far my mom has only found three of them.

Who says teaching is stressful?

I’m 39, and I feel great!

ENTERTAINMENT

6 December 2017

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A tongue-in-cheek review of A Guide to the Garden Route …and the realities of publishing books nowadays... JULIE CARLISLE reminisces about the raisons d’être of the new, vastly-improved, recently-released publication that’s the pride and joy of herself and fellow Route fundi, Grahame Thomson O, nobody locally has offered to write a review on our recentlyreleased book, A Guide to the Garden Route - and seriously, we need to sell copies.

In all honesty, tongue out of cheek, this book has been a twinkle in our minds’ eyes for many years and was born of our passion for this remarkably beautiful part of SA’s coastline.

And it’s pretty damn good - everyone who has a copy concurs!

Tongue back in cheek: being environmentalists and generally speaking from our hearts, Grahame and I are both terrible salespeople; we simply can’t spin the BBB (BS Baffles Brains)-speak.

What I have learned, however, is that creating a book or being an author nowadays does not simply involve the skill of putting words together in a way that publishers may deem printworthy (viz: “investment worthy”).

Being an ace salesperson is an outright requirement. You have to sell your book to ensure the publisher’s costs are covered. It’s a real weight to carry, but man-up and skill-up you must. So, here we are, selling - and I can only do it honestly. (Tongue removed from cheek again.)

Having thought long and hard about the BBB-speak, I have reconciled myself to the fact that it’s not going to happen. Instead, here’s my heart on my sleeve, my love for light, beauty, and life

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purged for all to see.

Grahame and I have been playing with the idea of an ecological notebook for the Garden Route for many years; to share some Garden Route gems with visitors and to work together, as brother and sister, on something we both love.

A celebration of the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve availed the perfect occasion and the Jacana book, which blew my socks off when it was first published in 1997, seemed the logical medium.

We approached Jacana with the idea of updating and republishing… and here we are!

A Guide was republished at a time of absolute awfulness, devastation and tragedy. Yet, despite the loss caused by June’s wildfires and because of the miraculous resilience of nature, we are still able to celebrate, share, and gasp at the beauty of what surrounds us.

The Garden Route seems to be a canvas for the production of miracles. It’s more than a tourist destination. For many of us it’s a destination of soul. We’re here because it speaks to us.

Grahame and I wanted this book to speak to others. A Guide provides insight into these miracles that surround us daily. It also provides visitors with enough information on the history, culture, fauna and flora of the area, to be excited by what they

are witnessing and to want to return to explore more.

It allows visitors the opportunity to plan a trip and take away fabulous snippets of information, images and stories to remember.

The second half of A Guide provides information on where to go to see whatever tickles your fancy, be it hiking, cycling, canoeing, marketing, art, birding, and so on.

Dr Robbie Robinson, author of the foreword, sadly left us on May 15, before the book was published.

Robbie was a warrior for the environment and the Garden Route and one of the most stubborn, tenacious, sparkly-eyed men that I have yet to meet. When he had a vision or belief, there was no stopping him.

I think all of us privileged to have worked with Robbie agree that if he taught us one thing (and there were lots), it was to never give in, to be forthright and resolute on environmental ethics, and to speak out and stand out.

We would like to think that this book helps stamping an environmental message on all who visit our gem by the sea - and that Robbie is watching and smiling.

So that’s my sales pitch, heart and all. Go to www.venturebeyond. co.za/gr-guide or email grahame@ venturebeyond.co.za for your copy, or visit “A Guide to the Garden Route” on Facebook.

Oh! And do come visit and support Plett’s authors on December 7 from 3-8pm at le Fournil in Main Street. We’ll be signing and selling and the date coincides with Fournil’s

monthly First Thursday event, which means there’s music and it’s buzzing with a festive vibe in the Lookout Centre’s courtyard.

See you there!

• See the advert on this page.

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SOCIAL SCENE

6 December 2017

People, places & events MUSICAL FAMILY SPREAD FAR AND WIDE: The last KnysnaPlett Concert of the year on November 22 featured four young singers from ‘Operatunity’ - a project that seeks to create opportunities for young singers and musicians who would like to pursue a career in the world of opera and classical music. Above, Knysna Music Society chair Penny Rathbone, left, is pictured with Wilson Stimela, centre, and Emma Jantjie, right - the father and sister-in-law respectively of tenor Xolani Marman, who sang at the concert. At right, from left, are Mirjana Sinko, who was born and grew up in Croatia but who now resides in Knysna; Alison Watson of Knysna, and Australia visitors Dominique du Plessis and Peter Vanicek.

ONE YEAR OF GLORIOUS GARDENS: We wish Red Shed Nursery at Old Nick Village a happy first birthday! This occasion was celebrated on Friday December 1 with cake and festivities - pictured from left are staffers Willow, Nosi, Kholeka and Chenoa, with Byron in front. Turn to page 16 for contact details.

- Photos: Timothy Twidle

DAVID AND LORETTA: On the arrival of internationallyacclaimed fashion designer David Tlale in Plett last weekend, he was welcomed by Loretta Bevilacqua - owner of Vilacqua Boutique Guest House, where an episode of ‘The Bachelor’ was shot a fortnight ago.

Apart from sharing his bachelor secrets, David formed an integral part of the Plett Summer 24-Hour Reunion fashion show on Saturday December 2. His visit was facilitated by Plett Tourism, CemAir and Vilacqua. - Leigh Dunn WHAT A BARGAIN FOR LEARNERS! Lou Sharp of Bargain Books in Plett shared this pic and wrote: “We had a fantastic response to the Bitou 10 Book Drive, thanks to all the locals and visitors who contributed.

We hope many happy learners will benefit from this awesome donation.� Pictured with Lou at left are Shahida Botha, Bitou 10 Foundation programme manager Soneela Nina, and Caitlin van Heerden. And if you’re a fan of reading material of a diverse nature, don’t miss tomorrow’s Book Bonanza at Le Fournil in Plett’s Lookout Centre from 3pm onwards - turn to page 9 for details.

BARNARDS AT THE BI: Derek Frielinghaus of Plett sent these photos and wrote: “On the advent of the 50th anniversary of the first heart transplant and subsequent publicity on Carte Blanche and in the Sunday papers, I remembered two occasion when the Barnards visited Plett, in 1970 and again in 1978 as VIP guests for the BI Centenary function.� We thank Derek for sharing these historic images of Dr Chris and then wife Barbara.

IT’S ELECTRIFYING! Christopher Rencken of Chris Electrical in The Crags receives his well-deserved prize after being drawn as main raffle winner during Friday night’s Surfers Helping Surfers fundraiser at Plett’s Surf CafĂŠ. Says Clayton Bischoff, pictured at right: “Only a few hours prior to Chris winning his board, he had made an incredibly generous donation to the cause.

Thanks for the support and big heart, buddy!� Clayton is one of the initiators of Surfers Helping Surfers, which endeavours to replenish the boards, wetsuits and related gear of locals who lost theirs during the June fires. Call Clayton on 072 355 8387 or Surf CafÊ on 044 533 6801 for more info or to secure your ticket for another raffle for the cause, with a spectacular Spider long board as main prize. Tickets cost R100 and can also be obtained from CXPRESS - email esther@ cxpress.co.za in this regard.

FROM JAPAN TO WHITE HOUSE: The Drakensberg Boys choir passed through Plett after major performances in Japan, Cape Town and Stellenbosch, and The White House Theatre was extremely happy to host them, courtesy of Greenwood Bay College. Pictured here a packed audience concert hall, on November 25; not pictured are those filling up the standing room on the gallery as well! - Leigh Dunn

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HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

6 December 2017

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CXPRESS

NEW SUMMER MENU! You’re invited to Emily’s Sunday Lunch to sample the exciting new summer menu that our new executive chef, Johan Engelbrecht, and his team have designed - made from the freshest local ingredients!

E m i l y ’s R e s t a u r a n t : Tr a d i n g H o u r s Dinner: Mon - Sun from 18:00 Lunch: Tues - Sun from 12:00

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FOOD & WINE

6 December 2017

PeeBee’s Wine Column

Peter Bishop

Wine & Bubbly post-mortem: This is the message of those Plett Sauvignons…

The wines of Plettenberg Bay ought not to suffer from attitudes, nor from bland ignorance as experienced on occasions - PETER BISHOP shares these and other sentiments after another fantabulous Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival

THREE WINE AMIGOS: Clockwise from the top - Peter Bishop, Anton Smal with Peter, and Pieter Ferreira regale their audience during this year’s Wine Theatre on Day 2 of W&BF2017

well-known wine marketer who presents great tastings replied to my suggestion that he introduced Plett Sauvignon Blanc to his audience: “Those are two swearwords that you do not use in my company.”

This betrayed him. A popular scribe praised Cape Sauvignon Blanc, especially “those from which you can smell the oceans - from Donkiesbaai on the West Coast to Elim at Cape Point”.

Does culture not extend another 300 kilometres east?

To defeat attitudes and ignorance the brilliant Pieter Ferreira, who had made the Graham Beck range (now all Méthode Cap Classique) for 25 years, compared features of the Plett Sauvignons with elsewhere in the Cape focussing on the influence of the soils.

He used a risky and yet genuine method, in calling four members of the public to do the tastings and observations.

They were able to see the distinctiveness of Durbanville (green fig and apple), Elim (flint and intensity), and Stellenbosch (green fig, cat’s pee and broadness) to the texture of three Plettenberg Bay Sauvignons.

The latter all showed clean acids and purity of fruit (lime, pineapple, Golden Delicious apples), supported by a run of refined pyrazine. And all this was because of the various soils in these regions.

I then continued on a line that I have been developing with the ebullient Anton Smal, who makes the majority of these Plett wines at the Bramon cellars of Peter Thorpe, who planted the first wines in the region in 2000 and commissioned Pieter to produce the maiden Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc.

Using the same methodology, I exposed the four tasters - one of whom was the very Pieter Ferreira, one a lady who flirted with me, one a British visitor, and one a guest from Port Elizabeth.

The challenge was to taste successive vintages of the Sauvignon Blanc of Bramon (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016), of Newstead (2014, 2015, 2016), and of Lodestone (2014, 2015, 2016) in separate flights starting with the younger wine.

I did not want a declaration of “Which is the Best?” Rather to see if there was any path, progress, distinctiveness within each flight.

Pieter Ferreira spoke up, and said: “There is a growing complexity. The acids are wonder-

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ful. The balance of the matured bottles was distinctive.”

That was enough to get my ego going, so I referred to my handout that nobody had seen…

I had written: “As you taste through the successive vintages, do you sense complexification, harmonising, integration of the components?” The other tasters concurred. It was rather exciting as the hypothesis could have exploded.

There was such a ‘SNAP!’ I was on a high.

I turned to the producers in the audience and suggested that with the beautiful grace of the 2017 (the gooseberry), and the delicacy of the 2016, they would be well served to hold back the magnificent 2015 with its rod of pyrazine and lime rind feel.

“Do this even though local restaurants insist on only serving white wines of the vintage they are in, for instance the 2018. Do me a favour. Why punish your customers?”

I had made the point that Sauvignon Blanc, will decidedly show acid and will show pyrazine.

The acid soften but hold the wine and are expressed as lime, or pineapple, or apple (malic acid), or granadilla, etc.

The pyrazine - the green pepper or grassiness in Sauvignon - is that which releases these flavours as the wine bottle matures.

Pieter took up my point by saying: “Let the acids be, let the pyrazines be, these are the features that enable your unique wines to mature in the bottle as I have so convincingly seen today.”

None of the opinions at either presentation were foistered on the tasters. They came from the public looking objectively at the phenomenon of the Sauvignon Blanc of Plettenberg Bay. I had told the audience that there is one bottle of a vintage that thrilled me but I would not reveal its name, else I would lose so many friends.

A week later a friend presented a glass for me to assess. “Sauvignon Blanc. Slight flint? Elgin?

Not exactly. Sea influence. Brilliant gooseberry á la Cloudy Bay (New Zealand) before it went commercial. Delicate, refined… those gooseberries!”

It was a Plettenberg Bay Sauvignon of the refined 2017 vintage Leto Venus. So I will end up with one friend.

• PeeBee has kept his palate alive since 1975 when he met Beejay Lankwarden in the Wilderness. He explores local, national and international wines, looking for ‘the cutting edge’.

HOME & HEALTH

6 December 2017

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Download blood donation app to make a difference this season Tracker is helping to make it easier for you to give the gift of life HE most precious gift someone can give is the gift of life, and a person can potentially save three lives for every unit of blood they donate.

There’s always an urgent need for blood donations, especially over the summer season when regular donors are on holiday and fatalities increase due to road accidents.

People are busy and don’t have the time to

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check where and when to go to donate blood. The new WP Blood app takes care of this problem by having the information at your fingertips.

Developed through a partnership between the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) and NXT Digital Innovation, the app provides registered users with real time information on blood levels in their vi-

Meet Plettenberg Bay’s garden and raffle queen!

Sally Milton, at right, is pictured here with Wendy Sanderson Smith - who designed Sally’s magnificent Brackenridge Garden, featured during the recent Plett Open Garden Day in aid of Plett Animal Welfare Services (PAWS). Sally, who has sold hundreds of raffle tickets (and bought just as many) won the raffle for a watercolour painting by David Hall-Green, valued at R3,000. The event raised R45,000 for PAWS, including R5,600 from the raffle alone. Sally is indeed Plett’s Raffle Queen! - Photo: Marsja Hall-Green

cinity. The app also directs donors to the nearest mobile or fixed blood donation clinic.

A key convenience is that it makes locating a blood donor clinic easier for donors. This is enabled through the tracking devices sponsored by Tracker for all the mobile blood clinics.

When an alert is sent out to donors that a mobile clinic is in their area, the tracking devices help to pinpoint the exact location of the mobile clinic. Donors can view the location on a map and click on the map pointer to engage navigation.

If there is a dire need for a particular group of blood, push notifications are sent to relevant donors through the app, including information about their nearest clinic. This actively helps to boost blood stocks that are at critical levels.

Another benefit of the tracking devices is that they allow WPBTS to manage their fleet of mobile blood clinics.

WPBTS can ensure the mobile clinic is in the correct location and provide assistance in the case of a roadside emergency.

The value of the app - the first of its kind in South Africa - has been demonstrated through its successful uptake since the launch on World Blood Donor Day on June 14.

The first 100 days saw 7,630 downloads, i.e. an average of 69 downloads a day; 362 of these downloads were from non-donors who became donors, potentially saving an additional 1,086 lives.

If you’ve already made

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za the decision to donate blood and can’t wait to get on with the business of saving lives, download the app to your Apple or Android device to ensure you are kept up-to-date on campaigns and receive your personal alerts.

Still not convinced?

WPBTS statistics indicate that less than 1.5% of the Western Cape population regularly donates blood, while up to 75% of the population in the province will require blood or blood products at some point in their lives.

These statistics become even more critical in peak season with the influx of holiday visitors and an increase in road accidents.

Blood donation only takes 20 to 30 minutes of your time every 56 days.

It requires you to be between the ages of 16 and 65, weigh over 50kg, be in good general health, and lead a safe sexual lifestyle.

“We’re not always able to contribute financially to a good cause, so consider donating blood as your good deed for the festive season,” says Michael du Preez of Tracker.

“The WP Blood app makes knowing where and when to donate so much easier, even if you’re only visiting the Western Cape for your summer holiday.”

• For more information, SMS ‘Blood’ to 33507 and WPBTS will call you back with information on where to donate. Donors can also email info@ wpbts.org.za or visit www.wpblood.org.za for details. Like WP Blood on Facebook or follow @WPBlood on Twitter for interesting facts and blood stock updates.

The only pharmacy in Main Street

Welcome to our region. We have a water crisis with severe restrictions.

Thank you for playing your part in protecting this precious commodity.

Welkom in ons streek. Ons het ’n waterkrisis met streng beperkings.

Dankie dat jy help om hierdie kosbare hulpbron te beskerm.

Wamkelekile kwingingqi yethu.

Sikwixesha lobunzima bokunqaba kwamanzi elinezinyino eziqatseleyo.

Enkosi ngokudlala indima yakho ekukhuseleni la manzi anqabe kangaka.

We wish you a wonderful stay with us.

Ons hoop jy geniet jou verblyf by ons.

Sikunqwenelela uhlale nathi ngolonwabo olukhulu.

Alan Winde

Alan Winde

Alan Winde

Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities

Wes-Kaapse Minister van Ekonomiese Geleenthede

UMphathiswa wezaMathuba ezoQoqosho weNtshona Koloni

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Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

6 December 2017

CLASSIFIEDS

ON THE SOAPBOX

6 December 2017

Letters to the Editor

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

Plett police solves crime in record time We were the unfortunate victims of a house robbery on Saturday November 25 between the hours of 1:30 and 3pm, in which two laptops, an iPad, an iPod, and headphones were removed from our property without permission.

I reported the crime to SAPS Plett at 3pm and was visited by two police officers who proceeded to investigate the access gained to my premises and take a statement from me.

The following morning, I realised that my phone

contained software which was able to pick up the location of the iPad and show it on Google Maps.

I immediately went into the police station on Sunday morning at 8am and explained the situation to the officer on duty.

Shortly thereafter I was escorted by two police officers to the New Horizons area and we were met there by two detectives, warrant officer JJJ Pretorius and sergeant HM van Wyk. They managed to locate

Insane = in…sy…EINA! If I had to translate the above heading, let’s use it in a sentence: My flight from George to Joburg went ‘in sy eina’ - and the financial loss and frustration suffered were enough to drive me to the brink of insanity.

On Monday morning November 27, I had to travel to George for my flight to OR Tambo, but just outside Plett on the way to Knysna there was a traffic jam of several kilometres. Apparently there was an organised

fun run on the road and the traffic was moving at about 10km per hour.

This meant the time to travel to Knysna would take about three hours instead of the usual 30 minutes, and I would miss my flight’s departure at George.

But I suppose it could be said that that’s my problem… Cheers for you know what!

No wonder Moody’s have been downgrading us consistently.

‘The Drone’, Plett

Doubling up for season?

Why do people deliberately try to kill the goose that lays the golden egg?

I am referring to the kiosk on Central Beach, which upped the price of a granadilla frozen lolly from R10 to R15 overnight.

My wife and I always buy them there because

of the affordability, but the next day, because the tourists are coming, there is a 50% increase in the price.

I sincerely hope that this is not the case with our other establishments. Our tourists are not stupid.

Derrick de Necker, Plett

the exact address where the stolen property was being kept and immediately began to question members of the community as to the whereabouts of the residents of the property.

The young sister of one of the alleged offenders admitted to the detective that she had been asked by her brother to take possession of the stolen items. She then proceeded to open the door to the property and handed over the stolen goods.

I never thought I would see my laptops and electronic equipment again!

I would like to commend the way in which the investigation was handled by

Plett SAPS, and in particular to the two detectives mentioned above. Not only did they manage to recover my goods within less than 24 hours, but also began counselling the youngsters who happened to be standing around watching the events unfold.

The youngsters were advised on the dangers of crime and drug abuse.

My congratulations to all SAPS members who managed to solve this crime in record time.

These people put themselves in danger to protect the public and I feel they rarely get the recognition they so richly deserve.

Neill Rayne, Plett

Follow Khama’s example It is with sheer amazement that I read in the local press here in Johannesburg that Bitou’s mayor seems to be no better than his predecessors from the ANC who avariciously fed themselves fat at the proverbial trough when he leased an overly expensive vehicle after his was written off in an accident.

Unfortunately CXPRESS did not expand on the details, or otherwise I have missed them.

Sir, when you changed direction in midstride by aligning yourself with the DA instead of the ANC, I was hopeful that you were sincere about fighting against greed and opulence, but you are no better than the ANC cadres that you so vehemently opposed after

you decided to change colours and side with the DA, as the ANC was riddled with corruption.

And the normal rejoinder that some or other guideline or handbook allows you to overindulge does not necessarily have to be followed. Set an example by being humble, even frugal.

Rather follow the lead of Ian Khama, who is regularly seen joining the queues at his local Pick n Pay in Gaborone - yes he does his own shopping than that of people who are inflated with their own importance.

Please remember: you serve at the behest of your constituents, of whom I will soon be one.

Your humble constituent in making.

Gavin Nefdt, Joburg

Thanks to Plett Tourism CEO for wonderful wine festival I write to congratulate you and your team at Plett Tourism on the success of the Wine & Bubbly Festival held at Central Beach in Plettenberg Bay on Saturday and Sunday November 25 and 26.

The festival improves year on year and must surely now be a signature event on the Plettenberg

Bay calendar.

The layout of the stalls of the various wine estates together with those vending food and refreshments made for ease of access to guests attending the festival and the raised dais for the musicians and those that wished to dance or simply gaze out over the beach to the sea

was a good addition to the festival.

The tasting talk and sessions facilitated by Pieter Ferreira of Graham Beck Wines and Peter Bishop were well attended and obviously of interest to all who came along.

There was a lovely ambiance and a feeling of warmth and friendship

throughout the two days of the festival.

All in all, Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival 2017 was an event of note that has surely set down a permanent marker for the Plett Winelands. Again, congratulations to you and everybody at Plett Tourism on a very successful event.

TR Twidle, Plett

Please elaborate on forward planning, alternative water sources, and proactive measures The Knysna municipal manager’s puzzling article about our water woes in a local paper last week left me with a great many questions, and I trust that the MM will be able to supply me with at last some of the answers.

• He refers to Knysna Municipality’s “forward planning” in terms of water supplies; can he please elaborate on this bearing in mind that we have had water restrictions for the

past many years?

• He claims that we are making use of alternative water resources, such as the reverse osmosis plant in Knysna and the desalination plant in Sedgefield.

But previous municipal managers have said these plants were hardly operational and too expense to run. Have things changed and, if so, what are these plants contributing?

• What are the proac-

tive measures taken by the municipality that he refers to in the article?

It would appear to me that the only times we have a sufficient supply of water in Knysna is immediately prior to holiday periods and festivals, after which the threats of running out of water are thrown around again.

Everything he claims sounds so fantastic, I can hardly understand why we’re always subjected

to Level Three water restrictions!

I can’t wait for his response.

‘Savana’, Knysna (No response had been received from Knysna Municipality in this regard by going to press, but we will endeavour to keep readers abreast of the water situations in both Plettenberg Bay and Knysna as the seasonal influx puts additional pressure on local water resources. - Eds.)

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SPORT & ADVENTURE

6 December 2017

Unique series of five iconic international races to culminate in Otter Run Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

NNECY in France was the venue for an exciting announcement by Salomon last week: the Golden Trail Series (GTS) is a revolutionary new race concept that commences in May 2018 and promises most positive repercussions for the Garden Route.

The series will combine five of the most iconic short-distance trail races on the planet into a dream tour for both athletes and fans, with the Grand Final being held at the Otter African Trail Run in the Tsitsikamma section of Garden Route National Park.

The GTS tears up the rule book on prize money, too, with a mammoth €100,000 prize pool to be shared equally among the

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overall top 10 men and women.

Each top 10 finalist will be travelling with a friend or partner of their choice for a trip of a lifetime. The Grand Final at the Otter African Trail Run in SA will also act as a stage for the 20 athletes to support a charity they’re passionate about.

“Each of the top 10 final athletes will be able to compete in the Grand Final race for a charitable cause they choose to support, allowing them to have a voice in the trailrunning community.

“For the five qualifying races, the competition will be intense and at the highest level as athletes compete for a top-10 spot,” says Salomon Running Global Sports marketing manager Greg Vollet.

The 2018 Golden Trail Series Races will consist of the following events: • Zegama - Spain • Mont Blanc Marathon - France • Sierre-Zinal - Switzerland • Pikes Peak - USA • Ring of Steall - Scotland “We chose these events because they are the most exciting races to follow since winners aren’t decided until the very end,” Vollet says.

“Zegama has the best fans, Mont Blanc Marathon has the best scenery, Sierre-Zinal is the fastest, Pikes Peak has the altitude, and Ring of Steall is very technical.

So this is really the best of the best.

“Adding SA’s world-renowned Otter, it will be six legendary races full of adven-

ture, emotion and competition, each celebrating a key component of the spirit of trail running.”

The Otter African Trail Run was not only chosen for being a true test of trail running ability over the marathon distance, but also in the element that the trail is off limits to all trail runners outside of the event, leading some to dub it the “forbidden run”.

Beyond the GTS’s revolutionary concept and prize-money model, the series will also adopt a ground-breaking athlete health and anti-doping programme. Each race in the series will implement the Quartz Event www. athletesfortransparency.org model, which aims to strengthen the athlete’s medical supervision before and during the competition.

“If, on one hand, we offer a big prize money, we want to make sure on the other to have honest athletes competing for the love of trail running,” Vollet says.

The strictest anti-doping in world sport will be experienced at all the events. Blood, capillary, saliva, and urine will be tested and compared at all the races as a real longitudinal control.

The unique series format was created to promote professional trail runners as the worldclass athletes that they are, to acknowledge the amazing, passionate fans as an essential ingredient in the sport and to showcase and protect the awe-inspiring nature and environments where they play and compete.

• Visit www.goldentrailseries.com or email info@otter.run for details.

Willie’s Fish Eagles rule Eden Long Courses

Legendary Bitou-based swimming coach Willie Wilson, at centre, has done it again! His Fish Eagles team accumulated an incredible 63 medals at the Eden Long Course Champs during the last weekend of November in Oudtshoorn. Pictured from left at back are Matthew van Coller, Andre Kleynhans (senior Victor Ludorum), Lara Schlechter, Arianne Bauer and Gustav Schlechter, with Dominique de Jongh, Stella Carter-Johnson, and Matthew Tindall seated from left, and young star Billy Tindall on coach Willie’s lap. Congrats to coach and charges all!

Colani makes Bitou boxing history in Knysna Nwabisile Colani popped in at CXPRESS to show us his marvellous trophy won at last weekend’s boxing fest at Chris Nissen Primary in Knysna, where he made history by being the first boxer from Plettenberg Bay to win a major title. Boxing promoter David Faas explains: “Nwabisile won the Western Cape Junior Fly-weight category by beating Lazola Mjonono from Cape Town. He is a super star of the future and with the right guidance, he can put Plett in the international arena. I have trained and promoted a lot of provincial and national champions but Nwabisile Colani with his great general sportsmanship in the ring and tremendous hand speed has surprised me and will continue to surprise many fans pleasantly. Fellow local boxer Unathi Mndwana put up a gallant performance before losing a closely-contested fight on points against Sonwabo Twatwa from Grahamstown. It was a great evening of boxing and highly appreciated by the crowd.

Thanks must go to all the organisers and sponsors for a very successful Ward 4 Sports Day.” Colani will defend his title early next year during a tournament where Mndwana will also feature… watch this space. - Photo: Sandi Smith