7 December 2016 by CXpress

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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Photo: Martin Hurwitz

7 December 2016

Although an accommodation scam saw Plett Rage 2016 kick off with an outraged start for defrauded matrics and their parents, the hiccup seems to have had little impact on the parties carrying on throughout town since last Friday - read more on page 3, 4, and 19

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NEWS & VIEWS

7 December 2016

Whatever happened to the old way to Plettenberg Bay, and the ways of those pre-glitz days? ‘They shut the way through the woods, seventy years ago…’ - these lines from Rudyard Kipling’s pen reminded Plett resident PETER STRATTEN of a path long disappeared from the maps, but not the minds, of long-time inhabitants of the area IPLING’S lovely poem tells of the loss of the old road and how it had disappeared with little trace. If 70 years ago you came to Plett from Port Elizabeth, over all those fantastic passes on untarred roads, you would arrive at a bend in the road which took you along a line of big gum trees and then to the last farm gate. When through that gate you

were then in town, so to speak - but town was up the hill to where there was Monk’s store, a few other shops, and the old school, all in Main Street. The line of gum trees disappeared when Plettenberg Bay Primary School was built in its current location, but for some years there were a few large stumps about where one drives into the school today. The last gate, on what I think

The Way through the Woods They shut the road through the woods Seventy years ago. Weather and rain have undone it again, And now you would never know There was once a road through the woods Before they planted the trees. It is underneath the coppice and heath, And the thin anemones. Only the keeper sees That, where the ring-dove broods, And the badgers roll at ease, There was once a road through the woods. Yet, if you enter the woods

Of a summer evening late, When the night-air cools on the trout-ringed pools Where the otter whistles his mate, (They fear not men in the woods, Because they see so few.) You will hear the beat of a horse’s feet, And the swish of a skirt in the dew, Steadily cantering through The misty solitudes, As though they perfectly knew The old lost road through the woods. But there is no road through the woods. Rudyard Kipling

was Cuthbert’s farm, was where Sandi’s Nursery is today. I could find no trace of it. So now the much-liked, wellused old nursery is closing to make way for a sparkling new shopping centre - how wonderful. Think of the glitz, the tiles, the advertised brands and all the money you can spend! Johnny Cash’s song ‘The Man in Black’ has some lines that come to mind while writing this: “Well we’re doin’ mighty fine I do suppose In our streak in lightning cars and fancy clothes

But just so we’re reminded of the ones that are held back I wear dark colours on my back…” Progress is how each of us defines it. But I wonder if the balance between, say, commerce and education is not out of kilter? Maybe we should just be grateful that it is only a shopping centre and not a nuclear power station that is finally closing the last traces of the old way to Plett. Yours in nostalgia, Peter - November 2016

SEPIA REMINISCENCES: This classic image shows a dirt track where the Central Beach parking lot now stands, with the Beacon Island Whaling Station in the background - Source: Garden Route Meander

CANYON

NEWS & VIEWS

7 December 2016

Plett folk come to the party in wake of Rage accommodation scam While the 14th annual Plett Rage was rocked by an accommodation scam that saw at least 50 students losing thousands of rands, the incident highlighted the spirit of Plettenberg Bay as several residents, businesses and other organisations came to the youngsters’ aid - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports HEN school leavers started arriving for what has become one of the biggest festivals of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, it came to light that many students had fallen victim to an alleged scam. At least 50 matriculants booked and paid for their accommodation for the eight-day festival through a company known as Ethos Property Management, but when they started arriving on Friday, found that the accommodation was not available. The booking agent known as Rick Havemann has since disappeared without a trace and has not been contactable since Friday. Along with angry parents and other affected parties, CXPRESS attempted to get hold of Havemann, but to no avail. His cell number goes to voicemail, his mailbox is full and emails sent to his address started bouncing back. But within hours of the news of the youngsters’ misfortune coming to light, local residents, businesses, and organisers joined forces to assist them. Some residents immediately opened their own homes to the stranded

teenagers; organisers offered free accommodation at the event’s Rage Village, and Plett Tourism started a drive to raise funds towards the additional accommodation costs. Business owners have since come on board and challenged each other to assist in any way possible. “The assistance from the community has been overwhelming and we are incredibly grateful for that,” mother of one of the duped teenagers, Jackie Luck from East London, said. She had made a booking for 10 youngsters through the company but when the students showed up on Friday, the property was not available and the booking agent not contactable. This cost them R34,500. Soon after the issue came to light, Plett Tourism sent an urgent appeal to all tourism businesses to assist with the accommodation of about 50 matrics who were allegedly scammed. They also asked for assistance in terms of payment for the accommodation. “It has been brought to the attention of Plett Rage organisers that some students who didn’t book through our official accom-

modation suppliers, Lucky Student Packages, have been sold fraudulent accommodation,” organisers said in a statement. “We’re in the process of assisting all students that have been scammed with free accommodation at Rage Village in pre-pitched Glamping (glamorous camping) tents with mattresses - all you need to do is bring your own bedding.” Assistant project manager Ashley Brown said he too had experienced the community spirit, with one offer after the other from locals and businesses to assist. Apart from the accommodation scam and delays with transport during the first night of performances, the event has been running smoothly from an organisational point of view. “Other than some minor delays with the festival transport system and the issues with the accommodation of some students, we have had the best start to the festival we’ve ever had,” Brown said. He added that about 4,500 students attended the first night’s performances, which included hit-makers Goldfish taking to the stage. • Also see the article on page 4. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY ROOM, DUDE?! This entertaining young Rager may not have been one of the scam victims, but his expression might well mimic the flabbergasted state that many matrics and their paying parents experienced when it dawned that their pre-booked accommodation would not materialise - Photo: Martin Hurwitz

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

CXPRESS

7 December 2016

NEWS & VIEWS

Public and business to join forces against future Rage-like scams

John Fuller

ECEMBER 2 was a sad day for Plett as Rage students arrived in town to find the accommodation they had booked did not exist. A Plettenberg Bay man who had been operating a website from a Main Street coffee shop table (with WiFi access) for the past 18 months, was slowly building his website, and timing his scam for this season. Unsuspecting parents and students who booked through his Ethos Property website were under the impression that it was an approved Plett Rage website. An allegation made by an angry parent who arrived with children was that Plett Tourism had also been conned and had referred them to the website. Registered compliant estate agents in Plett have been waiting for something like this to happen for a while now, so it is high time the public and local businesses are made aware that any person involved in letting, leasing, renting or selling properties is required by law to be a registered estate agent holding a valid Fidelity Fund certificate issued by the Estate Agents Affairs Board (EAAB). Further, no person, including a compliant Level 4 estate agent, may operate their own estate agency or so called holidayletting or property-rental business unless they hold the Further Education and Training Certificate Level 5 qualification required by a Principal agent, or have been exempted from this through the granting of an equivalency exemption against the National Qualifications Framework and Real Estate qualification, namely National Certificate: Real Estate (SAQA QUAL ID 20188).

La Luna

The above also implies that estate agents not yet qualified as Principal agents may not operate their own businesses, and must work for a Principal-status estate agent until they have acquired the necessary Principal qualification. Plettenberg Bay unfortunately has numerous “estate agents”, particularly in the holiday-letting market, who are operating illegally. Even a person sitting at a desk taking phone calls and handling bookings is required by law to be a registered estate agent. The EAAB requires all compliant agents to display their “Privy seal” on websites as well as on their email signatures. This affords the public the opportunity to click on the Privy seal and be redirected to the EAAB website for verification of the agent’s status and qualifications. If Privy seals are not shown, then agents’ status and standing with the EAAB should be investigated before doing business with them. Compliant estate agents are required to display the above information, while an agency is required to hold a valid Fidelity Fund Certificate and operate a Trust account in terms of Sec 32 of the Estate Agency Affairs Act. Another way to determine the status of agents and agencies alike is by visiting www.eaab.org.za - check the status by using the search menus on the home page. For the record, the following is an extract from the Estate Agency Affairs Act 1976: "Estate agent": a) means any person who for the acquisition of gain on his own account or in partnership, in any manner holds himself out as a person who, or directly or indirectly advertises that he, on the instructions of or on behalf of any other person: i) sells or purchases or publicly exhibits for sale immovable property or any business undertaking or negotiates in connection therewith or canvasses or undertakes or offers to canvass a seller or purchaser therefor; or ii) lets or hires or publicly exhibits for hire immovable property or any business undertaking or negotiates in connection therewith or canvasses or undertakes or offers to canvass a lessee or lessor therefor; or iii) collects or receives any moneys payable on account of a lease of immovable property or any business undertaking; or iv) renders any such other service as the Minister on the recommendation of the board may specify from time to time by notice in the Gazette. So what can we do about the problem and how can future cons be prevented? Quite simply, Homeowner Associations and Sectional Title Body Corporates and tourism offices can assist the real estate industry by ensuring that non-compliant rogue “agents” are banned from selling or letting properties in their developments, and not referring rental leads to them. For the public, the safest solution is to always request sight of agents’ and agencies’ valid Fidelity Fund certificates for each year (valid from January to December). The public can help the industry to get rid of fly by night “agents” and “agencies” by reporting them to the EAAB simply visit the above-mentioned website, where provision for this is made on the home page. • John Fuller holds a Master Practitioner Real Estate (MPRE) and is Principal broker at Chas Everitt International Property in Plettenberg Bay.

NEWS & VIEWS

7 December 2016

Dunes addition makes it a Big Five of Blue Flags for Bitou Words & photo: Claire & Laurence Parkman

ITOU mayor Peter Lobese attended a ceremony at Dunes Resort on December 1 to celebrate the official opening of its adjacent beach as the mu-

nicipality’s fifth to achieve full Blue Flag-status (joining Robberg 5, Nature’s Valley, The Waves, and Lookout Beach). Representatives of the Bitou Municipal Beaches department, Plett Tourism, Keurbooms Proper-

STATUS CERTIFIED: Dunes Resort estate manager Pieter Engelbrecht accepts the Blue Flag certificate on behalf of the Keurbooms community from mayor Peter Lobese, right

ty Owners Association, The Dunes Resort Body Corporate, Nature’s Valley Trust director Dr Mark Brown, beach stewards, lifeguards, and members of the Keurbooms community were also in attendance. The mayor and guests were officially welcomed by Jean Labuschagne of The Dunes commercial section. Mayor Lobese went on to explain the importance of Blue Flag status, which is international recognition of excellence of beach facilities and water quality. It also involves an environmental education element and to facilitate this the local organising body is the Wildlife and Environmental Society of SA (WESSA), who have provided Beach Stewards at each accredited Bitou

beach to increase public awareness. He added that the municipality was immensely proud to be the facilitators for such a large proportion of SA’s Blue Flag Beaches (five of the 29 in the Western Cape) which was clear recognition of Bitou’s position as primary tourist destination. Kerry Schurmann of the KPOA thanked municipal officials Mark Fourie and John Prins for their support and stated the Keurbooms community was honoured to now host two full Blue Flag beaches within its boundaries (The Waves now being in its sixth year of operation). She also recognised the hard work of the municipal lifeguards and NSRI, who play such a vital role in keeping the public safe during the season.

Visitors and residents to adhere to Blue Flag rules NYSNA’S Buffels Bay and Brenton-on-Sea beaches are among the 58 South African Blue Flags that are proudly flying at coastal sites countrywide for the current season. These beaches received Blue Flag status because they met an international standard of excellence in the areas of safety, amenities, cleanliness, environmental information and environmental management. Now the municipality is asking beachgoers to

respect the conditions of this international accolade which will remain in place until January 31. Dogs may not be walked on these beaches between 9am and 5pm. Note that pet-friendly zones on Brenton-on-Sea is 300 metres west of the second lifesaving flag and in Buffels Bay, east of the last beach residence. Normal access routes (before 9am and after 5pm) may be used to these areas. Dogs must remain on leashes at all times.

“Please clean up after dogs and dispose of poop bags in the provided bins,” requested Knysna acting municipal manager Bevan Ellman. According to the World Tourism Organisation, the international Blue Flag, operational since 1987, is the most wellknown eco-label of its kind and the municipality requests all visitors and residents to adhere to the rules regarding the public use of these beaches. “We thank our holiday

makers and locals in advance for your cooperation. We support and encourage the responsible use of public beaches and amenities - it can never be at the expense of other people’s safety, privacy or property. “I appeal to every individual to consider the greater good of our area and its people so that both locals and visitors will have a great time, and will want to return to our beautiful beaches and amenities,” concluded Ellman.

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

7 December 2016

Born in Africa looks back at a decade of positively impacting young Bitou lives Words & photos: Belinda Coram

ORN in Africa has been the pillar upon which I’ve always been able to lean on. Thank you for shaping my path towards a successful career. I plan to inspire young people to follow their dreams. - Ruduwaan Myburgh Wow, how special to read the words of one of our tertiary students graduating from his studies. Ruduwaan is among the 400 participants in our programme, aged from seven to 25 years old. Students who have been part of our programme during their school careers have the option to continue their studies at university or college level. We love working with students who want more for themselves and who work actively towards that goal. We can’t all reach 80% academically, but if you believe in your dream, you can achieve it. To help further their education at school level, we motivate all our learners to work hard. A select few are chosen for their academic excellence and awarded a full academic bursary to attend Wittedrift High - the Plett school known to us all as ‘the small school with the big heart’. Burse recipients attend hostel and return to their homes on the weekends. This affords them the opportunity to spend maximum time studying under supervision and also to take part in sporting and cultural activities. BIA currently have 42 students between Grade 8 and 12 at Wittedrift High sponsored at full capacity. To ensure we develop well rounded, holistic young people, we focus on an array of activities that stimulate them on a daily basis. Our mentoring sessions are key to social development and we work according to a specially pre-planned year programme, each month devoted to a social/life skills topic relevant to the development of the target group. To ensure the students understand and apply this to their daily lives, we cover the themes theoretically and then put it to the test in a practical manner - be it role play, poetry competitions, or poster painting. Themes for 2016 included an anti-bullying workshop, self-awareness and self-image, represent myself/cover girl-boy theme, cyber abuse and more. The students also have the opportunity to engage with their appointed mentor individually for dedicated counselling sessions, during which person-

BIA BACKBONE: Board members from left in front are Isabelle de Smul-Brink, Janet Harding, Toralf Nordbotten, Adje Bos and Ruby Chetty, with David Pickering, Remi de Backer and Reinhard Schydlo at back

SUCCESS STORIES: Ruduwaan Myburgh, left, has just graduated from UWC with a Bachelors in Education, and Siya Tenge completed a three-year diploma in Human Resource Management before tackling an additional B Tech year

al problems are discussed and overcome. Volunteers serve at BIA for three months to one year at a time, visiting us from abroad at their own cost. They host after-school educational and social programmes to promote the academic development and life skills of the children. The past year was particularly successful in terms of the volunteer programmes on offer, including music classes, art lessons, homework sessions, and sport activities. To enable our children to make full use of the wonderful environment we live in, we believe that teaching a child to swim is of vital importance. This skill does not only equip the child for life, but it also contributes towards self-confidence, and 2016 saw 35 primary school children participating in our Learn to Swim programme. Once all the five-week workshops were completed, we identified 11 learners who showed great promise in the water and enrolled them in the Adopt a Swimmer programme, where they received additional Saturday classes. They were then all selected as part of Plett Lifesaving Club’s Nippers development programme, which means that these kids bene-fit from Friday afternoon oceanswimming lessons and learn many other beach and water skills. So successful is this programme that five of our learners participated in the Nippers Nationals in April,

raking in gold medals on the Durban beach! Infrastructure to work in is vital as creating a safe environment where children can be themselves assists in life skills development. This year, we refurbished two of our classrooms and built our Kranshoek Education Centre that houses three mentorship rooms, a volunteer classroom, a fullyequipped computer centre and a wonderful play area. We feed the children, so a kitchen was installed as well to prepare wholesome meals. A rainwater tank system feeds a flourishing vegetable garden. Other programmes and activities that have been running successfully for the past decade and which we continue annually include our BIA educational camps, holiday outings, computer lessons, daily homework classes, time table and spelling competitions, sewing lessons, reading and writing courses, and public speaking lessons, all of this with our motto in mind: ‘Together we make a difference.’ • Belinda Coram is Born in Africa’s education coordinator. Visit www.bornin africa.org to support this worthy cause, and www.cx press.co.za to read the moving testimonials of Ruduwaan Myburgh, Siyasanga Tenge, and Charne Majavie. BIA is based at 2 Virginia Street in Plett CBD. Contact the team at info@ borninafrica.org or phone 044 533 6271 for additional information.

PROMOTION

7 December 2016

CXPRESS

BUSINESS

7 December 2016

Water restrictions: How you can save water as a small business owner USINESS owners in South Africa can play an important part in conserving water resources while reducing their utility bills by embracing water efficiency as a way of life. In doing so, they can play a valuable role in assisting the country to manage the effects of a prolonged drought. That’s according to Anton van Heerden of Sage Africa and Middle East, who says

the challenge is for small businesses that depend heavily on water to produce goods or deliver services, such as gyms, laundromats, agribusinesses, restaurants, hair dressers, car washes, the hospitality sector, and many factories. The current drought is the worst we have experienced in decades, and it has already had a severe impact on jobs in agriculture

and food manufacturing. Earlier this year, Stats SA reported that the drought last summer saw jobs in agriculture decline by 37,000. At the same time, food prices are rising because of poor rainfall. Van Heerden offers these tips for small and medium businesses to improve water efficiency into the future: Be creative Many South African en-

Water-shedding a reality LTHOUGH Akkerkloof Dam is close to 70% full, Knysna Municipality is asking residents to adhere strictly to the water restrictions and treat water as the scarce commodity that it is. Knysna’s water usage for the week November 14-21 was extremely high. The daily target of 8Ml/day was not met, as residents used 13.90Ml/day. Sedgefield’s target daily water consumption is 1.9Ml/day and its residents used 2.06Ml/day

during the same period. If residents and visitors do not curb their water usage, there is a strong possibility that the municipality will implement stricter punitive measures to ensure water saving. “We will have no other choice than to institute water-shedding and rationing to reduce consumption,” warned acting municipal manager Bevan Ellman. Water consumption is charged according to a sliding scale; the more

water used, the more expensive it becomes. Water restrictions have been in place across the Knysna municipal area since November 2011. Residents with even street numbers may water their gardens in summer from 6-7pm on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays; odd street numbers may water gardens from 6-7pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. • Visit www.knysna.gov. za for water-saving tips and additional info.

trepreneurs - the business builders of the country are finding creative ways to work around the water crisis. We are, for instance, starting to see the emergence of waterless car wash franchises, which reduce the amount of water wasted from using unnecessary hose pipes and installed washers. Water efficiency in the kitchen and canteen When it’s time to replace fittings and equipment, buy pressurised coffee machines, water-wise baseline dishwashers, efficient tap fittings. and so on. They are sometimes more expensive, but will pay for themselves over time. Clean without wasting water Many South African businesses waste water when washing floors, cars and walls. Rather use a bucket and a cloth, mop or broom. Detect leaks and plug them Keep an eye on your water bill. If it’s unexpectedly large, you might have a leaking pipe or dripping tap. If you notice a pipe or tap leaking, fix it immediately. Make sure your bathrooms are water-wise Consider installing waterefficient bathroom fittings, e.g. taps with an aerator or

flow restrictor to use less water, as well as water-efficient urinals. Tending to the grounds and garden • Go for drought-tolerant, indigenous plants rather than thirstier alien plants. • If you have an irrigation system, make sure it is properly maintained and configured. Switch it off completely when it rains. A more affordable option is a greywater system. • Install a rainwater tank and use that for watering plants. These options can be very useful, especially for companies involved in the agriculture sector where most of the fresh produce comes from farms requiring constant maintenance. Be sceptical of silver bullets There are many innovations that can help you to save water, but be sceptical of the sales pitches of flyby-night companies that have emerged to take advantage of the water crisis. As was the case during the months of loadshedding, many people are looking to make a quick buck rather than selling a sustainable solution. Ask for customer refer-

ences and find out about a supplier’s track record before you buy water-efficient taps or kitchen equipment. Get quotes from multiple suppliers before you commit - alarm bells should be ringing when a quote is much higher or much lower than the average among the competition. Educate employees To ensure that your efforts to conserve water are successful, you may need to change behaviour among employees. Educate them about how they can avoid waste, for example, by not leaving taps running when they wash their hands or lunch dishes. You could put water saving tips up near kitchen and bathroom taps to remind team members of the importance of saving water. “At Sage, we believe in a socially-responsible world and in playing a positive role in communities and with entrepreneurs,” says Van Heerden. “The business community needs to step up and play a role in safeguarding our precious water resources as an urgency, and we all need to accept that water scarcity is likely to become a way of life in future.”

BUSINESS

7 December 2016

CXPRESS

Interest rate decision a welcome reprieve for economy, housing market HE recent decision by the South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee to retain the repo rate at the current 7% (home loan base rate of 10.5%) for the fourth successive meeting is a welcome reprieve for the economy and housing market, says Seeff Property Group chairman Samuel Seeff. Importantly, he says, it provides some stability in an otherwise rather unpredictable climate, both politically and economically. From the surprise Brexit decision to the unexpected emergence of Donald Trump as next US president, 2016 has emerged as the year of unpredictability. “The flat interest rate is a welcome boost for the economy and housing market that is increasingly feeling the pinch of stalling economic growth, which has now manifested in rising unemployment and higher inflation,” says Seeff. “We are going into one of the busiest periods for the economy. The retail

MUCH TO SMILE ABOUT: Seeff chairman Samuel Seeff is chuffed with the stability afforded by a retained repo rate

sector especially is dependent on good festive season trade, as is new vehicle sales.” Seeff says this is also the time that many start thinking about investing in their first home, or whether the time is right to upgrade or even downgrade. “The flat rate will certainly be a boost for the market and will allow buyers and home owners to benefit from the savings for a while longer. The sales will be important to keep the first and second

quarter of next year in positive territory, given the slowing market and house price growth,” he says. “There is no doubt that 2017 is going to be a challenging year with an underlying current of fiscal consolidation, rising costs and inflation and growing pressure on consumers, homeowners and buyers. Tax and other cost hikes are also in the pipeline.” For the time being though, he believes that the outlook for property remains positive. Al-

though weaker in terms of sales volumes and price growth (save for the Western Cape), the market is in a much better position compared to the post-2007/8 downturn. The National Credit Act has promoted responsible lending and has curbed the rise in consumer debt. The market is still fairly balanced. “Although stock levels have risen, we do not have the added burden of a flood of defaults and distressed sales that hampered the market in the 2009-2012 period. “On the whole, we are still seeing and underlying resilience in the market and expect it to remain on solid ground into the early part of 2017. Ordinary consumers and home buyers are by and large now fairly sensitised to the economic outlook and rising costs. That said, caution remains the order of the day,” concludes Seeff. • Visit www.seeff.com and see the advert on page 3 for current property listings.

CXPRESS

7 December 2016

NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH! From the 1 December we’ll be open for lunch and dinner! Join us at Emily’s for Karoo-inspired, homestyle cooking & at Simon’s Bar for the best artisan pizzas in the Garden Route! 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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HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

7 December 2016

SO MUCH TO DO... SO LITTLE TIME!

Small Town Big Surprise! Darnell Street, Storms River Village

A trip down Memory Lane and now... a Micro Brewery! Bring the family for a memorable outing! ext. 267

CXPRESS

7 December 2016

The art of defining HE Washington Post’s Mensa Invitation once again challenged readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. Here are the winners: • Cashtration: The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time. • Intaxicaton: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realise it was your money to start with. • Bozone: The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future. • Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very high. • Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn’t get it. • Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late. • Karmageddon: It’s like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it’s like, a serious bummer. • Decafalon: The gruelling event of getting

through the day consuming only things that are good for you. • Glibido: All talk and no action. • Dopeler Effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly. • Arachnoleptic Fit: The frantic dance performed just after you’ve accidentally walked through a spider web. • Caterpallor: The colour you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you’re eating. The Washington Post also published the winning submissions to its yearly contest in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words. And the winners are: • Coffee: The person upon whom one coughs. • Flabbergasted: Appalled by discovering how much weight one has gained. • Willy-nilly: Impotent. • Lymph: To walk with a lisp. • Gargoyle: Olive-flavoured mouthwash. • Balderdash: A rapidly receding hairline. • Testicle: A humorous question on an exam. • Frisbeetarianism: The belief that, after death, the soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.

My credit is so bad, I received a credit card offer that was PRE-DECLINED...

INTERVAL

ENTERTAINMENT

7 December 2016

CXPRESS

Knysna’s talent is Tshisa hot THE HEAT OF THE BEAT: Zionites band have been developing youngsters to create original music - Photos: Anja Wiehl

GETTING THE NOD: Judges Stuart Palmer, Amanda Valela and Patrick Makosa of Paperwork Productions, left, congratulate Nkosazana and the Voices on a brilliant performance; at right dancer Profesa impresses the judges with his great energy

velopment organisation that discovers, develops and promotes local performing artists. From last week’s five Knysna auditions, the team is hard at work to select the top artists who will perform in the semifinals to be held on Friday

December 9 at Knysna Secondary (your R10 entry fee will be donated to the competition winner) doors open at 6:30pm. The Grand Finals will be held at the end of January 2017, so there is much to look forward to for Knysna artists and their fans.

Garden Route artists flock to exhibit

This programme is made possible by generous support from the National Arts Council of South Africa and Knysna Municipality. Visit www.tshi satalent.co.za or contact Gaillene on 044 533 0942 or at info@tshisatalent. co.za for details.

Words & photos: Bob Hopkin

Local Farmers

MARKET - 13H30

11 DEC 2016

SUNDAY

EMBERS of the Tshisa Talent team have just completed a Knysna talent search and have been blown away by the amazing quality of the performances they have seen. Tshisa Talent is an Eden District based talent de-

10H30

1 RIET VLEI RD PLETTENBERG BAY

fresh produce LIVE MUSIC AR TIS AN AL FOOD

WILD ONE: Yvonne CarolaPearce has fond memories of wildlife parks which influence her choice of subject

LET ME BE LEE: Enthusiastic local artist Lee Mollenaar uses pastels on sandpaper to create his themed works entitled ‘The Unbearable Whiteness of Being’

HE second annual Wilderness Open Gallery, held at a local hotel last weekend, proved that the area’s reputation as a haven for those of a creative nature is certainly well deserved. Organised pro bono by gallery owner Carole Durrant, the event featured the work of 42 artists producing some 200 paintings, sketches, sculptures and glassware, and filling five rooms, reflecting mainly the coastal and

DOG TALES: Wilderness artist Loraine Storie with portraits of her favourite pooches, which she paints to order

wildlife nature of the area. According to Carole, the event is evolving exponentially. “Last year at our first event we had 27 artists exhibiting works for sale, which raised some R30,000. With a nearly 60% increase in participants, we expect to exceed that amount substantially. “It is so rewarding that artists from the region can now see the opportunities to market their output here,” she said.

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

In addition to the threeday exhibition, six of the exhibitors held informative workshops to encourage others to consider using similar materials and techniques to create their own works of art. Carole’s initiative is also spreading to local businesses who are being encouraged to display work for sale on the walls of their shops and consulting rooms to help promote the creative efforts of local artists.

CXPRESS

SOCIAL SCENE

7 December 2016

ANGLERS AND ATHLETES AWARDED: Sunday November 27 saw the inaugural Plettenberg Bay Ski-boat Association (PBSA) Awards ceremony being held at Plett NSRI Station 14’s headquarters on Central Beach, when member achievements in Deep Sea and Surf Angling were acknowledged, as well as the accomplishments of runners attached to Plett Athletics Club, which calls the PBSA clubhouse home and uses the premises for special occasions, as well as filling out the seaside deck on Thursdays after the completion of weekly time trials. An array of awesome anglers was honoured for fishy pursuits throughout 2016, whereas there were eight trophy winners among the able runners, with another eight receiving fun certificates, such as Epic Event of the Year winners Meyer van Rooyen and Hanlie Sinclair. Handing over these accolades was Protea angler Mike Riley (read the story of his Mexican adventure on the back page) and pictured with him from top to bottom are Siviyule Qole receiving his trophy for Most Improved runner of 2016; PBSA chairman Chris Schorn taking Angler of the Year, with the PBSA’s Sue van der Gaast looking on; PAC chairlady and MegaMarathoner winner Vicki Meggersee; and Connor Noble, who won the National Junior trophy. Congrat to everyone for doing their clubs and town proud, with a special mention to veteran angler Ted Horn for scoring a most deserving Lifetime Achievement award.

SWIMMING MASTERY SHARED: These aquatic Plett youngsters trained by legendary coach Willie Wilson, second from right at back, were among 100-odd swimmers who competed at the Eden Champs in Oudtshoorn on November 26 and 27. Between them, Willie’s swimmers brought home an astonishing 14 gold, 13 silver and six bronze medals, so major congrats are due to, from left, Dominique de Jongh, Matthew Tindall, Arianne Bauer, Michelle van Heerden, Gustav Schlechter, and Billy Tindall in front. A world champion Masters swimmer, Willie has been honing young talent in Plett pools for decades. His commitment to the kids is absolutely amazing and he travels with them to every single one of their galas. For this dedication beyond the call of duty, the kids and their parents say a HUGE collective thank you to Willie Wilson.

People, places & events

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GBC GAINS BMT: The Eden Tennis League took place during the past school term and when taking on other Knysna and Plett schools, Greenwood Bay College finished tops, the girls first team beating Plett Primary convincingly and the first team boys lording it over Oakhill. The girls second team also qualified for the finals, beating Oakhill’s first team and narrowly losing to Knysna Primary. The second team’s boys had tough competition, losing to Outeniqua and Knysna Primary. Grade 3 student Lucas Briskham performed best by beating his older opponents and finishing undefeated in the second league. Unfortunately, the finals in George proved a hard learning experience for all, coming up against Big Match Temperament-masters from Glenwood House and George South. GBC also had players qualifying for the finals in the Orange Ball-section, where the boys finished fifth and one of the girls teams finished first, making them the top team in Eden District. Coach Luke Olson is very proud of all 18 players who took part in the finals, 12 of whom are pictured at left.

SOCIAL SCENE

7 December 2016

CXPRESS

READY TO CARPE DIEM: Plett Secondary held its matric farewell at Piesang Valley hall on November 29, the ‘City Life’ theme making for wonderfully bling décor and affording the youngsters the opportunity to dress their glitzy best. Pictured at left from left are Annestacia Liessing, Lee Leonard, Lauren Gall, Allanay van Eeden, Olivia Campher, Britney Oraai and Marelize Smith. Below is Mrs Schlechter’s physical science stars, with only Jay-R Barnardo not present in the pic. From left are Ricardo Loff, Genino Davids, Geraldo Windvogel, Hadley Booysen and Damion Steenkamp, with Tiffany van Willing in front. “That girl really makes her mark among the boys!” she said. “The entire Class of 2016 has been a joy to teach and we look forward to watching them progress in the career world, now that their school years are behind them.”

People, places & events

LIVES NOW SAVED IN Knysna: It was a joyous occasion when Knysna mayor Eleanore BouwSpies, councillor Cathy Weidman, Greater Knysna Lifesavers chairperson Lucky Somana and club coach Mike Wood joined municipal staff to launch the town’s very own Lifesaving Club at Leisure Isle on November 23. Said the mayor: “This lifesaving club will help a great deal in improving capacity within our area. I believe that the perfect approach to safety in our waters is local people with local knowledge of the conditions along our coast and in our estuary.” Eight lifesavers from Smutsville and two from Knysna are currently undergoing training, including swimming (400m), Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, lifesaving signals, and various rescue techniques. “I want to reassure people that all training offered is accredited by Lifesaving SA. Coach Mike is a certified examiner and instructor. The club also went through the process of being accredited as per Western Cape Province Lifesaving Association,” Bouw-Spies explained, and urged visitors and locals to adhere to water safety rules. “I plead with all our holidaymakers and residents to adhere to water safety rules at all times to assist in keeping themselves and their families safe over this season. Let us be responsible, safe and, most importantly, enjoy the fun in the sun. I wish you a safe holiday season as you spend time with your loved ones.” For more information regarding the club call Kate Wood on 044 343 1870 or 082 738 6312. Above from left, cllr Cathy Weidman, mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies, Mike Wood, Lucky Somana, and nine of the 10 trainee lifesavers cheer with excitement at the Greater Knysna Lifesaving Club launch.

DO ROCK UP EN MASSE FOR SIR KARL’S PEACE MASS: “From this quiet, gentle human being comes the most amazing, haunting music that is instantly recognisable and loved across the world.” This is how Dame Kiri Te Kanawa described Sir Karl Jenkins, above - the most performed living composer in the world. Following last year’s successful performance of ‘Canticles by Candlelight’, Jill Kirkland is spreading her magic once again when on December 15, members of the combined choirs of Plett, accompanied by talented musicians, will perform ‘The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace’ by Sir Karl Jenkins. The programme will be produced with comprehensive footnotes by Stuart Brown, and the performance will be introduced by David Hall-Green. Guests are invited to bring their own picnics and beverages, Barnyard-style, and to decorate and lay their own tables at Piesang Valley Community Hall on the Thursday morning. Hampers and baskets need to be delivered by 6pm. Doors open at 7:15pm with a complimentary glass of summer punch on the veranda and the performance will start at 8pm, followed by the picnic supper. For tickets at R250 per person and table reservations, contact Lady Conyngham on 044 533 5178 or email aconyngham@telkomsa.net for details. Payment can be made to The PlettAid Foundation, FNB Plett (code 210514), account no 62048095063, reference: Mass/Your Name.

HERE’S HOW YOU DO IT $OWNLOAD :APPAR FROM YOUR !PP 3TORE l ND the zapcodes on selected products in the Picardi Rebel Store, our print advertising, our virtual & online Store or our Facebook page. Scan the Zap #ODES TO l ND THE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WHICH ARE hidden in a video about the Panwa Beach Resort in Phuket. Once you’ve got the answers, enter on the Picardi Rebel Website www.picardirebel.co.za

CXPRESS

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HOME & HEALTH

7 December 2016

Fundraising team traverses provincial borders to further humanitarian cause Words & photos: Timothy Twidle

ÉDECINS Sans Frontières (MSF) - the international humanitarian, non-governmental organisation and Nobel Peace Prize laureate best known for its work in war-torn regions and developing countries suffering from the ills of endemic diseases - held a fundraising drive in Bitou from November 22-26. Known as Doctors Without Borders by the English-speaking world,

MSF sent a team of five to spend five days at The Market Square in Plett to enlist support from Bitou residents and visitors to the area. Phumlani Kango, Koketso Modupe, Lesego Padi, Chezney Makula and Ofentse Matheatau hail variously from Pretoria, Joburg and Cape Town. Their MSF display showed the work carried out by the organisation, together with some of the equipment used in the field, such as stethoscopes, gloves and

FIVE-STRONG FORCE: The MSF fundraising team of, from left, Lesego Padi, Koketso Modupe, Phumlani Kango, Chezney Makula and Ofentse Matheatau in front of their Market Square display

intravenous drips. Said MSF team leader Modupe: “People here are very friendly and surprisingly well informed about the work of Doctors Without Borders, presumably by way of what they have read in newspapers and seen on television. “Info shared includes facts on the dangers of malnutrition and how malnourished kids are fed Plumpy’Nut - a concentrated peanut-based food that can rebuild the health of children that have been improperly nourished.”

MSF has held four fundraising initiatives in South Africa this year, in the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, MSF was founded in 1971 in the aftermath of the Biafran War that raged in Nigeria from 1967 until 1970, by a group of French doctors and journalists who believed that all people, irrespective of nationality, ethnic heritage, creed or political affiliation, deserved a right to medical care.

INFORMATION EXCHANGE: Natasha Kivetts, right, of New Horizons kindly made a donation to Médecins Sans Frontières during the course of their fundraising drive - at left is Lesego Padi, animatedly sharing some MSF info

Please help reduce waste this festive season HE holidays are almost upon us and the Institute of Waste Management of SA (IWMSA) encourages South Africans to minimise their waste so as to ultimately lessen the burden on the environment. “The festive season is synonymous with delicious food and goods. In the spirit of this unifying time of year, we encourage all citizens to be mindful of waste items generated,” says IWMSA president Jan Palm. Palm shares that southern Africa is running out of landfill space and so it is up to all of us to conserve our natural resources. “It is critical that conscious consumerism becomes a habit. If you are going on holiday, find

New or 2nd hand toys THANK YOU!

Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

out beforehand where the nearest recycling depot is or whether your guesthouse recycles,” he says. These tips will help minimising waste: Separate your waste It is very easy to set up your own waste separation system at home. Use two different bins, one for wet waste and the other for recyclable materials. “Wet waste should contain kitchen and food waste, which can easily be home composted. During the festive period, consumers tend to use more bottles and cans which are ideal for recycling. These items should be empty, since it won’t be recycled if it contains liquids.” Be a conscious consumer Be mindful of what you buy at the supermarkets

and opt for recyclable packaging. “Spending habits often change over the holiday season. Stick to your grocery list and if there is leftover food, donate it to the less fortunate or place it in your home composting heap. Holiday waste also has significant amounts of packaging, which should be recycled.” Smart gift-wrapping and decorations Buy eco-friendly gift wrapping paper or do-ityourself with old newspapers, cardboard boxes or old linen. “There are many tutorials on the internet these days for beautiful decorations and gift wrapping ideas that won’t break the bank.” Report illegal activities Unfortunately, there will always be those who do

not look after our environment. Report illegal dumping by phoning 0800 205 005. Clean it up There are various beach clean-ups on the coastline. If you are going for a beach holiday, do your bit and join in. “We encourage all South Africans to start being conscious consumers every day of the year. Start recycling and reducing your waste at home,” concludes Palm. Visit www.mywaste. co.za to find your nearest recycler and www. allwastesolutions.co.za to find waste-management suppliers. Other helpful sites are www.iwmsa.co.za and www.recycling.co.za where more information can be found.

HOME & HEALTH

7 December 2016

George Hospital restores smiles of disfigured Eden kids

Words & photo: Bob Hopkin

AST week a three-way initiative gave 17 children from Eden District a new start in life thanks to free reconstructive surgery to correct unsightly facial characteristics. The three-day programme, dubbed Mini Smile Week, was as a result of cooperation between George Regional Hospital, the charity Smile Foundation, and surgeons and staff from Cape Town’s Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. The cement binding together this, and other similar schemes across the country, is the Smile Foundation - a section 21 non-profit organisation that came into being as a result of a single incident in 2000, when Nelson Mandela encountered one small child, Thando Manyathi, with a facial disfigurement and asked for donors and surgeons to join forces to restore her looks. That initiative spawned a continuity of treatment that, in 2007, became the Smile Foundation thanks to the generosity of a multitude of sponsors. In the majority of cases

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: From left are Moira Gerszt (Smile Foundation), Hannes Smith (GDS Technologies), restorative surgeon Dr Sareigh Adams, George Hospital CEO Michael Vonk, and Smile Foundation executive director Hedlay Lewis - the image below shows an example of the difference restorative surgery can make

where parents have children suffering from birth defects such as hair lip, cleft palates and accidental injuries such as burns, the costs of restorative surgery and the transport logistics from outlying areas become insurmountable problems. The result is that those afflicted are destined to cope with their disfigurement for the rest of their

lives with the consequent loss of self-esteem and, in some cases, difficulties in speech and eating. The Foundation normally works in collaboration with academic hospitals so that medical students in their final year can add practical experience to their studies. Since George became one of these in January 2016 in association with

UCT, students have been encouraged to visit to complete their training. It is operational in a similar way with other hospitals in five other provinces, and since inception has aided more than 1,000 children by restorative surgery. Sponsors are encouraged to participate in the programmes and Hannes Smith of national telecommunications company GDS Technologies was present and participating in the George event. Said George Hospital CEO Michael Vonk: “The Smile Week has become a highlight of our calendar, and is the result of a partnership between several organisations all working towards a common goal.” Smile Foundation operations director Moira Gerszt said that, while facilities were limited, parents and friends of children with similar disfigurements should make contact with the organisation to apply for corrective surgery. Their toll-free helpline is 0861 276 453, or email info@smilefoundationsa. org for details.

Itchy dog? Stop the allergy cycle this summer! F you are driven mad by your dog’s constant scratching, licking, itching and ear flapping this summer, you are not alone. Allergies are extremely common in dogs, more than half being caused by fleas and other environmental allergens like pollen, moulds, and house dust mites. Dr Guy Fyvie, veterinary advisor to Hill’s Pet Nutrition SA, says that allergy symptoms often show on the skin. “Areas around the feet, face, ears, armpit or groin are most commonly affect-

ed. You may also see hair loss, crusting or scaling.” Environmental allergies may be seasonal, particularly in spring and summer (e.g. from pollen), or occur all year round (e.g. house dust mites). The dog may scratch, bite or groom excessively to relieve the itch, which often damages the skin, allowing allergens to penetrate more easily, causing secondary skin infections (like dreaded hotspots). This itch-scratch-itch becomes a vicious cycle, notoriously difficult to eliminate or control.

Win a fabulous Hill’s dog bed!

Changing bedding regularly, feeding a special food like new Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Defense, and regular baths can help improve life for a dog suffering from environment allergies. One CXPRESS reader can win a Hill’s pillow bed worth R500. Simply tell us the name of the veterinary advisor to Hill’s Pet Nutrition SA and email with your name and contact details to esther@cxpress.co.za by Dec 10. Only one entry per person. The winner will be informed telephonically and announced in CXPRESS of Dec 14.

Dr Fyvie says that in an ideal world one would avoid the allergen completely, “but that is not always possible, particularly with our environment producing pollen, mites and the like. Meticulous flea control is vital”. A new food can help make a difference. “New Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Defense is formulated to help block environmental allergens, ideally before they trigger a reaction,” says Dr Fyvie. “It contains a blend of nutrients that help decrease the release of his-

tamine and inflammatory cytokines that cause itching, helping drive healthy skin from within.” As well as skin irritation you may notice an unpleasant smell or inflamed ears if your dog is suffering from allergies. “If your dog starts showing any allergy signs, consult your veterinarian; early intervention can stop the vicious itch-scratch-itch cycle before it starts, and thereby helping avoid more serious complications, discomfort, and stress,” advises Dr Fyvie.

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

CXPRESS

7 December 2016

CLASSIFIEDS

ON THE SOAPBOX

7 December 2016

Letters to the Editor

CXPRESS

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

Rave sounds like fun, but ‘rage’ infers violence It is that time of the year when the matrics descend upon Plett to celebrate their final year at school (‘hopefully’, for some…) and to unwind and have a good old time celebrating the event. This may sound like a petty observation, but I find it extremely difficult to understand the logic behind whoever came up with the name of Matric Rage. Why not Matric Rave or something else? It may be argued that, according to a dictionary ‘rage’ or ‘rave’ is merely semantics, except to the knowledgeable. However, the average connotation of the two words presents

a different mind picture. Rage is when I get a speeding ticket or someone really offends me, or as in road rage leading to violent or aggressive behaviour. Rave is what I do when I party, or ‘rave’ about a really good movie or stage performance. My point is that although a huge proportion of matrics are here to ‘rave’ and have a good time, the subtle inference of rage can almost give licence to some basically angry young people to behave badly. I am sure many of us locals and business people have experienced some kind of vandalism and

Wild season starting early at Central Beach

bad behaviour from these matric students, which I believe is a subconscious response to the word ‘rage’, and licence to behave in such a manner. So do I get into a rage about their raucous behaviour and actions, or do I rave about how good and well behaved they are? Unfortunately, most businesses who appeal to and make a huge profit out of the event, do not give a hoot. A silly little request this may seem, but can the organisers not change the name to something different? Matric is the key word

so keep that, but perhaps ‘Matric Rave’ or ‘PlettMatricFest’ or ‘Matric Meltdown’ or ‘Plett Matric Carnival’ - anything that conjures up a happy celebration. The latter is a thought which could bring some joy and entertainment for locals and focus for matrics - a dress-up, carnival parade through main streets of Plett. Have groups, themes and causes, so they can collect money for charities of their choice. I’m just rambling, but it may be something for the organisers to think about. Beefy Mance, Nature’s Valley

Broken shells on Robberg may threaten Blue Flag I would like to suggest that the people responsible for our beaches wake up and remove all the clam and mussel shells washed up on Robberg Beach during the recent big seas. It is impossible to walk or run or do anything barefoot on this beach without cutting one’s feet to pieces! I suggest you employ enough people and give them rakes to rake up all the shells on Robberg Beach BEFORE all the holidaymakers come to Plett, so there’s not much time left… These shells

can then be transported to the dump site. People pay lots of money to holiday here and definitely won’t be happy with Robberg Beach in its current state. It should have been cleaned up already for us locals. In Cape Town, they clean the beaches of all the kelp, etc. that washes up after each big storm, so why can’t you people do the same? I don’t know how you keep the Blue Flag status for this beach! Make a plan ASAP. Bradley Sparg, Plett

Commercial fishing off Robberg may attract sharks ‘I took these pics, below, at Plett’s main beach early morning on December 2, where a car crossed the pavement, knocked down a concrete bench, went over the boardwalk onto the beach and demolished a huge sign board. Must’ve been travelling at some speed!’ Rage Watch, Plett (The pics above were posted on the Garden Route Traffic WhatsApp group on December 1, the text thread reading, inter alia: ‘Matric Rage starting off with a bang’; ‘Starting car in first gear’; ‘Been driving for a week’; ‘Don’t worry, from tomorrow we will be driving them around’ - from a well-known taxi operator; and ‘Mommy’s gonna flip!’ - Eds.)

Following my letter in CXPRESS of November 23 [read it on page 15 of that edition at www. cxpress.co.za], another commercial deep-sea boat was spotted fishing off Robberg Beach. Early on that same Wednesday afternoon, this deep-sea fishing boat was observed moving into Bahia Formosa from the direction of Nature’s Valley. Then shortly after 6pm, I received a call from Tony Holliday who had read the letter and reported the details of a boat he had observed manoeuvring close inshore off Robberg Beach. The name of the boat is ‘White Rose’ and the registration number on the bow is PEA418L. By 7pm, the boat had parked itself in-shore off Robberg Beach, opposite Solar 5, about 100 metres from where a large red float was still visible in the fading daylight just before sun set. Why come fishing so close in-shore just before sunset when sharks are known to be active? Is this another case of “moon-

lighting” commercial fishing in Bahia Formosa? A Google search for PEA418L revealed that its fishing activities was previously questioned in Knysna-Plett Herald of July 5, 2015. Apparently it is operating from Mossel Bay with a licence for catching sharks. Was ZR3559 [the boat discussed in the previous letter] also fishing for sharks behind the breakers on November 13? Allowing baited lines for shark-fishing so close to a public beach is not in public interest, since setting baited lines will intentionally attract sharks. Are we sitting ducks waiting for a shark attack resulting from commercial fishing close in-shore at Robberg? PS: Shark populations in first-world countries have been depleted and now third-world oceans are being targeted for exploitation and export to the first world - Google ‘Commercial shark slaughter’ by Eugene Marais and also ‘Afri Oceans Conservation Alliance - position of South Africa’s sharks’. John Mulder, Plett

sunglass boutique que

CXPRESS

7 December 2016

SPORT & ADVENTURE

No leader board spot for South African anglers, but Riley’s sportsmanship awarded with unique acknowledgement HE 25th World Championship Big Game Fishing Trolling Competition recently took place in Acapulco, Mexico. South Africa was represented by two teams in this prestigious competition - one of which, the Green Team, was captained by Plett resident Mike Riley with members Jaco Hendrickz, Colin Barris, and Frank Sykes. The tournament opening ceremony took the form of a parade of the teams, and

support from the town of Acapulco was exceptional. “The welcome was like I imagine a cup-winning football side would receive,” said Riley. “The people of Acapulco came out in droves and the SA teams got a substantial cheer from the crowds.” Practice days were very good for the Green Team with a lot of fish being caught. Unfortunately, the SA teams’ luck did not hold out for the tourna-

ment and although they had some good catches, they didn’t trouble the top of the leader board. An incident on the first day of the competition saw Riley receiving a special award at prize-giving at the end of the tournament. All catches have to be recorded on video and after the video review of one of the catches, Riley was incorrectly credited with two catches, instead of one. “I called this to the atten-

tion of the judges as it was incorrect and advantaged our team unfairly. I didn’t think twice about it, as this is a matter of principle and I didn’t want to take credit for a catch that didn’t exist.” The judges made the necessary corrections to the scores based on this, and decided to award Riley with a certificate to acknowledge and recognise his integrity and sportsmanship. “The competition was a great experience and it was a privilege and honour to fish alongside and captain such a great team. Our lures were sponsored by Big T Lures and I can only commend them on their excellent product. “I enjoyed the honour of representing SA once again and I hope to have the opportunity to do so again in future,” said Riley.

GOING LOCO DOWN IN ACAPULCO: From left at the top is the SA Green team of Frank Sykes, Colin Barris, Jaco Hendrickz, and Plett angler Mike Riley, who captained the team; above, the foursome is pictured in front of a billboard welcoming anglers to the world champs, and the inset below shows Mike’s certificate to acknowledge his integrity and sportsmanship

WELCOME HOME: After his return from Mexico Mike Riley, left, officiated at the inaugural Plettenberg Bay Ski-boat Association Awards on November 27, and is pictured here with fellow Protea angler Kallie Erasmus with whom he shared the Sportsman of the Year award for their contribution to Deep Sea and Rock and Surf Angling respectively - turn to page 14 to see more of the PBSA awards and other sports-related images