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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Plett firefighter Arnold Stroebel - one of hundreds of Garden Route volunteers who have been toiling day and night for more than a week - is pictured in full regalia while taking a break from fighting the blazes that threatened Kransbos and surrounds over the weekend. Find out more on page 9, and see additional fire reports on pages 3, 4, and 5.
Photo: Perino Pama
7 November 2018
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CXPRESS
NEWS & VIEWS
7 November 2018
St Peter’s Anglican Church is the place to be if you’re curious about your ancestors and family tree HE Van Plettenberg Historical Society (VPHS) is pleased to invite readers to its AGM at 5:30 for 6pm on Thursday November 8 at its new and possibly more appropriate - venue: the St Peter’s Anglican Church hall in Church Street, on the way down from the CBD to The Plettenberg hotel. Says Society stalwart Mike Kantey: “Our speaker at this event will be Shayne van Rensburg - a semi-retired tax practitioner who now works as a recruitment consultant. “Married to Roy, Shayne lives on a small-holding adjacent to Plett’s Airport Road, where she is kept busy with family, friends, dogs, walking and, most importantly, the subject of history and family history in particular.” Mike adds that Shayne has recently retired from working for the ward committee of Bitou’s Ward 7, and boasts several years’ involvement in local civic affairs. She has also run the Comrades three times, and has travelled “a fair bit”, often in pursuit of historical facts. Shayne drew her very first family tree at the age of 14 and took up the hobby again with ever-increasing interest when the Van Rensburgs moved to
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BARK OF THE BARKHUYZEN TREE: An early portrait of the Barkhuyzen clan - one of the pioneering families of Plettenberg Bay, along with the Van Rooyens, Van Huyssteens, and other early arrivals in the ‘hood
Plettenberg Bay in 2008. At the Van Plettenberg Society’s AGM tomorrow, she will present guidelines on creating or refining your own family
Photo winner scales dusky pass Says Derek Rushton of Plett PhotoFUNatics: “Our theme this month was Still Life/Macro, with our popular Open section always available for those who don’t have a theme in mind.” As so often happens, the Open submission again took the ‘Best of the Best’ vote. Well done to Gil Walker (senior) for his absolutely stunning landscape picture, at right. Says Gil: “The inspiration for this shot came from a picture I saw on a photographic website of an amazing sunset over the Outeniqua Mountains taken by an overseas tourist. The location of that photo was identified as being the top of Robinson Pass and arrangements for an excursion were made with two other Plett PhotoFUNatics members. A good couple of hours were spent traversing the top parts of the pass and scrambling up hillsides to find the best viewpoint... and then we set up tripods and waited for the sunset.” Email derek_rushton@hotmail.com to find out more about the Plett PhotoFUNatics and their entertaining gatherings.
tree, and relate some of the intriguing stories and experiences she’s enjoyed over the years, as well as being ready to answer questions on the subject.
Entrance to Shayne’s talk entitled ‘Building and Refining your Family Tree’ is R30 per person, and VPHS subscriptions cost R70 per member. Call Mike on 072 628 5131 for more information. • Mike Kantey, plying his trade under the Watermark Press label, has just finished editing Book Five of Alan Landau’s Langbourne series (available at Plett’s Village Bookshop, Knysna Book Exchange, and Deo Gratia in Sedgefield). This is also a narrative treatment of his ancestors, who came out to South Africa in the late 1890s and built a global trading empire from a rough base in Bulawayo. Readers would be advised to start with Book One: Langbourne. Says Mike: “My first two books, Touching Circles (17501949) and Touching Hands (1950-1989) were also an attempt to deal with my own family history. “Both books are out of print with a new edition in the planning stages, but you can get them in CD format by emailing colin@cdbooks-r-us.com and requesting from Colin Pretorius - who also has a catalogue of family history publications.”
NEWS & VIEWS
7 November 2018
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Fires of 2018: 90,000ha burnt, nine lives lost, 35 homes gutted, 1,500 evacuations, 600 fire-fighters activated... While Monday and Tuesday’s cooler weather and rain along the Garden Route boosted efforts to contain the countless fires that have caused large-scale destruction in the region, efforts to help victims piece their lives back together have now started - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports VER the past two weeks the Southern Cape has been plagued by massive wildfires that not only claimed the lives of nine people, including six children and a pregnant woman, but have also so far destroyed about 90,000ha of land, gutted 35 homes, and partially destroyed 16 properties. More than 1,500 people were also evacuated. The fires started on October 20 in the Vermaaklikheid area, about 40km from Riversdal. This fire was finally contained five days later, but not before 5,000ha of land and nine properties had been destroyed. Knysna firefighting pilot Nico Heyns, 65, lost his life after his Working on Fire (WoF) Huey chopper crashed during firefighting efforts in the area. Late afternoon on October 24, another fire broke out in the vicinity of George, largely within the Outeniqua Mountains, and subsequently several others swept through areas such as Karatara near Knysna, the Tsitsikamma, as well as De Vlugt between Plett and Uniondale. By this week, most of the fires had been contained and mop-up operations have started. According to the Garden Route District Joint Operations Centre, the biggest thorn in firefighters’ side was the De Vlugt wildfire. They were unable to contain the blaze and aircraft were unable to do water drops due to thick smoke in the area. By Monday, flare-ups were at a minimum and were addressed in short periods. “The [weather] conditions are conducive to mopping
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up activities and increased ground resources, if effectively managed, can result in the current 30% containment areas to increase to 80% by the end of the next four operational periods,” Garden Route District Municipality spokesman Herman Pieters said. WoF spokesman Lauren Howard said about 90,000ha of land had been burnt, but that efforts by about 600 firefighters seemed to have paid off. Over the six days up to Monday, WoF spotter planes had flown more than 38 hours, while fixed-wing 802 air tractor bombers had flown about 22 hours. They dropped 950,000 litres of water over the period. In these massive operations the human spirit shone through. “It is absolutely incredible to see these men and women risk their lives to protect others,” Howard said. Relief has been flooding in from across the region. George municipal spokesman Chantal EdwardsKlose said at one stage they had to ask the community to refrain from dropping off any more donations as they had so much that they did not have the capacity to store the goods. Plett resident Marius Venter, who along with several other residents established the Plett Fire Fund after the June 2017 devastation, said he had been overwhelmed by the generosity of the community. In just a week, Plett locals contributed R100,000 to relief efforts, which enabled them to purchase necessities for victims and firefighters. “We have lived through last year’s fire disaster and know first-hand how horrific the
INSTRUCTION TIME: Firefighters on the road past the Kransbos community catch up on the latest news delivered by Bitou Fire chief Hedley Venter - Photo: Perino Pama
impact is on those caught in the middle. It is because of this that people have been so generous,” Venter said. He added that the gratefulness of the recipients had also been touching. “Most of the victims had very little before the fires and now they have nothing. We were met with tears of gratitude wherever we went. A sandwich or a blanket meant the world to them.” Plett residents also jumped in to assist when Buffelsnek residents were evacuated to Wittedrift on Saturday. Enough goods were donated to ensure they were comfortable before heading back home on Monday. GouKou Farm Watch members, who played a major role in containing the Vermaaklikheid fires, expressed their gratitude to among others Knysna and Plett residents for their support while they were battling the blaze last week. “We would like to thank everyone for all their financial and other donations during this period,” GouKou Farm Watch member Werner Heyns said. He added that the donations included everything from food and drinks to eye drops, sunscreen, and fuel. “Without these contributions we would not have been able to provide support to all the parties involved in the Vermaaklikheid fire.” In the meantime, authorities are helping victims back on their feet. “SANParks along with Knysna and George municipalities are in the process of writing to the National Department of Rural Development and Land Reform for assistance. “The Department will assist with temporary housing material,” said Knysna municipal spokesman Chumisa Kalawe. Most of the gutted houses were in the Karatara area. Residents affected by the fire are currently being accommodated at Sedgefield Community Hall and the SANParks Wilderness camp. As a short-term solution, SANParks will be re-integrating the community by providing accommodation for them for about four weeks. The Department of Social Development, SANParks, and Knysna Municipality will provide food for the affected people. SANParks spokesman Nandi Mgwadlamba said they were also in the process of investigating a temporary relocation area. “Stakeholders will continuously communicate the developments with the 179 affected people,” Kalawe said.
HOT AS HELL: A wall of fire tears through the Tsitsikamma forest, with Working on Fire volunteers dwarfed in the background - Photo: Wynand Kruger
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NEWS & VIEWS
7 November 2018
Roads agency blames banks for toll-charge grievances After several complaints from Plettenberg Bay motorists about Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza charges, the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has indicated that a change in bank interfaces with the plaza was the cause - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports EPORTS from motorists claiming that in some instances more than 20 charges reflected on their statements over a three-day period over the past two weeks, has surfaced. Others claimed they had never used their cards at the toll gate, yet had been charged for use. Sanral Southern Region manager Mbulelo Peterson said the Tolcon Group managed the Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza, collecting toll tariffs on
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behalf of Sanral. He assured road users that transactions processed were valid and not linked to fraudulent activity. “There were delays in the bank issued card transaction processing at the toll plaza due to a change in the bank interfaces with the plaza. The change was brought about by the bank and not the toll plaza. “The bank advised that the setup of the new interfaces took longer than
anticipated and all bank issued card transactions were held back for a period. Once the interfaces were addressed, the registered transactions were then affected. “Accordingly, the net result was that affected road users paid toll fees at a later date.” Peterson said their immediate action plan was to appoint resources to capture and manage queries and complaints received. He added that, should
road users wish to verify the recent deductions against their transaction statements, they could contact Tolcon’s customer services manager by emailing info@tolcon. co.za with their details. “For any further queries in relation to customers’ bank statements, they are requested to contact their relevant banking representative. We apologise for any inconveniences caused in this regard.” Garden Route Media
A brief overview of Garden Route fires and premier Helen Zille’s pop-in ESTERN Cape premier Helen Zille joined mayors of Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), George, Mossel Bay, and Hessequa on Monday to inspect some of the areas affected by the latest Garden Route fire disaster, which reared its head on October 24. On that Wednesday afternoon, a blaze in the Harold area was reported to the GRDM’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC). But at that point in time, all available resources were still tied up at the fire raging near Vermaaklikheid. The first areas threatened included settlements on the northern side of the mountain - Waboomskraal, Eselsjacht, Harold, and Louvain. Extremely dry and windy conditions led to the rapid spread of this wildfire, endangering George from the north. By Monday October 29, the situation had resulted in a call for voluntary evacuations in various areas of the town. The fires had by now spread east and by that afternoon, Eskom powerlines providing elec-
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FROM THE TOP: Perusing the devastation first-hand are, from left, Garden Route District Municipality mayor Memory Booysen, George mayor Melvin Naik, Western Cape premier Helen Zille, Mossel Bay mayor Harry Levendal, and Hessequa mayor Grant Riddles
tricity to Knysna, Bitou, and Oudtshoorn affected by the wildfires. A week of extensive firefighting efforts in trying conditions followed (see the report on p3). By Sunday November 4, main areas of concern included the fact that the fire’s northern flank was moving towards Highlands Lodge and farms in the Langkloof, and the western flank towards the main power supply line of Oudtshoorn.
An active fire line on the east at Buffelsnek/Keurbooms River was moving towards Kransbos, while the Garcia Plantation wildfire was still active.
But these concerns were greatly ameliorated when Monday’s rainfall over a majority of the area assisted firefighters in containing most of the active fires.
HARDEST TALK: Premier Zille speaks to family members who lost loved ones during the wildfires that killed members of the Farleigh community, near Karatara
HISTORY ERASED: Premier Zille and her entourage also visited the site of the Old Toll House Montagu Pass, which was destroyed by the recent wildfires
BARE AND BLACK: The Outeniqua Pass outside George after a wildfire destroyed all vegetation
NEWS & VIEWS
7 November 2018
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Ground-breaking summit addresses gender-based violence and femicide CANDICE LUDICK was one of two Garden Route representatives at last week’s landmark womxn’s gathering in Gauteng Y the time we go to lunch, your excellency the president, there will be a woman who will have been murdered by somebody who she thought loved her. These were the words of
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Anne Githuku-Shongwe, head of UNWomen, on the first day of the Presidential Summit on Gender-based Violence and Femicide, which was held on November 1 and 2 in Tshwane.
The first of its kind in South Africa, the summit was principally the result of efforts of #TheTotalShutdown - an intersectional womxn’s movement which, on August 1, facilitated 26
Collaboration is key when fighting a common enemy
JOINT EFFORT: A real collaborative effort included WUFMU, Plett South, Fisanthoek, The Crags, HRP, Bitou Fire, and the private guys all working together, fighting a common enemy
E thank Elbie and Perino Pama for mobilising some of the many amateur and other photographers who captured amazing images of the past week’s fires and get these to CXPRESS as we were steaming ahead towards Tuesday’s print deadline. Others responded to a call on our Facebook
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page, making the task of selection even more challenging, with way too little room to manoeuvre in this print edition. But fortunately, our electronic space is infinite so please visit www.cxpress.co.za for a gallery of fire photos. The pics and words here are the work of Gordon Smith, who wrote: “I don’t
‘This was what we were faced with when we went out. Most of us volunteer for the various local Fire Management Units, but there were quite a few individuals who arrived just to pitch in and help.’
marches countrywide supported by ordinary womxn and civil society organisations to bring an end to the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV). President Cyril Ramaphosa received a memorandum outlining 24 demands following the occupation of the Union Buildings during the march. The first demand called for commitment to arranging a National Gender Summit attended by all relevant stakeholders, including government and civil society. Crime statistics for 2017/18 indicate the murders of 2,930 women, and the occurrence of 40,035 rapes. With a statistic of femicide that is five times the global average, and the chilling moniker ‘rape capital of the world’, it is plain to see why the scourge of violence against womxn and children in South Africa is now being acknowledged as a national crisis. While a range of laws and policies addressing respective forms of gender-based violence is in place, these mostly lack sufficient implementation. As a result many
victims of gender-based violence face inadequate response and support from the justice system, as well as secondary victimisation. #TheTotalShutdown went to the Summit with five key asks from government: • Constitute an emergency national multi-sector council on GBV against womxn; • Mandate the above council to develop a national strategy plan; • Fast-track legislating the decriminalisation of sex work; • Created a national training programme for all public servants, political, religious and traditional leaders on patriarchy and women’s rights; • Launch a national public campaign to shift prevailing harmful societal gender norms and values. One of the primary undertakings of this summit was to review past plans of action to combat GBV, to develop an understanding of why they failed, and to make recommendations for a new and effective strategy for combatting this form of violence.
The latter was explored within six thematic commissions, which include accountability, coordination, support and response, prevention, law and policy, and communication. #TheTotalShutdown Garden Route was represented by the author (resident in Knysna) and Camille Haupt from George. “The summit was emotionally taxing, but we feel that progress has been made and remain cautiously optimistic that president Ramaphosa and attending members of his cabinet will fulfil what they have promised by meeting our demands. “This must be done through cultivating a greater awareness around and respect for the constitutional rights of all womxn in this country, and by enforcing an approach of zero tolerance to all forms of violence against womxn and children,” said Haupt. For information about #TheTotalShutdown-related workshops and activities on the Garden Route, call Candice on 060 715 3607 or Camille on 074 335 5500.
normally take my camera out when firefighting, but decided to grab it this time around and snapped off a few shots - if not the best quality photographically, it may at least provide an insider view of the fires.” Turn to page 10 for a notice detailing the various drop-off points for donations to firefighters.
‘Jim Wales and Mario Paymans filling a skid unit at the dam at Klein Bavaria.’
‘Wittedrift Uplands FMU are the new kids on the block and preforming like champs. Some members are pictured here with the one Buffel they had purchased and equipped.’
‘The task we were given was completed and we were just waiting for the next instruction. Then councillor Dave Swart arrived with a whole bakkie load of food and drink, donated by the public. We were so happy to see him - manna from heaven!’ - Gordon Smith
DEMANDING JUSTICE: Vinthi Neufeld gathered 24 other local womxn to photograph holding up one each of the 24 demands outlined in a memorandum to president Ramaphosa in August - part (a) of demand #1, displayed by Janet Harding, calls for ‘A strong message from the office of the president that gender-based violence against womxn cannot be tolerated at any level of society; this includes a commitment never to appoint any individual who has been implicated or minimises the causes and consequences of GBVAW to cabinet or to lead a state institution’
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NEWS & VIEWS
7 November 2018
Notice Board A fundraiser for Working on Fire takes place at Nina’s Café at 45 York Street in Knysna on Thursday November 8 at 6:30pm. The event also serves as launch for the new Flying Cloud vintage. Call Wern on 066 237 2413 for more info. Ask all you ever wanted to know about Bitcoin and Crypto currencies in Plett on Friday November 9 at 5:30 for 6pm, when Plett Rotary Club hosts expert Andrew Caw, who has been involved and studying Bitcoin and related technologies since 2014 when they cost just R3,600. Having retired on his profits, he is now helping others to understand this evolution and how to profit from it. Please support this Ro-
tary initiative by spreading the word, then come along and bring a friend to St Peter’s Anglican Church hall in Church Street, Plett, on Friday night. The market is looking iffy - may this be the alternative? Tickets are available at R100 from Ruby’s Kisses flower shop at The Market Square, or from David Pickering on 073 404 0577. See you there! The Bitou 10 Foundation invites friends and family to join in the fun at The Barnyard on Friday November 9 for the last B10F fundraising event of the year. A Night with the Stars will see Mel Botes and Marie Skeen joined by guest artists Marica Barnard and The Punt Note Ensemble to present classics, oldies, ballads, jazz
and blues. Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 8pm. Guests will stand a chance to win lucky draw prizes and food available include vetkoek, shawarmas, soup, coffee and cakes, but please note that The Barnyard if fully licenced, so no BYO allowed. Adults pay R130 and under-13s R80, with tickets available from the Market Square info kiosk, or see www.barnyard plett.co.za for details.
PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN: An early adopter of technology, Andrew Caw started his first business building computers at the age of 14; in 2014, Andrew discovered Bitcoin and started buying and holding it when it cost just R3,600 per unit; by 2016, his Bitcoin holding was worth so much that it allowed him to retire - he was financially free at the tender age of 32...
NEWS & VIEWS
7 November 2018
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CXPRESS
Art competition winners captured essence of the differently-abled HE Differently-abled Awareness Campaign’s inaugural art competition, in which kids from Grade R to Grade 3 had to depict a selection of subjects relating to a differently-abled theme, came to a conclusion late last month, when campaign initiator Rita Hardaker and crew had finally managed to compile a shortlist from the myriad of entries received from many of Plett’s primary and pre-schools. During an exhibition at Mellville’s Corner from October 22-24, the public was invited to experience these top entries and CXPRESS
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was fortunate to also catch in action a trio of expert judges tasked with choosing the top three spots in each category - find out more about them below. After winners were selected, Rita visited the winning schools to hand over prizes of R500, R300, and R150 respectively - with half the value of each prize being stationery vouchers - to each of the budding artists. “By introducing this art competition, the Differentlyabled Awareness Campaign has created mindfulness of the fact that although some people may look dif-
ferent physically, they feel love, hurt, and are in need of friendship like the rest of us. “So the message to these young kids was very clear: friends who may look or operate a little different from the rest should always be considered and included in daily activities in whichever way they are capable to participate,” says Rita. “The art competition will be a yearly event with different grades taking part. We will, in this way, pave the way for children to become more considerate grownups and citizens. It is our belief that all schools
should have compassionate art as part of their curriculum, and that some time should be put aside weekly for compassionate deeds within the community.” Formosa Primary came out tops with four entries in the top nine, and the rest comprising artworks from children attending Greenwood Bay College, Kranshoek Primary, Village Eco Pre-school, and Bahia Formosa - see the box below for winners’ names. Call Rita on 082 5602 606 to find out more about the Differently-abled Awareness Campaign.
ABLE ARTISTS: Rita Hardaker is photographed with Greenwood Bay College winners Robin Mullins, below, and Zosia Covarr, above, after having handed over the prizes during GBC assembly last week - Photos: Lynette Mullins - ShowMePlett
MEET THE JUDGES • JILL FORBES is a member of the Plett Arts Association who started her exciting art journey at the age of 50. “I taught myself to draw for the first two years and then joined an art class to gain as much knowledge on the use of colour, texture and expression in oils. Since then I have attended as many workshops by wellknown South African artists as possible continuing to grow in confidence and enjoying my journey of discovery in the use of all media. “Art has been a great therapy and hobby over the years and something I can continue learning and experiencing in the years to come,” says Jill. • JOY ROBIN was born in Namibia, but has lived in South Africa most of her life. It was only when
EXPERT ART TRIO: From left are Jill Forbes, Joy Robin, and Rosheen Romer at the exhibition venue - Photo: Esther de Villiers
her three children were educated and left home that she fulfilled her desire to paint. She concentrates on local scenes, landscapes, seascapes, and flowers. Working in oil, acrylic and watercolour she has sold extensively around the world. She enjoys the glory of bold colour in watercolours and the juiciness of oil.
She loves nature and its many moods. Joy has been a full-time professional artist since 1993 and works daily in her studio in Thulana Hill. She was chairlady of the Plettenberg Bay Arts Association for over 25 years, and is a member of the SA Society of Artists. • ROSHEEN ROMER has matriculated with Art
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as subject but never practised it in any form until 35 years later when she decided to take a few basic lessons and found herself drawn to portraiture. It was only upon moving to Joburg that she approached a gallery to consider selling her paintings. Encouraged by several early sales of her oils, she started experimenting with acrylics in a more contemporary style in a large format, painting faces and experimenting with oversized florals. Now living in Plett, she continues to sell her paintings in Gauteng. However, the Bay and its beautiful surrounds have inspired her to paint the beach, sea, and sky. Rosheen has found that she gets the best results using oils, and she is now not only living in her ‘blue space’ but painting it, too!
Differently-abled Awareness Campaign Art Competition: Grade R to Grade 3 winners • First: Amkele Lidziya, (Gr R) Village Eco Preschool • Second: Robin Mullins, (Gr 1) Greenwood Bay College • Third: Juwano Jansen, (Gr 1) Kranshoek Primary Grade 2s • First: Taryn Clark, Formosa Primary
• Second: Touhier Petersen, Formosa Primary • Third: Tatum Plaatjies, Formosa Primary Grade 3s • First: Zosia Covarr, Greenwood Bay College • Second: Maleke Windvogel, Formosa Primary • Third: Emihle Robiyana, Bahia Formosa
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7 November 2018
Chit chat on the job N my first day working at the gas station, I watched a senior co-worker measure the level of gasoline in the under-ground tanks by lowering a giant measuring stick down into them. “What would happen if I threw a lit match into the hole?” I joked. “It would go out,” he re-
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plied very matter-of-factly. “Really?” I asked, surprised to hear that. “Is there a lack of oxygen down there or some safety device that would extinguish it before the fumes ignited?” “No,” my co-worker continued. “The force from the explosion would blow out the match.”
Don’t say it, spell it Y husband and I often spell words so that our small children won’t understand what we’re saying. I didn’t realise what a habit this had become until one day when my husband and I were in the grocery store at the soup aisle.
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An aggressive young woman banged into our cart, then nudged me over, blocking my access to the soup. Annoyed, I looked at my husband and said: “Boy, is she r-u-d-e!” “Yeah,” he replied, “but I’ll bet she can s-p-e-l-l.”
On Freudian slips woman says to her psychiatrist: “Doc, you know how we have been talking about saying things that don’t come out the way we meant them to?” The psychiatrist replies: “You mean Freudian slips?”
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“Exactly, those. Well, I had the most amazing one last night. “I was eating dinner with my husband, and I meant to say ‘Honey, could you please pass the salt’, but instead I said ‘You damn fool, you ruined my life’.”
Milk... shake that booty! Y husband was going on a diet, but when we pulled into a fast-food restaurant, he ordered a milkshake. I pointed out that a shake isn’t exactly the best snack for someone who wants to lose weight. He agreed, but he didn’t
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change his order. The long line must have given him time to make the connection between his order and his waistline. As the woman handed him his shake, she said: “Sorry about the wait.” “That’s okay,” he replied. “I’m going to lose it.”
A name for Mrs Johnson businessman was sued by a female client for defamation of character. She charged that he had called her a pig. The man was found guilty and fined. After the trial he asked the judge: “This means that I cannot call Mrs Johnson a pig?” The judge said that was
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true, indeed. “Does this mean I cannot call a pig Mrs Johnson?” the man asked. The judge replied that he could indeed call a pig Mrs Johnson with no fear of legal action. The businessman turned to Mrs Johnson and said: “Good afternoon, Mrs Johnson.”
INTERVAL
SOCIAL SCENE
7 November 2018
CXPRESS
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NOW THAT’S REALLY GRAND: The long-awaited and much-anticipated ‘Encore’ shindig took place on a balmy Plett afternoon late last month, attended by beautiful people dressed according to the Avant Garde theme and eager to experience the transformation of Plett’s grand dame. The tone was set by Plett Pioneers Field Band as guests gathered on the pavement and staircase to the main entrance of the eclectic and Bohemian space previously known as Grand Café and Rooms. After Trevor Wollheim and Suzette Main cut the ribbon and welcomed guests, everyone was charmed by the tunes of DJ Januaryone, and spoilt for choice of snacks and drinks, most notably the champers, signature cocktails and delectable canapes served by roaming waiters. Swing past the new Grand and meet the team headed by impresario par excellence, Willem Jansen van Vuuren. Pictured at left is the Grand Africa operational and creative team of, from left, Rees, Victoire, Eulanda, and Jamie, with owner Sue.
THE POWER OF JOY: Have you ever experienced the thrill of being an integral part of a child’s success? You can now create a legacy by ‘Adopting an Artiste’ through Lunchbox Theatre’s After Schools Activities Programme (ASAP). Lunchbox has uncovered a wonderful way for children within the Southern Cape’s less-privileged communities to stand a better chance in life through the benefits of dance, art and drama classes. The pic ABOVE shows Holy Cross kids rejoicing after being exposed to the new horizons that await, and should convince kind souls reading here to fund the lessons that keep our kids off the streets. Explains Lunchbox founder Stuart Palmer: “We are looking for people keen to assist us towards attaining sustainability. Maybe you would love to help but you don’t have the time or capacity? Don’t feel discouraged because all you need to do is bequeath a monthly donation of R200 to a needy child and we will do the rest. Caring people like you can ‘adopt’ one of our delightful dancers, amazing actors, or enthusiastic artists. This will help us to engage them in something creative, positive and worthwhile, so enhancing all aspects of their lives,” he says. Imagine how proud you would be if you were instrumental in saving someone from a life of mediocrity and creating a star?! Stuart invites readers to a free Lunchbox ASAP Showcase on Saturday November 10 at 3pm at Phakamisani Primary in KwaNokuthula. Visit https://lunchbox.org.za/ upliftment/, see their Facebook page, or email info@lunchbox.org.za to find out more.
People, places & events
Photo: Shirley Erasmus
THANKS A MILLION TO ALL INVOLVED: Plett lawyer Perino Pama, who shot the memorable cover pic of Arnold Stroebel, also shared the pic below at right, and wrote: “I took the photo on Sunday at Kransbos, on the R340 towards Price Alfred Pass, around 2:30pm. Arnold is one of the people on our WUFMU (Wittedrift Uplands Boschfontein FMU) reaction team. He told me that he had been at it for five days when we chatted. I’m chairman of the FMU and the fire-fighting unit was purchased with funds from the Wittedrift NG Church, for which we are eternally grateful. We have now established a separate non-profit company to own and managed our assets, and our reaction team has received proper training. We have also been on the receiving end when the Swiss Government, Rotary, Sounds the Call and others have donated fire-fighting equipment to Bitou. Part of the Associated FMUs, we work closely with the Southern Cape Fire Fighting Association and Bitou Municipality. I express my sincere thanks to all the wonderful people who have supported us in getting this far, and to those who give up their time selflessly without ever asking for anything in return.” The other pics here show scenes in the Tsitsikamma and Goudveld. Photos: Wynand Kruger
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CXPRESS
CLASSIFIEDS
7 November 2018
Handyman on call 082 492 4417 - 072 724 6590
ON THE SOAPBOX
7 November 2018
Letters to the Editor
CXPRESS
Rest in peace, Robbie
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
EMBERS of the Plett hospitality industry and broader community were devastated to learn on October 30 that Robbie Mamna had lost his life under suspicious circumstances the previous evening. A police report by Plett SAPS spokesman captain Marlene Pieterse confirmed that a murder case had been opened at the KwaNokuthula station. “It was alleged that the 30-yearold Asanda was on his way home from the tavern in Martin Street, when he was stabbed that Monday night, October 29. He ran home and collapsed. “The suspect is unknown at this stage, and the case is under investigation.” Robbie was a familiar face at Flashbacks in Plett CBD, where he had been a calm and kind presence behind the bar since 2014. Many locals will also remember him from his years of service at Plett Ski-boat Club. Last Saturday, the owners of Flashbacks paid tribute to this
M Failure of operations at Bitou Motor Licence department explained As your readers will know, there has been no service at Bitou Motor Licencing Department since midday Thursday October 25. This has meant and led to enormous frustration for Plett residents who use this service, especially at month’s end. Since speaking with your office in this regard last week, I’ve made some investigations and also talked with Ward 2 councillor Dave Swart.
The system (hardware and software) that connects our local office to eNaTis is NOT owned or technically managed by Bitou Municipal IT. Bitou may own the terminals and screens in their office, but not the rest; neither does Bitou maintain it. Hence the delay in getting the connection re-established because someone must come from Cape Town to reset whatever switch/modem is
We conquered the Cape, so here’s hoping you’ll support our Sasol season
Lindiswa Zitshu of Plett’s winning women’s soccer team, the Kwano-based Scorpions, shared these pics and an update after our initial report on their claiming of the Eden championship title last month. “We left for the Cape on Friday October 26, our games starting on the Saturday at 10am against Cape Town FC, with a 0-0 outcome. The second game was against Cape Winelands and we won 2-1, our captain making sure we took that one by scoring the winning goal. Our third game was played against Overberg and we won 5-0. We were on the field and playing a total of 270 hours of football in incredible heat - not exactly child’s play, but we did it! We will now face the big girls in the upcoming Sasol League season, so it is essential to secure a sponsor by next year February when the Sasol League starts, as the team will have to travel to Cape Town a total of 17 times over the course of eight months from March to end October next year.” Turn to page 16 of the October 24 edition at www. cxpress.co.za for the initial Scorpions report, and email asandazitshu@gmail.com if you’d like to contribute to this excellent local team’s bright future.
Writing a book Plett resident PETER STRATTEN shared this delightful poem on a subject oft-pondered by many a fan of the well-written word... It took Gordon Forbes but “A Handful of Summers” To write two best sellers oh wow! Then “Too Soon to Panic” said he as he wrote “I’ll take the Sunny Side” now. The neglect history had handed his hero Appalled Richard Steyn so much That by research and hard work He fixed it by writing
“Churchill and Smuts” How are books born what ignites the spark To get started at all and then persevere Do you write what you think or do words Simply flow from your pen when you put it in gear? Finding just the right word Can become quite absurd It takes patience and days ‘Till you give it the bird
faulty or broken. According to Dave Swart, Bitou has been asked to manage it locally, but has not taken this up. On the face of it, it sounds odd that they have not, but there are issues around security and access that would make management of this task somewhat of a poison chalice! As background, the eNaTis system is managed by Tasima on behalf of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC). Tasima has three main subsidiary agreements with three key providers: 1. Arivia.Kom and its brand Face Technology, which manages software; 2. Thuthukani IT Services manages network infrastructure (that’s the stuff that would connect Bitou to the servers in Cape Town or wherever); 3. Webcom Consulting who manages the hardware requirements that’s the switch, relays, etc. that make the whole thing function. Anyway you can see that the management of the service relies totally on these organisations and without their continued support, the service fails. Bitou, to my mind, is probably well out of it! What is unacceptable is the response to this IT
failure. Until five years ago, Knysna could process Plett residents’ motor issues. It then was decreed that they could not and there was a separation based on address. This edict came from RTMC or at least from Cape Town (maybe Western Cape Traffic?). In the light of nearly one week of downtime it seems odd that arrangements were not made to allow Bitou residents to obtain service from the Knysna office. This lesson needs to be learnt. I hope this background is useful and that the matter will be resolved soon. My own story is unimportant, save to say residents ought NOT to blame the staff of Bitou Municipality. Richard McBride, Plett (We thank you for the time and effort to research this matter, Mr McBride. CXPRESS has heard many verbal accounts in this regard, including one motorist claiming that he had been fined twice in one day for an overdue vehicle licence, but was unable to renew it due to the lack of operations at the licencing department. By going to press, the Licencing Department was online again, with no news from Bitou in terms of the continuation of the current service providers. - Eds.)
Remembering that Sunday in November 1918 Poppy Day, in memory of all the soldiers who gave their lives in war, inspired me to write this poem which I dedicate to my late great grandfather. I wish to point out that this year’s commemoration on the 11th day of the 11th month resembles in more way than one that century-ago Sunday we are now obliged to honour forever. 1914 - 1918 In the evening light the poppies glow Blowing crimson in the blood of those who lie below Saddest fertilizer the earth has known Buried cares of hope and vanity The rain of tears of those left behind untouching them Dust of the pomp and power of imperial lies To be the feast of rats and blown flies Who gave those fools the right? Stripping them from hearth and homes No dignity in their end Just valueless words and bits of tin
Uncaring of their rotting bones Has sacrifice not taught us the gift of what they gave? Leaving the flush of poppies And the lonely wind across their graves Paul Deans, Plett (Remembrance Day sometimes known informally as Poppy Day - is a memorial observed in Commonwealth of Nations member states since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Following a tradition inaugurated by King George V in 1919, the day is also marked by war remembrances in many nonCommonwealth countries. Remembrance Day is observed on November 11 in most countries to recall the end of hostilities of WWI - formally ending “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month”, in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20am - on that date in 1918. - Eds.)
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peaceful local lad who died in such a violent way. Rest in peace, Robbie, your gentle presence will be sorely missed.
ASANDA ROBSON MAMNA: 1988.03.11 - 2018.10.29
La Luna
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CXPRESS
SPORT & ADVENTURE
7 November 2018
Ducati claims top bike title, and rocking up on this beaut will make you a winner, too
DYNAMIC HANDLING: The Ducati Panigale V4S being put through its paces by Lance Rothschild
Plett resident LANCE ROTHSCHILD was on the adjudication panel for the Pirelli SA Bike of the Year competition, so got to mount the best rides available to mankind in the line of duty AKE 12 motorcycles with a combined value of R2.65-million, shoe them with some excellent Pirelli tyres, then add 15 motorcycling journalists
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with a combined riding experience of over 400 years. Now mix these with some traversing of the streets and freeways of Gauteng, together with a concentration
of riding on the Dynamic Handling Circuit at Gerotek and you have the ideal recipe to determine the Pirelli SA Bike of the Year. It was a pleasure and a
Plett boys show pluck with a little help from their water polo friends
On Saturday October 27, the Garden Route water polo fraternity arranged for several interleague matches to be played between U15 boys and girls from York High, Glenwood House, Outeniqua Hoërskool, and Knysna’s Oakhill School. The organising committee asked if Plett Water Polo Club would also like to enter a team. Says polo mom Isabelle Brink: “We quickly found some very motivated boys and there we went... no pressure, just enjoy and play your hearts out!” The Plett club may be small but lacks nothing in team spirit or determination. They had to borrow some extra players from other teams and ended the day having won three out of four matches played - awesome! Pictured above are, at back from left, Ben Brink, Durr Koen, Jeandre Strydom, Sebastian Pearce, Levrone van Dijk and Cullen McMillan, with Ben Tyrrell at left in front, next to Oli and dad Chris Fermor. Call Matushka on 082 774 3942 for additional information or if you would like to join Plett Water Polo Club.
Storms River
TIN HOUSE Self-catering accommodation
privilege for me to serve on the adjudication panel for the sixth consecutive running of this event, which is presented by the The Bike Show (find it on Ignition Channel 189) and sponsored by Pirelli. This year’s winner, the Ducati Panigale V4S, is a mixture of art and engineering. It is also a significant game-changer in the field of superbikes and has shifted the goalposts for competitors in the Superbike category. The Panigale V4S weighs in at only 175kg and puts out power of 214hp (160kW), giving it a very aggressive power-to-weight ratio. It is currently the apex predator in the Superbike class. Just as a Ferrari is not a car for everyday commuting, the Panigale V4S isn’t a bike for everyday riding but when unleashed, it shows its Italian lineage. The V4 motor is a significant departure from the iconic V-twins for which Ducati became famous. The Panigale has loads of
power, mind-numbing acceleration, and handling that is far more precise and confident than the ability of the average rider. It will set you back somewhere around R360,000 but show up on this beauty anywhere near where there are bikers, and you’re a winner, too. The remainder of bikes in the top six places this year were: • Triumph 765 Street Triple - a new mid-class motor from Triumph in this excellent chassis makes for a bike on which one can ably commute, yet it will also delight on breakfast runs and track days. • Kawasaki Ninja 400 this is an excellent offering from Kawasaki. It stands out among its class competitors and is the bike that will hopefully introduce many new enthusiasts to the joy of motorcycling. • Triumph Tiger 1200 - an adventure bike, this is an awesome beast. It’s, packed with features and ready for
taking on any adventure trip thrown at it. • KTM 790 Duke (tied fifth place) - this new bike from KTM is a delight to ride. The parallel-twin motor has loads of power and the seating position is great for both commuting and some high-speed play. • Honda Goldwing (tied fifth place) - one of the longest-standing marques of the Honda fleet, the new Goldwing is a motorcycling couch (in terms of comfort and features) and is built for comfortable long-distance touring. It’s too big and unwieldly for playing in the traffic, but you could ride this bike all day on some great open highways, and enjoy the comfort of its finely crafted upholstery. The other finalists were (in alphabetic order): BMW G310GS, BMW K1600B (Bagger), Ducati Multistrada 1260, Husqvarna Vitpilen 701, Kawasaki H2 SX, and Kawasaki Z900RS.