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
Pop a cork SA’s golden boy of rock n roll, Arno Carstens will head the line-up of excellent musicians entertaining festinos at this weekend’s Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival that kicks off with a VIP launch at Central Beach on Friday and runs from 1-8pm on October 9 and from noon to 8pm on the 10th - find out more about the sponsors on p7 and the musos on p8...
free Photo: OneSmallChange
7 October 2015
The return of Jeeves p2
Knysna SAPS update p3
10 000 free copies of cxpress distributed along the garden route every wednesday
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CXPRESS
News & Views
7 October 2015
Jeeves’ Travels Part I
Garden Route winters make me miz, so Croatia, here we come! JEEVES shares his latest travel adventures, which interfered ever so slightly (viz: a mere three-month absence) with his moonlighting as Garden Route chauffeur extraordinaire...
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OME of you have probably been wondering: ‘What on earth has happened to that twit who shuttles people around, here and there in their own vehicles? He’s completely disappeared off the radar screen, and his ‘phone goes straight to voice-mail!’ Just the other day, I got a WhatsApp message from someone who enquired: “Are you now in the City of Gold, writing for the Sunday Times or Noseweek?” Others quizzed if I had eloped or was in jail, hospital, on the high seas or off to the Rugby World Cup. None of the above, I’m afraid.
Let’s start at the beginning, some three months back... --It all started one morning when I awoke to the sound of heavy rain pelting down on the tin roof. Rubbing my eyes and staring up at the ceiling above, I pondered the day/s ahead. June, July, August weather can be depressing, in this part of the world. A few years ago I went to Hoedspruit for the winter months; most pleasant, an hour from Kruger’s Orpen Gate. Daily mean temperature 25-degrees. A few restaurants and supermarkets and plenty of interesting
country excursions at hand, with a host of bush pubs in the area - one we stopped at on the road past the airport to Ingwelala had an elephant bull in the car park! Its front foot raised and leaning on the bonnet of a car, its trunk was wrestling with a tree branch. We got such a shock and hastily re-
versed out, forgetting to take a photograph. But the memory lives on in my mind’s picture album. Just imagine the scene! I rolled out of bed, and focused on the lathered face staring back at me from the bathroom mirror. What’s on the cards today? Perhaps it’s time to skip town for a period, or even the country? As the kettle boiled, the TV news in the background was airing an interview with Heyneke Meyer, Springbok rugby coach on the forthcoming World Cup in the UK. Wait a moment... Yes! YES!
GREEN TICKET: With a Joburg return special on Kulula - its pretty green plane leaving from George, above - and another offered by Swissair to Zurich and Zagreb and back, my Croatian adventure started taking shape
The Boks will be playing and I’ve got plenty of places to stay in Euroland, including a little gem of a place on the Croatian coast! Crashing gears on the interweb I studied the Rugby World Cup itinerary while checking out flight specials from George to Jozi, and Sky Scanner for international deals. First match up against Japan in Brighton. Naah, I’ll give that one a miss. (Thank goodness, but for different reasons.) Next, Samoa. Thumbs down, too - sure to be a bruising encounter, but tick-
JUST LIKE THE BROCHURE: My Euroland landing pads include a little gem of a place on the Croatian coast - a part of the world that looks even better than its advertising flyers profess
in-box for SA. Waste of time and money to travel to the stadiums live for these lesser encounters (sic). Scotland, then? They finished up in fifth place in this year’s Six Nations tournament, so that should be a doddle. Another miss. Suddenly up pops a deal on Kulula: R1,050 return! Zapped in the credit card details, booking confirmed. Then Swissair to Zurich and on to Zagreb and back - around eight grand. Credit card details, enter, flight confirmed. Yay! Croatia, here we come for the Garden Route winter period and I’ll always be able to hop over to England from Pula or Krk Island or Trieste on a budget airline like Ryanair, Easyjet and such like. Prior to commencement of my travels I received a call from Plett resident and super sportsman Ray van der Poll. “I am organising a big sponsored event for later in the year, and would like to request your input on the organising committee.” Crumbs, what’s that all about? “See you end-September, Ray!’’ ‘Till next time, fasten those belts. (To be continued...)
News & Views
7 October 2015
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Ghanaian accused of sexual abuse claims vendetta by scorned neighbours A Plettenberg Bay foreign national accused of sexual crimes against children allegedly lured young girls to his home with promises of sweet treats - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports
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IS modus operandi was revelaed as a 38-yearold Ghanaian resident of KwaNokuthula applied for bail in the Plett Magistrate’s Court on Friday after his arrest on September 8. The accused, who cannot be named until he has pleaded, was arrested by members of the George FCS unit at his home after allegedly com-
mitting several sexual offences involving girls aged between seven and 11. On Friday the court heard how the suspect on some occasions allegedly lured the children to his home with promises of “cookies” before attempting to perform sexual acts with them. He, however, denies this and said that he believed the
Murder hike in Knysna, but new chief has a plan TAILORING A STRATEGY: New Knysna SAPS station commander Colonel Michael Taylor shared his threefold approach to dealing with crime with the media on Monday, with Major Xolile Gogwana and Knysna CPF chair Cheryl Britz as part of his panel
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NYSNA police’s new station commander has his work cut out for him as, after only two weeks on the job, he now has to deal with a worrying trend that has reared its head. During a media briefing on Monday Colonel Michael Taylor, who took over the reins on September 28, said that there had been a “significant” increase in the murder rate over the past six months and that the abuse of substances was one of the major contributors. This came despite 2014’s impressive crime statistics, which revealed that police managed to bring down the Knysna murder rate to its lowest level in a decade. Although he could not quote exact figures for the past six months, he said detailed statistics would be announced on October 14. “One of the biggest factors
that have contributed to the increased murder rate has been substance abuse,” Taylor said. “This has left me no choice but to start dealing with liquor outlets like taverns and ensuring that they adhere to licensing terms,” he added. Visible policing, especially between 11pm and 3am, is also a focus area for Taylor. He said his overall approach to dealing with crime included three key strategies: reducing overall crime, rooting out corruption within the police force, and improving service delivery to the community. As part of this approach, Taylor said he planned involving external partners including Knysna Community Police Forum, neighbourhood watches, street committees and other community-based groups. - Yolandé Stander
claims had been fabricated as part of a vendetta by a scorned neighbour. State prosecutor Gerda Marx also brought it to the court’s attention that, despite claims by the accused that he had not divulged any details about the case to anyone, his “brothers” - fellow Ghanaians - had allegedly demanded an explanation for the claims from the parents of the victims. Investigating officer W/O Christopher Wolhuter took to the witness stand and said in August the man allegedly called three young girls to his home, locked the door behind them and instructed them to undress and lie on
the bed. They claim he then went to the bathroom and when he returned was only wearing “small” underwear. “They say when he went back to the bathroom one of them got the house key, unlocked the door, and they ran away,” Wolhuter said. He added on another occasion he lured two children to his home with promises of cookies and showed them a pornographic film. “The children could describe what happened in the movie.” The suspect, who runs a hair salon in KwaNokuthula, also allegedly called a girl to his house after blow-drying her hair, and attempted to have oral sex with her. “She refused and ran way.” Wolhuter also said he was investigating another matter involving the same man where he allegedly promised a 14-year-old girl a cellphone in exchange for sex.
After his arrest a drug charge was added to the charge sheet and it came to light that he did not have the necessary permit to be in SA. He conceded that he had obtained a falsified permit. Although he admitted that a “small amount” of dagga found at his house belonged to him, and that he was in the country illegally, he denied the other charges. He however admitted that he had a CD containing a pornographic film as well as two short pornographic clips on his cell phone. He said he believed the charges stemmed from a disagreement he had with two of the children’s father - the husband of his police officer neighbour. In court, he said that his neighbour was “a drunk” and on several occasions asked him for money. Three days before his arrest, the neigh-
bour allegedly sent the children to ask for money again. “I didn’t give him the money as business wasn’t good that day. He however later saw me put money in my pocket and confronted me about it,” the accused said. He added that the man then threatened him. He also testified that children had been to his home, but only to clean his house in exchange for money for chips and sweets. He asked the court to grant him bail so he could continue operating his business, as he supported a wife and three children in Ghana. Marx said she believed that if he was released on bail, “the court won’t see you again”, as he had nothing keeping him in the country. The case was postponed to October 15 when the bail application is set to continue. Garden Route Media
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News & Views
7 October 2015
Know the signs of date rape drugs before it is too late Drug education, awareness and prevention programmes have been around for years, but the availability and abuse of drugs, both illegal and prescription, continues not only to increase but to morph and change, constantly throwing up new challenges and the need for fresh, updated initiatives and education - NIKKI RIDLEY reports
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LETT locals William and Astrid Ashurst are two people who consequently devote part of their free time to drug awareness efforts for those most at risk - the youth. They distribute pamphlets and booklets and visit schools to disseminate information on the chemical scourge that threatens lives and the stability of our community, motivated purely by the desire to do something about “the biggest problem we face today - one that destroys families and contributes massively to crime. And that is getting worse.” However, the prevalence of so-called street drugs aside, they are currently focusing on educating local youngsters on the dangers of so-called date rape drugs after two “horrific” incidents recently reported in Plettenberg Bay. “They do happen, of course, but normally reports of date rape - a misnomer, as it seldom involves a ‘date’ at all -
are not that common in Plett. But lately two incidents have been reported, both shocking, but neither of which can be pursued as there is no evidence on which to base a criminal case.” While it is easy to take for granted that everybody knows about this danger, one of the specific tasks the Ashursts have taken on in response to these two incidents is to explain exactly what date rape drugs are and how they work. The idea behind this is to serve as more than just a public warning so easily dismissed as ‘unlikely to happen’ or something that ‘would happen to someone else’. Irrespective of the likelihood of getting spiked at a party or bar, the Ashursts believe that a detailed, in-depth knowledge is key to understanding what the risk entails, staying safe and being able to identify symptoms in oneself or in friends.
“The three most common date rape drugs that we are aware of are rohypnol, clonazepam and alprazolam. We know there are more out there and they are diabolical. A drop can knock you out for seven hours or longer, and you can wake up with complete memory loss. “Most of these drugs come as pills and capsules in a variety of shapes, colours and sizes, many dissolving completely in liquid with either no taste, or a slightly salty taste easily masked by a sweet mixer. “Others come in powder or liquid form. Many do change the colour of the drink they are slipped into, but it is not always possible to see this colour change in the low lighting of most bars and nightclubs.” The only warning a victim will often have is the symptoms themselves, when it is often close to too late - symptoms that can also be difficult
to isolate as they mimic the effects of alcohol. “Many of these symptoms are similar to those produced by alcohol intoxication, but generally they will come on a lot faster and a lot stronger, and include sudden muscle relaxation, loss of muscle control, difficulty moving or controlling movements, drowsiness, feeling drunker than you should, nausea, vision disturbances, slurred speech, memory loss, blacking-out, mental confusion, tremors, seizures, excessive sweating, vomiting and breathing problems. It may also create a ‘dream-like’ feeling or the sense that everything is surreal, aggressive or violent behaviour.” Considering the fact that it can often be too late for the victim to protect herself (or himself) by the time they start to notice symptoms, the information the Ashursts are disseminating includes advice on how to actively and
conscientiously prevent being spiked in the first place. “Don’t accept drinks from other people or share drinks, keep your drink with you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom, and avoid drinking from punch bowls or other common, open containers at a party. If you leave your drink alone even for a short time, throw it out. “If someone offers to get you a drink, go with the person to order it. Watch the drink being poured and carry it yourself. Don’t drink anything that tastes or smells strange, and watch out for a salty taste which can indicate the presence of GHB.” (This drug can act like a sleeping pill and can also dramatically lower sexual inhibition.) “If you feel drunk and haven’t drunk any alcohol, or if you feel like the effects of drinking alcohol are stronger than usual; if you experience any of the above symptoms, get help right away.”
William Ashurst also stressed the importance of considering the social situation and keeping an eye on people’s behaviour. “It takes 12 minutes on average for these drugs to work, depending on how much has been administered. At a house party, they will simply wait for you to pass out. At a bar or nightclub, they need to get you out to a car before you pass out and they’ll want to help you or carry you out. “If you have only had one or two drinks and your head starts spinning, you feel weak or more drunk than usual or than you think you should feel, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Rather be safe than sorry. “Go out and have a good time,” says Ashurst, “but be aware, and if you do think you have been spiked, don’t wait until it’s too late.” Email William Ashurst at dreamlinktech@gmail.com for more information.
News & Views
7 October 2015
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Crime prevention stalwarts committed to the safety of Plett residents and visitors Words & photo: Timothy Twidle
KNOW THY NEIGHBOUR: Members of the PBCPA gathered last week to show their commitment to fighting crime in Bitou, and a strong message was sent to all residents to be aware of their surrounds, join their local neighbourhood watch and know who to call in an emergency
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N a show of force, solidarity and commitment to the safety and security of residents and visitors to the town ahead of the forthcoming Plett Rage and tourism season, on October 1
the Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) - an umbrella body incorporating all aspects of law enforcement in Bitou, arranged for representatives of member organisations to
gather on the hill adjacent to the traffic circle twixt the BI and Piesang Valley Road. Constituent members of the PBCPA include ADT, Bitou Public Safety/Bitou Municipal Law Enforcement, Bitou
Shack fires prompt support from public
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ITOU Municipality last week released a press statement regarding the fire that razed several informal dwellings in Tambo Street, KwaNokuthula in the afternoon of September 29. It praised the efforts of Plett Fire and Rescue, saying that they responded promptly to a call to the control room at 2:29pm; first response was dispatched immediately and further units were on the scene within 15min. They managed to suppress the fire effectively and prevent further dwellings catching alight from radiant heat, however eight dwellings were either completely destroyed or damaged.
Of the 26 people directly affected, 11 were adults, 14 children and one an infant. They were immediately assisted within the community, by the Housing Section and Public Safety, and provided with blankets, mattresses and food parcels. Mayor Memory Booysen praised the work of the departments. However, he also had to address concerns that some of the emergency food items had expired. “The food parcels were received four months ago, packaged and sealed as stock items. The matter is being investigated,” he said. The sealed food parcels were received from Eden
Municipality in May, and it has been reported that individual items in the parcels were not checked, as doing so would have meant opening the parcels and leaving them vulnerable to pilfering. The release concluded that the affected families were supplied with fresh food parcels the following day, and Bitou Municipality thanked members of the Plett public who collected food, clothing and other goods for the destitute families, who are now being housed within the community. Plett Fire and Rescue have not as yet responded to requests for information regarding the cause of the fire.
Barns murder case postponed ‘till October 19
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HE man accused of murdering an elderly Wittedrift lodge owner briefly took his place in the dock in the Plett Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Jeffrey Pienaar, 34, is accused of gunning down 66-year-old John Barnes, owner of the Wadrift Eventide Lodge, and appeared in court for the third time since his arrest at his home Kwa-
Nokuthula on September 21. The matter was postponed until October 19 for the suspect to apply for bail. Barnes’ body was discovered by his wife during the early morning hours on July 24 in his bedroom at the lodge. His dog was also found dead in the room. According to police his wife, who was not in the same room, heard a scuffle
at about 4am and when investigating, found her husband had been shot. Pienaar appeared in court on a charge of murder. Police spokesman Captain Malcolm Pojie said he had not been charged with robbery and initially said that there had been no signs of forced entry and it appeared that nothing had been stolen. - Yolandé Stander
Municipal Fire & Disaster Services and the Traffic Department, Blue Bay Guards, Boschfontein NW, Beau Rivage & Brackenridge HOAs, Crags Neighbourhood Support Group, Goose Valley HOA, Harkerville Rural Protection, Keurboom Property Owners Association & River Master Homeowners Association, and Medlife Ambulance Services. Plett Business Chamber, Plett Accommodation Association (PAA) and Ratepayers Association, Plett Security, The Way to Happiness, Plett. Watch, Poortjies NW, Prime Security, Smhart Alarms, the SAPS, Strombolis Retirement Village HOA, The Computer Shop (strategic partner) and Wittedrift NW are the balance of the members. All these organisations enjoy an excellent cooperative working relationship with one another and add value
to and support one another’s crime combatting activities. Plett.Watch and other NW groups have three components made up of a group communication system using cellphones, patrols by car and on foot, and a response unit. If anybody is aware of anything unusual happening with regards to safety, they can either call their local NW group or the PBCPA emergency line on 082 251 8134, manned 24/7, for a rapid response to the situation. Said PBCPA chair Bruce Richardson in his address at the gathering: “We are here today to demonstrate to the public how effective we are as a group committed to the safety and security of Plett.” The PBCPA, founded over five years ago by Plett Security and Smhart Alarms, has proven to be extremely effective in addressing concerns of locals and visitors alike.
Since Plett.Watch was established a year ago, it has undergone massive expansion in terms of both membership and effectiveness which has greatly enhanced the power of the communitybased organisations. “It’s all about residents knowing how to react to situations, which organisation to contact and how to make contact urgently,” said Richardson. “Let’s work together to fight the evil of crime.” Otto Olivier of Plett Security and Operations Director of the PBCPA emphatically stated that cooperation with all security stakeholders was of upmost importance. “Everyone should give their full support while being security wise and alert, making it very uncomfortable for criminals operating in Bitou and so working together towards a safer and crime-free Plettenberg Bay.”
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7 October 2015
News & Views
Zen and the fine art of Japanese animation An exhibition of acclaimed Knysna photographer ALIX CARMICHELE’S latest works ‘Elemental Magic’ opens at The Tin House on Friday - below, she shares her inspirations and provides some pointers on the art form that is ‘anime’
WILD WARRIOR: Alix used props like an umbrella, a Japanese sword, a whip, a musket, powder, a bow, fire and a pack of cards to give her warrior character space to play with and create new interpretations of the elements through the freedom of artistic and theatrical expression
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HE character is used as a tool to represent a basic story line and to express a natural progression of the elements - in this case a solitary image using various weapons and props which represent the elements from different cultures, as well as a few new ones - and then shot on iPad4 using a Instamatic’s Lowy blanko film and lens combination. After edited in Photoshop, this gives the impression of a graphic novel or ‘anime’. Although not fully stylised as a drawing, the image maintains a photographic integrity, however, it could go either way... 5% to the left a photograph, or 5% to the right a graphic drawing. My inspiration for this exhibition comes from a love of the interconnections between Zen Buddhism and popular culture, notably anime - an animation style which originated in Japan. It is characterised by distinctive characters and backgrounds, which could be hand-drawn or computergenerated, that visually and thematically set it apart from other forms of animation. The second component is
manga, which is Japanese for ‘comics’ or ‘whimsical images’. Manga developed from a mixture of ukiyo-e and Western styles of drawing, and took its current form shortly after World War II. Anime and manga share many characteristics, including the exaggeration (in terms of scale) of physical features, to which the reader presumably should pay most attention, the best known being large eyes. Other effects include dramatically shaped speech bubbles, speed lines and onomatopoeic, exclamatory typography In anime, there are a lot of powerful characters who have unique special abilities, so I decided to try and interpret the elements through my camera using an autonomous and independent warrior character to explore this theme. For my own purposes I’ve used an umbrella, a Katana (Japanese sword), a whip, an old musket, a stick, cards, powder, a bow and fire, so giving my warrior character the space to play with and create new interpretations of the elements through the freedom of artistic and theatrical expression.
Photographing my warrior in mid-air is my way of showing the exaggeration of manga and I’m hoping that I have achieved a sense of drama and magic in this action without the use of speech bubbles and exclamatory script. Earth, air, fire, and water: these four elements, in the Western tradition, are the foundation of natural magic, alchemy, philosophy, modern science, and life itself. “Life is the fire that burns and the sun that gives light,” said the Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger. “Life is the wind and the rain and the thunder in the sky. Life is matter and is earth, what is and what is not, and what beyond is in Eternity.” My promotional clip http:// youtu.be/-Nv0QeGKP4g gives a small insight into the exciting possibilities of the use of stop motion, still images and moving pictures to explore the union of fire and water - the primary tasks of art, made possible through the mediating elements of air and earth. Elemental Magic hangs at The Tin House until Wednesday October 14.
Sign up now for new Plett Nipper season
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HE local Nipper season kicks off on the first Friday of the new school term, October 16 at 3pm, in front of the Plett Surf Lifesaving Club headquarters at Central Beach.
Here’s reminding all Nipper families to sign up if they didn’t manage to attend last month’s open day, and inviting new Nippers and their parents to come and check out the fun and action
in the surf and on the sand. Registration forms can be obtained from club seccie Shameera Paruk on 083 304 5087 or email plettsurf club@gmail.com for further information.
Business
7 October 2015
From grapevine to store line
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Most South African wine lovers will be familiar with the name Raka - a wine estate in Hermanus that is family-owned and built from the ground up - and this is a behind the scenes look at the role of Sasfin, sponsor of this weekend’s Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival, in the Raka Wines success story
COMMON CAUSE: Brothers Pieter, left, and Josef Dreyer in the Raka cellar - winemaker Josef pays tribute to Sasfin as an important part of their team
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HE widely-acclaimed Raka Estate is owned by the Dreyer Family who bought the farm Remhoogte, southeast of Hermanus in the Akkedisberg area, in 1982. Initially farming with livestock and citrus, in 1999 the Dreyers planted 10 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz grapes. Since then a few hectares were added annually, totalling in the farm’s current 68 hectares. This includes plantings of Pinotage, Sangiovese, Viognier, Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot and also larger plantings of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc, making the
farm self-sufficient as far as the varieties that are needed for the different blends are concerned. Winemaker Josef Dreyer is proud to say that Raka performs every function in the value chain of the business to ensure that the quality associated with the family name is maintained. This process includes everything from fermentation, maturation, bottling, labelling and distribution. A key part of the estate’s growth lies in the success they had in accessing government grants, which were critical in growing the business. This
would not have been possible without Raka’s partnership with the Sasfin Commercial Solutions (Incentives) team. Josef’s father Piet applied for the incentives programme, offered through the Department of Trade and Industry (dti), in 2005. The family’s success in accessing the grant, however, came in 2008 when Josef began working with Sasfin - and the family has remained with Sasfin ever since. Sasfin has been helping companies like Raka access government grants and incentives since 1988 through its Incentives division. In 2013, Sasfin applied for the Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme (MCEP) on behalf of the Dreyer family. This programme enabled them to increase their capability and output in the labelling and packaging part of the business. It also meant that they no longer had to outsource this part of the production process and were able to run operations with the standard of quality they implemented in other areas of their business. Says Josef Dreyer: “Owning our own equipment gives
us more freedom when it comes to the day to day planning of our processes.” While it is possible for businesses to apply to the dti directly, Dreyer explains that he would not have applied for the grant without Sasfin’s assistance. “As a family business all of our plates are already full, so the only way to apply is to outsource.” Many businesses face the same challenge of simply not having the time to dedicate to the administrativelyintensive application process while still running a business. Sasfin Commercial Solutions is able to partner with businesses and offer the time and skills that the application programme requires. Many companies miss the opportunities to grow their operations because they do not have the resources to pursue these incentives. Sasfin takes over this process, allowing clients to focus on running their businesses while receiving the rewards. Working with Sasfin made the expansion and comprehensive ownership of Raka’s value chain possible. According to Piet and Josef, the rea-
HEAVEN ON EARTH: Raka is nestled in the Kleinrivier Valley 17km out of Stanford and with the blessing of earth and elements, the help of a dedicated workforce, the enthusiasm of winemaker Josef Dreyer and the advantages of a modern gravity flow cellar, Piet Dreyer produces his award-winning Raka wines
INCENTIVES R US: The Western Cape Sasfin Incentives team, from left, are Dian Naudé, Renee Matomana, Lameez Jacobs, Alison Wienekus, Deidre Petersen and Angelique Massey (absent: Melissa Lakey)
son they have committed to this relationship is “because Sasfin is well-informed and up to date with the steps and processes involved and, because they deal with a big client base, they have a stronger participation with the dti”. Dreyer says that liaising with Sasfin is a pleasure as the team makes the process “very easy, while the information and the consultant’s knowledge of the application process is really helpful”. The Dreyer family as a
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whole have been so satisfied with this working relationship that they are applying to Sasfin with a new project. Dreyer describes Sasfin as a part of his team: “They are committed to the common cause and we worked as a team to solve problems and learned new skills to reach the objectives.” To see how Sasfin can partner with you to grow your business through dti Incentives, please contact Alison Wienekus on 021 443 6858.
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Holiday Activities
7 October 2015
You’ve never seen anything like this Deja Vu line-up in your life
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THEKO Events project manager Thembi Gqirana last week announced that Dbn Nyts - the band of young Durbanites who broke records recently when their love song Shumaya topped charts countrywide - will feature when the Cape Townbased evens company stages its first annual Deja Vu concert in Plett next month. “The Deja Vu concept is all about gatherings aimed at welcoming the most enjoyed season of all... summer!”
says Thembi. She adds that the line-up is filled to the brim with “extra matured entertainment, from national artists to best local talent”. The five-strong Dbn Nyts will perform together with fast-rising vocalist Zinhle Ngidi, who shot to fame for featuring on Shumaya and is working hard towards a very bright solo career. The list of national tunesspinners who signed up to be in the house, as it were, at KwaNokuthula community
FISHING IN DA HOUSE: One of the coolest acts to impress on the decks nationally, DJ Fisherman is sure not to disappoint when playing in Kwano on November 6
SIGNED TO SHINE: Dbn Nyts comprises Cebo Ngcobo, Samukelo Maphumulo, Lazi Yokwana, Wanda Tshabalala and Kabelo Bekile, who shot to stardom after DJ Oskido found them on the streets of Yeoville earlier this year and orchestrated a recording deal Photo: Bongiwe Sithole - Sowetan
hall reads like the who’s who of kwaito, rap and related genres’ masters of the decks: DJ Fisherman, DJ Stax, DJ 101 and DJ Bongani will be joined by the best-loved Pletty and Knysna DJs. “And last but not least, our celebrity guest on the night is Thobani Mseleni from eTV’s Matatiele and other series screened on national TV. An amazing actor and singer in his own right, he is sure to add even more style and glitz to an already star-
studded evening,” she says. Diarise Friday November 6 and get your tickets online or at Computicket outlets, as seats are limited and won’t be sold at the venue - and you would not want to miss this unique gathering of musical luminaries on the Route. WhatsApp 073 611 2942, email nsforus@yahoo.com or follow Itheko Events & Projects on Facebook, and see the advert on this page for additional information and images of the artists.
Art lovers unite... tonight! Knysna fêtes timber history
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HE first event of the Knysna Art Festival is an art auction at The Drydock at Knysna Waterfront tonight (October 7), hosted by Knysna Art Society. Says the Society’s Estelle Croad: “The auction will be conducted by Lady Annabelle Conyngham who lives in Plett and is a consultant for Christies of London. We are very privileged to have her as our auctioneer for this function.” Artwork can be viewed from 12:30 to 4:30pm today and absentee bids will be accepted, forms being available at the venue. Tickets for the auction are for sale at The Old Gaol in Queen Street, Fleming Photographic in Grey Street, at Woodmill Lane Art Gallery,
Sippin’ it slow with chilled tunes and funky grooves
and at The Drydock restaurant at Knysna Waterfront. “All artworks have been pre-selected and a wonderful collection will be auctioned,” says Estelle, adding that all art is done by talented local artists. Tonight’s auction will be preceded by a complimentary drink and canapés - more reason why you don’t want to miss out on the opening of this fine event. The Knysna Arts Festival is brought to you by Sotheby’s International Realty. Visit www.visitknysna.co.za and see the adverts on this page for details. You can also go to http://www.visitknysna.co .za/explore/festivals-events/ knysna-arts-festival.html to download the full festival programme.
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HE Knysna Timber Festival has been refreshed with a name and venue change from last year’s Working with Wood Festival, but promises the same successful format as 2014’s inaugural event. Held from October 8-10, a decision to move the festival from Timber Village to the Premier Hotel was made for practical reasons of space and weather conditions. “The Timber Festival belongs to Knysna, as it should, and promises to be bigger and better than before,” said Jock McConnachie of the organising committee. “We wanted to bring the festival closer to the Industrial Area to offer exposure to some of the working tim-
ber factories, as well as to the nearby Eden Community College.” This year’s festival will once again include project based workshop presentations offered by Vermont Sales. There will also be machinery displays, furniture exhibitions and a lot more to admire. “To entertain the ladies, we have involved related industries such as architecture and interior design,” said McConnachie. He added that the festival provides everyone involved in the timber industry an opportunity to showcase their commitment to the industry that was once the cornerstone of the town’s economy. Visit www.timberfestival. co.za for more details.
T
HE Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival gets ready to roll out the red carpet, because last week the festival organisers announced that platinum selling and award winning singer-songwriter Arno Carstens will be performing on Central Beach on Saturday October 10. Sit back, relax and soak in the sounds of this tal-
ented musician, including tracks from Lightning Prevails - a seductive departure from the comfortable and familiar Arno Carstens sound. The festival’s musical line-up also includes performances by Josie Field (October 9 only), Gerald Clarke, Tongue & Groove, and Wendy Oldfield featuring Tigger.
Holiday Activities
7 October 2015
CXPRESS
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Interval
7 October 2015
When Allan called a motel and asked how much they charged for a room, the clerk said the rates depended on room size and number of people. “Do you take children?’ Allan asked. “No, sir” replied the clerk. “Only cash and credit cards.”
Father and son time
I
was reading an interesting article last night about fathers and sons, and memories came flooding back of the time I took my son out for his first pint. Off we went to our local, which is only two blocks from the house. I got him a Fosters. He
didn’t like it so I had it. Then I got him a Carling Black Label. He didn’t like it, so I had it. It was the same with the 1664 Lager and Premium Dry Cider. By the time we got to the whisky, I could hardly push the darn pram back home!
At the race course...
I
n the 2:45 at Haydock Park Racecourse in England yesterday, the favourite was a few lengths ahead when the jockey was hit on the head by a chicken leg. The horse faltered but the jockey regained control, when suddenly a sandwich hit him behind the ear.
Undaunted, he was approaching the finish line when a bottle of champagne came out of the crowd and again hit the jockey, causing him to lose control and slip back to third place. Finally, a stewards’ enquiry decided that the jockey had been hampered...
The hungry blind date
J
on gets set up on a blind date and he takes her out for dinner to a very expensive restaurant to make a good impression. The waiter approaches the table and asks to take their order. The lady begins ordering practically everything on the menu - shrimp cocktail, pate, Caesar salad,
crayfish, crepes Suzette with no regard to the price. Jon is getting very upset as he never thought she would order so much. She then stops, looks across at him, and asks: “What do you suggest I wash it down with?” “Well my dear, I can think of nothing so fitting as the Orange River.”
Clock around a block
A
man is in a pawn shop and sees a beautiful Grandfather Clock, and ends up buying it. He asks the owner if he can deliver the clock, and the owner replies that he cannot make deliveries. So only living a few blocks away, the man decides to strap the clock on his back and carry it the few blocks home. After a block or so, a drunk
comes staggering out of a bar and bumps into the man, knocking him down on his back and smashing the clock to bits. The man then jumps up and starts cussing the drunk out, saying: “Look what you did to my beautiful clock, you idiot.” The drunk replies: “Gee buddy, I’m really sorry, but why don’t you wear a wristwatch like everyone else?”
DMA
DEBT MANAGEMENT Agency
Cool illusions
Social Scene
7 October 2015
CXPRESS
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People, places & events
CLICKS TEAM KNOWS BRAAI TRICKS: These images from last month’s braai competition at The Market Square in Plett was shared by centre manager Karin van Riet, who thanked Albert and his team at Pick n Pay for organising a splendid event to commemorate Heritage cum Braai Day with delicious meals prepared on open fires. Three independent judges tasted, smelled and perused presentation of the entries while Plett’s MCFM90.3 team was on hand with their outside broadcast unit to entertain the large and merry crowd throughout the morning. And when the winners were finally announced, a jubilant Clicks crew, above, came out tops, with runners up the Pick n Pay team, top right, followed by the Wittedrift High braaiers, at right, in third place.
BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT: Renicia Leonard sent these pics and wrote: ‘A warm thank you goes out to each and everyone involved in making our Miss Youth 2015, held at New Horizons civic centre last month, such a huge success.’ The Miss Youth pageant is an annual event organised by Elim Youth Ministry where all the different youth groups showcase their talents, ranging from dancing, rapping, drama, karate and modelling. ‘We also spread the word of God to prove to our community that you can have fun in Christ and that there is room for change. Our goal and purpose is to take back our community and rise above our circumstances, and for everyone to become a better person because with God all things are possible.’ Congratulations to Miss Personality Kirsty McCallum, second princess Jamie van der Westhuizen, first princess Cherilene Wildeman and Miss Youth 2015 Courtney Windvogel, the latter three ladies being pictured above.
NEW KWIKSPAR NOW FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS: The launch of Plett’s unrecognisably revamped Kwikspar at the BI traffic circle turned at least one CXPRESS team member’s frown upside down when stopping in en route to the Saturday morning office shift. Shoppers were greeted with friendly smiles, festive flutes of juice and trays of complimentary tasters to celebrate the official opening of the refurbished store. On hand to create a great vibe was Algoa FM and amid all the good cheer, Lente Brown - pictured at left with cashier Noxolo Vumazonke had a moment to chat. Along with husband Duncan, Lente is no stranger to projects of this magnitude, having returned to Plett some months ago after a four-year stint in George for a similar purpose: the launch of a SuperSpar in the bustling Southern Cape capital. But Plett is where their hearts are and Lente said they’ve come a long way since first arriving 12 years ago, business and the community both having welcomed their latest venture with open arms. And who wouldn’t? It’s a huge plus for Plett so if you haven’t checked it out yet, do yourself the favour soon.
OH MY HAT: Bitou mayor Memory Booysen, left, and Western Cape DA leader Patricia de Lille look the part for last Saturday’s Mad Hatter lunch at Ouland Royale. Find out more about the happy do on page 15 of this edition.
Photo: Heather Craig
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Food & Wine
7 October - 2015
Feast of prawns enhances bowlers’ performance
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ITA Davis of the Plettenberg Bay Country Club’s bowling section shared this news of a mouthwatering prawn-gobbling occasion enjoyed by members on September 27. “Our prawn braai at the clubhouse was subsidised and cooked for us by Karen and Chris Kastern of Robberg Seafood Safari. It was absolutely delicious and thoroughly enjoyed by our 50-odd members and guests. “Besides a big thank you to Robberg Seafoods, we must also mention Elly who or-
ganised the catering and made the dessert, while Nancy and Dickson kindly provided wine for each table in celebration of their Diamond Wedding Anniversary,” says Nita. Last but not least, Roger Wright and Karen Mathies were thanked for managing the bar so seamlessly. Noth-
ing like a bit of pre and postprandial liquid refreshments to accompany those prawns, while also boosting performance on the greens! The club’s Presidents Day takes place on October 8, and coaching sessions are held at the club on Friday mornings by prior arrangement. All interested people are welcome to come and play but remember to bring flat-soled shoes to wear on the green. Phone John Swinley on 044 533 5056 or Rob Windsor on 044 533 9139 for additional information.
OVER THE COALS: Karen from Robberg Seafood and the club’s star helper Rochelle see to it that the prawns are just perfect
DIAMONDS AND PRAWNS: Nancy and Dickson Russell celebrated their Diamond Anniversary, and supplied wines to complement the prawns
PeeBee’s Wine Column
Words & Photo: Peter Bishop
Joubert Tradauw - the perfect stopping place
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HE Route 62 joining Barrydale and Montagu passes through the graceful cool Tradauw Valley. And 12km out from Barrydale lies the 50 hectare wine farm of Meyer and Beulah Joubert. In 1954, Meyer’s grandfather Schalk-Willem had bought the farm, and his dad Jacobus had started planting vines by 1982. It was inevitable that the eldest (of three) sons, Meyer, would study winemaking at Elsenburg and then work in
the Napa Valley of California before establishing his own boutique winery back home in 1996. He has developed an understanding of the shale soil and the cooling winds in the later part of the day in summer. He is happy with a yield of seven tons per hectare where some Klein Karoo farmers can reap in 40 tons. His maiden Chardonnay 2001 was presented with very much acclaim. Recently Meyer presented a tasting at
The Bell at Belvedere Manor, with proprietors Sue and Mike Mills presenting a three course meal. The 2013 Joubert Tradauw Chardonnay, with 30% new oak, was fermented in barrels with a selected yeast added. Initially the wine had a lemon rind taste and a good grip and when served with a baked ricotta and a grilled asparagus, it showed more creaminess and minerality. A fine balance. Pride of the farm has been
a block of Shiraz, the Joubert Tradauw 2011 Syrah, with calm white pepper and ripe capsicum - a great smooth cool area wine that emerged with lower (13%) alcohol. It was one of three red wines served with a generous dish of braised beef short rib with mash potato and oven roasted vegetables. The 2012 Joubert Tradauw R62, named after the highway, is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a touch of Pinot Noir - a shock to what Meyer would call ‘pinotphiles’. The wine has been in barrel for 26 months and shows a fullness yet with soft inviting tannins. Consumers should realise that the tannins in a red wine dry the palate so that each morsel can be enjoyed anew, whereas the acids wet the palate enticing the gastric juices that help in digestion of the food. If the fruit or body harmonises, the consumer is the winner. Meyer is not shy of expressing the fruit that he has nurtured to the extent that just before ripening, nearly 50% of the grapes are discarded so that what ripens is consistent. It may seem strange that Meyer produces a Pinot Noir but he can show figures re-
OLIVE EYES DON’T AGE: Meyer Joubert worked in the Napa Valley of California before establishing his own boutique winery on the R62 - he assures those keen to call in for a taste or for the night that the stopover will be worthwhile
cording that the Tradauw Valley is of the coolest parts of the Cape Vineyards. He planted the healthy Dijon Clone 115 that yields small berries and fine skin tannins, fermented in second and third fill barrels with no filtration. The wine is a bit more robust, quite extracted in fact with liquorice, a gamey mouthfeel and slightly sharper acids. Again, to educate rather than to surprise, the Pinot Noir was offered with raspberry bavarois in a red wine berry sauce. There were a few strawberries on the plate and the reader is invited over
the season to enjoy a GOOD bottle of red wine with strawberries. You will be surprised. It is better than with cheese! The farm is undergoing yet further improvements, with the assurance from Meyer that the stop-over will be worthwhile. One can even sleep over in a cottage. On occasions music evenings are held, but the winner is the warmth of the welcome and a chance to talk wine while the women present just stare into the olive eyes of the young winemaker - closer to 40, but eternally young. Footnote: Meyer’s younger brother Cobus is an adventurous marketer. He discovered a tiny supply (115 litres) of over 200-year-old Muscadel in a barrel, bottled it in 287ml tint bottles, and sold one of the few for R20,000. Two of these bottles are on sale at the 2015 Nederburg Auction at a reserve price of R42,000. Needless to say, the 36 attendees at The Bell did not get a sip of the Joubert Family Muscadel 1800. The barrel is topped every five years. Neal Martin who has taken over from Robert Parker scores the wine 99. Win some, lose some, but visit those olive eyes! PeeBee has kept his palate alive since 1975 when he met Beejay Lankwarden in the Wilderness. He explores local, national and international wines, looking for ‘the cutting edge’.
Home & Health
7 October 2015
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Village elders celebrate 25 years of good, clean and fit fun
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IT and fun-loving residents at Formosa Garden Village in Plett celebrated the 25th anniversary of the South African Seniors Fitness Association (Sasfa) on Heritage Day, with all members donning a touch of bling for this silver birthday milestone. Says the Village’s Linda Victor, who kindly shared this news and photos of the day with CXPRESS: “We were fortunate to have two original members, Mala van
Huyssteen and Marie Monk, joining us for the momentous occasion. “To add to the good mood, the kitchen staff touched our hearts with lovely singing and a grand time was had by everyone involved.” According to its website, Sasfa aims to bring wellbeing and friendship to every South African senior through its exercise and recreational programmes, presented in a relaxed environment. “More and more people
FROM THE WORD GO: Original Sasfa members Mala van Huyssteen, left, and Marie Monk were on hand to celebrate a quarter century of fun and fitness at FGV; below from left, the kitchen staff entertain with song, while Dianna Hollingworth & Rosemary Dawes, and Marie Meiring & Lynn Connell sport a touch of silvery bling
Spring cleaning? Donate those hidden home treasures!
B
OERE Brocante is the South African version of the enormously popular second-hand/antique markets to be found all over France, where an array of collectible, colourful and sometimes crazy items is on offer. Plett’s inaugural and highly successful Boere Brocante was held last December to raise funds for four local charities. On the day, crowds of inquisitive folk arrived at Ouland Royale on the Airport Road to discover an amusing and eclectic range of interesting and collectible objets, at bargain prices. The organisers have now with great glee announced the date for this year’s Boere Brocante, which will be held on Tuesday December 15 at
PREVIOUSLY LOVED LOVELIES: Last year’s event saw an amusing and eclectic range of interesting and collectible objets, sold at bargain prices, on display at Ouland Royale
the same venue. Ouland Royale, aptly described as a “baroque barn”, is the perfect setting for this event. And, judging from last year’s enthusiastic response, this season’s event
promises to be an equally enjoyable occasion. Says Marietta van Rooyen of the Bitou 10 Foundation: “We appeal to all Plett residents to bear us in mind when cleaning out shelves,
cupboards and garages. “We would love to recycle all your unwanted and unloved items, preferably of an antique or vintage nature, such as glassware, porcelain, ornaments, classic and vintage clothes and shoes, fabrics, embroidered linen, silver, brass, copper, quality artworks, collectible books and ornaments.” The organisers will also gladly accept gently worn items, but caution that damaged goods will not sell. So please get in touch if you have quality used items your donations will be gratefully received. Call Marietta on 083 379 5339, Annabelle on 044 533 5178 or Marsja on 073 645 9476 to arrange for collection or delivery.
Dahlias bring dignity and elegance to your spring garden
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HE knowledge that dahlias are named after a certain Swedish botanist, Dr Dahl, is about as much formal clarity as one gets about this well-known beauty today. The Victorian language of flowers notes that when given as a gift, dahlia flowers represent dignity and elegance - which is most likely somehow linked in with them being a symbol of commitment and life-long bonds. Weddings are the most dignified and elegant of affairs, non? Many believe that dahlias are from Holland but truth be
told, they are native to Central America where they were discovered in the 16th century by the Spanish. Holland only received their first box of tubers in 1872. Dahlias have been substantially hybridised over the centuries with an immense variety of both colour and size, but it’s the dahlia variabilis (meaning variable in Latin), the bedding variety, that’s in the spotlight here. Grown from seed, the ready-to-plant seedlings can be found in garden centres during most of the summer months in South Africa. The kaleidoscope of colours at your disposal will quite possibly leave you with a dilemma around choosing what you’re going to buy. Unless true blue is your favourite colour and settling for anything either side of it is not an option, there is almost certainly something to suit everyone.
Dahlias prefer a spot sheltered from the wind with fertile well-draining soil. For optimum results, you should feed them fortnightly, especially during their flowering spells and don’t be shy about deadheading, it actually encourages new blooms to form. They are rather thirsty, so regular watering will be needed, but remember the well-draining soil is essential because their roots are not going to be happy in waterlogged soil. It’s a bit like enjoying a cold drink on a hot day but you’re left with soggy socks afterwards. Pick a spot in the garden that gets a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight every day to bring out the best in your dahlias. If you’d like to have sturdy, bushier plants, all you need to do is wait until it has settled in nicely with a few pairs of leaves on the stem, and
then pinch off the last shoot as it’s forming. It will make some side branches resulting in a more solid plant. We can’t all be perfect and one of the bug bears dahlias have are slugs and snails. Speak to your garden centre about how to limit their snacking tendencies or put down some egg shells or beer traps to save your new additions from becoming slug lunch. Planting your seedlings far apart enough to allow a good measure of air movement between them will also send any mildew type diseases packing. If you’re looking for pot subjects, bed fillers, borders or path liners, the compact bedding dahlias should do the trick, maturing at around 30-40cm and most likely available in your chosen colour scheme, too. Go to www.lifeisagarden. co.za for more information.
are living to be 70 and over, so there are going to be increasing numbers of senior citizens contemplating the prospect of 10, 15 or more years of retirement. What are they going to do with those years?” This is where the South African Seniors Fitness Association comes in - visit
www.seniorfitness.co.za to find out more. Sasfa Fun and Fit gathers on Tuesdays at 3:30pm and Thursdays at 10am in the FGV lounge for a specialised senior routine. If you read here and think you could benefit, Linda invites you to join in the fun. Phone 044 533 1485 for details.
*5(166725,(6
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7 October 2015
Classifieds
On the Soapbox
7 October 2015
Letters to the Editor
CXPRESS
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
Local is very lekker - and CXPRESS is the best!
I could not possibly tell you how amazing your newspaper, CXPRESS, has become. It is full of interesting articles - crammed with local news on subjects from children to the elderly. And with lots of copies always well distributed all over Knysna and Plettenberg
Bay, we never have to hunt for an edition. The reason why there are so many people supporting your newspaper with advertising is that they know this is the best way to get their message across - it really works! Congratulations to the en-
Flower folk say thank you for excellent publicity On behalf of the members of the Orchid Society of the Southern Cape, I would like to thank you for covering the Society’s spring flower show in CXPRESS. It contributed greatly to the overall publicity on the Garden Route for this annual event.
With the wonderful weather conditions and attractive displays, we had a good response from the public over the course of the show. Once again, many thanks for your hand in that excellent turnout. Iain Mann, George
tire team. Local is LEKKER. Denise Hugo, Plett (Phew, how lucky are we to have a fan like Denise who not only shares her appreciation verbally, as is often the case with our loyal supporters, but actually took the time to put pen to paper.
We’ve been working hard for nearly two decades at serving the dual purpose of being news bearers and providing an effective advertising vehicle, Denise, and it’s heart-warming and inspirational for our cause to receive a letter like yours. Merci! - Eds.)
Grateful for neighbourliness My mother, Marlies, is in her 80s but she still enjoys shopping with her wheel-walker, although she is dependent on help with unloading it from the car. She also needs help at the tills with lifting and packing her purchases. The security guards in front of Woolies at The Market Square, as well as the cashiers at Woolies are
mostly really considerate and helpful. Often a cashier even accompanies my mom right up to the car where the security guard is ready to help with loading everything in the car. We are grateful for their helpfulness and commend them for it. We love living in a small town where neighbourliness is commonplace. Doris Fornefeld, Plett
Mad Hatters lunch with De Lille a festive success The DA’s Mad Hatters lunch held at Ouland Royale on Saturday with Patricia de Lille, DA leader of the Western Cape as special guest, would not have been possible without the help of a great many individuals and businesses. I thank Bitou mayor Memory Booysen, minister Donald Grant and councillor Wayne Craig for their attendance and contribution. Personally, I would also like to thank the following individuals and businesses for their support: Margie Holly for all your help and kindness and for making time to bake the Christmas cake; Robberg
WHAT A PRETTY WAY TO DRESS PAT’S HEAD: Wilja Reitz of Ouland Royale was responsible for turning Patricia de Lille into a Mad Hatter with this artful creation
Fine Foods; OfftheHook for sponsoring dinner for two with the mayor; Plettenvale
Wines and Ian McMillan of Plett’s Music Box. Bramon provided bub-
bles and wine and minister Grant sponsored additional red wines while Wyn & Liz Mundell contributed some whites. Other contributors include Pick n Pay, Jiwu Spa, Beauty on Main and Pippa’s Flowers. Finally, special thanks go to lady Annabelle Conyngham, to Wilja Reitz of Ouland Royale, and to Lynn Gubb for making the hampers. And if anyone who helped is not mentioned here, I am indebted to you as to everyone who contributed so very generously. Heather Craig, Plett (See another image of the Hatters on page 11. - Eds.)
Business owners and managers, beware of long rental The principal of Haus Rentals shared this cautionary note dearth in Bitou I have received many enquiries for long-term property rentals from people out of town who have accepted local business appointments and who are now struggling to find suitable accommoda-
tion to rent. Please be aware that there is a drastic shortage of medium to long-term property rental stock in the area. The situation is not unique to Plett, nor is it new, but the
rental availability is at its lowest level for years. So you simply can’t take it for granted that your newlyappointed staff will actually find anywhere suitable to live.
Derek Frielinghaus, Plett (Haus Rentals specialises in long-term rentals only email haus@mweb.co.za or visit www.hausren tals.com for more information. - Ed.)
Our only hope is for Asimov’s first law to kick into gear... As I have got into this habit of writing, one letter at a time, I may as well continue. This week’s subject is intellectual robots. When I was 21 and hitchhiking around New Zealand, I thought a great deal of the future world of robotics, being a keen follower of Isaac Asimov. The first thought was, who was going to control the wealth produced in factories that no longer employed human beings? How was this wealth going to be distributed among the unemployed, and what would the millions of unemployed do with their time? Will it be constructive or
destructive leisure? Perhaps the most important factor that no one has picked up is that a robot does not consume. It works 24 hours a day with no air-conditioning, no tea breaks or lunch breaks and only stops working for maintenance. Will these factories be owned by the same capitalist cabals that have existed since time immemorial; will they be taxed to provide for the millions of unemployed; will governments now seize the chance of finally doing away with the capitalist system, and be in control of a totally competent work force? Will there be Luddite
revolutions from the working classes, or will they be happy with a handout before destroying themselves in idleness? Will we end up with totalitarian governments, the needs of man held in these totalitarian hands? At the moment, we tend to think of robots in car factories, but this will not be so in the future. They will be clones of us, talking and communicating just as we do. I hope they pick decentlooking models and bypass me. Bye! With the rapid expansion of the computer world, the only ‘people’ that will be able to keep up will be intel-
ligent robots. Will they take over and man become the servant, instead of the other way round? A Cambridge professor once stated: “I dread the world that I am creating with my work on intelligent robotics.” I hope that this will give you something to think about, because the robotic world is upon us - it is the new social revolution. That is sure to be a frightening situation. We can only hope that Asimov’s first law of robotics works: that no robot will cause harm to a human being. Have a nice day! Paul Deans, Plett
La Luna
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Sport & Adventure
7 October 2015
Rugby World Cup 2015 title back on track for Boks
WALE OF A TIME: The Welsh had half a hand in the English exit from their own World Cup
Words & photos: Glenn Murray
N
O host nation has failed to progress into the knockout stages of a World Cup until now. No nation that has lost in the group stages of a World Cup has gone on to win the Cup... Until now? Maybe. The Boks could change this and the new-look team that dispatched of Samoa and Scotland certainly is capable of being crowned champions after initially being written off. Japan is a far better team than we originally thought and they continue to impress at WC 2015. They may still qualify for the last eight, which will be an incredible achievement for the Brave Blossoms. So many odds are stacked against the minor nations that reaching the playoff qualifications proves extremely
WHO WILL IT BE: Australia’s Wallabies are on fire and may well end up in the finals, but will their rivals be the All Blacks, above, or a certain Mr Burger, at centre, and the rest of the Boks? - Photos courtesy RWC 2011/Glenn Murray
tough for them. The top tier nations play their games on weekends where viewership is highest, while the smaller nations with lesser player depths are expected to hit their matches in a far shorter turnaround time. “Play, pack, depart and thanks very much - let’s get the proper tournament going,” seems to be the organisers’ attitude. This year the small teams have been magnificent and they are hanging around, so it seems they will have to be thrown onto the plane rather than depart willingly. Romania gave it their all against Ireland and they played in front of the second largest crowd ever in attendance at a rugby match. Over 92,000 people lifted the tiny Eastern European nation. Namibia scored a great try against the All Blacks and Georgia prevented the world champs from scoring for over 23 minutes before running
out of legs. Fiji and Tonga have been crowd favourites again with their brilliant running rugby. The obvious difference between the big teams and the smaller teams are the budgets and professionalism in the coaching setups, but the real difference lies in something far simpler and smaller. The basics! That one loose or dropped pass or that one missed tackle or misdirected kick at a crucial time is where the smaller nations are falling. The big boys do the basics right more often. And this is where the Cup is going to be won as we enter the qualifications phase later this week Injury-depleted Wales look set to tackle the Springboks in the quarterfinals of groups A and B and on the other side of the draw, it looks like either Ireland or the French will take on the All Blacks. It seems an All Black vs
French affair is compulsory at World Cups - and who wouldn’t bet on or wish for an upset? Argentina are still going about their business without making too much noise and they could ensure that all four teams contesting the semis are from the southern
hemisphere - a prospect no Brit will be able to stomach. The English are not part of their own World Cup any longer and that is a pity because they have put on a superb show and they have attended the matches in great jovial numbers. They were just not good enough and ran
into an Aussie side on fire. Can that side continue burning? I think that fire is far from being extinguished and it may see the Aussies into the finals. And there, their opponents will be from across the sea. Which sea though - the Tasman, or the Indian Ocean?
Third in the world for Bitou biathle champ
Plett multi-sportsman Marius Schlechter returned with a heavy international medal from Batumi in Georgia, where he competed in the Masters (50 years+) category of the World Biathle Championships last month. Says Marius of his hard-earned bronze medal: ‘It was a huge surprise, since it was my first biathle world champs and I only started practising for the swimming leg in January. So I think that I can only improve on this performance.’ Taking into account that more than 300 athletes from 26 countries participated, achieving a podium position is incredibly impressive. Turn to page 16 of the September 23 edition at www. cxpress.co.za for background on the championships and the businesses who helped Marius to reach this goal.