8 November 2017 by CXpress

Photo courtesy Jack Friedman Jewellers

8 November 2017

Published every Wednesday by CXpress 2006 (Pty) Ltd - PO Box 1449, Plettenberg Bay 6600 - 6 Park Lane, Plettenberg Bay - Tel: 044 533 1004 - Fax: 044 533 0852 Email: editor@cxpress.co.za / advertising@cxpress.co.za Web page: www.cxpress.co.za Printed by Group Editors

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Howard Fevrier of Jack Friedman Jewellers and reigning Miss SA, Sedgefield lass Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, show off a superb piece of jewellery inspired by the Namaqualand daisies that will accompany Demi-Leigh to the Miss Universe pageant. It is beautifully displayed in a presentation box manufactured right here in Knysna by craftsman Johan Nel. Read more on page 5.

Beale gets jail time and fine p3

Mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s car on the table p4

Do not be a cheat! p6

Knysna-made treasures

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NEWS & VIEWS

8 November 2017

Chilean brandy fuels sea rescuers’ training after beautiful Esmeralda sailed past Plettenberg Bay contributor DEREK FRIELINGHAUS shared these photos and a brief recollection of an equally brief encounter with Esmeralda in the deep off Robberg Peninsula HE Chilean Navy training vessel Esmeralda visited South Africa in the mid-1980s, and crew members of Plettenberg Bay’s NSRI Station 14 managed to rendezvous with her some 10 nautical miles off Robberg Point. She was flying a full set of sails so we had to run alongside her as she lowered a goodwill parcel of Chilean products (viz: wine and brandy). The parcel was lowered using a small derrick over the side and it was no small feat to collect it in a lumpy sea.

As you can imagine, justice was done to the gift at the next crew training session. The first Esmeralda was built in 1791 for the Spanish Navy. First of six Chilean Navy ships to bear this name, the current four-masted sailing barque of 3,673 tons that had been built in Spain, arrived in 1954 as a training ship for the Chilean Navy. This ship has visited South Africa as part of a naval cooperation agreement and on several occasions has included South African Navy personnel in her crew.

MANY AN ESMERALDA: The image above was gleaned off a website, but the other photos of the elegant ship - the first of six Chilean Navy ships to bear the name Esmeralda - were taken from the NSRI Station 14 rescue boat Ted Seales on a choppy day in ‘85

Raising fun and funds for life-savers and young local sportos HIS Friday night sees the annual Sports Quiz taking place at Plettenberg Bay Bowling Club in Challenge Drive. Last year’s winners, Lodestone Wines, will be on hand to defend their title - but can expect stiff competition from some of the other entries, especially the teams representing Wittedrift School, Plett Surf Life-saving Club, Smhart Alarms, Sanlam, and two teams from the Bowl-

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ing Club hosts. Organiser Barry Ricketts assures us that the questions are “somewhat kinder” this year, and by going to press he could still accommodate four teams before the venue would burst its seams. Main quiz categories are naturally those sports with the largest following, namely rugby, cricket, football, golf, and tennis. A wholesome meal is in-

cluded as part of the evening’s entertainment, so please contact Barry promptly on 072 890 6238 if you would like to enter. As usual, the funds raised from this event will be used to support Plett’s sporting youngsters, particularly Leolin Petersen who is representing SA in gymnastics in December, as well as deserving Nippers attached to Plett Surf Life-saving, and four Wittedrift young-

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sters in dire need of new kit. • The following night, Saturday November 11, is Plett Nippers’ annual fundraising auction at The Table - always a fun affair. Starting at 6pm, DJ Butters will entertain and cover of R150pp includes a glass of wine/beer, a shooter at the door, and delicious pizza! Call Shameera on 083 304 5087 to find out more about the amazing prizes on offer or to book your ticket.

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NEWS & VIEWS

8 November 2017

CXPRESS

Beale’s gets 15 years and a R500 fine for dagga After almost three years the Plettenberg Bay computer engineer who pleaded guilty to just short of 19,000 counts of possession of child pornography, was sentenced to 15 years behind bars - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports ILLIAM Beale, 39, took his place in the dock for a final time in the Thembalethu Regional Court on Tuesday. He was the first South African to be arrested in Operation Cloud 9 - cooperation between Belgian and South African authorities to clamp down on a worldwide horrific child pornography ring. Beale was arrested in a high-profile sting opera-

FACE THE MUSIC: William Beale protects his face from the press cameras when entering the Thembalethu court yesterday

News Briefs • Around 7:45am on Monday November 6, NSRI Plettenberg Bay medics joined members of the SA Police Services, Bitou Traffic, Med-Life ambulance services, Western Cape Government Health EMS, and Bitou Fire and Rescue Services when responding to the N2 alongside Engen garage, where an accident resulted in multiple casualties. Says NSRI station commander Marc Rodgers: “Our medics assisted patients on the scene, at least 14 of whom were treated for injuries ranging in severity, before all patients were transported to hospital in stable conditions.” Med-Life head Warren Roman later confirmed to CXPRESS that 12 of the 14 casualties were “stretcher injuries” while two were minor cases, and that all victims were transported to KwaNokuthula Clinic. It is alleged that the offending vehicle with its overload of passengers was speeding and lost control before it overturned. Police and Traffic Services are in-

vestigating the accident. • On Tuesday November 7, SANParks in Knysna invited the media to the launch of a new boat for law enforcement purpose in the Knysna estuary. Recent crime stats of the area were shared before the party proceeded to Swartvlei. Here the complex decision to not cave under pressure to breach the river mouth before the water reaches the correct level of 2m was explained. • A 20-year-old suspect was scheduled to appear in the Albertinia magistrate’s court last week after he had been charged with the murder of Sharon Bester, 52, whose body was found by one of her employees on Saturday October 28 at about 8:30pm, when he went to feed the dogs. Bester was found on her bed and medical assistance was summoned by the worker who discovered her lifeless body on her bed. At first she was thought to have had suffered a stroke, but the preliminary autopsy result indicates that she had been strangled to death.

The suspect - a resident and worker on the same farm - was arrested last Tuesday after information was received that he was last seen driving a Jeep that belonged to the deceased. The Jeep was found abandoned in a bushy area on the farm. A subsequent search of the suspect’s residence led to the discovery of stolen property belonging to the deceased, including a laptop, a tablet, and an Airgun. The suspect faces charges of murder, housebreaking, and theft as well as theft of a motor vehicle. The Da Gamaskop Cluster commander, Brigadier Gerhard Jantjies, praised the detectives of Albertinia SAPS for their swift response in ensuring the arrest of the suspect even before the result of the autopsy was received. “They have shown commitment and courage and worked tirelessly to ensure that the suspect is brought to book,” he said. He refuted rumours that this was a farm attack as the perpetrator resided on the same farm as an employee. CRIME-FIGHTING RANGERS: SANParks Knysna manager Megan Taplin, senior section ranger: Knysna marine and estuary Owen Govender, and Garden Route National Park manager Paddy Gordon with the boat launched yesterday morning to assist rangers in curbing crime on the Knysna estuary - Candice Ludick

tion in January 2015 at his seaside home during which thousands of images of children - some only a few days old - being raped, tortured, and killed were discovered on his computer. Along with the images the internet addresses of more than 300 alleged paedophiles were also found and led to several other arrests. Beale pleaded guilty to about 19,000 charges of possession of child pornography

in February this year and was subsequently released on R10,000 bail. He relocated to Kimberley to live with his brother and his family. Not only was Beale sentenced to 15 years behind bars for the possession of 18,644 images of child pornography, but he was further sentenced to a R500 fine or 30 days in prison for the possession of dagga. “Imprisonment is the only option for sentencing.

It will send a clear message that these crimes are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. It will also deter the accused from repeating these crimes and deter others from committing them,” said magistrate Eugenia Jacobs. She added that people who viewed these images fuelled the industry of child pornography and led to the abuse of children for these purposes.

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

8 November 2017

Bossiesgif soccer field bodes well for local players, but challenges trio of Bitou departments Khaya Mbesi

TREASURED TURF: Mvuselelo Mgotywa, 36, who owns King Bay United football club, points to the field that allegedly received R3-million for development in the Bitou municipal budget Photo: Khaya Mbesi

ITOU Municipality has apparently made close to R3-million available to improve the soccer field in Bossiesgif informal settlement, which borders Plett Industria. According to IDP manager Thembinkosi Henge, the objective is to create a safe space for the youth, who would otherwise be playing on the streets. Local sports personality Mvuselelo Mgotywa said they appreciated this endeavour by the municipality. “I have a football club called King Bay United, which started in KwaNokuthula. I moved the club to Bossiesgif because

I stay here now. But we don’t have a proper field to play on, so I’m grateful about this major project to improve football facilities. “We want the sport leagues to play finals there, or to rotate games to touch us all. We hope the municipality will include bathrooms, toilets, and changing rooms as well. Once the field is finished, women and children will also play sports here. “But we ask the municipality to provide security to look after this infrastructure. In Bicycle Shed hall, they have stolen doors, kitchen utensils, and everything that could be carried off by hand.

One of the King Bay United players, Mluleki Jonas, said: “We are very happy about the field development, but we need a sponsor, since we don’t have jerseys. We hope the municipality can also cover the field - not just for us, but for the whole community.” Another player, Siphamandla Bulu - who represents the Super Stars in Bossiesgif, added: “We would like floodlights so that we can play in the evenings, especially during winter. We will be happy if they make the field look professional by levelling it and planting grass.” • One should hope that

the supposed R3-million budget would accommodate all items on the above-mentioned wish list. According to a Plett Ratepayers Association spokesperson, the soccer field in Bossiesgif infringes on land belonging to Formosa Garden Village (FGV), with squatters having moved onto the FGV property along with domestic and other animals causing health and safety risks. It is alleged that three Bitou municipal departments including Legal, Property and Strategic Services, are tasked with remedying the situation. - Eds.)

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HE public comment period on the proposed new venue for the annual Plett Rage student festival came to an end this week. Organisers of the festival - which brings thousands of school leavers to the holiday town each year and provides an economic boost of about R50-million - applied for temporary land use of a property on the outskirts of Plett for this year’s festival. The property in question is a portion of the Ganze Vallei farm adjacent to Buco off the N2 and is set to host the fes-

tival activities between December 1 and 7 - this after last year’s venue, The Meadows, became unavailable due to the upgrading of Bitou’s waste water treatment works located on the property. They also earlier this year applied for land use of Central Beach for daytime activities. The latter saw opposition from various organisations and individuals who believed the event could have a negative impact not only on marine life, but also residents and businesses in the area. According to the latest

application, stakeholders had until Monday to submit comments or raise concerns. The festival’s organisers have however since announced that Ganze Vallei would be the venue, despite not having the go-ahead from Bitou Municipality. Daron Smit of Nature Sports Company involved in organising the festival said they had done so as ticket holders and parents had become worried. He explained that they had in January already applied to host the festival at The Meadows following the success of the

event there last year. In May, however, they were informed by the municipality that this was no longer an option. Smit said they therefore had to start from square one again to find a suitable venue. He added it was for this reason that the venue approval process was still ongoing. Bitou municipal spokesman Howard Swartz said the normal process in terms of the bylaw had not been finalised yet and therefore, only after the deadline, would a decision be taken on whether the application was successful.

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November 6 email invites supporters of the Democratic Alliance (DA) to a meeting in Plettenberg Bay’s Piesang Valley hall to discuss “the high cost to Bitou of the mayor’s vehicle and his bodyguards”. It continues: “Articles in the press stating that the mayor’s car is costing ratepayers nearly R60,000 per month are correct. DA councillors noted their strong op-

position to this expense and also reported it to the Western Cape MEC for Local Government but, given the statutory powers of an executive mayor, could not stop it. “Frustratingly, this is not the only instance of wasteful expenditure that DA councillors could not stop. The vast executive power conferred upon an executive mayor by the local government system in

SA is serving to utterly frustrate and hamstring the DA in Bitou in exercising its co-governance function effectively.” The deep concern about this “untenable situation in the current coalition structure” means that the DA’s provincial leadership will meet over the coming weekend to discuss its position going forward, followed by the public meeting in Piesang Val-

ley hall on Monday the 13th at 5:30pm. The meeting will be addressed by Western Cape MEC for Public Works and Transport, and DA head for Bitou Donald Grant. On the agenda will be the DA/AUF Coalition in relation to DA policies and objectives for clean governance, and an introduction of new policies to be served before the DA Federal Council next year.

NEWS & VIEWS

8 November 2017

CXPRESS

From Queen Victoria’s Jubilee oak tree to the box that houses Miss SA’s daisies ISS South Africa, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, will be taking a piece of truly South African jewellery as national gift to the Miss Universe pageant on November 26. Called ‘Daisies of Africa’ this year’s gift designed by Jack Friedman Jewellers is said to represent the best of SA’s natural resources. Of great significance to readers should be the fact that the Daisies’ gift box is representative of the June fires that ravaged the Garden Route. Having previously done work for Jack Friedman Jewellers, craftsman Johan Nel of Knysna Woodworkers was this time commissioned to design and craft

the extraordinary and special presentation box to showcase the national gift. Johan explains the vision behind the box: “My mandate was for the box to be in the shape of Africa, and to represent the devastating fires of Knysna on June 7 this year. “Howard Fevrier of Jack Friedman Jewellers gave me certain specifications as to what he wanted, but I was also given creative licence to develop it into something totally unique. “In choosing the wood, one particular piece of oak caught my attention because of how the grain and cracks in the wood fell into place,” says Johan. What also makes the

MASTER CRAFTSMAN: Johan Nel of Knysna Woodworkers was solely responsible for designing and manufacturing the presentation box to house ‘Daisies of Africa’

wood even more unique is the fact that it came from one of the oak trees planted by Knysna school children during Queen Victoria’s Jubilee on May 24, 1887. To Johan, the cracks represent the fire and the silver used in-between represents Knysna’s community spirit as it rises from the ashes to rebuild to something even better. “It is a very sentimental piece of art to me,” says Demi-Leigh - a true Garden Route girl from Knysna’s neighbouring town of Sedgefield. “We’re very proud of her and wish her all of the best during this month’s Miss Universe pageant,” concludes Johan.

THE GIFT OF RISING: The jewellery piece was designed by the Jack Friedman team in collaboration with Demi-Leigh; it contains SA gold and diamonds and was inspired by the Namaqualand daisies. ‘Tata’ is engraved on the solid 18-carat gold surface, which reads: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” This quote by the late Nelson Mandela says it all…

Opportunities abound to rebuild and replant better and greener than before IFT of the Gardeners launched their project on November 3 at the Heritage Rose Society’s Rose and Flower Festival in the blooming flower gardens at Bosky Dell - an oasis of colour amidst the fire burnt hills. Visitors were invited to bring plants, seeds and cuttings to be gifted to fire survivors so that they can re-plant and re-green their gardens and land after the fires. This wonderful community-strengthening initiative, encouraging people to “pay it forward”, was organised by Rae Gilbert of Bosky Dell and supported by Jean Sparg and the local Botanical Society with recommendations on which shrubs and trees will be best to plant after the fires, focussing on fast-growing pioneer species such as Keurboom and Bitou, food plants and indigenous succulents, groundcovers, and trees. Eco Atlas founder and fire survivor Rhian Berning read her poetry and spoke about her own journey after the fire, and how this unexpected new beginning provides many opportunities

to rebuild and replant better and greener than before. She addressed the themes of using available resources - that which we might think of as rubble, if separated can be re-used and recycled and not sent to landfill. In the rebuilding of her family’s own home, they have reclaimed bricks from their burnt house for feature walls and are using beautiful branches from burnt milkwood trees for balustrades. Burnt rainwater tanks can be neatly cut and used as gravel reed beds for greywater systems and burnt bush can be used for planting highly productive Hugel beds in vegetable gardens or chipped for mulch and compost. Berning said there is no such thing as waste, and that they’d sent nothing to landfill besides a small pile of burnt plastic rainwater gutters and other burnt plastic items because when separated, the rubble from a burnt homestead has many useful parts. She highlighted that nothing grows in isolation: “The strength of the commu-

nity has held so many fire survivors aloft through all challenges,” said Berning, adding that Gift of the Gardeners was a most heartwarming community initiative, and encouraging those replanting to stick to indigenous shrubs and plants for the sake of creating miniecosystems that would again support birds, bees and butterflies, and indigenous trees to create natural firebreaks. She concluded by saying that everyone needed a good home base and not having one was extremely stressful. “So please consider this when planting our gardens to support local fauna. And when rebuilding, think about how you can support our local economies and fairly-paid job creation.” Everyone present was treated to the liquid melodic voice of Shaza Greeff, a flower display by DP Ferreira, a table dedicated to the Protea People and fire survivors by Ronel Wheeler, and the overwhelming colour bursts of the table displays and gardens. • Turn to page 9 for images of the event at Bosky Dell.

TRANSFORMED: This piece, at left, of a once-great tree that was burnt to near coal was rehabilitated and hand-crafted into the presentation box used to house the national gift now en route to the Miss Universe pageant 2017

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

8 November 2017

Lady golfers gift Kranshoek kids with brand new cooker Celia Snowden shared this photo and explained that Kranshoek Kleuterskool is a lovely little nursery school that feeds breakfast and lunch to 50 children aged between one and six years old daily. “Their old stove only had one working plate and was in extremely poor condition. The ladies section at Plett Golf Club kindly donated a brand spanking new four-plate Defy stove to the school and it is now installed and working beautifully. The meals are better than ever and really appreciated by the hungry kids each day.” The children and staff of the school truly appreciated this gesture and thanked the lady golfers for this most-generous donation. Pictured from left are school cook Retta Jonkers, Plett Golf Club’s past lady captain Gill Norgarb, and school principal Annie du Plessis.

Exam cheating could destroy your life - do this instead ITH university and matric exams now underway, desperate learners and students who feel that cheating may be their only shot at passing should reconsider, and not only for ethical reasons, an education expert says. “At this stage, you may feel that it is the only option remaining for you, but what you think is the quickest and easiest route may very well destroy your future, and have repercussions that follow you throughout your life,” says Dr Gillian Mooney, Dean: Academic Development and Support at The Independent Institute of Education. “If you cheat, you risk turning what would have remained a private challenge that could have been overcome within a year or two, into a public scandal that could ruin your reputation for life,” she says. Mooney says anyone contemplating cheating, or who is approached by someone offering assistance in this regard, should do a quick Google search to see how slim their chances are of getting away with it, and to understand the dire consequences of getting caught. “Every year, without fail, we hear about scores of matriculants whose results are held back, who face criminal charges, who are banned from writing NSC exams for years, and who spend ages in court as a result of cheating. “Quite simply, it is not worth it. Cheating methods have become more sophisticated and no longer falls in the domain of scribbling crib notes on the back of a ruler. But if you think that your teachers and lecturers are not wise to today’s tricks of the trickery trade, you are quite mistaken,” she says. “We would like to remind everyone, and particularly those who are desperately

scared of failing or not achieving the results they require, that the consequences of failing honestly now are infinitely preferable to the consequences of being caught cheating. “Remember to keep playing the long game, and build a solid future on honest results. Even if you do get away with cheating - and the chances are slim that you will - there will still be consequences and you will never be free from the knowledge that your qualification was stolen, not earned.” Mooney says that prospective cheaters should take note that they still have time to put in an extra push, and pull in extra resources to give themselves the best shot. And they should also know that - if the worst case scenario of failure did come to pass - an additional year working towards a qualification is better than living with a lifetime of reputational damage. She also warns innocent learners and students who are not contemplating cheating to immediately distance themselves from anyone discussing it. “Do not engage in that kind of conversation with anyone. And if you do hear or see it happening, immediately report it. Often cheating happens where a teacher is complicit by, for instance, leaking an exam paper ahead of time. “If you have been part of conversations with a group of people who are subsequently busted for cheating, you risk being seen as guilty as well.” Mooney advises students and learners who recognise that things are not looking good for them at this admittedly late stage in the game, to speak to their teacher or lecturer to discuss what can be done. “There may be an oppor-

tunity to take a crash course in a challenging subject, to get a tutor to assist with your studies, or to work with friends to support and tutor each other. Whatever the options, most teachers will be happy to brainstorm your options with you and assist where possible.” It should also be remembered that although it might seem catastrophic at this stage, bad results or even failure doesn’t need to mean the end of one’s dreams for a successful future, Mooney says. “You may just need to review your options and tweak your plans for the next few years, which although it may seem disappointing at this stage, may even turn out to be a blessing. “If you are able to face up to your situation now and handle it maturely and pragmatically, you will be learning a very important life lesson and grow as a human being, which may just put you on a better path for the future,” she says. Maybe your marks won’t be good enough to get you into the higher education institution, university, or course of choice, which means that you either need to write supplementary exams or review your options for other qualifications or institutions. Maybe you need to repeat the year, which will allow you a fresh opportunity to really give it your all and excel beyond what you thought you could do. “Whichever way it plays out, learners and students should know that there are so many options open to them to still make a success of their lives, even if things are not looking great right now. And all of these options, no matter how you look at it, will be better than opting to become an exam cheat,” she concludes.

BUSINESS

8 November 2017

CXPRESS

Warning light for retail sector as stats point to 57 business robberies in SA per day HE 2016/17 #CrimeStats are a reminder that SA’s battle against syndicated and organised criminals is far from won. “With a record high of 20,680 armed robberies against businesses recorded in the latest crime statistics, South Africa is experiencing 57 attacks per day - a figure that should prompt critical intervention by industry and government,” says Richard Phillips, joint CEO of Cash Connect. Judging by the national crime statistics released recently by minister Fikile Mbalula, cash-related crime has increased yet again, sounding an alarm that the mitigation of cash crime should be prioritised. Business robberies increased by 4.9% from 19,698 in 2015/16 to 20,680 for the last year, while the business burglaries figure also shows an upward spiral with 75,618 burglaries in 2016/17. Following a new-millennium low of 119 robberies reported in the 2014/15 national statistics, the 2016/17 graph shows an increase of 11% with 152 CIT [cash in transit] robberies. Sabric chief executive Kalyani Pillay earlier this month revealed that the organisation had recorded 232 CIT incidents nationally this year from January 1 to August 31. “An increase of 49% is evident when comparing this year to the same period last year,” Pillay said. “There is much concern at the number of injuries and fatalities among CIT staff, as well as the damage caused to CIT vehicles in the incidents where criminals use explosives during these attacks.” The poverty statistics released by Statistics SA a few weeks ago confirm the high unemployment rate and aggravated poverty prevailing in our country. “While it would seem logical to ascribe the high levels of cash crime to the poverty rate, along with other factors like weak economic growth, continuing high unemployment levels, lower commodity prices, higher consumer prices (especially for energy and food), lower investment levels, greater household dependency on credit, and policy uncertainty, I am not convinced that this is an accurate assumption. “The real issue is the reemergence of organised criminal syndicates on our streets. Professional and habitual criminals who are extremely well organised, skilled and financed, are attacking the retail sector, the CIT sector, as well as banks and ATMs in pursuit of large quantities of cash,”

says Phillips. While Cash Connect was able to protect more than R40-billion of its customers’ cash for this year alone, he claims the big issue remains the prioritisation of cash crimes. “The SA Police Service have to ensure that crime intelligence, policing, the NPA and the courts collaborate with the cash industry in the interests of safeguarding the cash that feeds the retail and commercial economy,” he says. Based on past lessons and information contained in crime statistics, investment in three areas could be the answer for the retail and CIT industries. Crime fighting According to Dr Johan Burger, senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, we can draw on the lessons of the past. The priority crime initiative on bank and CIT crime, which was led by the SAPS and operated for at least six years through the turn of the century, was a cornerstone of the multi-faceted approach that brought CIT and other cash-related crimes under control before. “South Africa reeled under 700 to 800 attacks a year in the 1990s,” Burger says. “Crime intelligence and a tightly coordinated, professional response strategy worked then, and will again.” Burger’s words are borne out by the far better flow of information and increase in arrests that have resulted from the task force the minister of Police established in 2016 to focus on business crime and cash robberies. “But more needs to be done,” he says. “CIT providers, and indeed retailers and the banking industry as well, have to keep lobbying the Justice cluster to operationalise the prioritisation of bank and CIT crime, and start working much closer with the industry to contain syndicated and organised crime. Fighting this type of crime has to be at least as sophisticated as the planning and execution that make it possible.” CIT investment in R&D In recent years CIT providers have, ironically, become cash strapped. The rate to provide a client with CIT services has declined to the point where service fees no longer keep track with inflation. “The margins that previously were available for R&D [research and development] are simply not there anymore,” says Phillips. “And as risks and attacks increase, our insurance costs skyrocket. In the

meantime, the syndicates keep refining their methods and are becoming more successful and, consequently, more brazen again.” The case for sustained R&D is well proven. Cash Connect’s cash vaults, which are built to SABS Category 4 standards, have acquired a reputation for their ability to withstand most of the toughest and most common attacks, providing a formidable deterrent. Moreover, the latest models are reducing the extent of collateral damage that has been a feature of historical attacks in which explosives are used and this is a further important milestone in the evolution of cash vault technology. “The cash industry is of strategic importance to the South African economy,” says Phillips. “Around 84% of all payments are still made in cash; we have R130-billion worth of cash in circulation.” Against this backdrop, Phillips believes minimum CIT operating standards and service fees should be a matter of legislation. Prevention starts on the shop floor Research has shown that a staggering 90% of attacks on businesses are carried out with information gained from the inside. This suggests that employers can play a far greater role in safeguarding their own businesses by engaging with the people who work for them and investing in better workplace relationships. Mari Lee, CEO of DevCom, a communication agency that specialises in helping businesses to change their processes to engage employees and external stakeholders in ways that directly contribute to the achievement of business results, agrees. “The dozens of research projects we’ve done over the years confirmed again and again that employees who feel respected, valued, and listened to will do what is best for their company. ” Phillips concludes that SA’s retail and CIT sectors are desperate for a critical intervention to curb cash crime. By pushing for a coordinated approach of sharing crucial information among industry bodies and investing in crime intelligence, technology improvements and labour relations, the tide can be turned. • For more information on the latest #CrimeStats and tips for retailers to reduce the risk of armed robbery, visit www.crimestatssouthafrica.co.za or follow @cashconnectsus on Twitter for real-time cash and crime statistics and news.

LOGISTICIAN: Richard Phillips is joint CEO of Cash Connect and an expert in cash management

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8 November 2017

Hitting rock bottom RANK and Fred are walking through the forest and come upon a depression; in the middle of the depression is a hole. So, they decide they want to see how deep this hole is. They take a handful of rocks and throw it in the hole. They listen… but never hear them hit the bottom. They find a much bigger rock. They roll it to the edge of the depression and push. It rolls to the middle and falls down the hole. They listen... but never hear it hit the bottom. They are not deterred. They just need to find something bigger. They walk around and come upon a shack. A giant log is leaned up against this shack and they think to themselves: “Perfect!” They walk back to the hole, stand the log up and

shove it down the hole. They listen... but never hear it hit the bottom. A few moments later they hear a goat. It’s running as fast as it can. It gets to the edge of the depression, jumps... and does a nose dive down the whole. “BAAAAAaaaaaa.... ” But... they never hear it hit the bottom. So, they give up. This hole is just immeasurably deep. They walk through the forest a ways and then they come upon a farmer. “Hey, fellas,” the farmer says, “have you seen a goat anywhere around here?” “Yeah,” Frank says, “we just saw a goat do a swan dive into a hole back there. It was the wildest thing.” The farmer replies: “Nah, that couldn’t have been my goat. My goat was tied to a log.”

First airplane ride was six years old when my daddy took me for my very first airplane ride. We boarded the plane and I got the window seat. After a short while I turned to daddy and exclaimed: “Daddy! We’re

so high up all the cars on the freeway down there look like ants.” Daddy moved over and looked out the window. After a moment he smiled and said: “Those ARE ants my dear, we haven’t taken off yet.”

Swear to tell the truth... T the height of a political corruption trial, the prosecuting attorney attacked a witness. “Isn’t it true,” he bellowed, “that you accepted five thousand dollars to compromise this case?” The witness stared out the window, as though he hadn’t heard the question. “Isn’t it true that you

accepted a full five thousand dollars to compromise this case?” the lawyer repeated. The witness still did not respond. Finally, the judge leaned over and said: “Sir, please answer the question.” “Oh,” the startled witness said, “I thought he was talking to you.”

Gone with a bang 106-year-old cowboy recently passed away. He was asked on his last birthday earlier this year his secret to longevity. He said that for the past 50 years he had sprinkled

a little gunpowder on his cereal each morning. He left behind eight children, 21 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and a 15-foot hole in the crematorium.

INTERVAL

SOCIAL SCENE

8 November 2017

CXPRESS

GROMS TO BALLIES DIG BUFF SURF CLASSIC: The photos here say it all in terms of fun had by young and old during last weekend’s fundraiser for Knysna Education Trust and Knysna Sedgefield Hospice at Buffalo Bay. Pictured at right are Groms taking charge of the beach, and Loggers Open winner Graeme Barnhoorn in action above. Turn to page 12 for the full story. Photos: Julie Ann Photography

People, places & events NUKE IT! OR NOT… Plett publisher, muso and wordsmith extraordinaire Mike Kantey recently addressed a Cape Town crowd on his latest book entitled ‘Nukes? No Thanks!’ at The Book Lounge in Roeland Street. A summary of Mike’s lifelong endeavours to penetrate the arguments of the global nuclear industry and its SA acolytes, the book aims to gain opposition to the advance of this questionable technology on the African content. Good news for local readers is that ‘Nukes…’ is now available at Village Bookshop in Plett, Knysna Book Exchange, Deo Gratia in Sedgefield, and Wordsworth Books in Garden Route Mall. Email mike.kantey@gmail.com for additional information.

Photos: Amanda Dunn

Photo: Babette W Naudé

GARDENERS’ GIFTS GALORE: Last Friday saw the gathering of a colourful and well-smelling crowd gather at the Bosky Dell rose capital, when Gift of the Gardeners launched its re-greening, rethinking and rebuilding project in the aftermath of the June fires. Organised by Rae Gilbert of Bosky Dell and backed by Plett’s Botanical Society led by Jean Sparg, the talk and action revolved around recommendations on which shrubs and trees are best to plant after the fires, food plants and indigenous succulents, groundcovers and trees. Rhian Bernin, at left, read some of her poetry and spoke about her journey after the fire, including unexpected new beginning and opportunities to rebuild and replant better and greener than before. Read the full story on page 5. LIFE AIN’T LIFE SANS SURFING: A new emporium of all things cool-cum-surf-related officially opened its doors last Wednesday - an occasion that did not escape the attention of Plett’s surfing royalty and other amphibians. The brainchild of Claire Roger and Trebilcock, the latter pictured at left with wingman Tinus Smit, Surfing Life stocks everything required by surfers worth their salt, and then some. Situated in Plett Main Street twixt The Table and The Market, you’ll do well to check it out. And who knows, you may even bump into the likes of aforementioned royalty in the guise of local wave vets Marty, Lloyd, and Sampi, right.

CXPRESS

CLASSIFIEDS

8 November 2017

Handyman on call - 082 492 4417 / 072 724 6590

Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

ON THE SOAPBOX

8 November 2017

Letters to the Editor

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

SANParks care deeply about visitor’s complaints SANParks regional communications manager for Garden Route National Park NANDI MGWADLAMBA provided this response to a letter by Plett resident M Matzener - read it on page 11 of the October 18 edition at www.cxpress.co.za

GRNP TSITSIKAMMA PROGRESS REPORT: This sketch depicts the entrance gate once completed in 2018. The project began in 2016 as part of a R19-million plan to upgrade infrastructure in the Storms River Rest Camp and also includes the development around the Big Tree. To date, 80% of the work is complete including a temporary road constructed in 2015 to allow visitors to access the park. The renovation of the gate aims to introduce a streamlined structure and system for visitors entering the park’s main gate. Noise levels around the site have remained normal and parking space has not been affected by the construction work. No heavy machinery is used and all work is on existing footprint. The park has a temporary restaurant and curio shop and a variety of accommodation on offer. Activities for visitors include ziplining, forest excursions with a Segway, hiking trails and water activities. Measures to ensure traffic flows efficiently from the park’s main gate are also in place, including a new lane and additional staff to assist visitors.

Dear M Matzener, we have tried to locate you in Plettenberg Bay through our contacts at Bitou Municipality to re-invite you to Tsitsikamma National Park, but to no avail. This is how seriously we take our local visitors to national parks; we prioritise their visits partly to encourage them to know their own backyard, and also to support our conservation efforts. Visits to national parks by local residents are measured and captured on a system. We are glad that you’ve noticed the over 60% increase of local visitors to Garden Route National Park! We treasure people’s lives and safety as much as we do that of nature, and strict safety measures are adhered to. This includes filling in indemnity forms at the gate - an important part of a visit to the Tsitsikamma section of Garden Route National Park (GRNP). I am happy to report that work at the entrance gate is well underway. Construction of the office building to house client services

and reception staff was recently completed and is now operational. The entrance gate to the Tsitsikamma section of GRNP will be completed in 2018. SANParks is in the process of appointing a concession holder to complete the construction work at the gate after a hired company could not complete the task due to unforeseen circumstances. Negotiations with the concession holder are well underway. We are working on adding an additional lane and also additional staff to assist customers. We have a reporting/ rating system where visitors to our park can provide feedback, and we encourage you to make full use of this system when next visiting any of our national parks. Queries can either be logged via the SANParks website at www. sanparks.org or sent directly to each park’s hospitality manager or duty manager. Thanks for writing to us. We value your input. • Call 044 302 5633 or email nandi.mgwadlamba@sanparks.org for additional information.

082 251 8134

On veggies, beer, and why Bitou should pay less for both It is with much interest that I absorbed columnist Stuart Murray’s October 25 contribution highlighting that South Africans spend more on beer than they do on vegetables [read ‘Beer will go down on your permanent record…’ on page 7 of that edition at www.cxpress.co.za]. He further stated that in the first eight months of the year, the price of vegetables declined by an average of 3.6%. Now this latter statistic is all well and good, for it’s a generally-accepted basic economic principle that in times of surplus, prices fall and do the reverse in times of heightening demand. Mr Murray cannily pointed out that the Eastern and Western Cape are ‘laggards’ in the beerconsumption department when compared to the other seven provinces. Applying the same economic principle of de-

mand influencing price, it strikes me that beer prices within our province, and indeed the Bitou region, are wide open to a decrease in price to boost demand. When I last looked, proper beer was being crafted from water (yes, we know there’s a drought and a shortage), malted barley - in itself a grain plant - and then hops, the seed cone flower of the hops plant. With two-thirds of its components being fresh vegetable agricultural produce, which have dropped in price, there’s even more justification for a drop in the beer price. However, this perspective changes if malt and hops are viewed as being processed vegetables, in which case locals are getting more than enough of their minimum daily requirement in their bottles or cans! ‘Ds Van Den Berge’, The Crags

Donation-seeking sand artists akin to beggars on the beach I have a question regarding the beach bordering the Beacon Isle, which I trust Bitou Municipality can answer. I want to state clearly and unequivocally that this is not by a long stretch of the imagination a racial issue. It concerns the “beach artists” displaying their skills with sand sculptures. These structures are in no way artistic. At the moment there is one such person building a massive town of sorts, which

has no artistic merit, and consists of sand heaps adorned with shells and twigs, and each day this sand hill is growing. Is this not a different form of begging? He has a board up asking for donations. Can they not be allocated an area closer to the lagoon? Where they are now is directly in front of the parking area, at the main beach, and access is becoming more difficult each day. ‘Sand Shark’, Plett

Shalom, dear Stoloffs The directors and staff at HDRS Attorneys Inc. would like to take this opportunity in wishing our erstwhile partner and colleague a peaceful and well-deserved retirement in Cape Town together with his family. We trust that you will find it within yourself to embrace this new and exciting phase in your life.

We are all thankful for the opportunity to have shared the last 20 years of your life in Plettenberg Bay. We bid you farewell. The directors and staff of HDRS Attorneys Inc. will remain and be at your service for any legal assistance. Lisa Rawlings obo HDRS, Plett

Putting the ‘church’ record straight I would like to rectify an error made in an open letter to the press last month in which I thanked the NG Church of Wittedrift for financial help, which had in fact been donated by the

Gereformeerde Kerk of Eden, led by Ds Knoetze. Ek vra om verskoning aan die gemeente van die Gereformeerde Kerk van Eden vir die fout wat begaan is. Met groot dank! Andre Reitz, Plett

CXPRESS

SPORT & ADVENTURE

8 November 2017

Former world champs and female boxers head for Knysna Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

GRAHAMSTOWN’S GREATEST: Sonwabo Twatwa, at right, will come up against Robololo-based boxer Unathi Mndwana later this month in Knysna, while Lazola Mjonono, at left, will fight Nwabisile Colani of KwaNokuthula at the same bout fest

WABISILE Colani of KwaNokuthula in Plett will fight for the vacant Western Cape Junior Fly-weight title against Cape Town boxer Lazola Mjonono on November 25 as part of the Ward 4 Sports Day scheduled at the Chris Nissen Primary School hall in Knysna. At the same boxing meet, Unathi Mndwana of Robololo in Knysna will lock horns with the vastly-experienced Sonwabo

Twatwa from Grahamstown - a fighter who at one stage was rated no 10 in South Africa in his class. Says boxing promotor David Faas: “Should local boy Unathi Mndwana win this fight, he will also be in line for The Western Cape Junior Bantam-weight title early in 2018. “More good news for the November 25 event is that former World Junior Featherweight champion Vuyani Bhungu, Welcome

KWANO AND ROBOLOLO REPRESENTED: Nwabisile ‘Slow Poison’ Colani and Unathi ‘Golden Boy’ Mndwana during a Plett Tourism press conference earlier this year - both these CX Country boxers will feature at the upcoming bout fest at Chris Nissen Primary School hall Photo: LM Photography

Ncitha - who defended his International Boxing Federation world title before losing it to Kennedy McKinney - and current female WBF world champion Bukiwe Nonina will be in attendance, too.” Faas added that Garden Route boxing fans could also look forward to four further support fights and one female boxing bout. Email davidfaas@yahoo.com for additional information.

Buffs Classic delivers on all fronts AST weekend’s Buffs Classic, now in its second year, was created as contest for the whole family to participate while building development surfing, supporting the worthy charities of Knysna Education Trust (KET) and Knysna Sedgefield Hospice, and promoting a love of surfing and our oceans. And 2017 lived up to this aim in many ways: a dad and two sons paddling out in the same heat, brothers and sisters competing in the same classes, or the alternative challengers to knee-boarders and retros, SUPs and loggers, all looking for a high scoring wave. That’s exactly the ethos and fun element we love about this event,” says KET’s Nicky Goodall, who was also instrumental in organising the popular competition. If conditions limited the number of Saturday heats, these were made up for on Sunday, which saw a fantastic day of surfing. Judges had a bird’s eye view thanks to generous sponsorship from Cape Island

Construction. Loggers and SUP boarders were supported by Pili Pili. Surf Café sponsored the hotly-contested Retro Skins, and Surf Culture backed the Hot Dogs division in which an excellent field of U18s gave it their all. Winners among the Groms scored great prizes from Crush Surf; Zig Zag mag ensured everyone had a great weekend read, and Knysna Roofing gifted contestants with t-shirts to remember it all. “The massive behind the scenes effort by a phenomenal team - Clayton Bischoff, Brian Salter, Garrin O’Brien, Ben Jacobson, the KET volunteers and staff - all resulted in a fantastic contest, and talk of next year is already on the cards,” says Nicky. KET and Hospice thank everyone for the support and salute all 54 contestants for taking part. • Turn to page 9 for photos and diarise November 25 and December 1, when Surfers helping Surfers will hold two awesome events in Knysna and Plett - watch this space…

House of Hope team takes Top 8

sunglass boutique

Plett Football Association had a successful Top 8 opening tournament for the ensuing soccer season recently. The teams - Flame Attack FC, House of Hope FC, Royal Crusaders FC, Strikers FC, Plett Saints FC, All Stars FC, New Orlando FC, and Junior Golden Stars FC took centre stage and gave Plett a showcase of excellent football. Defending champs Royal Crusaders were knocked out in the semi-finals, leaving House of Hope to compete with Flame Attack in the epic Top 8 final. Management of Plett Football Association congratulates House of Hope FC on becoming the 2017/18 Top 8 Champions. They thank all participating teams and wish them luck for the soccer season now in full swing.