8 june 2016

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8 June 2016

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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This ain’t no sewer rat… Self-help guide for beginners p2

Bitou municipal newsletter p7 - 11

Get our girls to Zambia! p16

Photo: Halszka Covarr

Plett youngster Zosia Covarr’s pet rat, Squiggles, landed in a spot of trouble recently, flushing him from being king of his castle to trench-dweller for a day. Read the full story on page 5.

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NEWS & VIEWS

8 June 2016

Self-improvement made easy: Lower your standards - Part I

Insights gained while being ‘unstable’ in a State Hospital bed Plett reader JOHN NEWTON shared some of his pearls of wisdom, saying: “Depending on how much you like your job or the total number of issues that may be banned, you are welcome to use all or none of them. For obvious reasons I do not keep many photos of myself - no doubt the Police or state security entities could be of more help. Let’s see how long it takes before I am frog-marched out of Plett…” UESS there comes a time when one can no longer put off the inevitable so here it is, one of my passions - the ultimate guide to health, wealth, and happiness! I have been led to believe that Abraham Lincoln went to sleep at night with

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an authoritative edition of a self-improvement volume next to him. I, too, was married to one of those... But, back to now: I recently had a minor cardiovascular hiccup; I awoke in a long dark tunnel with a bright light at the end. ‘Holy Macaroons,’ my

MULTI-TALENT: Apart from selfhelp advice, John’s other passion is photography: ‘Would I like a Cannon 5D III? Yes! A 100-400L lens? Yes! A 24-105L lens? Absolutely! Why haven’t I got them? There are over 85,000 reasons, all of these R2 coins. So I love what I have and am grateful.’

first thought was, ‘why did I not pay more attention during those Religious Instruction periods at school?’ Out of the gloom appeared an Angel. (‘Must answer politely, no swearing or smartarse comments. Right!) “Eish, at last you’re awake. Do you need to use the toilet? You’ve been unconscious for a long time.” I didn’t have the heart to tell this Angel that most people preferred me unconscious. So, I hadn’t died, just in hospital. “Come, on Harold.” “Harold? I’m not freekin’ Harold, never been a Harold, Harolds are all odd!” I tried to shout, but it sounded more like breaking wind under water. I eventually managed to convince the Angel Matron that I was a John. (Delay while correct folder tracked down. Filed under ‘MUDS’: Mentally Unstable Difficult Sod.) Put it this way, when I do go and get inked, my tattoo prominently positioned midway between nipples and at least 5cm higher than my belly button, will be my name, ID number, address and contact details so when I’m found pushing a trolley through Pick n Pay, clad only in a sun hat and takkies, store officials, police, para-

VIEW FROM THE REAR: ‘Being in a State Hospital is not for sissies but, having said that, I take my hat off to all who have to battle with the likes of me!’

medics or white coats can contact nearest and dearest to come and collect me. Getting them to respond could be a thankless task in itself. While on the subject of thankless, one of the least pleasant side effects of senior citizen status is ‘syndrome’. Residual Dribble Syndrome is something that has defied explanation and confounded scientists for aeons. ‘RD’ is the plus-minus 2.35ml of reluctant pee that lurks heavens know where ‘till the time is right.

It takes, on occasions, a good 12 minutes to shuffle up to the vast stainless steel edifice, housing another five or six ‘relievers’ all heads bowed, not daring to look left nor right. At last, one has managed to fumble jerseys, coats, etc. out of the line of fire, finally unzipped, one is ready for untold release, release… release! Another 4-5 minutes later not much has happened, the queue behind me hopping from one foot to the other. Just before you are about to give up, some putrid flow is achieved. Right! That done, one has successfully jettisoned all cargo. After more minutes of odd gymnastics to ensure the payload has indeed been expunged, one proceeds to repack and then rezip the outer egress point. Suitably pleased with a successful mission, halfway out of the door, followed by yet more ribald comments, the final, what feels like a litre, makes its way to the outside world leaving a tell-tale signature for all to see, down one or other pants leg. So you walk like a cat with a bit of sticky tape stuck underneath one paw. Such are the pleasures of advancing years. But this pales into insignificance when compared to being in a State Hospital. Having said that, I take my hat off to all who battle with what they have, to help those in need. One youngster was called in at 8pm on Christmas evening and left at 9am the next morning. He had attended to 68 people - how is this possible? --My words of advice when it comes to matrimony are sketchy at best. My most poignant moments were the pearls of wisdom supplied

John Newton is a serious photographer but when it comes to life, he keeps his standards relatively low to obviate disappointment - email him at dream. merchantphotos@gmail.com for self-help advice!

by my beloved dad. “John, the only reason your mother has a head is to stop it raining down her throat!” or “If your mother’s brains were dynamite, it wouldn’t ruffle her hair, let alone blow her hat off!” I, too, suffered at the hands of his eloquent turn of phrase. Dad had spent weeks building new bodywork for the racing car - it was a work of art, aerodynamic perfection, a seriously excellent effort of which he was proud, but never ever hinted at how much design and labour went into its development and manufacture. Down at the track, his only begotten son leaped into the car and tore out of the pits, excited and eager to demonstrate just how this had improved the straight line speed and stability under braking. That was the intention; in reality, cold tyres, cold brakes, monumental velocity, and a generous dollop of brain-fade resulted in a complex spin of several revolutions wiping off nose and tail section on solid objects some distance off the racing line. The bodywork had worked beautifully for at least 150 metres. My father opened with this sage comment: “If I drilled a hole in your head, poured in three cups of sugar and then boiled it, I would end up with sweet eff-all!” I raced a few special cars when I was young and good looking. So imagine how long ago that was. To be continued…

NEWS & VIEWS

8 June 2016

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July 1 D-Day for Knysna tariff hikes, while Bitou folk will continue bearing waste management woes Knysna and Plettenberg Bay residents will be hard hit by steep tariff increases as their respective municipalities deal with a series of challenges, including a crippling water shortage and waste management issues - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports VER the past week, both Bitou and Knysna municipalities approved their budgets for the next financial year and with it announced how balancing the books will affect locals. In Plettenberg Bay, the final draft budget [see page 11] was presented and approved by council on May 31 and includes a more than R116-million capital budget and a R579.3million operations budget - R20-million more than the current financial year’s adjusted budget. Mayor Memory Booysen said this was due to a series of factors, including a 9% increase in waste management costs due to the anticipated construction of a regional landfill site and the closure of the current one. A new regional waste disposal site in Mossel Bay is planned for that town, as the current PetroSA site had reached the end of its lifespan. Each municipality on the Garden Route will have to contribute to costs. Booysen announced a 7.64% electricity increase; 6% for water, sewerage and assessment rates respectively; and a 9% hike in refuse removal tariffs. He added that provision had also been made in the operating budget for a R594.90 subsidy to indigent households and included 6-kilolitres of free water, 50 units of electricity, a 100% subsidy for refuse removal and sewerage charges, as well as exemption from paying basic charges on water and electricity. “The subsidy allowed exceeds the national norms and stretches the affordability threshold of the mu-

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BRIGHT FUTURE: Mayor Georlene Wolmarans themed the May 31 budget meeting ‘A prosperous future for Knysna’

nicipality,” Booysen said. The total amount of free services and rebates for the financial year amounted to the tune of R51-million. Booysen added that the capital budget would be funded through R49.965million in national and provincial grants, R25.498million from borrowings, and the balance of R38.601-million from internally generated funds. This will be used for housing and infrastructure, roads transport, electricity services, water services, and waste water. “As we have committed in the last four years, our budget has proven to be an instrument to create hope in challenging economic times, the times that appear to remain with us for longer than we had anticipated. “The new budget creates hope for our community and business alike, as we will be continuing with creating infrastructure investment and improving living conditions while at the same time creating employment opportunities.” On the same day, Knysna mayor Georlene Wol-

marans also presented the town’s budget, which amounts to R912-million comprising of R174-million in capital expenditure and R738-million in operating expenses. Wolmarans said that the budget was aimed at addressing the town’s major challenges - chief among these being the area’s dire water security issues. The municipality has struggled with decreasing water supplies since the beginning of the year, with reserves dropping to a 20day supply at the rate of consumption recently. “The capital expenditure must remain focused on water and sewerage infrastructure, specifically due to the recent drought that has hit the nation and felt so acutely in Knysna,” Wolmarans said. She added that the capital budget was funded with R91-million from national and provincial grants, R25-million from borrowings, and the balance from internally-generated funds. She explained that R57million was allocated for housing and infrastructure, R23-million for upgrades to the pumping scheme at the Charlesford dam, R10million for multi-purpose centres, R8-million for a water treatment plant, R3million for a new cemetery, and R5-million for upgrades to Grey Street. A further R400,000 will be allocated to each ward for its respective projects in order to enable them to identify and address capital projects to best impact on the residents of each ward. She also added that there would be tariff increases

for residents from July 1, including a 7% increase in the first two consumption tiers for the water tariff.

This will rise as consumption increases. Sewerage and refuse tariffs will increase by 7.5%

and 8% respectively and rates on domestic and nondomestic properties will increase by 7%.

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Know who your leaders are…

NEWS & VIEWS

8 June 2016

Witnesses called for in reported Plett ‘abduction’, but no case logged HILE reports of a possible abduction in Plettenberg Bay were rife this week, police say no case has been opened. Members of Plett Watch the town’s neighbourhood watch group - appealed to the public for assistance after receiving a report from a resident in Longships Drive claiming to have seen a

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“terrified woman” trying to escape from a vehicle. Reports suggested that just before 7pm on Sunday a vehicle - believed to be a silver Toyota Corolla with tinted windows - pulled over on the corner of Longships Drive and Godfrey Street. Witnesses claim they saw a woman with light-coloured hair in the vehicle

who screamed and kicked at the windows in an attempt to get out. The driver of the vehicle - a man - allegedly had his arm around the woman’s neck, seemingly trying to silence her. After several vehicles passed the scene, the driver allegedly sped away. Since then, Plett Watch members and other crime

prevention authorities have been searching for the vehicle and following up several leads, all of which have been unsuccessful at the time of going to print. Police spokesman Captain Marlene Pieterse said while she was aware of the reports, no case involving the matter had been opened so far. - Yolandé Stander

Former ANC stalwart founds new party in Bitou NOVEL PARTY: Peter Lobese a former Bitou municipal official with experience in Plett politics, and in a statement by his newly formed AUF, it is claimed that the local public has been approaching him to stand as mayoral candidate since 2007

Head of Bitou EFF (Economic Freedom Front) Albert Zukile Rorwana, pictured here with some adoring followers, shared this photo and wrote: ‘As the EFF leader, I exercise what Mr Peter Lobese taught me - to love the community dearly. Last Saturday I was going door to door giving food parcels to the people in Ward 5, Phase 2. I appreciate the community support and would like the people to know who their leaders are.’ (See what Mr Lobese is up to, at right.)

CTIVE United Front is a new Plett-based political party formed by former Bitou ANC stalwart Peter Lobese, who is also the AUF mayoral candidate for the forthcoming municipal elections. Said Lobese: “The current

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leadership has failed to address developmental issues in Plett, especially in communities where there are high rates of poverty, crime and unemployment. He added the process of electing ward candidates had been completed and

WARD CANDIDATES: Nkosazana Zindlovu is the candidate for Ward 2, and Llewellyn Davids will contest Ward 7

that AUF will contest the August 3 elections in all Bitou wards. These are its elected candidates: • Ward 1: Mandriva Ludziya • Ward 2: Nkosazana E. Zindlovu • Ward 3: Makaya Mabeka • Ward 4: Zukile Charles Bokuva

• Ward 5: Vuyokazi Kitsi • Ward 6: Peter Lobese • Ward 7: Llewellyn Davids. Said AUF spokesperson Yedwa Mayila: “We are working on the date of launching our manifesto, which is also a mandate from the people of Plett.”

NEWS & VIEWS

8 June 2016

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Flushed away forevermore… ‘till grandpa decided to take a last look Creative Plett local MATTHEW COVARR shared these photos and the incredible tail, erm, tale, of how his daughter’s beloved pet got a second lease on life

SATURDAY, 25 JUNE, 7PM

WHALE NATION & OOM SCHALK VERTEL… Welcome back to David Muller with a wonderful double bill. Whale Nation is about the beloved marine icon, and David presents an elegant, mesmerising and realistic show about this gentle giant. Arts and Entertainment described his performance: he is able to take his listeners to places of joy, delight and, conversely, pain… Whale season is on us, and this is the time to learn more about these creatures with the “largest brain ever created and a fifty-million-year smile”. Oom Schalk will select favoured Herman Charles Bosman’s stories, so prepare yourself to be transported by In the Withaak’s Shade and Willem Prinsloo’s Peach Brandy, narrated by the inimitable Oom Schalk. David is a master and beloved proponent of the ancient art of story-telling. Sometimes humorous, sometimes sad, always wise, these stories can be told over and over, and David makes them seem fresh and new every time.

SUNDAY, 26 JUNE, 7PM

CAMP CARRAWAK. LUCY AND ALEX TOPS

A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND: Zosia Covarr, above, is once more the proud owner of two rather posh rats - Bengy being the larger and less adventurous of the two, and Squiggles smaller but fearless - Photos: Halszka Covarr

WO Thursdays ago, my daughter’s pet rat, Squiggles, went missing in the early hours of the morning. After much debate, we came to the conclusion that he had fallen into the loo, disappeared around the bend, and had then been flushed. Nothing could remedy this sad state of affairs so

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memorial services took place, tears were shed, and much extra love given to the other rat, Bengy, who was now left behind without his mate - as bereft as, or more so than, the rest of us. Anyway, late on Friday afternoon my dad, Paddy, arrived and suggested we should open up all the inspection eyes on the sewer

line throughout the property, just to see if we could find Squiggles’ remains and put the matter to rest. Upon opening the very last inspection eye, right down in the far corner of the property, the search party looked down the pipe. It was dark, cold and wet but, alas, there was no sign of anything dead or alive. Then a miracle took place… As they were about to screw the lid back on, out popped first a nose, then the rest of the rat. Squiggles was alive! Cold, wet, miserable and hungry, but very much alive. These rats are posh - imported from Constantia, nogal - and very much part of our family, as demonstrated by Halszka’s photos of the pair messing around in the kids’ dolls house. So we’re happily reunited and grateful that the infamous rat resilience applied.

Howdy folks! Come and join us for comedy round the camp fire. It will be a whipcrackin’ hee-hawin’ knee slappin’ toe-tapping time that will leave you in stitches. Butch and Cassidy Carrawak take you on a ride with hilarious characters and all your favourite country music. A warm welcome to the pair who entertained us so wonderfully in 2015. We are exceptionally proud that this show, heading for the NAF, will premiere in Plettenberg Bay. Lucy’s flawless vocals and Alex’s quirky humour guarantee an evening of high-energy fun, laughter and music. You will leave smiling.

MONDAY, 27 JUNE, 7PM

A MAN AND A DOG. NHLANHLA MKHWANAZI The multi-talented Nhlanhla – his achievements too many to mention here – presents this beautiful play for which he was nominated for a Fleur du Cap award in 2006. The play has been extensively rewritten as he now sees the issues through the lens of life-experience and growing maturity. The revised version has been nominated for a Broadway World South Africa Theatre Award for the best lead actor in a play. In 2015 he was awarded the 2015 Silver Ovation Winner for A Man and a Dog at the NAF. The play was described as a tour de force, and uses the oral tradition, music and physical theatre to tell a poignant story which touches all South Africans. This chance to see an acclaimed artist perform in a play which has received wide recognition and praise should not be missed.

TUESDAY, 28 JUNE, 7PM

A GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK. ROLAND PEROLD

“A Great American Songbook”, the final production for the 2016 . Plett Fringe Festival, is embarking on a national tour after sell-out houses at the NAF in 2015. Roland Perold, himself a composer of musicals, takes you on a musical journey to the golden age of American popular song. His cabaret includes works by composers such as Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington and Cole Porter. Roland blends his informal style with anecdotes about the era and its many wonderful characters. After Roland’s success at the NAF, the press was warm in its praise. “He reminds the youth of the great inspiration of some of the most talented musicians to ever live and rekindles memories for the older generation. His outstanding vocal skills left the audience in awe.” This music genre is always a runaway success, so book early to see a great artist present great music.

THE COURTYARD OPENS AT 6PM EACH EVENING WITH LIVE MUSIC, LIGHT SNACKS FOR SALE AND A CASH BAR. PERFORMANCES COMMENCE PROMPTLY AT 7PM.

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NEWS & VIEWS

8 June 2016

Germany, here we come! O God be the glory, great things He hath done these are the theme words for the tour of a group of Moravian Church Brass Band players, who will embark on a trip to Germany from June 19 to July 15. It all started with four members of the Eastern Cape who had the opportunity and privilege to be part of a group of players who visited Germany to participate in a Unity Brass Band Festival in 2013. This tour inspired them to make an effort to encourage their brass band to follow suit. The seed was planted in 2014, and planning of the tour started at once. The Arcadia and Thornham Moravian Brass Bands have been friends for many years. Working together as sister congregations, these two bands have been able to play many concerts together. Says Koukamma Municipality human resource practitioner Gaylene Roberts: “It is wonderful to have five of our Thornham players being part of the group. “The tour consists of nine concerts that will be played by the group of 12 players

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BON VOYAGE: The Moravian Church brass band players will travel to Germany on an educational concert tour - the group includes five players from the small community of Thornham in the Eastern Cape, who raised funds for the trip through concerts held over several months

during their visits to sister congregations in Germany. “Another main reason for the tour is participating in two massive brass band festivals. Their trip starts off in Frankfurt, from where they will travel to Waldorf, Dettingen, Essingen, Ulm, Schabish Hall, Darmstadt, Niewied, Grossenheidorn, Ellershausen, and Meerbeck - and a river cruise on the famous Rhine should be a sure highlight.” “To God be the glory indeed,” says the group’s Leon

Afrika, “and we thank the Almighty for making all these things possible.” “The tour is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these young brass band players, and is entirely self-funded through many concerts held over several months,” explained Gaylene. Contact her on 042 288 0303 or at gaylene.roberts @koukamma.gov.za if you would like to contribute before the guys leave the country in 10 days’ time.

No better way of learning about waste management than through live theatre HEATRE has an amazing ability to captivate the attention and interest of children through engaging storytelling, interactive songs and exciting characters. Live theatre is thus a wonderful way to raise awareness about pressing environmental and social issues. This is exactly what Lunchbox Theatre does. Since 2008, its actors have performed over 470 shows to more than 94,000 children along the Garden Route. The most recent show focuses on waste management and recycling, and encourages children to find value in waste and to realise that there is no such thing as ‘away’. The children are informed about the benefits of recycling and the perils of leaving litter lying around. Launched at the end of April, the show was written and directed by Stuart Palmer with the assistance of Amanda Valela. The cast and crew are

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UP AGAINST THE WASTE MONSTER: Lunchbox actress Nomzamo Maga, left, bemoans the hazards of waste lying around, with the Waste Monster at right - Photo: Anja Wiehl

all Plett residents, including Nkosinathi Xipula, Nomzamo Maga, and Siyabulela Matyhila. The show has now been performed at nearly all the schools in Plett, thanks to the wonderful support of Bitou Municipality. Lunchbox Theatre focuses on key environmental days to theme their productions, and this waste management show adds to its repertoire that includes important

celebrations such as Marine Week, Arbor Week, Environment Week, Water Week, and Pet Care Week. The Lunchbox crew is very grateful to the National Arts Council of South Africa and the National Lotteries Commission for their generous contributions towards the creation and performance of these shows. Visit www.lunchbox.org. za or view the Lunchbox Theatre Facebook page.

Notice Board • Diarise the Garden Route SPCA Bingo night on June 10 at George Bowling Club (7pm for 7:30) for another evening of fun and ‘gains’ at only R30pp. Call 072 877 2911 for details. • FAMSA Knysna presents Family Foundation

Training, firstly during an Addictions Workshop on June 15 (8:30am to 3:30pm at R160pp), and secondly during a workshop on Anger/Conflict Management & Assertiveness on June 22 & 23 from 8:30 to 1:30pm on both days (R320pp) at

The Rock Church c/o Main & Queen Streets. Call 044 382 5129 to book. • Tickets are now on sale for the third Plett Food Film Festival from July 1113. Visit www.pletttourism. co.za or call 044 533 4065 for information.

COUNCIL NEWS

8 June 2016

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INTERVAL

8 June 2016

The forgetful actor...

Installing a husband

N actor had been out of work for years because he always forgot his lines. One day he got a phone call from a famous director who wanted him for an important part in a play. All the actor had to say was: “Hark! I hear the cannon roar!” Opening night arrived, and while the actor waited

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in the wings, he muttered to himself: “Hark! I hear the cannon roar! Hark! I hear the cannon roar!” The time for his entrance finally came, and as the actor made his appearance onstage, he heard a loud ‘BOOOOM!’ He turned around and said: “What the heck was that?”

Did you know that a candle’s flame smells like burnt nose hair?

Who gets what? RS Applebee, the Grade 6 teacher, posed the following problem to one of her math classes: “A wealthy man dies and leaves 10-million dollars. One-fifth is to go to his wife, one-fifth is to go to his son, one-sixth to his butler, and the rest

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to charity. Now, what does each get?” After an extended silence in the classroom, little Morris raised his hand. The teacher called on him for his answer. With complete sincerity little Morris answered: “A very good lawyer.”

What’s really bothering you? Y four-year-old daughter had a terrible case of the flu. She was achy, had a high fever, and was terribly hoarse. After sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s rooms for over an hour, we were finally admitted to see

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the doctor. After the usual routine of listening to her breathing and checking her ears, the doctor asked my daughter: “So what would you say is bothering you the most?” After a brief pause, my daughter replied: “My little brother, Steven. He always breaks my toys.”

EAR Tech Support, Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slow down in overall system performance, particularly in the flower and jewellery applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0. In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programmes, such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5, and then installed undesirable programmes such as Currie Cup 5.0, Super Rugby 3.2 and Golf Clubs 4.1. Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system. Please note that I have tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail. What can I do? Desperate Dear Desperate, First, keep in mind that Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while Husband 1.0 is an operating system. Please enter command: ithoughtyoulovedme.html and try to download Tears 6.2. Do not forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update.

If that application works as designed, Husband 1.0 should automatically run the applications Jewellery 2.0 and Flowers 3.5. However, remember that overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0, or Beer 6.1. Please note that Beer 6.1 is a very bad programme that will download the Snoring Loudly Beta. Whatever you do, DO NOT under any circumstances install Mother-InLaw 1.0 (it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources). In addition, please do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0 programme. These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0. In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great programme, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend Cooking 3.0 and Hot Lingerie 7.7. Tech Support

Just because nobody complains doesn’t mean all parachutes are perfect. - Benny Hill

Win a copy of the 10th anniversary special collectors edition of Tales from Treknet by answering the following question: What is the name of Treknet’s first comic collection? To find the answer go to the ‘about’ section on the Facebook page THE OFFICIAL TREKNET FAN PAGE. Like it, and keep up to date with daily cartoons and news. Answers can be emailed to editor@cxpress.co.za or faxed to 044 533 0852 by latest June 13. Please include your full name, physical address and contact details. (The first correct answer received will be the winner.) The answer to last week’s question was KOOS, and the winner is Devon Dodd from Knysna. Congrats!

BUSINESS

8 June 2016

CXPRESS

Behold the rise of the ‘adventure estate’ A

P P ROX I M AT E LY 6,000 closed communities and estates exist in South Africa, translating into roughly 318,000 residential properties and an estimated total value of some R643-billion - according to research conducted by Pam Golding. The popularity of the residential estate is constantly growing and indicates an increased demand for the comforts and security that this form of dwelling traditionally offers, but there is also a growing demand for these estates to offer recreational activities. This is according to former Plett resident Jan Minnie, now sales director of adventure estate Somerset Lakes. He says there is a growing demand for houses based on residential estates mainly as a result of the value-added benefits that these estates of-

fer, like educational and retail facilities on the premises. “In addition to these amenities typically associated with estate living, more and more property buyers are looking for recreational facilities that are offered by so-called ‘adventure estates’.” Minnie adds that Somerset Lakes, for example, affords residents the opportunity to experience an array of outdoor activities, including fishing, canoeing, and sailing. “On most adventure estates these activities are accessible to all residents, from those occupying sectional title units to those in free-standing family homes. The convenience of this lifestyle is thus extended to many first-time buyers who may otherwise have been unable to access these activities so readily.”

Elegant arm of the law

Plett Secondary School matriculant as part of the Class of 2009 Melissa Medea, 23, recently qualified as lawyer and was admitted at the George Magistrate’s Court on May 27. Proud mom Monica of Lily of the Valley Salon in Plett CBD said her eldest child looked so young and fresh-faced in the company of all the seasoned advocates and other old hands in attendance on the day, but that Melissa is tough as newly-painted nails! After gaining her degree at University of the Western Cape in 2013, Melissa has been learning the ropes at Rauch Gertenbach Attorneys in Mossel Bay, where she has been offered a permanent position. Dad Enoch Medea is headmaster of Kranshoek Primary School and is equally delighted with his daughter’s career. Congrats to this Plett family on a job well done!

SELLING ADVENTURE SOUTH-WEST: Former Plett residents Jan Minnie, above, and his wife Erika are currently heading the sales team at Somerset Lakes, which is leading the way in adventure estates in Somerset West

Many adventure estates also focus on a holistic family approach and provide activities for toddlers and children as well, explains Minnie. “In a country where crime is an ever-present threat, immediate access to an array of family-friendly activities is a big drawcard for buyers.” He adds that the community aspect that accompanies estate living is another factor that may be driving the popularity of residential estates. “Residents can meet each other in the clubhouse for leisure time or, in the case of adventure estates, running and canoeing clubs are a common sight. Many estate residents also form mobile-based chatrooms in which they keep each other abreast of leisure or health and fitness related activities or even potential security threats within the estate.” He concludes that Gaut-

eng was the frontrunner of estate living for many years, but the demand for housing within residential estates is growing significantly in the Western Cape. • CXPRESS chatted to Hein Pretorius and his team at Sotheby’s International Realty in Plett about adventure estates in our midst. The general consensus is that, although not marketed according to this new buzzword, developments like Robberg Beach End and Whale Rock Beach both offered an array of adventure activities that would never fit into a gated community. It’s a hop and a skip from there to surfing and swimming at The Wreck or strolling along the pristine 5km Robberg Beach, while you can surf-ski, sea-kayak or paddle-ski from directly in front of these estates. Fishing, hiking or running Robberg Nature Reserve right next door, mountain biking through indigenous forests that can be reached by bike, or skydiving, gliding and acrobatic aircraft rides from nearby Plett Airport complete the adventure offerings. Steven Neufeld concluded: “These estates enjoy particularly close access to many activities, but actually the whole of Plett is an adventure destination and all estates and open areas enjoy the above activities, too, albeit from a small distance further, as well as nearby adventures like bungy jumping and kloofing…the list is endless.” See the Sotheby’s adverts on pages 1 and 5 for contact details and listings.

Read CXPRESS online at www.cxpress.co.za

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CLASSIFIEDS

ON THE SOAPBOX

8 June 2016

Letters to the Editor

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

It took a village…

SMOOTH RIDE: Mom’s cat Smoothie lounges happily on her bed in Plett after the long trip from up north

A little over a week ago, I was helping my elderly mom move from Klerksdorp to Plettenberg Bay. During the chaos of packing up her home, one of her beloved cats ‘disappeared’. Realising we couldn’t postpone the move any longer to continue searching for Smoothie, we left Klerksdorp with heavy hearts to meet the removal company in Plett. Low and behold, the moment we arrived, we received a call from the new owners that Smoothie was safe and sound... but in Klerksdorp! I mentioned my dilemma to a few friends and in no time at all, Smoothie was winging his way down to the coast on a CemAir flight. I want to extend my appreciation and grateful

CXPRESS

thanks to the kind people who were instrumental in reuniting Smoothie with my distressed mom: Wollie and Jahna Fick for looking after and driving the three hours to OR Tambo Airport with this special delivery; Plett Tourism manager Cindy Wilson Trollip for rallying the troops and getting the ball rolling; Lorna McLeod (in charge of publications at Plett Tourism) for her compassion and numerous calls on my behalf; Zania Kruger from CemAir for her professional assistance. I am happy to report that Smoothie has settled in well and is quite taken by his new surroundings! And he’s clearly relieved to be back together again with my mom and his feline friend. ‘Delia’, Plett

So THAT’S what our white sharks are up to!

Photographer of our May 25 cover image Dave Reynell consulted Dr Paul Cowley, principal scientist at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, to find out more about the behaviour of the white sharks so prevalent in Garden Route waters at the moment. Said the doc: “In terms of the behaviour observed, I don’t think it is uncommon to see them ‘milling around’ like this. Dr Enrico Gennari from Oceans Research in Mossel Bay did his PhD research on white shark behaviour and based on intensive tracking (movement) data, was able to describe seven different behavioural modes. One of these was described as ‘roaming’, during which the sharks have a low ‘rate of movement’ (slow speed), making several slow turns while covering fairly large distances - usually close inshore, behind the breakers. He proposed that this energy-saving behavioural mode was used to scan the area for potential productive foraging sites.”

Short retorts Alwyn Brown should be highly commended on his excellent letter [read ‘Bitou ratepayers in distress as council takes from not-sorich’ on page 11 of the June 1 edition at www.cxpress. co.za] - thanks so much for printing it! Tina van Reenen, Plett --I just saw the lovely article on the Wittedrift students’ first bowls practice session [turn to page 12 of the May 25 edition] - thank you for putting it in. I am told word got around the school and that even more students were planning to attend the next session! This gives the non-rugby players an opportunity to excel at a sport, and even to play at district or even national level. Cheers to that! Larry Deferville, Plett --I wish to reply to ‘Richard of Knysna’ who does not seem to grasp the problem with the traffic hold-up in Knysna [read ‘Thoughts on clean audits and the alleviation of congested traf-

fic on page 11 of the May 25 edition]. There are at present two lanes in both directions at the traffic lights and it is these two lanes that are the problem. Removing the parking, although a very good idea, will not alleviate the congestion caused by not having two lanes for traffic wishing to go straight. The right lane correctly is for turning right, but the left lane can be held up by someone wishing to turn left and being unable to do so due to pedestrians crossing on their green light. This in turn blocks all cars wishing to go straight ahead. Roger Davis, Plett --Can we have RDP houses instead of Nkandla, please? Countrywide more schools are burning while so many are only asking for homes. ‘He’ gets a fat salary, anyhow, but when will the government wake up? We local inhabitants will eventually have to pay for these actions. Pensioner, 80, Plett

No fire can warm the cockles of one’s heart like these dancers did

THE BOYZ: The male dancers - from left are Dale de Gouveia, Scott Armstrong, Nic Thomson, Alec Yardley, and Raphael Ceillier - received great applause and support from the audience, and were commended particularly because some of them only started dancing a few months ago

It takes a hell of a lot to take me away from a warm fire and a glass of whiskey on a cold Friday night, but I did it and I’m eternally delighted that I did. I went to the Plett Primary School hall to watch the Oakhill modern dance group perform. To all you nice people who constantly whine that you miss the theatre and ballet, why did you not go? Why would you miss the excited chatter of children and the quiet pride of parents coming to watch a live performance? When did you last experience something that did not come out of flat plasma? Well you lot missed something wonderful. It was a performance to die for. The dancing from those students was amazing, darl’, just amazing, and justly deserving of the screams, whistles, and shouts at the end of every dance.

You don’t get a tear out of my eye easily, baby, but it was there, together with a mini Vic Falls from many others. It was an evening of pure delight and if they ever come back here to dance again, do yourself a favour, my china, and go. It will help them raise a few bob to continue their art - money very well spent, which gives you a fantastic return. It is unfair to select individual acts for credit because they all put it out there. But perhaps, perhaps the Puppet on a String and the Gold-winning last dance have to be given top dollar. I went back to my warm fire and my whiskey, but nothing could equal the warmth inside me, left behind by that evening. To all you boys and girls, thank you. PS: The boys also play rugby. Paul D, Plett

La Luna

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CXPRESS

SPORT & ADVENTURE

8 June 2016

Wittedrift tuggers gear up for Zambia as part of the President’s Team UNDRAISING is now the name of the game for two young Plett lasses recently selected for the President’s Team of the South African Tug-Of-War Federation.

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Danette Kapp and Kirsten Wylie were first introduced to the sport at the end of 2011 while attending Wittedrift High School. By 2012, they participated in their first com-

petition and then there was no looking back - the tug bug had bitten, big time. Says Danette’s mom, Lynn’e: “It may not seem like a ladylike sport, but for these two girls it has

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become a passion. Their ultimate goal is to wear the Green and Gold and to this end, they will be competing in Zambia at the end of July as part of the Presidents Team.� She explains that, albeit not regarded as mainstream, tug-of-war is huge throughout South Africa: “Any parent who has ever attended a competition will tell you why this sport attracts teams from every corner of the country. “There is no discrimination - boys and girls, ladies and men, some as young as six and others the ripe old age of 70+. Plettenberg Bay is one of the easternmost points in the Western Cape where tug-of-war is practised. Others include Hartenbos, George, Ladismith and Oudtshoorn. This makes for regular and long travels, as we meet up to practise as a team. “It starts at junior level or Kaalvoet (Barefoot) League, with eight children per side. At the signal of the referee, they tug with all their might until one team pulls the others over the winning line. “Not a single one of these tiny tykes will stand back in their quest to being the best. They work together as a unit and pull just as hard as the more senior tuggers in boots.� Turn to page 6 of the May 25 edition at www. cxpress.co.za to find out more about Danette and Kirsten’s rise to their current level SA’s best, and give Lynn’e a call on 061 407 6635 to find out how you can help making their participation in Zambia a reality. One very easy way of contributing is by buying raffle tickets with amazing

NOT PULLING YOUR LEG: If you thought Danette Kapp and Kirsten Wylie, right, look like pretty pushovers, think again they’ll pull you right over to their side of the divide as members of the SA Tug-Of-War Federation’s national top team Photos: Lynn’e Kapp

prizes in the offing (first prize: whole lamb from Wittedrift Butchery, second: pansy shell pendant from Rogers Jewellers, third: R400 voucher from Clover CafĂŠ). Tickets are available at a mere R20 each from Rogers Jewellers at The Market Square, Wittedrift Butchery, Stir it Up Coffee Shop at The Market in Main

Street or directly from Lynn’e Kapp. “We thank those who have already made contributions and look forward to the draw on Wednesday June 15,â€? she concludes, adding that there will also be a fun event at Flashbacks to raise the final funds necessary. Please watch this space for details‌

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Running scared‌ highlight for runners at this year’s Knysna Oyster Festival (July 1-10) will be the Simola Phantom Night Run on Saturday July 2 from 5-10pm. Besides running on a dark New Moon-lit night with nothing but the illumination of headlamps, participants will hear local opera singers Voices of the Forest performing arias and songs from different operas and various composers throughout the race. Visit www.pnpoysterfesti val.co.za for the full programme and online entries.

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