8 August 2018

8 August 2018

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

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Plett crooks caught in Storms - p3 SA petrol price vs rest of planet - p5 Cormorant slaughter shocks - p11

Wonderful women!

The four generations of local ladies pictured here on Plett’s beach portray the wonder of womankind on the eve of South Africa’s August 9 Women’s Day celebrations - what can be more enjoyable than hanging with the ladies old and young you love the dearest, with Mother Nature as backdrop? We thank our cover stars, from left, Jaymi Coetsee, CXPRESS design star Sandi Smith, UK-based gran Sue Steele, Plett local Toni Steele, and Addison Smith.

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NEWS & VIEWS

8 August 2018

Internationally-acclaimed tenor returns to his Knysna from an internship programme workshops at Concordia High roots this weekend at the Nationaltheater Mann(11am), Chris Nissen at noon, OLANE Marman is a Knysna native currently residing in Cape Town - that is, when he’s not travelling the globe in pursuit of operatic endeavours.

A postgraduate University of Cape Town opera student, vocalist, and part-time stage director, he is developing his Operatunity brand for young classical musicians in need of performance platforms or technique training while learning about the industry. “This field of music has given me great opportunities to travel overseas and work with highly-acclaimed singers and stage directors,� says Xolane, who has recently returned

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OPERATIC TENURE: Knynaborn tenor Xolane Marman is passionate about supporting the performing arts, especially in disadvantaged communities

heim in Germany. “I would like to share my international experience with youngsters in my home town who may be considering a career in opera or classical music. “I have been invited by the folk at KILT (Knysna Initiative for Learning and Teaching) to host a music workshop on Friday August 10. Luckily, friends of mine currently working in Germany, Austria and America are committed to co-hosting the event, and have agreed to fly down and assist in this venture,� Xolane enthuses.

The opera stars will travel from school to school on Friday, starting off at 10am at Percy Mdala High, followed by

and Fraaisig HoĂŤrskool at 1pm.

More good news for local music aficionados is that the workshop will be followed by an operatic feast at the Knysna Dutch Reformed Church hall on August 11 at 6pm, featuring mezzo soprano Bongiwe Nakani, baritone Luthando Qave, Xolane’s fellow tenor Khanyiso Gwenxane, and soprano Charlotte Mhlongo, accompanied by pianist Samantha Riedel.

Tickets are available through Quicket at R150 for adults or R80 for pensioners and scholars.

And two lucky CXPRESS readers can win comps to An Evening of Opera on Saturday - email operatunity.music@gmail.com or call 071 701 8785 to enter.

Amanda’s hard-hitting play set to keep our kids from harm Would you like to help realising the dream of a safer South Africa? When Amanda Valela was given the opportunity to create a live theatre show, she focused on saving our children - this is her story‌ MAGINE being a young woman from KwaNokuthula in Plett with aspirations to tell stories through the ancient means of live theatre. Imagine having an ostensibly impossible dream - and for it to be fulfilled.

This is what befell the talented Amanda Valela, thanks to Assitej SA and the National Lotteries Commission.

While working with children in a gangster-dominated community during 2015, Amanda experienced first-hand how the fear these children endured was depriving them of their childhood.

She wanted to create a show that would empower children so that they could dream again.

It took her three years to write Dream, as she was overcome with grief after losing her own father. Then it all came together for the National Arts Festival this past July.

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Supported by fellow Lunchbox Theatre actors Stuart Palmer and Mncedisi Ncedani, Dream came to life. Under the directorship of Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, ‘magic’ was added to make for a winning play.

After the launch of Dream in Grahamstown, Amanda cried with joy when Steve Kretzmann from Critter wrote a rave review.

“Besides providing fabulous entertainment and instilling a love for theatre and storytelling for children, Lunchbox Theatre wants to ensure that no child who sees Dream will ever be reported missing,� he penned.

Cue Media said: “Tragedy, comedy and education are brilliantly woven together in this hard-hitting tale about the ab-

FAME CATCHERS: Actors Maphiko Mncedisi Ncedani, Amanda Valela, and Stuart Palmer with director Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, second from right, at Plett’s Dream preview before its winning Grahamstown run

duction of a young girl. Aimed at both kids and adults, Dream is sprinkled with just enough humour to remind us that the safety of our children is not to be taken lightly.�

Lunchbox Theatre is committed to taking Dream to communities near and far to educate as many families as possible about how to protect their children. “We realise that, irrespective of our determination to lower the level of child abduction, it is something we cannot do on our own. We need the help, support and contribution of people who care,� says Lunchbox director Stuart Palmer. “Each contributor will be a Change Maker, helping us to ensure a safer South Africa with a much more positive future.�

Visit www.lunchbox.org.za for additional information or if you would like to contribute.

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NEWS & VIEWS

8 August 2018

CXPRESS

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Plettenberg Bay police and security forces nip shopping centre safe robbers’ flight in the bud A group of alleged thieves were no match for local police and other Plett crime fighters when they were tracked and chased all the way to Storms River for breaking open a safe in a delivery truck at a shopping centre and taking off with the money - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports LETTENBERG Bay police spokesman Captain Marlene Pieterse said the incident happened at The Market Square last Thursday at about 10:20am.

“A delivery truck was parked at the shopping centre. The truck driver and his passenger went into a shop.

Our preliminary investigation indicates that a suspicious white Ford Focus with CA 49836 registration number followed them.

“The driver of the vehicle accompanied the two from the truck to the shop, while the two passengers in the Ford broke open the driver’s side door and the safe that was in the truck,” Piet-

P

erse said.

The suspects then fled towards Kranshoek.

Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) operations head Otto Olivier said the vehicle was spotted near the Wolf Sanctuary on the N2 by local neighbourhood watch members.

“I then spotted the vehicle again at the New Horizons turn-off. The driver not only drove at a ridiculously high speed, but was also incredibly reckless. I did not want to place road users at risk and fell about five minutes behind.

“Terra Ndabeni from ADT spotted the vehicle

NO CROSSING THAT BRIDGE: The Ford Focus in which the alleged thieves made off from Plett’s Market Square centre was finally brought to a halt at Storms River Bridge

at The Crags and immediately gave chase. He and fellow ADT officers Elton Muller and Theo Cekiso assisted,” Olivier said.

Other neighbourhood watch group members acted as the eyes and ears of authorities and kept them updated along the way.

“Al the updates helped tremendously as we gained ground, but we were held up at the tollgate where two police officers and two ADT members jumped into my vehicle.”

The Plett Rapid Response team, the Tsitsikamma dog unit, local police, and traffic officials also responded.

Pieterse said police at-

Molosi murder accused makes brief appearance in Knysna court NE of the two suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Knysna ANC councillor Victor Molosi last month briefly appeared in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The suspect, 39-year-old Knysna Taxi Forum secre-

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tary Mandla Tyololo, was one of two arrested in connection with the murder on July 23. The 50-year-old Molosi was shot several times while walking home from a school governing body meeting at Concordia High School. He died upon

a t s i n o i h s a F a L

arrival at a local hospital.

Tyololo briefly took his place in the dock before the matter was postponed to August 15 for a formal bail application. Tyololo, who is accused of conspiring to murder Molosi, was remanded in custody until

his next appearance.

A task team consisting of provincial and cluster detectives has been formed to investigate the case.

Molosi’s funeral service was held at the Concordia High School Hall on Saturday.

Police spokesman Captain

Malcolm Pojie said that more arrests could be expected. - Yolandé Stander SUSPECT SECRETARY: Knysna Taxi Forum secretary Mandla Tyololo was one of two suspects arrested after Victor Molosi was assassinated on July 23

tempted to stop the vehicle in The Crags, but the driver refused to stop.

“Police gave chase through the tollgate, and ended up at Storms River Bridge, where the car was finally stopped and searched. Police confiscated burglary implements including a screwdriver, a cutter, and gloves.”

Pieterse added that there were two passengers in the vehicle and both were arrested by KwaNokuthula police. The suspects are 41 and 47 years old respectively.

Police are investigating two cases of theft from a vehicle and possession of burglary implements.

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

8 August 2018

South Africa plummets to 37th in global property rights rankings HEN the 2017 International Property Rights Index (IPRI) was released, South Africa was ranked 27th overall and first in the African region. However, South Africa’s score declined by 0.65 from 7 last year to 6.35 in 2018.

This is the largest decline by any country measured in the index. With the dramatic decline in its score, South Africa is now ranked 37th overall and second in the region behind Rwanda. The global index ranks property right protections in 125 countries, covering 98% of world GDP and 93% of the world population The Free Market Foundation and Property Rights Alliance, in cooperation with 113 think tanks across the world, embargoed this year’s IPRI until today, August 8.

The Index measures the strength of physical property rights, intellectual property rights, and the legal and political environments that contain them.

The IPRI Global Launch will be livestreamed today from 8:30am to 12:30 from Johannesburg on Facebook https://www. facebook.com/FMFSA/.

Worldwide, six-billion people suffer from

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inadequate protection of their property rights. Only 758-million people, or 13% of the world, enjoy adequate protections for their artistic works, inventions, and private property.

Three countries - Finland, New Zealand, and Switzerland (a quarter of 1% of the world) - have achieved the highest property rights protections according to the 2018 International Property Rights Index.

Alarmingly, for the first time the United States fell from being first in the world for intellectual property protections to second, yielding to Finland, which also passed New Zealand to become first in the Index overall (8.69).

The Index is the first publication to utilise the recently updated Patent Rights Index developed by professor Walter Park at American University. Property rights are a key indicator of economic success and political stability.

Renowned economist Hernando de Soto said: “Weak property rights systems not only blind economies from realising the immense hidden capital of their entrepreneurs, but they withhold them from other

benefits as evidenced through the powerful correlations in this year’s index - human freedom, economic liberty, perception of corruption, civic activism, and even the ability to be connected to the internet, to name a few.�

Property rights are an essential component of prosperous and free societies. This year the report includes correlations with no less than 23 economic and social indicators, including nine specific to e-commerce which displayed some of the strongest relationships the IPRI has ever discovered suggesting rights play an important role in addressing internet access issues.

Property rights are restricted by gender.

Poor property rights protections are bad enough; however, the Gender Equality component of the index reveals that several countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa regions continue to limit property ownership based solely on gender.

South Africa’s largest decline was recorded in the variable Physical Property Rights protection (-1.18).

The data for this variable is derived from

the World Economic Forum’s Executive Opinion Survey, which was compiled in April, shortly after parliamentarians backed a motion brought by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to establish a parliamentary ad hoc committee to “review and amend section 25 of the Constitution�.

While the rest of the world is improving their property rights protections (an increase in the average score of 0.25), South Africa is moving in the opposite direction.

It is this direction of change that is most concerning and will have the entirely predictable consequence of deterring future investment and accelerating the rate of capital flight.

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The Knysna branch opened its doors on August 1 last year and cooperates with Plettenberg Bay as a satellite division.

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NEWS & VIEWS

8 August 2018

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CXPRESS

Petrol prices for August: South Africa compared to the rest of the world NOTHER month, another rise in petrol prices. Life’s getting tougher for commuters and motorists, but how do we shape up against everyone else?

When looking at the monthly figures released by Global Petrol Prices, one can assess where these record fuel hikes place South Africa on the list.

Monthly rises in fuel costs didn’t hit the heights first predicted by the Automobile Association back in July.

However, there was still a fractional increase in the average costs of rand per litre, meaning that this month is yet another record-breaker.

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Inland and rural areas are still paying over the odds at more than R16 per litre, whereas the average price for South Africa stands at R15.73. That makes Mzansi the 87th cheapest country in the world for fuel. However, with the global average standing at R15.52, it’s fair to say SA citizens are now paying over the odds.

The top 10 most expensive countries for petrol (based on rand/litre) are: 1. Iceland - R28.21 2. Hong Kong - R28.12 3. Norway - R27.24 4. The Netherlands - R26.20 5. Barbados - R26.16 6. Greece - R25.50

7. Denmark - R25.38 8. Monaco - R25.35 9. Italy - R25.13 10. San Marino - R24.52 Petrol prices across Europe are as good as extortionate. France (R23.81) is the 17th most expensive country in the world for fuel, and Ireland (R23.13) is part of the top 20 as well.

The 10 cheapest countries are Venezuela (R0.11), Iran (R3.59), Sudan (R4.53), Kuwait (R4.59), Algeria (R4.71), Ecuador (R5.17), Nigeria (R5.43), Turkmenistan (R5.66), Egypt (R5.73), and Kazakhstan (R6.66).

Why is petrol so cheap in Venezuela, where you can get

petrol for around 10 cents a litre? Venezuelans can fill up their tanks for around R5.

Because the South American country sits on top of one of the world’s largest oil reserves, gasoline has been made effectively free as a “Venezuelan birth right”.

Despite the country’s eco-

nomic woes, the price remains dirt cheap.

How much is a litre of petrol in…

• Australia - R14.36 • Brazil - R15.82 • Canada - R15.17 • China - R14.68 • India - R15.39 • New Zealand - R20.88

• Russia - R9.48 • UK - R22.31 • USA - R11.00 • Zimbabwe - R19.44 All info was taken from Global Petrol Prices; fuel costs from Syria and Mongolia were omitted, as details were not fully provided. (www.thesouthafrican.com)

Plett flooring and blinds fundis take top design honours at PE Home Expo PROUD NOLANS WINNING STAND: Pictured below are a few members of the Nolans crew - with Marco Lamberti at right responsible for the design, construction, and running of the top stand, above, at the recent PE Homemakers Expo. See the advert below for contact details.

OMMANDER in chief of Nolans Flooring & Blinds, Marco Lamberti, shared these pictures and the news that his Plett team along with their Eastern Cape colleagues returned from Port Elizabeth victoriously after last week’s Homemakers Expo.

“We built up a stand to display our products and brand at the Expo, held at the Boardwalk from August 2 to 5. It was a first time for eve-

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ryone involved,” says Marco, adding that it was quite a challenge to build the stand at their Plett storeroom within a certain timeframe, as team members were also tasked with servicing their clients at the same time.

“Petrus Marais Designs assisted with the design and choice of product, and Petrus was instrumental in all the work done, creating a 20m2 space that wowed everyone at the PE show.

“We used local companies to ensure the best possible stand we could,” says Marco.

These included Johnny from Pubic Image who built the stand frame and base, and Lindsay from Glow Lighting who assisted and supplied a lighting solution.

“Nolans staff assisted on weekends and evenings to make the stand come together, in collaboration with the suppliers we deal with on a daily bases - Plantation Shutters, Luxaflex Blinds, Quickstep Laminates and Engineered Flooring.

“All of this resulted in the fact that we won the 2018 Homemakers Expo’s overall award for Stand and Design Excellence, which is a wonderful achievement for Nolans!” Marco enthuses.

He thanks the staff of other Nolans stores who contributed to their success by helping to run the stand during the four-day event and leaving a lasting impression on all the clients that visited.

Thanks go to the Plett team of Luciano, Zane, Jack, Hercia, and Franco; St Francis staffers Ismael, Sandra, and Jenique; Cheryl, Jackie, and Zeta of Nolans Port Elizabeth; and Craig and Sam from the East London store.

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CXPRESS

8 August 2018

SCHOOL NEWS

NEWS & VIEWS

8 August 2018

CXPRESS

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let that passport corner you when planning the perfect port of last resort

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Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

Correspondent BOB HOPKIN shares his thoughts on some unconventional retirement alternatives to South Africa S ex-pats - raised in the UK, living in France for a few years and, in a career desperation move, relocating to South Africa some 36 years ago - we thought a final passage to our â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;dream houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on the Garden Route 13 years ago would be the culmination of fascinating lives well spent - truly the place of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;last resortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Nothing in life is ever so easy, of course, and with all the political and economic shenanigans that seem to be a speciality of this country, moving to a safer and more stable location is becoming a priority.

A trigger came a few years ago when a friend loaned us a copy of International Living (IL) magazine, produced by a North American organisation looking, primarily, for places that would appeal to ex-pat Americans and Canadians escaping from other issues in their home countries.

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IL has a bevy of correspondents around the world assessing the vital factors affecting a happy retirement, such as cost of living, healthcare, security, etc., and each year they compile a list of what their system perceives to be the best locations on Earth for those Golden Years. Visit www. internationalliving.com and see the top 10 below.

Taking ILâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advice to heart five years ago, we began our search for our next and possibly final port of call. Since then we have visited Thailand, Malaysia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and, purely as a holiday, Egypt.

Although we travel on British passports we noted that, in most cases, being a South African national does not automatically form a road block for permanent residence or even citizenship.

Visit www.buzzsouth africa.com for a start on

finding South Africanfriendly countries.

While treating our visits as vacations, we did take time out to assess the practical and emotional aspects of living there full time. For reasons too lengthy to list here, we ruled out Far Eastern destinations, but were impressed with the Latin American countries.

In spite of reputations, often enhanced by Hollywood, for political instability and drug-fuelled violence, these countries gave the impression particularly in the cases of Panama and Costa Rica - of being pleasant, stable, and welcoming places to live.

Our preferred choice so far is Panama, which for those like us who may have itchy feet, is well worth investigating.

Apart from a small navy to protect maritime trade, it does not waste money on armed forces, as it cur-

rently has no enemies.

The Panama Canal provides the government with a substantial income, which is ploughed back into infrastructure development, and an attractive â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pensionadoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; scheme lures retirees with discounted goods and services.

Surprisingly, even with the depreciated value of the rand, some very attractive properties in countries near the top of the list are affordable - www.viviun.com is a good website to see whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s available. Just divide the rand-value of your house by about 13 and look for the prices in $US. In spite of the cynics, it is sometimes true that the grass really is greener on the other side of the hill.

Annual Global Retirement Index 2018 top 10 â&#x20AC;˘ Costa Rica â&#x20AC;˘ Mexico â&#x20AC;˘ Panama â&#x20AC;˘ Ecuador â&#x20AC;˘ Malaysia â&#x20AC;˘ Colombia â&#x20AC;˘ Portugal â&#x20AC;˘ Nicaragua â&#x20AC;˘ Spain â&#x20AC;˘ Peru.

Welcome to Villa Villekula - a cracker of an ecodays, and Saturdays. lodge in the heart of The Crags All baking and cooking ELL-LOVED Plett locals Daniela and Willie Gouws of The Yard-fame now ply their trade in The Crags after selling their beloved coffee shop and antique business, established over many years with more than a dollop of the proverbial blood, sweat, and tears.

Situated off the N2 just 19km from Plettenberg Bay (bordering Lawnwood Snake Sanctuary), their newly-opened ecolodge, Villa Villekula, is the perfect departure point for accessing the Garden Route to the west and Tsitsikamma to the east.

On arrival at the lodge - surrounded by 3.2-hectare of farmland that includes a dam and a small forest - a profound sense of tranquillity dawns immediately.

The unique layout of Villa Villekula, designed

by Plett architect Dirk Hanekom, is the result of nine monthsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; worth of brainstorming and the elbow grease required by this hardworking duo be-

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SIMPLICITY IS THE ULTIMATE SOPHISTICATION: The quote by Leonardo Da Vinci best describes the unique Villa Villekula created by Willie and Daniela Gouws, above

fore they felt ready to open their doors to the public.

The fortunate few whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve visited after learning of the Villaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existence via word-of-mouth have nothing but praise for the laid-back atmosphere experienced, with a view of the farm dam from the deck, Jennifer the donkey grazing about, and the smell of Danielaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home-

made bread wafting from the open kitchen to the huge, welcoming lounge/ dining room.

With Willieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s background in the restaurant industry and Danielaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s German influences, the exquisite food on offer is a no-brainer reason to visit the Villa for breakfast seven days a week, and pre-booked dinners on Wednesdays, Fri-

INVITING: The kitchen/lounge entrance hall, and an outside view of the French Room, right

is done on a wood-burning stove, as Villa Villekula ticks all the eco-boxes by operating totally off the grid, thanks to a solar system and rainwater tanks.

Where possible, building materials have been recycled to keep the carbon footprint to a minimum.

At this stage, accommodation consists of three well-appointed, themed en-suite bedrooms set apart from the entrance hall, all leading out onto private decks with garden views. Two more rooms will be completed soon.

One can truly get lost in the wonder of Willie and Danielaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sense of creativity; they have collected a treasure trove of antique furniture and decorations over the years, which can be viewed in the Villaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s every nook and cranny.

The creative attention to detail will keep visitors busy for hours, oohing and aahing at all the delightful pieces on display in The Captainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cabin, Turquoise Room, and French Room - each with piping hot gas-powered showers, open to the stars at night or blue skies in the morning.

To truly experience this gem in our â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hood, take the family out for the day or spoil your loved-one with an overnight stay and the warm hospitality of Willie and Daniela. Visit their Facebook page and see the advert on this page.

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CXPRESS

INTERVAL

8 August 2018

La Luna The English language we invented ET’S face it - English is a crazy language.

There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in a pineapple.

English muffins weren’t invented in England or French fries in France.

Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat.

We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don’t fing, grocers don’t groce and hammers don’t ham?

If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn’t the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, two geese. So one moose, two meese? One index, two indices?

Doesn’t it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

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If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught?

If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

Sometimes I think all English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, but a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

At the library…

• A woman walked into a library and wondered whether they had any books about paranoia.

The librarian replied: “Right behind you.”

• A man walked into

a library and wondered whether they had any books about suicide.

The librarian replied: “Yes, we did, but the previous borrower never returned it.”

Enemies at the gates ERGEANT: “Private, I think the enemy soldiers are hiding in the woods. I want you to go in there and flush them out for us.”

Private: “Okay, Sir, but if you see a bunch of guys running out the woods, don’t shoot the one in front.”

S

Moving to Nevada... man sees his wife packing a suitcase.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

She answers: “I’m moving to Nevada. I heard that prostitutes there get paid $400 for what I’m doing for you for FREE!”

A

Later that night, on her way out, the wife walks into the bedroom and sees her husband packing his suitcase. When she asks him where he’s going, he replies: “I’m coming, too.

I want to see how you live on $800 a year.”

SOCIAL SCENE

8 August 2018

CXPRESS

People, places & events

PRETTY MUSIC FOR PETS: An evening of Glorious Music by Trio de Musique was held at Ouland Royale on August 4 in aid of the Plett Animal Welfare Service (PAWS). The talented cellist Ariella Caira, pianist Albert Combrink, and flautist Thomas de Bruin delighted a capacity audience with a selection of well-loved melodies. Speaking at the start of the evening, David Hall-Green said: “PAWS provides primary health care for canine and feline domestic animals in 11 communities from Coldstream in the Tsitsikamma to Harkerville in Bitou.” He added that it cost R100,000 per month to run PAWS, all of which has to be raised from events such as this and the PAWS shop in Plett Industria. “PAWS receives no financial assistance from municipal, provincial and national government organisations so thank you very much to each and every one of you for your support and the contribution that you make to fund the work of PAWS.” The evening received generous sponsorship from Clemengold International and Zandvliet Wine Estate and its success was made possible by way of the hard work and commitment of many members of PAWS, and of Wilja Reitz and her Ouland Royale staff. Pictured at left, Wendy Kritzinger of Keurboomstrand shows off the Clemengold Gin hamper she won on the night. At the top, Rod and Gail Ferhsen of Sedgefield are flanked

by Plett residents Irmela Kohlsdorf and Gigi von Helden, and Diana Lawrie and Thomas Vogler at right.

Above, Knysna locals Margie Wacher, Gill Haakman, Lawrence Wacher, Gail Holton, and Denise Hutten relish their Clemengold cocktails. - Timothy Twidle

BONNIE RARING TO KICKSTART KNYSNA BANDWAGON: Patricia Yantol, known as ‘Bonnie’ in her community, is a proud Xhosa woman who lives in Knysna. “My late mother Esta and dad, Daniel Yantol, were denied the opportunity to an education so worked as domestic and as general labourer at the local school respectively. We didn’t have much but they loved us and taught us to be strong,” says Bonnie, who contracted polio as a toddler. This left her paralysed in both legs while also affecting her right hand.

She could not walk at the age of four so crawled to get around. Today, Bonnie has an inspirational story to share - which she did with initiator of Plett’s Differently-Abled Awareness Campaign Rita Hardaker (formerly Van Rensburg) and friends during a scrumptious breakfast buffet at the spectacular Sky Villa boutique hotel recently. Visit www.cxpress.co.za to find out more about her life and the plan she is hatching to facilitate mobility for her fellow differently-abled folk in Knysna. There’s a month left to enter the Differently-Abled Awareness Campaign competition, its grand prize being a night’s stay for two at Sky Villa with dinner and breakfast included. Just answer the question: ‘What does being differently-abled mean to you?’ Email your answer, name and town of origin to winwithskyvilla@gmail.com to enter.

WHO LET THE CAT IN? Celebrated vocalist and pianist Cat Simoni will perform ‘Senza una Donna’ at Plett’s Barnyard Theatre in The Crags on the eve of National Women’s Day, so call 044 533 5178 or 079 876 0406 to book now for tonight’s show if you don’t have tickets yet.

LATIN FITNESS FEMMES FÊTE ‘LES ANNÉES FOLLES’: Plett’s Zumba ladies, and a singular lad, gathered for their annual Christmas in July shindig two Saturdays ago, this year with a ‘Paris in the 20s’ theme. Says organiser and Zumba ‘voordanser’ Merle Hagerman: “We had a fabulous Xmas party in Paris, with all the ladies - and one suave gent - dressed to the nines and looking gorgeous. Thanks to Adele Coetzee for the scrumptious food, and the tennis folk at Plettenberg Bay Country Club for availing their lovely venue. Surrounded by excellent company, we drank and danced and had a proper blast!” Sandi Smith, pictured above with Merle at left, won the lucky draw for a pair of Zootgear pants. The other pics here tell a story of everyone present looking and feeling like ragtime royalty!

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ON THE SOAPBOX

8 August 2018

Letters to the Editor

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

Should cormorants be killed and wildlife threatened on Plett’s dog-friendly beaches?

At spring low tide, it was a perfect morning and a wonderful time for a beach walk. My husband and I approached the south end of Robberg Beach, enjoying the magnificent views and intrigued with a proliferation of scattered shells, camouflaging the little plovers scuttling along the beach ahead.

The peace and tranquillity helped me to ignore my irritation at having to dodge the numerous naked dog turds encountered and we reached the rocks, immersed in the beauty of our bay.

As we relaxed we noticed a Cape cormorant standing on the beach, drying its wings. It ignored us and, as nature lovers, we were pleased that to peacefully relish its presence.

At that moment two dogs, with the jizz of Pointers of some kind, bounded onto the scene and immediately pounced on the cormorant, biting at its throat and severely injuring it. My husband rushed over to drive the dogs off, but they were too quick and the badly-mauled bird died soon after.

Other walkers nearby were not the owners of the

dogs and, picking up the cormorant to prevent the dogs from tearing it to pieces, we started on our return walk. As we approached, the dogs bounded up to a man who had been standing on the shoreline some 200m away, greeting him as their owner.

My husband mentioned the incident to the man and his response was: “This is a dogs’ beach and the bird probably just came here to peacefully die as they sometimes do.”

He proceeded to advise that the cormorant should not have been on the beach because it did not belong in this area.

So, had the cormorant been a trespasser and did it deserve the shocking treatment dished out by the dogs?

Patricia Storrar states in her book, The Paradise Coast, that seabirds have right-of-way on Robberg.

If there was any truth in the man’s contention that the bird had come onto the beach to peacefully die, his dogs had certainly robbed it of that opportunity.

This raises an interesting point as to what is meant by the designation of “dogs’ beach” and how

does this status affect the rights of the surrounding wildlife and other visitors to the beach.

Does the sign mean that the beach is exclusively for dogs and that all other creatures enter at their own risk? I don’t think so!

My understanding is that it permits dogs to be responsibly walked off leash.

We cannot expect dogs to obey the signs or, without training, to change their inherent nature as hunting animals. Therefore owners must ensure their proper supervision during visits to these beaches.

It is surely not acceptable for dogs to use their visits as an opportunity to carry out vicious attacks on indigenous wildlife, and no one should have to witness such senseless killing.

Whether the bird was compromised, or was simply drying its wings, the fact that the owner was nowhere near the vicinity of the attack left him unable to exercise any judgement regarding his dogs’ actions, or to control their abhorrent behaviour.

As we walked away, I noticed the two dogs chasing after some of the little plovers, their owner

apparently oblivious to their continued intent on savagery.

I am not an ornithologist, but I would have thought that Cape cormorants have every right to be in the area, even if only to “die peacefully on the beach”. I am not a lawyer, but understand that our legal system - our very civilisation - operates on the premise that with every right comes an obligation.

This dog owner has missed this point completely. Many owners let their dogs run freely but, as responsible owners, they ensure that their dogs are well enough behaved to co-enjoy the beach with wildlife and other visitors.

If an owner believes it is okay for the birdlife on our beaches to be brutalised and destroyed, because he failed to uphold his obligation to control them, he should lose the right to take them to the beach.

Yes, dog owners have been accorded a valued right to have their pets with them on certain beaches, but a few careless owners seem set on ruining it for the rest of us.

Janet Jeffery, Plett

Community carers query location of fellow fundraiser As chairlady and coordinator of the NGO New Horizons Care Group I am responding to a letter by Shaun Terblanche, director of the Pine Trees Community Outreach Project (PTCOP), in CXPRESS of July 25 [turn to page 15 of that edition and read ‘Assistance now required for 100 needy families’ at www.cxpress.co.za].

On a daily basis, NH Care Group works closely with New Horizons Clinic and Social Services in the communities of New Horizons, Pine Trees, Gaatjie, and Qolweni.

We provide assistance to the most vulnerable and needy residents who also have multiple social challenges to deal with.

Our services include: • About 120 cooked meals per week and food parcels, • Transport of patients to and from the clinic, • The supply of disposable adult nappies, toiletries, bed linen, and clothes where needed.

Our volunteers have been working intensively in Pine Trees for the past two years and would like to know where the PTCOP is based. We have not met any other community-based role-players yet.

According to Mr Ter-

blanche’s letter, his organisation receives donations from businesses and organisations. Since we share the same vision, namely community service, we will direct people in his area to his organisation.

Our donor base is relatively small and we would like to honour them and thank them publicly here for their support, help and encouragement: Julie and Hunter Hotels, Mr and Mrs Frielinghaus of Haus Rentals, Marelé and Ruan of Dunlop, Joy of the wool shop, Xtreme Life Church, New Horizons Cash & Carry, Heloise of Emily Moon Restaurant, Elaine of Building the Walls, and Tiger Brands.

We are also indebted to the many individual private donors who give money, food, goods, and practical help.

Toekie Spies - chairlady: New Horizons Care Group, Plett PTCOP founder and project director Shaun Terblanche supplied the following response: We are operating from my shack, which is based at Pine Trees number 39.

We tried to get the white house in Pine Trees as base, but it is being used as a municipal office or some

other work in progress.

I work at the Plett Town Clinic from 8am to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday, where I see different people in need. So I can only concentrate on a few functions per year, e.g. schools clothes for kids at the beginning of each year, an annual Mother’s Day event when possible, and a yearly Christmas party for underprivileged children and babies. We have also been involved in Women’s Day events.

Whenever I receive donations in the form of food, I distribute it to the soup kitchen in Pine Trees. This only happens a few times per year and is not a continuous stream of food products or goods. We do not have a donor base like other organisations that receive donations monthly, weekly, or daily.

I have realised that with my daily work, Sally Ngene - who Aunt Toekie Spies knows - is the right person to help preparing food from any donations received. We then distribute it among the people who are most deeply in need.

This is what happened the last time we received food donations: Sally cooked food for the people in need. As far as I

understood, Aunt Toekie said she did not have enough to provide for Sally to make meals for all these individuals.

I still have the list of goods that was signed off by Aunt Toekie, Sally Ngene and [NHCG secretary] Doris Fornefeld on April 24 this year. That was the last time we received a donation of food.

A meeting can be set up by the NH Care Group so that we can discuss the way forward. I am willing to give what we receive to Sally to prepare meals for the community of Pine Trees.

Most importantly, the letter of appeal in CXPRESS of July 25 was to enable our organisation to collect 100 food parcels for our end-year function, which we always hold with our annual Christmas parties for the children, and when we distribute the food parcels to the identified needy households.

If anybody needs proof of these operations, please email pine treesproject@gmail.com or call 073 513 5119.

There are pictures of events held during previous years on our Facebook page. I hope that this information will be of assistance.

CXPRESS

11

Tournament to ‘honour Tata’ not sanctioned by Eden boxing This serves as a formal complaint against SK Magaga, of Bitou Municipality’s tourism office, who fabricated information as published in CXPRESS of July 18 [read ‘Your backing will enable boxers to honour Tata’ on page 12 of that edition at www.cxpress.co.za].

We dispute the info provided

by Mr Magaga on the following grounds: Bitou Boxing Academy was last affiliated to the regional Eden Open Boxing Organisation in 2016. Mr Magaga personally has never at any time registered with the EOBO. The info that he/Bitou Boxing Academy planned a tournament on July 28, stated that WBO champion Zolani Tete would be present as guest of said tournament. This we dispute as a blatant lie, for the simple reason that Zolani Tete was in Russia on that date.

The Eden Open Boxing structure, as the legal regional author-

ity of boxing, had no knowledge of such a tournament and never sanctioned it as is constitutionally provided for. The question is, whom would he compete against if we did not sanction it?

We are of the strong view that this issue is tarnishing boxing in our region, especially since Mr Magaga solicited businesses to support his event, going as far as mentioning Nelson Mandela’s name in the process.

Should an unsanctioned tournament take place and there are injuries or fatalities, who will report to the Sports Council, DECAS, and Western Cape Open Boxing Organisation?

It is impossible to penalise a non-affiliate, even when the image of boxing in the region is being tarnished. We hope this issue is taken up speedily and resolved before lasting damage is done to boxing as a sport.

M Qatu: EOBO secretary, Mossel Bay

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CXPRESS

SPORT & ADVENTURE

8 August 2018

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Seven of the local heroes - Adriaan ‘Swannie’ Swanepoel, GreshwinLane du Plessis, Faizel Ruiters, Lindiswa Zitshu, Bongani Yawa, Dazell Marais, and Celvin Mabombo - have made the final cut to compete in what is generally regarded as the Olympics for firefighters in Cape Town from August 10 to 12.

These guys and ladies were unfortunately left in the lurch when promised sponsorship was cancelled on short notice, but appeals on social media over the past weeks have gleaned some funds to help them pay for transport, accommodation, and food during their stay.

“They have been really dedicated and committed, training hard over the last few months,” says Donald Ravenscroft of CrossFit Plett, where the

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contenders have been going through the normal, hard-core exercise routine - with one big difference: they jump and run and lift heavy stuff in their full fire-fighting kit.

“If you haven’t yet, please sponsor our guys and girls to help cover costs of the weekend’s travel and competing in the Toughest Firefighter Alive (TFA) competition at Roeland Street Fire Station,” he says.

Readers can deposit directly into the account

ARSG at FNB Plett, acc no 6250 2987 904. The team will take a debit card attached to that account along, and updates on amounts in and out will be provided.

Call CrossFit Plett on 044 533 0155 or email info@crossfitplett.com to find out more, and check them out on Facebook for images and video clips of our team training in full regalia.

• This weekend’s South African TFA Open will be the fifth biennial run-

ning of the event.

Past competitions have attracted teams and more than 100 firefighter participants from across South Africa.

Event objectives include building morale among firefighters, promoting the profession, improving skills, and producing firefighters able to compete on an international stage.

It involves gruelling tasks like ladder drills, hose carries, and extinguishing fires, all while wearing full ‘battle gear’.