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
Heading towards Knysna South African sci-fi queen Lauren Beukes is one of the stars of The Delicious Word Journey - possibly the most popular event of the forthcoming Knysna Literary Festival, now in its seventh year and scheduled to take the town by storm from March 17-20. The author of international best seller ‘The Shining Girls’, Beukes will be joined by Gareth Crocker, Shaka Sisulu, Emma Sadleir, and David Grier to dine and chat with those lucky punters who managed to secure tickets for the occasion. Only a few seats are left for the plethora of other festival presentations and performances - visit www.knysnaliteraryfestival.co.za for the full programme and go to our Facebook page for free tickets to Emma’s talk on social media.
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New homes burnt down in New Horizons p3
Woman clubbed to death in George p4
Transkei tamed by Team Plett p12
Photo: Casey Crafford
9 March 2016
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CXPRESS
NEWS & VIEWS
9 March 2016
Driving Miss Crazy
Hitting the Klein Karoo hinterland with a wine aficionado ‘oosbaand’ and his ‘femme’ JEEVES shares his adventures as Garden Route chauffeur extraordinaire... HE topic of a previous article [see ‘A kaleidoscope of accents…’ on page 2 of the February 17 edition at www.cxpress. co.za] was my personal experience with the multitudinous hordes of foreigners in our beloved country - the land of ‘milk and
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magnesia, and Monopoly Money’ - twixt the Cape and Port Elizabeth. This time round, my tale revolves around a singular foreign lady who rocked up, proverbially, at my Knysna door. --On the other end of the
line, a Marlene Dietrichtype husky voice, purred into my ear: “Allo. Ees zees Monsieur le Jiffs?” “Er... Yes... Si, er... We (oui)... Jaaa?” I spluttered, taken somewhat by surprise, not immediately recognising the accent - although the ‘monsieur’ bit should have been a giveaway. In laboured English, the enquirer requested a meet-up with her and her ‘oosbaand’, to discuss a trip into the neighbouring Klein Karoo and beyond. We rendezvoused (!) at a local French-style café and over coffee, croissants, road maps, and hubby’s Collins Pocket French Dictionary, a three-day country excursion was hatched. (Luckily I’d done Française for Matric a 100 years ago, and had spent six months of growing up in Paris, as every young man should!) Their Avis car was perfect; high clearance and all-wheel drive. And this journey comes highly recommended, if you haven’t done it: through the Knysna forests and Prince Alfred Pass, towards Uniondale. A stop is essential by the twinkling stream in the pass, on a derelict farm beside an orange orchard someone’s shattered dream - for deli pork-pies, pâtés, rolls, water and, of course, an ice-cold bottle of Pommery Brut Royal, which they had unexpectedly brought along. Left onto the R62; right at the next intersection and left onto a gravel road that winds along a riverbed at the base of the Kammanassieberge, passing farms and a little road-side chapel, and on to the interesting towns of Dysselsdorp and De Rust. A braai of Tiger prawns, baguette and salads, and overnight on a “guest farm”, where the quirky owner ran up a hill the next day waving a white sheet in the wind to bid us bon voyage. Via Meiringspoort, where the road crossed the river some 25 times as it chiselled its way through the Groot Swartberge mountain range, and on to the start of the Great Karoo; a stop at a wine farm, to
taste and acquire some of their organic viticulture, as well as their estate-grown Kalamata olives.
Unbeknown to me the ‘oosbaand’, Monsieur Jean-Paul, was a wine fundi of note and as the ownerwinemaker, another couple and I were to discover, worked as a taster and contributor for a Platter-style French wine guide! On swirling the wine
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE: Our SUV carriage was perfect for the roughest of pass roads
REGARD LE CIEL! The Frenchwoman marvels at a sky-diver descending towards the beach at Brenton
around his palate, accompanied by slurping and gargling sounds, he went into a lengthy oration of the virtues of this particular vin rouge. Madame scribbled down his every word as he gave forth; eyes closed, head nodding up and down, amid ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’. Out with the dictionary, and between her and myself, we managed to concoct the following from of his raptures: “A wine of medium body with a bouquet reminiscent of sweet plummy notes, spicy tobacco leaf with intense herbaceous and red berry flavours.” And: “…but room temperature in L’Afrique du Sud is too warm and the wine should therefore be chilled down to 14-16 degrees Celsius.” The winemaker beamed and blushed with pride. In return for permission to use Jean-Paul’s descriptions, he rewarded him with six bottles of the juice! (The thought occurred to me that J-P might possibly possess one of the largest private wine collections in Europe…) Au revoir, and onto Prince Albert for lunch and exploration. As broken conversation faltered en route, an idea was born that every new tourist entering the country should not only have a visa and the necessary paperwork, but also be subjected to a one-hour cramcourse in the use of South African English. We were battling along to communicate with one another, and so much meaning and definition was lost along the intercourse. I had to search over and over for another word to explain one they didn’t understand - tedious, repetitious, and quite draining. So I started playing a game with them as the plains and farmlands of the Klein Karoo unfolded in front of us while we descended the picturesque Swartberg Pass towards Oudtshoorn. To be continued… Until next time, keep buckled! Jeeves
NEWS & VIEWS
9 March 2016
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New homes burnt down, N2 traffic disrupted over housing gripes of long-time Bitou residents Plettenberg Bay has been plagued by violent housing protest action over the past week, resulting in the destruction of five RDP homes in New Horizons - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports
DECONSTRUCTION: Disgruntled members of the New Horizons community demolished five housing units, burning them on Thursday after a meeting during which it is claimed they were incited accordingly by a local ward councillor - Photos: Supplied
HE main concerns of the community include the number of homes being built in comparison with the massive housing backlog in New Horizons, as well as claims of sub-standard construction of the units. The first wave of action started on Thursday, when a group of residents torched and plundered five RDP homes here. The action continued on Friday with the burning of tyres along the N2 in the vicinity of New Horizons, and on Saturday with reports of residents pelting passing vehicles with rocks.
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Community leader Howard Smith said the reason for the unhappiness was, among other issues, the fact that only about 60 homes were being built while there was a housing backlog of about 2,600. “And this is happening just before the local government elections. For the past five years the municipality has not done anything to obtain more land for housing for the area. The community has only heard excuses,” Smith said. He added that the situation was dire for countless residents, with many having
been on the housing list for about 15 years. “New Horizons is also one of the town’s oldest communities, yet there are developments everywhere but in this area. There have been major developments in Qolweni and KwaNokuthula, but not in New Horizons, where people who have been born and raised in Bitou live.” Smith said that there had also been reports of sub-standard construction quality as the homes’ walls could be pushed over with little effort. In the meantime, Bitou municipal spokesman Manfred van Rooyen said that all houses were built to specific standards and had to pass several inspections before being handed over to beneficiaries. “In view of the allegations, the mayor will do a site visit and in addition would likely call for an independent investigation by specialists,” Van Rooyen said. He added that the development would consist of duplex and single units and that the single units would be reserved for the elderly and disabled, while the duplexes would be handed over to other beneficiaries. Bitou mayor Memory Booysen said in a statement that he believed the protest action had been sparked over “deliberate” misinformation. He said on February 29, Ward 4 councillor Hilda Plaatjies called a meeting and informed residents that only five units would be built, “knowing very well it was announced in November last year that the housing development would include 62 newly-built units,” the statement read. “According to residents who attended the meeting, she [Plaatjies] along with other ANC leaders and
members then encouraged the community to demolish the five units that had already been built.” These houses were all burnt to the ground during Thursday night. Plaatjies did not want to comment on the matter, but said she would be acquiring legal assistance following the claims made against her. In the meantime, DA chairman for the South-
ern Cape Jaco Londt said the DA was calling on the provincial ANC to suspend Plaatjies for what he believed was “inciting the community for the sake of political point-scoring”. Londt said in Bitou, as in all DA-led municipalities in the Western Cape, the building of houses in poor communities was one of their main objectives. “Bitou also prides itself
on their successes in this regard. Last year the municipality took top honours in the national Govan Mbeki Awards that aims to honour local councils for exhibiting best practices in Human Settlements.” In the meantime, police spokesman Lieutenant Marlene Pieterse confirmed that three men had been arrested in connection with the protest action.
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George woman, 60, beaten to death with golf club 43-year-old man appeared in the George magistrate’s court on a charge of murder on Monday, after witnesses described how he had beaten a woman, 60, to death with a golf club on Saturday afternoon around 2pm. “Initial information reveals that the woman known as Kaatjie Lambrecht and a witness were resting on a sidewalk in Formosa Drive in Groeneweide Park when a bakkie stopped next to them,” says police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie. “The suspect, who was a passenger in the bakkie, jumped out and approached them with a golf club in his hands. He then hit the victim over her head and took several shots to her side and back.” The man then got back
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9 March 2016
into the bakkie, which drove off in the direction of a nearby pig farm. Members of George SAPS responded immediately, arresting the suspect within half an hour of the incident and confiscating the murder weapon that was found in the bakkie. ‘The community must be more tolerant and defuse their issues in a human manner’ Lambrecht - who had been sitting on the pavement with a friend, taking a break to eat as they made their way home from town to a nearby settlement was declared dead by paramedics on the scene. According to Pojie, the accused and the woman’s husband were acquainted
and had been involved in an earlier altercation. Eden Cluster commander Maj Genl Oswald Reddy visited the scene and commended the members for their swift response in bringing the culprit to book. He urged the community to be more tolerant and defuse their issues in an adult and human manner within the ambit of the law. It is believed that the woman died of head injuries, but a post mortem conducted later this week will confirm the cause of death. • Just before going to print, it was confirmed that the 43-year-old accused, Hendrik Pietersen, was remanded in custody after his court appearance on Monday March 7. The case was postponed to Friday March 11 for his bail application.
News Briefs HE PAWS Charity Shop in Plett Industria was robbed in the early morning hours of Sunday March 6, when perpetrators gained entry from the rear before breaking open a security gate and smashing in a wooden door. Says a devastated Roger Davis, who has devoted five days a week at no recompense for nearly three years to raise money for the welfare of Plett’s animals: “All expensive goods on sale have been stolen - TVs, video players, hi-fis and speakers, vacuum cleaners, laptops and a tower computer with flat screen. “The list is endless and we will only notice that other things are missing when we come to look for them.” He added that the shop is always searching donations of any household goods and clothing. Please email rwdavis@axxess.co.za if in a position to help. --Three fraud cases involving over R700,000 are being investigated in Knysna. Firstly, 54-year-old suspect Daniel van der Velde was arrested and charged with fraud on January 28 after six mostly elderly victims alleged that they were defrauded of R183,000.
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It is alleged that the suspect and his accomplice promised them a tour to Egypt during 2013, which cost R32,000 per person. The planned tour was postponed and later cancelled with no refunds. The case was postponed to May 17 and Knysna police spokesman Sergeant Chris Spies said another suspect would be arrested in this regard soon. The victim in the second incident is a woman, 47, who was befriended by a man through Facebook in 2015. He allegedly defrauded her of R342,000 but no arrest has been made in this regard. The third incident involves a Knysna business that was informed of about R260,000 deposited by a supplier into its bank account on February 11. The company refunded the supplier, only to discover that the initial transfer into their account was fake. Spies said no arrests had been made in this instance, either, but that the Knysna Detective Branch was investigating both cases. --Every day in SA, crimes are committed involving illegal guns. The majority of these used to have legal
owners who were either negligent or robbed, leaving the gun to be used for criminal activities. The Firearms Control Act aims to regulate the safe and lawful use of guns. Plett SAPS urges all gun owners to either renew their licences or surrender their unwanted weapons for destruction. Licences have to be renewed 90 days before the expiry date and if already expired, the gun must me surrendered to the nearest station for destruction. Plett station accepts applications Mon-Thursdays 8am-2pm. Applicants must make an appointment by calling Sgt Zoe Ntlabati on 044 501 1030. --KwaNokuthula SAPS effected 16 arrests on February 25 & 26: Common assault 3, Assault GBH 4, Housebreaking 4, Theft out of vehicle 2, Theft 2, Contravention of protection order 1. Out of these 16, six had existing warrants of arrest (Housebreaking 3, assault GBH 1, Theft 1, Contravention of protection order 1). Visit www.cxpress.co.za for safety tips as provided by Communications Officer Stella Motshabi.
BID NO. RFP 06 / 2016: PROVISION OF LOAN FINANCE TO KNYSNA MUNICIPALITY Knysna Municipality invites proposals for the provision of loan finance to Knysna Municipality. The period of the loan will reflect the estimated useful life of the fixed assets being financed out of the loan, and will range from five to twenty years. The physical address for collection of tender documents is Supply Chain Management Unit, Finance Building, Queen Street, Knysna. A receipt for a non-refundable deposit of R 218.00 payable by cheque made out in favour of Knysna Municipality is required on collection of the tender document. E-mailed tender documents can be obtained from the following address: cybezuidenhout@knysna.gov. za at no cost. Technical enquiries relating to the tender documents may be addressed to: Anthony Morgan, Tel No. 044 302 6436, email: amorgan@knysna.gov.za The closing time for submission of bids is 12h00 on Wednesday, 30 March 2016. Bids must be sealed in an envelope clearly marked with the bid number and title given above, and placed in the bid box at the Supply Chain Management Unit, Finance Building, Queen Street, Knysna, before the latter time and latest date. Telephonic, facsimile, email and late bids will not be accepted. Bids must remain valid for a period of ninety (90) days after the closing date of the bid. Bids will be opened on the same day at the Supply Chain Management Section at 12h05. Late or unmarked bids will not be considered. Bids may only be submitted on the bid documentation that is issued. Bids will be evaluated in terms of the Council Supply Chain Management Policy, Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act 2000 and the Preferential Procurement Regulations 2011. The Municipality reserves the right to withdraw any invitation to bid and/or re-advertise or to reject any bid or to accept a part of it. The Municipality does not bind itself to accept the lowest bid or to award a contract to the Bidder scoring the highest number of points. Further requirements for sealing, addressing, delivery, opening and assessment of bids are stated in the Tender Document.
GRANT EASTON MUNICIPAL MANAGER
ISSUED BY: KNYSNA MUNICIPALITY • CLYDE STREET • KNYSNA • 6570
NEWS & VIEWS
9 March 2016
CXPRESS
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Garden Route Walking Fest a first for South Africa HE Garden Route Walking Festival takes place over the Easter Weekend, its 52 walks between George, Knysna, Plett, Nature’s Valley, and Storms River offering participants the opportunity to connect with and to explore our natural beauty at leisure.
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“Walking festivals are a big trend globally, but the Garden Route Walking Fest is a first for South Africa - it’s a massive undertaking that involves the support and involvement of all the local communities,” says festival founder Galeo Saintz. “Synonymous with hik-
ing, Hi-Tec sponsors the event, enabling us to offer a wide range of walks catering to all levels of fitness and adventure.” And there really are walks for everyone, from slow saunters along the beach to brisk walks up some of the region’s highest peaks. Tra-
ditional walks include the Brown-Hooded Kingfisher Trail or Circles in the Forest Elephant Walk, while a Geo-Caching Walk caters for the more intrepid. A collection of festive walks such as the Fancy Dress Masked Walk at sundown, or the Inner Magic
walk for kids, promise great fun with friends and family. The extensive programme also includes many unusual walks, such as the Walk with Poetry and the Yoga Walk. For those with an adventurous spirit, the Naked Walk in Nature offers the chance to experience na-
ture au naturel. Adding to the selection is An Evening Walk through the Night Sky presented by local astronomers, a Connecting Nature Trail, and a Community Walk, led by a local conservation initiative. Visit www.walkingfest.co. za for the full programme.
Easter is adventure time in Plett!
ARCH 25-28 will once again see Plett come alive with sporting action, the bulk of events on offer forming part of the Pennypinchers Adventure Easter Weekend. With Plett Tourism firmly on board, this event promises to add to the town’s ‘Plett it’s a feeling’ label. Activities kick off with the Plett Easter Games Golf Classic on Friday March 25. The four-ball alliance completion is sponsored by CemAir, BI Hotel, Helen Melon, Sotheby’s, The Pro Shop, Masons Marketing and The Table. Call Daron for details on 072 232 6760. For the more energetic, the Muddy Foot Adventures Crew aka Pennypinchers Adventure Racing Team has a whole host of activities to keep the entire family busy for the duration of the weekend, thanks to the support of Pennypinchers, PPC Cement, IDM Cement, and Wesgrow. Saturday the 26th sees the action taking place at Cairnbrogie Farm on the Airport Road. The day kicks off at 8:30am with a selection of trail runs from 1.5km to 18km. A run for everyone, the team will also be hosting
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the Sterreweg special needs kids to enjoy their annual Easter Egg Hunt around the farm yard. All finishers of the runs will receive icecold fresh dairy milk and a chocolate chip cookie. Later in the day, it will be time to take out those mountain bikes and helmets. At 5pm, the Kids Fun X-Country Ride will see U13s and U9s taking on a 2.5km lap course, completing as many laps as possible in one hour. After these up and coming riders have shown their stuff, the Big Guns will go out to play in the Pennypinchers Adventure Nite Mountain Bike relay, where teams of two race for two hours in the dark to complete a maximum amount of laps. “With the opening of the Cairnbrogie Trail Park, we are going to have to work hard to keep our route unique and challenging for the riders,” says Pennypinchers AR Team’s James ‘Muddy Foot’ Stewart. “There will be some new sections and a couple of great new features on this Nite Bike relay to keep the riders on their toes and inject some adrenaline into their veins.” Sunday morning will see
ST ANDREW’S COLLEGE Boys from Grade 8 to Grade 12
THE DIOCESAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS Girls from Grade 4 to Grade 12
Information Evening
SHINE ON PENNIES: Plett’s Central Beach will be covered by more than rainbows and boats on Easter Sunday, when exciting races on the water will culminate in the fat-pursed ‘Round the Blinders Dash for Cash’ - Photo: Glenn Murray Photography
the Pennypinchers Easter Surfski Challenge at Central Beach. Now in its ninth year, doubles and singles will dice it out over a 10km or 20km course. That afternoon, everyone who entered the morning races gains free entry into ‘Round the Blinders Dash for Cash’ - an exciting first for this event and for Plett. A knockout format will have paddlers completing the 1km loop with winners advancing until it’s down to a two-man final. There is a total of R6,000 up for grabs in this new event. Check out muddyfootad ventures.co.za for details.
ST ANDREW’S PREPARATORY SCHOOL Girls and boys from Grade 000 to Grade 3 Boys from Grade 4 to Grade 7
Three boarding schools highly regarded for excellence in all spheres of education. You are warmly invited to attend an Information Evening on our family of leading independent boarding schools – St Andrew’s College, The Diocesan School for Girls and St Andrew’s Preparatory School - situated in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape.
Tuesday 15 March 2016 | 18h00 for 18h30 Hunter’s Country House, Plettenberg Bay (10km from Plett and 22 km from Knysna) Children are encouraged to accompany their parents For more information and to RSVP contact Vanessa Bowes by Friday 11 March 2016 082 331 1152 | v.bowes@dsgschool.com
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NEWS & VIEWS
9 March 2016
The musos behind Plett’s new recording studio ASE Studios was founded in July 2015 by friends and fellow musicians Steven Clark-Evans and Andrew Bell. Having played together for over four years, they decided to put together a music recording studio and started the search around town for suitable premises. Eventually, seeing that there was ample unused space at Steve and his wife Jess’s coffee shop Lo Spuntino, it was decided to build the studio there. With careful planning and budgeting, the duo took on the task entirely by themselves - albeit with limited building skills. And by mid-September last year, a proud Steve and Andrew had finished construction of their brand new studio. Says Andrew: “By international standards the studio is relatively small, but with the digital technology available nowadays much of the tedious and frustrating work of operating an analogue system is bypassed.” Initially it was planned to keep the studio private, but soon it was realised that a big demand exists locally for studio recordings and related projects. “Apart from single artists wishing to record their tracks, there is a demand for bands, backtracking, adverts, music composed for estate agent websites, storytelling, seminar recordings, memoirs and kiddies party packages, as well as individual people just wanting to sing along, record their favourite song and have it burnt to CD,” says Steve. Another service arose from the fact that single artists often play only one instrument or none at all, so this is where Andrew and Steve step in, offering
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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BASE… Steve, left, and Andrew singlehandedly built the recording studios with the intention of reserving it for private use, but soon realised that there’s high demand in the ‘hood for an array of services they’re able to assist with - Photos: Watty Watson
a host of instruments to accompany and finish the recordings, while also assisting with the composition of songs when required. Costs for recordings vary from project to project and depend on how much editing, mastering and final production is involved - and Plett locals certainly get preferential rates. Interestingly, the BASE Studios crew is currently working with an American music institute offering their services to US-based clients wishing to record and visit Plettenberg Bay as a combined package.
Visit the studio at Lo Spuntino in the lower part of Plett Main Street or contact Andrew on 082 3967765 or at andrewbell5@gmail. com for more information.
Notice Board MILE Minnie will light up the stage at Sedgefield DRC on March 18 (6:30pm) & 19 (2:30pm) in aid of The Living Cornerstone Alzheimer and Dementia homes. Tickets cost R100 and are available at Deo Gratia in the Pick n Pay centre, from Gilda Scammel on 084 544 2103, or from the door on both dates. Visit www.emileminnie. com for information.
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The Grand in Plett presents C’est si Bon - an evening with Cat Simoni singing Francois Hardy hits in aid of PlettAid/Hospice Plett on March 22 & 23. Doors open at 6pm and the shows start at 7pm sharp. Only 60 guests can be accommodated per night and tickets cost R200 each including canapés and a cash bar. Reserve dinner after the show by calling David Dix on 044 533 3301. Reserve your ticket by emailing Lady Conyngham at aconygham@ telkomsa.net or by calling 044 533 5178.
BUSINESS
Investor Focus
9 March 2016 Malcolm Stewart – Investment manager at Michaelides Parker Wealth Knysna & Plett
equal the current share price. If the profits are able to grow, then obviously the PE ratio will be lower. The dividend is simply the actual income you will earn as a shareholder. This can be compared to the interest you receive from a bank deposit – however, dividends are taxed at a rate of 15%, while interest is totally taxable. One has to have a benchmark PE so as to determine if the shares are trading above or below their long-term rating levels.
‘It may be time to put one’s toe in the water, as a little nibbling at the cheap stocks could well prove to be profitable over the longer term’ However, one needs some basic tools that will help in assessing whether shares are cheap and offering value or may still have some way to go on their downward trajectory. The simplest tools are looking at the PE ratio and the dividend yield. Both these measures are widely published in both the daily and weekend newspapers, as well as in most financial magazines. The PE ratio represents the number of years of profit per share (i.e. earnings per share) that a company will take so as to equal the current share price. So if a share is trading at 100 and the PE ratio is 10, then it will take 10 years of accumulated profits to
The 10-year average PE of the communications sector is ±12; Vodacom is trading at a PE of 16, while MTN is down to 11. Consumer goods has a 10-year average of ±14.5. The sector currently trades at 20, with Shoprite at 17, Woollies at 18, Pick n Pay at a steamy 27, Foschini at 11, and poor Lewis stores at 6. The financial sector has a 10-year average of ±10, with Barclays at 9, OM at 9, First Rand at 11, Standard Bank at 8.8, MMI at 9.9, and Liberty at 7.9. From these comparative measures it becomes clear that the financial sector, which took a hammering post the ministerial shuffles, is inexpensive. The dividend yields in the
sector are also attractive, offering between 5% and nearly 7% in some cases. Remember, too, that these dividends should grow at least at the inflation rate. One may now ask: What about the resources? In this case, PE ratios do not work (although they may be quoted in some places), because mines have a limited life, and have a very different working model to a traditional company. It is at this stage that one must look at the company and the industry you are about to invest in. Banks and insurance companies have tried and tested business models. They churn away year after year, increase their prices with inflation and increase their efficiency with technology. These are sound long-term companies offering good dividend yields. Resources or miners are price-takers, so that when China slowed down, the price of its product plummeted. They are labourintensive and operate in a dangerous environment – not the place for retirees to invest. So finally it may be time to put one’s toe in the water, as a little nibbling at the cheap stocks could well prove to be profitable over the longer term. • Malcolm has been in the investment industry for over 40 years. He has written this column in CXPRESS for the last 17 years and is a specialist in managing retired wealth.
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Big changes at Sotheby’s Plett HE team at Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty Plett would like to thank Fiona Thorpe and Paul Verleye for their years of loyal service, to welcome Werner Harris to the fold, Janelle Pinto’s move to sales, and Desré Reck’s broadening of horizons. Fiona has worked with the Pretorius family for about 18 years, seeing the change of the sales department from the original Robberg Estates to the Nationlink franchise, and then to the present Sotheby’s International Realty. She has been one of the key contributors to the company’s continuous growth to becoming a dominant player in the property market in the area. Says owner Hein Pretorius: “Fiona will be missed in the office. “I am grateful to know her and to have had the privilege of working with her over the past years. She has now moved to Hout Bay to be closer to family, still within the Sotheby’s International Realty network, and we wish her all the best. I am sure she will be successful there.” Paul Verleye has decided to retire after about 12 years of selling property in the ru-
Finding value in the market turmoil T T HERE are two basic errors made by investors in the current market conditions. Firstly, they are severely tempted to sell out, normally at or near the bottom. Secondly, they think some shares look cheap because they have taken an extreme beating. Remember: never try and catch a falling knife. The current selloff has been on for quite a while and there are early signs that the market may be nearing the bottom. (These could be famous last words!)
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ral areas surrounding Plett. Hein says: “Paul has done a great job for us in servicing the outlying areas. He even worked as far as Storms River, which we will be unable to continue to service in his absence. We wish him a long, happy and healthy retirement.” Werner Harris has just joined the team as an intern estate agent. According to Hein, Werner is fitting in well and is already showing all the characteristics of a good agent. “I look forward to working with him going forward.” Janelle Pinto has been working as Hein’s PA for about four years, and will continue to do so, but will now also be dealing with sectional title property. “Janelle will take the same meticulous attention to detail that she has shown to me as my PA, to her service with clients, and I know she will be an asset to anyone wishing to sell or purchase an apartment,” says Hein. Desré Reck has received multiple awards for her work in selling Thulana Hill apartments, and is now selling all sectional title property in Plett. “Desré built up an envi-
able record at Thulana Hill where she has worked as onsite agent since 2011, and is now expanding to selling all apartments in Plett, where I am sure she will continue on her winning spree,” Hein concludes. Call Sotheby’s International Realty Plett on 044 533 2529, and see the adverts on this page and the cover for current listings.
CHANGING FACE OF PLETT TEAM: Clockwise from the top are former agents Fiona and Paul and new guy Werner, with Desré and Janelle, left, both of whom are taking on new responsibilities
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INTERVAL
9 March 2016
A good-looking girl waved at me today… but there was no way I was swimming out that far to save her.
Male logic at its best OMAN: “Do you drink beer?” Man: “Yes.” Woman: “How many beers a day?” Man: “Usually about three.” Woman: “How much do you pay per beer?” Man: “$5, which includes a tip.” Woman: “And how long have you been drinking?” Man: “About 20 years, I suppose.” Woman: “So a beer costs $5 and you have three beers a day, which puts your spending each month at $450. In one year, it would be about $5,400 correct?” Man: “Correct.”
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Woman: “If in one year you spend $5400, not accounting for inflation, the past 20 years puts your spending at $108,000, correct?” Man: “Correct.” Woman: “Do you know that if you didn’t drink so much beer, that money could have been put in a step-up interest savings account, and after accounting for compound interest for the past 20 years, you could have now bought a new Ferrari?” Man: “Do you drink beer?” Woman: “No.” Man: “So... where’s your Ferrari?”
The cheeky pharmacist woman asked the pharmacist: “Do you sell Viagra?” “Yes we do,” he said. “Does it work?” the woman asked.
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“Yes it does,” the pharmacist answered. “Can you get it over the counter?” she said. “I can, if I take two,” he replied.
What’s good for the goose… AUREEN’S husband, Patrick, was a typical male chauvinist. Even though they both worked full-time, he never helped around the house. Housework was woman’s work! But one evening, Maureen arrived home to find the children bathed, one load of clothes in the washer and another in the dryer, dinner on the stove, and the table set. She was astonished; something’s up, she thought. It turned out that Patrick had read an article that said
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wives who worked full-time and also had to do all the housework were too tired to make love. The night went well and the next day she told her office friends all about it. “We had a great dinner. Patrick even cleaned up. He helped the kids do their homework, folded all the laundry and put everything away. I really enjoyed the evening.” “But what about afterward?” asked her friends. “Oh, that was perfect, too. Patrick was too tired!”
How to start your day with a positive outlook 1. Open a new file in your computer. 2. Name it ‘Housework’. 3. Send it to the Recycle Bin. 4. Empty the Recycle Bin. 5. Your computer will ask
you: “Are you sure you want to delete Housework permanently?” 6. Answer calmly: “Yes,” and press the mouse button firmly. 7. Feel better?
SOCIAL SCENE
Photos: Timothy Twidle
Photo: Timothy Twidle
STARKER AMONG THE ROSES: A large crowd filled The Rose Pavilion of Bosky Dell Garden off the Plett Bay N2 on Sunday February 28, for the final performance of the awardwinning Cape Town Youth Choir. The choir visited Plett for two shows, the first being on Saturday the 27th, as fundraiser for worthy local causes and organised by the incredibly resourceful lady Annabelle Conyngham, flanked at right by Bosky Dell ‘rose mistress’ Rae Gilbert and conductor of the choir, Leon Starker. See the Notice Board on page 6 for details of another notto-be-missed affair, this time with French flair, at The Grand in Plett’s Main Street later this month.
9 March 2016
VOICE AND KEYS COMBINE: Pianist Bryan Wallick, left, will accompany soprano Hanli Stapela for a concert on Monday March 14 at Knysna’s DRC hall in Fichat Street. Says Knysna Music Society’s Penny Smythe-Rathbone: ‘Piano and voice in perfect harmony, that’s what you can expect of our second concert of the year. Wallick, who studied at Juilliard School of Music in New York as well as in London, now lives in Pretoria - which is wonderful as he visits Knysna regularly, bringing his considerable talents for us to enjoy.’ Hanli, who sings opera but also lieder, oratorio and other orchestral compositions, will sing some classical Italian arias and love songs as well as more contemporary pieces, and the evening’s composers will include Handel, Strauss and Sibelius. The show starts at 7:30pm and tickets at R120 (scholars pay R30) are sold at the door from 6:45pm. Above, Margaret Marshall and her granddaughter Shardonné Vermaak, 12, who has just begun studying piano, enjoyed the first concert of the year on February 22, which saw a dazzling performance by Russian pianist Olga Kern of works by Scarlatti, Beethoven, Frenkshteyn, Schumann and Liszt.
People, places & events
NEW SPONSOR FOR BUSINESS LEAGUE: Plettenberg Bay Bowling Club recently completed yet another successful season of its Business League - pictured above are winners Plett Sports comprising David and Deon Coetzer, in white, and Grant Butterworth, second from right, along with sponsor Helen Ward at left and the club’s Mike Honiball at back. The League takes place twice a year, starting its two six-week runs in January and October respectively. The first tournament was held in 2002 and was the brainchild of club stalwarts Neville Whittaker and Hugh Stacey. Starting off with only 12 teams, the competition now accommodates 36 extremely competitive teams who battle it out on the greens. FNB was the first sponsor of the event but this year, Helen Melon Properties took over as main sponsor. The League offers a wonderful opportunity for businesses in Plett to network in a fun and friendly environment. At left from left are the Best Dressed Team winners of Rebecca Griffiths, Tyrone Peace and Dale Bluett. Call Neil Calder on 082 332 2218 for details of the next tournament.
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CXPRESS
9 March 2016
CLASSIFIEDS
WE DO APOLOGISE Due to unforseen technical problems our classified advertisements could not be published in their entirety. Please have a look in next week’s edition for the advertisements.
14 MARCH
ON THE SOAPBOX
9 March 2016
Letters to the Editor
CXPRESS
11
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
Thumbs up to fast and friendly Henra crew I would like to publicly congratulate the company Henra, which is presently working on reshaping and tarring the Airport Road. Those of us using this corrugated gravel road for many years are absolutely delighted that the tarring is now actually happening!
And not only that - it is totally fascinating to see the multitude of heavy machinery working like busy bees, making changes to the curves, removing trees, widening the road and building bridges at an incredible pace. And best of all: apart
from the fact that this company seems super-efficient and organised, ALL the staff are ever so friendly, always ready with a smile and wave when one passes. And they do this even though it must surely be most frustrating and disruptive when they con-
stantly need to be aware of cars and halt their digging to let us pass. They truly do their best, to cause very little waiting time. Well done and thank you so much to the whole team for your hard work, it is sooooo appreciated! Ulrike Baldzuhn, Plett
The wrong Bitou roads are being worked on Bitou Municipality must be applauded for all the roadworks that are taking place in Plettenberg Bay, but one cannot help asking the question: “Have they got their priorities wrong?” An example is the total resurfacing of a small section of road in Piesang Valley opposite River Club. As per many other Plett residents, I did not find anything wrong with
the previous road condition, but the section going out of town from Robberg Road past the shops is in a really bad state, so should probably have been done first. One has to wonder who lives opposite the newlysurfaced section… Then we have Longships Drive, which is presently being completely ripped up and resurfaced. As a regular user, I could not
Palaces 1, Norfolk Pine 0
‘Falk’ from Plett sent this photo and wrote: ‘A landmark must go for the new millionaires’ beach houses - this old tree that was a landmark for the Robberg area. We are very sad.’ (The tree, which we believe to be a Norfolk Pine - but please correct us if we’re wrong - used to beautify Beachy Head Drive in its full glory days. - Eds.)
Questions arise from Bitou municipal newsletter I would like to thank Bitou mayor Memory Booysen for the latest quarterly municipal newsletter. But some of the information provided was unclear to me, so I wonder if you could please answer a few questions. Outstanding Debt: You reported that Bitou has approximately R94-million in outstanding debt. Can you please show us an age analysis? How much is over three years old and nonrecoverable? In the townships, the only tariff is for lights and water, right? So as we build more housing, is our debt increasing? What is the R40million owed for in Plett, and what amount is with attorneys? What is being done about this debt? Housing: You are currently building over 600 houses in the townships. What is the cost per unit to Bitou? If you are spending approximately R110,000 for the top structure, what is Bitou budgeting for roads, garbage collection, lighting, water supply, schools, etc.? What about job creation for all these economically-
inactive people - do you have a plan? Without jobs they can’t pay for services, as we see in the outstanding debt chart. If the cost is R1,000 per household, that means we need another R600,000 from our rates base just to stay even. There are only two ways to increase revenue: increase the number of ratepayers, or increase the rates/taxes themselves. What do those figures look like? Deviations: Although you didn’t address it in the newsletter, I have heard that deviations are being used excessively and have become an ordinary occurrence rather than the exception. As I understand it, if one budget area is exceeded, a deviation is used to move money from one budget to another. If money is moved around freely, then what’s the point of budgeting? Is there adequate fiscal control and discipline in the municipality? Concerned Ratepayer, Plett (This letter was forwarded to Bitou Municipality for a response, which we hope to include in the next issue. - Eds.)
find that much wrong with it. Why was Beacon Way, which is one of the main entrances to Plettenberg Bay, not done instead? Not everybody uses Longships, but everyone at one time or another uses Beacon Way. As a motorcyclist, I can attest to the condition of roads far more detailed than a normal vehicle driver. We have been informed in the past that Beacon
Way is a provincial road, so it is not Bitou’s responsibility - but then, so is Piesang Valley Road. May we get a reply from the municipality, please? Biker, Plett (Turn to p11 of the February 10 edition at www.cxpress.co.za for the response to a letter by Bitou Municipality in which roads budgets are discussed. We also forwarded this letter for feedback. - Eds.)
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thanks so much for sending through a PDF of my story on page 2 of the February 24 edition. I have a hard copy of the newspaper, too. It is amazing how many people read CXRESS - I have had several phone calls! Jane Jones, Knysna --I hope Barney at The Market Square’s info kiosk told you how happy his customers are to collect their copies of CXPRESS from him weekly. He actually thanked me for ensuring that your newspaper gets dropped there, and I salute you for following up! Marion Crewe Brown, Plett
Gosh, what can I say, except THANK YOU all! The whole page looked wonderful and I am proud that it will reach our community in such a great professional format. Congratulations - and again, as always, thank you. Love - Aunty B, Plett (Turn to page 9 of the March 2 edition at www.cxpress.co.za to read all about Barbara Rolfe’s incredible achievement and her forthcoming workshop at The Global Village in Plett on March 15, after which there will be no doubt as to where the congratulations are actually due… - Eds.)
It’s a leerie, silly!
Invites you to
We thank Brian Carelse, Warren Fleming, Mynhardt van Loggerenberg, Robert Auersperg, and Gavin Nefdt who agreed as one that the fish caught by the granddaughter of Knysna readers Sue and Tony Stephenson was indeed a ‘Leervis’ also known as a Garrick. ‘But,’ added Mr Nefdt - a Joburg resident but long-time correspondent with rich Knysna history in his ancestry - ‘despite what the caption says, they are not good eating.’ (Suppose that’s in the tongue of the taster… - Eds.)
Plett Baia Formosa Lions invite the motor biking community and their friends and family, to join in a day of fun and sharing as the Lions bring you a community drive to collect water for the severely drought stricken areas in South Africa. Where: Bitou Rugby Club - Plettenberg Bay Date: 13 March 2016 Time: 10h00 to 14h00 Entrance Fee: 1 [or more] x 5lt bottle of water Food & Drink: Available for purchase Proceeds will go to Lions community projects.
Live Entertainment: Sam Hartman
* Various participating sponsors. ** Tsitsikamma Crystal Spring Water will be at the event. You can bring water with you or buy a bottle at the event. For every 5lt bottle of water you give, Tsitsikamma will give the same amount of water.
WATER = a tasteless, odourless and nearly colourless substance, ESSENTIAL to ALL known life forms… without it we CANNOT survive!
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CXPRESS
SPORT & ADVENTURE
9 March 2016
‘The heat, the hills, the race itself demanded respect’ - words on Transkei’s toughest
FETCH AND FIND: Navigation skills can make or break a team’s progress, and here Drew Scott go to some lengths to ensure that Team Plett’s maps stay above water - Photos: Bruce Viaene
LETT Adventure Racing Team last week returned from an actionpacked excursion east to compete in the Merrell Transkei Tuff 2016. This 150km non-stop race over the February 26-28 weekend
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had the local foursome up against experienced teams from all over the country. As with any new team’s first attempt at effectively competing at this level, members Drew Scott, Petrus Maree, Andrew
Damp, and Sally Fraser Mackenzie headed off not knowing exactly how the team would interact when the heat was on. Especially daunting for him, says Drew, was how they would deal with the
navigation facet, which is an integral part of teams’ successful completion of these type of adventures. “The four of us had never worked together in a race before and so much was unknown. It was fantastic! The team dynamic was relaxed and focused, tackling a route that required cycling, trekking, kloofing and paddling through postcard-perfect landscapes,” says Drew. He lauds organisers Won Adventures headed by Bruce Viaene as “superb, with every detail thought of beforehand”. And the route stood up to its name, being TUFF as nails - “the heat, the hills, the race itself all demanding respect”. It takes a special combination of people to form a team that can go out on their first serious race together and have fun in the face of these challenges, and all in the name of adventure. “We managed to smile and laugh with one another along the way, even though your body is screaming to stop, your mind is longing for bed and your feet are
suffocating in a pair of wet shoes turning them into agonising prunes!” Drew and the team thank Bruce and Won Adventures for a memorable weekend of great racing. Well done to our intrepid adventurers! About the Merrell Transkei Tuff This year’s 150km 24-hour adventure race was filled with an array of disciplines including snorkelling, flatwater paddling, trekking, swimming, and mountain biking - all the while explor-
ing the rural lands that surround the Wavecrest area. Says Bruce Viaene: “Selfnavigating is a huge challenge, but we have kept this year’s course relatively user-friendly. Of course, racing once the sun sets brings a unique and exciting aspect to the teams that are new to the sport. Teams of four or two entered the experience and witness the true beauty of adventure racing. Visit wonadventure.co.za/transkei-tuff/ for additional information.
24 HOURS OF TUFFIN’ IT: From left Sally, Andrew, Petrus, and Drew cross the finish line dead-tired but jubilant
Outrunning the Addo eles… and then some!
Plett Athletics Club (PAC) took a big group of runners to the Addo Elephant Trail Run on February 26 & 27 - pictured at left, from left at back, are Meyer van Rooyen, Dave Barnes, and Mike van Vuuren, with Monica Taylor, Lisa Behrens, Hanlie Sinclair, Michelle Nagel, Janet Woodhead, Cathryn Proctor, Emma Brown, and Lizelle Olivier in front. Says Janet: ‘Most of us opted for the FUN run a hard and hilly 44km route through the stunning Zuurberg Mountains. Nerves were jangly as shoelaces were tied and compulsory equipment stuffed into packs, but once the starting horn sounded this was forgotten as Mother Nature showed off with a perfect day and stunning scenery. All Plett runners finished strong with big smiles on their faces, spreading that Plett feeling!’ Special mention goes to Jacky Scholtz, who tackled the even tougher 76km route, finishing in 13:25. But hero of the weekend was former club chairman Georgie Minopetros, at right, who took on the 100-mile (160km) route. Starting at 2pm on Friday, he ran through the night and next day, finishing at 8pm after nearly 30 solid hours on his feet. Friends, family and fellow PAC members were there to run him over the finishing line, and celebrated this fantastic achievement with him during their weekly meet at Central Beach on Thursday. Visit www.trailadventures.co.za/addo/ for full results.