#382

Dive right in!

With the first month of 2014 almost a thing of the past and most of us back at the grindstone, we look forward to taking the plunge - like little Daniel Wagener, here guided by his granddad, Henry Joubert of Wilderness to meet head-on the joys and challenges in store for the year

Published fortnightly by CXpress (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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Spotlight on the rich p3

Mars, here I come p5

Plett Nippers rule p16

Photo: Carolyn Foster

29 January 2014 #382

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CXPRESS

ISSUE 382

News & Views

January 29 - 2014

Gigi scores inspiration with her travel tale

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CE photographer and long-time CXPRESS contributor Gigi Lewis disappeared from our radar for a couple of months, so it was with great excitement that we saw word from this feisty and resourceful Knysna lass rolling into our inboxes.

Said Gigi: “Now I am back on track, relaxed and full of optimism – not least for having just won a Parker Inspiration pen to the value of R800 from UC"Eqwpvt{"Nkhg as prize for the winning letter (a true story!) in its Feb-

I

ruary issue.

“As to Heinrich, and specifically the last sentence in his story, I imagine a stream of Knysna ladies (ex-Joburgers) lining up in their designer heels for a chance of tending sheep in the Karoo...”

We couldn’t resist, with respectful credit to UC"Eqwpvt{" Nkhg, including the winning travel tale below – and if you click on www.countrylife. co.za/brand-nieu-bethesda you can read the story that inspired Gigi’s letter.

Nieu-Bethesda Adventure

so liked Chris Marais’s article ‘Brand Nieu-Bethesda’ (December 2013).

Indeed, yqpfgtnkmg" fkpig happen in that remote Karoo town.

Last year, I took a spontaneous detour on the same winding sand road (has it been tarred since?) off the N9 into Nieu-Bethesda that Chris and Julienne must have travelled on for the article.

My swish digital camera’s batteries had run out and I stopped my silver VW Polo several times along the roadside to take snaps of the beautiful scenery with my cellphone.

At the last stop, something in the corner of my eye caught my attention.

Turning, I saw, in the distance, a man on a motorcycle racing down the hill at a daredevil speed. In a cloud of dust he bounced to a halt at a safe distance from me. The spectacle had something unreal about it, almost like a Western that would reveal an unpleasant ending.

Obviously a farmer, he

demanded: “What are you doing here?”

I slowly and apprehensively walked towards him. Then I smiled, showed him my cell and told him my camera story.

His face changed into a wide grin. “You are lucky I didn’t have my shotgun on me. I watched you from the hilltop, stopping several times and examining the area. A few days ago, 11 of my sheep were stolen, and a day before that, neighbours noticed a small silver car doing what seemed to be a reconnaissance drive along this road.”

When I assured him that mine was not that car, we both laughed and he invited me to return in winter with my husband to take photographs of a totally different snow-covered wonderland.

Heinrich *rkevwtgf+ also asked me to spread the word in Knysna to nice ladies such as myself, who might be willing to come and live with him on his remote sheep farm near Nieu-Bethesda.

BOER SOEK N VROU: Nieu-Bethesda local Heinrich, above, asked Gigi to find out about nice Knysna ladies willing to come and live with him on his remote sheep farm - ;ook out for the February issue of ‘SA Country Life’, which features Gigi’s winning contribution on the Letters page, inset

Yes, we need to talk about it

W

ORLD Cancer Day falls on February 4 this year and will be commemorated around the country by People Living with Cancer (PLC) - an umbrella organisation for those living with, or who have survived, cancer.

Says CEO Janie du Plessis: “We have amazing stories of true miracles happening as well as inspiring stories of people starting all over again and really finding their purpose in life after surviving cancer.

“We try and share this

message of hope and awareness of support to all in the most dynamic ways we can think of. This year the theme for World Cancer Day is Fgdwpmkpi" vjg" O{vju.”

The most important four such myths are: 1. We don’t need to talk about cancer.

2. There are no signs and symptoms.

3. There is nothing I can do about cancer.

4. I don’t have the right to cancer care.

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News & Views

January 29 - 2014

CXPRESS

ISSUE 382

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Door-to-door township campaign gains support for harbour proposal While Plettenberg Bay’s anti-small boat harbour development drive has been gaining momentum, the town’s township community has now embarked on a campaign in support of the controversial R4-billion project YOLANDE STANDER reports

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ESIDENTS of KwaNokuthula believe Plett’s small boat harbour development could bring job opportunities to a community plagued by unemployment.

“More than 70% of our residents are unemployed and most of the rest only have casual jobs once or twice a week, so we really need a project like this,” community leader Lulamile Klaas said.

The planned 87’000m² development by Western Cape Marina Investments will stretch from the Piesang River estuary along the town’s popular Central Beach.

While the final scoping report, released late last year

by Port Elizabeth-based CEN IEM Unit, highlighted various potential negative environmental and socio-

economic impacts, it also revealed the project’s job creation opportunities.

It is expected that during the four years of construction more than 960 jobs will be created per year with about 460 being direct jobs.

Of these, 420 are expected to be for semi-skilled workers from surrounding communities. It is expected that about 70% of all the jobs will go to Bitou residents and the rest to employees from within the W-Cape.

The report further revealed that the potential operational revenue could create more than 1’400 jobs with about 900 direct employment, about 180 indirect jobs and about 390 induced employment opportunities.

“This will have a massive impact on our community.

They will be able to support

their families and pay their bills (rates), which in turn will generate more money for the municipality to deliver services and stimulate the economy.”

Klaas said he and a number of volunteers have been going door to door explaining the proposed project to residents and gathering signatures in support of it.

In the meantime, campaigns against the development are still in full force.

The proposal has seen massive opposition from residents, who last year formed a NO-sign on Central Beach, and prompted locals to establish the Save Plett Alliance and appoint a legal team to protect their interests.

Their main objections include the scope of the development being out of kilter with the size of the town as well as the potential impact

Suspected Christmas-day murderer received of a break-in in arrested in George progress at the tourism/ad-

T

HEMBALETHU detectives had a breakthrough when arresting a 21-year-old suspected murderer at a house in Zone 3 around 8:30am on Thursday January 23.

This follows after local resident Ayanda Wanner, 19, apparently had an argument with the suspect at a bar in Thembalethu in the early hours of December 25.

Wanner left the bar with a friend, and they were walking home when approached by the suspect and his friends in Sandkraal Road.

Another row broke out between the two men, during which the suspect allegedly took out a knife and stabbed Wanner once in the left side of his chest. He then fled the

scene on foot accompanied by his friends.

The victim was transported to hospital in George where he passed away on December 31. The suspect appeared in the George Magistrates’ court last Friday, and the case was postponed.

Meanwhile in Plett, members of PBCPA (Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association) reported a week without serious incident, while significant successes were achieved in their fight against crime.

In the early evening hours of January 22, the owners of Offshore Adventures along with Smhart Alarms, Plett Security, and SAPS officers responded when word was

venture company’s premises in Hopwood Street.

This was the second breakin within a couple of days at Offshore and this time six young offenders were apprehended and handed over to the police. All stolen goods stolen during the two breakins were recovered.

This was followed by a successful crime prevention operation held during the early morning hours of January 23, when the SAPS assisted

by PBCPA members, Plett Security, Smhart Alarms and Niqua removed a number of bush sleepers from various residential areas.

In the process, several known housebreaking criminals were apprehended and processed by the police.

the development could have on the environment.

The Save Plett Alliance over the festive season released 3D graphic renderings, done by graphic designer Sacha Debaveye of

Stauch Vorster Architects, showing the face of the town change from a pristine main beach and estuary area to a modern developed area with massive buildings and very little of the popular sandy

beach remaining.

Alliance spokesman Basil van Rooyen earlier said the brochure was aimed at motivating residents to read the scoping report and comment on it, as well as highlighting the scope of the project.

The deadline for comments was on January 17, but Van Rooyen said they had managed to extend the period to February 5.

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CXPRESS

ISSUE 382

News & Views

January 29 - 2014

Something fishy about stats on Knysna’s super rich set John Harvey

T

HE Garden Route towns of Knysna and Plettenberg Bay continue to lure some of South Africa’s wealthiest people.

That is according to research conducted by New World Wealth, an organisation which releases information on the financial affairs of countries around the globe.

Knysna was only second to Camps Bay in Cape Town

in terms of R20-million plus properties.

Camps Bay was home to 155 such properties, while Knysna had 133. Plettenberg Bay boasted 66 such properties, claimed the report.

The overall picture reveals Johannesburg, due to its status as South Africa’s economic hub, as home to most of the country’s millionaires at 48%. Cape Town came in second with 18%.

People who have a net worth of more than R300-

million fall into the ‘super rich’ category.

However, Garden Route estate agents say while the area boasts properties worth in excess of R20-million, figures contained in the report “do not sound right”.

“I wish there were that many properties in Knysna,” said Pam Golding Proper-

ties principal Ling Dobson.

“I can understand that in Johannesburg and on the Atlantic Seaboard, but it does sound odd.”

She conceded that Knysna and Plettenberg Bay were renowned for attracting the super-wealthy, who spared no expense on holiday or residential homes here.

“I think we are in a unique situation on the Garden Route. We have beautiful oceans surrounded by a lot of lush forests. The scenery is magnificent.

“The area from Wilderness to Tsitsikamma has a great watersports culture, and of course our golf courses are rated among the best in the world.”

Plett-based estate agent Patrick Barnard was also sceptical of the findings of the report.

“That doesn’t sound quite right, given how small Knysna and Plett are.”

Like Dobson, he acknowledged that there were numerous R20-million plus properties in the region.

“I think aside from the scenery, people are drawn here because of the good security and infrastructure.

“I think those that buy these homes are also influenced by the fact that we have stable politics in the Garden Route.”

According to the report, SA’s individual wealth had increased to R120’000 at the end of December from R46’600 in 2000.

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Notice Board Mp{upc"ycvgt"tguvtkevkqpu While the Garden Route has had good rains over the past few months, the main sources of water in the Knysna municipal area are rivers.

As these sources are always vulnerable, these municipal restrictions relating to watering gardens remain in place: • Even street numbers 6-7pm on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays.

• Odd street numbers 6-7pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Municipal water leaks can be reported by phoning 044 302 1601.

Mp{upc"Vqwtkuo"Tqcf"

Ujqy"qp"vjg"iq In its quest to effectively represent every business within Knysna, Sedgefield and surrounds, and to understand the market in more detail, Knysna Tourism is hosting small workshops in each area to get valued input from townsfolk on where efforts should be targeted.

Says Knysna Tourism marketing manager Johan van Schalkwyk: “This initiative is designed to ensure that we are more focused within our strategy to reach new markets effectively.”

These open invitation meetings started at Hunters Home and The Heads

last week, with this week’s Road Show stops including Leisure Island on January 28 and Knysna Log-Inn on Lcpwct{" 53 from 11am.

Other dates at venues to be confirmed include: • Hgdtwct{"7 - Brenton • Hgdtwct{"33 - Sedgefield • Hgdtwct{"35 - Rheenendal “Please invite your fellow business partners and neighbours to attend. This is not a member exclusive gathering and will focus on all economic areas of our town,” says Van Schalkwyk.

The meetings address area specific marketing needs, assessment of expectations, and introduction to the new

tourism brand.

RSVP your attendance with Janine at member@ visitknysna.co.za or phone 044 382 5510 for further information.

Rngvvgpdgti"Dc{" Eqoowpkv{"Rqnkeg"Hqtwo" CIO Interested parties in Plettenberg Bay are cordially invited to attend the Community Police Forum (CPF) annual general meeting that will be held on Hgdtwct{" 9 at the NG Church hall in Marine Drive at 5:30 for 5:45pm.

The CPF Exco said that your attendance would be highly appreciated.

News & Views

January 29 - 2014

CXPRESS

On a red planet mission: Will Tarn be part of the pod?

A Plettenberg Bay man has taken one step closer to becoming one of the first people to live on Mars as part of an ambitious project headed by a Dutch non-profit organisation - JOHN HARVEY reports cargo missions will be sent

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OFTWARE developer and former Wittedrift High pupil Tarn Alcock, 27, is one of 25 South Africans who have made it into the second round of the selection process for the oneway trip to the Red Planet in 2024, organised by Mars One. After submitting essays and a video motivation when Mars One first called on interested parties to participate last April, Alcock was informed on New Year’s Day that he would be among 1’038 people worldwide to potentially take the next giant step for mankind.

“I read the email and I couldn’t believe it. I started jumping around the room,” Tarn said.

The Mars One mission plan consists of cargo missions and unmanned preparation of a habitable settlement, followed by human landings. In the coming years, a demonstration mission, communication satellites, two rovers and several

‘My mom is not too chuffed at the moment, but my uncle is really excited... obviously I would miss my family and going for runs, things like that’

ONE ONE-WAY TICKET TO MARS, PLEASE... Tarn Alcock heard on New Year’s Day that he might leave for Mars in a mere decade from today

to Mars.

These missions will set up the outpost where the human crew will live and work in pods.

Every step of the crew’s journey will be documented for a reality television programme, which will assist in funding of the project.

However, in the event of Alcock making the last four who will live on Mars, he will have to make peace with the fact that it is a oneway ticket.

“My mom is not too chuffed at the moment, but my uncle is really excited about it, asking me a lot of questions and asking advice. But I think they are all very supportive,” he said.

“Obviously I would miss my family and going for runs, things like that.”

Alcock said he was a curious person who always wanted to learn new things.

“I never thought I would make it to the second round, but now I am starting to think about it seriously and

what it all means,” he said.

“I actually left my video motivation until the last minute. I did it on my cellphone, but it was terrible. I think the four essays, in which I told them about my willingness to learn and curious nature got me through.”

Strangely Alcock describes himself as a “homebody”.

“I do my work and enjoy Plett, and haven’t travelled that much. But this experience would be incredible.

“If you tell me I can’t do something then I will do everything to prove that I can. It all comes down to my curiosity.”

He said the idea of residing in pod living units was “interesting”.

“I believe the space will actually be quite big and comfortable.”

According to Mars One, the Mars habitat will be a modular environment made up of multiple inflatable units, comprising about 1000m³ of total living space, which equates to 250m³ per inhabitant for a team of four.

Food production will be solar-powered.

“A lot of people are sceptical about this project, but I believe it will work out.

There is so much technology now that makes this possible,” Tarn said.

ISSUE 382

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ISSUE 382

News & Views

January 29 - 2014

Recent red tide causes phosphorescence feast ... but don’t go eating the shellfish, folks!

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N January 20, Knysna’s powers that be issued a warning when the red tide observed earlier this month surfaced yet again at the Heads. Locals were cautioned against the collection of shellfish from the Knysna estuary until further notice.

According to those in the know - including SANParks, the municipality, and Knysna Basin Project - common types of red tide kill shellfish, abalone, black and white mussels, and oysters.

Other blooms can be stored in mussels, which are poisonous if eaten by humans.

A Marine & Coastal Management Guideline from the Department of Environmental Affairs defines phytoplankton as microscopic, single-celled organisms that float in the sea, where they photosynthesise and form the basis of oceans food chains.

The three types of red tide organisms are dinoflagellates, diatoms and ciliates. The former usually lie dormant on the seabed until they are lifted to the surface during upwelling where the ideal conditions of temperature and light trigger germination.

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP), which produces toxins that disrupt normal nerve functions, is associat-

ed closely with dinoflagellates. Symptoms of PSP appear anytime between one and five hours after eating contaminated seafood.

But it’s not all bad news, says Knysna Tourism marketing manager Johan van Schalkwyk. “The spectacular natural show being put on by Mother Nature seems to have been overlooked.

“With the perfect summer evenings currently experienced, we invite visitors and residents alike to observe these beautiful occurrences from vantage points like Brenton and Noetzie.

He explains that the term ‘red tide’ is misleading, as the sea water may actually turn brown, orange, purple, yellow, or even black. The

phrase is also a misnomer since it has nothing to do with tidal fluctuations.

His statement proceeds to explain that the phenomenon is most common along the west and south Cape coasts in late summer and autumn.

During this period, the prevailing southerly winds cause the cold nutrient-rich water from the deeper parts of the ocean to rise up by a process known as upwelling.

When dormant phytoplankton resides in sediments in the deep ocean - a dark and oxygen-poor environment - they are known as dinoflagellate cysts. During a bloom period, each single cell may replicate itself one million times in two to three weeks. The combination of all these conditions results in the bloom known as red tide.

The spectacle of it all is

revealed at night, when the glow of phosphorescence turns the water into a wonderland of brilliant light.

Says Johan: “The bloom of algae is accompanied by an increase of microscopic plankton, which glows in the dark when disturbed by waves. The result is an incredible show of turquoise glowing waves as they break along the shoreline at night.”

So while it’s sensible to lay off the crayfish, mussels and other possibly poisonous fruits of the ocean, the memories made by a phosphorescence swim are sure to console.

Visit www.visitknysna. co.za or contact Nandi Mgwadlamba of SANParks Corporate Communications at nandi.mgwadlamba@ sanparks.org or on 044 302 5633 for more information.

UPWELLING UPON US: Sea water in the Bay was turned brown by the so-called red tide, for the majority of last week – as captured here by Plett resident Louné Polson

News & Views

January 29 - 2014

CXPRESS

ISSUE 382

7

Chewin seizes the day with a little help from his mayor Yolandé Stander

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Knysna teenager confined to a wheelchair due to muscular dystrophy is one step closer to realising his dream of completing matric after receiving a bursary from Knysna Municipality to attend a special needs school for the first time.

Chewin Grootboom from Hornlee started this new life journey earlier this month when he arrived at Carpe Diem Academy in George to sign up for Grade 6.

He is one of 36 recipients of bursaries to the value of R174’460 handed over by the municipality through its mayoral social relief and bursary fund recently.

Chewin, who has been

confined to a wheelchair from the age of nine, has until now attended only mainstream schools.

“Being able to attend a school that understands his needs is going to help him so much. He will be in such good hands and will have all the help he needs, including physiotherapists,” said Chewin’s father Robert Grootboom.

Without the bursary, he would not have been able to afford to send his son to Carpe Diem.

“I had to resign from my job to take care of Chewin.

His mother is the only breadwinner and she only works a few days a week.”

The bursary is also welcome relief for a family plag-

ued by tragedy. His brother Alfonso, also diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, succumbed to the disease which weakens the muscles over time - at the age of 25.

“It is a dream of mine to finish matric and now it is within reach,” said Chewin.

Knysna mayor Georlene Wolmarans said the fund was established to assist those in need of funding, whether an organisation or individual. It is managed by the mayor and the funds are raised through events hosted by her office.

Wolmarans said contributing to the fund was one of the most valuable ways to give back.

“The ages of students vary between 13 and 54 and it is

Wittedrift kry nuwe skoolhoof en Eliam se slimkop staan Bloem toe

WELKOM! Nuut aan die stuur van Wittedrift Hoër is Jeremy Marallich, hier saam met sy vrou Judy en hul kinders Christo en Petro

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EREMY Marallich is die jaar aangestel as nuwe hoof van Hoërskool Wittedrift. Hy was tot einde 2013 verbonde aan Hoërskool Dr Malan in Meyerton, Gauteng, en neem nou die leisels oor by Andre Bouwer wie na 19 jaar as hoof uitgetree het.

“Dit is vir my ‘n groot voorreg om ‘n gedissiplineerde en hoogs-presterende skool oor te neem en ek sien daarna uit om met behulp van die ouers, leerlinge en gemeenskap vir Wittedrift tot nog hoër hoogtes te neem,” sê Marallich. “Die kind is die heel belangrikste deel van die skool en is my hoogste prioriteit.”

Hy is getroud met Judy, ‘n onderwyseres in Lewenswetenskap en hul het twee kinders - Christo is ‘n derdejaar Ingenieurswese-student aan NWU in Potchefstroom en Petro is in Graad 11 by Wittedrift.

Die Marallich-gesin sien baie uit na die nuwe stap in hulle lewens en sê ‘n groot dankie aan almal wat hulle so welkom laat voel in Plettenbergbaai.

Soos berig in CXPRESS van 15 Januarie het Wittedrift se 2013 matriekklas weereens alle verwagtinge oorskry met hul 100% slaagsyfer. Verder kan 64% van die leerders aan ‘n

universiteit studeer en die res (36%) by enige ander tersiêre inrigting, d.w.s. almal het gekwalifiseer om verder te studeer, voorwaar ‘n puik prestasie.

Die skoolgemeenskap is veral trots op Eliam Havenga, wie onderskeidings in elk van haar agt vakke behaal het, met ‘n gemiddeld van 88%. Eliam het ‘n volle beurs ontvang om medies aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat te gaan studeer baie geluk!

AG TE PRAGTIG: Eliam Havenga het ‘n beurs om medies te studeer losgeslaan met agt As en ‘n gemiddeld van 88% in die afgelope matriekeksamen

clear that one is never too young or old to broaden your horizons.”

She said the senior students were mostly women who “worked hard to put their own kids through school and are now taking the opportunity to better themselves”.

“It is the first year that a special needs 13-year-old receives a bursary to attend a school that can assist with his specific challenges and give him the opportunities he deserves.

“Education is the only opportunity that can change

NEW JOURNEY: Hornlee teen Chewin Grootboom will attend a special needs school for the first time this year thanks to a bursary from Knysna Municipality - celebrating with him were dad Robert, left, and Knysna mayor Georlene Wolmarans Photo: Supplied by Knysna Municipality

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ISSUE 382

Interval

January 29 - 2014

I was having dinner with world chess champion Garry Kasporov, and the table was covered with a check tablecloth. It took him two hours to pass me the salt.

A laugh a minute!

Vjg"rckpv"lqd After three days hard at work, the painters finally finish painting Jerry’s house.

As they hand him the bill, Jerry notices that under ‘paint’ is written ‘R0.00’.

Surprised, Jerry says: “You did such a great job, why aren’t you charging for the paint?”

One of the painters replies: “Don’t worry about the paint. It’s on the house...”

Cnn"kp"c"pcog If I have a daughter I’m going to name her Lizard, and then she’ll get the nickname ‘Liz’, and everyone will be, like: ‘Oh is it short for Elizabeth?’, and she will have to say: ‘No, my name is Lizard’. *** My son is starting school

soon and thinks the other children will pick on him because of his name.

I said: “Don’t be silly, Someoneyourownsize, why would anyone pick on you?”

Qp"uect{"oqxkgu” Why are scary movies always made in creepy places, like jails and hospitals?

I want a scary movie in Pick n Pay. “Clean up in aisle 13.”

“But sir… there is no aisle 13.” *dramatic music* Fcf/lqmg I know the dad-joke hype is not in anymore, but my dad made a funny joke.

He told us he was going to get pizza, yet he still hasn’t returned.

This was 17 years ago.

My dad’s hilarious.

Famous animals...

Ozzy Osbourne

Yoda

Michael Jackson

Captain Jack Sparrow

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Careful what you wish for

T

HREE guys - one Irish, one English, and one Scottish - are out walking along the beach one day.

They come across a lantern and a genie pops out.

“I will give you each one wish, that’s three wishes in total,” says the genie.

The Scottish guy says: “I’m a fisherman, my dad’s a fisherman, his dad was a fisherman, and my son will be one too. I want all the oceans full of fish for all eternity.”

An elderly man remembers the good old days: “When I was young, my mom could send me to a shop with a single Rand, and I would bring back 5kg of potatoes, two loaves of bread, a bottle of milk, a piece of cheese and 12 eggs. Nowadays that’s impossible – there are simply too many security cameras.

So, with a blink of the genie’s eye FOOM! the oceans are teaming with fish.

The Englishman is amazed, so he says: “I want a wall around England, protecting her, so that no one will get in for all eternity.”

Again, with a blink of the Genie’s eye POOF! there is a huge wall around England.

The Irishman asks: “I’m very curious. Please tell me more about this wall.”

The genie explains: “Well, it’s about 150ft high, 50ft thick, protecting England so that nothing can get in or out.”

The Irishman says: “Fill it up with water.”

Business

January 29 - 2014

CXPRESS

Global economy growing but may leave well-being behind As the world marks the 80th birthday of GDP, a new Worldwatch Institute report examines its inadequacy as the sole metric for prosperity

I

N 2012, gross world product increased to just over $83-trillion - a 4.85% increase over 2011.

On the surface, this metric supports the argument that the worst of the global recession has passed. However, the economy continues

Investor Focus Malcolm Stewart – Portfolio Manager at Sanlam Private Investments Knysna

Property trusts versus property REITS

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ANY retirees rely on their income from property trusts. To refresh your memories, these trusts own a bouquet of properties that are spread throughout South Africa, although they are more often concentrated in the main urban centres.

The properties are classified into retail properties (mainly shopping malls), industrial properties (mainly factories and warehouses), and office blocks.

Retail properties are seen to be the most attractive, as their vacancies are low and landlords are able to secure inflation beating rental increases. Office space on the other hand is in oversupply, which results in marginal rental increases.

The introduction of the new tax dispensation for these property trusts, as well as various structural requirements - i.e. minimum rental income must equal at least 75% of their total income essentially brings these investment instruments in line with international best practice. This in turn will make them more attractive to international income-seeking investors.

In the original form, property trusts had a very special tax dispensation. All income after expenses was not taxed in the hands of the trust, but was distributed to shareholders in the form of interest. At the same time, any profits realised on the sale of properties were subject to capital gains tax.

In the new REITS dispensation, all distributions are treated as rental income in the hands of shareholders.

Rental income is treated as ‘normal’ income and is fully taxable.

This implies that retirees can no longer receive the initial tax break on interest received. Retirees under the age of 65 were not taxed on their first R23’800 of interest earned, while those over 65 were exempt up to R34’500. Distributions to non-residents are subject to a 15% withholding tax.

That it makes our property sector more attractive to

foreign investors is clear, particularly those REITS that are now traded on the Nasdaq exchange. (Many US and non-US companies trade in this manner making it easier for global investors to access them.)

It is also important to realise that not all property trusts are REITS. It is mainly the large trusts like Redefine and Redefine International, Growthpoint, Vukele, etc. that have converted. The cost of a listing on the Nasdaq will prohibit many of the smaller trusts from following this route.

Another impact has been the trend to create REITS of sufficient size so as to be easily tradable. Thus we have seen ongoing consolidations within the sector, as well as the larger trusts selling off their smaller properties. This has resulted in several smaller property trusts being created as many of the smaller properties are in fact property gems.

Yields will also vary, with huge international REITS offering yields that are hardly more than 6%, while the smaller funds have often been showing yields of between 8% and 10%.

The smaller funds have lower volumes on the JSE, and thus do not attract institutional interest. These are attractive to retirees who need the income and can withstand the stress of fluctuating capital values.

There are also differences in the property unit trust sector. Most of these unit trusts benchmark against the JSE property index and are thus heavily invested in the large REITS. Some, however, have different mandates and focus on creating maximum income and could be of greater interest to retirees.

It is time to revisit your property investments - speak to your advisor and get a professional view.

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a pattern of slowing growth rates since 2010/11, when gross world product grew 6.35% and 5.67% respectively.

Moreover, closer inspection shows that growth is taking place mostly in emerging economies. According to Worldwatch researchers in the latest Vital Signs Online trend (www.worldwatch. org) the total gross domestic product (GDP) of emerging economies now roughly equals that of all the advanced economies.

Gross world product is the sum of the GDPs of all countries. This typically includes levels of consumption, investment, government spending, import costs, and proceeds from exports.

Because of various transaction costs, floating exchange rates, and barriers like tariffs, a metric known as the purchasing power parity exchange rate is applied to put different countries’ buying capacity on an even footing.

Countries that avoided overleveraging themselves while experiencing robust growth in recent years have had relatively healthier fiscal positions and therefore higher levels of foreign direct investment.

This growth was hindered slightly, however, as advanced economies like the USA, Japan, and members of the European Union (EU) dealt with headline-grabbing crises such as the fiscal cliff and EU’s possible breakup.

Unemployment levels also indicate that, despite continued growth, economic health is far from a rosy picture. According to the International Labour Organisation, 200-million people are unemployed - about 6% of the global workforce.

Economic growth is regarded as an unalloyed good, necessary to improve human well-being. But it is

only a nominal indicator, lacking the many intricacies and subjective goods essential to a more encompassing and meaningful metric.

Given the disparity of benefits, it is clear that in and of itself, growth is far from an effective measuring stick.

Newer metrics seek to paint a more comprehensive and accurate picture of humanity’s overall welfare.

One enhanced and widely cited metric is the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), which includes the economic cost of expenditures that diminish community capital.

And in 2011, the UN general assembly passed a resolution stating that all countries should start measuring happiness - taking a cue from Bhutan, which began tracking Gross National Happiness in the 1970s.

Similarly, the UN’s Human Development Index is an indicator of well-being that relies primarily on health (life expectancy at birth), education (means and expected years of schooling), and living standards (gross national income per capita on a logarithmic scale.)

“Regardless of the approach or specific metrics involved, all studies seem to conclude that sole reliance on GDP growth as the measuring stick for prosperity and well-being is woefully inadequate and probably has been for some time,” writes Mark Konold, the report’s co-author and Worldwatch’s Climate & Energy Caribbean programme manager.

“Higher human development can begin to be seriously measured only when the impact of expenditures is evaluated and when more qualitative elements are examined as part of a much larger and more complex mechanism to decipher human development.”

However, even when these factors are considered, most approaches to global economic health ignore the planet’s capacity to provide the resources necessary to sustain it.

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Residential real estate market on solid ground

W

ITH buyer sentiment growing and more balance, the residential real estate market is on solid - if still somewhat fragile ground as 2014 takes off.

Given the macro-economic landscape, the market is naturally likely to remain under pressure but, coming off a good year, the team at Seeff Plett anticipates stable conditions and business as usual for buyers and sellers.

“Trading conditions in the primary urban sectors of the market over the last year have been at the best levels since the economic downturn,” says Seeff Plett principal Linda Engelsman.

“Provided that the economy remains stable, we anticipate a good year for real estate with buyer sentiment and the willingness to buy continuing to strengthen.

Encouragingly, serious sellers have started heeding the call of real estate professionals to adjust their pricing expectations in line with market dynamics.”

According to Engelsman, this has resulted in some oversupply of stock in the primary urban areas starting to clear, with stock shortages now becoming a challenge for agents. This in turn paves the way for those looking to

sell to get their properties listed, making right now a most opportune time for serious sellers.

“Vital, though, if you hope to succeed in selling, is understanding prevailing market conditions and working with a credible agent to ensure that your home is priced just right,” says Engelsman.

“The economic conditions are simply not conducive to price increases beyond the prevailing modest growth levels that are set to persist this year. Having said this, sellers in many areas are seeing good offers, sometimes even multiple offers and getting closer to their asking prices.”

On the whole, she believes the favourable buying conditions will remain and dominate the year.

“The historically low home loan borrowing costs combined with the flat house price growth will continue to boost home affordability.

Prudent will be for buyers to shop around and ensure they buy below their means and pay fair market value.

“Investing a deposit and careful budgeting for the costs of home ownership will, as ever, remain vital.”

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CXPRESS

ISSUE 382

Social Scene

January 29 - 2014

People, places & events

AFRI-SKREEUSNAAKS: Afrikaans stand-up comedy has been growing, with comedians popping up in the strangest of places all over the country. The cast of ‘Afrisnaaks’, staged at George Arts Theatre on February 7 & 8, include 2m Dutchman Piet Potgieter, comedic musician Francois van As and Dugald Pieterse, who hails from Bredasdorp and has a voice to die for. Finally, from the ghettos of lower Constantia - very, very much lower... ok, Mitchell’s Plain - comes straight-talking Moeniel Jacobs with his slapstick physical humour. The show starts at 8pm (no under 16s) and tickets at R60 are available at the theatre or from Computicket. Contact Moeniel on 083 327 5462 or at MJproductions2511@gmail.com for info. In the pic from left are Francois, Piet, Dugald and Moeniel.

ACTORS FOR A DAY: Dawid Louw, better known as Ettienne of SABC 2’s popular soap ‘7de Laan’, visited Formosa Primary in Plett last week. In this pic he chats to learners of the Elsen Unit. Says their award-winning teacher, Leigh Dunn: ‘Dawid did some magic tricks and had lots of fun with the kids. The highlight was when he did a drama skit with a few of the learners, just to make them feel what it’s like to be an actor.’

Visit www.elsensa.co.za to find out more about the unit.

READY TO SCORE: The U-9 soccer team of Formosa Primary thanks Kathy van Staden for sponsoring their brand new soccer kit. Long-time local Kathy gained charitable acclaim when years ago initiating the Kids Explosion organisation in The Crags. She says her son loves soccer, and that fact combined with the obvious potential of Formosa Primary’s soccer players inspired her to kit them out.

Photo: Leigh Dunn

FROM PRETTY BELA-BELA TO BAHIA FORMOSA: Kobus de Lange was appointed front office manager at Forever Plettenberg - the beautiful resort on the banks of Keurbooms River just east of Plett - from January 2. Originally from Bela-Bela (formerly Warmbaths) in Limpopo, Kobus is married to Karlien and they have two children, Karlo & Lika. ‘I am excited about getting to meet and work alongside all the great people of this beautiful town that is Plettenberg Bay,’ says Kobus.

Contact him on 044 535 9309 or at plettfo@foreversa. co.za and visit www.foreverplettenberg.co.za to find out more about the resort.

LADIES, PLEASE INTERPRET! Knysnabased photographer Gigi Lewis shared this image and wrote: ‘I took the pic at Lookout Beach earlier this month and have been wondering about the comic signals which the two mud-covered boys are giving the girl in front of them. I could just imagine that they might be faking some kind of initiation ceremony, which would be very funny.

Perhaps one of your female Xhosa readers could enlighten us?’

Well, be sure to drop a line to gigi.lewis@ telkomsa.net if you’re reading here and would like to share your interpretation of the actions captured...

Entertainment • Gifted pianist Mark Spence performs at St Thomas Methodist Church in Plettenberg Bay on Friday Lcpwct{" 53 at 6:30pm.

Mark has established himself as a recitalist, accompanist and chamber musician, and has been awarded first prizes at numerous eisteddfodau and other competitions. He has appeared as guest soloist with both the Cape Town and KZN Philharmonic Orchestras.

Tickets cost R60 per seat – call 083 447 1591 or 044 533 3033 for more info.

• Knysna-Plett Concert Se-

January 29 - 2014

CXPRESS

Entertainment Diary ries presents the University of Stellenbosch Camerata with soloists Peter Martens (cello), Suzanne Martens (violin) and pianist Nina Schumann on Monday Hgd/ twct{" 32" at Knysna DRC hall.

The Camerata gave its first performance in September 2008, playing Vivaldi and Piazzola’s Gkijv" Ugcuqpu with violinist Daniel Rowland. The success of this led to a CD which won the 2010 SAMA for best Popu-

lar Classical Album.

The Camerata always performs without a conductor, but recently took to the stage with acclaimed Dutch maestro Arjan Tien. Joshua Bell gave two performances of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with the Camerata in Cape Town and Stellenbosch.

They also boast two recordings of film scores: His Hunter’s Heart, and the soundtrack to the film Kumba, which was released internationally in 2013.

The programme will include works by Elgar, Haydn and Mozart. Tickets at R150 (R30 for scholars) are available at the door from 6:45pm.

• A four-day festival at Plett’s White House Theatre from Hgdtwct{"35/38 promises world-class jazz, classical, swing, blues and jive to support the Kids of Kurland (www.kidsofkurland.com).

The first-ever Plett Music Festival opens with internationally acclaimed saxo-

phonist Andrew Young, followed on the 14th by the stunning duo of electric cellist Carol Thorns and harpist Shelley Frost.

Dance the Saturday night away to Cape Town band The Swingsetters and enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon with Rick van Heerden’s jazz band. Local muso Martin Wolfaardt will be playing in the courtyard from 7pm each evening, with a cash bar and snacks for sale.

A pass for all four shows is

ISSUE 382

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available at a reduced price - book online at www.plettmusicfest.co.za or buy tickets at The Old House Shop, and call Ann Fermor on 082 452 8764 for further info.

• If you’re travelling to Cape Town this month and are interested in the arts, diarise the second Breathe Sunshine African Music Conference & Unity Jam from Hgdtwct{" 36/38, which aims to unite the rich diversity of talents from across the continent, in search of a greater future for all. Visit www.breathesunshineconference.com for details and to book.

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CXPRESS

ISSUE 382

Food & Wine

January 29 - 2014

PeeBee’s Wine Column

Words & Photo: Peter Bishop

Sherry for the lady? Make mine a Fino!

I F you want to understand products like Madeira, Sherry, Port, or even Bordeaux and Burgundy, you must understand the British.

The isolated island was the target of the Roman armies in search of silver. The islanders themselves did not regard that they could produce the top wines made in the lands of Burgundy and especially Bordeaux which

they were to conquer.

Yet, they were too often at war with the countries that did produce wine, so they always had to find alternates.

War with France or Spain meant seeking other suppliers of what to import.

Port was ‘discovered’ in the mid-18th century. ‘Constantia’ was discovered a century before. The market for Sherry from Jerez de

la Fontera in the southern Spanish province of Andalusia hailed from the days of Elizabeth I - from 1517, in fact.

The Phoenicians or the Greeks had set the style of Sherry 1000 years BC but with the Moors introducing Alambic, the first Sherry was fashioned.

Sir Francis Drake captured 2900 casks (150’000 cases)

in 1587. The market established itself!

The Spanish regarded that the ‘flor’ used in preparation of ‘Sherry’ - the Jerez wine was unique, until ‘flor’ was realised to be a Saccharomyces yeast. This reduces other sugars, diminishes glycerine and volatile acids and increases the esters and aldehydes.

I think it is the case that the flor behind Cape Sherries were found on the walls of Vergenoegd wine cellar in 1925, and identified by Dr CJC Niehaus, who isolated a few strains.

Thus Sherries of respect were produced commercially in the Cape since 1937. By 1961, the KWV had as many as 9-million bottles in stock.

The region of Jerez was hot and dry in summer and the hills were low and undulating, but soils were different in the Cape. Our Table Mountain sandstone (Paarl, Stellenbosch, Tulbagh) historically provided delicate Fino and Amontillados styles - with the more robust Sherries, often blended with Muscadel, coming from the Breede Rivier. This made the brown Sherries and the Olorosos The Spanish mostly used the palomino grape, whereas in the Cape, fransdruif, Pedro Ziminez and groendruif were more common.

There is no short-cutting the production of top Sherries. After pressing, fine gypsum was added to build the acidity of the wine. Flor, being a yeast, was added, allowing for a fermentation of a week or two.

A touch of wine spirit would then be added, and then followed a long period of second fermentation. In

SWEEEET! Dating from the 60s and 70s are, from left, Hanepoot Jerepigo, White Port, V.O. Sherry and Muscadel - by 1961, the KWV had as many as 9-million bottles of Sherry in stock

the Fino and Amontillados, the flor covers the surface of the wine. The barrel (etkcf/ gtc) is only partly filled, and the bung is loose. This bit of air works miracles, allowing the right degree of oxidation.

Sure, the move could be to vinegar. Yet, I have often opened an old white wine, 20 to 30 years of age, and seen that it had more of a Sherry taste than a vinegar - but never a perfect Sherry.

A good Sherry must have ‘the vigour of youth and the wisdom of age’. They are primarily pre-prandial or post-prandial wines, depending on their level of dryness or sweetness.

Barrels are placed above each other - the Solera system. Obviously with the air exposure, the levels go down, so in the succession of barrels, younger sherry is added to older sherry, which is at the bottom. The art is to get that perfect blend, with a beautiful appearance and great delicacy, if it is a Fino.

Sherry effects can be created in a cellar by placing the dry wine in a barrel and allowing microscopic oxidation through the oak, whereby colour is enhanced and a bit of aroma develops. This is fast-tracking.

These Oloroso types - light brown and fairly sweet and the ‘Old Browns’ are

Culinary who’s who rub shoulders at Café Gannet

Winners of the CXPRESS Culinary Awards 2013 - sponsored

by NLR Wines and convened by foodies Anne Hadley and Francois Ferreira - converged on Café Gannet in Mossel Bay last month to receive their awards, plaques and trophies for sterling service and performance on all food fronts during the past year. In the pics, clockwise from the top, are the Best Cafe Style Dining-winning La Rosa Blue crew of Nasley Arnoldus, PJ & Dalene Snyman, and Jane van Jaarsveld; Best Casual Style Dining’s the VegTable Private Dining Room mastermind Brett Garvie chats to Anne Hadley; Top 20 winners Pieter & Alma of Chef Alma@Groenvlei, and Lauren and Bobby of Lauren’s Deli Eatery, at right. Visit www.cxpress.co.za and click on the Food & Wine page of issue 378 for the full list of winners - Photos: Steve D’Elboux Photography - 083 2777 237 / www.pixbysteve.co.za

matured with flor but not fermented with flor. Caramelised grape juice or Muscadel can be added to these cheaper products.

Sherry, whether dry, medium or full, is a product of blending. A commercial product would be consistent, and hence there is no printed or stated vintage, considering too that a single Port could have (from the Solera system) a difference of nine to 30 years between the components that made the blend.

A recent initiative has been undertaken to popularise Sherry as the drink offered to m’lady, but for me, make it a Fino. I opened a Harvey’s Margarita Medium Sherry that I bought 30 years ago.

It was like kissing a chainsmoker. She was not nice, so get the Fino, rare as it is.

The general message if you want a fine Sherry is - seeing that it’s not vintage dated go for as young as possible, and do NOT keep it in your decanter forever. The fine Sherries do not appear to bottle mature and change to other styles.

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Home & Health

January 29 - 2014

CXPRESS

Fat Boys & Slim... will they pull off Ironman 2014?

F

OUR chubby yuppies have teamed up with glamour girl Liezel van der Westhuizen to tackle this year’s Ironman challenge and raise money for a worthy cause - the communities and projects supported by the Signature of Hope Trust.

Besides Liezel, none of them has much experience in endurance sports or the triathlon scene, but what they all have in common is the willingness to push themselves to the limit for something they believe in.

The initial idea was to do the half Ironman – a plan hatched in the deVere Group’s Cape Town office, where three of the five participants are part of management and trustees of the charity.

Group area manager Mike ‘Fat Boy’ Fannin pushed the goal to a full Ironman (“Why do half when you could do it all?”) and the target was set.

On April 6, all five dedicated, if not deranged, characters will take to the beach at Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth to swim 3.8km in a cool sea, cycle 180.2km

and top it off with a leisurely 42.2km run.

While some of the less fit team members have a simple target - “To not die!” as Brett ‘Fat Boy’ Taylor, senior area manager for deVere SA, puts it - their mission is a serious one. “We want to make people aware of the Signature of Hope Trust and all the communities it serves. We aim to raise significant funds that will make an impact on many around the country and ultimately change lives,” said third deVere member Bryan ‘Fat Boy’ Austen.

“We’re all ordinary people but we believe success comes from doing extraordinary things. This may not be extraordinary to some, but it’s a huge challenge for us, office bound, normal blokes,” added Brett.

We want to prove that real people can make a difference by putting ourselves out there, making a commitment and believing in something bigger than ourselves.”

Sole beneficiary of the team’s efforts, Signature of Hope boasts Brett, Bryan

FOUR BIG ‘UNS AND A SKINNY GAL: The Fat Boys - from left are Mike Fannin, David Taitz, Brett Taylor and Bryan Austen, with great-hearted celeb Liezel van der Westhuizen in front have less than three months left to get into shape for April’s Ironman Challenge

and Mike as trustees. Both Liezel ‘Slim’ van der Westhuizen and fourth Fat Boy, David Taitz, were introduced to the fund through association with deVere - and are both supporters of the programme and Trust.

Their purpose is to raise funds through personal and corporate donations and to disperse these through a series of grants to organisations that are making real and sustainable differences in people’s lives.

“Every part of this initiative depends on participation from our supporters. It’s what gets us up at 4am to go run or keeps us on the road

Who’re you calling FAT?

F

OR those readers on whom the significance of the Ironman team name is lost: British DJ, musician, rapper and record producer Fatboy Slim aka Norman Quentin Cook

ÜBER COOL: This pic of Fatboy Slim dates from 2004 – and rumour has it that he’s become even cooler in the decade since...

- is a legend of the international music scene with 10 MTV Video Music Awards and two Brit Awards on his mantelpiece.

Cook was awarded a star on the city of Brighton’s Walk of Fame, right next to that of Winston Churchill, and Q magazine included Fatboy Slim in its ‘50 Bands to See Before You Die’ list.

In March 2009, he checked into a rehabilitation centre in Bournemouth to fight a “booze addiction” that he has been battling “for some time”. He left rehab after an extended stay and – Fat Boys & Slim fans take note - completed the inaugural Brighton Marathon in April 2010 in a time of 4:53:10.

(Visit www.fatboyslim. net or http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Norman_Cook to find out more.)

Welcome, Irene!

The year started with promise for the Greenhouse Hair Stylists team, who proudly welcomed Irene Rubkina into the fold. Originally from Russia, Irene has been a qualified stylist since ‘84 and has worked in Durban, KZN, before moving to Plett recently. She’s an all-round hair expert who specialises in colour and blow, and she invites new and existing Greenhouse clients to join her in the stylish salon, situated at The Whalesong Hotel & Hydro across from Shell Ultra City at 1 Marine Drive, Plett. (See the ad on this page for contact details.)

Photo: Watty Watson

February Famsa training for your benefit

T

RAINING forms a central part of Famsa’s activities in Sedgefield, Knysna and Plett, and the next training session starts early next month, so interested parties are reminded to register on or before February 3.

Says Famsa Plett administrator Mia Mould: “Initially, training was done exclusively to equip volunteers, but most of Famsa’s training is now open to the public and, after completion of specific courses, some may become

volunteers who work along with staff at the Knysna and Plett offices.

“Experience has taught us that even if each attendee applied the skills learnt only in his/her personal life, an enormous impact is made in the preservation of relationships and families.”

The various courses include the acclaimed counselling module known as Family Foundation Training.

Other course themes include Intimate Relationships,

Intimate Partner Violence, Self Esteem & Boundaries, Child Abuse, Addictions, Anger/Conflict Management & Assertiveness, Depression & Suicide, Parenting Skills, Trauma, Stress, Death & Dying, Personality & Psychological Disorders, Trauma Psychological FirstAid, Trauma & Children, and more.

Contact Estelle at Famsa Knysna on 044 382 5129 and Mia at Famsa Plett on 044 533 0515 for more info.

just that little bit longer in the evening.

“But we need help from everybody out there to really make a difference and are prepared to sweat, cramp and bleed for that support,” said Mike. * The Signature of Hope Trust is an NPO that seeks to facilitate a means for successful individuals and companies to uplift communities in Africa. It raises funds through regular contributions from partners and the general public, which are then dispersed through a series of grants to carefully selected organisations (http:// signatureofhope.org/).

ISSUE 382

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CXPRESS

ISSUE 382

January 29 - 2014

Classifieds

On the Soapbox

January 29 - 2014

Letters to the Editor

CXPRESS

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

Released on bail to Hospice team creates steal, rape, kill again lasting memories Crime in Plett appears to be out of hand. The days of chatting about the weather with acquaintances on the beach is over - we now talk about break-ins.

This situation will ultimately destroy our town as more and more people decide to move to safer places or, as is more likely in the short term, choose not to move to Plett in the first place.

Certainly, you holiday in Plett at your peril!

Anecdotally, it seems that the problem is not so much in the apprehension of criminals, but arises because known criminals are released on bail repeatedly,

i.e. this is a failure of our criminal justice system.

Perhaps a local newspaper such as yours is ideally placed to investigate and report on this issue?

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Think before you run, walk or wheelie to moan on social media In would like to respond to the picture of our car printed on page 15 of your January 15 edition (visit www.cxpress.co.za and click on the Letters page of issue 381 to read ‘Shame ‘em via social media’).

If Lance Rothschild had opened his eyes, or taken the time to walk to the front of the car and check if we had a disability sticker, he would have seen the sticker on the left-hand side of the windscreen.

I was sitting in the car when he confronted my husband about parking in the spot. He did not come close to our car to see whether we indeed displayed a disability sticker. I am the one with the disability and I was unable to walk, so my husband quickly ran into the Kwikspar to buy something.

The reason my husband had an attitude was that this was the third person that day to confront him

without making sure of their facts.

People are so quick to judge when you park in the disabled bay and a driver walks off after getting out of the car, that they forget to check for a sticker or the reason for it.

If Mr Rothschild has a problem with this, he should speak to my doctor about my disability or ask the authorities to change the law so only people in wheelchairs are allowed to park in disability bays.

I, for one, am blessed and truly happy that I am still able to walk (for however long that might be).

So next time, Mr Rothschild, before you run to Facebook or Twitter, get your facts straight. You should have watched Ect/ vg"Dncpejg on Jan 12, when they broadcasted a feature on the hazards of such actions on social media.

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Thanks for a whale of a day!

Saturday December 21 saw the Whale Classic golf day taking place at Plettenberg Bay Country Club - and what a stunning day it was, with good weather, good company, and good golf!

Thank you so much for giving so generously. Without your support this fundraiser would not have been the enormous success it was.

Prizes in excess of R70’000 were handed out, and an amount just short of R30’000 was raised for Plettenberg Bay Christian School.

Thank you to the parents, teachers and scholars who helped on the day. We also could not have had this

glorious event day without the wonderful support we received from the manager and staff of Plettenberg Bay Country Club.

We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts, and look forward to having you on board at the next Whale Classic. Here’s wishing you a blessed, prosperous, happy and healthy 2014.

PS: To see who was responsible for the overwhelming response we had to our golf day, please have a look at the list of sponsors on the CXPRESS Facebook page (at over 90, the most we’ve ever had - thanks again!).

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Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

I have just spent a wonderful holiday in your beautiful town - not for the first time, as I have enjoyed many visits to Plettenberg Bay. But this time was different.

I am a retired District Nursing Sister from the UK, and this year I was invited to volunteer with a wonderful organisation. The Hospice/ Plettaid Foundation team is working not only in the townships, but also in the town itself.

Apart from dealing with the terminally ill, this charity addresses all manner of other complaints. Its small but hugely qualified staff with some fantastic carers who show dedication the likes of which I have never seen before, putting in many more hours of work than they could ever get paid for to care for the dying and lots of others in need.

This organisation receives very little funding and deals with an almost insurmountable workload, but does the best it can.

Thank you Amanda Frost, sister Cindy Hatchett and all the Plettaid carers for giving me this eye-opening experience. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

God willing I will be back in a year, but in the meantime I will be doing my level best to raise some muchneeded money in the UK. I hope you will print this letter to let readers know that Hospice Plett is on their doorstep and ready to help.

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Old broom needs an SUV? A new broom sweeps clean, but when it gets older, that’s what worries me.

A few years ago when our Memory Booysen became Bitou mayor, he drove a Mazda Sedan. He was very bold to say in CXPRESS that he didn’t want an SUV. If I remember correctly, CXPRESS placed a picture of his Mazda and former mayor Lulama Mvimbi’s BMW X5, in the newspaper.

His (Booysen’s) words were: “It’s too expensive and the people of Bitou cannot afford to waste their hardearned money on SUVs.” What happened to that boldness, to that promise, or was it just talk, the broom still being brand new at the time?

At that time everybody, including me, wanted to ‘give that man a Bells’, saying: “Eish, you’re the man!”

Then he switched his Mazda for a silver Toyota Corolla from the Municipal Law Enforcement fleet. How nice, we all thought, this man has integrity.

Then he changed over to a Chevrolet Sedan. Still, it makes sense and is affordable for Bitou - at least he is not wasting taxpayers’ money.

Check this out: Bitou executive mayor Memory Booysen is no different or better than our former mayor Lulama Mvimbi. In fact, he is worse for having criticised Lulama Mvimbi for wasting public funds while he is currently driving around in a new Ford Everest SUV. Now, I wonder, how much are we, the ratepayers, forking out to keep our mayor happy? What makes the DA better than the ANC? Memory is wasting, big time. It’s evident his lies will catch up with him.

The funny thing is that the DA is dead-quiet about this.

Zuma spent R240-million on his Nkandla and topped up R42-million in parliament, so maybe our mayor did not want to lose out, thus the SUV. PS: Your response would be welcome, but please be honest when commenting, otherwise you will just be fooling yourself.

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ISSUE 382

15

16

CXPRESS

ISSUE 382

Sport & Adventure

January 29 - 2014

Trek to Knysna for next month’s Garden Route 300

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NTRIES to the fourth annual Garden Route 300 sponsored by Trek have been selling like hotcakes, filling up the 600 slots available for riders at breakneck speed. Taking place from February 21-23, this 300km stage race is renowned for its technical challenges and incredible scenery.

“You’ll be hard pressed to keep your eyes on the single

track as you pedal through kilometres of indigenous forest and fynbos with views over valleys, mountains and the ocean,” said route director Pax Mosterd.

Days one and three start with a rusk and coffee at the Thesen Islands race village off Knysna’s Quay Four, while day two departs from Rheenendal. All three race days conclude at Quay Four,

and all meals are included.

Paramedic backup, land access permits and oysters and beer as you cross the finish line are also part of the packet, while Discovery Vitality members earn 5’000 points on completion.

“This year’s route is the best since inception of the event,” said Pax. “Day one sees lots of time on the beautiful tracks of Garden Route National Park, including the world famous Red Route.

“Day two introduces a new route, starting in the village of Rheenendal at the old Millwood gold mines.

The sandy trails of previous years now make way for indigenous forest, striking views, stream crossings and 2.5km of single track down Phantom Pass.”

Pax said those who had participated in the Cape Epic races that started in Knysna prior to 2008 will experience a blast from the past. “The

day’s route follows the same direction as the Epic used to, letting riders enjoy the best of the Homtini cycle trails.”

Lauded as one of SA’s top preparatory rides for the Cape Epic, the 2014 GR300 is powered by Trek - world leaders in mountain bike technology. “We share Trek’s passion for riding and pursuit of excellence, making this partnership a perfect match,” Pax explained.

“We thank Trek for their

involvement and look forward to many years of partnership,” said Pax, also expressing gratitude to SA Breweries, Enduren, Squirt, Knysna Tourism, Avis, Just Water, SANParks, Ola, Pennypinchers, and Cape Pine.

Book your entry before noon on February 1 at www. gardenrouteevents.co.za and find pics of last year’s event at www.garden routeevents. co.za/garden-route-300photo-gallery.

Plett Surf Nippers kick off season in style January 25 & 26 saw Central Beach bathed in red (East London), yellow (Port Elizabeth club Summerstrand) and blue, as Plett Surf Lifesaving hosted these two visiting teams for a friendly Nippers Carnival over two days in picture-perfect weather. Billed the Cape Champs, this inaugural competition is hoped to become an annual event with clubs from the Eastern as well as Western Cape attending - yes, imagine East London to Clifton Nippers flocking to our shores! Not only did the past weekend’s guests leave with a positive feeling about friendly Plett, but also highly under the impression that our team remains a force to be reckoned with, when the local kids won after points were tallied on day two. At left, U/10 boys Dougie Harvey, facing, and Henri van Huyssteen effect a smooth transition during the Beach Relay, which they won along with team mates James Houghton and Jameel Ali. At centre below, Galliano Boni, left, and Luke Mans demonstrate the camaraderie that Nippers is all about and, below, Femke Murray outwits an East-London opponent in Flags. - Photos: Roberto Boni

Miss Crisp shoots her way up the archery ranks Abigail Crisp, a postgraduate student in Nature Conservation at NMMU’s George Campus, is slowly but surely shooting her way to the top. With competitive scores in four 3Di / ABO archery competitions, she qualified to take part in the South African 3Di / ABO National Championships held in Pretoria last November, where archers have to shoot 3D and 2D target animals with points being allocated to hits closest to vital areas. There are 20 targets with a maximum total of 220 points.

Abigail received a bronze medal and final position of fourth, missing her provincial colours by a mere two points. The final position is calculated by an archer’s top highest three scores over the year, together with the score on the first day of the Nationals. On day one of the championships, she competed on a flat course with the longest shots estimated at 32m where she scored a total of 178 points, finishing in the top six women for her class. On the final day, she competed on a mountain course – the most challenging of all, due to tunnel and elevation shots – where she finished with 183 points. The event was attended by more than 350 archers from across the country.