June 18

18 June 2014

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

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Dads rock!

Father’s Day has come and gone, but this image of good vibes beaming between dad Willie Smith en his boy Alex is timeless - and on page 7, you can meet a whole gaggle of new babies born in our ‘hood recently

Dentist awaits his fate p3

Tribute to John Truter p5

Whale of a rally had!

Photo: Steve D’Elboux

p10

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CXPRESS

News & Views

18 June 2014

George trainee not the first pilot forced to land on a Plett beach

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EREK Frielinghaus was quick to consult his extensive annals when news spread of George trainee pilot Rassie Mare’s crash-

landing on Keurbooms Beach. (Visit www.cxpress. co.za and view Sharyn Hodges’ spectacular cover picture, and Mike Kantey’s

Our 10 000 free copies are distributed every Wednesday to a multitude of outlets along the Garden Route, with emphasis on Knysna and Plett and drop-offs at *Sedgefield Tourism *Caltex StarMart in Wilderness *Lynn Schroeder, Build It and other select outlets in George *Storms River Village and Bridge in Tsitsikamma - phone 044 533 1004 (o/h) with distribution queries.

If you’ve missed out on a hard copy, read the electronic version online at www.cxpress.co.za

quirky account of the neardisaster on page 4 of the June 11 edition.)

Says Derek - long-time Plettenberg Bay local and self-confessed side-line archivist of the ‘hood: “Seeing the cover of last week’s CXPRESS, I was reminded of another story about an unexpected landing on one of our beaches.

“The plane pictured here made a forced landing on Lookout Beach due to thick mist over the airport in Plettenberg Bay. I think the date was April 1972.

“The craft carried three passengers plus luggage and it stayed on the beach for about two days before taking off again - with all three passengers, to boot.

“A local commercial pilot and instructor offered to fly the plane off the beach and land at the local airport, as it is a requirement after any forced landing that a suitably qualified pilot does the take-off, and certainly with no passengers...”

Derek says that those were the very early days of Sea Rescue, Plettenberg Bay Station 14 having been founded in 1970.

“There were only about 10 crewmen and we were asked to help push the plane from the soft sand onto the hard but wet sand near the water.

“The pilot battled a bit to get the plane unstuck, but eventually did get airborne before the river mouth.

“He then did a circuit before a low level pass, shooting up the beach!”

Thanks, as always, for keeping Plettenberg Bay’s history alive, Derek.

Readers with an interest in local matters of historical significance can look forward to a series along these lines to be featured in CXPRESS in the near future. ß" Fgtgm" Htkgnkpijcwu" ku" c" nqpi/vgto" tgpvcn" urgekcnkuv" cpf"rtkpekrcn"qh"Jcwu"Tgpv/ cnu"kp"Rngvvgpdgti"Dc{"/"eqp/ vcev" jko" cv" jcwuBoygd0 eq0|c" qt" qp" 2:4" 689" 8;6;" ykvj" swgtkgu" qt" kh" {qw" jcxg" uvqtkgu"vq"ujctg0

LOOKOUT, THIS IS NO SEAGULL! Curious beachgoers checked out the craft before NSRI crewmen helped push it from the soft sand onto the hard wet sand near the water - Plett NSRI started with about eight crewman and no boat in 1970, and was officially launched in 1971, with its first rescue craft being a breweries-sponsored wooden boat called ‘Ted Seal’ Photos: Chris Rist

News & Views

18 June 2014

CXPRESS

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Dentist accused of rape’s refusal to take stand equates ‘damning silence’ The well-known George dentist who allegedly raped and sexually assaulted a family friend’s 15-year-old son will know his fate within the next two months after the case finally came to a close - YOLANDE STANDER reports

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AN Venter, 42, appeared in the Thembalethu Regional Court dock again last week as the State and defence delivered their final arguments.

Venter, who pleaded not guilty, faces nine charges including rape and sexual assault of the Pretoria school boy on December 27, 2011.

The alleged incident happened during a sleepover at Venter’s multi-million rand rental home at Victoria Bay. The youngster, who just celebrated his 15th birthday about a month before the alleged incident, was visiting the Garden Route with his family during that year’s December holidays.

Venter allegedly offered the teenager alcohol and pornographic material before performing various sexual acts on the minor.

Venter was arrested the next day and subsequently released on R1,000 bail.

During prosecutor Brendan Smith’s closing arguments he said he believed the State managed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the ac-

cused was guilty and referred to Venter’s decision not to take the stand as “damning silence”.

Smith also said the boy was a credible and honest witness and reminded the court about the teenager’s heart-breaking testimony.

The teen told the court that after everyone in the house had gone to bed, Venter called him to the patio where he engaged him in a sexual conversation.

Venter initially denied this, but later, through instructions to his attorney, Braam Swart, admitted that such a conversation took place, but that he had been under the impression the teenager initiated it.

The boy testified that Venter offered him “very strong” alcohol, including what he was told was tequila, which left him “past the point of being drunk” and “not himself”.

The complainant also told the court about how Venter came to his room later that evening with DVD covers with pornographic images on, as well as a lubricant

before performing various sexual acts on him, including penetration.

Smith further reminded the court that the teenager also testified that he had experienced pain and had asked the accused to stop and how he felt guilty afterwards for not doing more to prevent the incident.

The youngster informed a friend in a text message that he had been raped. The friend subsequently informed the boy’s father, who testified that when he arrived at Venter’s house during the early hours of the morning, his son was hysterical.

Smith said various aspects of the incident had never been contested, including that sexual acts had been performed, pornographic material - which was later found in Venter’s home - had been given to the teenager, that Venter had known the boy’s age, that the accused’s DNA had been found on the complainant’s pants as well as on a bed sheet, and that the boy had sustained anal injuries.

Brenton bays for dog-dragger’s blood

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report posted by Anoeschka von Meck at www.knysnaplettherald.com last Friday elicited a deluge of outraged comments, when online readers learnt the news of an animal cruelty act of horrendous proportions.

On the previous afternoon, three bystanders had witnessed how a Brenton-on-Lake resident dragged his oneyear-old ridgeback on a leash behind his black sports car, inflicting serious internal injuries to the animal, “including a ruptured diaphragm and severe damage to the pads of her feet”.

According to the report, the man - who allegedly also owns a bullmastiff - was only

deterred from continuing the torture when the three eyewitnesses surrounded his car, probably saving his pet’s life in the process.

The incident was reported to Knysna Police and Animal Welfare but no further news in this regard was available by our going to press.

An ever-growing list of comments to the report demonstrates the rage with which it is regarded - most commentators urging the news site to “name and shame” the perpetrator.

Some of the latest comments read, inter alia: “Sick.

In the United Kingdom, this man would be charged and… banned from owning another

pet dog in his life. I hope the judge finds the same in Knysna.”

“Cruel people like this man should be handled and treated in the same manner as he treats his own dog! There is no punishment harsh enough for idiots like this! He should never be allowed to own a dog again! I am shocked beyond belief!”

“People must pay the price for their choices and sick mistakes, and that is why the law was implemented. Such cruel, sick, abusive treatment cannot be allowed in this country. If he treats animals like this, I can just imagine what his family is going through.”

Contested, among other aspects, was if consent was given, whether Venter gave the teenager alcohol, and if penetration took place.

Swart however said he did not believe that the State proved beyond reasonable doubt that his client was

guilty and reminded the court that this case had been plagued by various issues, including failure to test for alcohol consumption or to search Venter’s home for alcohol bottles mentioned by the complainant - something that could have proved the boy’s version true or false.

He also pointed out that the complainant’s testimony was not entirely supported

by medical evidence given by the only independent witness, Dr Zilla North, who did not mention signs of alcohol consumption except for “red eyes”.

North, who testified she had found “soft signs of penetration”, also conceded that she would have expected more severe injuries if she accepted the teenager’s version about the forceful nature and period of the alleged rape.

The matter was postponed until August 12 for judgment.

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CXPRESS

News & Views

18 June 2014

Strict testing of oysters, water to ensure seamless Knysna festival Yolandé Stander

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ITH the annual Oyster Festival a key economic contributor, Knysna Municipality continues to implement measures to ensure that the area’s oysters and water are up to standard.

“It is of major concern that in recent years, especially around the time of the festival, unfounded claims have been made about the quality of our oysters and our water,” said Knysna municipal manager Lauren Waring.

“Because we, along with our partners - Eden District Municipality and SANParks - are concerned about the matter, we instituted a strategy to resolve these issues a number of years ago.”

These measures include the Eden health department conducting regular inspections of all the area’s oyster serving outlets to scrutinise their holding facilities and to en-

sure that no business is conducted with non-accredited suppliers in the two months leading up to and during the festival.

These inspections are undertaken in collaboration with an independent health consultant appointed by festival organisers, and includes testing oysters regularly, monitoring oysters at all restaurants to ensure they are stored under the correct conditions, training staff and others to handle oysters properly, and monitoring all festival Oyster Hotspots.

“Organisers have approved oyster suppliers and Hotspots are only allowed to order oysters from these suppliers,” explained Waring.

She added that the municipality and Eden DM also monthly tested Knysna’s water, wastewater and certain recreational points through an accredited laboratory. All of these results, including routine food premises inspections, were reported to council monthly.

The latest report from Eden health department revealed a single case of non-com-

pliance at an oyster outlet in town.

“They immediately issued notice on the owners. The owners were also instructed not to procure any products from non-accredited suppliers,” said Waring, adding that the foodstuffs in question were not procured from Knysna Lagoon.

“It is our hope that business will take the greatest care of local patrons and visitors alike, and that we will all responsibly promote the brand which is Knysna.”

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New CEO first step in tourism board’s review for road ahead

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NYSNA Tourism last week announced that its board had appointed Greg Vogt as its new Chief Executive Officer.

“On behalf of the Council I want to congratulate him Mr Vogt brings significant management experience to Knysna Tourism,” said Knysna mayor Georlene Wolmarans.

“He is a dynamic leader who brings a remarkable set of skills, knowledge and experience to Knysna Tourism. He has a proven ability to motivate individuals, drive innovation, ensure meticulous execution, and deliver results.

“His leadership is exactly what we need as a new chapter opens for Knysna Tourism. Council is confident that, with Mr Vogt at the helm, our tourism industry will continue on a path

INTO THE FUTURE: Greg Vogt is described by Knysna mayor Georlene Wolmarans as ‘exactly what we need as a new chapter opens for Knysna Tourism’

of success.

“During his tenure as chairman of the board, he has shown his devotion to the industry and the town of

Knysna. We are looking forward to working with him, sharing that passion and devotion in his new capacity as CEO.” Municipal manager Lauren Waring said Council had requested the board to review the future of Knysna Tourism. The appointment of the new CEO is the start of that process.

“I have absolute confidence that Knysna Tourism, with all its unique challenges, will benefit under Mr Vogt’s leadership. It is our hope that all stakeholders, inside and outside of the industry, will support him and his endeavours in his new position.

“It is crucial that we have the right leadership to take this organisation into the future. Let us create a brand we can all be proud of,” concluded Waring.

Safety first during Child Protection Week

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NYSNA police and Child Welfare embarked on a number of school visits as part of National Child Protection Week, this year celebrated from June 2-6.

As a matter of fact, the officers and welfare officials had actually preceded this countrywide awareness drive by stopping at Knysna Montessori during May, with the same purpose of addressing learners on many important safety issues.

During the visits, they focused on children’s rights and responsibilities as well as child abuse, and gave advice to enhance the general safety of their captive audiences.

Says spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies: “School-based crime prevention forms part of our general prevention strategy at Knysna police, and is intended to enrich the participation of police officers in promoting safe and orderly school environments.

“Prevention and early intervention are the most reliable

and cost-effective ways to support schools in consistently teaching and learning in an environment that is physically and socially safe.”

Spies added that a number of projects were being considered to improve school safety and create platforms for learners to get involved, including the Junior Station Commander and Adopt a

Cop projects.

“Knysna SAPS is committed to working closely with non-governmental organisations like Child Welfare in preventing, managing and responding to incidents of crime or violence in schools,” Spies concluded.

Call 044 302 6678 or email knysna-saps@saps.org.za for more information.

SAFE = HAPPY: Sergeant Happy Lumkwane of Knysna SAPS tells Concordia Primary School students important stuff about their safety

News & Views

18 June 2014

CXPRESS

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OBITUARY

Bitou locals arrive in droves to bid ‘the smile of Plett’ farewell

Last Tuesday JOHN LLOYD paid tribute to a true son of Plett at the Community Church, which was filled by the many people whose lives John Truter had touched

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do not think I can adequately do justice to a man of John’s calibre - John was ‘the smile of Plett’, as whenever you saw or met him, the first thing you noticed was his big smile. In addition to this, John was a successful businessman.

During the transition phase of local government, John mentored most of the new councillors - in fact, present Bitou mayor Memory Booysen, acknowledged this and said that he was “a product of his guidance”.

John was a police reservist for many years, and a bridge-

in our lifetime. I am privileged to have known and be touched by such a man - John Truter.

I have been associated with John for 35 years and the contribution, dedication and sacrifices he has made for all of the community of Plettenberg Bay as husband, father, friend, councillor, deputy mayor and mayor is immeasurable, each of these roles served with distinction.

John began his career with Germiston Municipality and moved on to Johannesburg Municipality before coming to Plett in 1967 as health and

earned over the past 10 years, his intimate knowledge of the many problems associated with the rapid growth of this town, has made him a type of walking reference book, ready to answer queries on all aspects of the town’s service areas.”

And from the town clerk of the time: “It is very difficult to do without some people. I consider Mr Truter to be one of these people.”

I was recently reminded of an incident that happened many years ago, when John was Town Engineer. The NSRI was called out to assist

MENTOR: John, seated second from left, as part of then mayor Lulama Mvimbi’s council

builder who was highly regarded and respected by all communities. This is my tribute to him: There are a few rare people in this world who give freely, unselfishly and uncompromisingly to others, no matter at what cost or expense to themselves. They conduct their lives in an honest, moral and ethical manner.

They do this for the love of their fellow man and they do this year after year, no matter what hurdles they encounter.

It is done without expectation of praise or reward.

If we are fortunate, we may encounter someone like this

building inspector. He was later appointed as Town Engineer.

One has to realise the importance of this position.

Plett manages, among other things, water and sewerage purification works, unlike some of the large metropoles like Johannesburg and Sandton, which buy these services from others.

In 1977, he resigned to enter private enterprise.

This move resulted in newspaper quotes like: “The loss of this key member of staff will leave a gap difficult to fill, for apart from the respect that John Truter has

a large fishing vessel with 15-plus crew which was in the bay, taking on water and in danger of sinking.

One of the sea rescue team had a small portable pump which was not coping and they needed a much larger pump to assist in keeping the craft afloat - and even though it was midnight, they called on John for assistance.

John immediately organised a pump as well as labourers to assist, and he stayed with the NSRI throughout the night and next morning, until the vessel was safe and the hole in the hull could be temporarily patched.

John never hesitated; there was none of the usual red tape or bureaucracy. He never felt it was an imposition of his time or even that it was not his job or responsibility.

On his arrival in Plett, John - who was an avid rugby player - found that travelling to Knysna was too time consuming, so he set about instigating establishment of Plett Rugby Club.

He was active on the committee for the move and enlargement of Plett Primary School to its present position.

John served on provincial as well as national committees, including the National Bargaining Council for local authorities. He was elected to the Remuneration Committee of SALGA, as well as the Executive Committee of the CCMA, which incorporated all municipalities from East London to Port Nolloth - an honour and achievement both personally and for Plett All of this served to further the good governance of local authorities, and to put Plett in a position to effect change at the highest level.

Through John’s endeavours, Plett was highly regarded among its peers and had more influence than most of the larger municipalities.

Because of the respect afforded to John, it was an enormous advantage in 1993 when we were able to negotiate Plett to be part of the Western Cape instead of the proposal by the demarcation board that we be incorporated into the dysfunctional Eastern Cape.

John always displayed tremendous foresight and vision.

There are too many examples of John’s participation in public life to cover, but as an example of his drive and energy, I recall how one Monday John organised his staff

JOHN TRUTER: 2 May 1938 - 5 June 2014 before attending a council meeting at 9am.

After the meeting he drove to Cape Town for a CCMA executive meeting on the Tuesday. He then flew to Johannesburg for a remuneration committee meeting as well as a disciplinary hearing, and flew back to Cape Town on Thursday evening, after which he motored to Plett in time to pay his staffs’ wages on the Friday.

In public life, one is exposed to criticism and even abuse by people who have their own agendas and, despite this, John never wavered in his goal of fairness to all.

Not everyone will be aware of the time and emotion John expended on others for their benefit and not his own, and I know he would want me to thank his family for their support in his pursuits.

John was a joy, and his drive and enthusiasm were infectious; he was passionate and could always be relied upon - the ‘go-to guy’.

John, son of Plett, thank you for making a difference and touching our lives - you will always be remembered, although sorely missed.

John is survived by his two sons, Deon and Johan, and five grandchildren.

RUGBY GREATS: Shaking with ‘Bok player André Vos at Plett Rugby Club, which John was instrumental in establishing

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CXPRESS

News & Views

18 June 2014

Interacting brightens lives in schools and communities W

ITTEDRIFT High’s Rotary Interact Club held its induction on Tuesday June 4 at the school’s clubhouse. Interactors are enthusiastic youngsters at school level who function like Rotary Clubs.

Each club has a president, vice president, treasurer and secretary, who are selected annually. The clubs source deserving projects to support, which they do by hosting fundraising projects in and around their school and community.

Interact initiatives have the capacity to be sustainable over a long period of time, and add value to the lives of young people in SA - a part of the world that is in transition, and where the lives of many people need improvement as fast as possible.

Says Rotarian and Born in Africa director Isabelle Brink: “We have to hear daily that our people do not have the necessary skills, and Interact is a great way to de-

VOTED INTO OFFICE: Congrats to the newly-selected office bearers of Wittedrift’s Interact Club - from left are secretary Adija Hartley, vice-prez Danelle Majavie, treasurer Deidre Barnardo, and president Beugené Green

velop a wide range of skills that are sure to be of lasting benefit to our future adults.

“Born in Africa academic coordinator Belinda Coram is responsible for the programme’s charges who attend Wittedrift High, so it made a lot of sense for her to be selected to run the club in conjunction with Plett Rotary Club president, Ruby Chetty.

“We would like to congratulate the new office bearers for

the next Rotary year. President Beugené Green and her vice, Danelle Majavie, are in Grade 11 and 12 respectively, as are treasurer Deidre Barnardo and secretary Adija Hartley. We know they will do justice to their positions.”

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Help care for the kids of Kranshoek

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OUNDED in June 2009, House of Hope has been serving the kids of Kranshoek by providing them with hearty meals - in fact, in excess of 400 youngsters are currently benefiting from this vital service.

A non-profit organisation, the centre operates from Monday to Friday and prepares hundreds of meals to kids in need on a daily basis.

Says the centre’s Zelna Luiters: “Our aim is to support the poor kids of the Kranshoek community, not only by filling their tummies but also through teaching them life skills that apply to both sport and academic work.

“We provide clothes and food, and run entertainment and skills training programmes on a daily basis to keep these kids off the streets.

“We started House of Hope with a mere 30 kids, feeding them from a private home, and currently we are supporting about 400 kids, now based in a newly-built house, thanks to our sponsors.”

The board and the children of House of Hope thank all their sponsors and those who have donated towards their cause, with special mention to the Van Der Schyffs of Dagbreek Eiers, Pick n Pay Plett, Cairnbrogie Farm, The German Bakery, Martin Snyders, and Marko for his weekly donations.

Says Zelna: “We’re also indebted to Ingrid’s friends at Pilates, James and friends from Singapore, and our Swiss, Italian and German benefactors. Thank you very much for what you guys do for our children.

“We are aware that it may be difficult to give during

such tough economic times, and are more than happy to accept any form of help, with no minimum requirement for monetary donations.

“If you are not in a position to donate anything, please consider volunteering your help with preparing meals for the kids at our new premises.

Our love and passion lie with these kids and we support them out of our own pockets.

“It’s only with your help and support that we can keep doing what we love - feeding, protecting and caring

for these children. But their numbers are always on the increase, so please help if you can,” she concludes.

Cash contributions can be deposited in favour of House of Hope, FNB Plettenberg Bay (swift code FIRNZAJJ, branch code 210514), cheque account 62256110322.

Phone 082 051 5230, visit www.househope.org or email info@househope.org to find out more, or pop in at the centre in Van Rooyen Street to meet the caring House of Hope team.

SELFLESS SERVICE: The House of Hope board thanks the ladies who arrive daily, come rain or shine, to cook for the children - Marie, Eva, Cecelia and Daphlin, you rock! - along with everyone else who helps care for the kids of Kranshoek

News & Views

18 June 2014

CXPRESS

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Interval

18 June 2014

Hierdie jaar se Comrades was ‘n spesiale mylpaal vir my. Dit was die 47ste Comrades wat ek NIE gehardloop het nie! Dankie aan Cadbury, Coke, Wimpy, die biltong shoppie by Checkers, en ‘n spesiale dankie aan Picardi Rebel. Sonder jul almal sou dit nie moontlik gewees het nie!

Diary of an Englishman in Limpopo, SA...

Cwiwuv"53" Just got transferred with work from Leeds, UK, to our new home in Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South Africa on a mining contract. What a break out from hell!

Now this is a town that knows how to live! Wow! Beautiful, sunny days and warm, balmy evenings.

I watched the African sunset from a deckchair by our pool yesterday. It was truly beautiful. I’ve finally found my new home. I love it here.

Ugrvgodgt"35" Really heating up now. It got to 31 degrees today. No problem, though.

Living in air-conditioned home, driving air-conditioned car. What a pleasure to see the sun every day like this.

I’m turning into a sun-worshipper - no blasted perpetual rain like back in Leeds!

Ugrvgodgt"52 Had the backyard landscaped with tropical plants today.

Lots of palms and rocks. No more mowing lawns for me!

Another scorcher today, but I love it here. It’s Paradise!

Qevqdgt"32" The temperature hasn’t been below 35 degrees all week.

How do people get used to this kind of heat?

At least today it’s windy, though. Keeps the flies and mosquitoes off a bit.

Acclimatising is taking a bit longer than we expected.

Qevqdgt"37 Fell asleep by the pool yesterday. Got third-degree burns over 60% of my body.

Missed three days of work.

What a dumb thing to do.

Got to respect the old African sun in a climate like this.

Qevqdgt"42" Didn’t notice our cat, Kitty, sneaking into the car before I left for work this morning.

By the time I got back to the car after work, Kitty had died and swollen up to the size of a shopping bag and stuck to the upholstery.

The car now smells like Whiskettes and cat poo. I’ve learned my lesson, though: no more pets in this heat.

Qevqdgt"47" This wind is a nightmare. It feels like a giant bloody blow dryer. And it’s hot as hell!

The home air-conditioner is on the blink and the repair man charged R2,500 just to drive over and tell me that he needs to order the parts from Johannesburg.

The wife and kids are constantly complaining.

Qevqdgt"52 The temperature’s up around 40 degrees and the parts still haven’t arrived for the damn air-conditioner.

House is an oven, so we’ve all been sleeping outside by the pool for three nights now.

Considered a family blood transfusion and permanent antihistamine and malaria treatment after mosquito holocaust presented itself.

What climate is this? A R1,500,000 house and we can’t even go inside. Why the hell did I ever come here?

Pqxgodgt"6 Finally got the damn air-conditioner fixed. It cost R5,000 and gets the temperature down to around 25 degrees, but the humidity makes it feel about 35 degrees again.

Stupid repairman.

Bloody thief.

Pqxgodgt": If one more smart bugger says ‘hot enough for you today?’ I’m going to bloodywell throttle him. Damn heat!

By the time I get to work, the car radiator is boiling over, my clothes are soaking wet and I smell like baked cat. Damn place is the end of the Earth.

Pqxgodgt";" Tried to run some errands on Saturday, wore shorts, and sat on the black leather upholstery in my car. I thought my backside was on fire!

I lost two layers of flesh, singed all the hair on the backs of my legs and off my damn backside. Now the car smells like burnt hair, fried arse and baked cat.

Pqxgodgt"32 The weather report might as well be a bloody recording.

Hot and sunny. Hot and sunny. Hot and bloody sunny.

It never changes!

It’s been too hot to do anything for two damn months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next week. Damn!

Pqxgodgt"37 Doesn’t it ever rain in this bloody place? Water restrictions will be next, so my R50,000 worth of palms might just dry up and blow into the bloody Kruger Park.

The only things that thrive in this hell-hole are the damn mosquitos and flies. You don’t dare open your mouth for fear of swallowing half a dozen of the little bastards!

Pqxgodgt"42 Welcome to HELL! It got to 45 bloody degrees today.

Now the air-conditioner’s gone in my car. The repair man came to fix it and said: “Hot enough for you today?”

I wanted to shove the bloody car up his backside.

Anyway, had to spend the R15,000 bond repayment to bail me out of jail for assaulting the stupid sod.

Damn Phalaborwa! What kind of sick, demented idiot would want to live here?

Fgegodgt"3" WHAT! The FIRST day of summer?!

You gotta be kidding me...

Too good to be true!

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dog walks into a butcher shop with a purse strapped around his neck. He walks up to the meat counter and calmly sits there until it’s his turn to be waited on.

The butcher leans over the counter and asks the dog what it wants today.

The dog puts its paw on the display window in front of the ground beef, and the butcher asks: “How many pounds?”

The dog barks twice, so the butcher makes up a package of two pounds of ground beef.

He then asks: “Anything else?”

The dog points to the pork chops, and the butcher says: “How many?”

The dog barks four times, and the butcher makes up a

package of four chops.

The dog walks around behind the counter, so the butcher can get at the purse and take out the appropriate amount of money before tying the two packages of meat around the dog’s neck.

A customer who has been watching all of this, decides to follow the dog.

The dog travels for several blocks and then walks up to a house where it begins to scratch the door to be let in.

As the owner opens the door, the man calls out: “That’s a really smart dog you have there!”

“He’s not really all that smart,” the owner replies.

“This is the second time this week he forgot his house key.”

Business

18 June 2014

CXPRESS

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Holiday-home buyers return to beautiful Plett with record-breaking intent

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LETT is back on the radar of holiday-home buyers - and they are spending anything upwards of R5-million to a record price of R45-million for a luxury beach house located in Beachy Head recently sold

by Seeff, says the agency’s principal, Kevin Engelsman. The previous highest price was achieved in 2011 at R24.5-million.

While residential buying still dominates, Seeff Plett agent Alet Ollemans says that there has been a notable return of Joburg and Capetonian buyers.

“Five years ago, there were almost no sales here above

the R10-million price mark.

In the last year, though, the agent has sold eight luxury homes priced upwards of R10.2-million, including two sales at R18.5-million each, a R21.5-million sale, and the record R45-million transaction,” says Engelsman.

The property market has been on a gradual road to recovery in recent years, he adds. Holidaymakers have steadily made their return, and along with that came the demand for holiday and second homes. Last year, about 272 property transactions worth R540-million were concluded in the village - just under half of it sold by Seeff.

“It has been a very successful summer season for our agents and with almost 50 sales already under the belt for the first four months of 2014, including several highvalue deals, we are on target to see further growth in holiday-home sales this year,” Engelsman says.

“Younger buyers are also increasingly investing in holiday homes, largely under the R1.5-million price band.

Since early last year, vacant plots have also started selling and, while most buyers intend building holiday homes, many are simply investing now with the view to future capital growth,” he adds.

BEACHY HEAD SCOREBREAKER: This architectural gem of a beach house located in Plett’s sought-after Beachy Head was sold by Seeff for the record price of R45million

Intelligent investing requires introspection Paul Cluer - Director of Foord Asset Management

V

JG Kpvgnnkigpv" Kpxgu/ vqt is a seminal text on value investing, written by Benjamin Graham (Warren Buffett’s mentor) in 1949. Its content has been applied and debated for six decades.

The oft-cited nub of Graham’s investment thesis is that investing should be a rational, analytical process involving a keen assessment of risk and the proverbial “margin of safety”.

Graham was quoted as saying that you are neither right nor wrong because the crowd disagrees with you. You are right because your data and reasoning are right.

His approach is profoundly rational, but it is not devoid of psychological or behavioural elements. One of Graham’s basic precepts is the determination of where an investor fits on the spectrum between “defensive” and “aggressive or enterprising”.

He distinguishes the two investor groups by the amount of intelligent effort they are willing to expend on investment research, not by the amount of risk they are willing to take.

Defensive investors aim to reduce investment effort, annoyance and decision frequency. By contrast, enterprising investors are more willing (or indeed, more

able) to devote time and care to the selection of securities.

Note how defensive investors are not described as “risk averse”, nor are enterprising investors described as “risk taking”.

The ancient Greek aphorism “know thyself” is a Delphic maxim that was inscribed in the forecourt of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.

This seems an appropriate point of departure for any investor.

Intelligent investing need not involve a high degree of financial education, and it need not require a fulltime preoccupation with investment markets.

Firstly, it requires a pragmatic, honest assessment of one’s investment objectives and the time available (and effort required) to attain them. As noted above, Graham urges investors to classify themselves as defensive or enterprising.

Dave Foord in his book Vkog" kp" vjg" Octmgvu advises investors to “set investments that are realistic”, within their budget and within their intellectual and emotional range.

This aspect of investing requires a degree of introspection as to an investor’s response or reaction to differing scenarios. Indeed, much

evidence exists of how investors sell equities for cash during periods of market weakness, and buy equities at the peaks of market strength.

In neither case is the decision correct or rational. Investing is often an effort in crowd control, and a myriad of psychological biases affecting an investor’s decision-making have been identified and studied.

Being an intelligent investor means understanding why you are investing, what the role and objective of your investments are, and appreciating the time horizon realistically necessary to achieve those outcomes.

Those tenets form the basis of subsequent successful investment decision-making.

They guide the reasoning for selecting a particular kind of investment or fund manager.

They provide a framework for forming suitable expectations and managing those expectations appropriately.

They compel investors to reflect carefully on their reactions to circumstances, and they are the bedrock of consistency in such responses.

Intelligent investing is a deliberate, thoughtful process, regardless of the investor’s level of skill or experience.

It is not a process devoid of emotion, but one that embraces an understanding of emotion and how best to manage it rationally.

The maxims are universally applicable, whether to professional fund managers or to the man in the street.

Prices have largely settled down and sellers are now far more inclined to negotiate something that has contributed to the buoyant activity, according to Ollemans.

“While there is still plenty of value to be had at the bottom to mid-sector of the market, we are now seeing a shortage of Blue Chip beachfront homes and it is an opportune time for serious sellers to get good prices.”

With the Tsitsikamma Mountains as a backdrop, forests, a nature reserve, rivers, the warm Indian Ocean and three Blue-Flag beaches, Plett is the popular playground of the country’s wellto-do when it comes to weekend and holiday getaways.

For water sport, adventure and nature lovers, it is a veritable paradise, while others can indulge in two pro-golf courses. The village is also renowned for its top-class polo fields, with an almost year-round calendar of tournaments.

Devoid of the hustle and bustle of Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard and with no traffic jams, you can kick back and enjoy a laid-back

coastal lifestyle in Plett. Over school holidays, for example, it is not uncommon for families to come down for several weeks, and for a whole month in December.

“Many holiday-home owners later retire here and, in recent years, we have seen a rise in permanent residents with many migrating to Plett from the big cities,” says Engelsman.

“It was always just a matter of time before we would

see the return of holiday and investment buyers,” he adds.

With the recent introduction of weekly flights from Cape Town and Joburg by CemAir, Plett is now even more accessible for weekend getaways and holidaymakers - and, of course, for those who already own a holiday home here.

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CXPRESS

Social Scene

18 June 2014

BIKERS UNITE AT 10TH WHALE: This year’s Whale Rally took place at Keurbooms Caravan Park in Plett from June 13-15, with preliminary reports claiming that more than a thousand bikers braved the mid-winter weather to join in the fun. The Whale is a serious biker’s rally, started in 2005, and billed as an unforgettable weekend with biker friends. Says one of the organisers from Ulysses Garden Route: ‘Once you have been to your first Whale Rally, you won’t miss another one! In fact, five-year badges are rather common for most of our rally goers. The bikers who attend are usually from the Western and Eastern Cape, however we have regulars from as far as Gauteng and Bloemfontein as well, with our furthest-flung attendees having travelled from Alberta in Canada and Germany - and yep, they arrived on their bikes, too!’ All proceeds from the rally are donated to needing charities within Ulysses Garden Route boundaries. Prizes are in abundance, and tradition holds that one lucky person always goes home with a first prize to be very happy about. The 2014 Whale Rally was the 10th rendition of this popular local event. In the pics from left, Watty, Butch, Kathy, Marq and Horst enjoy the campsite vibe; the Ulysses Garden Route chapter’s committee hand over goodies to PAWS at The Market Square; and Wizards Motorcycle Club president Fred shows off his puppy-training skills...

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Learners of Formosa Primary’s Elsen Unit were fortunate to experience the movie-making process, when they were special guests on the set of the brand new film called ‘Knysna’, which is due for distribution to big screens in February 2015. In the pic at left, Jeneva, Jarryd and Luciano meet one of the ‘Semi-Soet’ actors who stars in the locally-shot flick. - Photo: Leigh Dunn

People, places & events

BAY CHART-TOPPER: Kyle Goosen - pictured here with teacher, Analise Marx - is the third Bay College student in two years to gain top national honours in his Cambridge exams, notching up the highest marks in Geography and Biology and achieving top scores across eight IGCSEs in the whole of SA. Analise says she saw this coming. ‘He is a remarkable young man - modest, hardworking and very bright. He has a relaxed, positive attitude and thinks creatively about the syllabus content. Of course I am absolutely delighted for him, if not surprised that he has done so well.’ At the same time, Bay staff heard that student Amy-Rose Westcott, who came first in the world in AS Mathematics last year, also topped the SA Biology and Geography charts, while coming joint-first across four AS examinations. Headmaster David Butler and his board are hugely proud of both their students and teachers for these amazing achievements.

EXOTIC ART: Sénéchal-Senekal Art Gallery held its grand opening in Knysna on June 6. The elegant occasion at Knysna Mall was hosted by Knysna FM’s Pieter Cloete and treated guests to artist Junaid Sénéchal-Senekal’s mastery of the brush.

Earlier on the day of the opening, the artist donated three pieces to the value of R27,150 to Tenikwa Wildlife Rehab Centre, the Elephant Sanctuary and Birds of Eden, while another two pieces valued at R6,700 were donated to an anonymous recipient. The gallery thanked everyone for attending the opening and expressed the hope that those guests who walked away with original Sénéchal-Senekal art pieces donated to them on the night would enjoy these artworks for years to come.

Above from left are artist Junaid Sénéchal-Senekal with operations managers Magmood & Aadil Norton. - Photo: Pieter Cloete

CARING FOR OUR SEA AND BEACHES: Participants in World Ocean Day beach activities - hosted by Plett’s Hope Spot Initiative in association with Nature’s Valley Trust, the ORCA Foundation and ProDive - collected 7kg of rubbish, including 700 cigarette butts, around Central Beach on Sunday morning June 8. A reef clean-up on World Ocean’s Day also gave divers the opportunity to rid the reef of fishing gut, plastic and all kinds of unwanted rubbish.

The weekend’s events included the Hope Spot Initiative’s marine-themed art auction that Saturday evening, starting off with the auctioning of children’s art collected from the six eco schools around Plett, and followed by works donated by various local artists. Sunday morning activities also included a sand castle competition and beach volley ball.

News & Views

18 June 2014

Magic, comedy, dance and song at this year’s Fringe Fest T HE Kids of Kurland Project and The Whitehouse Theatre in Plettenberg Bay will be hosting the second Plett Fringe Festival from June 26 to July 1 in conjunction with the Plett MAD Festival 2014.

Over the six days of the festival, performances will encompass music, comedy, magic, song and dance.

All the acts will be presented at the National Arts Festi-

val in Grahamstown, and the artists have again agreed to stop, en route to Grahamstown, to stage their performances for the Plett Fringe Festival.

The festival is in support of the Kids of Kurland, a project that seeks to raise funds for the children of Kurland village, an impoverished community some 20km from Plettenberg Bay. Prior to each performance,

various bands will perform in the courtyard of The Whitehouse Theatre and a selection of refreshments and snacks will be on sale.

A festival guide can be obtained at The Old House Shop and at www.plettfringe. co.za and tickets can be purchased from The Old House Shop or by contacting Ann Fermor on 082 452 8764.

See the ad on page 10 for the full programme.

CXPRESS

11 IF ALL ELSE FAILS...

The Fringe Fest kicks off with ‘Big Girls’ featuring three totally over-thetop chicks who hold it together when all else fails - expect hilarious vocal acts seamlessly strung together with absurdly appropriate narrative

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CXPRESS

A fisherman’s notes on cooking... mainly fish

Maria and the red steenbras ALASTAIR GRANT revisits the places and people that left an indelible mark on his continuing personal culinary journey - with more on Maria, the family cook we met in last week’s account of early good-food memories

M

Y mother sent Maria down to the beach with a one-pound note when she saw Archie McCallum’s boat coming in with a flock of seagulls wheeling around it. My brother and I were already on the beach so we walked across to see them rowing in through the surf.

We liked to see the catch - usually reef fish like Rooikies and Silwervis - but occasionally we were met by a boat-load of cob and some geelbek.

The four-man crew offloaded and then shouldered the poles to carry the boat above the waterline and nearer to the sheds. We watched the fish being taken off to the racks where the catch was sold at the parking area below the Why Not Tea Room.

Bunches of mackerel - left-

Food & Wine

18 June - 2014

over bait - were carried home by the men. There was no market for it.

When the boats had been off Grootbank, they sometimes got red steenbras. That day we saw a good-sized one being carried away and nothing much else of interest, so we went back to the beach for a last swim before lunch.

When we got home there was quite a lot of discussion in the kitchen and some excitement. I heard Ma ask Maria what on earth we could do with so much fish.

“Don’t worry, Madam, I am going to make some pickled fish, and we can have baked fish tonight for dinner.”

This was interesting; Maria had bought the red steenbras - all 35 pounds of it! We had 16 kilograms of fish on the kitchen table.

Ma quietly said she shouldn’t have given Maria the pound note, but she couldn’t find any small change. Oh well, too late now.

Maria put a large piece of the filleted steenbras in a wide casserole dish smeared with butter and added half an onion, very thinly sliced, and

a sliced-up tomato.

With a sprinkling of salt and pepper, this went into the oven of the paraffin stove which was already hot. In about half an hour it was done; the potatoes had cooked and the green peas were ready, too.

When this dish was served at the table, there was a lovely sauce in the bottom. As you can guess, it was so good that I have never forgotten it after more than 60 years.

Now that I know how good the meat is from the head of a large fish, I realise why Maria bought the steenbras - it made a welcome change from mackerel.

BRIMMING WITH REEF FISH: Archie McCallum with his boat and crew at Central Beach in 1958 Watercolour: Alastair Grant

PeeBee’s Wine Column

Words & Photos: Peter Bishop

Heat kills germs, but it murders wine

O

CCASIONALLY one hears of a wine, at an auction, fetching R5000.

Suddenly - out from the cobwebs, and mostly from the garage - a few specimens occur, and a price is asked.

Dream on.

Wines fetch high prices at auctions, because the cameras are flashing, or because it is a charity event.

Occasionally there is an ulterior motivate of displaying affluence, but very rarely is it the wine in itself, as Sartre would have said.

I have encountered a few cases of heat-destroyed collections. A fellow in a mining town in South Gauteng

THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY: These wines could have been true hidden treasures if the cache was but a little cooler

TEST OF TIME STOOD: Some of the older whites that made it ‘dank die Jerepigo!’

stacked over 200 wines in a hot room with bar rails. A worthy collection deteriorated so much so that opened wines plopped out as a dirty jelly. Drain water at best.

No white wine survived the ordeal. The brownness was evident when a closed bottle was held to the light. An old white wine, can - with age - tan a bit and taste like a sherry, but if the heat was intense, reject the bottle.

Dessert wines can take a bit of a bash, but they too lose freshness and development.

Reds can handle kitchen cupboard heat, but not direct sunshine as in the mining house.

Last year I was asked to look at some wines in Wellington.

A widow had wanted to clear her late husband’s cellar, so placed his superb collection of The Great Wines of the Cape in a wendy house.

A few thousand bottles were sold for a pittance but luckily I was not the buyer.

He took out some of the finest French labels, but the rest

of the collection stood in the blazing sun in a garage.

As a gesture, I opened a dozen good names to taste, but the heart had gone out of the wines. A trustworthy indication if a collection has suffered this heat is if the labels lose their hue and their glue.

To see great whites of 1983 and the reds of 1974 and reject them was a piteous experience.

Magnums of Alto 1984, wooden boxes of KWV 1930 Muscadel and the superb 1953 KWV Jerepigo, Rustenberg 1982 Cabernet Sauvignon, the first Meerlust Rubicon of 1980, the Montagne 1973, and Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon of 1976 stood alongside Chateau d’Yquem 1966, Chateau Petrus 1970 and Mouton Rothschild 1971.

The death occurred of each.

Taking a photo was pointless as the colours had dried out.

I do not know if the fellow ever found a buyer, but not on my recommendation.

Twice I was asked to value collections in Plettenberg Bay. Again the one collection had good wines, but the unopened boxes were on a shelf next to the engine of the Mercedes.

In another case, the wines - again all the right names were in a maid’s room with a fridge running, but the heat emitted from the fridge had accumulated and the wines all had ullage, where the wine leaks through the cork.

Wine passing out means air and bacteria enter.

The good owner said he was a house agent, and he worked on the adage that every house has a buyer, and somebody would buy the wines.

I left, glad that money is not everything.

Twice I have seen collections - apparently cellared where the accumulated heat, even of bodies walking in and out, affected the wines.

In the one case there were a huge number of badly ullaged wines that leaked when handled. And yet the printed list looked so impressive.

In 1979, Spier made a brilliant Colombard that sold at R1.50. Hundreds were bought and packed in the boot of the car by holiday makers setting off to camp in the Strand.

Most of these wines popped on heating. At least that was in less than an hour.

Knowing the specific heat factor of glass should deter you from even leaving a bottle in the car to get close to boiling point - even if you do it as a joke: “I’m putting a bar in the back of my car, and driving myself to drink.”

Lastly, in ‘heat’, if you go to a restaurant and they pull out a warm red, you can reject it, or ask them to deep-freeze for five minutes, or insert unopened upside down in an ice-cooler to get the first pour cooler.

If you won’t drink a warm beer, don’t drink a warm wine. Take the heat of the day off your red.

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Home & Health

18 June 2014

Donate blood to become a Selfie Hero this month

J

UNE is Blood Donor Month and 3M along with the South African National Blood Services (SANBS) are encouraging everyone to contribute. To honour this incredible service, 3M is donating 70,000 specially designed plasters in support of the challenge.

Donate blood this June and win - all you have to do is take a ‘selfie’ of your arm after donating blood, showing one of the 3M plasters.

Use the image to nominate your friends, family and col-

leagues to also donate blood via Facebook and Twitter at #GiveBloodSelfie. Not only will you be a 3M Selfie Hero, but also stand a chance of winning weekly hampers.

Uchg"dnqqf"ucxgu"nkxgu Every time you donate blood, you can help three or four individual recipients. Thousands of people would die daily if others did not donate blood. By donating blood, you are giving someone something money cannot buy and science cannot create.

Most of the components of

blood used for transfusions have a short shelf-life, and maintaining a constant supply is a persistent problem.

Says 3M Product Specialist Thabo Ngema: “Each person usually donates about 480ml of blood, and we are hoping to collect 33.6-million millilitres of blood through this campaign.”

You don’t need a special reason to give blood. You just need your own reason.

If you can’t think of a good one, check the list below for others’ motivations:

Home & Health Matters

IN DEMAND: Sassenheim Estate grows Amaryllis lilies, which are ever-popular with the florist trade

Mp{upc"ictfgpgtu"icvjgt" cv"Ucuugpjgko The next meeting of Knysna Garden Club takes place on Wednesday June 25 at 9:45 for 10am, when members and friends will visit Sassenheim Estate, situated on the N2 about 10km west of Plett.

(If driving from Knysna the estate is on the left, just before the site of Harkerville Saturday Market.)

The Sassenheim crew manages extensive tunnels and supplies a variety of flowers to the florist trade. They grow beautiful Amaryllis lilies,

which are always much in demand and a joy to behold.

Bring refreshments, chairs and walking shoes - visitors are welcome.

Phone Elinor on 044 387 1966 for more information.

Rkpg"Vtggu"mkfu"pggf" {qwt"uwrrqtv The Tuberculosis & HIV/ Aids Association of Plettenberg Bay is in urgent need of assistance with an educational camp planned for 50-60 vulnerable children from the Pine Trees settlement in New Horizons.

The camp will take place from June 27-29, with the purpose of educating these youngsters about substance abuse, sex, HIV/Aids and self-esteem, as well as dealing with physical, emotional and spiritual abuse.

Says project manager Shaun Terblanche: “We plead with everybody in Bitou who can possibly assist us to make this camp happen, as these children are in great need of guidance. Donations of toiletries like soap, face cloths, toothbrushes and toothpaste always come in handy, as do bedding, warm clothes like tracksuits, and takkies.”

These goods can be dropped off at the CXPRESS office (6 Park Lane, Plettenberg Bay) from 9am to 4pm on weekdays, or at the Association’s HQ at 37 Down Berwick Road in Pine Trees, New Horizons, or it could be collected from your home.

Financial donations can be deposited into the TB & HIV/Aids Association of Plett’s Biz Launch current account at Standard Bank Plett (branch code 050714), account number 282033971 - please email a copy of payment to shaunt661@gmail. com and phone Shaun on 073 513 5119 for additional information.

CXPRESS • Some give blood because they are supporting a friend.

• Some know that a family member or a friend might need blood someday.

• Some simply believe it is the right thing to do - and you’ll feel good knowing you’ve helped change a life.

• Regular blood donations help to keep your body’s iron levels in check, especially in males. This has shown to reduce heart disease.

• One-time blood donation helps you shed 650 Kcal.

• High levels of iron have been implicated in certain cancers. Theoretically, donating blood frequently will reduce the risk of cancer.

To make a difference and be part of this campaign, like the Facebook page NexCare South Africa and follow on Twitter @nexcaresouthafrica - and don’t forget to #GiveBloodSelfie with a @thesabns mention to win weekly prizes. Time to start giving and snapping! ß" 3M is a science-based company that produces imaginative products in markets ranging from health care and highway safety to office products, abrasives and adhesives. The company prides itself in its ability to apply technologies in combination with an array of real-world customer needs, with a singular commitment to make life easier and better for people around the globe.

Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

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CXPRESS

18 June 2014

Classifieds

On the Soapbox

18 June 2014

Letters to the Editor

CXPRESS

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

Pennypinchers back Plett Primary hockey teams The bright new broom responsible for Plett Primary’s PR, TARYN ANTUNES, shared the good tidings below a mere week into our joining of forces and resources with the school We received some fantastic news today when, off the back of the first edition of CXPRESS distributed to our students and staff yesterday, I received a call from Sean Gannon of Pennypinchers Plett, who saw the pic of our netball girls in their Protecx kit and offered to sponsor an-

other girls team.

Unsure of his budget, I sent him three package offers: one for just the hockey girls’ kits, one for hockey boys and girls, and one for boys and girls kit plus sponsorship of their tour to Port Elizabeth.

Sean went for full sponsorship of our U/13 hockey girls

No light at end of the Sun Centre tunnel

IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE: Residents on the lower level of Sun Centre can hardly see the sky because of trees and shrubs that grow unattended on neighbouring properties, while even upper level apartments are fast losing their view of the Bay

What used to be beautiful sea views are sadly no longer enjoyed from the flats on the lower levels of Sun Centre in Plett.

Over the last several years, the properties in front of Sun Centre have continually refused requests by residents to trim their trees.

These trees and some shrubs continue to grow at an alarming rate, unattended to. So a veritable urban jungle is being created with little chance of slowing down, it seems.

Most of the Sun Centre flats are from time to time rented out to overseas visi-

tors, some having come back year after year after having enjoyed sea views from their flats.

Alas, due to what several residents feel is an utterly selfish attitude, these views can no longer be appreciated and will shortly be gone forever, unless something is done. In some instances, the sea views have already disappeared.

It seems that ‘It’s a feeling’ of Plett is not to be shared by some, and a selfish attitude prevails.

Are there any suggestions out there? flTgukfgpvu"kp"vjg"Fctm‚"." d{"gockn

and boys, and said he would like to sponsor us annually, not just once off. What a positive start to the CX/PPS partnership! Suffice to say there’s big smiles all round thank you once again. *Vjcv" mkpf" qh" uwrrqtv" ku" lwuv" yjcv" yg‚xg" eqog" vq" mpqy"/"cpf"nqxg#"/"cdqwv"vjg"

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Elephant saga leaves questions unanswered I have followed the story of the elephant abuse with dismay. It is painful to see the fantastic Garden Route ‘brand’ tainted by this awful and convoluted story.

There are unanswered questions which Knysna Elephant Park need to deal with.

KEP’s statement says that the elephants were in the care of the Van Rooyens following sale, although still on the premises of Elephants of Eden (an Eastern Cape subsidiary of KEP).

But lower down the statement says that KEP dismissed their two ‘guilty’ staff members, which means that KEP believe at least some of the abuse was down to their own staff.

My first concern is: if KEP believed their own staff abused the elephants, why was it not reported to the police?

My second concern is this: KEP’s statement says that those employees reporting to the Van Rooyens who participated in the abuse are even now caring for these same elephants on the Van Rooyen game farm.

How on earth did KEP allow this to happen?

Surely an organisation which prides itself on animal rescue would not calmly hand over abused elephants (after a period of recuperation) to the same people who had earlier abused them?

Why were these employees not reported to the police or the NSPCA? It doesn’t make sense - unless all the managers involved, including KEP, decided to cover up the story.

This is my suspicion. Maybe too much money at stake?

Fcxkf"Ngunkg."WM

Beautiful Formosa sunrise

Ingrid Baker sent these photographs and wrote: ‘What an amazing sunrise! I took these pictures from Formosa Garden Village, where I work, at about 6:30 on May 22 and wanted to share it with your readers.’

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Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

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CXPRESS

Sport & Adventure

18 June 2014

Five Plett AC runners, from first-timers to vets, conquer Comrades 2014

F

IVE Plett Athletics Club members pulled off arguably the greatest challenge open to long-distance runners worldwide on the first day of this month, when tackling KZN’s (in)famous Comrades Ultra Marathon.

We have reported on these pages oft before the accomplishments of local veterans like Patrick Sassin and Wen-

dell McCallum, but were especially moved by the account of Vicki Meggersee, who shared the photos on this page and wrote: “I only started running two and a half years ago - a true ‘from couch potato to Comrades’ tale, during which I shed about 20kg!

“The ‘hard’ of it is certainly what makes this iconic race

so great. Although I managed a good pace throughout the 89km race, I didn’t expect to make the 12-hour cut-off time while tackling the last few kilos.”

But then a second wind of note kicked in when Vicki realised that she might just make it. “I sprinted into the stadium flat out to finish one minute before the dramatic cut-off gun!

“Of the 14,620 athletes who lined up at the start, only 11,984 completed this gruelling race within that 12 hour cut-off,” explains Vicki.

SPEEDY GONZALEZ: Wendell McCallum is Plett’s fastest road marathon runner and finished in a time of 7:30

“Who’s in for next year’s 87km up-run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg?”

What a gal! And the same goes for fellow first-time runner, Monica Taylor, who aced her race in 10 and a half hours flat.

Wendell, PAC’s fastest road marathon runner, ran his 12th Comrades in 7:30, while Eric Nangu had a great run and came in under nine hours (8:51). Patrick has possibly lost count of how many Comrades races he has already run, and comfortably came in under 11 hours (10:48).

PAINT THAT ROAD RED! Eric Nangu works at Dulux in Plett and broke the nine-hour mark by finishing in a time of 8:51

COUCH TO COMRADES: First-timer Vicki Meggersee, pictured here at the start line at Pietermaritzburg Town Hall, is still on a high after finishing before the 12-hour cut-off

Local kick-boxers excel

THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU MESS WITH US… From left, Janine Stephens, sensei Reynard Westraad and Africa Vumazonke all raked in medals in Riversdale - as did Andries Trahms, who was probably practising his kata when this pic was taken

S

TUDENTS from the EFA Kick-boxing Plettenberg Bay and Knysna Clubs took part in the NMA-ISKA SWD regional championships in Riversdale on June 7.

Says Sensei Reynard Westraad, who brought home two silver medals: “The preparation for the event was intense, but the result speaks for itself.”

Apart from Reynard’s silvers for continuous and points fighting, the locals won six gold and four bronze medals.

Africa Vumazonke took golds for continuous fighting and extreme kicking, as well as gold in the 70-80kg division and bronze in the open division for grappling, with another bronze

for points fighting.

Janine Stephens took gold for points fighting and gold for continuous fighting, while young Aiden Trahms took gold for continuous fighting and bronzes for both weapons kata and traditional kata.

All four fighters have been selected for the SWD Sport Martial Arts Team and will be competing at the NMA-ISKA National Destiny champs on August 30 & 31 at Bellville Velodrome. Those participants who achieve gold, silver or bronze medals at Destiny will qualify to represent SA at the NMA-ISKA World Champs in 2015.

For additional information, please phone Africa on 072 206 1360.