26 March 2014
Published every Wednesday 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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Clean up! Photo: Lynne Kapp Faasen
Danette Kapp takes no prisoners while weeding and collecting rubbish on the Wittedrift bridge - turn to page 5 for the full story
Big day for Bay flights p4
Holiday activities for all p11
Iron oke needs your pledges p16
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News & Views
26 March 2014
Driving Miss Crazy
It was a dark and windy night... Part I
JEEVES shares memories of his adventures as Garden Route chaffeur extraordinaire...
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CTUALLY, it wasn’t at all (just wanted to grab your attention!) - it was full moon and humid as all hell: Dar es Salaam, mid60s, height of the Cold War. I was doing a five-day stop over there (in transit from Johannesburg to Dusseldorf), to visit my aunt who was married to the West German ambassador to Tanzania. In those days, Dar had 54 foreign embassies represented there - the highest number of any capital city in the world, more than London. This resulted from the fact that, since independence Julius Nyerere, its first Life President, decided to turn his back on the colonial masters of old, and the West, and jump into bed with the East and Communism. Everybody was there, from Cuba to the USA, East and West Germany, Russia and China to Switzerland and all in-between players. It was the one place on earth where East met West, so you can imagine the high profile and importance placed on the various embassies. All jockeying for position, favouritism, importance, this
was the gateway to the new emerging Africa, as well as being the dance-floor for Cold War diplomacy. In those days, when you left Jan Smuts Airport to go away, all your good buddies would come out to bid farewell and have a few drinks. When called to embark, after a few Lion Ales - the beer that ‘made Natal famous’ - I kissed the ground stewardess goodbye, and gave the boarding pass to my mother!
customs for the nephew of an ambassadress! Cocktail parties at different embassies every night, party, party... I awoke on that particular moon-lit, humid night to thumping on the bedroom door. The luminous hands of the bed-side clock revealed it was 2am. It was my uncle, calling loudly for me to get up and dress - an emergency had arisen. I hurriedly splashed my
‘My aunt waved from beside the car, a peakcapped chauffeur next to her. Kisses, embraces, and away we drove - no immigration and customs for the nephew of an ambassadress! Cocktail parties at different embassies every night, party, party... ’ Four hours later, we taxied to the terminal at Dar and on disembarking, there at the bottom of the stairwell was a black Mercedes 300 waiting, with two empty flag poles mounted left and right on the front mud guards of the car. My aunt waved from beside the car, a peak-capped chauffeur next to her. Kisses, embraces, and away we drove - no immigration and
face, donned a light tracksuit and running shoes and dashed down the stairs to the entrance hall where my uncle was waiting. “QUICK! We have a mission. I need you to drive me to the Intercontinental Hotel.” We took my aunt’s DKW car - jokingly also referred to as a ‘KWV’. Strangely enough, Uncle
had never learnt to drive a car. The chauffeur didn’t stay on the property either, and he preferred not to burden Aunty with whatever lay ahead. I battled with the gears, finally got reverse after twice banging forwards into a cupboard in the garage, dislodging a suitcase on top which then proceeded to drop with a loud thump onto the car’s bonnet, and fall to the ground. After finally exiting the garage, I enquired in pigeon German: “Ycu"kuv"nqu?” (literally translated, meaning ‘what is loose’, I guess) as we trundled off down the road, me following his finger pointing directions, straight, left, left again, right, until we reached the turn into the hotel. “Just follow my instructions! I tell you after what kuv" nqu!” he commanded. “Go park over there under that tree... Gut. Turn off the car, and the lights. Just wait now... OK. Flick the lights quickly, three times!” I obeyed. Vq"dg"eqpvkpwgf000" In the meantime, buckle up and enjoy the ride. /"Lggxgu
News & Views
26 March 2014
Sleeping smoker may have started fire that razed eight shacks EARLY MORNING BLAZE: Plett firefighters battled it out in the early morning hours of March 19 after a shack fire started spreading through Qolweni Photo: Otto Olivier
Yolandé Stander
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NFORMAL homes were destroyed and one person injured when a blaze swept through Qolweni township last week. Plett firefighters were dispatched at about 3am last Wednesday after a fire engulfed a home and rapidly spread to neighbouring structures. Otto Olivier from Plett Security, who was on the
scene, said eight homes were destroyed and police spokesperson Lieutenant Marlene Pieterse said two homes completely burnt down and one man was injured. “The injured resident sustained burns to his arms, head and face,” Pieterse said. She added that the fire started in his home after he fell asleep while smoking. “We believe that this was also the cause of the fire.” Pieterse said families who
lost their homes were given refuge at a local community hall. The fire is a massive blow to residents of Qolweni who had to rely on one another and the community for support after two fires destroyed more than 20 shacks in July last year. The affected families lost everything and only had the clothes left they had on at the time of the disaster. Ictfgp"Tqwvg"Ogfkc
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SAPS lambasted for crime hush
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FRIFORUM submitted a complaint to the SAPS on March 19 after requests for an action plan on abalone poaching and drug smuggling from W-Cape provincial police commissioner Arno Lamoer fell on deaf ears. The complaint came in reaction to a letter from Lamoer’s office that it was the prerogative of the SAPS to keep information on specialist units in the province under wraps. AfriForum Head of Community Safety Ian Cam-
eron said that the province is being crippled by violent crimes (it has the highest murder rate in SA) and yet Lamoer refuses to address the community’s needs. “This is indicative of poor leadership and decisionmaking within the SAPS,” he said, adding that silence on the part of senior police officials was now reaching the point of culpability. “On a local level, it has hamstrung police stations in their efforts to act against criminals who are literally
holding communities hostage. Gangs, smugglers and armed robbers have more authority in these communities than the police, are better organised and have better equipment at their disposal. “It is no wonder that our coastline is stripped of abalone and that our children are at the mercy of drug pushers. We will do everything in our power to get the SAPS to act,” Cameron concluded. ß"Ugg"qwt"Octej"3;"gfkvkqp" cv" yyy0ezrtguu0eq0|c" hqt" oqtg"cdqwv"tgegpv"dwuvu0
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News & Views
26 March 2014
Plett airport runway now up to scratch, what about roadway?
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XPRESS was copied on the March 22 letter of appeal addressed to Jaap de Villiers of the Western Cape Ministry of Local Government, Environmental Affairs & Development Planning, after the upgrade of DR1770 and MT395 (Plett’s Airport and Wittedrift roads) was approved by this department. Said Linette Swart of www.moutainbikingsouthafrica.com in an introductory email to which the letter, penned by Plett engineer Phlip Joubert, is attached: “After studying the approval, we found significant shortcomings in the process to reach this authorisation.” She explained further that the Airport Road specifically is used daily by both pedestrians and cyclists for either recreational purposes or as part of their route to and from work between Kranshoek and Plett town. “These roads will now be upgraded, which will contribute to increased volumes of traffic, but no provision has been made for the safety of cyclists or pedestrians. “According to the report approving the upgrade, a yellow-line area of 0.9m is wide enough for bikes and those on foot. We all know this is false, and that the norm in SA is for slower traffic to drive within that yellow-line area.” Joubert writes, inter alia: “The letter dated March 7 grants environmental authorisation for the abovementioned projects. I am not
FLY THIS WAY… Two days and counting ‘till touch-down of the first scheduled flight at Plett Airport since Airlink stopped its commercial flights to Bitou a decade ago - CemAir (see advert on page 8) invited selected guests to gather at the airport for this momentous occasion on Friday afternoon Photo: John Larter - 083 427 3728
against the upgrading of the mentioned roads, which are often in a very poor state and so the improvement is warranted. I am, however, against the technical detail of the schemes. “Several interested and affected parties commented on the safety risks associated with cycling along a rural surfaced road. Most of these are active cyclists who are confronted with the risks of this type of environment on a day-to-day base. “One of them is Leon Evans - a well-respected member of the cycling establishment worldwide. He is better known as Dr Evil, resulting from his involvement with
the route selection of the annual Cape Epic. “It is inappropriate for a designer to reach conclusions on safety aspects related to cycling in the absence of any scientific research to support it and in the face of several active cyclists, including Dr Evil, indicating that it is unsafe. “Many people walk or cycle daily between Kranshoek and Plett - a road already surfaced that does not form part of the proposed road upgrade schemes. “The upgrades will however result in increased traffic volumes along the existing road between Kranshoek and Plett because of changes
in route selection by road users that will be to the detriment of people walking or cycling to town. “The recently completed upgrade of the existing road between Kranshoek and Plett also ignored the needs of these road users and did not provide for any facilities for them. “The Applicant furthermore ignored requests by interested and affected parties for the incorporation of public transport facilities in the design of the roads. “The decision to issue environmental authorisation is based on a Basic Assessment Report that is clearly inadequate since it is, in some important respects, based on the speculation or views of the writer without any scientific backing. “I would prefer that the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works rather find another Nkandla to waste money on, instead of building facilities that don’t respect the needs of current road users or the economic development endeavours of our town.” Email info@moutainbiking southafrica.com to view Joubert’s full letter, which can then be forwarded to De Villiers in a show of support. Alternatively, if you concur with the views expressed above, email your own appeal to Jaap.devilliers@ westercape.gov.za and so assist the local cycling community’s plight.
News & Views
26 March 2014
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No blame game, just getting down to Clean Plett - and keeping it that way
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XPRESS first became aware of the Clean Plett campaign when seeing Nic & Alison Bryant and a small group of collaborators tug at weeds and pick up trash and generally doing an admirable job of cleaning an area between the Post Office and Toledo Flats around dusk on February 24. Some part of our party enjoying sundowners at The Table tried to send Nic a cold frostie for encouragement but it came back untouched. Something was the matter and all that the waiter could
mutter was Nic’s “not drinking on the job”. Jump to March 7, when a letter to Bitou business owners explained thus: “Plett is not looking too beautiful at the moment, as our council does not have the manpower to keep it clean and tidy. “A few locals have decided that we would not wait for them but rather work together and get the job done. So we ask for your assistance to help us getting Plett Clean by caring for the area in front of your shops, and keeping it clean and tidy.”
Fast-forward to last weekend when we bugged Alison, whose brainchild it was, for more info on Clean Plett and lo and behold, she’d just had tea with W-Cape Education minister Donald Grant, who somehow got to know about the campaign and arranged a meeting to thank and encourage the team. “He was very supportive and agreed that if one can’t wait for the paperwork and things are not getting done, then helpful and concerned citizens can actually set things into motion.
THIS AIN’T NO YOGA CLASS... Nic Bryant, Lynne Kapp Faasen & co lay in the tools to lift the aesthetic quality of a neglected bit of town bordering Plett Post Office during the Clean Plett crew’s first exercise on February 24
Buffels and Brenton make Africa’s top 25 beaches list
Yolandé Stander
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WO beaches in the Knysna area are among the top 25 beaches in Africa. Every year TripAdvisor, through visitor reviews, announces the best beaches in the world and on the various continents, and Buffels Bay and Brenton-on-Sea made Africa’s top 25 list. These two Blue Flag-status beaches came in 12th and 23rd respectively. The only SA beach that made it onto the world’s top beaches list was Camps Bay, which just made the cut at number 24, but was also the third best beach in Africa.
Baia do Sancho beach in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil was voted the best beach in the world by visitors. Buffels Bay and Brentonon-Sea did however face some stiff competition in the Africa category and were up against beaches such as Praslin Island in the Seychelles - which came in first, Tamarin Bay in Mauritius, and Agadir in Morocco. “We are absolutely thrilled about the awards,” Knysna Tourism spokesman Johan van Schalkwyk said. “We have five beaches in the area and to have two of
them feature on this list, just shows that our efforts to make our beaches worldclass, safe and friendly are paying off.” He added that showcasing the area’s assets on an international platform such as TripAdvisor made a “huge impact” on the town as the ideal tourist destination. “It’s just great!” Other South African beaches in the Africa category include Clifton at number five, Simon’s Town at number six, Bloubergstrand at number eight and Grotto Beach in Hermanus at 19.
“I explained to him that this was really not a blame campaign. It started out because I was concerned about the way the town looked - we’re a tourism town, after all. “A few like-minded people got together and we got the municipality’s blessing to paint neglected spots in the main road, make rockeries, and so on. “No-one tells anyone else what to do. It’s all purely voluntary. The biggest thing I’m trying to do now is get-
ting each of town’s garden services to take responsibility for a piece of Plett, so one can phone and say ‘there’s weeds popping up on the circle’ or ‘please collect rubbish on the BI Bridge’,” said Alison. Apart from the Bryants’ mainstay Plett Carpet Cleaners, several businesses - for example Dulux and Pinnacle Paints, and Milkwood Garden Services - have already contributed equipment and energy, and the Clean Plett
Facebook page has an evergrowing following. Any suggestions to beautify Plett will be appreciated, but if you really want to make a difference, join the Clean crew in front of The Grand in Main Street each Tuesday from at 5:30pm. Bring along gloves, black bags, a garden fork or broom and help making Plett prettier, bit by bit. Ecnn"Engcp"Rngvv"ejcktocp" Cpftkgu"Vtcjou"qp"2:4"673" 96:4"qt"Cnkuqp"Dt{cpv"qp" 2:4"794"3249"hqt"oqtg"kphq0
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26 March 2014
Promotion
News & Views
26 March 2014
CXPRESS
Bicycle project makes Wittedrift kids see a brighter tomorrow place with some of the major role-players in attendance to experience the effects of their gifts first-hand. Looking back, our commitment to this project was based on the positive impact we believed it would have on the lives of young learners - and we are satisfied that our expectations were met. Their hard work during the training workshops paid off and, apart from gaining greater mobility, getting healthy
MY WHEELS: Jaimie Sam, proud owner of a brand new bike thanks to Born in Africa and partners
Isabelle de Smul-Brink BIA general coordinator
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HE Born in Africa bicycle project was launched at the start of 2014 with 180 bicycles donated from Germany to be distributed at our discretion to children in need. At the same time, a bicycle repair shop was to be opened to stimulate sustainable business initiatives in less privileged areas. After careful consideration, it was decided that children in Wittedrift would benefit most from receiving bicycles, as these kids walk 3km or more to school every day. The process started with BIA training 130+ children at Wittedrift Primary School, who participated in road safety workshops and bicycle maintenance demonstrations, followed by practical training. Of these kids, 22 had never set foot on a bicycle peddle before, so BIA staff and volunteers proceeded to teach them how to cycle - from scratch and, mostly, without a scratch... This training took place during February and March,
followed by theory and practical tests in the form of obstacle courses with road signs which the kids had to pass before qualifying to receive their own sets of wheels. Each and every one of the bicycles was checked and necessary repairs made thanks to local entrepreneur Stuart John Smith. BIA also approached Bitou Traffic to reques the construction of a cycling path in the area to ensure increased safety.
After all these preparation and much anticipation, March 13 finally dawned and some 130 kids received their very own bikes, a suitable set of wheels having been selected for each child. Stickers marking the bikes’ owners, well-fitting helmets and individually programmed locks were also part and parcel of the day’s offerings. After the group cycled to the container, a celebratory handover ceremony took
CONTAIN YOURSELF: Born in Africa educational coordinator Wesley Andrew, right, and Dr Reinhard Eiffler at the bicycle container on the day of the handover ceremony
exercise and the general enjoyment of cycling, feedback from the youngsters revealed that the project inspired them to be courageous and do their best, giving them hope for a brighter future. The list of thank-yous is a long one: BIA educational coordinator Wesley Andrew along with all our staff and volunteers working incredibly hard to ensure the project was organised and executed successfully on a local level. Stephan Strauss ensured the key sponsor, DB Schenker, which donated the transport from Germany as well as the container. Klaus Schuler was involved from the word go and Dr Reinhard Schydlo
7 made a huge contribution here in South Africa. Deon Coetzer from Plett Sports gave us discount on materials while Kees, Kitty, Loer and Marnix Hellemans raised money for the helmets and locks. Finally, a big BIA thankyou goes to project initiators BEN Bikes in cooperation with Rotary Stuttgart International, RC DüsseldorfSchlossturm and the Rotary Club of Plett, for their organisational assistance and sourcing of the bicycles. We couldn’t have done it without any of you and it’s great to know that what we stand for is true: together we can make a difference
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Business
26 March 2014
Take charge of your debt crisis A
RE you struggling to repay the money you owe for goods and services you bought on credit over the past few years? If so, take heart in the fact that you are not alone and that you have options, such as debt counselling to help you address this challenge. “Millions of South Africans are battling to repay their debts each month,” says Nobantu Motsweni, debt counsellor at Legal & Tax. “Reckless lending, increasing interest rates, and a tough economy that has caused many people to lose their jobs, are all reasons why consumers are battling to service their debts,” she adds. According to the National Credit Regulator, 46% of 18.6-million credit active consumers have impaired credit records. This means that nearly half of South Africans with access to credit have payments that are in arrears by three or more months, are slow payers, or have had a debt judgment or an administration order granted against them. If you are caught in this trap, debt counselling might be the right way for you to escape and make a fresh start with your finances, says Motsweni. Debt counselling is a legal process that involves having your debt restructured so that you can pay household expenses and still be able to pay off debt at
a reduced instalment at the end of the month. Debt counselling isn’t an easy process because it will take longer for you to settle the amount you owe and you will pay more interest. There is also a fee attached to it, and under debt counselling, you cannot apply for more credit or use your existing credit facilities. “That means debt counselling is an option you should really only consider after you have exhausted other options,” says Motsweni. “Before you enter debt counselling, you could ask the people who loaned you money to change your repayment terms to ones that you are better able to match each month.” Debt counselling has already helped many overindebted consumers to turn their lives around. According to the National Debt Mediation Association, over 70% of debt mediation cases resulted in a positive outcome for consumers in the first quarter of this year. You can enter the debt counselling process by approaching a counsellor who is registered with the National Credit Regulator (NCR). If you are unsure who to use, contact the NCR for recommendations of counsellors in your area. The counsellor will take care of your debt restructuring process for you, which will culminate in seeking a consent order for new payment agreements in court. “The consent order ensures that your creditors stick to the new repayment arrangement and may not take legal action against you,” says Motsweni. The order also means that you won’t be blacklisted by the credit bureaus and that your goods will not be repossessed.
Investor Focus
Your creditors might not consent to the proposals made on your behalf by the counsellor. In that case, an application will have to be made to a court to force your creditors to accept less than what they want in line with your circumstances. If some of your creditors have taken legal action for late or non-payment of your
Plett estate agent wins big
HAPPY HOLIDAYS: Hein Pretorius and Carrie Maclean celebrate her prize of a dream holiday with bubbly outside the Sotheby’s office in Plett Main Street
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ARRIE Maclean, property consultant at Sotheby’s International Realty Plettenberg Bay, has won a trip of her choice to the value of R25,000, with R10,000 spending money to boot. Carrie achieved this by reaching a predetermined commission amount for the last financial year. Says Hein Pretorius, principal of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty Plettenberg Bay: “It is with great pleasure that I present this prize. I have had the privilege to work with Carrie since 2008 and watch her develop over the years into a very successful agent. “Carrie’s kind and gentle
HE last two weeks have been a period of extreme market volatility. First, we had the Crimean/Ukraine scare. The market reacted badly to the possibility of sanctions. However, the referendum went off peacefully and the sanctions that were announced were not nearly as severe as the market had discounted. Then we also had further confirmation that the Chinese economy was slowing down faster than anticipated. Remember that China has also had a bad debt bubble, as did South Africa. They have cut their equivalent of the base rate five times in the last six months, while their banks are now facing serious bad debt writedowns. But one should always be wary of Chinese sta-
manner is one of her great assets while she is a highly motivated person that always goes the extra mile. Her sincerity and integrity has made her a much liked agent by both buyers and sellers.” Carrie says: “I thank Hein for an amazing prize and incentive. I am really looking forward to a fantastic holiday and also a great year ahead working with the Sotheby’s sales team.” If you are interested in purchasing or selling property, or just need some information, please contact Carrie on 082 566 1881 and see the advert on the cover of this edition for additional information.
Malcolm Stewart – Portfolio Manager at Sanlam Private Investments Knysna
Market watching 101
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accounts, those debts cannot be included under the debt counselling processes. Thus you should apply for debt counselling before debtors take legal action against you, Motsweni advises. Xkukv"yyy0ngicncpfvcz0 eq0|c"hqt"oqtg"kphqtocvkqp." qt"gockn"rngvvfgdvjgnrB iockn0eqo"hqt"nqecn"fgdv" eqwpugnnkpi"gpswktkgu0
tistics and rumours, so only time will confirm the reality. Then we have the Fed meeting where tapering should continue. This, however, is already discounted by markets. The mighty Rand appears to have stabilised, and could well continue to firm as the year develops. On a broader front, the Chinese growth slowdown story could well weigh on the resource sector as demand for iron ore, steel and coal begins to decline. The recovery in the developed economies may not have a material impact on the demand for resources, as these economies face massive debt burdens and cannot afford to spend money on infrastructure upgrades. In South Africa, we face
elections in six weeks’ time and we see politicians making all sorts of statements in the media. Foreign investors could well react in an unpredictable manner to these statements, while the final outcome could be as boring as the Crimean referendum... Labour unrest still appears to continue, and we must prepare for our civil servants to fight their proposed wage increases. We thus see the volatility of the first quarter extending into the second quarter, particularly as we near the point in time when the US begins to raise its interest rates and the US$ strengthens. Ocneqno"jcu"dggp"kp"vjg" kpxguvogpv"kpfwuvt{"hqt"qxgt" 62"{gctu0"Jg"jcu"ytkvvgp" vjku"eqnwop"kp"EZRTGUU" hqt"vjg"ncuv"37"{gctu"cpf"ku" c"urgekcnkuv"kp"ocpcikpi" tgvktgf"ygcnvj0
Promotion
26 March 2014
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Social Scene
26 March 2014 Photo: Timothy Twidle
People, places & events
WATER DRAMA HAILS DAY OF BARDS: At a celebration of World Day of Poetry held at Wittedrift Library on Wednesday March 19, Lunchbox Theatre gave a performance of ‘The Last Drop’ - from left on the pic are Spida Matyhila, Maurice Ncedani and Stuart Palmer.
VOTE FOR BEST TABLE AT CHARLIE’S: The April opening of a new eatery, by the same team that’s in charge of Chaplin’s Bistro, will give creative learners of four Knysna schools an opportunity to showcase their talent. On March 28 at 3pm, 16 local high school students will take part in an exciting competition to show off their art skills to an audience at Woodmill Lane. The soon to be launched Charlie’s will host this competition and its owners Bruce & Jenny Burrows - flanked herer by representatives from Knysna High School, Morgan Lawson and Sheylin Wallace, right - are very excited about the event, when four students per school will each get a table to design and paint and a voting-style competition will go viral on Facebook. The winning school will receive an incredible R1,500 voucher from Deckle Edge in conjunction with Southern Art & Graphics, while each participant will also receive a gift. Join in the fun and watch the artists at work from 3pm on Friday the 28th outside Chaplin’s Bistro in Woodmill Lane – and keep an eye out for the voting at www.facebook.com/chaplinsknysna.
Photo: Danni Wallace - 027 82 403 9385
Photos: Timothy Twidle
IN FULL SWING: At left, an excited crowd filled the New Horizons sports fields on Friday March 14 to enjoy one of the few fun fairs that’s made a Bitou stop in yonks. The event was held over two days on March 14 & 15 as part of a fundraising drive for the official opening ceremony of Formosa Primary’s new school buildings, to be held later this year. Above, Morné & Sharne Bruinders enjoy the event with their boy, Cohen.
Holiday Activities
26 March 2014
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Interval
26 March 2014
I’ve learned so much from my mistakes, I’m thinking of making a few more.
A thank-you letter...
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HIS letter was sent to a Knysna school principal’s office after the school had sponsored a luncheon for seniors. An elderly lady received a new radio at the lunch as a door prize and was writing to say thank you: Dear Knysna School, God bless you for the beautiful radio I won at your recent Senior Citizens luncheon. I am 84 years old and live at Stinkwood Manor Home for the Aged. All of my family has passed away and I am all alone, and I want to thank you for the
kindness shown to a forgotten old lady. My roommate is 95 and has always had her own radio, but before I received one she would never let me listen to hers, even when she was napping. The other day her radio fell off the nightstand and broke into a lot of pieces. It was awful and she was in tears. She asked if she could listen to mine, and I told her to f**k off. Thank you so much for that opportunity. Ukpegtgn{."Gfpc
Epic facts (apparently) • When people cry and the first drop of tears comes from the right eye, they are crying of happiness. However, when the first drop comes from the left eye, they are crying because of pain. • Breathing the air in Mumbai, India for just one day is equivalent to smoking two-and-a-half packs
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of cigarettes. • In 1979, a woman jumped off the 86th floor of the Empire State Building, and lived. • When you blush, the lining of your stomach also turns red. • The first man to survive going over Niagara Falls later died by slipping on an orange peel.
Where are you?
N angry wife phoned her husband after he’d disappeared while shopping: “Where the hell are you?” Husband: “Darling, you remember that jewellery shop where you saw the diamond necklace and totally fell
in love with it and I didn’t have money that time and said ‘Baby, it’ll be yours one day’?” Wife: “Yeah, I remember that, my love… ” Husband: “I’m in the pub next to that shop”
Home & Health
26 March 2014
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FREE health services thanks to Rotary and friends
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OTARY Family Health Days are comprehensive, holistic offerings of free health care for parents, kids, grandparents, friends and all family members, and this year take place from April 2-4 at 145+ sites across South Africa. To this end, about 4,000 Rotarians from 225 Rotary Clubs will volunteer from 9am to 4pm on all three days to assist medical staff in delivering these services to tens of thousands of South Africans. The Health Days are enabled by the joint efforts of civil society, big business and government, and aim to promote healthy living and disease prevention by im-
plementing a massive annual campaign that provides a wide-ranging service to people in underprivileged communities. Included are HIV counselling and testing; screening for TB, diabetes, malaria and blood pressure; measles and polio vaccinations, deworming and the dispensing of Vitamin A - and more. The campaign is steered by the global action group Rotarians for Family Health & Aids Prevention (RFHA) - the mobilising partner of Rotary International in the area of disease prevention programmes. RFHA has received an unprecedented commitment from the National Depart-
ment of Health, The CocaCola Africa Foundation, and the US government agencies CDC (Centres for Disease Control & Prevention) and USAID. The SABC and Caxton are its primary media partners, and in the Western Cape are joined by YFM, Media24 and Independent Newspapers. Rotary leaders and these partners envisage expanding the event to other African countries and this year, the RFHD programme will also run in Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Swaziland and Lesotho. Yjgtg"cpf"yjgp"kp"DkvqwA Plett Rotary volunteers will manage sites at Masizame in Kwanokuthula on April 2,
A few handy uses for table salt Fgvgt"cpvu Sprinkle salt in doorways, on window sills and anywhere else ants use to sneak into your house. It’s a sure way to keep them out. Mknn"itcuu"cpf"yggfu" Tired of weeding your driveway? Sprinkle salt on the grass and pour very hot water over it. Not only is this a highly effective way to kill unwanted plants, it’s also eco-friendly and cheap. Uc{"iqqfd{g"vq"hngcu If your dogs have fleas, simply wash their doghouse and blankets in salt water. If you’re worried your dogs may have brought fleas into your house, sprinkle your carpets lightly with salt and then brush it in. Leave it for 12 hours and vacuum thoroughly. Rkem"wr"c"ftqrrgf"gii If you drop an egg on the
kitchen floor, sprinkle salt on the mess and leave it there for 20 minutes. You’ll be able to wipe it right up. Engcp"wr"qxgp"urknnu" If a dish bubbles over in the oven, pour a handful of salt on top of the spill. It won’t smoke, smell and will bake into a crust that makes the mess easier to clean once it’s cooled. Engcp"{qwt"ktqp Sprinkle salt on a sheet of waxed paper, slide the iron across it and rub lightly with silver polish. Your iron will look like brand-new. Tgoqxg"uvckpu"htqo"{qwt" eqhhgg"rqv Fill it with 1/4 cup of table salt and a dozen ice cubes. Swish the mixture around, let it sit for half an hour; fill it with cold water and rinse. Your coffee pot will look brand new.
Mggr"{qwt"ykpfujkgnf" htquv/htgg Dip a sponge into salt water and rub it on windows, and they won’t frost up. Ujgnn"pwvu"oqtg"gcukn{ Soak pecans and walnuts in salt water for a few hours before shelling them. Doing so will make it easier to remove the meat. Ftkr/rtqqh"ecpfngu If you soak new candles in a strong salt solution for a few hours then dry them well; they won’t drip when you burn them. Vcog"c"yknf"dtcck Toss a bit of salt on the flames caused by fat dripping from the grill. It’ll reduce the flames and calm the smoke without cooling the coals (like water does). Uqqvjg"c"dgg"uvkpi Wet the sting right away, and then cover it with salt.
at Formosa Primary in New Horizons on April 3, and at The Crags Primary on April 4. Contact David Pickering on 073 4040 577 / 044 533
R
1527 or at pickers @iafrica. com for more info on the Plett Health Days. Readers in other areas can find out about their closest
venues at facebook.com/ RotaryFamilyHealthDays or twitter.com/RFHD ZA. Ugg"vjg"cfxgtv"qp"vjku"rcig" hqt"hwtvjgt"kphqtocvkqp0
‘Service above self’
OTARY brings together a global network of volunteer leaders who dedicate their time and talent to tackle the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges, connecting 1.2-million members from more than 200 countries and geographical areas.
Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. Rotarians are the kind of folk who step forward to take on important issues in towns and cities worldwide.
Members hail from a range of professional backgrounds and through this community-based network, the organisation connects these unique perspectives and helps leverage its members’ expertise for them to live by the Rotary motto of Service above self’.
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CXPRESS
26 March 2014
Classifieds
On the Soapbox
26 March 2014
Letters to the Editor
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
‘Single mom’ discrimination exacerbates evils of dysfunctional society It’s 9am on Thursday March 13. Sitting at Clare’s Cakes for my second meeting of the day, I am party to a conversation between two dads about high school options sport is key, of course. Inevitably, the question of bullying arises. There’s agreement that it’s a fine line between thuggery and responsible mentorship, but happily at Grey College this year, the line is being maintained. Confidentially, and the voice lowers slightly, the
only complaints are from three single moms - paranoid, clearly. Yes, this confirms the other dad’s information from the head of hostel, nothing to be taken seriously, three single moms who always cause k*k about something or other. And off I go to my second job, which I need to keep the home fires burning, being a single mom. Seething. But this is not about the hard of being a single mom. This is not a rant about ‘we
don’t get invited’. This is not a rail against the bastards who immediately take up with another younger woman and spend time with her kids. Or how to keep it together on a single female income, while whisking the eggs and changing tyres, being good cop and bad cop to smelly preadolescent boys. This is a sadness - another group banded together and branded: ‘single moms’. And our children? “Child of a single mom”? Another
group that’s not part of “us”. Another group that are being judged as not coming up to scratch. Letting the side down. If only there were no boys with single moms at Grey College, wouldn’t that be perfect? To all the Smug out there, your discrimination and labelling exacerbates the problems of our divided and dysfunctional society. (And, here’s a thought: those mothers may be the ones who are right, and you may be wrong.) Okejcgnc"Oclqt."Rngvv
Why are we paying rates if we have to clean ourselves? Now I have heard everything... We currently have the Clean Up Plett Campaign, made up of local residents who feel it is their duty to keep the Main Street clean, as the clowncil apparently does not have staff.
From my point of view, they have far too many staff members that are busy sitting on their backsides. What do we pay our rates for? I have often seen eight to 10 orange-clad women standing around talking or
making little effort to pick up litter at the bottom of Odlands Drive. Can’t they clean our main street and other areas around town? Just now I can see us residents being told to clean streets, cut verges, clean
parks, fix potholes, repair road signs, collect rubbish, and also control the traffic. Does the DA really want to be voted in again? Fkuitwpvngf"Rngvvkg *Ugg"vjg"tgrqtv"qp"rcig"7"qh" vjku"gfkvkqp0"/"Gfu0+
It’s a fact: horse riding is illegal on Keurbooms Beach Much misinformation has been circulated about beach horse riding in Bitou. Below find the truth on the matter. The municipal ban on beach horse riding was reconfirmed at a full council meeting in 2010 on grounds including that the activity was an endangerment to other beach users, specifically children and fishermen. This prohibition stands to this day. The municipality, via its Strategic Services Department, has over the last year spent considerable time and resources, acting on behalf of the horse operators, trying to get this prohibition rescinded, with their total focus being on Keurbooms Beach. This Strategic Services initiative flies in the face of logic as both CapeNature and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (DAFF) have highlighted the unsuitability of the project, and there has been a public outcry about the total impracticality of the Management Plans (two so far) produced at ratepayers expense. So here is a further reminder to you Mayor Booysen, municipal officials, and the horse riding community as to why horse riding on Keurbooms Beach is illegal, impractical and, in truth, totally
irresponsible. Keurbooms Beach is surrounded by high density housing. The view of a CapeNature representative is that whereas horse riding may have been an option 30 years ago, there is now far too much human activity. The beach cannot be accessed without traversing private land, fragile dunes and cutting back or removing protected Western Cape Milkwood forests - an activity DAFF cannot allow. There are no ancillary facilities to back up the activity - think basics such as car parks, toilets, watering points, access to emergency services, etc. The beach is tidal and narrow and hosts a fragile ecostructure and endangered wildlife. There are insufficient municipal resources to police such an activity. Horse riding previously allowed in Goukamma and Sardinia Bay has now been stopped due to an inability to micromanage the process and horse operator misbehaviour. Where exactly do Bitou expect to find the money to employ the army of Municipal Law Enforcement officers who would be needed to police horse riding on Keur-
booms Beach? We could go on! So why is Bitou Municipality so intent on implementing such an obviously impractical scheme? Misinformation One: Tourist numbers will increase to the financial benefit of all. The truth is: only a select few already established operators would benefit while destruction to the environment would chase away leisure tourists, creating a negative impact and resultant job losses on commercial operators in the Keurbooms area. Fishing tourists and local fishermen, whose livelihood depends on the activity, would also be chased from the beach. Misinformation Two: The majority of Bitou residents are in favour of horse riding on Keurbooms Beach. The truth is the overwhelming majority are bitterly opposed, with the Keurbooms community ready to take legal action as they see this as a serious threat to their lifestyle and property investments. Misinformation Three: Key role-players such as CapeNature and the Environmental Forum have given support. The truth is CapeNature is actively opposed and the Environmental Forum has stat-
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CXPRESS
ed that it would only support it if a workable management plan was produced (after two failed attempts the Municipality is hopefully beginning to realise the impossibility of producing such a plan). And so we get back to the question of why so much time and ratepayer money is wasted on promoting an activity that will only benefit already established horse operators while putting the environment and all other beach users at physical risk, while disrupting the increasingly successful commercial hub which Keurbooms is becoming. Why would any rightminded public servant risk the goose, Keurbooms Beach, which laid the golden egg (read: rates, augmentation fees and other revenues received by the municipality from Keurbooms for existing and proposed properties) for an elitist pastime that WILL harm the local residential and tourism market? It is time for honesty and integrity, Mr Mayor, or does the motto ‘to be the best together’ only apply to a privileged few? The Keurbooms community is watching. Eqpegtpgf"Mgwtdqqou" Tgukfgpvu."d{"gockn
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Read CXPRESS online at www.cxpress.co.za
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CXPRESS
Sport & Adventure
26 March 2014
Ironman 2014 to test Deon’s metal... and it’s all 4 the Kidz!
SUIT OF ARMOUR: Deon Coetzer will need your thumbs-up in the form of R/km pledges for every one of the gruelling kays he’s about to swim, run and cycle in Port Elizabeth’s Ironman 2014 next month
D
EON Coetzer is a sporting kind of bloke, in all senses of the word. And he finds it hard to resist a challenge... rock hard - iron ore? Well, suffice to say, a bet gone wrong last October has resulted in this jovial owner of Plett Sports approaching his last fortnight or so of hard-core training before tackling this year’s Ironman
challenge on April 6. Most importantly, the father of two and Plett Surf Nippers coach will take on the requisite 3.8km ocean swim, 180km cycle and a 42.2km marathon in aid of Ironman 4 the Kidz Charity Trust (www. ironman4thekidz.co.za). In a recent e-letter, Deon wrote: “To all my friends, family, team mates, party an-
imals and hooligans, I never ask for donations but as most of you are aware, a bet was taken ... and two years’ worth of training has now been squashed into a 12-week training programme. “I have almost lost my job, nearly got divorced six times and realised there is a sixpack on my stomach - but all for a GREAT cause. If you do decide to help please let me know so that I can personally thank you by buying you a beer after April 6.” This is the rub: Deon wants to raise at least R16,400 for Ironman 4 the Kids Charity Trust - a registered NPO that distributes donations to beneficiaries on an annual basis. The money donated is utilised mainly on care, education, counselling, sport advancement and much needed repairs to facilities. Among the long list of beneficiaries counts the Sabrina Love Foundation, which cares for kids with disabilities in Bitou, and helping Deon reach his goal is as simple as pledging an amount per kilometre (he will be covering 226km accross the three disciplines). Bank details are: Ironman 4 the Kidz Charity Trust, FNB Newton Park (branch code 261-050), account number 62193082410, reference ‘Deon Coetzer, Plettenberg Bay’.
Plett Nippers the epitome of good Well done, Nippers.” sportsmanship in E-L Surf. In the individual age
H
UGE congratulations are due to all the Plett Surf Nippers on scoring an overall podium position at the Eastern Cape regional champs in East London on March 15 & 16, finishing third (764 points) with the hosts in first place (820) and mega PE club King’s Beach the runners up (782). It was a long trek east but
coaches and parents concurred that the distance and other logistical challenges on the weekend did little to subdue the kids’ spirits. Says the Club’s Lisa Taylor: “It was visible from all sides - you tried your best, behaved very well and showed admirable sportsmanship, giving it all you had. You made us proud to be members of Plett
groups, the U-10 and U-12 teams both came first, with the U14s in fourth place. The other clubs competing were Blue Water Bay (13), Hobie Beach (16), and Summer Strand (364). The hard work in preparation of Nippers Nationals in Port Elizabeth next month is now in full swing - for a peak at what these awesome kids and their committed coaches do, pop down to Central Beach on a Friday afternoon or email lisataylor .mtc@gmail.com for info.
INTO THE LIGHT: The U-14s set off for the Malibu event as the sun lifts over East London’s Orient Beach Photo: Louise Auersperg