The Village NEWS 18 - 31 July 2017

Village

NEWS NEWS The

18 - 31 July 2017

Cape Whale Coast

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Hermanus a pure winner when it comes to water Hedda Mittner

H

ermanus has been lauded as a leader in water management by National Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Pamela Tshwete, after a visit to The Preekstoel Biofiltration Plant, the first and only of its kind in South Africa.

Tshwete said this purification plant, located on Rotary Way, can be presented as “a world-

class case study” for water purification, conservation and management. She was speaking at a leadership briefing last week attended by Chief Director of the Department of Water Affairs in the Western Cape region, Rashid Khan, and various councillors and directors of the Municipality.

“With large parts of the Western Cape, including the Cape Town Metropole, in the grip of a debilitating drought, the Overstrand Municipality is showing the way for other

local municipalities. We want to learn from the Overstrand and share its expertise with the rest of the country,” Minister Tshwete said.

Hermanus is no stranger to droughts, but thanks to the proactive measures taken by the Municipality in seeking alternative sources of raw water, supply is stable at the moment. A few years ago, between September 2010 and May 2012, it was a very different story, with the level of the De Bos Dam dropping

to below 18%. At the time, the Municipality realised that the supply of water from the dam and the system used at Preekstoel to treat the water, would not be sufficient to cater for future demand growth.

One of the alternative sources pursued was the development of a series of groundwater well fields, with the intention of supplementing the surface water sourced from De Bos Dam. However, the groundwater was found to be rich in

iron and manganese, which has to be removed to prevent problems ranging from the taste and staining of laundry to the clogging of the distribution network with gelatinous bacteria that use iron and manganese in their metabolism. The existing treatment works at Preekstoel was not able to remove the iron and manganese and specialised treatment of the groundwater was required.

This process typically involves chemically oxidizing the

elements, but is expensive from both a capital and operational point of view, and the Municipality decided to follow the lesser-known route of biological treatment. Apart from a pilot study by Umgeni Water funded by the Water Research Commission, this process had not been used in South Africa, but has been successfully implemented in France, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Finland, Bulgaria, Argentina, Togo and elsewhere.

Read more on P 3

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18 - 31 July 2017

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The Team 6 Royal Street Hermanus

028 050 1319

Publishing Editor dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

Content Editor

Hedda Mittner 083 645 3928 hedda@thevillagenews.co.za

Design and Layout

Nickey Jackson 079 408 7722 nickey@thevillagenews.co.za

THE

NEWS

OPINION Matters

Think more about the water you use The big winter freeze has the Cape Whale Coast firmly in its grip and the generous rainfall is helping our dams fill up for the dry season ahead.

We are very fortunate that our region is not experiencing the drought that is severely affecting other parts of the province. But Hermanus is no stranger to droughts and the Municipality needs to be lauded for its proactive efforts to ensure that Hermanus has enough potable water to meet the demands of residents.

Residents seldom think of the enormous work that needs to be done behind the scenes to deliver high-quality drinking water and to ensure that there is water every time we open a tap. The Preekstoel Biofiltration Plant, the first and only of its kind in South Africa, is doing its bit in ensuring that the town’s water demands are met.

This plant, together with the groundwater well fields that have been created over the last couple of years, can be used as a shining example for other towns and cities to

ensure that their water demands are met.

Having said that, all of us must remember that the need to conserve water, even when ample rain is falling, cannot be stressed enough.

The average rainfall of South Africa is 397 mm, compared with a world average of 860 mm. Nelson Mandela once said South Africa has faced hard questions and had to make hard choices. We know that political freedom alone is not enough if you lack clean water. For this reason, the struggle for sustainable development nearly equals the struggle for political freedom.

We can all reduce our waterfootprint as well as our daily usage of electricity. Water is used in the generation process, so switch off the lights as well as other electrical appliances when not in use. Re-use water wherever possible – virtually all water coming out of a tap can be used at least twice.

That is the good news – Ed

WHERE TO FIND US

Office Administrator

Tania Hamman admin@thevillagenews.co.za

Marketing Manager

Rina de Wet 083 604 0808 rina@thevillagenews.co.za

The Village NEWS is published fortnightly and the next edition will be available on 1 August. The NEWS can be found at over 100 distribution points on the Cape Whale Coast, from Kleinmond to Gansbaai.

Get your FREE copy from major retail stores such as Spar, Checkers and Pick n Pay, and at restaurants, tasting rooms, galleries and shopping centres. Should you wish to receive a copy, call us on 028 050 1319 or 083 700 3319 or pop into our office at 6 Royal Street, Hermanus.

Ombudsman The press exists to serve society. Its freedom provides for independent scrutiny, and is essential to ensuring demo-cracy. It enables citizens to make informed judgments, a role that is recognised by the Constitution. The Village NEWS subscribes to the South African Press Code and thus to the South African Press Council and the South African Press Ombudsman. Should you feel our reporting is not fair, free or unbiased and without prejudice, or that serious errors have been made, you are welcome to lay a complaint with the Ombudsman.

Reach him on 011 484 3612/8, e-mail pressombudsman.org.za or visit www.ombudsman.org.za

Morea flaccida (Cape Tulip)

Devastating impact on precious fynbos not recognised In Hermanus we live in an area of amazing beauty and biodiversity and our economy is largely nature-tourism related. Whale Coast Conservation is delighted to be given an opportunity to share information about the environment with the readers of The Village NEWS on a regular basis in this column. In some editions we will bring you opinions from leaders in their field as we ASK THE EXPERT.

T

he proposed Hermanus CBD bypass has received a lot of press recently.

One of the areas of concern is that the road will run through a portion of Fernkloof Nature Reserve (FNR). We asked Dr Pat Miller to clarify the reasons why this is a burning issue (literally and figuratively).

WCC: The road will pass through only a small part of the reserve. Why should this be a problem?

PM: Let me start by saying that the borders of a proclaimed nature reserve are legally protected and portions of it cannot be expropriated for development, however small these may be. The land that would be lost to FNR if the road is constructed is in the most vulnerable part of the reserve.

The area just above Mountain Drive is mostly composed of Overberg Sandstone Fynbos, which has a gazetted classification of Critically Endangered.

In the country as a whole only 6% of this vegetation type is protected. The area comprises a

very narrow strip, so naturally any development will have a devastating impact on this small area of precious vegetation.

WWC: If this part of Fernkloof is so significant, why does the specialist study say that the impact will be low?

PM: In my opinion the botanical survey that was done for the terrestrial ecology assessment was inadequate and superficial; it was done over three days in the same week. A true assessment of biodiversity in fynbos should cover seasonal variation and growth after fire. So the specialist survey identified far fewer than the number of species that are actually there, and this was the basis for stating that the impact would be low.

WCC: But surely it’s not feasible for a specialist to assess an area over several years?

PM: In this case it is very possible. The Hermanus Botanical Society has a

comprehensive list of the vegetation in the area dating from 2008, when a fire burnt right down to Mountain Drive.

This list was offered to the specialist, who declined this data; this is really concerning.

WCC: Can you give us some examples of the plants that are endangered and would be affected by the proposed road?

PM: Yes, I can mention few that stand out. We have Serruria heterophylla (spinnekopblom) that is classified as Endangered.

Leucospermum prostratum is classified Vulnerable and Morea flaccida (Cape Tulip) could become extinct in Fernkloof.

These and 1 200 other fynbos species in Fernkloof are part of the natural heritage of Hermanus. That is why Fernkloof Nature Reserve is currently being assessed as a Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site. Not bad for a small reserve of just 1 800 hectares.

– Anina Lee Whale Coast Conservation

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18 - 31 July 2017

Preekstoel makes Hermanus proud From P1 Between 2010 and 2013, the Preekstoel facilities were upgraded by constructing a fullscale biological plant adjacent to the existing plant for the treatment of a maximum of 10 Mega litres borehole water per day. This Preekstoel Biofiltration Plant is the first and only of its kind in South Africa. The key to the biofiltration process lies in creating an environment conducive for the colonisation of the filter media by bacteria that specialise in oxidizing iron and manganese rich waters.

Once the iron and manganese are removed, treated water meeting the SANS 241:2011 quality requirements can be delivered to the region.

Following the briefing last week, the group of dignitaries was joined by members of the media on a tour of the Preekstoel facilities led

by Stephen Müller, Overstrand Municipality Director of Infrastructure and Planning, who explained the significance of this purification plant in providing an innovative, cost-effective and eco-friendly means of securing the Greater Hermanus water supply requirements.

PHOTOS: Hedda Mittner The Preekstoel Biofiltration Plant in Hermanus is one of its kind in South Africa.

Generally acknowledged as being much more environmentally friendly, this type of watertreatment technology requires fewer chemicals, saves on electricity and reduces water loss in the treatment process, earning Overstrand an award for innovation as one of the Western Cape’s greenest municipalities in 2013.

It was developed at a total cost of R87 million, of which R20,6 million was contributed by the Department of Water and Sanitation through its Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant programme. The project involved groundbreaking work by the project team, comprised of Overstrand Municipality’s technical staff, consulting engineers Aurecon, groundwater specialists Umvoto Africa, environmental specialists SRK, refurbishment contractor Inenzo Water, civil contractor Inyanga Projects and mechanical-electrical contractor Paterson Candy International.

Stephen Müller leading Deputy Minister of Water & Sanitation Pamela Tshwete and local councillors on a tour of the Preekstoel water purification plant.

In addition to the main contractors, 16 local sub-contractors also had a hand in executing the project while 67 temporary jobs were created for local people during the construction phase.

Stephen said the Greater Hermanus bulk water supply system was commissioned to reduce dependence on surface water sources and to counter the possible effects of climate change.

At the 2016 Western Cape Greenest Municipality awards function The Overstrand Municipality received the trophy for Winner in the Water Management category. The Municipality has won this category 3 times in the last 4 years.

Visiting the Preekstoel Biofiltration Plant last week were (front, from left) Cllr Andrew Komani, Cllr Vuyani Macotha, Cllr Valerie Pungupungu, Deputy Minister of Water & Sanitation Pamela Tshwete, Cllr Elnora Gillion and Cllr Christine May. At the back are Ald Michelle Sapepa and Cllr Lindile Ntsabo.

All’s normal with weather and rainfall The weather the past few weeks has left little doubt in one’s mind that winter is here in full force as residents reach for their woollies and pile extra blankets on their beds.

But the intense cold snaps have been interspersed with beautiful sunny days and warmer temperatures. Even the “mother of all storms” that hit our shores last month was nothing more than a decent winter storm, leading many residents to wonder if local weather patterns are changing due to global warming.

In short, the answer is no. According to statistics from the South African National Space

Agency (SANSA) the 60-year average June and July rainfall for Hermanus and surrounds is 80,1 mm and 84,4 mm respectively.

Last month the average rainfall was a little above average at 82,1 mm and thus far for July more than 40 mm has been measured.

18 years was 531 mm in 2000. The highest was 1 187 mm in 2013. The annual rainfall on the Cape Whale Coast is half the world average, with the greatest demand experienced during December and January, making conservation and storage essential.

Over the past 70 years, an average annual rainfall of 609,7 mm was measured at the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory.

The average of the past 30 years was approximately 649 mm per year.

The average seasonal rainfall for the past 60 years has been measured at 26,6 mm for summer, 52 mm in autumn, 85,7 mm in winter and 47,4 mm in spring. The highest rainfall measured in June was 213 mm in 2014 and the highest in July was 215 mm in 2012.

The lowest rainfall recorded in the past

Regarding the average winter temperature all appears to be normal. The coldest day of the year was on 20 June with a minimum of 3,4 °C and the warmest day in June was on the 5th with 27 °C. The average temperature in July is a maximum of 18,8 °C and a minimum of 7 °C. The lowest minimum temperature recorded this month was 0 °C on 12 July and the lowest maximum temperature was recorded on 9 July with 13 °C. For the rest of the month the temperatures will stay close to the annual average.

– De Waal Steyn

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18 - 31 July 2017

PHOTOS: Sarah Taylor

What should be done about the baboons?

This is what residents had to say when they were interviewed by SARAH TAYLOR about the presence of baboons in Voëlklip:

Dr Pierre le Roux As a former vet and resident of Voëlklip for more than 30 years, I have witnessed the deaths of many baboons that have been poisoned or shot at and killed by residents. From 1972, I visited scores of baboon incidents while serving on the Baboon Action Committee. I witnessed the Overstrand Municipality and CapeNature’s various and often costly approaches to tackling the issue – culling, shooting them with salt and bird shot, or catapults and paintball guns, an electric fence, baboon monitors, and now a virtual fence. None of these mostly archaic solutions have worked or will work.

What is the answer? We must do nothing, except secure our homes and dustbins. It is a myth that baboons will break into a house. People are negligent and baboons are opportunists and will enter a house simply to eat if there is already a window or door open. The main solution to the “baboon problem” is for residents to keep their windows and doors closed when they are not in those rooms. Mounting cabin hooks on doors and aluminum strips across small windows is a cheap and effective way of allowing fresh air to circulate, while keeping the baboons out.

Secondly, residents must ensure

that their outside dustbins are baboon-proof. The original baboon latches installed by the Municipality on the green wheelie-bins are badly designed and ineffective – when the baboons tip over the bins, they tend to pop open. Residents can either install a 100 % secure latch with a dog lead clip chain, hasp and staple latch to prevent the baboons from opening the dustbins.

the human is to give up the goods and flee. People have been surrendering to the baboons for many years and the baboons have become habituated to this. It’s now time to turn it around and make them wary of us again.

monitors, who were ineffective at keeping the baboons away from suburban areas, while there are children that are going hungry. I live here and want to make a positive contribution with regard to the baboons, but the situation cannot be left as it is. There are just too many baboons.

Gloria Botha

Carel Kuschke I love having the baboons around and I do think they are a beautiful feature, but the problem is that they don’t fear humans anymore and I am worried that, because they act with impunity in suburbia, someone will get mauled one day.

I feel that humans need to find a way to hit back hard at the baboons in an effort to restore their natural fear of humans. I don’t mean people should take the law into their own hands, and I don’t support culling them either.

There is a definite hierarchy among baboons: the strongest eats first and they have quite a violent order. If a baboon comes charging up to a human being who has food in their hands, the natural instinct of

For the 35 years that I’ve lived in Voëlklip, I’ve watched the baboons’ behaviour and movement patterns. The baboons used to fear humans, but this is no longer the case.

We need to take a systematic and scientific, not an emotional, approach to dealing with this issue. We need such a programme to be managed by a professional team and we need to give it time to work.

I feel strongly that the troops’ numbers must be reduced to manageable sizes. Euthanasia of some of the young ones is the kindest way. Reducing their breeding is also vital (castrating the young males with elastic around their testes is an affordable solution). We also need to encourage the baboons to seek their sustenance in the mountains and this may involve setting up a baboon ‘restaurant’ in the mountains.

I have a moral problem with spending R1 million on baboon

Angus McFadzean I’ve lived with the baboons for 27 years and I have noticed that things have got progressively worse in the last few years. The Fernkloof troop is in the western part of Voëlklip almost every day now. Just about every adult female we see here has a baby. It is getting out of hand and the baboons also seem to be getting more aggressive towards humans.

The Overstrand Municipality has to take responsibility for the baboons and they need to consult the residents and not make unilateral decisions about baboon management that clearly have not worked. In a democracy, the government needs to work for the people in keeping its residents and their property safe and secure.

If we leave the baboons as they are, their numbers will only increase and there will be more destruction of property. Residents are getting very

angry and frustrated and threatening to shoot them.

The virtual fence trial that was conducted recently was effective in chasing the Fernkloof troop back into the mountains, but the exercise would need to be done a few times before they realise that it is not safe to come into town.

The Municipality must employ four permanent monitors with a vehicle to manage the virtual fence system and deploy the sound boxes when the baboons come within range of the suburban areas. But first the alpha male and female baboons from the other troops (Hemel-en-Aarde and Vogelgat) must be collared, so the three Hermanus troops can be similarly controlled.

The virtual fence works well in Gordon’s Bay and it can work here. It’s a win-win solution that won’t involve culling the baboons, but it needs municipal management, a municipal budget and staff. Once the virtual fence is in operation, the running costs won’t be as much as employing the 16 monitors we previously had.

Butch Eggert I’ve lived in Voëlklip for about 21 years and have been raided plenty of times by the baboons.

But I am very baboon friendly and I think we should just turn the whole thing around, spell them backwards and have ‘snoobabs’!

They are here and we need to let them be. We need to be aware of them and keep doors and windows closed where we can. I think it is beautiful to have them about and they are the reason I built a house right next to the mountain. We should cherish our remaining wildlife and let the ‘snoobabs’ be an attraction for generations to come.

Carol McLennan-Smith We have lived in Voëlklip for about 18 years and we love having the baboons in our neighbourhood. You just have to be careful and keep windows and doors closed. We also have a Jack Russel that warns us when the baboons are around. They have come into our kitchen only twice in the time we have lived here but they haven’t caused much damage.

I like to grow vegetables and have done well planting green peppers and herbs like basil and rosemary, which the baboons don’t like to eat. It is really lovely to have wildlife around and if you are careful you can just enjoy them.

18 - 31 July 2017

The history of water supply in Hermanus

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Hermanus has a history of seeking water. As the 21st century has progressed and the impacts of climate change became clear, Cape Town has entered an even more difficult time that is by no means over. Our town has taken various measures to deal with rising demand and DR ROBIN LEE of the Hermanus History Society has documented these activities and what they have achieved over the past 160 years.

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that “it was like bathing in sherry!” However, some of the wealthy hotel guests insisted on clear water, at least for their clothes and bed linen, so laundry basins were built next to clear water streams in four places: below the cliffs at Swallow Park (shown in photo 3); in Northcliff; in Eastcliff (near the present Eastcliff Centre); and in Fernkloof.

area from Voëlklip in the east to Fisherhaven in the west. This water is brown at source and requires extensive purification before reaching consumers.

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1. Hermanus was originally known as Hermanuspietersfontein.

The ‘fontein’ referred to an underground stream that came to the surface near the cliffs to the west of the Old Harbour, which was itself then known as ‘Visbaai’. An itinerant teacher from the Caledon district, Hermanus Pieters, watered his sheep at the ‘fontein’ in the 1820s and the stream became the water source for the first settlers from 1857. This monument was erected in 1957, on the centenary of the town, but has since been replaced.

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2. By the late 19th century, hotels and other businesses were growing in Hermanus and the village had to find additional sources of water. The authorities turned first to the Onrus River.

At that time the river flowed strongly out of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Water was pumped from the river to a processing plant at a spot called ‘Preekstoel’ – people imagined that a rock formation in the area resembled a pulpit. The rock formation no longer exists, but the name lives on.

4. In the 1920s and 1930s three dams were built on the Mossel River in the prominent kloof at Fernkloof. Mr P John Luyt (owner of The Marine and Riviera Hotels) took the initiative to build the first dam and one of the dams is named after him: The P J Luyt Arch Dam. The top dam is called the High Level Arch Dam and the third and largest dam is known as the Rockfill Dam. This is a reference to how it was built. It has become a recreational attraction when full.

This supply of water was a crucial factor in the negotiations that resulted in Hermanus, the town, as we know it. In 1940 Hermanus (the old Hermanuspietersfontein) merged with the Mossel River (Voëlklip) Village Management Board and the Poole’s Bay Village Management Board to form the Hermanus Municipality. Between 1940 and the mid-1970s the new Hermanus Municipality drew most of its water from these dams.

Now the water from the dams is used only for watering sports grounds, public gardens and school playing fields.

6. Water levels in the De Bos Dam are monitored continuously and it is a cause for celebration when there have been good rains and the dam overflows, as shown here. But by the 1990s it was clear that even this dam would not meet the demand. Action was needed, not only because of rising demand but also because of more frequent and longer periods without rainfall.

In a far-sighted decision water was tapped by Hermanus from the Fernkloof aquifer, where it is under pressure and can be reached at moderate depths. There have been boreholes on the Hermanus Golf Course since the 1950s. More recently others were drilled near the Gateway Centre and in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and currently about 45% of Hermanus’s water supply is derived from boreholes. A drawback is that the water contains large quantities of iron and magnesium and requires sophisticated treatment. All boreholes are monitored on a real time basis and pumping will stop automatically if there is any chance that the aquifer is being depleted or salt and other contaminants rise above certain levels.

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3. This image shows one of the four sets of ‘wasbakkies’ (laundry basins) built by the Municipality in the early 20th century. Then, the water supply to the town was still ‘brown’ in colour. Not all the guests disliked this. One British lady was delighted and exclaimed

5. Hermanus continued to grow and there was an ongoing search for new sources of water. In 1973 the Town Council decided to build a much larger dam on the farm De Bos in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The dam would collect water from the Onrus River. There were many objections to the construction of the dam and a special Water Court had to arbitrate these. Water from this dam is now reticulated across the entire Hermanus

7. The water treatment facility at Preekstoel is very sophisticated.

It purifies water from different sources, using different technologies in each case. This includes a special biological process to treat the manganese and iron in the aquifer water. The Overstrand Municipality regularly receives awards for the quality of water supplied to residents.

For more information visit www.hermanus-history-society.co.za

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THE

NEWS

Let’s Talk

Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

Help urgently needed to safeguard residents against baboons I have read with interest and concern your article regarding the baboon issues (Baboon problem continues to escalate) in the 4-17 July edition of your newspaper.

barricaded house, complete with security gates and various other barriers. She rarely opens her windows or doors for fresh ‘champagne air’.

I have contacted a number of residents and role players in Hermanus to support my request for an urgent Baboon Indaba. This follows after I met with an elderly property owner in Voëlklip, who had just experienced a third baboon invasion inside her home. This very dignified, strong spirited conservationist and dedicated nature lover, was shattered emotionally and injured during the event. She lives in a well

She took photos after one of the invasions, a complete trashing of the kitchen which brought her to tears. The baboons entered through the cat flap while she was out. The last episode was more devastating as she fell during the incident and damaged her knee. She is fearful of falling badly if there is another encounter. A smaller frail woman represents no threat whatsoever to the large troop

Baboon problem needs further investigation The article Baboon problem continues to escalate in the 4 July issue of The Village NEWS is a very meaningful summary of the critical situation. The legal situation needs further clarification because the article seems to describe two conflicting viewpoints.

The Overstrand Municipality (OM) viewpoint is that the OM is not responsible at all and

of around 38. She has been resident here for many years and is shocked at the frequency of house invasions and size of the troop now, compared to years ago when they were seldom seen in suburbia.

habituated to suburbia now, with two new generations of baboons having grown up familiar with suburbia, gardens, vehicles, busy roads and humans since the baboon monitors were discontinued several years ago.

The baboons are now so familiar with that part of Voëlklip that they show absolutely no fear of loud noise, or being chased by humans. Her pets are now imprisoned inside her home for most of the day for fear of them being attacked by the baboons. Shameful.

The reality is, my elderly friend is not the only resident living caged and afraid. Her lifestyle is completely impeded by the constant and invasive habits of these wild and highly adaptive animals.

There are numerous other families who feel so compromised by the current status, that they are planning to sell up and leave Hermanus.

The baboons are comfortably

CapeNature (CN) refers to a 26 May 2016 High Court ruling pinpointing the total responsibility to the City of Cape Town (CTM). As far as I know, the CTM is not disputing the court ruling.

I have not evaluated the High Court ruling.

The CTM is a category A municipality and the OM is a category B municipality. We would like to hear from the OM why the OM’s legal

Baboons now venture into areas they have never ventured to in the past 20 years. They now defecate all over garden walls and pathways, destroy gardens, kitchens, carpets, furniture and plant pots in their wake.

It’s only a matter of time before a child or vulnerable person is attacked. Baboon attacks on children have been recorded in KZN, this is not impossible here.

Several dogs have been attacked by baboons. I know of a Jack Russel that was killed by baboons some years ago and a Rottweiler that was badly injured in Fernkloof.

situation is different from that of the CTM? We would like to obtain feedback from the OM’s Legal Advisor, full details please.

I have already discussed the issue telephonically with the acting municipal manager, Mr R Williams. He agreed that further feedback should be given to the residents.

A H Erasmus Eastcliff

The total area of Fernkloof is some 18 km² and Vogelgat 603 ha and have been home to these primates for hundreds of years. That is their natural habitat and there is plenty of food for them there!

A petition to find solutions to the problem has been signed by numerous residents. This is a good indicator of the number of residents exhausted by the frustration of impasse. There is a great urgency to hold an indaba with all affected and responsible parties to find a solution.

Pat Redford

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Honouring the values of Madiba This week could prove to be one of the most important weeks in your life – even if you failed to appreciate sufficiently the meaning of Mandela Day on 18 July and are giving it only token acknowledgement. Doing ‘something good’ for about an hour is not s ufficient, writes HARVEY TYSON, author and former editor of The Star newspaper. You need to take longer to appreciate the values he expected from others.

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t could be years, or decades, for most of us to appreciate how deep is the message left to us by the ‘world’s role model’, Nelson Mandela.

His legacy demands from you not merely an hour’s dedication to your favourite project or charity (“charity handouts might sustain you for a few months, at the end of which your problems remain,” Mandela once said). It requires from each South African a change in perspective, in attitude and in action.

Let me use a few of his own quotes to illustrate his views on how best we can help others – and, in so doing, perhaps change our own lives remarkably.

Knowledge of his way of thinking may help us understand how he emerged unscathed and deeply in touch with humanity after 27 years of imprisonment. His own words, revealing his ‘secret to life’ may help each of us to emulate him in small, but life-relevant ways.

Five priorities in life 1. On his 85th birthday Mandela said: “The important thing (in life) is to give happiness to people.”

2. One of the “important things” in life which he singled out in comments over the years was: “Love

your enemies” (illustrated by his visit to Orania to take tea with the widow of Dr Verwoerd, the architect of high apartheid).

3. “Racism must be consciously combated and not discreetly tolerated.”

4. “Make every home, every shack or rickety structure a centre of learning.”

5. “To go to bed feeling that you have done some service to the community is very important.”

It is extremely relevant because “... part of the souls of many nations and cultures reside here... they are priceless threads in the rich diversity of the African nation.” (He said he should know, because “Cape Town hosted me and my colleagues for over 26 years.”)

His point was that we more privileged folks of the Cape owed to South Africa a determination to protect democracy and care for the nation’s underprivileged aged and youth.

The Western Cape Lifestyle Those are general guides to a life of fulfilment according to Mandela. But there are more guidelines which he offered concerning local affairs. For instance he said of the Western Cape lifestyle:

In short, though we are not typical of the rest of Africa, he believed we people of several cultures in the Cape have a direct role to play in the future of this nation – not because of our own beliefs and upbringing, but because “the

suffering of the people of any single country affects all of us, no matter where we find ourselves.” We need to share, he said.

Relinquishing self-interest Most of these quotes are selected from a broad selection of Mandela’s utterances gathered from interviews, broadcasts, speeches and news reports by Jennifer Crwys-Williams published under the title In the words of Nelson Mandela (Penguin 2004). These, and my own experience of him after his release from prison lead to a single conclusion which is easy to grasp, but exceedingly difficult to follow with any effective dedication.

It is this: to follow his example

one must resist every interest in self. One must focus, as he did, only on the basic needs of others. It is that single, cardinal, unnatural choice an activist needs to make if he or she wishes to donate any lasting benefit to fellow human beings.

Yet that concept is absurd, human nature assures us. Selfpreservation is life’s natural protection, not to be surrendered to idealism.

But if you spend time thinking about the model role played

by Mandela on the world stage, you may appreciate (if not apply) his lifestyle of self-

denial in the interests of ‘humanity’. An individual’s subjugation of self-pride, selfearnestness, self-interest must result surely, in a freedom greater than any other in the human experience.

Yes, it is extremely difficult to achieve such perfection of purpose. But Mandela did so in the face of threats of death and life imprisonment. In his memory, his life philosophy is worth an occasional try, anywhere between the ages, say, of 18 and 88.

Mandela lived to the age of 95, admired by friend and foe and the whole world.

Mall Dassies and Mal Anties Beware

T

he Whale Coast Mall is just a cough and a sneeze away, and being a new phenomenon to this side of the mountain, people’s attitudes vary from delight to horror.

Some have already slammed the colour of the bricks, which are being plastered and painted anyway.

A survey was conducted from Kleinmond to Kleinbaai to assist the Overstrand Mall Guardians (OMG) in drawing up guidelines concerning mall decorum.

These address behavioural and dress codes among others and are at this stage just motions to be tabled for approval by the OMG. Having witnessed the antisocial activities in other malls, they’ve decided to nip things in the bud by laying down the law from the get-go.

Firstly, behaviour: On entering the mall, patrons must smile

Wit’s End Murray Stewart

and look generally cheerful.

“Grins get wins,” the OMG claim. Creating an ambience of happy-go-lucky, care-free shopping will generate more turn-over for the shop owners who’ll be smiling anyway.

Pointing and laughing rudely at fat or ugly people will result in all your shopping bags being confiscated and donated to the struggling wine farmers with doublebarreled names in the valley.

While shopping or just browsing, no whistling aloud is allowed unless two or more people whistle the same tune,

either in unison or in harmony.

Habitual whistlers must submit their desired tunes to the OMG for approval at least twenty-four hours before the proposed shopping/whistling spree. Rap songs are usually rejected due to the lack of any melody line. Bursting into song is out of the question – even if it is a hymn.

To discourage antisocial behaviour, cellphones must be checked in at the entrances. It’s surprising where people try to hide things, so thorough body searches will be conducted.

Patrons will be allotted a number when they hand in their phones. A temporary tattoo of these digits is stenciled on the arm, cheek or forehead, to deter any opportunists trying to upgrade while exiting.

The tattoos fade after four or five hours, but beware – frequent visits on the same day could result in you resembling a mobile Sudoku challenge.

Children up to the age of eighteen must be accompanied by an adult. Alternatively, a signed ‘letter of entry’ from a parent will do. This will curtail the scourge infesting other malls, where dozens of youngsters gather in groups, only to hunch over their phones for hours practicing thumb gymnastics.

Down here they’re known as Mall Dassies and will not be tolerated.

This brings us to the dress code. Excluding Springbok jerseys, branded clothing is forbidden inside the mall.

Overalls or smocks will be available at the entrances to cover any offensive beer slogans or misleading bank promises. Branded items bought inside the mall may only be donned after exiting.

Footwear is important. Mall architects countrywide compete openly to select floor tiles that are as dangerous as possible. The more slippery the better apparently, and as a result, Crocs are mandatory for safety – socks are optional. Mal anties in high heels (they must be mal with these floors) should replace at least one shoe with a Croc for stability.

The colour of the clothes worn by shoppers was debated and in the end beige was the overwhelming favourite. Grey, white, navy blue and black are acceptable, but bright colours like red, yellow or green were considered too flashy, and could encourage brash behaviour or promote Rastafarianism.

Attention-seeking hairstyles or neon curlers must be covered by a doek or a beanie – obviously in muted tones. And talking of tones, soft mellifluous music will be piped throughout the complex – like Mantovani, the Ray Coniff Singers or Helmut Lotti unplugged – at last.

Safari suits – long or short – are encouraged, and are apparently making a strong come-back in Betty’s Bay and Botrivier.

So far this all sounds very positive, but we’ll keep you updated as new regulations are approved.

Mall Dassies and mal anties pasop…

8

18 - 31 July 2017

THE

NEWS

Good Guide

Wednesday 19 July ■ Monthly Hermanus Bird Club Meeting: Mike Ford will present a talk entitled Birding with the Big Cats, a fascinating presentation of his bird ringing experience in Ethiopia. Meet at Fernkloof Hall at 17:30 for pre-meeting drinks; the presentation will commence at 18:00 (new winter starting times).

Visitors are welcome. For enquiries, contact John Saunders on 028 316 2302 or Mariette Pitlo on 028 312 1369.

A glass of their new release Beaumont Chenin Blanc and a short introduction by winemaker Sebastian Beaumont on the art of blending a wine will ease guests into a long relaxed lunch paired with Beaumont wines. The event starts at 12:00 and the cost is R475 pp. Contact info@beaumont.co.za to make your booking.

■ Shebeen Chic Party: Relive the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s with toe-tapping rhythms and delicious shebeen cuisine at this retro township shebeen party, hosted by Stargazer Promotions as a fundraiser for the Overstrand Training Institute (OTI). The live entertainment will include local talent, a fun auction and great raffle prizes.

Limited tickets available at R200 pp. Book at stargazer4promotions@gmail.com or contact Janet on 082 456 8091 or Pieter on 083 457 8235.

At Enlighten Trust building, c/o Swartdam and Angelier Roads, at 18:30.

Every Monday ■ Classic Monday Bridge Club: Duplicate Bridge, every Monday at 13:00, at Fernkloof Hall.

To join the club, contact Riekie on 072 230 9179.

Every Thursday ■ Rotary Club of Hermanus: Weekly meetings every Thursday at Mollergren Park, at 19:00.

Visitors welcome. Contact Ian Wallace on 082 895 8738 or Metcalf Fick on 082 568 2193.

Every Friday Monday 24 July ■ Hermanus History Society Talk: Dr Michael du Preez, co-author of Dr James Barry – A Woman ahead of her Time, will present a talk on the enigmatic Dr Barry who passed as a man for the whole of a 40-year career in the British army. The author spent 15 years researching the life of Dr Barry, who lived from about 1789 to 1859 and spent 12 years in the Cape during the Governorship of Lord Charles Somerset. At the Catholic Church hall, at 16:00.

Friday 28 July

■ Hermanus Hacking Group: Meet at the green reservoir off Mountain Drive, close to the Gateway intersection, at 07:15 for 07:30 until 09:30 every Friday. All volunteers welcome.

Contact Charlyn Vosloo on 082 558 8731 or mcvosloo@mweb.co.za ■ ‘Kolwyntjie-Teetuin’: Everyone in the area is invited to enjoy a sweet treat and tea or coffee at the Onrus Care Centre (‘Dienssentrum’) of the Dutch Reformed Church, Onrus for only R30, every Friday between 09:30 and 11:30.

■ Bhuki Café: Enjoy tea, coffee and eats for only R20 (2 eats) or R30 (3 eats) to support the Friends of Hermanus Library, every Friday from 09:00 - 11.30.

■ I did Everest so you don’t have to: The title of a talk presented by renowned broadcaster and author Patricia Glyn about her Mount Everest adventures. This event is a fundraiser for Lord’s Taverners South Africa. The cost of R150 pp includes a complimentary glass of wine on arrival. At the Municipal Auditorium, at 18:00 for 18:30. To book, contact David Ralph at davidr@lordstaverners.org.za or call 083 455 7555.

Thursday 20 July ■ Nuwejaars Wetland: Whale Coast Conservation will present a guided tour and wildlife safari in the Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area, from 08:30 – 13:00. Bordering the Agulhas National Park and close to the historical town of Elim, this wetland represents a new conservation model for South Africa and is home to many threatened bird species, hartebeest, buffalo and bontebok. R200 pp for adults and R120 for children over 10 years.

Booking is essential; contact Anina on 083 242 3295.

■ Business Chamber AGM & Networking Session: Join the Hermanus Business Chamber for a Soup, Bread & Wine networking evening and AGM at Source restaurant in The Village, at 18:00. R100 pp includes your first drink; cash bar for the rest. RSVP: ceo@hermanuschamber.co.za

■ Hermanus Night Shelter Association AGM: All are welcome, especially volunteers who are keen to become involved in the activities of the HNSA. The meeting will take place at the United Church at 18:00. For more details contact Ray on 083 731 0678.

■ Madiba Legacy Winter Ball: This fundraiser will be held in Kleinmond in aid of the Overstrand Child and Youth Care Centre, Kleinmond Animal Welfare Society and Overstrand Titans Softball Club, as part of the Overstrand Municipality’s 67 Minutes Plus contribution to Mandela Month. The ball will also cater to the most needy community members with a handover of approximately 200 Winter Warmth Care Packs courtesy of Pick n Pay Hermanus. The event will be hosted by Overstrand Mayor Rudolph Smith. At the Kleinmond Town Hall, at 19:00.

Black tie / evening wear. Bring your own platter and refreshments. Tickets are R50 pp. Contact 079 885 5022 or cresandt@overstrand.gov.za

Sunday 23 July

■ Beaumont Barrel Lunch: Join Beaumont Wines on the historic Compagnesdrift farm in Bot River for a delicious three-course lunch in their barrel cellar.

■ Huis Lettie Theron Bazaar: Celebrate Huis Lettie’s 40th birthday with food and craft stalls offering sausage rolls, snoekbraai, curry and rice, pancakes and much more at their annual fundraising bazaar. At the Grobbelaar Hall, from 09:00.

Saturday 5 August

Christmas in fine dining style at Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate when Executive Chef Annie Badenhorst will be conjuring up a captivating Christmas feast, to be paired with complementary estate wines. R600 pp. For more information and bookings, contact 087 357 0637 or manor@benguelacove.co.za. At Benguela Cove Manor House, from 12:00 – 15:00.

■ OAK Concert: Overstrand Arts / Kunste will host the Spina & Benignetti Piano Duo in concert.

Eleonora Spina and Michele Benignetti from Italy have been in partnership since 2013 and won first prize at several international piano competitions.

Playing on one piano, the duo will perform works

by Mozart, Schubert, Rachmaninov and Barber.

Tickets are R140 pp (R60 for students). Contact Rene du Plooy 082 940 4238. At the Municipal Auditorium, at 15:30.

■ Hermanus parkrun: Meet at Hermanus Forest in Camphill Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley at 08:00. Free timed 5 km walk or run, come rain or shine. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome.

■ Hermanuspietersfontein Food & Wine Market: In the courtyard at HPF cellar, The Village, from 09:00-14:00. Where wine and food lovers both local and international meet.

■ The Hermanus Country Market: A favourite among the locals, young and old. Fresh local produce, wholesome goodies, and home-made crafts. Next to the cricket field, Fairways Avenue, from 09:00-13:00.

■ Deon Meyer book launch: bookmark will host international bestselling author Deon Meyer for the English launch of his latest novel Fever.

Make sure you don’t miss out; RSVP by 28 July to books@hermanus.co.za or 028 312 2000. At bookmark, 171 Main Rd, Hermanus, at 11:00.

■ Fernkloof Botany & Bird Hike: Join Gantouw

Every Saturday

Saturday 29 July

■ Christmas in July: Celebrate the magic of

Saturday 22 July Tours & Excursions on a guided Botany & Bird Excursion in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, from 08:00 – 16:00. Gantouw Tours will provide coffee and a sweet treat to enjoy on the walk. Bring a picnic to enjoy afterwards in the lower garden of Fernkloof. The cost is R350 per adult and R120 per child under 16 years (excluding entrance fee to the reserve). Bookings by 20 July. Contact Andreas Groenewald on 082 344 1096 or info@gantouwtoursexcursions.co.za

■ Botanical Society Talk: Susan Buchanan, the author of Burchell’s Travels: The Life, Art and Journeys of William John Burchell, 1781- 1863, will be BotSoc’s guest speaker this month. Her talk will be on the remarkable naturalist Mary Elizabeth Barber, daughter of an 1820 settler, who sent 1 000 annotated plant specimens to the Irish botanist William Henry Harvey and also corresponded at length with Charles Darwin.

Entrance is free and all are welcome. At Fernkloof Hall, at 17:30.

■ Butterfly Foundation Fundraising Evening: Join Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate for an evening of fine wining and dining to raise funds for the Butterfly Foundation, a registered NPO, towards building a school for children with special needs in Stanford. Guests will be entertained by the popular local band of Soul Café, Rewind, delicious food and wine, and an auction. At Benguela Cove Manor House, at 18:00. For more information, contact Bianca on 082 075 7477 or Stanford Hills on 072 639 6135.

■ Market in the Garden: Set among the trees in the heart of town, at St Peter’s Church in Main Road, from 09:00-13:00.

Every Sunday

■ Lemm’s Corner Sunday Market: This popular market has closed for the winter and will re-open in August.

Village

EXPLORER EXPLORER The

FOOD • WINE • ART

Hermanus Wine & Food Festival is back!

Wine Village Hermanus will host the 19th Hermanus Food & Wine Festival at Curro Hermanus Private School on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 August. When it comes to festivals the Hermanus Wine & Food Festival is one of the best. It has consistently been rated as one of South Africa’s Top Ten Wine Festivals – and with good reason.

Wine Village applies 19 years of festival experience to warm the hearts and lift the spirits of those in pursuit of the finer things in life. This festival ensures that there is a great deal to look forward to as winter wraps up. Where else can you find such a vast collection of South Africa’s finest wines, craft beers, artisanal gin and of course the quintessential bubbly stand? All in one venue and presented by the people responsible for the creation of these fine products.

Join in this fine wine celebration and purchase your ticket online at Computicket. Prices range from R50 for entry to the Festival Arena to R170 for the full package which includes a tasting glass and access to the Wine Hall.

WINE TASTING HALL ■ Over 50 premium wine producers showcasing more than 250 wines.

■ Winemakers offering tastings of their latest vintages and special releases.

■ Introductions to new producers.

■ Participating producers include Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Beaumont Family Wines, Bouchard Finlayson, Creation, Lomond, Newton Johnson, Sumaridge, The Giant Periwinkle, Raka, Strandveld Vineyards, Paul Cluver and Domaine des Dieux, to name but a few.

■ All festival wines available at cellar door prices with great discounts and free shipping in the Overberg. A great chance to stock up your home cellar.

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT MARQUEE ■ Live music performances.

■ The most sought-after gourmet

food marquees with a lip-smacking range of delectable food and deli products offered by local restaurants, food stalls and food trucks.

■ Ample space to sit down and relax or lounge around with friends and make memories.

FESTIVAL LOUNGE ■ 8 brew masters presenting more than 30 craft beers and ciders.

■ The Gin-Avaria where South Africa’s most innovative and exotic gins will be introduced by the passionate micro-distillers who inspired them.

■ The on-site Wine Village shop where you can order your favourite drinks to take home or conveniently have delivered to your doorstep.

■ Funky performances by popular local musicians such as Ryno Velvet and Willim Welsyn.

KIDDIES CORNER ■ A safe environment for children with a dedicated team to keep them entertained with a jumping castle and various other games.

■ The children can have a fun time while Mom and Dad enjoy all the festival has to offer.

WINE VILLAGE HERMANUS – THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF SOUTH AFRICAN WINES ■ Wine Village is situated at the entrance to Hemel-en-Aarde winegrowing region, known for its magnificent scenery, the beauty of Babilonstoring and Kleinrivier Mountains, the unique quality of its terroir and maritime climate – and its premium wines. It is here that Wine Village opened its doors almost two decades ago.

■ Wine Village is renowned for its dedicated staff and daily wine tastings available seven days a week.

■ The Wine Village team is at hand before, during and after the Festival to answer any questions.

■ The Wine Village delivers door to door across South Africa and the globe.

For more information or stall enquiries contact Ulla at wineoffice@hermanus.co.za or call Wine Village Hermanus on 028 316 3988. Visit www.winevillage.co.za We love seeing how much you enjoy the festival and our wines and welcome you to share festival images with us. Our festival hashtag is #winefest2017 #localislekker and you can follow us on: Instagram - @hermanuswinevillage; Twitter - @winevillage; Facebook – winevillagehermanus; Pinterest winevillage

TICKET GIVE-AWAY Stand a chance to win a FREE ticket for VIP access to the 19th Hermanus Wine & Food Festival by answering these three easy questions: 1. Who is the main sponsor?

2. How old is the festival?

3. Where will it take place?

Email your answers and contact details to wineoffice@hermanus.co.za

SAFE JOURNEY HOME WITH PERCY TOURS The Wine Village deeply cares about the safety of festival goers and have once again entrusted the duties of transporting visitors to Percy Tours. Contact Percy to book your designated driver on 072 062 8500 or travel@percytours.com

10

18 - 31 July 2017

Final word on Dr James Barry?

T

he Hermanus History Society will host a talk on Monday 24 July by Dr Michael du Preez, the co-author of Dr James Barry – A woman ahead of her time, on the enigmatic Dr Barry who passed as a man for the whole of a 40year career in the British army.

Dr Michael du Preez, a retired surgeon, has spent 15 years researching the life of Dr Barry, who lived from about 1789 to 1859. This included a period of 12 years in the Cape during the Governorship of Lord Charles Somerset.

NEWS

The WRITE Angle

the river and were ‘uneasy’ regarding their use of the river water.

Dr James Barry was born Margaret Anne Bulkley, the daughter of an Irish shopkeeper in Cork. Raised as a girl, she seemed to be destined to work as a governess. However, she inherited a small fortune from her late uncle, the artist James Barry, and also received assistance from his socially powerful friends to enter medical school.

The speaker will refer to a few outstanding incidents in Barry’s extraordinary life, including being sent home under arrest from St Helena and being involved in a conflict with Florence Nightingale in Istanbul.

Town for about 25 years.

Retiring in 2001, he has spent over a decade researching the life of Dr James Barry and coauthoring this critically acclaimed biography with British writer, biographer and novelist Jeremy Dronfield.

– Dr Robin Lee, Hermanus History Society

Penguin Random House

Penguin Books

Hamish Hamilton

Copies of Dr James Barry – A woman ahead of her time will be available for purchase after the talk at the Catholic Church hall on 24 July at 16:00 or at The Book Cottage in Long Street, Hermanus.

Penguin Books

Born, raised and schooled in Cape Town, Dr Michael du Preez graduated MB ChB in 1958. He obtained the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in London in 1963.

He was appointed the first fulltime Consultant Urologist at Groote Schuur Hospital and the Red Cross Children’s' Hospital in Cape Town in 1968, and subsequently he also had a large private practice in Cape

One World Publications

Well-known academic, theologian and author Prof John de Gruchy introduced Gerhard Tötemeyer to the group of book lovers who gathered at The Book Cottage recently for the launch of Gerhard’s autobiography A Rebel for change. John has known Gerhard for many decades, and in his heartwarming talk Gerhard thanked him for his friendship and support. In the context of his autobiography, Gerhard said a rebel is somebody who is concerned about wrongdoings in society and who does not hesitate to speak out when human rights are being violated. He went on to say that a rebel must also be an initiator of alternatives and in the process act as a bridge builder, mediator and conciliator. Gerhard’s autobiography successfully integrates his own experiences as an academic and politician during Namibia’s struggle for freedom with a precise analysis of political and societal developments not only in colonial Namibia but also in South Africa during the apartheid years. From left are John Morris, owner of The Book Cottage, Prof John de Gruchy, the author Gerhard Tötemeyer, his wife Andree-Jeanne, daughter Sonja du Plessis and son-in-law Jean-Jacques du Plessis, and grandchildren Yazmin and Jean-Luc. Copies of A Rebel for change are available from The Book Cottage.

PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

Harper Collins

To do this she had to pass as a man. She arrived at university dressed as a male and was never again seen in public in women’s clothes. After passing the Royal College of Surgeons examination at the age of 22, Barry signed up in the army as an assistant

surgeon and embarked on a glittering career during which she held nine army postings, largely in the West Indies and Mediterranean.

Simon & Schuster

There is a real connection to Hermanus as well. Dr Barry had final responsibility for the leper colony in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley where conditions at the time had deteriorated dramatically. Local residents resented the colony in their midst and made life difficult.

Partly this was based on misconceptions about the nature of leprosy as a contagious disease. One of the several explanations for the name of ‘Onrust’ is that inhabitants of the seaside town knew that the lepers bathed in

THE

Rebel with a cause

A powerful, moving memoir – and a practical guide to healing – written by Dr Edith Eva Eger, an eminent psychologist and one of the few living Holocaust survivors. Edith Eger was 16 years old when the Nazis came to her hometown in Hungary and took her Jewish family to Auschwitz, where her parents were sent to the gas chamber by Joseph Mengele. Edie and her sister managed to survive until the American troops liberated the camps in 1945 and found Edie among a pile of dying bodies. The Choice weaves Eger’s personal story of forgiveness and finding joy in her life with case studies from her work as a psychologist. Her patients and their stories illustrate the power of love and healing and show us how to find freedom, regardless of circumstance.

– www.simonandschuster.com

To Westerners, the name Timbuktu long conjured images of an African El Dorado. Beginning in the late 18th century, a series of explorers tried repeatedly to reach the fabled city, but one expedition after another went disastrously awry, succumbing to attack, the climate, and disease.

Timbuktu was also a rich medieval centre of learning, harbouring tens of thousands of ancient manuscripts, on subjects ranging from religion to poetry, law, history, pharmacology, and astronomy. When al Qaeda-linked jihadists surged across Mali in 2012, a team of librarians and archivists joined forces to spirit these precious manuscripts into hiding. These two suspenseful strands are expertly twined into a fascinating account of one of the world’s most mythologised places. – www.harpercollins.co.uk

This children’s book is packed with 100 bedtime stories about the life of 100 extraordinary women from the past and the present, including Elizabeth I, Frida Kahlo, Jane Goodall, Malala Yousafzai, Amelia Earhart, Coco Chanel, Maya Angelou and Serena Williams. Illustrated by 60 female artists from all over the world, each woman's story is written in the style of a fairy tale, occupying a full page with a full colour portrait that captures the spirit of the portrayed hero. From activists and lawyers to pirates and inventors, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls presents young readers with a lifetime’s supply of brilliant female role models. It is also the most crowd-funded original book in history and a beautiful FSC-certified object.

– www.rebelgirls.co

The legendary biologist, provocateur, and bestselling author mounts a timely and passionate defence of science and clear thinking with this careerspanning collection of 42 essays – all written with Dawkins’s characteristic erudition, remorseless wit, and unjaded awe of the natural world. In a passionate introduction, Dawkins calls on us to insist that reason take centre stage and that gut feelings, even when they don’t represent the stirred dark waters of xenophobia, misogyny, or other blind prejudice, should stay out of the voting booth. In the essays, Dawkins decries bad science, religion in the schools, climate-change and evolution deniers, and celebrates science as possessing many of religion’s virtues without its detriments of superstition and prejudice. – www.penguinrandomhouse.com

The central character in Red Sky at Noon (the third and final volume of Montefiore’s The Moscow Trilogy) is Benya Golden, imprisoned in the Gulag for a crime he did not commit.

He is offered a chance of redemption by joining a penal battalion to fight the Nazis. He enrols in the Russian cavalry, and on a hot summer day in July 1942, he and his band of brothers are sent on a desperate mission behind enemy lines. Switching between Benya's war in the grasslands of Southern Russia, and Stalin's plans in the Kremlin, between Benya's intense affair with an Italian nurse and a romance between Stalin's daughter and a journalist also on the Eastern Front, this is a sweeping story of passion, bravery and human survival.

– www.penguin.co.uk

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness is Arundhati Roy’s first novel in 20 years since her Booker Prizewinning novel, The God of Small Things. It takes us on an intimate journey of many years across the Indian subcontinent, from the cramped neighbourhoods of Old Delhi and the roads of the new city, to the mountains and valleys of Kashmir and beyond. Along the way we encounter Anjum – who used to be Aftab – unrolling a threadbare Persian carpet in a city graveyard she calls home; the odd, unforgettable Tilo and the men who loved her, including Musa; Tilo’s landlord, a former suitor, now an intelligence officer posted to Kabul; and the two Miss Jebeens. As this ravishing, deeply humane novel braids these lives together, it reinvents what a novel can do and can be.

– www.goodreads.com

11

18 - 31 July 2017

Caring for ancient, healing Platbos forest Nelly Roodt

P

latbos, the southernmost forest in Africa, has a healing narrative.

Enriching its story of renewal are the philosophies of forest healing upheld there, the ongoing reforestation project in conjunction with Greenpop, an organisation that plants trees all over the continent, the manufacture of forest essence

by Platbos co-owner Melissa Krige and the introduction of beehive therapy – a first in Africa – in August this year.

As the crow flies, Platbos is less than 10 km from Gansbaai and 6 km from Baardskeerdersbos, but is not as well-known as one would expect. Those who have discovered the canopy of trees on the Baviaansberg slope know it is a place of enchantment, conservation and restoration.

However, Platbos is on red alert, as are other forests: Less than half a percent of South Africa’s surface is covered by forest and what remains must be saved and, in most cases, rehabilitated. Such areas are being deforested for the sake of agricultural development.

Climate change is resulting in drier conditions, which are challenging the ecology and increasing the fire threat.

Platbos is as vulnerable as all the other woodlands in the country and needs ongoing care. It is a remnant of an ancient forest. The sprawling milkwood tree, estimated to be 1 000 years old, testifies to that.

Another of its remarkable qualities is that the trees work together to survive in this relatively arid part of the land.

They grow towards one another forming tree islands, thereby capturing nutrients and moisture.

Wildlife is abundant. More than 40 bird species have been

spotted. There are numerous buck species and the presence of leopards and caracal has been confirmed. The endangered leopard toad is also doing well.

Melissa and her husband, Francois Krige, purchased Platbos in 2005. They could barely afford it. But it was as if the forest had chosen them, Melissa believes. Judging by the couple’s commitment to look after the forest, there could not have been a better choice. “It is our calling to manage, conserve and expand Platbos,” Francois maintains.

As a young man Francois began his arboriculture career in the forests of the Congo and Germany. Following this, he travelled to London where he learnt the specialised art of urban tree care. Back in Cape Town he formed his own tree surgery business. Platbos is now thriving under his expert care.

Platbos forest is a place of enchantment, conservation and restoration which also offers eco-friendly, off-grid tented accommodation. This ancient Milkwood tree is estimated to be 1 000 years old. last year, they learnt about the beehive therapy he practised.

They agreed that it was in line with Platbos philosophy that nature heals and he was given the go-ahead to start with his practice at Platbos.

Melissa, a horticulturist, manages the Platbos nursery where saplings from the existing forest are nurtured until they are ready to be replanted in denuded areas. In conjunction with Greenpop some 48 000 have been replanted since 2012.

The healing aspect of the forest is key in Krige dialogue.

Melissa supports forest therapy. The Japanese developed it in 1980 and called it Shinrin-yoku – which means absorbing the forest atmosphere.

Deon de Kock, the only beehive therapist in Africa.

The bee room at Platbos has been built and will be in operation next month. It is a one-room wooden hut with three benches. Six beehives with 30 000 bees each have been installed.

“The forest has the ability to heal emotionally and physically,” Melissa says.

Skimming their visitors’ books, those visiting concur: No matter how stressed they are, they leave relaxed and calm.

When the Kriges met beekeeper Deon de Kock after he had settled at Pearly Beach

Deon learnt about this treatment from Ukrainian migrant labourers in the US, where he had worked on commercial bee farms for eight years. “Close contact with bees can bring about deep well-being and relaxation. Take time to lie down on a beehive, and you will experience that, they taught me.”

Platbos protectors, Francois and Melissa Krige: “It is our calling to manage, conserve and expand Platbos…”

“Clients lie on the benches on top of the beehives and are exposed to bee smell, noises, vibrations and heat. There is no direct contact with the bees.”

In 2006 Melissa started making remedies from the flowers and leaves of the 13 main tree species of the forest.

“These remedies work gently but deeply to restore balance mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The tree essences are supportive to other healing modalities,” Melissa explains.

Known as African Tree Essences, Melissa’s market to Japan and Europe is growing rapidly. In 2016 she was invited to present a training course on the essences in Tokyo, Japan.

“It is wonderful that the world is learning that forests do heal.

Simultaneously, awareness of Platbos is expanding. People are starting to look differently at nature – they are learning to honour it. That is what we want more than anything else.”

Platbos Forest is situated in the Baviaanspoort Hills on the Grootbos Road between Stanford and Gansbaai. For more information, visit www.platbos.co.za or contact them on 082 411 0448.

12

18 - 31 July 2017

Who’s cooking where in Hermanus?

T

here are so many changes afoot on the restaurant scene in Hermanus that I can hardly keep up! Several owners have sold their businesses and been taken over by new faces, while other familiar chefs and restauranteurs are moving to new premises.

ELL on Wheels So let’s see if I’ve got this right: First off, ELL 269 suddenly closed its doors after only seven months, but owner Norah Hudson remains courageous and uncompromising about her dedication to a plant-based menu, and characteristically optimistic about the future.

“I took a huge leap of faith last year to become the first fully vegan restaurant in our area and one of very few in South Africa,” she says. “During our time in The Carriages Centre, we made so many new friends. We enjoyed receiving every visitor, especially the many guests who tried out a plant based dish or beverage for the first time and enjoyed the experience. What a wonderful feeling it was to meet other vegans from all over the world, in all shapes and sizes, many of whom became like family.”

Norah used ELL 269 as a base from which to educate and inform people, and to encourage those unfamiliar with a vegan lifestyle to try something new, different and delicious. The quiet periods and high overheads however put too much pressure on this trailblazing establishment to survive. Norah says she was advised by several people to consider changing her food philosophy and including eggs and dairy products in order to accommodate local clients who could not be convinced to have a plant based milk in their coffee or settle for a tofu scramble instead of poached eggs. But Norah says compromising on her beliefs and giving up her dream of creating 100% plant based foods without harming any

What’s Cooking RESTAURANT NEWS Hedda Mittner

animal in the process “would be going against every grain of my being”.

She has wasted no time in reinventing her business and ELL on Wheels is already up and running, offering a range of home-made vegan meals that can be ordered directly from Norah. ELL on Wheels will also feature at markets, festivals and other pop-up locations, where Norah will continue to host her Food & Wine pairings that were so popular at ELL 269 on Friday evenings. For more information, contact Norah on 079 176 9033.

Oskars on the move ELL 269’s previous premises in The Carriages Centre will not remain empty for long, as mother-and-daughter team Sanmarie Swanepoel and Lizanne Olivier of Oskars will be taking over on 1 September. They’ve decided to keep their Oskars Delicatessen brand, but will be scaling down to focus on daytime trade only with their bakery, breakfasts and a daily harvest lunch table. No doubt we can expect to continue enjoying this talented duo’s signature style of fresh, wholesome home cooking and delectable breads, cakes and pastries.

Taking over Oskars’ present location in the Village Square is none other than Petri Hendriksz of Pear Tree, a selfconfessed workaholic who is used to running more than one establishment at the same time. When he started Eat restaurant in The Village, he not only remained fully involved in his parents, Petrus and Estelle Hendriksz’s Fusion restaurant, but also opened

@The Village Stall. This unique combination of a farm stall / deli / arts & crafts shop was sold in early 2016 to Frank, Ronel and Eloise Holloway, who have continued to build on the firm foundation laid by Petri. Having already handed over Eat to new owner Sheena Bruce in November 2014, Petri then went on to open the highly acclaimed Pear Tree restaurant at the Village Square.

Now that new owners Henri Grové and his son-in-law Lyall Wiggill have taken over Fusion from Petrus and Estelle, Petri is ready for a new challenge, but we’ll have to wait until 1 October to find out what he has in stall for diners in Hermanus. No doubt it will be another success story as Petri is one of the most talented and innovative chefs – and businessmen – in town.

Meet the owners Henri Grové and Lyall Wiggill’s takeover has been seamless and it’s business as usual at Fusion, the only change at this point being a fresh new logo.

Henri and his daughter René and son-in-law Lyall have made their way to Hermanus via Somerset West and Polokwane, where they ran a successful restaurant for 23 years. Polokwane may seem a long way from the Cape, but Henri says he has spent holidays in Hermanus since childhood as both his grandfather and father owned holiday homes in Voëlklip.

“It has been a dream of mine to settle in Hermanus for many years,” he says. Henri and his wife, who sadly passed away last year, had spent many occasions dining at

Fusion and enjoying the views. At the end of last year he approached Petrus and Estelle Hendriksz about selling and finally took over both Fusion and Bite 2 Eat on 1 July.

This close-knit family is overjoyed to finally be living in their favourite town and are enthusiastic about continuing Petrus and Estelle’s proud legacy. Contact Fusion Restaurant on 028 312 4277.

More chefs playing musical chairs Other interesting developments include the sale of Savannah Café to Maurice Dourèe, whose previous restaurant Paradiso changed hands last month. Andrea van Wyk had taken over Savannah three years ago from Rudolf van der Berg, who in turn took over the reins at Burgundy from Rayno and Celia Rabie.

Andrea says she has no immediate plans other than resting up for a few weeks, cleaning her house, looking at the sea and taking the dog for walks. You know, all those normal things that people in the restaurant business miss out on.

Master Chef Maurice, who hails from Belgium, will take over Savannah on 1 August.

No stranger to the restaurant scene in Hermanus, he has owned several establishments, including the Fisherman’s Cottage. Which brings me to its present owners, Chef Anton Verhoogt and his wife Nicole, who have just concluded the purchase of Mariclaire Day’s iconic restaurant in Aberdeen Street, The Barefoot Cook, which she’s had for more than 15 years. From September the Verhoogts will be running

ELL GOES MOBILE Norah Hudson’s ELL 269 has closed its doors and will continue to operate as ELL on Wheels, while Oskars will be moving in on 1 September.

A DREAM COME TRUE The new owners of Fusion Restaurant are delighted to be living in their favourite town. From left are René Wiggill, husband Lyall and son Judah, and her father Henri Grové with little Shiloh.

MEATY GOODNESS Chef De Wet Laing of Cattle Baron Grill & Bistro with their mouth-watering Eisbein.

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18 - 31 July 2017 both restaurants, with the Fisherman’s Cottage focusing on evening trade and The Barefoot Cook on daytime trade.

Winter Specials Last but not least, don’t forget that there are several restaurants offering great winter specials, including La Pentola’s incredible offer of a two course menu at R95 and three courses at R125. This special is available not only for lunch but also dinner and runs 7 days a week. Add to that a cosy fire and beautiful views and you have all the boxes ticked! Call 028 313 1685 to make your booking.

At LB Seafood Bistro their invitation to eat out for under

R100 is valid until the end of the month and includes a variety of specials priced between R70 for a tuna kebab with wasabi chips and R95 for a 15 piece sushi platter. Apart from their seafood specials, there is also a chicken stir-fry at R70 and a cheese burger and fries at R75. You are welcome to take your own wine as corkage is free until the end of July. Call 028 312 3611.

Another popular choice is The Cattle Baron Grill & Bistro where the lunch buffet offers excellent value for money at only R84 (and R72 for pensioners). The lunch buffet is available on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, while the Sunday lunch buffet offers a

traditional feast at R165. Apart from their extensive menu with a focus on Cattle Baron’s famous hand-cut steaks, they serve a mean Eisbein which is bound to satisfy the most humungous of appetites.

This traditional German dish is perfect winter fare, one that I’ve sorely missed ever since Dorf Krug closed down. I am pleased to say that Cattle Baron’s Eisbein did not disappoint – it was deliciously succulent inside and crispy on the outside, and went down a treat with creamy mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, mustard, apple sauce and the required accompaniment of a pint of beer. Make your booking on 028 313 0384, dig in and enjoy!

Help keep Hermanus clean and win a R500 meal voucher!

Three top waterfront restaurants – La Pentola, LB Seafood Bistro and Burgundy – have joined Whale Coast Conservation (WCC) in their efforts to beat cigarette butt litter in Hermanus by not only sponsoring the installation of 20 butt bins, but also by each sponsoring a meal voucher to the value of R500 as prizes for WCC’s Butt competition.

Anyone can enter and there will be three winners each month – that’s nine R500 vouchers in all!

Last month’s lucky winners were Bradley Oosthuien, JaneAnn Day and Tarynne, aka ‘Ciggie’.

This month’s competition requires entrants to answer one simple question: Are cigarette butts biodegradable?

Send your answer YES or NO, together with you name and contact details, by any electronic means (email, SMS, WhatsApp) to 083 242 3295 or anina.wcc@gmail.com Make sure you hurry up – the lucky draw will be at the end of July for three more R500 meal vouchers from La Pentola, LB Seafood Bistro and Burgundy restaurants. And remember that it’s all for a most worthy cause – the ultimate winner is the environment and everyone who lives in it.

WCC has been collecting and analysing litter since 2009 and according to communications manager Anina Lee, cigarette butts are by far the most common waste item. It is estimated that in 2015 about

25 million butts were dropped in the 600 m² Hermanus CBD area alone.

Cigarette butts are an eyesore and a poor reflection on our "cleanest town".

According to Anina, butts also pose more serious problems, as cigarette filters do not biodegrade. “They are in fact toxic waste and therefore an environmental health threat. The toxic chemicals trapped in the filters leach out into water, aggregate in the bodies of marine and freshwater animals and accumulate along food chains. Eventually they reach us.”

Let’s all help to keep Hermanus toxin-free!

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18 - 31 July 2017

THE

NEWS

Good Guide

Every Wednesday ■ Graze Farmers Market: Reduce your carbon footprint and get your fresh veggies at Graze Slow Food Café. Always seasonal, always fresh. Stay for coffee and breakfast. From 09:00 – 12:00. Contact Tabby & Alex on 076 243 1930.

Every Saturday

■ Eikenhoff Orchid Nursery Open Day: Come and see the beautifully sculptural and elegant orchids in the nursery at Eikenhoff Farm just outside Stanford on the Papiesvlei Road, between 09:00 and 14:00. Available to purchase, these orchids keep their blooms for months and make any home or garden look spectacular. For more info contact 076 292 5267 or admin@eikenhoff.com

is laden with tantalising home-made delights, including cakes, fudge, rusks, pies, goat and cow milk cheeses, wood-fired ciabattas, farm vegetables, herbs, preserves, sausages and meats, as well as pickles, jams and sauces. On the Stanford Hotel Stoep, from 09:00 – 12:00. Contact Caro on 082 448 0237.

■ Christmas in July: Birkenhead Brewery and Walker Bay Estate present a Christmas in July celebration with the Cape Welsh Choir. Spend an entertaining evening listening to your favourite songs and carols, warmed by Glühwein and a blazing log fire, followed by a traditional Christmas supper. R325 pp (excl. drinks). To book, call 028 341 0013 or Paul on 082 456 8631. At Birkenhead Brewery, from 17:30.

Friday 28 – Sunday 30 July

Sunday 30 July

■ Sanctuary in Nature: Join Bodhi Khaya for their Winter Weekend Special, where you can unwind, relax and rejuvenate as you enjoy the wide open spaces, magnificent stars and warm fires at night. Choose from morning meditation sessions, guided walks and therapies or stay curled up with your book. Most of the food is grown on the farm and is 100% organic. The price per person for accommodation and meals is from R 1 200, while therapies are arranged directly with the therapist on call. Booking is essential; send an email to info@bkr.co.za

■ Christmas in July: Join Bodhi Khaya Retreat for a vegetarian Christmas lunch. Arrive before 12:00 and enjoy a wine tasting beforehand presented by their neighbours, Lomond Wines. Bodhi Khaya is not licensed so you are welcome to bring your own bottle (or buy from Lomond). Lunch is R150 pp and booking is essential; contact info@bkr.co.za or 028 388 0156. At Bodhi Khaya Retreat, from 11:30.

■ Saturday Morning Market: Stanford market

Saturday 29 July ■ Tea for Tigers: Panthera Africa is celebrating International Tiger Day with a fundraising effort that invites local businesses and individuals to host a Tiger Tea Party. Graze Café and Mosaic Lagoon Café are participating in Tea for Tigers – if you’d like to show your support and join in the fun, contact 076 974 3088 or 071 182 8368.

Saturday 5 August ■ Butterfly Foundation Fundraising Evening:

Join Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate for an evening of fine wining and dining to raise funds for the Butterfly Foundation, a registered NPO, towards building a school for children with special needs in Stanford. Guests will be entertained by the popular local band of Soul Café, Rewind, delicious food and wine, and an auction. At Benguela Cove Manor House, at 18:00. For more information, contact Bianca on 082 075 7477 or Stanford Hills on 072 639 6135.

Host a Tea for Tigers in aid of Panthera Africa Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary is appealing to individuals and businesses to host a special event on International Tiger Day on Saturday 29 July. Owners Cathrine Nyquist and Lizaene Cornwall are asking all their supporters to hold a benefit tea party with their friends to celebrate Tiger Day and at the same time to raise awareness and funds for a much-needed freezer to help them feed their big cats.

“We have two beautiful tigers living at Panthera Africa, Raise and Arabella. These two animals were rescued from a bone trade farm in South Africa where they certainly would have had an untimely death and their bones sold to markets to Asia to make potions and aphrodisiacs,” say Cat and Lizaene.

“At Panthera Africa, our aim is to give these tigers the love and respect they deserve and the opportunity to live out the rest of their lives in a peaceful enclosure where they are free to run and play. So far, we have raised funds for Arabella to have an eye operation and

built her and Raise a large platform and a dam as these cats love to swim.”

The money raised by the Tiger Tea Party would enable these two passionate big cat lovers to buy a new freezer which costs R60 000 so that they can store meat for Raise and Arabella and their other furry friends. If there is any money left over, they will use it to buy enrichment toys for their tigers, so that they can have lots of fun over the next months. The money will also go towards their vet checkups and supplements so that they are in tip-top condition.

“We would very much like our extended human pride all over the world to join us in obtaining this new food storage unit, and we want to ask you to do something really fun to help us raise the funds – hold a Tiger Tea Party!” urge Cat and Lizaene.

All you need to do is sponsor the tea and cake, and invite a few of your friends to your home and for a Tiger Tea Party.

Perhaps you own a coffee shop or a restaurant and

would like to sponsor a bigger event – there really is no limit to the number of people you invite. But even small tea parties are important as every bit helps.

Guests are requested to pay the price of a cup of tea and slice of cake in their country – locally the cost is anything from R50 – as a donation. Cat and Lizaene will send you a video clip made by them to show your guests, so that awareness can be spread of the problems tigers face. If you decide to have a children’s tea party, you could also include a reading from a children’s book about tigers.

“Our goal is to have 100 tea parties all over the world!” say Cat and Lizaene. “If each person invites 10 friends at R50 per person, that means we will raise R50 000 on one day. This is enough to buy that brand-new freezer.”

On behalf of Raise and Arabella and all their four-legged friends, Panthera Africa would be immensely grateful for your support. Email marketing@pantheraafrica.com now to get involved and organise a Tiger Tea Party!

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18 - 31 July 2017

Erwin brings a taste of Austria to Stanford Run for the Butterfly Centre Founded by Jami Kastner, the Butterfly Centre in the village of Stanford opened in July 2015 and caters to the needs of children who do not fit into the mainstream school environment. As a school and community centre, it has changed the lives of countless children and their families.

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These uniquely beautiful kids benefit from the latest research and techniques to help each one of them reach their full potential and live their best life possible. Parents who have been told their children will never read are hearing them read.

Non-verbal children have started speaking. Miracles are happening, and continue to happen.

ocal Stanford resident Erwin Lesicnik (right) takes great pride in supplying the village and surrounding areas with the finest Austrian and German sausages, and a variety of other artisanal meat and delicatessen products.

Using only the best, selected cuts of locally bred pork and pasture fed beef, which he combines with a unique selection of imported spices, Erwin’s offering includes that German ‘evergreen’, Bratwurst, which has been a popular delicacy since the Middle Ages. His range comprises traditional German Bratwurst, Gypsey Bratwurst, Münich Weisswurst and Nürenburger Bratwurst; Oak-smoked sausages such as Selchwurst, Debreziner, Knackwurst and Chorizo; and other cold meats that include Krakauer, Jagdwurst, Almtaler salami and Fleischkäse. Without the addition of any artificial colourings, synthetic ingredients, or any meat substitutes, all Erwin’s products are Paleo and Banting compliant.

“It started as a hobby more than 24 years ago which was inspired by the desire to know what was really in a sausage. With mass-produced products you don’t know exactly what you are eating and I wanted to produce something that I was proud to eat myself and share with my friends and clients,” says Erwin in his trademark Austrian accent.

“As the Universe conspired to meet my request, I met an old German man who was a trained Meat Master. He was committed to doing things in the old traditional ways and he was willing to share his knowledge with me. A few months later he died and bequeathed me his recipes. In his honour I began to produce my first sausages, and it did not take long before my friends and friends of friends wanted to try them too.

I later met Austrian Fleischmeister Robert Wiegele, who was the factory manager at

The Butterfly Centre relies largely on donations in order to operate and achieve its aims and ideals. While each child follows an individualised education plan based around the standard CAPS curriculum, Jami says their true achievement lies in giving the children self-confidence and the belief that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.

“The centre regularly hosts workshops and talks with experts in all fields of special needs education. We aim to educate and raise awareness which can help build a fully inclusive society, where children who were previously marginalised are celebrated for their uniqueness,” she says.

Seemanns Butchery in Johannesburg, and he continues to be my teacher to this day.”

community, which is exactly what we found in Stanford,” he says.

Erwin grew up in the Austrian town of Klagenfurt and came to South Africa as a young man in 1972. Initially employed as a bus driver in Johannesburg, Erwin and his wife Laina later ran their own transport company for 20 years before buying a farm near Mooirivier and relocating to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Here they farmed with sheep and cattle, while Erwin perfected the art of producing hand-made meat products.

Among the clients he supplied were several pubs, restaurants, boutique hotels and a supermarket.

That was five years ago and since then Erwin has continued to enjoy offering his services and products to a wide range of clients, including Ou Meul Bakkery, Graze Café, Route 43 Butchery, Bellavista Restaurant, The Tasting Room at Stanford Hills and The Royal Oke, as well as Peregrine Farm Stall in Grabouw. Soon to be added to Erwin’s range is traditional Sauerkraut, which goes down a treat with his sausages and cold meats.

After 16 years Erwin and Laina sold the farm and settled in Stanford. This followed an extensive search all over the Western Cape for their new home. “We drew a circle around Cape Town and explored all the towns within 1,5 hours’ drive from the city. On our dream list was rural scenery and an eco-conscious

Orders can be placed directly with Erwin and he delivers in Stanford and also Hermanus on a weekly basis. Erwin can be found at the Stanford Market every Saturday morning and from September he’ll be back at the Stanford Sunset Market on the last Friday of every month.

Contact Erwin on 082 441 5533 or erwin@lsd.co.za – Hedda Mittner

“However, funding needs to grow in order to help the ever increasing community of these special children and their families. We currently rent premises in Stanford, but the building is now on the market and long term the vision is to build a permanent home for the centre through our registered NPO, the Butterfly Foundation.

“We have identified suitable land on the Stanford Hills farm on which to build a permanent home for the Butterfly Centre and its children. The donation we have received of two 40-foot containers will form the basis of the permanent structure. We have sought professional advice and been advised that converting the buildings into a school, including bathrooms and kitchen, will cost in the region of R500 000.”

Next month a fundraising evening will be held at Benguela Cove and in October Jami and an ever growing group of supporters will be running the Gun Run 21 km half-marathon in Cape Town to raise funds for the Butterfly Centre.

The Butterfly Foundation is a registered NPO and PBO, so all donations are tax deductible. For more information, visit www.butterflyfoundation.co.za or contact info@butterflyfoundation.co.za Direct donations can be made to The Butterfly Centre, ABSA, Savings Account 932 056 9373. For international donations or fundraisers, the Butterfly Centre is registered with JustGiving – visit www.justgiving.com/butterfly-centre

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18 - 31 July 2017

Local wines steal limelight at SAWi Awards 2017

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ouchard Finlayson has been ranked as the Top Red Wine Producer in South Africa in the 2017 South African Wine Index (SAWi) awards. Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak Pinot Noir scored a full 100 as the No 1 Pinot Noir in South Africa and was placed the 11th highest ranked wine overall in South Africa.

4th highest ranked wine in South Africa overall.

The runner-up in the Pinot Noir category, after Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak Pinot Noir, was Newton Johnson Vineyards Family Reserve Pinot Noir.

Besides Bouchard Finlayson’s four Platinum Awards, other recipients from the region included Ataraxia Chardonnay, Beaumont Hope Marguerite Chenin Blanc, Crystallum Clay Shales Chardonnay, Iona Vineyards Chardonnay and Raka Biography Shiraz.

Despite fierce competition, this lauded wine has been the winner in the Pinot Noir category for the past five years.

The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley boutique winery, owned by the Tollman family and headed by founder Peter Finlayson and winemaker Chris Albrecht, was also placed in the 8th position overall this year as SA’s Fine Wine Producer.

In addition to the 100 score Platinum for the Galpin Peak Pinot Noir, Bouchard Finlayson received three other Platinum awards, scoring higher than 95 for its Tête de Cuvée Galpin Peak Pinot Noir (98.40); the Hannibal red blend of Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Mourvèdre (placed in second place in the Red Blend category at 96.82); and its famed Crocodile's Lair Chardonnay Kaaimansgat (95.44).

Three of its other white wines also scored above 90: Bouchard Finlayson Walker Bay Missionvale Chardonnay (91.90); Blanc de Mer Riesling and Viognier blend (90.88); and Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (90.84).

methodology through its Algorithm of Excellence, ascribing a value to the various kinds of awards to level the playing field and in doing so, properly assess the quality status of every wine produced here.

SAWi’s Grand Wines (GWC) promotes South African fine wines as a collective, and offers wine lovers the first ever South African cultivar ‘ranking’ list, and the most definitive measure of wine quality to date. It applies a rigorous

In the process the system condenses the results of more than 100 judging panels using a rolling ten-year time frame.

Applying the Algorithm of Excellence to this vast set of data, stretching back a decade, patterns emerge that

make it easy to distinguish wines which are consistently accepted as exceptional.

Importantly, it allows for the only definitive comparison of vinous like with like.

Other local wineries that performed exceptionally well at the SAWi Awards 2017 are Hamilton Russell Vineyards, which scored among the Top 10 Fine Wine Producers and also won the Top Cultivar Award for the Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay.

This wine was also judged the

Hamilton Russell Vineyards walked away with two Platinum Awards (for their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir), as did Creation (Reserve Merlot and Reserve Pinot Noir), Sumaridge (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) and Newton Johnson (Chardonnay and Family Reserve Pinot Noir).

Wildekrans Wine Estate received a total of four Platinum Awards, for their Barrel Select Chenin Blanc Reserve, Pinotage Reserve, Shiraz Reserve, and Pinotage / Shiraz Reserve.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

18 - 31 July 2017

A close shave for gentlemen

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Barber Kashif Sarwar tends to the bearded owner of The Gentleman’s Lounge Barber shop, Morné Geldenhuys.

visit to the barber promises to be a whole new experience for residents and visitors of the male species at the newly opened Gentleman’s Lounge Barber shop in the Village Square. This classy shop with its fabulous retro interior offers comfy leather couches, topnotch coffee and a selection of reading matter, while a vintage barber chair that is over a hundred years old and has been reupholstered in stylish white ostrich leather takes centre stage.

The Gentleman’s Lounge

Barber is the brainchild of Morné Geldenhuys, who has been in the building trade in Hermanus for over 20 years.

Wielding the scissors and razor is Kashif Sarwar, who hails from Pakistan and learnt all about cutting, shaving and stylish men’s hair in childhood before joining the family’s chain of barber shops in Cape Town. Youthful he may be, but with Kashif’s many years of experience, customers are in safe hands.

The shop offers various services, ranging from a Boy’s Cut at R80 and a Men’s Cut at

R100 to a Hit & Run Shave at R150 and a Gentleman’s Shave at R250, which includes a face wash and moisturising – a wonderful treat for any gentleman who appreciates attention to detail. The Gentleman’s Cut at R150 includes a wash, conditioning, scalp massage and removal of unibrow and ear hairs.

Among the products used by The Gentleman’s Lounge Barber is a range of Buffelsfontein beard oils that are also available for purchase – the ideal gift for that hairy man in your life. Vouchers are

available and customers will get a loyalty card that entitles them to a free cut on the tenth visit.

The shop is fully air-conditioned and offers its customers free WiFi, while the flat-screen in the corner is tuned to a sport channel. What more could a gentleman want?

The Gentleman’s Lounge Barber is open 7 days a week. Mon – Fri: 09:00 – 17:00; Sat 09:00 – 14:00; and Sunday 10:00 – 14:00. Find them on the upper level of the Village Square opposite Ocean Basket. Call 072 207 9900.

– Hedda Mittner

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18 - 31 July 2017

Why pets are like gold for oldies

et ownership remains one of the most important sources of mental, emotional and physical health for the elderly, yet it is often overlooked or ignored as a benefit. Few residential homes for the elderly allow pets, yet global research shows that pet ownership not only counteracts depression, it also encourages physical activity and stimulates the brain.

"Having a pet helps a senior person focus on something other than physical problems and negative preoccupations about loss or ageing," says psychologist Penny Donnenfeld. Pets give a person something to care for, to watch and play with, something that provides a sense of security, something that stimulates some degree of exercise and above all, something that demands a daily routine.

"Animals live very much in the here and now. They don't worry about tomorrow. And tomorrow can be very scary for an older person. Having a pet with that sense of now tends to rub off on people," says psychotherapist Dr Jay Granat.

Numerous studies on the effects of pets on elderly people in nursing homes found that residents who interacted with

THE

NEWS

MY Pet Dr Hilldidge Beer

pets smiled more and became measurably more alert than those who had no contact with animals.

are physically challenged and unable to walk with a dog, a cat or a caged bird may be a better option.

Elderly pet owners also made fewer visits to doctors than those who were without animal companions, possibly because the animals mitigated loneliness.

■ Examine your long-term financial security. Can you afford vets’ bills? Sterilisation, vaccinations, parasite control and an annual vet check-up are needed by all dogs and cats.

Pets need nutritious, vitaminenriched food; dogs need grooming and bathing. EberVet Vetshops can help with expert advice on nutrition, grooming and parasite control.

However, while the benefits are numerous there are important considerations to take into account before an elderly person adopts a pet: ■ Give careful thought to the breed, age and temperament of the pet. A puppy or kitten may not be the best choice because of the care they require. A young pet may outlive its owner. Yet, it's also important that the pet isn't too old since it may fall ill and need costly veterinary attention. A Jack Russell may seem like an attractive option because of its size but they are very high energy and require enormous effort and commitment.

■ Ensure the pet is given the all clear by a vet. A sickly animal can be expensive to treat.

■ Consider your own physical limitations. If you

■ Consider your residential situation. Can a cat or dog live comfortably in your home? If you have to move, what happens to your pet? You may prefer to adopt a senior pet; they are less energetic, less demanding and are unlikely to outlive you. If you can’t take a pet into your own home, consider volunteering at a shelter. If you are in a residential environment that doesn’t allow pet ownership, ask management to allow pet visits. Many animal shelters will take pets to retirement and nursing homes as a form of therapy.

If you can take care of a pet, he’ll take care of you – for life.

Hilldidge Beer is CEO of the EberVet Pet Care Group and EberVet Vetshops

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18 - 31 July 2017

Funds urgently needed for Spayathon Avis MacIntyre

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ogs, both male and female, are being mutilated by their owners in a bid to stop them mating. Most of them are so badly abused that they run away, even from kindly helping hands and a whopping R20 000 needs to be raised urgently to help them.

This dreadful state of affairs, as reported by Sharon Struckmeyer from Ndumbi in the Eastern Cape, came to the attention of the Hermanus Animal Hospital veterinarians who are determined to do something about it.

Heading the team is Dr Sandy Waddingham who has initiated outreach projects in Zwelihle, Hawston and the Seychelles in an attempt to educate animal owners but specifically to aid the animals, by spaying, de-worming and neutering them.

A Spayathon at Ndumbi is being organised for the first week in August and a team of six, comprising two veterinarians, one veterinary nurse and three assistants, will spend three days at Ndumbi.

According to Sandy each vet will be able to spay about 35 dogs a day – a total of 210 in the three days they are there.

That does not include the number of male dogs that will be neutered or the animals that will be de-wormed. The team is even prepared to treat cattle.

According to Sharon the Mthatha State Veterinary Services have not visited the area for years to vaccinate against rabies and other diseases as there are no funds available. She pays for some drugs and dog food out of her own pocket because she can’t bear to see the animals starving or puppies with worms coming out of their noses.

Accommodation has been sponsored for the Spayathon by residents in Ndumbi and the medical expertise comes from the Hermanus Animal Hospital, but the most important aspect of the visit is having enough of the correct drugs. At least R20 000 needs to be raised urgently.

In doing the Spayathon,

Sandy hopes to encourage other veterinary practices to follow suit and reach out to rural South Africa. While they are there they hope to visit the school to enlighten children on how to care for animals and to understand that dogs, cats and cattle are sentient beings that suffer cruelly at the hands of their abusers. She hopes to make the outreaches regular so that eventually the living conditions of animals improve dramatically.

Many of the owners leave the animals to their own fate when they come to the Western Cape to find work, so it is important to educate people in the rural areas as well as here in Hermanus and other towns and cities in the Western Cape.

Donations will be most gratefully received and the banking details are as follows: Reference: Transkei Account name: Hermanus Overberg CVC FNB: 624 8200 95 13 Branch no: 200412

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18 - 31 July 2017

Firescape your garden to safeguard your home

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fter countless fires in the Western Cape the last few months and the recent devastating fire in Knysna now is a good time for residents to consider firescaping their gardens before the dry season starts in a few months.

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NEWS

MY Home & Garden Slow down a runaway fire by firescaping a defensible space around your home with three zones of firewise plants.

In landscapes situated near mountain fynbos or near nature reserves, it is a good time to assess whether your landscape would protect you – or increase your danger – if your home lies in the path of an oncoming wildfire.

Firescaping – or landscaping according to firewise principles – has been developed by Firewise communities across the world. South Africa’s local organisation (www.firewisesa.org.za) is working with garden centres on this project. Behind the firewise community initiative is the government’s Working on Fire programme which sets out to manage South Africa’s wildfires (approximately 2 000 a year) by employing 1 700 firefighters.

Perimeter Zone This is a buffer zone area on the boundary of your garden which should be planted up with low growing, fleshyleaved ground covers, hedging plants and isolated forest trees or large succulent aloes that are fire-resistant and resprout when damaged by fire. Never use flammable fencing materials.

The shade loving wild pomegranate (Burchellia bubaline) has glossy green fire-resistant leaves and clusters of bright orange tubular flowers which are loved by sunbirds.

Safeguarding your property against wildfires can potentially make the difference between whether your house is saved or consumed in a fire. Certain properties are more vulnerable to fire than others.

Local experience, together with case studies of wildfires in California and Australia have shown that homes situated alongside fynbos reserves or beside dense stands of woody invasive alien vegetation are at huge risk. Houses situated at the top of a slope, as well as properties directly exposed to prevailing winds or in a valley through which wind is channelled are also at risk.

How do you develop a firewise landscape?

Identify and remove flammable (usually invasive alien) plants which can explode into ladders of fireballs that destroy your home. Research the list of plants that are known to be relatively fire-resistant. And then finally, divide the garden into three zones of defensible space that can be firescaped with firewise plants.

Garden Zone Within the garden, design ‘island beds’ surrounded by lawn, paving or gravel. Choose fire-resistant trees and shrubs, but make sure that they do not touch each other or create a ladder effect that can deliver a fire to your home. Interplant the islands with low growing ground covers.

Patio Zone Create a 3m wide zone of hard landscaping, lawn or low growing fire-resistant plantings around the house.

This patio zone is a great place for shade loving, flowering plants.

Firewise tips If you are planning to firewise your garden this summer, consider these practical tips:

The num num (Carissa macrocarpa) is a superb shrub that has leathery fire-resistant leaves.

■ Remove all illegal invasive alien plants as many of them are highly flammable, for

example, Port Jackson, black wattles, pampas grass, giant reed and Spanish broom.

■ Conifers, deodars and pines will light-up like a Christmas tree in the event of a wildfire. Known internationally to be the least fire-resistant plants in a garden, you need to assess whether they pose a danger. Remove them if necessary.

■ Trees are best placed on the outer boundaries of large gardens, complexes and estates.

■ Allow plenty of space between plants that are near your home. Avoid planting dense shrubberies. Instead, create irregular, sparsely planted small islands that are at least 3 – 5 m apart. By spreading plantings out in this manner, they cannot form a continuous canopy that provides a leap-frog path for fire to your front door.

■ Avoid timber decking, timber fencing, wooden pergolas and archways.

■ Install non-flammable hard landscaping such as flagstone walks, brick patios, stone retaining walls, gravel and inorganic mulches.

■ Finally, appreciate that the defensible space around your home differs according to the terrain. On level ground the defensible space is 10 metres in all directions from your house. If your house and garden is on a slope, the defensible area needs to be larger – at least 30 metres.

And the steeper the slope, the larger the defensible space needs to be – 60 metres or more – especially if the garden is lower than the house. For more info go to www.firewisesa.org.za – Source: Kay Montgomery/www.sali.co.za

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18 - 31 July 2017

Unique opportunity to develop exceptional Hermanus landmark With the real estate adage of “location, location, location” in mind, Pam Golding is proud to market a landmark property at one of the best whale-watching spots along the Hermanus Cliff Path.

Situated on Main Road, Kwaaiwater, this R19-million property grandly set on four plots would be ideal for a boutique hotel or family homestead. The Heritage Site boasts spectacular views over Walker Bay and Sievers Point which is a popular look-out point for land-based whale watching.

Pam Golding Properties agent for Hermanus, Sue Ralph, says the property would appeal to the discerning buyer.

“While the beautiful Cape Dutch façade of this property would have to be retained, there are endless renovation possibilities that would bring this coastal icon to life.”

Interestingly, the home contains the original boardroom table of one of South Africa’s largest retailers, founded in the 1930s.

For more information, contact Pam Golding Properties Hermanus on 028 312 1110; Rose Marie Marais on 082 877 6160 or Sue Ralph on 082 892 8772.

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18 - 31 July 2017

PostNet offers new community service to learners

P

ostNet Hermanus has come a long way since it opened in a tiny shop at the top end of High Street 18 years ago. The business soon outgrew the premises, and when the first Woolworths store opened, they moved to their present location above Takkie Town (next to Ackermans).

More recently they have again spread their wings to open PostNet Sandbaai at the entrance to the Lifestyle Nursery, next to the new Whale Coast Mall.

PostNet Hermanus Sandbaai is a fully-fledged PostNet operation and it is here that this family-owned business is rolling out their latest project – Your One Stop Project Shop. This new community service is aimed at learners from Grade 4 upwards and offers them a central venue to work from. This is good news for parents, who can drop their children off, safe in the knowledge that they are in a supervised environment with access to all the services that might not be available to them at home.

THE

NEWS

MY Business

AT YOUR SERVICE The PostNet Hermanus Sandbaai team includes Roxy Oosthuizen, Ntombi Cherhane, Pat Diederichs, Paula Stratford, Nicky Bhango, N-Jay Alberts, Lucy Ntsenthe and Romano Diergaardt.

MOTHER & DAUGHTER Lorraine Diederichs and her daughter Robyn.

Here learners can work undisturbed on their school projects within a designated work space and within a certain time frame. They’ll be assisted with research by being provided with access to the internet, and in creating interesting pages or posters by being provided with stationery and paper in different colours, and in scanning, printing and assembling their projects.

The owners of PostNet Hermanus Sandbaai are the Diederichs family, who hail from KwaZulu-

YOUR ONE STOP PROJECT SHOP: Lorraine with her grandson Gabriel.

Natal. Here both Lorraine and Pat Diederichs had a career in teaching before joining the Wortelgat Outreach near Stanford, where they worked for 14 years. In 2016 they were awarded the Mayoral Award for Achievers of Excellence for their work and dedication to the community and environment at Wortelgat.

They bought the PostNet business in 1999 for their daughter Robyn, who soon became known for her friendly and efficient service, and who has grown the business to expand to the Sandbaai branch. When they retired in 2012, both Lorraine and Pat joined the business and each family member has their area of expertise.

PostNet was founded in 1994 when there was an urgent need in South Africa for an operation that could deliver a range of efficient business solutions. Today, PostNet is

SA’s largest privately owned counter network in the document and parcel industry, with over 330 ownermanaged retail stores offering five product types – Local & International Courier, Copy & Print, Digital, Stationery and Mailboxes.

“One of our most popular services is the PostNet 2 PostNet courier service through which packages of between 0 – 5 kg (actual or volumetric weight) can be couriered to any of the over 300 PostNet locations countrywide within 2 – 4 working days at a nominal fee of just R99,” says Lorraine.

“We also offer specialised packaging and crating for artists, art galleries and auction houses to courier artworks. And by next month, with the delivery of our new large format printer, we’ll be able to add speciality printing of up to A0 to our list of

unique services.”

At PostNet Hermanus Sandbaai, the team includes not only Lorraine, Pat and Robyn, but also Robyn’s partner Justin Joubert and her sister Paula Stratford. Paula’s son Gabriel, who is in Grade 11 at Curro Hermanus, will be supervising the One Stop Project Shop initiative.

While Robyn is in charge at the Hermanus shop and Lorraine at the Sandbaai shop, the rest of the team rotates between the two locations.

“We are a true family business,” says Lorraine, “and even those employees who are not related still feel like family.” Judging from the smiling faces and friendly service, this is one happy family indeed.

PostNet can be contacted on 028 316 4176/5 or hermanussandbaai@postnet. co.za

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SPORT

18 - 31 July 2017

Families proud of world title winners

o win a world title is wonderful, but behind the glittering trophies lie stories of perseverance, sacrifices, hard work and the continuous support of loved ones.

Three fighters from the Legacy Martial Arts Academy in Hermanus – students Tiaan van der Westhuizen and Miguell Boshoff and their sensei Ruehan van Romburgh – recently returned home from the US Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships in Orlando, Florida, with eight world titles, one second place and two third places among them.

According to the event’s website, the US Open is the best-known, largest, and most prestigious open martial arts championships in the world and is recognised by all major sport martial arts organisations as the ultimate test ground for open competition. More than 6 000 competitors from over 40

countries attended the event.

Hermanus High learner Tiaan won two world titles in the category for boys 16-17 years (advanced), and also obtained one second place and two third places. Miguell, another Hermanus High learner, was crowned triple world champion in the category for boys 16-17 years (intermediate) while Ruehan won three world titles in the light heavyweight division.

“I am so proud of my students and what they have accomplished. They put in so much time, blood, sweat and tears and to reach these results is phenomenal,” said Ruehan.

Tiaan’s father Marius accompanied the trio and kept everyone at home informed.

After Tiaan won his first event,

his mother Estelle received a photo of him standing next to a huge trophy. It brought tears of pride and gratitude to her eyes.

“His commitment, perseverance and hard work were rewarded and we are very, very proud of him,” she said after the conclusion of the event.

Marius thanked Sensei Ruehan for his instruction.

“Tiaan showcased the quality of teaching he received by achieving two first-place, one second-place and two thirdplace victories at the highest level of the sport.”

Miguell’s family, including his godparents, were anxiously waiting for results and when they received word from Marius that Miguell had also won gold in his first event, they were elated.

“Tears and laughter filled our lounge – even our four-legged children knew something happened as they also started barking. We eventually succeeded in contacting Miguell to congratulate him.

Just hearing the confidence in his voice set us at ease.”

Miguell won two more titles the next day and his family is extremely proud of him.

“We were in total awe when we received the news that he is a triple world champion. We are also thankful to our Lord Jesus who gave him the talent – all the honour and glory to Him,” said his mom, Dalene.

Ruehan contacted his wife Lenca with news of the results.

“She was excited and happy, not only for me but for the team who kept Hermanus’ name so high and showed the world what can be done.”

Tiaan van der Westhuyzen, Ruehan van Rhomburg and Miguell Boshoff with their trophies.

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18 - 31 July 2017

MY Sport

SA golfers compete at 2017 Open

T

he Open Championships, often referred to as The British Open or just The Open, is the oldest of the four major tournaments in professional golf. It is the only major played outside the United States, home to the other three majors, The Masters, US Open and PGA Championships.

Offside Tony O’Hagan

The 146th edition of The Open will be held at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England from Thursday 20 July to Sunday 23 July. The Royal Birkdale course was first established in 1889, but extensively redesigned in 1922 to create the current layout, which winds its way through sand dunes towering over the fairways.

Since first hosting The Open in 1954, the course has been the most regular venue for the Championships, other than St Andrews in Scotland. Royal Birkdale sits on a stretch of beautiful linksland that runs almost uninterrupted for 20 miles north of Liverpool.

The winner of this year's Open will take home a cheque of $1,85 million with the runnerup receiving $1,07 million.

Ernie Els holds the Claret Jug after winning The British Open for the second time in 2012.

The prestigious Claret Jug is presented to The Open champion. This trophy was first awarded in 1872 and replaced the Challenge Belt after Tom Morris Jnr won the Belt three years in a row and claimed it as his own. His third win came in 1870 and as a result there was no Open in 1871. A year later, The Open was played at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland with the Claret Jug as the ultimate trophy. The first winner – Tom Morris Jnr! South African golfers competing at this year's Open include Ernie Els (winner in 2002 and 2012), Louis Oosthuizen (winner in 2010), Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace, Darren Fichardt, Jbe Kruger, Brandon Stone and Shaun Norris. They will endeavour to add to South Africa's proud record at The Open, following the victories of Bobby Locke (4 times), Gary Player (3 times), Ernie Els (twice), Louis Oosthuizen (once) and another winner from the southern part of Africa, Zimbabwean Nick Price. Let's hold thumbs for another South African inscription on the famous Claret Jug.

Hermanus Netball to host Corporate Challenge The Hermanus Netball Club invites all businesses to enter a team in the Corporate Challenge, which takes place on Woman’s Day, 9 August.

This fun day provides an opportunity for corporate team building and socialising with other corporates and the community in general.

The Hermanus Primary School will host the event and matches commence at 09:00.

The Corporate Challenge is the club to enter two teams in the Cape Town 10s tournament. Entry for the 10s is a costly exercise with a fee of R10 000 per team, excluding accommodation and travel.

Our premier ladies team are unbeaten in the Overberg Super League and the second team are currently joint first in their division. With these results, both teams deserve a shot at honours in the Cape Town 10s.

The entry fee for corporates wishing to compete in the Netball Challenge is R500 per team. Teams will consist of a maximum of 10 players, men and women over the age of 18. Only three men will be

permitted on the court at one time during a match – one male in each third of the court.

Match duration is 16 minutes, 8 minutes per half and a 3 minute half-time break. The format is a round robin basis with the event culminating with a semifinal and final.

A further opportunity for corporate branding is available via banners, flags etc. or branding on the umpire’s clothing. This will cost R150 per company.

Refreshments will be on offer throughout the day with prize giving at the end of proceedings.

Other than winners' prizes, awards will be made to the best dressed team and for team spirit.

The event provides an ideal opportunity to celebrate Womans' Day and assist our well deserving netball ladies to participate in the Cape Town 10s.

Entry forms can be obtained via lmunnik@icloud.com and for further enquiries, contact Elsabe on 076 155 9020, elsabehenn@yahoo.com or Lizelle on 082 871 4738.