KEEP YOUR DISTANCE
www.sacoronavirus.co.za • National hotline: 0800 029 999 • Provincial hotline: 021 928 4102 • Whatsapp "Hi" to 0600 123 456
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1 APRIL 2020
THE VILLAGE
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No fake news, even on April Fool's – www.thevillagenews.co.za
A new way of life Writer De Waal Steyn
PHOTO: Taylum Meyer
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he first few days of the national lockdown in the Overstrand were characterised by confusion over the rules and regulations and resulted in several misunderstandings, as both the authorities and residents got used to this new way of life. As the new week dawned, authorities were hard at work sorting through the logistical problems and clearing up misunderstandings with regard to the implementation of the lockdown rules, regulations and procedures. Over the past few days the social media were awash with questions and queries about, amongst others, social distancing, what businesses are allowed to operate, opening hours and transport. (Read more on P 3) According to Brig Donovan Heilbron, SAPS Overberg Cluster Commander, a large number of arrests of people who contravened the lockdown rules had been made since Friday. “We have also issued more than 200 fines to people who failed to stick to the rules. In addition, people who were caught selling alcohol were arrested and the liquor confiscated. Not only will they be charged with contravening the Liquor Law, but they will also be charged for failing to comply with the lockdown regulations. We want to send a strong message to those who think they are above the law that we will apprehend and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.” Compliance with the lockdown regulations was not taken equally seriously in all areas of the Overstrand. Law enforcement officials had their hands full in townships across the region as residents either did not want to or could not comply with the regulations. In these areas many people were walking around in groups and children could be observed playing on pavements and in the streets. Several people also took to the streets for informal games of soccer.
The owners of Stitchcraft in Hermanus, Wanda and Ken Naylor, paid a quick visit to Checkers in the CBD to buy some essential items on Sunday. There were very few people in the shop, meaning that residents are adhering to the lockdown rules.
By Sunday, determined efforts by law enforcement agencies and councillors started to pay off as residents were reminded of the rules and asked to practise social distancing. “It is not always easy to implement the rules, especially in informal settlements where, for instance, a shack does not have a garden or a secluded area for people to use outside. It is impossible for them to stay inside their shacks 24 hours a day,” said Heilbron.
ity for their children,” he said.
According to him, the permission for taxis to operate on Monday to assist people to collect their social grants was a big help, despite the fact that it meant that large numbers of people were moving around.
the suburbs where HPP was doing patrols were mainly peaceful. “The Cliff Paths were quiet while in the CBD it was busier, mainly around the supermarkets that were trading. Only one crime-related incident was reported after HPP operators spotted someone on a CCTV camera entering the premises of a business in Mimosa Street in the industrial area. The SAPS were alerted, and a suspect was arrested,” he said.
“We want to repeat our call for people to ensure that they remain at least 1.5 metres away from one another and for parents to take responsibil-
Hermanus Public Protection (HPP) Director of Operations, Barry van Vuren, reported that although it was busy in Swartdam Road,
According to Van Vuren, there were isolated incidents of people placing rocks in roads and throwing stones at law enforcement officials.
Heilbron reiterated that it was against the law to go for a jog or to walk your dog.
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1 April 2020
How to access essential health services
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ommunity pharmacies remain open as an essential service during the lockdown period to supply residents with chronic medication and other medical necessities, as well as information and advice, and possible referral to medical practitioners or hospitals, if necessary. They will be available as the first port of call for many patients; however, contact within the pharmacies must be minimised in order to protect their personnel and keep them healthy. How to get your medicine The purpose of the lockdown period is to flatten the curve and prevent a peak infection period, when hospitals and medical staff would not be able to handle all the cases. Hence the necessity for people to stay inside their homes as far as possible and not move around. Community pharmacies have put several measures in place to achieve the above. Patients need to phone in for their chronic medication to be prepared, and a convenient time will be arranged with them to collect it. In some instances medication may be out of stock or not available due to delivery issues, in which case patients will be notified as soon as their medication is ready. Kleinmond Pharmacy has installed a delivery service to Kleinmond, Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay and Rooiels. Deliveries will be done to these areas in the afternoons after 14:00, for those who ordered their medication before 12:00. The Hermanus Pharmacies (Alex Grant and Hermanus Pharmacy) also continue to do daily deliveries of medication for clients from Vermont to Voëlklip. Protocols when visiting your pharmacy Patients who are not feeling well need to phone the pharmacy before they come in so that they can first be screened. At this stage most patients presenting in community pharmacies are unlikely to have been infected by the COVID-19 virus. However, if the pharmacist has any doubts about the patient’s symptoms, he/ she will be requested to phone the
Coronavirus Hotline on 0800 029 999. If the screening is negative for COVID-19, the patient will be allowed to enter the pharmacy. In the event of a patient presenting with possible COVID-19 symptoms, the health care provider should phone the NDIC Hotline and the patient must return home and stay in self isolation until further testing. Posters are displayed outside pharmacies and patients are requested to make themselves aware of the safety precautions on arrival, before entering the pharmacy. A limited number of customers are allowed in the pharmacy to minimise the chances of spreading any germs, and customers’ hands will be sprayed with sanitiser at the door. Clients are requested not to unnecessarily touch items in the pharmacy – or any other store – and to refrain
from touching or leaning on counters. While surfaces are sanitised regularly, it is impossible to sanitise all the products that customers have touched. Limitations on supply of medicines Many community pharmacies belong to the ICPA (Independent Community Pharmacy Association), which has put measures and protocols in place for pharmacies. These include a one-month limit placed on the supply of certain medications, while S1 and S2 medicines, especially cold and flu remedies, must be dispensed per individual and limited to a five-day supply. New supplies of the flu vaccine are expected this week and you are requested to make an appointment with your local pharmacy clinic for vaccination. - Kobus le Roux, Kleinmond Clinic Pharmacy
The author has supplied the above info in his personal capacity as a community pharmacist. He is also a primary health care pharmacist operating a clinic in the Kleinmond Pharmacy and a Past President of the ICPA. He was part of the initial group that started clinics in pharmacies in South Africa and one of the first pharmacist that obtained a PCDT qualification.
GPs and Dentists Most of the General Practitioners and Dental Practices in the Overstrand remain open during the lockdown. Patients are requested to make an appointment and to NOT visit the practice without a scheduled appointment. This is to protect others, including your doctor, from possibly becoming infected, and allows the practice to space out appointments in order to avoid crowded waiting rooms. Describe your medical problem and symptoms over the phone when making an appointment. If you are displaying flu-like symptoms (fever, sore throat, dry cough) your GP will advise whether you need to call the Coronavirus Hotline. If you need to be tested or hospitalised, your GP can also call the Mediclinic and assist with the necessary arrangements. Do NOT go to the Emergency Room on your own if you are displaying symptoms, as this will endanger the hospital staff and other patients.
Whale Coast Mall trading hours and procedures The following businesses are allowed to trade:
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Checkers: 08:00 to 20:00 daily until further notice Woolworths (Food): 09:00 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday and 09:00 to 15:00 on Sundays until further notice Food Lover’s Market: 08:00 to 19:00 Monday to Saturday and 08:00 to 17:00 on Sundays until further notice Vis Fabriek (Frozen Foods): 09:00 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday and 09:00 to 15:00 onSundays until further notice Clicks: 09:00 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday and 09:00 to 15:00 on Sundays until further notice
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Dischem: 09:00 to 18:00 Mondays to Saturday and 09:00 to 15:00 on Sundays until further notice Standard Bank: 09:00 to 15:30 on weekdays until further notice Nedbank: 09:00 to 16:00 on weekdays and 08:30 to 12:00 on Saturdays Capitec Bank: To be confirmed No restaurants, cafes, bars and coffee shops are permitted to operate.
All entrance gates to the mall will remain open for easy public and delivery access. Shoppers will be able to enter at entrances 1 (Checkers), 3 (Woolworths) and 4 (Food Lovers Market).
Entrance 2 (Food Court) will be locked for security purposes.
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Procedures for shoppers visiting Whale Coast Mall:
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Two security guards will be stationed at each entrance to exercise access control Two sets of hand sanitising stations will be available at each entrance Safe shopping distancing will be implemented by means of floor decals in the corridors leading to the respective stores Should areas become too crowded to exercise safe shopper distancing, entrances will be closed for a short period until the foot traffic flow is reduced
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Standard Bank clients must use entrance 4 (Food Lover’s Market) – the lifts will be open for them to reach the upper level Sanitising stations will be available at the lifts on both levels Two sets of restrooms will be made available to the public. The one set will be on the Woolworths side of the building which includes family and baby changing facilities. The second set is access controlled next to the entrance to Checkers.
The Whale Coast Mall appeals to all shoppers to exercise extreme caution and to comply with the safety and hygiene protocols. For any queries please contact the General Manager of Whale Coast Mall on mpotgieter@broll.com.
1 April 2020
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Stick to the rules and regulations Writer De Waal Steyn
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f we stick to the path we have to take, we will overcome the difficulties posed by the lockdown and the COVID-19 epidemic. These were the words of Pres Cyril Ramaphosa in his address to the nation on Monday evening 30 March. Ramaphosa was speaking to the nation on the eve of what he called a new phase in the fight against the novel Coronavirus. He announced that in the coming days, 10 000 health workers will start a process of screening, testing and tracing those who have been in contact with the virus.
He reiterated that those who do not yet comply with the rules and regulations of the lockdown are placing themselves and others at risk. The basics of the lockdown are:
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You are allowed to: • Collect social grants • Buy food • Seek medical attention • Visit a pharmacy for medicine • Attend gatherings of max 50 people for a funeral • Access public transportation for essential services
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“Health workers will visit homes in cities and villages to screen people for possible infection. Those with low-grade symptoms will be asked to isolate at home or be placed in a government isolation facility. Those with serious symptoms will be admitted to hospital,” he said.
You are prohibited from: • Jogging/walking in public. Where people live in a complex it is up to the management to ensure that people who are outside their homes practice social distancing • Walking your dog in public. You may also not take your dog for a ride in the car • Buying alcohol • Moving between provinces and districts
The President added that the economic downgrade of the country’s investment status will not impede the government’s spending in the fight against the deadly virus.
People are also prohibited from spreading fake news. This means statements made with the intention to deceive and include the following:
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Disinformation: information that is false and deliberately created to harm a person, social group, organisation or country for the purpose of influencing public opinion or obscuring the truth. Misinformation: information that is false but not created to cause harm or mislead readers. Mal-information: the deliberate publication of private information for personal or private interest, as well as the deliberate manipulation of genuine content.
Fake news can be reported at fakenewsalert@ dtps.gov.za or WhatsApp 067 966 4015. A link to where the post, article or document is located must be included. This direction came into effect on 26 March 2020 and will remain in effect for the duration of the COVD-19 disaster period. The issue on the sale of cigarettes had not been resolved at the time of going to press. After a ban on the sale of cigarettes was announced, several districts indicated that they would allow it in order to prevent the creation of black-market sales. Masizole Mnqasela, speaker of the Western Cape Government and Member of the Pro-
vincial Parliament for the Overberg, said in a statement on Sunday that the sale of cigarettes will be allowed. It was expected that the government would make an announcement regarding the issue. According to Brig Donovan Heilbron, SAPS Cluster Commander for the Overberg, residents who do not have a perimeter fence at the front of their gardens are allowed in their garden but may not go onto the pavement. He also stated that employers are responsible for the transport of essential workers to and from their places of work, it is against the law for families or friends to transport workers. If you’re driving a private car and your car can carry 5 people (including the driver), only 3 people will be allowed in the car (the driver and 2 passengers). Buses and taxis can only carry 50% of their licensed capacity. Police Minister Bheki Cele has warned that any person who contravenes the regulations of the nationwide lockdown will be guilty of a criminal offence and will be liable for a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or both.
Donations – making a crucial difference S
PEARLY BEACH: • Local Fruit & Vegetable Store
ince the nation-wide lockdown took effect on 27 27March April the Overberg community has rallied around to ensure that those less fortunate are taken care of. In a gesture of compassion several Facebook and WhatsApp groups have been started to help lessen the load of those who cannot afford to buy food, or do not have adequate shelter.
HANGKLIP: • Rooiels Village Shop • Mini Mart Pringle Bay • Village Deli Pringle Bay • Centre Shop Betty's Bay • Penguin Place Betty's Bay
These groups have been inundated with offers to assist and according to organisers, donations and help are flooding in.
KLEINMOND: • Spar • OK Mini Mark or any other local food store
Grant Cohen, ward councillor for Kleinmond, said they are working closely with local NGOs and soup kitchens. “The Kleinmond community is banding together and making a difference in the lives of not only people, but animals too. Apart from donations of food and toiletries for the less fortunate we have also been able to source a few hundred kilograms of dog food to ensure that man’s best friend does not go hungry.” According to Cohen, the number of children playing in the streets presents a big problem. “We decided to find a way to encourage them to stay at home, so we have had our first puzzle and toy drive to collect toys that children can play with indoors together with their parents.” Jean Orban, councillor for Onrus, said several Hermanus initiatives were well on their way and a constant stream of donations is being received. “We are working with NGOs such as Relieve Life and the Red Cross to assist with the repackaging of donations.” Hermanus resident, Natalie Munro who jumped at the chance to assist with the buying of various items, said she was devoting her energy to this cause because she was pas-
The trolleys filled with food and essentials bought by Hermanus resident Natalie Munro with the money she received from friends and family. PHOTO: Natalie Munro sionate about sharing love and kindness. “No matter how small the contribution, it all adds to the greater good which, in the end, makes a difference in the lives of people. I woke up on Monday morning and just knew I had to do something. I collected money from friends and family and was able to buy four trolleys worth of supplies. This led to more of my friends contacting me and I have received donations from as far afield as Cape Town,” she said. Overstrand Mayor Dudley Coetzee extended his gratitude to everyone who is doing their utmost to flatten the curve – especially those who are working to keep essential services operating. “Now more than ever before, we are all called upon to lead by example. Each of us has a responsibility to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Let's keep a safe distance from others and practise good hygiene by washing
our hands regularly.” Please consider contributing to this drive when you go shopping. The following food stores have agreed to make donation trolleys available as drop-off points. You can simply drop your donation into the marked trolleys: HERMANUS: • OK Onrus • OK Voëlklip • Checkers Whale Coast Mall • Checkers Hermanus CBD • Food Lover's Market Whale Coast Mall
The following essentials are required: FOOD: • 5kg – Maize Meal • 2kg – Rice • 2kg – Samp • 2kg – Beans • Canned Foods (specifically tomato & onion mix / braai relish / baked beans / pilchards) TOILETRIES: • Toilet paper • Toothpaste • Bar of soap • Packet of sanitary towels • Babies’ nappies CLEANSING PRODUCTS: • Antibacterial cleaning products • Washing powder • Gloves • Hand wash • Any other non-perishable food products are welcome, as long as they are sealed in their original packaging.
STANFORD: • OK Mini-Mark
The distribution of these goods will be conducted by the Overstrand Municipality's Disaster Management Unit.
GANSBAAI: • Spar • OK Foods
For more information, you can contact Yulanda Scholtz on 082 675 7219. – De Waal Steyn
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Read some of the over 3 000 articles on The Village NEWS website. Check out our Facebook groups and pages. Love Instagram? Follow @thevillagenews. Or join the My Village app (download on Google Play or App Store). Just have a look at some of the figures from our website (www.thevillagenews.co.za) for March 2020: • 20 904 unique users in March 2020 (+ 24% versus Feb 2020 and +148% versus Mar 2019) • 60% live in the Western Cape • 25% of Western Cape online users live in The Village NEWS newspaper distribution area (+250% versus February 2020 and +150% versus March 2019).
With 5 162 reads of The Village NEWS on this global publication platform in March 2020, a 20% increase from February 2020 and a 50% increase from March 2019, more and more readers are choosing to download the newspaper in a PDF format. Not only is it convenient to read TVN on ISSUU, but you can also directly click on any advertisement to instantly access further information on the company’s website or Facebook page.
Compared to February 2020, The Village NEWS Facebook groups and pages doubled their growth in March 2020, despite the fact that 50% of The Village NEWS’ core readership already belongs to a TVN group. In March 2020, posts on TVN groups and pages reached over 300 000 people. www.pressreader.com www.issuu.com/dwaal 083 700 3319 • theagency@thevillagenews.co.za
Writer Tweet Gainsborough-Waring
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ollowing the mop, barking at the vacuum cleaner, romping up and down the stairs while mum gets on with the housework. These are just a few of the things house-bound dogs in the Overstrand are getting up to during the lockdown, which has turned the lives of both residents and their pets upside down. Not being able to leave our homes for 21 days is proving to be quite a challenge, especially for our four-legged friends who have found their daily routines abruptly changed. Those who are used to energetic daily walks simply won’t understand why they are being deprived of this pleasure and instead are kept inside for longer periods than usual. This is calling for some super creativity on the part of their owners, like the video doing the rounds on social media of a dog being walked by its owner’s drone. While this can be an anxious time for everybody it is important to try and stay positive. Take a step back and look at this lockdown as a chance to do the things you may not usually have time for, such as spending more time with your pet. The good news is that pets play a special role as companions,
PHOTO: Healthy Paws
Caring for your pets during lockdown especially for those who live alone, and can provide comfort and emotional support to their owners during this difficult time. Interacting with animals not only lowers stress levels but also boosts the immune system, which makes us more resistant to diseases. Here is how some locals I spoke to are keeping their pets occupied: Marianne Wiid, who has two rescue dogs, a bouncy little black dog called Tyson and a bigger dog, Ben, puts their leashes on at the usual walkies time every day and takes them out around the garden. Judy Miller, mom to an energetic rescue dog called Jedi, says one of her tricks is to shake it up in the morning with a romp around the lounge to music, waving a toy. (Be sure to have any valuables likely to be knocked over by a wagging tail stowed away in a safe place.) Big dogs are often perceived to need more exercise than smaller breeds, but this is not always the case. It all depends on the breed; for example, dogs bred for hunting or herding will need the most – between one and two hours of general activity plus 30 minutes of vigorous activity daily. Hunter/ herder breeds include Labrador retrievers, hounds, collies, shepherds, pointers and spaniels. Breeds such as Great Danes, Bull Mastiffs,
Here are a few ideas from Four Paws International on how to keep your pet busy and have some fun together: DOGS • Search Games: Hiding some treats and toys all around the house will create something like a scavenger hunt for your dog. He can use his senses and enjoy these rewards once he finds them. Just make sure you only hide small amounts of tasty food, and not too much. • Shell game: Place three plastic cups upside-down on the floor and hide a treat under one of the cups. Move the cups around each other while your dog watches the movements. Then see if he can find the cup with his reward. • Frozen treats: are another source of fun and entertainment. You just need to put some food or a treat in an ice-cream container, fill it with water and freeze it. Your pet will have lots of fun waiting for the ice to melt and revealing the delicious surprise for him to enjoy. • Chewing: is a natural behaviour for dogs and chews such as Kongs can keep your dog busy for hours, as well as helping to maintain good dog dental hygiene. • Teach basic commands: Does he already know the important commands like "sit", "stay", "come"? Now is the time to put in some hours of reward-based training. • Teach names: Give toys names and ask your dog to fetch
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PHOTO: PawPlay
With 50% of the world’s population in some form of lockdown, people all around the globe are turning to The Village NEWS (TVN) online for factual and comprehensive stories about the Overstrand and the Overberg.
1 April 2020
Greyhounds and Old English sheep dogs require 30 – 60 minutes’ exercise a day. Always be mindful of your dog’s personality, age and ability, and remember that many dogs take after their owners, so if you are a high-octane person, your dog is likely to be more energetic, too, especially if it’s a Jack Russel, Border Collie, Boxer or Pointer. Older dogs, on the other hand, may be more laid-back and require less exercise and ‘entertainment’.
"teddy", "ball", or "dolly" and put them in a box. Tidying up: Much to the delight of your children, train your dog to put away his toys, too, preferably in a box. Perhaps moms can use this technique to train their youngsters and come out of lockdown smiling.
CATS • Agility: Use your DIY talents to build agility courses for your feline friends. There are lots of suggestions on the internet for courses that lead up the wall to the ceiling and back down. • Fishing games: Turn some string into a kind of fishing rod. Fix a shuttlecock at the end of it and then swing it through the room. Your cat will love chasing it! • Ball games: Throwing a bouncy ball against the wall will keep your cat busy for hours trying to catch it. • Torch game: use a torch to make a light spot dart around the room and let your cat indulge her passion for ‘hunting’ it. SOURCES: www.four-paws.org & www.wikihow.com PHOTO: hartz.com
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Getting creative with your children Writer Elaine Davie
PHOTO: happinessishomemade.net
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t seems strange that our collective memory has so soon forgotten the fun activities that used to entertain families before the advent of TV, play stations, social media and shopping malls. Perhaps it takes a drastic disruption to our daily lives such as this one to pull ourselves towards ourselves and rediscover the power and pleasure of our creative energy. With this in mind, I called on super-creative art teacher and facilitator Ashleigh Temple-Camp to come up with some exciting activities that children, their parents and even grannies and grandpas could do to bring fun, laughter and creativity into their lives during this grim time when not even ‘dogs shall be walked.’ To start with, Ashleigh believes we need to create a whole new way of being and find a new rhythm in our lives. We need to move away from our critical, analytical minds and live in the moment. Calm will come when we no longer hang on to the thoughts that make us anxious. “The important thing about being cooped up,” she says, “is that we must find a way to exercise. By engaging in some kind of energetic physical activity in the morning and again in the evening, we can contain our day. It gives us the opportunity to get rid of excess energy before settling down for the day, or the night. Put on some dance music and for half an hour or an hour, the whole family can let their hair down. You can’t believe how therapeutic free dancing can be – it will take you right out of your mind and into your body. It’s all about play, you see, and play is the door to creativity.” The other antidote to self-isolation is to get outside into the sunshine and soak up Vitamin D, a great immune booster. (Make sure you’re not too close to anybody else, though.) In fact, one of the hardest things to cope with for social animals like humans is to be cut off from others, so perhaps we can think of creative things to do to make a connection with anybody who can see our house from theirs or may be on the way past
PHOTO: AMSW Photography to the pharmacy or the supermarket. “Painting rainbows on your windows with food colouring not only sends a message of hope to your neighbours but it fills your own house with lovely splashes of colour as the sun shines in,” says Ashleigh. “Or, if you have scraps of fabric lying around you could paint brightly coloured rectangles or triangles, thread them on string and hang them up at your gate or on your front door as prayer flags (the Tibetans believe that the wind will carry your prayers straight to God’s ear). You could paint bottles, too, and hang them in the windows. Working with bright colours is incredibly therapeutic.” Food colouring is great for making paint, if you don’t have any at home; it’s relatively cheap and can be bought with your groceries. Just mix it with 400ml of water and you’re good to go. You can add a couple of drops of bleach to get really interesting effects – just be aware that bleach can eat the bristles of brushes. If you don’t have paint brushes, you can use ear buds, a stick or an old tooth brush, all of which will create fun patterns. Ashleigh adds that if you have wax crayons or oil pastels, you could draw with them and then paint over the drawing with your food colouring mix. “A really fun thing to do,” laughs Ashleigh, “is to finger paint to music, blindfolded. You can imagine what that might produce. In a potentially stressful situation like this, laughter is so therapeutic. We must create opportunities for laughter, but also for quiet times when both children and adults need that.” The other great activity for either an individual or a family is to make a
collage, cutting pictures out of magazines and perhaps adding drawings and words. Working in pairs is also fun. Members of the team take turns to add to the collage and this often creates an opportunity to share feelings that may be too difficult to speak about under normal circumstances. A variation of the collage is the mandala (a circular design with strong spiritual significance). Again, this can be done either individually or as a group, preferably also sitting in a circle. For this activity you can literally use any materials you can find, from wire, to scraps of fabric, to wool, to sticks; in fact, if you have a garden or outdoor space, you can make a bigger one there with stones, sticks, shells or anything else you can find. Alternatively, you can simply draw or paint a mandala, allowing your imagination free rein. According to Ashleigh, renowned psychotherapist, Carl Jung used to make a mandala every day as a way of ensuring his own mental health. The Education Department is organising a 21-day drawing challenge, but you can organise a creativity challenge within your own family. It will be great to see how many beautiful things you have produced during these 21 days. Of course, there are also lots of practical crafts to try. What about knitting, which is said to connect your left and right brain, making a patchwork blanket as a family, making greeting cards, with cut-out patterns, or even mobiles or picture frames which you can save and give to your friends or family members when you see them again?
PHOTO: Elaine Davie
A much- loved craft of yesteryear is flower pressing. Years later, you may open a book and find a pressed flower between the pages and memories of the time you created it will come flooding back.
around, there are so many stories to tell, stories to unlock our imaginations, stories that calm our fears or make us laugh, stories that add to our knowledge of the world and our country.
“And then,” suggests Ashleigh, “you can grown things, like seeds or beans in a bottle with cotton wool on the window sill. It is so fulfilling to see them sprout and grow.” Of course, if they are lucky enough to have a garden, children can try their hand at creating their own vegetable patch or flower bed.
And, of course, we can make our own family 21-day book with even the little ones contributing stories and including cellphone photographs. What a wonderful keepsake to pass on to our children’s children.
Naturally, story-telling and books can play an especially healing role during lockdown. This is where grandparents, in particular, come into their own. Even if there are no books
Ashleigh has so many ideas that it’s impossible to share them all. But every single person is creative on their own, so why don’t you come up with your own ideas and post them to The Village NEWS facebook page for everybody to see. Have fun and laugh a lot!
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1 April 2020
FROM THE EDITOR
The next edition of The Village NEWS will be available on 8 April 2020. The NEWS can be found at over 300 distribution points in the Overberg.
028 312 2234
6 Royal Street, Hermanus
De Waal Steyn
PUBLISHING EDITOR dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za
Hedda Mittner
Keep your wits as we battle an unseen enemy At this strange time in world history we are faced with more questions than answers. When there are no known weapons to protect us from this perceived threat, what do we do? Neither the bow and arrow nor nuclear weapons will do; even medical science has left us in the lurch. So fight is difficult; what about flight? Unfortunately, as proud members of the Global Village, there’s no place to hide; we’re all connected.
Since it’s several centuries since the Black Death decimated the citizens of Europe and the British Isles, we don’t have many guidelines to follow, so the world-wide efforts at containment are a bit of a hit and miss affair. One has to wonder, though, whether some of the measures taken in South Africa have been properly thought through.
So the only alternative seems to
How does one achieve social dis-
CONTENT EDITOR hedda@thevillagenews.co.za
Raphael da Silva ONLINE EDITOR
Sugar & Spice
Taylum Meyer PHOTOGRAPHER & PRODUCTION MANAGER taylum@thevillagenews.co.za
Alta Pretorius MARKETING MANAGER alta@thevillagenews.co.za
Charé van der Walt MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE chare@thevillagenews.co.za
Tania Hamman
Or where five or six people, including children, are expected to huddle together in one room for three uninterrupted weeks? Or where several people have to queue up to use a communal tap or an outdoor toilet?
They may even be questioning what happened to loving their neighbour. If the world can come to its senses, then all may yet be well. This is the good NEWS – Ed
And we’re not even talking about
non-slimming snacks, I spot a vaguely familiar shape on the couch.
Elaine Davie
tancing in townships and informal settlements when families live cheek by jowl with one another, where there is sometimes less than a metre between shacks, let alone individuals?
There is good news, though. Because – not inspite – of this world-wide catastrophe, people are being forced to re-assess, not only their own values, but also those of society at large, especially with regard to its most vulnerable members; they are being impelled to look at the damage they are doing to the earth and to question global economic policies.
Lockdown laments and laughter
raphael@thevillagenews.co.za
SUB-EDITOR & JOURNALIST elaine@thevillagenews.co.za
be to be to keep our wits about us, drop our heads below the parapet and hope we dodge the bullet.
the incalculable damage that this universal lockdown will do to thousands of small businesses and freelancers, putting millions of jobs at risk. The US can afford to pour over $2 trillion into the economy, but what will junk-status Mzanzi have to offer?
It’s that guy I married 28-odd years ago. We may even get to know each other. Not now though, the sounds emanating from him are rather scary. An impressive impersonation of a lawnmower. Aaw, my One and Only.
By Hélène Truter Since Friday 28 March we’ve been living in a Bond Movie. ACT ONE:
DAY 3: Not missing traffic. Not missing people either. Kinda liking this. Even my hubby. Time to connect. With each other. Our feelings. With the earth. Wow, I feel like a sixties hippy.
DAY 1: Huge breakfast. Bacon, fried eggs… a cholesterol feast. There goes our survival budget. So what. If you want to do it, do it properly. No such thing as a half-hearted heart attack. No work today. As per order right from the Top. I’m doing this for my country. For my fellow man. I’m saving the world. Someone should give me a flippin medal. We’re living the dream. The dream of the super lazy. Day One ends with a spectacular sunset. I can do this. Thank you, Mr President. DAY 2: I don’t see the sunrise, because I’m lying in. Because I can. I don’t have to get up before lunch… Hell, I don’t have to get up at all. But a woman has to eat. As I hunt for
My husband’s beginning to look like one – hasn’t shaved. Me neither. (I’m not talking upper lip, sweetheart. My legs.) The lawnmower hasn’t shown much interest in my sexy bod. Not yet anyway. I‘m bored. I check out Facebook. No, I don’t want to see your vetkoek. Or read about Oom Piet moaning about dog pooh. Status quo: We are still a country of Fatties and Moanies. DAY 4: I can wear whatever I like.
My favourite gown for three days straight. I decide to wear my sexy lingerie. Let’s start the lawnmower’s engine. As I seductively enter the room, he promptly has a fit. Coughing and wheezing. What..? He’s fighting a laughing fit! He’s banished to the couch. Until lockdown ends. Of course without the remote. I’m taking up knitting. Good for hand-eye coordination. And my morale. And it prevents me from stabbing him with said knitting needle.
will it bother anyone? We’re locked in. The dogs run free. Someone has a sense of humour. DAY 6: Language, violence, sex. No man, not us. The movie we’re watching. I had to give in. (He is the better cook.) No sport. No sense of humour. You can only watch so many re-runs. Why do crowds sing ‘Sweet Caroline’ at sporting events? Why is there more dog food than veggies in the pantry? Why am I asking trivial questions? Because I have nothing better to do! Pull yourself together. Sort out a drawer… Stuff that. It’s not as if the Household Police are coming by.
DAY 5: My animals are depressed. And fat. A bit like their mom. I’ve gained 3 kg. The scale is going into lockdown. My dog looks at me; where the hell is everyone? Can I go chase a hadida, pleeease? I know Bheki said no walking your dog, but are dogs allowed to take themselves for a walk? What the hell, I surreptitiously open the gate for her. I am a bad, bad person. But dogs can’t carry the virus. So she’s going to pooh on the path. (Sorry, Oom Piet.) No people allowed out, so
DAY 7: I’m going to get scurvy. Haven’t seen anything green in days. As we head for the second ACT, let’s slow down to a mild panic. As long as we stay at home everything’s gonna be okay. Right? Remember, laughter boosts the immune system. We got this.
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1 April 2020
LET'S TALK Healthy and robust debate are crucial for democracy. The Village NEWS firmly believes in freedom of the press as well as the right of individuals to freely express themselves, as long as they don’t infringe upon the rights of others. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors therefore do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Village NEWS. Letters may be shortened and/or edited for clarity and style. Enjoy our paper. Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za.
Compliments to our Municipality On Thursday last during a brief squall our electricity started playing up. This was reported to our ward councillor, Kari Brice and also to the municipality on Friday morning. We suspected an overgrown tree on our sidewalk was causing the problem and sure enough, when the cherry picker truck turned up, within an hour of reporting the problem, it was found that the branches had caused various connections at the pole to become loose. The street light was also defunct. They repaired that, and the offending branches were lopped off.
On Day 4 of the lockdown, I took a short drive to my neighbourhood supermarket to quickly buy a few essential items. What shocked me was that shoppers were failing to create enough distance (a minimum of 1.5 metres)
01-06-1924 – 22.03.2020 “Nothing is more important in the life of the community and the country than education. Nothing is sadder than a mind never able to use its potential because of limited opportunities and nothing is lovelier than a young face smilingly lit by the sudden grasp of new understanding.”
These were the words Henri Kuiper used to introduce his message in the Enlighten Education Trust’s Second Annual Report – 2004-2005. And today, more than ever, these words remain the driving force behind our work at Enlighten Education Trust. Henri passed away on the 22nd of March, and while we mourn his loss, we also celebrate his inspirational achievements and the many lives he touched. The Enlighten Team feels that the best way to pay tribute to him is to continue living his dream and to work together with all our partners in education to make it happen. His wise counsel and invaluable support will always be remembered and appreciated. We shall miss him. Magriet Peter Trust Manager
Coastal Path, Onrus
between themselves and the next shopper. When reminded by me to keep their distance, some shoppers felt offended and some even thought it was a joke. The 21-day lockdown will not be successful if we do not follow the social distancing rules advised by the government when we go out to do shopping or go to the bank. We will all win when each of us follows the rules of the game. Frustrated shopper, Onrus
Shops should observe lockdown rules For the safety of Hermanus citizens: I beg you to highlight poor staff control at certain supermarkets in town. Lockdown rules are not as yet observed on the store floors. With fewer customers, idle staff members stand chatting with one another in close-knit groups of two, three or more, apparently oblivious of the dangers to themselves and others, and the need to practice social distancing.
Remembering our Founder – Henri Kuiper
On Sunday afternoon we were awoken from our slumbers by the sound of rushing water. Investigation showed a burst water pipe which our neighbour reported. Within an hour a crew from the municipality was on site and the pipe was repaired. All of this during the first days of lockdown! Seeing the tales of woe about other towns and cities on TV and reading of the same in the newspapers, we are reminded again of how fortunate we are. Thank you, Ms Brice and the professional and efficient staff of our Overstrand Municipality. Gert Cloete Voëlklip
More awareness of social distancing needed One would think that with the media full of stories about the dreadful worldwide impact of the coronavirus, Overstrand residents, at least those with access to the news, would understand exactly what steps they should be taking to protect themselves. But this doesn’t seem to be the case.
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This has to change without delay and I appeal to store managers to insist on staff discipline and observance of the rules – for the protection and safety of the entire Hermanus population. This includes ensuring that adequate measures are taken to prevent the virus being spread when staff travel to work in taxis. Thank you. Rolf Gutschow (88 years old) Eastcliff
I think the next few weeks will see the subject matter of my photography limited to ‘still life on a table top’, so on Thursday I went out to record scenes along the coastal path in Onrus/Vermont. I am going to use them as screensavers to keep the memories alive! I will show them to my two dogs as they, too, are going to miss their coastal path walks. David Wilson, Hermanus Photographic Society Davies Pool, Onrus
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These are unprecedented times calling for unprecedented measures. Hermanus Radiology is working hard to care for and protect its community. We kindly ask that you do the same for us by staying home. Wishing everyone a safe and healthy lockdown period. Together we are better apart.
1 April 2020
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To mask or not to mask Writer Hedda Mittner
T
he appeal issued by the Head of the Western Cape Health Department, urging healthy members of the public NOT to wear masks and gloves has led to much confusion among local residents and heated debates on social media. The Health Department’s reasons for the appeal include “the risks these items pose in spreading the Coronavirus, if not used properly”. The statement goes on to say, “Scientific evidence proves that by wearing a mask, if it is not needed, you may put yourself at higher risk because you fiddle with the mask and then transfer germs from your hands to your face. Wearing a mask or gloves when going to the supermarket or pharmacy to buy essentials is ineffective, unnecessary, and will not protect you from the Coronavirus. In fact, it can spread infection faster.” It also stresses that “Healthcare professionals who are in direct contact with, or caring for a person who is confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19 must make use of masks and gloves and other personal protective equipment”. Even the Independent Community Pharmacy Association (ICPA) has boldly declared: “DO NOT wear a mask if you do not need one!” The important thing to remember is that the main concern of health
authorities in all countries battling this pandemic is the limited supply of surgical masks and gloves for frontline health care personnel. For that reason, both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have also stated that only people with COVID-19 symptoms and those caring for them should wear masks. The same applies to South Africa. On Monday, the Business for South Africa (BSA) Public Health Workgroup issued an urgent call to all businesses to divert personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in the national healthcare sector, where it is “critically needed to protect frontline doctors and health care workers, and to keep them healthy in their fight against the pandemic”. It therefore makes sense that the general public is discouraged from using PPE and exhausting limited supplies, which could lead to a dire shortage at hospitals, where they are most needed. But, as Benjamin Cowling, an epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong pointed out in an article recently published in Science magazine, this does not, however, mean that the practice is not useful at all for the general public. In other parts of the world such as most Asian countries, health authorities have encouraged all citizens to wear masks in public to prevent the spread of the virus, regardless
of whether they have symptoms or not. And the Czech Republic took the uncommon step last week of making nose and mouth coverings mandatory in public spaces, prompting a grassroots drive to produce handmade masks. The same article (Would everyone wearing face masks help us slow the pandemic? by Kelly Servick) quotes KK Cheng, a public health expert at the University of Birmingham as saying that social distancing and staying at home as much as possible are still the best practices to prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus. However, when people do venture out and interact, they are likely to spread droplets of saliva, not only when they cough or sneeze but also when speaking, singing or just breathing in close proximity to others. Masks are “a perfectly good public health intervention that’s not used,” he says. “It’s not to protect yourself. It’s to protect people against the droplets coming out of your respiratory tract.” This is why Cowling and others argue that the greatest benefit of masking the masses, likely comes not from shielding the mouths of the healthy but from covering the mouths of people already infected. While people who feel ill aren’t supposed to go out at all, data from contact-tracing efforts suggest that nearly half of COVID-19 transmissions occur before
Diane and Robyn Forster made 71 masks for Traffic & Law Enforcement, and refuse removers in one day.
The bottomline is that, if you feel more protected wearing a mask, even if it’s a homemade one, then do.
Masks need to be used carefully and safely; wash your hands before you put a mask on, before you take it off and after you’ve taken it off. The mask also needs to be washed thoroughly after use and allowed to dry completely, in the sun, before reusing it.
There are several local initiatives that you could join or support, and online tutorials, complete with patterns and instructions on how to make your own mask. The best fabric to use is a tightly-woven, 100% cotton fabric and good options include denim, bed sheets and pillow cases, dish towels, heavyweight T-shirts and vacuum -cleaner bags.
And don’t let it give you a false sense of security, as homemade masks are definitely not as effective as surgical masks and wearing one is not an iron-clad guarantee that you won’t get sick. Remember that social distancing and washing your hands often, and properly, remain the first and most important lines of defence against infection.
the infected person shows any symptoms and is therefore unaware that they are contagious.
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1 April 2020
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1 April 2020
www.thevillagenews.co.za
11
MY HOME
COVID-19 and the property market By Stephen de Stadler Managing Director Fine & Country Hermanus, Arabella and Kleinmond
L
ike other businesses that deal with many people on a daily basis, we took the decision to go into virtual lockdown two weeks before the government announced the statutory lockdown period.
We also decided not to have open show days from well before the notification, purely because we felt it would be irresponsible to expose sellers to a variety of viewers of their property. Where viewings were entertained, we limited exposure by insisting on no contact between sellers and buyers, and we applied copious quantities of disinfectant before a buyer was able to enter a home. The residential real estate business has effectively ground to a halt for the period of the lockdown, but there are many transactions that are expected to reach finality during this period. Our advice to all clients is to negotiate a new date of occupation, if possible. In addition, where certain obligations had to be met during the lockdown period, we have been working with the transferring attorneys and the clients to ensure that clauses are amended to take into account the delays caused by
lockdown. Provision has been made in most agreements of sale for a situation where a transaction was subject to the sale of another property, that condition has been met, but the transfer of both properties has now been delayed. Nonetheless, we have been working with the banks, attorneys and clients involved to ensure that no transaction is cancelled as a result of COVID-19. In the past few weeks, we have been asked on numerous occasions by sellers and buyers alike for an indication of what the residential property market may look like after the lockdown period. The answer is that we do not really know. The property market has (in general) been in the doldrums for the past two years. Much of that has had to do with a perception that selling prices are inflated, coupled with the lack of real economic growth in the country. As an aside, in case you missed it, Moody’s took the decision to downgrade the South African long-term sovereign rating to sub-investment grade or ‘junk bond status’ on the first day of lockdown. While most pundits have expected this for some time, this action will also have a negative economic impact in the medium term. Thankfully, history tells us that the property market will recover. Exactly when that will be is anyone’s guess at this point, as is the length of time that we may remain in lockdown. The recovery will not be measured in a rise in selling prices, but rather an increase in the number of
concluded sales. The recovery will thus be led by a reduction in home prices, coupled with the lowest prime overdraft rate (8.75%) we have seen in South Africa in some time. It will remain a buyer’s market for the perceivable future. As real estate professionals, our strongest advice to all sellers at this time is to seriously consider all presented offers. I belong to that generation of people who have known individuals who experienced the reality of World War II, including those living in Europe. While I do not wish to compare the current COVID-19 pandemic to the ravages of a war of that magnitude, it has made us realise what it is like when normal economic activity effectively comes to a halt overnight. Most of us, irrespective of our relative basic needs, live from one or two pay days to the next. Most of us cannot afford not to earn an income. In the current crisis all South Africans need to
stand together again, as we always do in times of need, and support the government in its current efforts to flatten the COVID-19 curve. No one can predict what lies ahead – the only thing we can do is choose how to deal with the current reality. In other words, while we know that lockdown has a negative impact on the economy, the severity of the impact is, to a certain extent, linked to the length of the lockdown period. Only by reducing the spread of the virus through adherence to the rules and protocols, can a level of normality return to our world – sooner rather than later. The views expressed above are those of the writer in his personal capacity and may not necessarily reflect the views of Fine & Country as a national and international brand.
DEAR CLIENTS
WE ARE STILL HERE South Africa and indeed the world has changed in a very short space of time. Quarantine for us South Africans is going be the historic start of an age that will certainly go down in the world history books. Business and personal relationships as we know them are destined to change and adapt to the current climate, and will probably remain different after quarantine. As part of a global group of international realty specialists, Fine & Country, will be taking steps to not only ensure your safety but to ensure that we remain committed to our promise of presenting your property properly to the widest audience possible. Naturally, our primary concern is that we comply with government restrictions imposed at this time to ensure the safety of our staff and their families which means we have altered our business model to deliver on this. We will be studiously working from home, screening clients, brokering deals and negotiating on your behalf. Being part of a 300-strong global group in some of the mst developed countries in the world means that we have access to their international on-line frameworks which we will be utilising to continue to expose your home to the greatest audience possible. We are mobilised and ready to assist immediately in the sale of your most personal asset. All our marketing has switched to digital with immediate effect and will be shared amongst our offices to create the widespread exposure promised in our mandate material. For those who are hesitant to list their properties for sale currently, use this shut-down period to get your home market-ready after the enforced quarantine. This will not only keep you busy and your mind otherwise occupied but ensure that, you can capitalise on the market conditions quickly as the situations turns. This could be as simple as de-cluttering or finally getting around to those DIY projects you’ve been putting off for months. These are very extenuating times, but we assure each and every client of the international standard of service delivery you have come to expect from our local, national and international offices. Our very best wishes to you all in these very trying times, let us assist you in ensuring that the sale of your home does not add to the stress and difficulties during this time. We will be available at the email address below. Be safe and take care. Sincerely, Your Fine & Country Hermanus Team
Fine & Country Hermanus hermanus@fineandcountry.com fineandcountry.com
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1 April 2020
MY ENVIRONMENT
Fernkloof flowers to brighten your day By Dr Anina Lee
A
friend alerted me to the fact that there is a specimen of the Hermanus Cliff Lily (Gladiolus carminius) flowering next to the Elephant Path in Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Isn’t this unusual? Well yes, it is. The Cliff Lily is so called because its normal hang-out is on the cliff path, close to the sea, in Hermanus. This beautiful bright pink ‘glad’ is endemic to the Hermanus cliffs – meaning that it grows nowhere else. Apparently not so. But how did it get to the Elephant Path? For those who are not familiar with Hermanus, the Elephant Path leads from Hermanus town (between the sports complex and the cemetery) over the mountain to the Hemel-enAarde Valley beyond. Incidentally, there is no recorded proof that elephants did or didn’t use the path in days gone by, but it’s a nice story. Reportedly, Hermanus Pieters used this path when he came over the mountain with his flock of sheep and found the fresh-water spring that led to the establishment of the town. But to get back to the Cliff Lily. I asked a long-time Botanical Society mem-
ber what the lily was doing growing in such an unusual place. Not so, she said. Specimens had been spotted there in the past, and it was nice to know that there is still one holding on, so to speak. But how on earth did it get there from the coastal cliffs? That’s less clear. Cliff lilies were once spotted on Hoy’s Koppie, so the bulbs may have spread over time (maybe through baboons?) from the cliff top to Hoy’s Koppie and from there to the mountain. Or maybe the explanation is much more mundane. Someone could have planted the bulbs there, as is probably the case with the beautiful specimen outside the visitors’ centre in Fernkoof. Although there is a scientific explanation for most things, I sometimes like to believe that nature is a bit magical, and magic can happen any time anywhere. One endemic flower led me to think of what other endemic flowers we have in Fernkloof – just to brighten your locked-down day with colourful pictures. There are several very special Ericas found in Fernkloof, including Erica aristata, also known as Pride of Hermanus, which is remarkable for its flowers' showiness and brilliance of colour. These ericas can be found on the upper rocky slopes in the Kleinrivier Mountains. The flower tubes are long with a little frilly ‘bullseye’ at the end to guide the pollinator, in this case a long-proboscid fly! (In other words, ‘a fly with an elongated sucking mouthpart that is typically
tubular and flexible’). Indeed, the proboscis of this fly is very long – much longer than the fly. The proboscis is extended forward from a rolled-up position, like a lance carried by jousting knights of old. It deftly pinpoints the ‘bullseye’ on the flower and inserts the mouthpart deep down to where the nectar is kept. It even sticks its whole head into the flower. In the process the fly gets a dusting of pollen on its head which it carries to the next flower it visits. So the pollinator gets its reward for carrying pollen from flower to flower – a sweet relationship. But there is always a fly in the ointment, so to speak. If you look carefully at the base of the flowers in the photo (number 2) you can spot a hole that has been nearly cut in the flower. This is the work of ‘robber’ insects that steal the nectar without payback to the flower. Nature is tough. Erica hermani is named after the town that is its home. Its habitat is on sandy flats and the lower slopes of the Hermanus Mountains – exactly where Hermanus Heights is now built, which has led to a serious decline in its numbers. Hoy’s Koppie in Hermanus is part of Fernkloof Nature Reserve and the Cliff Path extends up and around the koppie. There is one plant so rare and special that the path had to be aligned away from it for its protection. It is Brachysiphon rupestris, a gnarled plant with lovely pink flowers growing in the crack of a rock where
ABOVE: Two of the special Ericas found in Fernkloof are Erica Aristata and Erica Hermani. 1. The Hermanus Cliff Lily (Gladiolus carminius). 2. Brachysiphon rupestris is so rare that the path up to Hoy’s Koppie had to be aligned away from it for its protection. 3. Indigofera superba is also known as the ‘Superb Pea’.
one would not expect anything to find a foothold to survive. On one occasion I tried to explain the significance of this rare flower to a young man. “Who is this person Brackie Siphon-Rupestris who is so important to have a path rerouted?” he wanted to know. Lesson: always put a story into proper context. I should have added that Brachysiphon means ‘short tube’ and rupestris means ‘that lives on cliffs or rocks’. Hence a plant with short flower tubes that lives on rocks. As the name suggests, Indigofera superba really is a superb specimen. In late summer, especially after fire, this rare endemic can be seen flowering in profusion on the damp slopes of Fernkloof below the waterfall kloof and along the path up the Lemoenkop neck. The name Indigofera refers to the blue indigo dye that came from India. It belongs to the pea family, so it’s also known as the ‘Superb Pea’. While you have time on your hands, do go to www.fernkloof.org.za for more interesting local flowers. Or visit www.whalecoastconservation.org. za where you will find articles that appeared in The Village NEWS since 2017 under CHAT (click on BLOG). Happy reading!
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