The Village NEWS 05 Feb - 12 feb 2020

5 FEBRUARY 2020

THE VILLAGE

YOUR FREE COPY

www.thevillagenews.co.za

NEWS #ALLOVEROVERBERG

The 2020 harvest season has kicked off and the winegrowing regions of Walker Bay are becoming a beehive of activity as farm workers take to the vineyards to pick the ripened fruit and transport it to the cellars. This photograph was taken in the first block of Pinot noir to be harvested on the Hamilton Russell Vineyards Estate in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Read more on P 9.

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

Three SRAs for Overstrand line. “We have actually surpassed the required number of 2 752 yes votes and that gives us a degree of comfort that most of the residents are in favour of the SRA. We definitely have a secure mandate.”

the meeting will be heard on the SRA process and on the business plan, not on the establishment of an SRA,” Farr said. The meeting will also give further information as to the practical implications of the SRA.

A majority of yes votes for the establishment of SRAs in Onrus-Vermont and in Kleinmond have also been secured.

According to him, the steering committee finalised and processed their application to Council on Monday. The next step will be a public meeting on Thursday 20 February at 17:00 at the Bosko Hall, where members of the public will have the opportunity to provide input on the business plan and raise any objections they may have in respect thereof.

Formal objections in writing can also be made from 6 February to 6 March. After the 30-day notice period the steering committee will answer to the objections, after which the application will be sent to Council for approval.

“Should we receive the nod from Council, the first levies will be charged by the municipality in July and the funds will be paid over to the HSRA early in August,” said Farr.

Michael Farr, Chair of the HSRA Steering Committee, said they are overjoyed to have reached the required number of votes before the dead-

“Residents need to remember, however, that a majority vote in favour of the establishment of an SRA has already been secured. Objections at

Writer De Waal Steyn

I

f all goes according to plan the Overstrand will boast three Special Rating Areas (SRAs) by the middle of the year. This comes after the Hermanus SRA (HSRA) on Friday 31 January secured the required number of votes (50% + 1) to start with the application process to the municipality to establish an SRA.

Errol van Staden of Hermanus Public Protection (HPP) said the organisation would be able to

provide security services until August if enough voluntary contributions were received. “I want to urge residents to keep up their contributions to HPP to enable us to continue delivering much-needed security services,” said van Staden. For more information on how you can contribute to HPP, visit hppsecurity.co.za.

Voting for the Onrus-Vermont SRA (OVSRA) closed on 9 January and here, too, the required number of yes votes was received. At a public meeting last week, OVSRA chair Abner Inghels said a total of 2 073 votes had been required and 2 236 were received. The steering committee has already submitted its application to the municipality and the period for objections closes on 14 February. They should be addressed to cgroenewald@overstrand.gov.za.

3

www.thevillagenews.co.za

5 February 2020

Walker Bay Recycling closes its doors – for good Writer De Waal Steyn

F

urther price drops in the open market for recycled materials compelled Hannes Neyschens, owner of Walker Bay Recycling, to finally close the doors of the company last week.

Several readers contacted The Village NEWS and numerous posts appeared on social media after a notice was attached to the facility’s wall on 28 January, stating that it had closed indefinitely. This follows a similar notice in November last year.

According to Neyschens it does not make sense for a company to try and keep afloat when the business model simply does not work. “I cannot keep ploughing money into the business as it would be too risky to do so.

“The market for recyclables took a nosedive at the end of last year and the prices have yet again floundered to a level where it is not economically viable to continue. For instance, noone can export recycled cardboard to China anymore. This has had a huge impact on the price of cardboard and has made life difficult for many recycling businesses,” he says.

At the start of 2019 the market value

for cardboard, for example, stood at around R1 500 per ton. By the beginning of November, it was at around R400 per ton and by December it hovered at a price of R100 per ton.

China has placed a complete ban on importing cardboard from abroad as part of its Blue Sky campaign that started in 2018 to curb the smuggling of waste from countries like South Africa.

During the 1980s, most natural resource monopolies in China were state-owned, and small businesses struggled to get an affordable share of raw materials. Entrepreneurs responded to this by importing recyclables from other countries, like South Africa, and selling them to small Chinese businesses.

Chinese nationals also opened plastic reclamation facilities in South Africa, which allowed them to process the waste locally and export it to China as a finished product. The waste import industry became lucrative in China – so lucrative that local gangs started smuggling recyclables into the country to gain the highest profits.

Blue Sky is aimed at curbing this practice by banning the importation of 24 types of foreign waste, such as paper and textiles, and instead relying

on local recycling sources. This has led to South African recyclables, such as cardboard, being stockpiled while they wait for alternative markets to open, subsequently driving down prices.

Neyschens says he wants to thank the locals who have so dutifully supported the business. “While I still have three months left on my lease agreement, our gates will not be open and we urge residents not to drop any waste in front of our gate as it cannot be collected and will need to be moved to the dump at great cost.”

According to municipal Director of Infrastructure and Planning, Stephen Müller, the tender for the construction of a new Material Recycling Facility (MRF) will be advertised soon. “In the meantime, we are also busy with the land consent-use planning process.

At this time, we foresee that the new MRF will only be used for recyclable waste. There will no longer be a transfer station, as was the case at the old MRF, where all waste was dropped off before being taken to the Karwyderskraal Landfill Site; instead there will be a smaller drop-off point. This will assist with removing any bad odours emanating from household waste.

“Once the new MRF is in place, hopefully by the end of the year,

The original Walker Bay Recycling facility put Hermanus at the forefront of waste recycling efforts and played a large part in the Overstrand shining at the ‘Greenest Municipality’ awards for several years. Unfortunately these achievements came to a grinding halt when the facility was burnt down by rioters during the 2018 protests. The new owner of Walker Bay Recycling has struggled to keep afloat at his new premises, but additional financial factors have now forced him out of business. recyclables that residents put into clear plastic bags will be transported to the MRF, while all other waste will go directly to Karwyderskraal.”

Müller says the current public participation process also includes plans to move the wood-chipping facility to a municipal farm in the Hemelen-Aarde Valley. The planned site is

located on the road to the Camphill Community and near the Forest Adventures Zipline facility.

“We are aware that there are objections to this move but installing the large wood chipper at the new MRF site will impact the school children at the adjacent Zwelihle Primary School,” Müller says.

4

www.thevillagenews.co.za

5 February 2020

Mosselrivier: the farm on which Hermanus was born Writer Dr Robin Lee

I

n 1806 the British Government took control of the Cape, replacing the Dutch East India Company for the second time in just more than a decade. But this ‘occupation’ was to last for more than a century and have a decisive impact on the area which was to become Hermanus.

At least four influences on the as-yetunborn town came to bear under British rule. Firstly, the movement of farmers beyond the jurisdiction of the government at the Cape was accelerated. Trekkers streamed across the Bot River and filed claims for land along the coast and inland.

Secondly, the British changed the system of land tenure for farms.

Under the Dutch, all land remained the property of the Company and was in effect leased to farmers on payment of ‘quit-rent’ annually. While the farmer could buy and sell the quit-rent ‘rights’, on his death, the land reverted to the Company which could then grant it to the farmer’s family or to other persons.

Mosselrivier, the farm on which Hermanus would be established, had been in existence since 1748. This farm was originally part of a larger farm called Springfontein, the rights of which were granted to one Wessels in 1748. When Wessels died in 1787, the rights were granted to Hendrik Cloete, at one time the owner of Groot Constantia.

The farm changed hands a few times in the early 19th century, until a successful Scotsman named Duncan McFarlane bought it in 1857, just two years after the first European settlers reached the site of Hemanuspietersfontein.

Thirdly, the British authorities followed a policy of ‘Anglicisation’ in government affairs and especially in state educational institutions. In 1814 Lord Charles Somerset proclaimed that English would be the sole medium of instruction in schools.

In protest, Dutch-speaking farmers

removed their children from government schools and raised funds to bring teachers from the Netherlands to ‘home-school’ their sons and daughters. One of these teachers was named Hermanus Pieters.

Fourthly, the number of ships entering Cape Town harbour increased dramatically, especially British vessels sailing to and from India. Many travellers were attracted by the beauty and climate of the Cape and decided to stay. One of these, for example, was Sir Robert Stanford, who stayed on after his regiment returned to Britain.

His initial successes and ultimate downfall are a well-known story. Lesser mortals ‘jumped ship’ or deserted from the army and moved to places they were unlikely to be found. Two of these made their way to a deserted spot called Herries Bay. So the influences that created Hermanus were all in place by about 1870.

Matters came to a head five years later and are described by Arderne Tredgold in these words: In 1875 there was an uproar in the village. It was learnt that a farmer planned to buy the whole commonage and turn it into a farm; no doubt he had an eye to the fishing too. Though some people owned the property on which their houses stood, a number were only lessees, paying modest rents from 10 shillings up to £3 ten shillings a year.

Fortunately, the villages had the support of the Government and on July 31 1875, a “Certificate of Reservation as Commonage” was issued by the Surveyor-General by which “certain crown land in extent approx. 864 morgen and situated in the village of Hermanus Pietersfontein and abutting on the sea shore was reserved as commonage for the use of erf-holders and lessees of erven in the town.

A few years later, when some of the lessees wanted to purchase their erven, the village made itself known to the House of Assembly, petitioning against the high price the Government wished to charge, as much as £25 to £33.

Those who took up the cudgels on

behalf of the lessees claimed that the erven were not worth more than an average of £6. Mr M de Villiers, then the member for Caledon in the Assembly, pointed out that the ground, which was rocky and had only 30 cm of soil over it, was no use at all for agricultural purposes. It was only good as sites for “fishermen’s huts”.

Mr de Villiers had property adjoining the village commonage. He assessed the value of the erven as £10 on the cliff, £7 10 shillings for the second row and £5 “further inland”.

Duncan McFarlane died in 1884 and his assets, including the farm Mosselrivier, passed to his two daughters and, in turn, to their daughters, Christina (Stroud) and Agnes. In the division of assets, Mosselrivier was inherited by Agnes, who married an Englishman named John Poole.

The couple realised that the land was not productive as a farm, so they had it surveyed into plots and sold these to local residents. The new area became known as Poole’s Bay, but we know it as Eastcliff.

TOP: Wilhelmstadt, one of the earliest homes built in Voëlklip, then known as the Mossel River Seaside Township.

ABOVE: This plan of the Mossel River Seaside Township, drawn up in 1918, sets out all the sites arranged in a strict rectangular grid, with the streets numbered from First to Eleventh and the avenues numbered First to Seventeenth.

BELOW: A family on holiday enjoying the ocean, circa 1920.

Meanwhile, on the western side of the future town, several families had settled at a fishing place known as Herries Bay (now Hawston). For us, the most significant of these families were named Henn, de Kock, Warrington, Plumridge, Paterson, Montgomery, and Leff. John (Scotty) Paterson had deserted from his position as a British soldier and spent much of the rest of his life avoiding the authorities.

Herries Bay was an excellent place to hide. S J du Toit comments: It was only in 1897 with Queen Victoria’s Jubilee when a pardon was granted to all men absent without leave, that the Henn sons-in-law and other deserters could relax completely.

Despite a level of insecurity, Scotty and other single men consolidated their positions by marrying young women from the local families.

In 1855, members of these families came upon a better harbour site than Herries Bay, near a spot the farmers

called Hermanuspietersfontein. The families decided to move there and, in 1855, became the first residents of a new settlement on the western side of the harbour that they called Die Visbaai.

The senior Henn family built the first house in the village. The Warringtons produced the first baby born in the town. The McFarlane family started the first shop and were employed as

officials in the first post office.

Much of the subsequent development of the town involved these families to a greater or lesser degree.

In 1896, Walter McFarlane built the first hotel, named it the Victoria, and started an industry that would become the driving economic force in Hermanus during the 20th century. As the new century began, prospects for the village began to brighten.

5 February 2020

www.thevillagenews.co.za

Hermanus youngster joins fight against poaching Writer & Photographer Taylum Meyer

I

have loved animals ever since I can remember. I used to watch wildlife shows on TV and anything that had Steve Irwin in it – he was definitely one of my biggest idols,” recalls Corné Uys (19), while we sit in his garden with his bearded dragon, Lucy, a few days before his departure to Hoedspruit in Limpopo.

This latest adventure in the life of Hermanus’s intrepid snake catcher and wildlife enthusiast will entail six weeks of military training with the anti-poaching company, PROTRACK, after which he hopes to pursue a career in wildlife conservation.

Corné’s passion for wildlife started when he was seven years old. That was when he moved from Cape Town to Berghof with his parents and first became interested in snakes. At that time, Berghof was still mostly undeveloped, which meant that there was a lot of wildlife for young Corné to enjoy.

and started to help with call-outs before starting his own company, Corné Uys Outdoors at the age of 17. That was two years ago and since then Corné has undertaken hundreds of call-outs, one of the most memorable being for a black spitting cobra in Sandbaai (The Village NEWS 15 January).

Many Hermanus residents may also remember Corné being all over the news after the terrible fires we had in the Overstrand last year, when he saved 33 tortoises in Fernkloof from being burnt alive. At the time he was in matric at Hermanus High School.

“We were at school when the fire came over the mountain and we were evacuated immediately,” he recalls. “The moment I got home I went to my dad and told him that we had to do something to help. He took some convincing, but we ended up grabbing some water, jumping in the bakkie and driving to the area behind the golf estate, where the fire had almost reached the road. I just covered my face with my hand, ran into the smoke, picked up a few tortoises which were already so hot that they burnt my hands, and then ran back to the bakkie, where we poured water over them to cool them down.”

Corné with two of his snakes, Ashley (ball python) and Snowy (corn snake), his bearded dragon (Lucy) and his “I remember I caught my first snake just tortoise (Jumbo) in their garden. after we moved here. It was an adult slugeater, which I brought home to His love for wildlife has grown even more show my parents and then released,” he since then – if that’s possible! Having graduHowever, the moment he had picked it up and says, smiling at the memory. “For the next two had it by the tail he realised catching and safely ated from Hermanus High last year, Corné has years after that I brought home lots of snakes, now embarked on a new chapter. releasing snakes was what he wanted to do. frogs and lizards which wandered around my He held the snake long enough for Dean to room.”

He left for Hoedspruit in Limpopo on Tuesday, get a photo and then carefully released it back and over the next six weeks he’ll be undergounder the trough. When he got home, he told When he moved with his family to the more ing tough military training which includes a his parents what had happened, showed them urbanised area of Westcliff in Hermanus, Corné Level 3 First Aid Course, basic firefighting, adstopped bringing home animals for a while, but the photo – much to their horror – and told his passion for them never died. A family friend, them that he wanted to go into the business of vanced snake handling (something he should excel at!), weapons competency, tracking of snake removals.

Chris Barnes who owned over 500 snakes in humans and formation tracking, self-defence, Baardskeerdersbos, taught Corné how to idencamouflage, recognising game poisoning, genHis parents, who are also animal lovers, suptify snakes, although he was never allowed to eral bush knowledge and much more. ported his decision on one condition: Corné handle them, as many were dangerous. would go for training on snake handling at the This training is extremely challenging and African Snakebite Institute.

A few years later, at the age of 16 (and by now according to Corné’s dad, Hugo, only one in very much in love with snakes), Corné and his five trainees makes it through the programme.

The training consisted mostly of theory, and friend, Dean visited a farm in Stanford, taking (For more information you can visit protrackalthough at 16 he was the youngest in his along a homemade snake hook made from apu.co.za/anti-poaching-training-courses/) class, Corné performed extremely well, ending an old broom and a paint roller, in hopes of Should Corné be successful, he will have a brief as one of the best in his group. He was also spotting a few snakes. Corné got more than he break back in Hermanus before he is stationed bargained for though, when they looked under the only student who was allowed to handle snakes with the instructor, having already been somewhere in Africa. a trough and found a two-metre-long Cape catching snakes, albeit harmless ones, since the Cobra.

In Corné's absence his dad, Hugo, can be conage of seven. tacted on 062 482 5410 for snake removals, At this point, Corné had not yet handled a or you can contact Johnathan from Snake He joined Johnathan Powers at Snake Removdangerous snake and he was nervous as he Removals Hermanus on 082 352 6000. als Hermanus shortly after the course ended attempted to get it onto his make-shift hook.

5

6

www.thevillagenews.co.za

5 February 2020

FROM THE EDITOR

Creating hope and security In the past weeks, both Onrus-Vermont and Hermanus have received the required 50% plus one votes to each establish a Special Rating Area (SRA) in the Overstrand.

the effective monitoring and reporting to the municipal authorities and the SAPS on matters relating to safety and security, as well as assisting in maintaining a healthy and clean environment.

Along with Kleinmond, which achieved this threshold last year, three new SRAs will, barring any unforeseen circumstances, start operating from the third quarter of this year, once the next municipal financial year begins and the new levies can be collected.

SRAs will also send a clear and reassuring message to tourists and visitorsl. This can only be good for business, job creation, property values and general peace of mind.

For the residents of these areas who voted in favour of establishing SRAs, this is great news. The additional levies will facilitate

Sugar & Spice

band together and take advantage of the opportunity for the betterment of themselves and their fellow citizens.

In this case, along with Section 22 of the national Municipal Property Rates Act of 2004, the Overstrand Municipality Special Rating Area By-law (2016) and Policy (2019) created the framework for teams of volunteers to start the process of establishing SRAs in a democratic and orderly fashion.

But the SRA process demonstrates something fundamentally even more important: When the government creates an enabling environment, ordinary citizens will rise to the occasion,

Let’s hope that other wards in the Overstrand will take advantage of this opportunity and also establish SRAs so that we

can create a seamless security blanket that envelopes all our residents.

But equally, let us use SRAs as an example to spur on our elected representatives to pass enabling legislation at the municipal level that will drive investment and positive action.

So often, as citizens, we feel powerless to effect the change that we would like to see. But the SRAs have shown that when governments create the environment, residents will build on it.

This is good NEWS - Ed

Double-click for love On to another long-haired specimen: I question my reluctant husband about the meaning of true love. Hard to pin him down – he’s channel-hopping. He can only concentrate on what I’m saying during ad breaks. I suppose that’s one version of true love: still enduring him even though he prefers Top Gear to my scintillating conversation. In between CSI and Masterchef I finally elicit a three-letter response: "Huh?" Instead of killing him I return to Google.

daughter’s googling.)

By Hélène Truter Wars have been fought, hearts broken. Countless good and bad poems, movies and songs have love as their central theme. Pubs, record companies and dating sites thrive, thanks to this inexplicable emotion. Money makes the world go round, but according to Elizabeth Browning, love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

So what can I possibly add to shed light on love – the most overused, misunderstood and sought-after yearning on this messed-up planet of ours? The big guns like Shakespeare have already cornered the market.

Google to the rescue. I type in ‘love’ and get 1 340 million results within 0.25 seconds. I am way over my head here. I scroll down the page, searching for enlightenment. And lo and behold: ‘How to find love: 8 Steps’ (with pictures). With pictures! Seriously?

(Note to self: Double-check what my

Of course I double-click on ‘How to find love in 8 steps with pictures’.

It’s known as research, okay… And? What truths did I discover? Save yourself the trouble. That article about varicose veins in the doctor’s waiting room is way more interesting than the drivel they came up with.

‘Step one: Find someone you like...’ (eh, duh).

I opt for face-to-face research. Starting with a romance and pheromones expert – my daughter. This is what I discovered: Young love is… Getting an illegible (well, at least to your mother) message on your smartphone from your cyber boyfriend (a modern version of the old-fashioned love letter).

She also informs me that the ultimate love story is that between a vampire and a human. Okidoki. Before I send her for counselling, I’m ashamed to admit that Aquaman does it for me.

I’ve always had a thing for a man with long hair. Still, my beating heart…

Hey, don’t judge. Go check him out.

Ridiculously gorgeous. And human.

A link catches my eye: ‘Click here for Happiness'. Really? It’s that easy?

The skeptic within me raises its head.

What are they selling? If I click on it, will I be tracked? Hounded by…

I don’t know, people who sell happy pills, happiness seminars, the latest Happiness Political Party? Oh, just click on it, Hélène, and get it over with… And I do. Because like most creatures, I too aspire to be happy.

And there it is: ‘Ten skills you need to live a happy life’. All you have to do is send your email address. Of course. There’s an audio book, a video and several essential tools that are

priced in dollars. Guess I won’t be buying happiness online after all.

Maybe true love is about softening the truth a bit. No, it’s not lying… it’s completely different from lying. For example: I’ve just squeezed myself into a dress that used to fit three years ago. Hubby is binge-watching Vikings. “Skattebol, do I still look okay in this?” I ask. “You look amazing.”

Right answer, but way too fast, meneer.

Since he’s in push-over mode, I try and convince him to take me on a dirty weekend. “It’s Valentine’s… just because we’re middle-aged…”

He holds up his hand. “Too many words.” Aaargh! Romance has left the building.

The next morning I’m still a bit sulky.

Then I notice that he’s dreamily staring at me with this far-off look.

“Why are you looking at me like that, sweetheart?” I ask coyly, my heart melting. “Huh?” (that three-letter word again). “No, I’m still waking up.”

True love indeed. Especially from my side.

Proudly Sponsored By

WEEKLY WEATHER & DE BOS DAM LEVELS

Talisman Tool Hire

Wed | 5 Feb

Thu | 6 Feb

Fri | 7 Feb

Sat | 8 Feb

Sun | 9 Feb

Mon | 10 Feb

Tue | 11 Feb

20°/23° Some Rain

18°/19° Partly Cloudy

18°/24° Partly Cloudy

20°/26° Partly Cloudy

20°/23° Some Rain

22°/28° Clear

20°/32° Clear

De Bos Dam 50.37%

WEEKLY TIDE TABLES HIGH LOW HIGH LOW

00:18 06:20 12:30 19:02

High Low High Low

01:14 07:15 13:23 19:48

Contact Us

028 313 0144

Weekly Rainfall 0 mm Tides sourced by www.tide-forecast. com

High Low High Low

01:59 08:03 14:11 20:29

High Low High Low

02:43 08:47 14:57 21:09

High Low High Low

03:24 09:30 15:40 21:49

High Low High Low

04:06 10:13 16:23 22:28

High Low High Low

04:47 10:57 23:08 17:05

LET'S TALK

BIBC has its say over protests I am writing in response to your article published in The Village NEWS of 29 January (Local builders up in arms).

I wish to clarify that the calculations used are not accurate. A labourer is not required to belong to the BIBC’s medical aid. Only qualified artisans and employees that are voluntary members are required to belong.

Please visit our website at www.bibc. co.za for all our wage schedules.

The total cost therefore to the employer in respect of a labourer is the minimum wage of 8 x R28.79 per hour = R230.32 per day. Although overtime is payable after 9 hours, generally a labourer will work 8 hours per day. The employer then contributes towards the employee benefit funds (further explained below), namely Pension/Provident Fund at 8% of the basic wage or R18.89, a Sick Pay Fund contribution of R2.95, a Holiday or Leave Pay contribution of R18.31, a Bonus Fund contribution of R14.46 and the BIBC levy of R2.30 (for administrative costs).

The employer is required to contribute towards the employee benefit funds, of which the Holiday Pay (or leave pay) and Sick Fund (payment for when the employee is too sick to

7

www.thevillagenews.co.za

5 February 2020

work) is similar to the provisions of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, applicable to most employees in South Africa and therefore not only a “BIBC requirement”. The Pension or Provident Fund and bonus provisions are also benefits that are provided by most employers to their employees and are not unique to the BIBC. It is important to note that, of the amounts paid over to the BIBC, 96% is for the benefit of the employee in the form of leave pay and a bonus in December, the payment of the employee’s wages when they are too sick to work, and retirement benefits (including death- and disability insurance and a funeral benefit).

The employee contributes the 7.5% pension or provident fund premium of R17.71 and a R2.30 administrative levy and therefore the labourer’s “Take-Home-Pay” (without considering UIF) is estimated to be R210.31.

The benefits as explained above are not paid to the employee in cash, but are paid to the BIBC. The BIBC administers the Holiday, Bonus and Sick funds, while the Pension and Provident funds are paid over to Sanlam to administer.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was seen visiting St Peter’s Anglican Church in Hermanus on Sunday morning. With him are his daughter, Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe and Mary Robinson, who was Ireland’s first female Prime Minister from 1990 – 1997.

PHOTO: Anne Philip

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

Regarding the current actions by the group known as the Whale Coast Contractors’ Association (WCCA), the Department of Labour and the BIBC have had numerous meetings with them to discuss the various issues.

It was explained to them that when benefits due to their employees are paid in full, fines are written off by the BIBC as a standard operating procedure. It was also explained that Bargaining Councils are established in terms of the Labour Relations Act, but the group refuses to abide by the law.

In addition, the group has vandalised the BIBC’s offices, including threatening to burn the building down with our staff still inside the building.

This is particularly horrifying since one of our employees is a disabled lady. The group also threatened the families of our staff members and as such marched to the private house of a staff member, occupied at that stage by his elderly mother-in-law and under-aged child. While the BIBC recognises the right to peaceful protest, we strongly condemn these criminal actions against our staff and their families.

Ronel Sheehan BIBC Secretary

This beautiful speckled eagle owl was spotted last week in the garden at Fynbos Park by Jen Mountjoy, who took the photograph with her mobile phone. “This turns out to be the wisest resident of us all,” she quipped.

Drivers and pedestrians need to respect one another The pedestrians complain about bad drivers… and the drivers complain about bad pedestrians. As both a pedestrian and a driver, I can safely say that there are both bad pedestrians AND drivers in this town, which makes it quite dangerous on the roads for all concerned.

As a pedestrian, my pet peeve is drivers not stopping at zebra crossings and not indicating at corners, making it difficult to cross roads safely.

When I am driving, it is the fact that pedestrians do not pay attention when they are walking. They walk in

the road instead of on the sidewalk (meaning one has to drive around them), or they walk in front of cars waiting to enter a busy road from a side street or driveway (imagine you are waiting for a gap for ages and then a pedestrian walks in front of you just as you get one and you can’t go), and the fact that they walk across main roads with no crossings and expect cars to stop for them.

We need to respect one another on the road – whether you are a pedestrian or a driver – and follow road rules!

– Nojay Walker

8

www.thevillagenews.co.za

5 February 2020

MY ENVIRONMENT

1

1

Nudibranchs – flamboyant ‘naked gills’

By Dr Anina Lee

mal, stinging any predators that attack the sea slug. Through this remarkable adaptation, a soft unarmed creature makes itself dangerous prey.

Every day, members of The Village NEWS – Living Nature Facebook group share 5 – 6 stories about what is happening globally and in the Overberg to protect, conserve and preserve our planet and all its habitats.

Go to the group and type in the key words below in the search bar to see some of the interesting stories that have been posted.

Key words: birdlife overberg BirdLife Overberg’s monthly talk on Monday 10 February is by Anton Odendal and entitled “The Thunderbird in crisis – The Southern Ground Hornbill as Bird of the Year”. BirdLife South Africa announced that the Southern Ground Hornbill has been selected as the Bird of the Year 2020.

PHOTO: larsfoto.se

Key words: endangered wildlife trust The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) works tirelessly across a range of projects to build capacity to combat illegal trade. We do this to achieve our conservation mission and to support an environment that sustains healthy wildlife and people. We, therefore, welcome the decision by Chinese authorities to ban the trade of wild animals, and we call for the government to make this a permanent rather than temporary ban.

PHOTO: Endangered Wildlife Trust

2

O

ne nudi looks like an open gas flame blazing underwater. Another one appears on the sea floor like a ghost with rabbit ears.

One looks like strings of neon noodles clinging to the reef. Another looks like puffs of tiny white clouds. And one even looks like a little marine rhinoceros with orange-tipped horns. These little marine slugs are so utterly strange and out-of-this world…

– Paul Steyn, National Geographic author

Nudibranchs are super-gorgeous. There are thousands of different known species, in seas all over the world, and new species are still being discovered. Not many people have seen them in person because most of them are very small, are well camouflaged and you have to be a diver with sharp eyes to spot them. Fortunately for us landlubbers, the extraordinary variety of their colours and shapes fascinates scuba divers, especially the special breed of underwater macro-photographers. So, brilliant images are quite easily found on the Internet.

South African nudibranchs span a huge range, from tropical animals to those that prefer cooler or even cold water. Some can be found in shallow rock pools and others prefer the deep ocean. Some specimens are known from only a single Cape reef.

We still have a limited understanding of which nudibranchs live where, what they eat, and who eats them. Humans don’t spend that much time underwater and nudibranchs lead short but interesting lives.

Nudibranchs are marine snails without shells.

The name literally means “naked gills”, referring to the fact that they are “naked” without the shells we associate with other gastropods (snails) and they possess very prominent breathing appendages that resemble gills.

Nudibranch larvae are not completely nude.

They start life with a rudimentary shell. But maintaining a shell requires a lot of energy, and so they have evolved other defence mechanisms.

Nudibranchs are carnivores that graze on sponges, anemones, and corals. Some species will assimilate the toxins and stinging cells of their victims (known as “nematocysts”) and use them for their own defence. When they eat the flesh of an anemone, the nematocysts are not digested but are relocated to the slug’s own skin.

Key words: pyjama shark Pyjama sharks are endemic to South Africa and sometimes we are lucky enough to spot one when we take our volunteers snorkelling.

Take a look at this funny comic by Christian Talbot.

The autonomous little harpoons don’t realise where they are and continue to function as norPHOTO: Richard Darke @RCDImages

The nudibranch’s spectacular forms and colours are additional defences. The bright colours warn potential predators that nudibranchs are unappetising and even dangerous to eat because of the toxins they either make themselves or assimilate from their food. They are also good at hiding among the sponges and soft corals on the reefs they inhabit.

Nudibranchs are hermaphrodites, meaning that each animal is both male, producing sperm, and female, producing eggs. The male body parts develop first so that the nudibranch can store sperm from another individual until its eggs are ready to be fertilised. Once this has been done, each lays a ribbon of eggs which is unique to the species. From these eggs, larval nudibranchs hatch and begin a new life cycle.

The beautiful colours of nudibranchs are wasted on other nudibranchs. They have very rudimentary eyes and can only discern light and dark.

Not so for their sense of smell. They have antenna-like appendages on their heads called “rhinophores”. These are extremely sensitive chemoreceptors, meaning they can smell out their prey at a distance. These little stalk- or club-like structures constantly “taste” the water for traces of food. Rhinophores are unique to nudibranchs and their close cousins, the sea hares.

Nudibranchs can handle stinging corals and tentacled anemones, but some foes make for a more unequal match. Ocean acidification, as a result of increasing CO2 in the atmosphere, cripples nudibranch larvae. The juveniles have a small shell in their planktonic stage, which is weakened by acidification, making them much more vulnerable to predators. Warming water has also brought about ecosystem changes.

In areas of intensive coastal development, you have the impacts of climate change, and you have greater pollution, human disturbance and habitat destruction. When all these things happen at once, their effects compound.

Nudibranchs, having been around for millions of years, have no defence against humans and their destructive habits. If nothing changes these beautiful, charming little marine snails could be lost before many of them have even been found.

Marine slugs (Nudibranchs) come in an almost psychedelic range of colours and shapes.

1. Chromodoris magnifica 2. Gas Flame Nudibranch 3. Ink-spotted Nudibranch 4. Frilled Nudibranch 5. Crown Nudibranch 6. Fiery Nudibranch with its eggs 7. White-tipped Nudibranch 8. Black Nudibranch 9. Gas Flame Nudibranch

PHOTO: Richard Darke @RCDImages

www.pressreader.com www.issuu.com/dwaal 9

8

PHOTO: Richard Darke @RCDImages 3

PHOTO: Richard Darke @RCDImages 4

PHOTO: Richard Darke @RCDImages 5

PHOTO: Richard Darke @RCDImages 6

PHOTO: Raoul Coscia

To see more of these stories search for The Village NEWS – Living Nature on Facebook and join our group.

083 700 3319 theagency@thevillagenews.co.za

PHOTO: chumclub.org

7

PHOTO: Peet J van Eeden

THE VILLAGE

EXPLORER FOOD & WINE | EVENTS | ART

Milestone harvest for Hamilton Russell Writer Hedda Mittner

I

t was with great excitement that the Hamilton Russell Vineyards' team kicked off their 40th harvest last week with the first picking of their Pinot noir grapes. For the estate’s milestone 2020 vintage, the team has been joined by an experienced international group of four interns who hail respectively from France, Italy, Germany and the US.

The 45-year-old history of this world-renowned wine estate dates back to 1975, when Johannesburg businessman, Tim Hamilton Russell, purchased the 170 ha Hemel-en-Aarde Valley property after an extensive search for the most southerly site on which to make South Africa’s top cool-climate wines from a selection of noble varieties. The first vines were planted in 1976 and the first wines from Hamilton Russell Vineyards were made in 1981 – 40 vintages ago.

From humble, pioneering beginnings, this trailblazing estate is now an internationallyacclaimed producer, with their wines available in more than 55 countries. All the wines are grown, made, matured, bottled and labelled by the Hamilton Russell Vineyards' team on the Hamilton Russell Vineyards Estate.

ABOVE: The Hamilton Russell Vineyards 2020 harvest team are ready for action: In front, from left are Makhadi Maku, Italian harvest intern Andrea Menchetti, German harvest intern Christoph Fischer, vineyard manager Colin Jonkers, viticulturist Johan Montgomery and proprietor Anthony Hamilton Russell. Behind them, from left are cellar hand Ricardo Bruintjies, assistant winemaker Saul Siegelaar, French harvest intern Aurelien Juan, American harvest intern Tim Kane from Oregon, winemaker Emul Ross and Olive Hamilton Russell.

ABOVE: Andrew (‘Boetie’) van den Berg has lived and worked on the Hamilton Russell Estate for 40 years and now trains the younger farm workers.

PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer

Since taking over as proprietor of the estate in 1991, Tim's son, Anthony Hamilton Russell, has focused on producing highly individual, terroir-driven and site-specific Pinot noir and Chardonnay, which are widely regarded as among the finest from the New World.

“This will be my 30th year on Hamilton Russell Vineyards and I couldn't be more proud of the way the wine industry has developed in our area," says Anthony. "When I started we were the only producer selling wine. There are now 22 producers and growing, and Hemel-en-Aarde has captured the attention of the fine wine world. We will be doing everything to ensure our 2020 wines enhance the reputation of Hemelen-Aarde as fine wine country even further.”

Committed to working only with grapes from their terroir, Anthony says, “We are not so much using Hamilton Russell Vineyards to make Pinot noir and Chardonnay as we are using Pinot noir and Chardonnay to express the beauty and personality of Hamilton Russell Vineyards.”

Viticulturist Johan Montgomery says the recent

ABOVE LEFT: Koos Marthinus smiles broadly while picking, even though harvest time means long, hard hours for the farm labourers.

ABOVE RIGHT: Nicoline Marthinus hard at work in the Pinot noir vineyard alongside her co-pickers. fluctuations in weather conditions mean that his team has to be hyper-vigilant and manage the vineyards on a day-to-day basis. “Patience is the name of the game, as you never know what nature is going to throw at you,” he says. “The main thing is not to panic and to be philosophical about the challenges that come your way.

ABOVE: Hamilton Russell winemaker Emul Ross (right) and Makhadi Maku, who has worked every harvest at Hamilton Russell since 1986 and will be retiring at the end of the month, tipping the first batch of Pinot noir grapes that were harvested last week.

There are some things you can control and some you can’t.”

decision of choosing the precise time when the grapes are optimally ripe for the picking.

And that is what makes every harvest such a crucial time for wine producers. There is an air of excitement, anticipation, and also some tension, as the teams have to make the important

Determining that perfect moment is one of the most vital steps in the journey from vine to bottle. Here’s wishing all our wine producers a prosperous and successful journey!

10 | FOOD & WINE

5 February 2020

Feast on bubbly at postharvest fest

S

pecialist bubbly-maker Melissa Nelsen of Genevieve MCC will be celebrating the bounty of the 2020 harvest to the joyful sound of popping corks at the Post-Harvest Proe Party. This festive fling will feature a tasting of top-notch Cap Classique wines over lunch at Melissa’s farm near Bot River on Saturday, 7 March.

Guests will get to know more about the 2020 harvest and taste older vintages of Genevieve MCCs alongside some of the brand’s more recent releases, while tucking in to a delicious sit-down harvest table feast.

Rudolf van der Berg of Burgundy Restaurant has added what he describes as “a unique, fresh touch” to the interior of his popular restaurant in the form of several artworks by local artist, Jenny Jackson of Gallery 19.

Jenny is well known for her still life paintings featuring flowers, food and wine and those were the works that caught Rudolf’s interest when he visited Jenny’s galley recently with his mother. Together, they selected several limited edition, high-quality prints, which now adorn the walls of the Burgundy. “I would have loved to buy the originals,” says Rudolf, “but we had a tough year…”

Still, he thinks it’s important to support local and also has artworks by Leon Müller of Art Thirst hanging in the Burgundy Bistro next door to the restaurant. Jenny says she couldn’t be more thrilled. “It’s quite an honour for me to have my works hanging in such an iconic Hermanus establishment as Burgundy Restaurant.” Well, cheers to that, Jenny!

PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

The Post-Harvest Proe Party will be hosted at the Home of Genevieve MCC, a venue that will be new to many. For years, grapes for Genevieve MCC came from pockets of Chardonnay across the region, albeit always from Bot River. In 2017 however, Genevieve MCC finally found a home when Melissa discovered a working farm where her dream for a space to give visitors the ultimate MCC experience became a reality.

The history of the wine started in 2010, when the first Genevieve MCC was released – a product of the 2008 vintage. Melissa had always had a love for bubbly and when the opportunity arose to make it, she jumped. Genevieve is her second name and the patron saint of Paris, making Genevieve MCC the perfect name for a great South African Cap Classique made in the classic style of French Champagne.

Today, the Home of Genevieve MCC also has self-catering cottages alongside the vineyards and a renovated barn where visitors can enjoy not only Genevieve MCC but also the scenic beauty and laid-back country atmosphere of the Overberg.

The Home of Genevieve MCC is located on Klein Botrivier Farm, off Karwyderskraal Road, Bot River. Tickets to this event on 7 March from 12:30 – 15:00 are R450 pp. To book, simply send an email to melissa@genevievemcc.co.za.

Bubbly-maker Melissa Nelsen (above) will be hosting a Post-Harvest Proe Party at the Home of Genevieve MCC in Bot River (below) on 7 March.

PHOTOS: Hedda Mittner

FOOD & WINE | 11

5 February 2020

WINE & DINE

CALL TO BOOK. OPEN 24HRS Affordable transport door to door.

0846 885 885

WHAT’S ON

6 – 15 FEBRUARY

OVERBERG 6

Thursday

Green Block Celebration The Green Healing Space of Dr Arien van der Merwe will be hosting a celebration of healthy living in conjunction with her neighbours on the ‘Green Block’: Tulip Coffee Bar & Bistro, Fine & Country, The Brow Zone and Go Green. Healthy living should be fun, so come and find out what the Green Block is all about, while mingling and enjoying some snacks and drinks.

The Green Healing Space, c/o Hope & Dirkie Uys St, Hermanus | 17:00 – 18:00

Supper & Movie Evening Join South Hill Wine Estate and Liberty Books for a discussion of Maria Semple's comedy novel, Where'd you go, Bernadette over supper, followed by a screening of the movie starring Cate Blanchett and Billy Crudup. Drinks will be served from 18:00, dinner will start at 19:00 and the movie at 20:00. The cost of the evening, including supper and the movie, is R135 pp. South Hill and Kevin King wines will be on offer by the glass or bottle at cellar prices.

Dessert, coffee / tea and a full bar will also be available. Contact events@southhill.co.za or 021 844 0888 to book your seats or for more details.

South Hill Wine Estate, Elgin Valley | from 18:00 Whalers Athletic Club Join the Whalers for their weekly time trials, every Thursday afternoon.

Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome. Choose between a 3 km, 5 km or 8 km route.

Meet at Hermanus Sports Club | 18:00 Rotary Club of Hermanus Visitors are welcome at Rotary’s weekly meetings, every Thursday.

Contact Frank on 082 870 1187 to confirm your attendance.

Mollergren Park, Main Road, Hermanus | 19:00

7

Friday

Hermanus Hacking Group All volunteers are welcome to join in the clearing of invasive vegetation.

Meet every Friday morning at the beginning of Rotary Way. For more information contact Charlyn on

082 558 8731 or charlynvosloo@ gmail.com Rotary Way | 06:15 for 06:30 – 08:30 Bhuki Café During the month of February, Hermanus Library invites you to spread love and kindness to book lovers by buying them a cup of coffee at the Bhuki Cafe, every Friday morning.

‘Buy a Cappuccino 4 Your Valentino’ costs R15 and includes two biscuits.

There is also the option of purchasing a coffee token anonymously on any day of the week for that someone special in your life. Simply provide the person’s contact details at the counter and the library staff will call them for you, so that they may collect and redeem their token. The funds generated will enable the library to buy new books.

Hermanus Library | 09:00 – 11:30 Kolwyntjie Teetuin Enjoy a sweet treat and tea or coffee at a nominal fee, and make new friends at the Onrus Care Centre, every Friday morning.

Onrus Dutch Reformed Church | 09:30 – 11:30

Hermanus Country Market A favourite among the locals. Young, old, two-legged and four-legged family members are all welcome. You’ll find wholesome goodies, homemade crafts, local produce, beers and wine, speciality foods, coffee and live music.

Next to Hermanus Cricket Field | 09:00 – 13:00

Die Markie Looking for koek? Vetkoek, pannekoek, soet koekies, sout koekies, lewer koekies? A peaceful place to while away Saturday mornings, glass of wine in hand, with Woefie lying at your feet? Olives, freshly shucked oysters and other nibbles made by real people? Served on real porcelain, using real cutlery, sipping wine from a real wine glass? Then you’ll want to hotfoot it across to Die Markie at Hermanuspietersfontein. Here safe parking is a doddle and life is easy.

Hermanuspietersfontein Wine Cellar | 09:00 – 13:00 Market in the Garden Hunt for treasures at this peaceful market set among the shady trees of a beautiful garden.

St Peter’s Church, Main Road, Hermanus | 09:00 – 13:00

Great Railway Journeys U3A Overberg continues its popular series on fascinating railway journeys to remote and unexpected places.

The title of this week’s session is India’s Monsoon Railway.

Catholic Church Hall | 10:00 Hermanus First Fridays Browse the 20 art galleries in the centre of town, meet the artists and gallery owners and mingle with fellow art lovers while marvelling at the inspiring array of art, fine craft, jewellery and photography on display.

(See the HFF map on P 14.)

Hermanus CBD | 17:00 – 20:00

8

Saturday

Hermanus parkrun Meet for the weekly 5 km timed walk or run, come rain or shine. Run for your own enjoyment at your own pace. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome. There are also parkruns in Betty’s Bay (Harold Porter Botanical Garden) and Groeneweide (near Franskraal). Register online at www.parkrun.co.za Camphill Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley | 08:00

www.thevillagenews.co.za/whatson platform or view its arrival from the upstairs viewing deck. There’s live music throughout the weekend, and plenty of activities to keep children entertained, such as a jungle gym, roundabout, and even indoor and outdoor climbing walls. The market is open Saturdays and Sundays, and the coffee shop with free workspace is open during the week from 09:00 – 17:00.

Oak Avenue, Elgin | 09:00 – 17:00 (Sat & Sun)

Sunset Horse Trail A unique horse-riding experience in the pristine beauty of Pearly Beach with the magnificent backdrop of mountains and ocean, the sunset over the ocean and the rising of a full moon. Limited space still available for experienced riders only, as it will include cantering and galloping on the beach with a night-time return by moonlight. Duration: 2½ – 3 hours. Includes sundowner drinks and snacks, and a full photographic package. For further details, contact Sarah on 083 427 5674.

Gansbaai & Pearly Beach Horse Trail | 18:00

Stanford Saturday Morning Market Come and sample the artisanal delights on display, from home-made sheep and goats’ cheeses to cured meats, farm-fresh vegetables and deli delights to tantalise your taste buds!

Stanford Hotel Stoep | 09:00 – 12:00 Gansbaai Farmers Market Specialising in organic, homemade and homegrown products such as fresh farm produce, oven-fresh bakes and pastries, local wines and craft beers, and indigenous plants and herbs. No plastic or polystyrene packaging; only eco-friendly wood, paper, glass and earthenware used to display goods. For enquiries, contact 028 384 1439 or doulene@gansbaaitourism.co.za Kapokblom Street, opposite Gansbaai Tourism | 09:00 – 14:00 Elgin Railway Market This bustling steampunk station market, where Art deco meets Victorian, is unlike any other in South Africa.

With more than 30 different stalls providing local wine, craft beer, arts & crafts and artisanal foods. Visitors can greet the steam train on the

BirdLife Overberg Monthly Talk This public talk by Anton Odendal about BirdLife SA’s Bird of the Year 2020, the Southern Ground Hornbill, is entitled The Thunderbird in crisis.

The future of the Southern Ground Hornbill is bleak and the talk highlights conservation threats facing the species, the bird’s almost bizarre communal breeding biology, and current conservation efforts to secure a sustainable future for this endangered species. Catering at R110 pp or R30 if you only attend the talk. RSVP: Elaine at mwjasser@mweb.co.za or WhatsApp at 082 455 8402.

Mollergren Park Community Hall | 18:30 for 19:00

9

Sunday

L2L Practice Walk As Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse’s January Practice Walk had to be cancelled

due to bad weather, another one will now take place along the main beach in Betty's Bay. The walk is similar to the previous one held in Betty’s Bay, but with an added distance. This walk will go ahead even if it rains.

Make sure you have enough to eat and drink as there will probably be three or four breaks along the way.

Dress code: fun in the sun!

Meet in Betty’s Bay main beach parking area | 07:00

10

Monday

Understanding Japan U3A Overberg presents a new 4week DVD series on the cultural history of Japan. Presented by Prof Ravina of the Emory University in the USA, the series discusses many fascinating aspects of the cultural traditions and important historical events that influenced the cultural evolution of this island nation. The week’s session will cover Heian Court Culture and Japan at Home and Abroad 1300–1600.

Catholic Church Hall | 10:00 Astrophotography Join the Hermanus Astronomy Centre for a presentation on image processing and discussion of hardware and software compatibility.

For more information, contact deonk@telkomsa.net.

Deon Krige’s house | 19:00

11

Tuesday

The health of plants Healthy plants constitute the foundation for all life on earth, making up the oxygen we breathe and over 80% of the food we eat. Plant health is of paramount importance if the international community is to guarantee plant resources for a food-secure world based on stable and sustainable ecosystems. With this in mind, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health. In support of this, U3A is hosting a series of talks. This week’s topic is Interesting strategies of insects attacking plants, presented by Dr Jan Giliomee.

Catholic Church Hall | 10:00

13

Thursday

Wine & Dine with Spookfontein This series of Wine & Dine events each features a local wine estate and this month the spotlight is on Spookfontein wines, paired with entertainment and a lavish four-course meal of carefully-selected dishes prepared by the Caledon Hotel’s Executive Chef, Casper Pieters. Tickets to the Wine & Dine experience cost R275 pp and there is also an enticing ‘stay & dine’

package available for R1 550, which includes the Wine & Dine experience, accommodation and breakfast the next morning for two people. Book your tickets at www.tsogosun.com The Caledon Hotel & Spa | 19:00

14

Friday

Valentine’s Day Bubbly Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Hermanus’s trendiest wine bar with their all-day bubbly special – buy one glass and get the second one free. Stay for a meal and enjoy the vibrant vibe as you wind down your week and ease into the weekend.

The Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Rd | 10:00 - 23:00

catchy Whela (Kapela) was released in 2017 and created a stir in the Cape Town music industry. His Touch is Love EP garnered rave reviews within the industry and gave us singles such as What You Do To Me, Feelings Now, Digits and My Place, to mention but a few. Tickets at R250 pp include dinner, which will be served at 18:30, followed by the music performance at 19:30. Booking is essential. Contact 028 341 0651 or info@springfontein. co.za.

Ulumbaza Wine Bar(n) @Springfontein Wine Estate | from 18:00

Come sip with your sweetheart Kerwin Don’t miss this opportunity to listen to a live performance by local talent, Kerwin, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter and talented guitarist.

Kerwin’s debut single, the quirky and

TAKE TIME OUT OR

WITH THE ONE YOU LOVE

15

Valentine’s Day Dinner Experience Treat the special person in your life to a romantic dinner at the Moody Lagoon Restaurant, where Benguela Cove’s Chef Annie Badenhorst has carefully crafted a five-course menu.

Each dish has been perfectly paired with Cellar Master Johann Fourie’s selected cool-climate coastal wines to give you and your partner an evening to remember. The cost is R550 pp and booking is essential. Contact info@benguelacove.co.za or 087 357 0637. The menu can be viewed at www.benguelacove.co.za/valentines-day-dinner-experience Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate | from 18:00

Saturday

Champagne Valentine’s Day Breakfast Support the Hermanus Frail Care Centre (Sofca) in caring for the elderly by buying a ticket to this wonderful annual fundraiser. The champagne breakfast will be served at long tables that seat seven people and you can book as many seats as you like. Tickets at R130 pp are available from the Sofca office at 1 Hospital Rd, Hermanus (Tel: 028 312 3236) or via email at jennievorster@gmail.com.

Sofca, 1 Hospital Rd, Hermanus | 10:00

Valentine’s Day Dinner at The Marine Celebrate the most romantic day of the year with The Marine’s special ‘We found Love in the Valley’ MCC pairing dinner. Showcasing the Hemel-en-Aarde’s finest bubblies, the four-course Valentine’s Day menu features Tuna Tataki, Smoked Salmon Mousse, Seared Duck Breast and Dark Chocolate Marquise paired with the finest MCC by Domaine des Dieux, Creation and Sumaridge. The cost is R545 pp and bookings can be made by contacting 028 313 1000 or bookings@themarine.co.za.

The Marine Hotel, Hermanus | 18:30

Rocking the Lagoon Enjoy a trip down memory lane at this Rock ‘n Roll concert on the edge of the Bot River lagoon. You’ll be entertained by Cloud 9 as they rock you through the ages from the ’60s to the ’80s with music from the likes of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Status Quo, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Moody

Blues, Chuck Berry, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Eagles, Elvis, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and AC-DC. Tickets at R200 per adult (R100 for kids aged 4 – 12 and free entry for U4s) are available from www.webtickets.co.za, in-store at Pick n Pay or the Benguela Cove gift shop. Tasty gourmet hot dogs, cheese and charcuterie boards, delicious wines and refreshments will be available. For more information, contact 087 357 0637 or info@ benguelacove.co.za.

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate | 17:00 – 20:00

Folks Album Launch Join Takura Terry for the launch of his new album, which fuses his original folk sound with a bit of Afro. This is a great opportunity for fans of Takura’s music to gain a better understanding of his songs. There will be special performances of the whole album, followed by a bit of a party with DJ Kim. Best of all, this event is free!

The Brewery, Hemel-en-Aarde Village | 18:00

Valentine’s Dinner INCLUDES 3 COURSE DINNER & GLASS OF WINE

R245

PP

CASINO, HOTEL, SPA AND ENTERTAINMENT

16 | ART 14

5 February 2020

The Schulenburg Property Group (SPG) hosted an art exhibition in one of their show houses in Voëlklip at the end of last year. Participating in this group exhibition was a group of Ina Wilken’s art students, including the property's sole agent, Louise Pienaar. Local artist and chair of the Hermanus Art Circle, Adele Nortjé, also donated a painting for the exhibition, which was auctioned in aid of the Hermanus Animal Welfare Society (HAWS). The highest bid for Adele’s painting of a sheepdog was made by Aletta Robertson and the proceeds were handed over recently to Marlene Deneeghere of HAWS at the SPG offices in Onrus. From left are Louise, Aletta (handing over the donation), Adele (holding the painting) and Marlene.

PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

The Hermanus Visual Art and Design Centre, which is run by Vivienne Mitchley and Jeandré Marinier, teaches Visual Art and Design as two separate subjects to learners from several schools in the Overberg – Hermanus High School, Northcliff House College, Hawston Secondary and Overberg High School. Thanks to a donation from the Hermanus First Fridays (HFF) committee, Vivienne and Jeandré are now also able to provide art tuition to four learners from Qhayiya Secondary in Zwelihle. The donation came from the proceeds of December’s HFF Artwalk, which annually takes the form of the Night of a Thousand Drawings. On this special evening, the galleries that form part of the HFF Artwalk sell donated A5-sized artworks to the public at R100 each. The total amount raised in December was R116 000, which was divided between four local charities – the Hermanus Night Shelter, Siyazama Centre for the Aged, the FynArts Music Project, and Hermanus Visual Art & Design Centre. “We cannot thank the HFF committee enough for selecting us as one of their chosen beneficiaries,” says Jeandré. “We have used the funds to create bursaries that now enable four talented learners from Qhayiya to study Visual Art or Design.” From left are Nosiviwe Matikinca (Gr 12) who is taking both Visual Art and Design as matric subjects at Northcliff House College, and the three Qhayiya learners who will receive extra-mural tuition: Ntando Xovula (Gr 11 - Design), Sivuyiso Nazo and Kuhle Ntsomi (Gr 12 - Visual Art).

ART | 17 15

5 February 2020

Saying good-bye to The Art Gallery T

he ‘Fabulous Four’ of The Art Gallery – local artists Jeandré Marinier, Christine Henderson, Erna Dry and Louise Hennigs – have taken the decision to close the doors of their gallery at the end of February.

This means that Friday’s Artwalk will be the last one The Art Gallery participates in – a rather sad prospect for the many Artwalkers who have flocked to the gallery every First Friday to mingle and marvel at the Fab Four’s artworks.

Alex Marmarellis exhibition opens

Yet Jeandré, Christine, Erna and Louise insist that their decision is a positive step for all four of them as individual artists. “For starters, I’ll now be able to do the Artwalk myself and visit other people’s galleries,” laughs Jeandré, adding that they’ll be leaving the wall they’d painted and adorned with birds when the gallery first opened in 2015 “as a present”.

Cape Town-based artist Alex Marmarellis, known for his intricate beach scenes, will open his first ever solo exhibition on Friday 7 February at Rossouw Modern’s SPACE gallery. The owner of Rossouw Modern, Jozua Rossouw, says the gallery is proud to be part of such a significant moment in the career of this talented emerging artist.

On a more serious note, Louise says that the time has come for the four of them to individually explore their own art on a deeper level and to spread their wings.

“Owning a gallery means that you are under pressure to keep producing the kind of work that sells,” adds Erna, “but at the same time it’s also important for each of us to continue growing as artists.”

While each of them has her own distinctive identity and artistic style, these four artists have over the years created both a business partnership and a deep friendship, the latter of which will doubtless continue after the gallery has closed. “Oh, we hang out all the time and we’ll always be there to support one another,” says Erna.

Without the gallery, they’ll be exploring other ways of selling their art, such as their own websites, social media, and exhibitions both in and outside of Hermanus.

Jeandré, who has gained wide recognition as a passion-

ate art teacher, will also continue running the Hermanus Visual Art and Design Centre with Vivienne Mitchley and giving art classes for adults twice a week.

“We’d like to thank the locals for their loyal support over the years and invite Artwalkers to pop in on Friday for a snack and a glass of wine one last time,” says Jeandré.

“You might even come away with a bargain or two, as we’ll be marking down selected artworks for sale.”

Sounds like a proposition – see you at The Art Gallery!

- Hedda Mittner

Local artists Erna Dry, Louise Hennigs, Christine Henderson and Jeandré Marinier will be closing the doors of The Art Gallery at the end of February and are looking forward to each striking out on her own.

PHOTOS: Hedda Mittner

Born in Cape Town in 1976, Alex studied graphic design, fine art and sculpture at The National School of the Arts in Johannesburg and graphic design and art direction at the AAA School of Advertising in Cape Town.

Alex’s creative talent has led him into many different professional roles over the past 22 years, including those of graphic designer, kitchen designer and manufacturer, carpenter, furniture designer, GM of Aston Martin Cape Town, and clothing and market-

ing director of a baby care company.

He finally started painting again in 2010 and since then has been experimenting with various techniques and mediums, from pop art to portraits and landscapes.

Alex is an avid photographer and produces most of his work from his own reference material. He always carries his camera with him to make sure he’s able to capture any inspirational scene he might encounter for his next art piece.

Most of his landscapes are of places he loves and visits on a regular basis.

He currently works in acrylic on canvas and most of his works are realistic impressions of his environment and the people in his life.

The exhibition will open at SPACE on Friday at 18:00 and will run until 17 February.

18 16

www.thevillagenews.co.za

5 February 2020

EASY ON THE EYE. TOUGH TO GET THROUGH. Many security barriers look the same but they certainly don’t work the same. Call one of our professional consultants who will show you our range of security barriers with their unique design and patented locking systems, proven to be the strongest on the market.

Cnr. Mimosa & Steenbras, Hermanus Industrial 028 312 3215 | info@windorsolutions.co.za

www.thevillagenews.co.za

5 February 2020

Mobility solutions for the elderly W hen we built our home more than 20 years ago, I never thought the stairs would become a problem. Truth be told, I didn’t even think I would still be here,” chuckles 84-year-old Bryan Burnside, who lives in Hermanus Heights with his wife, Megan. The couple recently had a private Lifta home lift installed in their house, and they could not be more pleased with the results.

“We had started looking at single-storey properties but couldn’t find one we liked as much as our present home,” says Bryan, which is why they were overjoyed to find that there was a solution to hand.

“The guys from Lifta were amazing and it took only two weeks from the day I first contacted them. The installation was completed in one and a half days and the technicians worked in a meticulous manner – no fuss and no mess.”

Their attractive and stylish new home lift not only complements the interior of their home, but enables the Burnsides to bypass the staircase and glide smoothly to the upper storey of their house. Their double-volume

entrance hall provided the ideal space for the lift, but thanks to its self-supporting system, the Lifta home lift can be installed just about anywhere.

Because of its small footprint, the lift requires very little space and the unique self-supporting system with integrated motor eliminates the need for a lift shaft. It can even be fitted into a storeroom or wall unit.

Customers can choose between the Lifta DUO, which requires less than 1m² and can accommodate up to two people, or the Lifta TRIO with a footprint of 1.3m², which has room for up to three people and even a self-propelled wheelchair. This is what the Burnsides opted for.

Apart from the attractive high-quality design, it incorporates several safety features such as a clear and user-friendly control panel, remote control and automatic obstruction protection. The TRIO also offers two doors so that the lift can be accessed from both sides, which offers flexibility when it comes to installation and usage.

The ambient light inside the lift offers not only safety but also saves energy,

19 17

as it operates on LED technology and automatically switches off after use. In fact, project manager Robert Schnetzer says the lift, which runs off your home’s main power supply, uses less electricity than a toaster. And in the case of load shedding, the battery back-up will ensure that the lift does not stop when in use but will safely complete your journey, be it up or down.

The good news is that Lifta home lifts are now available in the Overstrand.

With 40 years of experience in mobility solutions, including home lifts and stair lifts, Lifta offers a one-stop solution for the elderly or disabled who are not able to navigate a staircase.

Contact Dewald on 066 114 7511 for a free appointment at your home or visit the website www.lifta.co.za

Bryan Burnside gets to test-drive the new Lifta TRIO home lift that was installed in his home last week.

He has nothing but praise for the “meticulous job” done by project manager Robert Schnetzer and technician Christian Happel.

PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

18 20

www.thevillagenews.co.za

5 February 2020

MY HOME

Ensure that your home is ready to sell in 2020

By Stephen de Stadler Managing Director Fine & Country Hermanus, Arabella and Kleinmond

W

e were greeted with a pleasant surprise last week. The Reserve Bank announced an unexpected 25 basis point reduction in the repo rate, which will translate to a reduction in the prime lending rate of all the significant banks in South Africa by the same amount.

The theory is that the reduction in the cost of lending will encourage consumers to either borrow more or have more money available for spending, which in turn translates to economic growth in the medium to longer term.

We refer to the reduction as unexpected, because most economic commentators predicted that the Reserve Bank would wait at least another quarter before reducing rates again. We certainly hope that the rate reduction will have the desired effect and continue to stimulate what is undoubtedly a more active

local residential property market (when compared to the last quarter of 2019).

Let’s therefore get our own backyard in order, as it were, and prepare our homes for some active and exciting selling in 2020.

The first important aspect is to ensure that your home is sales-ready.

Make sure it is clean and presents a good first impression. A newlypainted front door is infinitely more inviting than a shabby coat of old paint. A neat garden shows the prospective buyer that this space is manageable, whereas an overgrown mess of vegetation may create the false impression that the garden cannot be handled by the occupants of the home.

Those minor repairs (the loose barge board, the broken window catch, the cracked window) should be taken care of before the home enters the market. Some buyers are able to look beyond small issues, but many do not.

The second requirement is to call for the assistance of an estate agent you

Those buyers who may potentially be interested in your home will not

R

SHUTTERS, BLINDS & AWNINGS

028 312 3214 Our dedicated team of expert consultants are waiting to show you our wide range of tailor-made products. For free expert advice, make sure you visit our showroom today.

Shutters

Blinds

Ask the agent to prepare a detailed analysis which allows you to clearly understand the basis from which a suggested selling price is derived.

Also expect to see a comprehensive marketing plan. Consider the fact that correctly-priced properties have a significantly better chance of selling than overvalued homes, and that the concept of value is always a relative one – relative to current market conditions and the current expectations of buyers.

Any buyer who is considering spending a certain amount of money will attach a fairly defined list of requirements to that price range. If your house is overpriced for the current market, the buyer in that range will discount your house as not delivering the listed requirements, whether these are the number of bedrooms or quality of finishes.

VISIT OUR WINDOR SHOWROOM IN HERMANUS TODAY! WIND

can trust. Perhaps some may consider that an oxymoron, but why would you assign the selling of what is one of your largest assets to someone that you cannot trust.

Awnings

Cnr. Mimosa & Steenbras Street, Hermanus Industria 028 312 3214 | www.windorsolutions.co.za | info@windorsolutions.co.za

even see it, because they will be searching in a different price band.

Once you have made your decision regarding the estate agency or agent you wish to proceed with, commit to that agency. In most cases, increasing the number of agencies marketing your house will not increase your exposure. Also, provide enough time for your house to be sold. It often happens that an agent has been marketing a home for a few months, only for the home to be sold a week or two after the mandate expires.

The seller might then comment on the lack of service provided by the first agent, but without taking into consideration that the house was sold by the second agent at a lower selling price than the seller had insisted upon in the first place.

In a buyers’ market, estate agents spend a lot of time engaging in the practice of price counselling. Sellers who insist on pricing their homes at a higher level to start with, should also take into consideration the feedback received from the market as to the relative value of their home.

The third and last requirement, once your home has been successfully listed by your trusted agent, is to ensure that your home is ready for viewing. Declutter to the extent you can, so that the prospective buyer can see the space in the context of his or her own furnishings. A colleague in the UK recounted that a professional musician who had converted the lounge into a music room, where the baby grand piano left no space for any other furniture, took great exception to the agent’s request to stage the room as a lounge for a particular viewing weekend – and this was after the property had already been on the market for more than a year.

You do know where I am going with this, and needless to say, the home was sold once the family room was decluttered so as to accommodate the musical instrument, and the lounge was appropriately furnished.

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.

21 19

www.thevillagenews.co.za

5 February 2020

MY SPORT

On the Greens

Curro Hermanus shows off swimming skills

C

urro Hermanus hosted one of their annual in-house galas last week which saw the two high school houses, Mako and Orca, swimming for first place.

Before the start of the gala, each team put up a cheer to pep up their swimmers for the races. The items included an individual medley followed by freestyle, butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke, as well as a swimming relay race at the end which some of the teachers also participated in.

All of the swimmers showed great skill in their heats and sportsmanship throughout the gala, but in the end it was house Mako that beat Orca to take first place.

- Taylum Meyer 4

By Willem Lindeque Hello Golfers

1

1. Joshua GrindleyFerris swam in many of the races – here he is doing butterfly.

2. Dylan Fourie glided through the water in one of the breaststroke races.

3. Marc de Villiers showed his speed in the freestyle.

4. Shanéa Smith moved effortlessly through the water.

PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer

2

of comprehensive accounting & financial services VISIT WWW.BVSA.LTD FOR MORE INFORMATION

hermanus@bvsa.ltd +27 (0)28 313 0223 41 Church street, Hermanus, 7200

The regular players at Hermanus, including all our members, will be familiar with our 15th hole. Depending on your skill level, this hole does pose a very intimidating tee shot for most, with quite a distance to cover to get across the penalty area. Those of you who found this a challenge will be happy to hear that we have moved the drop zone on this hole to the fairway side of the penalty area.

There has also been another change to the hole. On the left-hand side of the fairway there is a waste area, along which there used to be a few drop zones for those players who

Golf results

3

Contact us for a range

This coming weekend we are hosting the ICM Cup here at Hermanus Golf Club. For those unfamiliar with this event, it is played between Hermanus and Bredasdorp. We hope that everyone participating will have a great time.

found their shot ending up in the penalty area to the left of the waste area. These drop zones have been taken away and you will now take normal penalty relief. This waste area contains sand and can also be known as a waste bunker. However, a waste area or waste bunker is not seen as a normal bunker, but as part of the general area of the course. So, when dropping because your ball entered the penalty area, that would mean that you will take your drop in this waste area under the normal penalty relief rules.

This is completely in line with the rules of golf. If there are any further enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact me. I want to also encourage golfers and shoppers alike to visit The Pro Shop at Hermanus Golf Club. It stocks a wonderful range of clothing and equipment, and I am sure the staff will be able to assist you with all your golfing needs. Happy golfing, see you at the Club.

• Saturday 25 January Club Competition – Alliance Stableford; East Course Winner – Anthia & Lars Hallgren and Lena & Acke Widerstrom – 88; South Course Winner – Gert Kruger, Gerrie du Plooy, Stephan O’Kennedy & Phil Munro – 94 C/I; North Course Winner – Jamie & Jenny Poola and Willem & Ingrid Krige – 97 • Tuesday 28 January Ladies’ Competition – Individual Stableford; Silver Division – 1st Kira McCarthy – 34; 2nd Lynne Behagg – 33 C/I; Bronze Division – 2nd Zenith Meiring; 2nd Jackie McDonald – 39 • Wednesday 29 January Men’s Competition – 4BBB Stableford; East Course Winner – Kowie Ganz & Jan Swanepoel – 45 C/I; South Course Winner – WJ Blommert & Stephan O’Kennedy – 45; North Course Winner – Ian Pansegrouw & Hugo Steyn – 45

22 20

www.thevillagenews.co.za

5 February 2020

MY SPORT

High school athletes excel at Inter-schools 2

1

A

n annual highlight on the high school sports calendar is the inter-school athletics day, which Curro Hermanus and Hermanus High School participated in last week.

The competition was stiff as the learners faced off in various items such as running, long jump, high jump, javelin, hurdles and relays. The participants accumulated points based on their performances, which were added up at the end of the day to decide the winner.

3

4

5

Curro Hermanus came up against seven other Curro schools at Coetzenburg in Stellenbosch. Even though they were one of the smaller Curro schools, Curro Hermanus managed to take home third place and showed their true Curro Lion spirit!

This was Hermanus High’s 20th inter-schools athletics day against Bredasdorp High and Overberg High, which they have now won four times. Karli-Mari Geldenhuys (girls U15 javelin) and Jenna Perreira (girls U14 800m) both set new records.

Hermanus High also won seven of the eight team prizes and Donovan Brink won the prize for the best U17 boy of the day for his time of 9:44.70 in the 3 000m. Hermanus High won the athletics day with a whopping 1 041 points – 253 points ahead of Bredasdorp and 356 points ahead of Overberg High, which placed third. The spirit cup went to Bredasdorp High this year and everyone agreed that Overberg High’s morning performance was the best out of the three schools.

6

7

Hermanus High would like their thank their main sponsor, Overberg Wealth & Risk Management for their continued support for the past 12 consecutive years.

The North Zone Athletics day will take place at Hermanus High on Saturday 8 February. The top-performing athletes from this event will be chosen to compete at the South Boland trials the following week on 15 February.

– Taylum Meyer 1 - Gené Cornelius from Hermanus High has become an athlete to watch in the 100m hurdles; 2 - Lara Arrison, Unathi Sikhundla and Chevonne Botes from Curro Hermanus's cheerleading team; 3 - Head boy of Hermanus High, Kyle Philander hugs Principal Greg Hassenkamp after the announcement that they'd won the Inter-schools athletics; 4 - Donovan Brink from HHS was awarded the title of best U17 boy of the day; 5 - Leani Joubert from Hermanus High puts her all into throwing the shotput; 6 - Maronique Booysen cheers during the brief break; 7 - Werner van Niekerk was one of the top athletes in the U19 boys high jump; 8 - Sean Castle from HHS faced some very tough competition in the U19 boys javelin; 9 - Unathi Sikhundla, Karmyn van Noordwyk, Chevonne Botes, HerCURROS (Curro Hermanus Mascot), Lara Arrison, Siphokzai Gcilitshane and Jason Erasmus cheer on their athletes.

9

8