The Village NEWS 10 October - 16 October 2018

NEWS NEWS

Village

The

10 October 2018

Cape Whale Coast

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FCJ Independent Newspaper of the Year

MAYORAL AWARDS Locals honoured

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WHAT’S COOKING Restaurant news

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COMING IN HOT The Vermont salt pan is home to a variety of bird species, including flamingos that have recently returned for the warmer summer months.

PHOTO: Chris Jooste Photography

No mass eviction on the cards for Zwe De Waal Steyn

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he Municipality, with assistance from the Red Ants will move several of the shacks that have popped up near the Zwelihle swimming pool and on the old Hermanus dumping sites,” says Mayor Dudley Coetzee.

“I want to clearly state that none of these structures will be demolished and there will be no mass eviction of the people living there.

We simply need to move some of the structures temporarily to install basic services, while others that were erected on the dumpsite berm will need to be relocated due to health concerns,” he says.

More than a hundred shacks have been erected by Zwelihle residents tired of waiting for delivery on housing projects and serviced plots.

Of these 130 have been marked as belonging to people who qualify for the first 130 serviced plots that will be made available by the Municipality. “The rest of the people will be moved to more suitable spaces as we need to not only make way for

the installation of services but also ensure access in case of emergencies,” says Coetzee.

He adds that the Municipality is not aware that these shacks have been erected by new residents in Zwelihle.

“As far as we know these structures were erected by current residents who have been living in other people’s back yards. We are not

aware of an influx of new residents into the area.”

Coetzee also dismisses reports that the free housing in Swartdam Road next to the Clinic were invaded by homeless people. “The residents of those houses were on the housing waiting list and received their title deeds together with the keys to their homes.”

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10 October 2018

University College taking shape

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he vision of Hermanus boasting its very own university college by 2020 is becoming a real possibility as a team of experts under the leadership of well-known local academic, Prof John de Gruchy are working around the clock to make it happen.

According to John the prospect of establishing the Hermanus University College (HUC) has been met with overwhelmingly positive responses from all communities and stakeholders.

“Fruitful meetings have been held with the Overstrand Mayor and his leadership, two Deputy-Vice Chancellors of Stellenbosch University, the Chief Executive Officer of Curro, local school principals and various community leaders. There has been remarkable interest and support all round and a clear plan is beginning to emerge. This will be embodied in an updated proposal to be presented at a meeting hosted by the Mayor on 22 November at 18:00 in the Municipal Auditorium,” says John.

With several education roleplayers, including Stellenbosch University, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and Curro involved in the initial groundwork, the HUC has already gained some stature as an initiative that will have an enormously positive impact on the Overberg and further enhance Hermanus’s position as the economic hub of the region. With the establishment of a university college, educational tourism might become another important economic driver.

“Although the HUC project is still very much a work in progress, excitement is growing among those involved and all the people we tell about the prospect immediately support the notion of creating our very own tertiary institution,” says John.

The idea of the HUC was conceived by some members of the Zwelihle community in August.

This led to a series of conversations with various educationists, business and other community leaders in the Overstrand, the formation of a steering committee, and the presentation of a preliminary proposal at a well-attended meeting of interested parties later that month.

and the steering committee was asked to take the project further. This led to the formation of several working committees, the appointment of a part-time administrator, and conversations with potential stakeholders,” says John.

Throughout the process the steering committee has stressed that the motivation for the establishment of HUC is to contribute to the transformation of our diverse and divided society through tertiary education.

“Within that broad vision the aim of the HUC will be to provide a university-accredited education for all sectors of the community and to train graduates who are able to contribute to the development of the Overberg as well as pursue their own careers.

“Although nothing has yet been finalised, the present intention is to provide a three-year programme which will be phased in from the beginning of 2020. The proposed design of the programme is that first, with the help of our partners, we will be able to establish a programme to assist Grade 10 – 12 learners to matriculate with a university exemption; secondly, a bridging year will be offered starting in 2020 to enable matriculants to improve their learning skills and so prepare for the university-accredited courses, beginning in 2021.“ According to John, bridging subjects would include English, IsiXhosa, Afrikaans writing and mathematics, basic science, and computer literacy. The maximum that could be accepted for this year would probably be 100 students, but this has not yet been finalised and is dependent on available resources.

“Thirdly, 1st and 2nd year university courses will be offered in three faculties: Humanities; Science; and Administration, Commerce and IT. The 1st year courses will begin in 2021, and the 2nd year in 2022. These courses will be developed with the needs and employment opportunities of the Overberg in mind, such as business, agriculture, tourism, aqua-marine biology, environmental studies etc,” he says.

Two key elements of the proposal were that, firstly, the HUC should be located in Hermanus Old Town, using existing vacant facilities rather than a specially built campus elsewhere, thus also contributing to the renewal of the area; and secondly, that it should draw on the experience and elicit the voluntary help of the many excellent educationists and academics resident in the region.

The courses will be structured so that after two years students will be able to graduate with a diploma that will provide the necessary qualification for work in that sphere in the Overstrand, or to pursue an academic career at another university of their choice. In addition to these programmes, the HUC plans to offer additional courses for the upgrading of skills for teachers, the public and business administrators.

“There was immediate support for the proposal

John says a phased implementation of the

project will be followed. “The present phase will come to an end with the presentation, amendment where necessary, and approval of the proposal on 22 November. After that, we will work out the details of the proposal during January to June 2019 to prepare for the bridging courses planned for 2020. Securing space for teaching and learning in Hermanus will also form part of the second phase, together with starting the registration process for a limited intake of students who qualify with matric exemption.

“Phase three will see the development of the 1st and 2nd year university-accredited courses for implementation in 2021/2 ,with phase four being the development of additional programmes as needed, such as Sports Science.”

John adds that the establishment of the HUC is an enormous undertaking, especially at this time of economic depression, but if well-designed, adequately funded, and supported by the community, its goals can be achieved.

Those who are willing to support the project can become Friends of the University College by contributing to the funds needed to launch the HUC. Any single or even monthly contributions will be appreciated. Pease contact hermanusuniversitycollege@gmail.com

Help the HUC with information: •

• • • •

What is the number of Grade 12 graduates in the Overberg with degree-admission passes for the last 3 years; What is the overall number of Grade 12 passes for the last 3 years; What number of students pursued university study; Reasons why others did not undertake university study; Whether students study via contact or distance learning?

Adult learners: • What number of adult learners have never been to university; • How many would pursue further studies; • What types of qualifications would be relevant?

Short programmes: • What short learning or professional development programmes will be of value; • How many people would be interested in short-programme learning?

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10 October 2018

Seven decades of shared memories from local disadvantaged communities were ever likely to gain access to tertiary education.

Elaine Davie

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When he visited some of the schools, he understood why. A lot of the infrastructure was in bad shape, the classrooms were overcrowded, much of the teaching was below standard and there were no essential re-sources like libraries, laboratories and computers. Henri was appalled. If the Overstrand and indeed, the country, were to flourish, quality education was key. And who was going to do something about it, if not he?

ill you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixtyfour?’ sang the Beatles…

What about when I’m 94, they might have asked!

That question is a complete no-brainer for Henri and Ghanie Kuiper who last week celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary. Sitting on their porch overlooking a tranquil, pin cushionfilled garden and the full sweep of Walker Bay, Henri smiles at his wife and with a twinkle in his eye says, “She’s been the best thing in my life – I mean, who else would have put up with me for so long?”

The handsome young couple met at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1946 and were married a year later.

Henri was a dashing pilot who had recently been demobbed after active service with the RAF in the deserts of North Africa, and then in Greece.

Having served with distinction and survived several narrow scrapes, he felt invincible and was ready to plunge headlong into a legal career, leading in the not-too-distant future, he felt certain, to an appointment to the Bench.

But first, he had to complete his legal studies, which included a course in Latin. In the Classics Department he was allocated a tutor, the beautiful Cecilia Hugo (known to everyone as Ghanie, having been born on Dingaan’s Day). She was fluent in both Latin and Greek, but more importantly, as far as Henri was concerned, she had blue eyes which utterly transfixed him.

They were married on 4 October 1947 in a simple ceremony in the Dutch Reformed Church. Ghanie’s dress was made by her mother and the modest reception was held in her parents’ garden in Auckland Park, Johannesburg. Ghanie remembers with a chuckle that Henri marched her out of the church so fast, she could hardly keep up – perhaps an intimation of what the marriage would hold in store.

Long-time residents of Hermanus, Henri (94) and Ghanie (93) Kuiper, celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary on 4 October. On the same day, this remarkable couple became the first ever recipients of the new Lifetime Achievement Award at the Mayoral Awards Ceremony held in the Municipal Auditorium on Thursday evening. was a quick learner, highly energetic and a fiendishly hard worker.

Although there were many ups and downs in his meteoric rise through the ranks, he is quick to acknowledge that none of this would have been possible, had it not been for support from several older men, both in the legal profession and the business world, who guided and sometimes pushed him into new enterprises. But most of all, it was Ghanie who was always there as a pillar of support through thick and thin, making sacrifices, offering advice, ‘calming him down’.

Henri established a highly successful practice as an advocate at the Johannesburg Bar; then, just when his upward trajectory seemed assured, he was persuaded by one of his mentors to enter the cut and thrust of the newspaper industry, becoming the Managing Director of SAAN (South African Associated Newspapers) aged 33. This group included the Sunday Times, Sunday Express and Rand Daily Mail; later, he was instrumental in launching the prestigious Financial Mail under its banner.

One of Henri’s flying instructors had once told him he was ‘over-confident and arrogant’ and although he had the requisite skills for the job he had to learn to calm down. Another lesson he learnt during his flying training, which stayed with him throughout his diverse career was that he had to learn to ‘play red’, which meant to be a winner. “As I was later to learn,” he remembers, “for a fighter pilot, the issue was to win at all costs – if you lost you were either dead or a prisoner!”

With his usual thoroughness, Henri familiarised himself with every aspect of newspaper production, managing to survive the battering this rough and ready world threw at him, and then, just when he thought he knew it all, he leapt into a new environment, that of merchant banking and the learning started all over again.

With this attitude drilled into him as a very young man, Henri became something of an ‘enfant terrible’ on his return to civilian life. Winning became everything to him. Unafraid to take his life in a completely new direction whenever the opportunity arose, he

And so it was with Henri: moving from one world to another and each time rising higher and higher up the corporate ladder. From merchant banking, he went on to become a director and Chairman of the Boards of some of South Africa’s top listed

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Ghanie remembers with a chuckle that Henri marched her out of the church so fast, she could hardly keep up – perhaps an intimation of what the marriage would hold in store.

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companies, like Standard Bank and Wooltru. It is with some pride that he mentions that he was adjudged one of the top 10 toughest businessmen in South Africa at the time – even if he was only 5th on the list!

But what of Ghanie while Henri was exercising his will to win with such energy and success? Well, Ghanie has always been very much her own person and she was building a less public but equally satisfying life for herself and the couple’s four children: Margaret, Jannie, Irene and Adrian.

At first she continued teaching Latin from home and along the way also became fluent in French and Italian.

Now, at age 93, she is teaching herself isiXhosa!

The children each developed their own talents and the two boys, particularly, excelled at both rugby and cricket. As a member of the Proteas cricket team, Adrian became a household name. In an aside, she comments drily, “Of course Henri encouraged them in their sporting activities – it’s all about winning you see – but not so much in their academics, unfortunately!” Today there are 11 grandchildren and one

great-grandchild, scattered all over the world, but they try to get together as often as possible for special occasions.

One has the impression that one of her chief roles was to keep Henri’s feet firmly on the ground and his head out of the clouds, but Ghanie’s greatest fulfilment came in discovering that she had green fingers and was able to create spectacularly beautiful gardens wherever they lived. Their last home in Johannesburg was a Herbert Baker house on 5 acres of land in Parktown where she was given free rein to let her green fingers do the walking, turning the property into an oasis very close to the city centre where her husband was wheeling and dealing.

Then Henri appeared to change direction completely. At age 47 he decided he wanted to spend more time with the family and have the opportunity to break away from the rat race (Henri, really?!) so he bought an apple farm with a ramshackle house in the beautiful Elgin valley.

“I felt bad about taking Ghanie away from our beautiful property in Parktown and her many friends – it was a sacrifice for her – but I knew she would come up trumps,” he says. And she did. Despite the fact that for the next 15 years, he still continued to commute to Johannesburg every week, leaving Ghanie alone on the farm, she produced butter and cream from a small dairy herd and set about creating yet another show garden, which was opened to the public once a year.

About 20 years ago and several farms later Henri finally decided to ‘retire’ and the couple moved to Hermanus.

And here his life underwent an unplanned paradigm shift. By chance he became aware of how few pupils

Gathering around him a group of his former friends and colleagues who had retired to Hermanus, he launched the Enlighten Education Trust in September 2002 with the aim of ‘improving the quality of teaching, learning and life in the Overstrand’.

He knocked on the doors of former contacts in the business world and raised enough money to get the organisation on its feet, appointed highly qualified staff and served as its first Chairman.

With the driving energy of Henri Kuiper behind it, Enlighten’s outreach grew from 2 projects in 7 schools to 18 projects in 24 schools and approximately 40 ECD centres from Betty’s Bay to Gansbaai. This project has literally changed Henri’s life and he is arguably prouder of it than any other project with which he has been associated. He is now its Honorary Life President and until relatively recently still attended every Board meeting. Although this is no longer possible, he and Ghanie are always in the front row of every event organised by Enlighten and he keeps his finger very firmly on the pulse of what is happening there.

For Ghanie the retirement years in Hermanus have been amongst her happiest. She was able to continue with her gardening activities, as well as walking, hacking in the mountains and until last year, swimming every morning at Voëlklip beach, summer or winter. She still insists on walking to Woolies with the aid of her walker to do her own shopping, likewise to the hairdresser and once a month, to the beauty salon. But to her great sadness, gardening is no longer possible.

“The good news,” Ghanie comments with a wry smile, “is that we’re both deteriorating at the same pace, so we understand each other’s problems.”

These two remarkable people have rubbed the rough edges off each other over the years and now fit together perfectly, smoothly, like a hand in a glove. There is nothing more to learn.

They are complete.

Note from the author: Henri Kuiper’s biography by David Hylton-Barber is currently nearing completion and should be published later this year. I greatly appreciate having been given insight into the draft and in a few instances, have quoted from it.

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10 October 2018

Community leaders celebrated at Mayoral Awards E

ach one of you is a beacon of hope, and you have each become role models in your own unique way; being shining examples of what can be done when even just one person steps up and says these all important words: ‘What can I do to help? How can I possibly make a difference?’ You are, therefore, without a doubt, our heroes.”

world first discovery of a new flower species of the Fabaceae (pea) family which was named Otholobium Dreweae in her honour. Under her stewardship the Hermanus Herbarium was included in the Edition 8 Index Herbarium, a New York-based publication putting it firmly on the world botanical map. Priscilla is the honorary lifetime president of the herbarium, past chair of the Hermanus Botanical Society and convenor of the annual Flower Festival.

Those were the words of Overstrand Executive Mayor, Dudley Coetzee at the annual Mayoral Awards ceremony that took place on Thursday evening.

The Mayor went on to quote Nelson Mandela, who said: “There are so many men and women who hold no distinctive positions, but whose contribution towards the development of society has been enormous.”

That, said Ald Coetzee, summed up the reason for the Mayoral Awards that evening: to celebrate and honour these ordinary, yet exceptional men and women who have managed to draw themselves away from incredibly busy lives to do extraordinary deeds of kindness. And through these unselfish efforts, and by sharing their passion and remarkable skills in many ways, each individual has done much to uplift and empower the members of their respective communities.

“We are humbled, but also inspired, by the dedication and unfailing commitment of these very special people who constantly put the needs of their communities ahead of themselves.

Honouring you with these awards tonight is just our small way of saying thank you and of acknowledging the tremendous contributions you have made to society,” he said.

WINNERS The top achievers of the Overstrand were honoured at the annual Mayoral Award ceremony. The winners were from back left Glenda Kitley (Tourism Development), Yolande Sauls (Woman of the Year), Thosamile Stuurman (Entrepreneurial Achievement) and Thomas Lefu Lebitsa (Achiever of Excellence). In the front row from left are: Inga Mfundisi (Junior Achievement), Ghanie Kuiper, Mayor Dudley Coetzee and his wife Shirley and Henri Kuiper who together with Ghanie received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Youth Development and Computer Centre for her active involvement in her community, from pre-school to the elderly.

The award for Environmental Conservation went to Dianne Jean Marais of the Hermanus Botanical Society. Dr Marais has established a Research Centre at Fernkloof as a general information hub for school groups and the public, as a venue for hosting environmental courses, and as a satellite centre for the Millennium Seedbank Project of Kew Gardens, London.

The winner of the Achiever of Excellence Award was Thomas Lefu Lebitsa, an employee of Abagold who volunteers at Just Care Aftercare Centre as a sports coach. Thomas was commended for the way that he inspires children by being such a remarkable and positive role model.

The winner of the Entrepreneurial Achievement Award was Thozamile Stuurman of Thoza Tours, who was lauded for his passion for tourism and the community as a whole, as well as for the successful business he has established.

The Woman of the Year Award went to Yolande Sauls of Blompark Ikamva

Glenda Kitley was the winner of the Tourism Development Award, not

only for her role in the Gansbaai tourism industry, but also for her passion and unselfish support of the community. Glenda has proved herself to be an excellent marketer with an indepth knowledge and understanding of responsible tourism and the needs of her community.

The Junior Achievement Award went to Inga Mfundisi of the Zwelihle Chess Club, for the excellent work in assisting learners at Lukhanyo Primary School in the field of chess.

Frank Woodvine, Priscilla Drewe, Belle Barker and Lee Burman received Honorary Field Ranger Awards for their work in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve.

Frank Woodvine was appointed curator of Fernkloof in 1976 and later became superintendent of the nature reserves, parks and gardens of the newly-established Overstrand Municipality. For 20 years he spearheaded

conservation and ecotourism in the area. On his retirement in 1995 he served as chair of the Fernkloof Advisory Board for five years and as a member for many more. He was a cofounder of the Hermanus Botanical Society, of which he is a life member, and also a founder member of the Cliff Path Management Group. Frank has spent a lifetime caring for the environment and still does so today. His remarkable contribution to the Fernkloof Nature Reserve and conservation areas in the Overstrand over the past 42 years is an inspiration to all who care for the environment.

Priscilla Drewe has been involved with the identification of the flowers and the clearing of alien vegetation in both the Fernkloof Reserve and neighbouring Vogelgat Private Reserve for over 40 years. As keeper of the Hermanus Herbarium from 1983 – 2006 she meticulously collected over 1 164 plants and her knowledge of the local flora is legendary. In 1987 she made a

Belle Barker was a writer and former editor of Botsoc’s Herbs newsletter for 10 years as well as the organiser of the annual Flower Festival. She has played an integral role in the rehabilitation of the Fernkloof gardens and since the early ‘80s has helped the keeper of the Herbarium with research and documentation. She has been awarded lifetime BotSoc membership and has dedicated much of her life to the promotion of knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the fynbos in our area. Even now, at the age of 93 Belle the botanical expert, teacher and mentor has been at the forefront of gathering an extensive variety of fynbos for the annual flower show and has for many years kept a magnificent, named display of flowers in the visitors centre.

Lee Burman is a dedicated conservationist who has a remarkable memory of all the plants and specimens she has collected and stored in the Herbarium throughout the years of her work. She has been an official member of the Fernkloof Advisory Board for the past seven years, after serving the Board in a secretarial capacity for 37 years. She was co-author with Ann Bean of the Botanical Society SA Flower Guide No 5: Hottentots-Holland to Hermanus and she has contributed an immense amount of practical work, experience and knowledge to BotSoc and Fernkloof.

The last award of the evening was a Lifetime Achievement Award, given for the first time, to Henri and Ghanie Kuiper. This remarkable couple, aged 94 and 93 respectively, has been a constant source of inspiration and encouragement to so many over the course of their remarkable journey.

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10 October 2018

Let’s Talk

THE

NEWS

Aggressive joggers not welcome on Cliff Path Thank you for publishing the letter Enjoyment of Cliff Path spoiled by joggers (The Village NEWS, 3 October). I, too, have been very concerned that the path is increasingly being used as a sporting venue by those who, frankly, believe that they have some sort of right of way.

Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

Trudeau’s words, uttered when he, as Justice Minister, had just introduced a bill that, among other reforms, decriminalised homosexuality, were intended to show the overreach of the state, and by extension, Government and political parties, into issues which Trudeau believed they should not be sticking their noses into. The same rule should apply in municipalities as well.

In simple terms, the role of the municipality is to keep the lights and water going, to keep neighbourhoods clean and to look after municipal infrastructure such as roads, parks, recreation facilities, markets, and cemeteries. Municipalities comply with both national and provincial legislation and are allowed to enact bylaws and policies in their areas of

to 368 people (https://www.news24.com/Columnis ts/GuestColumn/unfair-allocation-ofpolice-resources-reinforces-socialinequality-20180720).

responsibility.

One would think that keeping its citizens safe would also be an important role for the municipality but it actually isn’t. That’s the responsibility of the South African Police Service, currently, since February 2018, under the direction of the Minister of Police Bheki Cele, a now regular visitor to Hermanus.

Nevertheless, you would expect that Minister of Police should be one of the most apolitical jobs you can possibly have. Crime is crime, right?

Turns out this isn’t true.

As numerous organisations have pointed out, and in some cases, even gone to court to try and change, the Western Cape is unfairly treated. Not only are police officers very unequally and unfairly distributed in the Western Cape in comparison to the other provinces (www.groundup.org.za) but we share one police officer with 500 citizens compared to the South Africa average of one police officer

I have personally experienced being knocked over by a fast jogger (this was an assault) who saw what he had done and simply went on running, and on two other occasions I was physically pushed aside.

Perhaps a notice on all boards would help to send an appropriate message. Aggressive behaviour is really not welcome and anyone displaying it should get the message.

The originators (including members of my own family) of this wonderful natural asset to Hermanus, created it for everyone to absorb the flora, fauna and natural beauty of our unique environment. You can only

Keep politics out of the bedroom… and the Municipality!

Pierre Trudeau, former Prime Minister of Canada and father of the current leader of Canada, Justin Trudeau, famously once said, “The state has no business in the bedrooms of the nation.” I would add that this applies to a municipality as well!

do this by taking time.

Without being critical of the Police Minister, who hasn’t been in the job long enough to make the substantial changes needed within SAPS and who, to his credit, acknowledges all the reforms required, my cynical mind can’t help but wonder that if there had been a proper base police station in Zwelihle with a team of 70 officers (assuming a population of 27 000 residents with a ratio of one police officer to 368 residents as per the national norm), that perhaps much of the R40 million in destruction of property would have been avoided.

That our brave and dedicated police officers are ill-equipped and underresourced has been commented on numerous times and, as a community, we should be grateful for the quality of police leadership we do have.

John Taylor

In the same way, judging by the rhetoric on social media, it would seem that instead of focusing on what are legitimate concerns about access to housing and services for residents of Zwelihle, the discourse from Zwelihle Renewal has instead shifted to a diatribe against capitalism, imperialism and neoimperialism and any other “ism” you can think of. It is becoming clear that local residents are being “pumped up” in order to seed the ground for either a new radical political party or to build support for the Economic Freedom Front. One can only imagine what is going to happen as elections next year become a reality. Disruptions to score political mileage, I suspect.

In 2010, the then Deputy Minister of Provincial and Local Government, Yunus Carrim said, “Most of the protests are about service delivery issues. But they are also about a range of other municipal issues including maladministration, nepotism, fraud and corruption, and the failure of councillors and

Weather forecast for the next week & De Bos Dam level

administrators to listen to residents.

But it is the rage of some sections of the protestors and the extent of violence and destruction that they wreak that is striking. It reflects a far more fundamental alienation of people from our democracy. It suggests an accurate sense of marginalisation and exclusion… the nature and scope of the protests we are witnessing are not part of a healthy, growing democracy.”

I don’t know about you, but this sounds a lot like what happened in Hermanus.

The point is very simple. Party politics and political competition are not positive for municipalities. Rather let the municipality, while ensuring that it remains fiscally solvent, focus on delivering their core responsibilities equally to all citizens.

Keep politics out and let ‘Delivery, Delivery, Delivery’ be the rallying cry of performance and measurement.

www.yr.no

Hermanus

Wednesday 10 October

Thursday 11 October

Friday 12 October

Saturday 13 October

Sunday 14 October

Monday 15 October

Tuesday 16 October

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67.95%

7

10 October 2018

Barbed wire fence questioned

THE

NEWS

The Team

OPINION Matters

6 Royal Street, Hermanus

028 312 2234

The Road Not Taken

The green belt next to Malmok Crescent in Vermont, opposite Paradise Park, is being fenced in with razor wire and now has a distinct concentration camp aspect. The Municipality, as advised by the Heritage and Aesthetics Committee, owes us and especially the property owners in Malmok Crescent an explanation.

Izak Kenney, Hermanus Heights

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth.

– Excerpt from The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost 1916

Cllr Jean Orban, Ward 13, answers: I was informed by Ward 3 Committee Member, Duncan Heard, last week that the developers are putting up a temporary fence around Paradise Park.

I was shocked to see this fence when they started erecting it, as it is not in keeping with the character of Vermont and truly is an eyesore. However, I do respect everybody's right to ensure their safety and the security of their property. I am, however, not sure that a 2,4 m high, barbed wire fence is the way to go, especially taking into consideration that this fence is temporary, and developments can take a long time to get going. I have referred this to John Simson at the Municipal Building Department and he has undertaken to have the fence inspected in order to see if it conforms to regulations and requirements. I am sure that the intention was not to have the place look like a concentration camp, but maybe in future a little more consultation with one's neighbours will go a long way to make sure everyone is happy.

This famous poem champions the idea of following your own path even if it means going against the grain of popular thought or sentiment. The past few months have challenged us all as individuals to reassess how we feel about living in the Overstrand and what our future will be here.

This week’s and previous issues over the past month have highlighted some of these visionary individuals and companies; people who have chosen to proactively turn lemons into lemonade.

Companies are investing in hiring new people. Others have launched new business ventures. Progressive actions to improve and establish Hermanus as an education hub are no longer just a distant possibility. The groundwork for a successful summer season is being laid by others.

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As Peter Sellers, in his role as Chance, the gardener, reminds us in the movie Being There: “As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden.”

Many have decided to spiral down into an abyss of complaining and negativity, nostalgic for a past that can never be reclaimed again. Others have become “little Napoleons”, freely expressing their opinions with little regard for the consequences, forgetting the very simple rule that “words matter”.

And roots in Hermanus are not severed.

All will be well in our garden.

But some have chosen to take the road not taken.

This is the good NEWS – ED

If a picture paints a thousand words – as the saying goes – then I’m sure any aspiring writer would beg to differ.

Depends on the writer perhaps, but a well-written description of those landscapes or portraits could conjure up intoxicating imagines in the reader’s internal Imax Theatre that the painters hadn’t intended or envisioned themselves.

Don McLean is a perfect example. He described Van Gogh’s 1889 painting ‘Starry Night’ in his song ‘Vincent’, and it evokes more personal images of the artist and his work than staring at the actual framed painting. Your imagination doesn’t have a frame.

Oddly enough, the complete opposite of this was expressed by Winston Churchill, when he saw his portrait painted by the artist Graham Sutherland. “It makes me look as if I’m straining a stool,” he claimed. If words could kill… But wait – there’s more!

One of the Bee Gees, thrilled at having read the Oxford Dictionary cover to cover and loved it, wrote a song about it, and actually called it ‘Words’. It was addressed to his darling.

He’d apparently exhausted all the regular courtship follies – like jewellery, an apartment, a sports car and a lavish clothing allowance – and was now platsak as a church mouse. It seems he was left with “only words,

A Far Kraai Murray Stewart thevillagemuze@gmail.com

and words are all I have – to take your heart awaaaay…”

Some family members caught on, and got their own dictionaries.

Words bounced about like popcorn, and soon they were all writing like mad. These new songs often had titles longer than one word, which showed signs of literary progress and prompted them to record a cassette for the wireless. They were quite good, and apparently made a second cassette.

Over the years though, some famous people have different opinions about the written word, some less flattering than others.

W Somerset Maugham claimed, “I would sooner read a timetable or a catalogue than nothing at all.

They’re much more interesting than half the novels written.”

George Bernard Shaw, no slouch himself with a pen, was equally disparaging about that bloke Shakespeare. “It would be a relief to dig him up and throw stones at him,” he wrote, dipping his quill in the green inkwell of envy. Bit harsh.

Shakespeare did OK as a wordsmith considering he couldn’t spell and didn’t have a thesaurus to save his bacon.

But as we know, throughout history famous words have inspired millions. John F Kennedy wanted to go to the moon “because it is hard.”

Martin Luther King eloquently vocalised his dream, and President PW Botha yelled, “Don’t confuse me with facts!” Clint Eastwood invited somebody to “make my day”, and Greta Garbo insisted she “vonted to be a loon”, but sadly never became one.

Many others like Churchill, Madiba, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Margaret Thatcher and Kahlil Gibran spring to mind. But there are those three precious words – often uttered by lovers in tangled embrace – which have endured the passing of time, and will be uttered well into the future. “Did you phart?”

Anyway, while the pen may be mightier than the sword, we have already seen the tongue can be mightier than both. Spoken or sung, words leave the door open to the imagination, so here’s something to wrap your ears around. Next time you hear Bohemian Rhapsody, listen objectively to the words. Was Freddy Mercury describing his realisation and acceptance that he was infected by a little-known potential killer – HIV – which only years later was diagnosed as Aids?

Sing along anyway.

Just a last word – the most requested song at funerals in Britain is Monty Python’s “Always look on the bright side of life, de dum, de dum de dum de dum.”

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

Spring has definitely sprung and those who have planted positive seeds will see them blossom.

I Give You My Word. Trust Me – I’m a Writer

ords. One way or another, whether penned, spoken or sung, words are mightier, and can often slice deeper than the slash of a sword. They are also the oil and grease, the lubricants for the evermoving parts of day-to-day life, and without them the machine would grind to a halt.

Publishing Editor De Waal Steyn 083 700 3319 dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

Design and Layout Nickey Jackson 079 408 7722 nickey@thevillagenews.co.za

Office Administrator Tania Hamman admin@thevillagenews.co.za

FOR FACT’S SAKE 1. The speed of the earth’s rotation on its own axis increases from the poles – at 0 km p/h – to just over 1 600 km p/h at the equator. Thanks to maths teacher Penny from Curro, cities roughly on our latitude like Cape Town, Perth or Buenos Aires are spinning at around 1 380 km p/h. Buckle up!

2. In 1911 Bobby Leech survived a barrel ride over Niagara Falls that ‘broke nearly every bone’ in his body, and later embarked on a worldwide lecture tour (on barreling over waterfalls?). In New Zealand he slipped on a banana peel and died from the complications.

3. In the Wild West from 1850 to 1880 the majority of cowboys who died were not from bullets, but from being dragged by their horses while caught in the stirrups.

4. TV viewers around the world have been asked by manufacturers not to fiddle with the colour settings on their sets. People have complained that Donald Trump appears orange. This is not a setting problem. Do not adjust the colours on your TVs. He is orange – except around his eyes.

Marketing Manager Kathy Bentley 083 581 7219 kathy@thevillagenews.co.za

Marketing Representative Laetitia Prinsloo 082 738 3765 ads@thevillagenews.co.za

Journalist Elaine Davie 084 343 7500

Photography & Social Media Taylum Meyer 084 564 0779 taylum@thevillagenews.co.za

WHERE TO FIND US The Village NEWS is published every week and the next edition will be available on 17 October. The NEWS can be found at over 300 distribution points on the Cape Whale Coast, from Pringle Bay to Gansbaai. Get your FREE copy from major retail stores such as Spar, Checkers and Pick n Pay, and at restaurants, tasting rooms, galleries and shopping centres. Should you wish to receive a copy, call us on 028 312 2234 or 083 228 7523 or pop into our office at 6 Royal Street, Hermanus.

MEMBER OF

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10 October 2018

THE

NEWS

Let’s Talk

A 45-degree view of Menzies

Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

Don’t lump all joggers together I would like to respond to a letter in The Village NEWS of 3 October (Enjoyment of Cliff Path spoiled by joggers) about the ‘invasion of [single-minded, thudding] bullying joggers’ who are ‘obviously not there for the scenery’ and are apparently using the cliff path as a ‘race track’, ‘completely spoil[ing]’ the experience for other ‘regular users’, who ‘obviously do this at [their] leisure’ and are now in ‘real danger of being knocked over’.

This outrage and catastrophising is surprising. I would think that in today’s life of screen-time, obsessive binge-watching, shockingly sedentary behaviour and just plain laziness, we as ‘the people of Hermanus’ should be happy to see our population using their leisure time to improve their health and well-being. Furthermore, I would argue that the very reason ‘these joggers’ use the cliff path is obviously to make the most of their running time amidst the spectacular scenery.

Who is to say that the function of the cliff path is only to accommodate walkers and sightseers? And where would one draw the line between a dumbbell-wielding power

walker and a shuffling runner? Would these walkers also need to be ‘directed somewhere else’? There is no rule against joggers using the cliff path as there is against cyclists and off-leash dogs.

The other side of the coin is this: Since joggers are legitimate users of the cliff path, they might feel that people walking and sometimes standing in the middle of the path are in their way, spoiling their running experience. Yes, it’s true that younger or more active people ought to make way for older or frailer people; I am all for good oldfashioned manners. But in this regard, I think there are two kinds of joggers – considerate ones and inconsiderate ones – just as there are two kinds of people...

So, don’t be too surprised when an impolite jogger passes you. You are just as likely to come across a disagreeable walker, sightseer or tourist. Lumping all joggers into your disdained category is hardly a rational thing to do.

Another ‘Regular’ Cliff Path User

Murray Stewart

I

like to draw from an angle of 45 degrees – like from up in the air looking down across the landscape,” says Menzies, who is actually John Menzies Crighton, a local artist with a special, unusual flair.

“Maps. I love designing maps,” he continues.

“And from an elevated angle I can inject depth and perspective. It allows me to create hills or forests or buildings and characters. But if you draw from directly overhead, there are no shadows. Everything is flat – like the maps you get at petrol stations. They’re really dull.”

Born in the Middle East (Uitenhage) and juniorschooled in the Far East (Durban), his family moved to the Wild West (Cape Town) where he grew up in the Southern Suburbs and began his love affair with a pencil and a blank A4 page.

“I started drawing from about six or seven – cartoons and sketches – just for friends, for fun.

But I was hooked. It was in my blood and I still love it.”

Menzies graduated into photography, but not, as you’d expect, into the visual side, but marketing and sales. This was before phone cameras, in the days of the photographic giants in the industry like Fuji, Agfa and Kodak.

He was caught up and trapped in this corporate jungle till the age of about fifty, when he ripped off his tie, stuck a pencil behind each ear, and headed for the hills and the relative sanity of Hermanus.

“When I moved here, I began by doing odds and ends like business cards, a few maps, menus and adverts – then I decided to print The Wanderer, which has worked out great.”

For those who haven’t seen one, The Wanderer is a free16-page info and map guide to all the towns along the Cape Whale Coast – from

Pringle Bay to Kleinbaai and beyond. All relevant places of interest are entirely hand-drawn with pencil firmly in cheek, the copy is hand-written and illustrated, as are the adverts. “If it’s not educational and entertaining, then it’s just a map,” he claims.

Menzies recently moved to Tesselaarsdal on the northern slopes of the Kleinrivierberge behind Stanford. “These days things are much easier with the internet,” he says. “Take a wedding invitation, for example. The bride sends me coordinates of the locations of the church and reception venue – on a wine farm, maybe. I Google Earth them for topography – rivers or mountain passes – and the distances, then I’m ready to roll. Illustrated landmarks like buildings or crossroads along the way, and maybe a snap of the reception venue allow me to add a personal touch to the event.”

After a preliminary sketch for approval and once the bride and the other chap are entirely happy, he creates a pdf and e-mails it to her. She can then bang it off to all the guests through facebook, email, WhatsApp, or a printout mailed through the post. Some have enlarged and framed their personal maps to commemorate the special day.

“Wine farms, conservation projects, treasure hunts, tourist maps – I love ‘em all. I just love drawing!” I can see he is all fired up. “But the one thing people often ask me is, ‘These maps are all very nice, but where the hell is the Duck ’n Fiddle?’”

Well, Menzies, that I can’t divulge. Because of the caliber of clientele (royalty, rock stars, presidents and perlemoen smugglers) secrecy, discretion and confidentiality are vital, so we’ll have to leave that one up in the air for the time being.

(See map) So if you’re a wine farmer, a bride-to-be, a travel agent or a nature conservationist and require any personalised, hand-drawn artwork to cheer you up, contact Menzies via email: johncrigh@yahoo.co.uk

Village

EXPLORER The

FOOD • WINE • ART • NATURE

A fine wine time was had by all

Thousands of people flocked to Curro School this weekend for the 20th annual Hermanus Wine & Food Festival (HWFF), presented by Wine Village on 5 and 6 October. Although fewer people attended the event this year, the general consensus was that it was one of the most enjoyable festivals ever.

festive atmosphere.

“We were well supported by the locals and, as usual, we had several clients from overseas who fly out every year for the HWFF,” says Cathy. “With 60 wine stalls offering tastings, one of our clients from Hong Kong remarked on the amazing capacity of our locals as he said he never saw anyone spit any out!”

“We had several enquiries from people who were unsure if it was safe to travel to Hermanus, and the rumours did keep visitors away,” says Cathy du Toit of Wine Village. “But there was a fantastic spirit and wine sales were excellent – we did even better than last year, despite fewer feet.”

She adds that Wine Village is grateful for the support from the Curro team who provided security and parking guidance, and once again ensured that the venue and ablutions were clean at all times.

The general feedback was that the festival offered good value for money and festivalgoers enjoyed being able to taste so many dierent wines, craft gins and beers in one location. The good weather, the various food stalls, coffee bar, live music and rugby on Saturday added to the

Wine Village offered free delivery for all wine sales during the festival and this special offer has been extended until the end of the month. Any wine purchases at Wine Village during October will include free delivery to any destination in South Africa.

PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer

James Rattle of Hermanus Brewing Company pours a customer a cup of their award-winning beer, Old Harbour Lager.

Wildekrans was one of many local producers that showcased their wines at the festival.

There was great excitement in the marquee tent when the Springboks played against the All Blacks on Saturday.

Jonathan Fourie and Kristen Pulford were among the many locals enjoying this year’s Hermanus Wine & Food Festival.

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3 October 2018

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Thursday 11 October

■ Rewind: Join Soul Café every Friday night and relax to the tunes of their resident band as they perform all your favourite hits from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. R50 pp. Call 028 313 2137 to book.

At Soul Café, 181 Main Road, Hermanus, at 20:00.

Friday 12 & Saturday 13 October

■ Wild Land: The guest speaker at U3A Overberg’s open meeting is conservation photographer Peter Pickford and his wife Beverley, who will talk about their new book Wild Land – In search of the last remaining wilderness on earth. The couple spent more than four years capturing images of the last areas of genuinely wild land that may soon disappear from the face of the earth. The Pickfords have published no fewer than nine highly-acclaimed books, each a photographic record of a part of humanity’s natural environment and heritage. U3A Members R10; nonmembers: R20. Autographed copies of Wild Land will be on sale. In the Municipal Auditorium, at 17:30.

■ Rotary Club of Hermanus: Visitors are welcome at Rotary’s weekly meetings. Contact Frank on 082 870 1187 to confirm your attendance. At Mollergren Park, every Thursday at 19:00.

■ Santa Shoebox: Don't forget to drop off your Santa Shoebox this weekend! If you haven't yet pledged, do so by visiting www.santashoebox.org.za and help to reach underprivileged children in our local community. For more information, contact Hermanus coordinator Henriette Biesenbach on 082 444 2519 or henriette@santashoebox.org.za.

At the Hermanus Primary School, from 14:00 on Friday – 14:00 on Saturday.

Saturday 13 October ■ Hermanus parkrun: Meet for the weekly 5 km walk or run, come rain or shine. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome. Set off from the Overstrand Training Institute (OTI) farm on Camphill Road in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, at 08:00.

■ Botrivier Hotel Market: For hand-made crafts and tasty treats, come and browse the new weekly market in the hotel garden. New vendors are welcome; contact Erna at ernastark@outlook.com or 028 315 2582 or WhatsApp 076 708 0818 to book your stall. At the Botrivier Hotel, every Saturday, from 10:00 – 14:00.

Sunday 14 October ■ L2L Second Practice Walk: Friends and family of the L2L ladies are invited to join them for free on the second practice walk. Bring along your day backpack with your own water (at least 2 litres), snacks/lunch, hat, sunblock, rain gear, money for coffee at the start and perhaps at the end (no shops on the way). The ± 20 km walk will follow the Kleinmond Harbour coastal path via Long Beach to the Bot River Lagoon, where you will break for lunch, and then back to Kleinmond Harbour. Find more details at www.lighthouse2 lighthouse.co.za. Meet at Kleinmond Harbour car park, time to be confirmed (tide dependent).

Friday 12 October ■ Women in Business: All business people in Hermanus and surrounds are invited to an educational, motivational and entertaining seminar hosted by Hermanus Women in Business.

ActionCoach facilitators Lindie Malan and Harry Welby-Cooke will take you through the 6 steps you need to take to grow your business and have a profitable enterprise that can work like a welloiled machine without you. The cost is only a R100 contribution towards the venue and refreshments.

For further information send an email to hermanus.womeninbusiness@gmail.com. At The Classroom, The Village, from 08:30 – 11:30.

■ Bhuki Café: Everyone is welcome at Friends of the Library's Bhuki Cafe where a cup of tea or coffee and delicious eats will cost only R20. Every cup helps to raise funds for new books. Every Friday from 09:00 – 11:30, at Hermanus Library.

■ 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, home-made crafts, local produce, beers and wine, speciality foods, coffee and live music. Next to the cricket field, Fairways Avenue, from 09:00 – 13:00.

■ Hermanuspietersfontein Food & Wine Market: Where local and international foodies and wine lovers meet. You’ll find real plates and real cutlery; real cups and real glasses; a real hangout for real people. In the courtyard of Hermanuspietersfontein wine cellar at The Village, from 09:00 – 13:00.

■ Kolwyntjie Teetuin: Everyone in the area is welcome to enjoy a sweet treat and tea or coffee at a nominal fee, and make new friends at the Onrus Care Centre (Dienssentrum). At the Onrus Dutch Reformed Church, every Friday between 09:30 and 11:30.

■ Market in the Garden: Hunt for treasures at this peaceful market set among the shady trees of a beautiful garden. At St Peter’s Church in Main Road, Hermanus, from 09:00 – 13:00.

■ St Peter’s Celebration Concert: The 150th anniversary celebrations of St Peter’s Church will kick off with a piano recital by Benjamin Sawyer, who will perform well-known works by Chopin, Debussy, Liszt and Beethoven. Contact Anne Philip for more details on 082 399 3925 or 028 312 1517. At St Peter’s Church, Main Rd, Hermanus, at 17:30.

■ Fioré Country Market: Browse this new country market in Bot River for homemade crafts, books, local treats, fresh fruit and more. Stands are free and in the event of rain the market moves indoors. For enquiries, contact Debbie Randall on 028 284 9220.

At Fioré Garden Centre & Coffee Shop, Bot River, from 09:00 – 14:00.

■ OAK concert: Overstrand Arts/Kunste will host a recital by eminent South African cellist, Peter Martens from Stellenbosch, accompanied by American virtuoso pianist, Bryan Wallick who now resides in Pretoria. On the programme are Bach Cello Suite No. 3; Beethoven Cello Sonata No. 3 in A major Op. 69; and Rachmaninoff Cello Sonata in G minor Op. 19. Tickets are R150 for adults and R60 for students, available from the Hermanus Tourism office (028 312 2629). For enquiries, contact Secretary Rene du Plooy on 082 940 4238. In the Municipal Auditorium, at 15:30.

Monday 15 October ■ Overberg Quilters Guild: Everyone who shares a passion for quilting is welcome to attend the Guild’s monthly meeting. The vendor will be Elsa Young, who sells Batik. Contact chairlady Sue Prins for more details on 028 314 1918 / 072 248 3425 or sjprins@mweb.co.za. At the De Wet Hall, Roos Street, Onrus, at 09:30.

■ U3A Afrikaans lecture series: Prof Rudolf Gouws will present a talk on economics entitled Waarom gaan dit in die Ekonomie? Waarna kyk die ekonome? In the Catholic Church Hall, at 10:00.

■ SANTA AGM: Everyone is welcome to attend the annual general meeting of the South African National Tuberculosis Association, Hermanus. In the Mollergren Park Hall, at 10:30.

■ Duplicate Bridge: All are welcome. To join, call Riekie Louw on 028 314 0662 or 072 230 9179. At Fernkloof Nature Reserve, every Monday at 13:00.

■ Mindful Mondays: Join Wellness Coach Nicholas McLean, also known as the Gut Health Yogi, for a group session on Mindfulness, Movement and Meditation. Let go of stress and distraction, and realign body and mind to find inner focus and calm.

Sessions are free; donations by choice. Contact Nicholas on 082 437 9776. Fynbos Crescent, Sandbaai, every Monday at 18:00.

■ Hermanus Astronomy Centre: All are welcome to attend the HAC’s monthly meeting, where Johan Retief will present a talk on Fermi’s Paradox concerning the evidence for and against the existence of extra-terrestrial life. For more info contact petermh@hermanus.co.za or 081 212 9481.

In the Catholic Church Hall, at 19:00.

Tuesday 16 October ■ Terrific Tuesdays: Join Wellness Coach Nicholas McLean, also known as the Gut Health Yogi, for a group session of BodySensing intuitive yoga to release tension and restore energy and mobility. The feel-good movements of BodySensing will put the spring back into your body. Sessions are free, or a donation by choice. For more info call Nicholas on 082 437 9776. Fynbos Crescent, Sandbaai, every Tuesday at 07:30.

■ The Great Flu Pandemic: U3A Overberg will present a DVD lecture on The Centenary of the Great Flu Pandemic of 1918 and 1919 by Dr Robin Lee. This international influenza pandemic led to the deaths of 50 million people worldwide. It made its appearance in South Africa in September 1918, exactly 100 years ago, having almost certainly been brought by two returning troopships. About 500 000 people died during the epidemic in South Africa, the fifth hardest hit country worldwide (in proportion to its population). The documentary gives an overview of events and other pandemics that followed, ending with an account of research still being carried out on the virus, as rising populations and mass travel increase the chances of a recurrence. In the Catholic Church Hall, at 10:00.

■ St Peter’s Concert Series: As part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of St Peter’s Church, Baritone Dave Wright, accompanied by Rensche J van Rensburg will present a recital of favourites, both old and new. Contact Anne Philip for more details on 082 399 3925 or 028 312 1517. At St Peter’s Church, at 17:30.

Wednesday 17 October

■ Hermanus Bird Club: Gavin Turner will be the guest speaker at this month’s Bird Club meeting. He’ll be talking about the Liuwa Plains, Zambia - Birding through the Seasons. Liuwa Plains is a remote national park in Western Zambia best known for its wildebeest migration. It is also home to a wide variety and large masses of birds. Gavin has been there four times, in both wet and dry seasons, which are quite different, and the presentation will cover these visits. There will be wine available for a donation, otherwise there is no charge. In the Fernkloof Hall, at 18:00 for 18:30.

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10 October 2018

Walk the walk with First Fridays

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nitiated by the Arts Portfolio of Hermanus Tourism in 2014, the Hermanus First Fridays Artwalk has grown into an event that lights up the whole town centre on the first Friday of every month, when all 18 art galleries in the centre of Hermanus remain open until 20:00.

This offers members of the public from all walks of life the opportunity to meet resident artists and gallery owners, to mingle with fellow art lovers and enjoy the impressive range of art and fine craft on display in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere.

Among those who experienced the Artwalk for the first time last week was a delegation that included Overstrand Mayor Dudley Coetzee, Deputy Mayor Elnora Gillion and Ward 3 Councillor Kari Brice. They were accompanied by Cape Whale Coast Tourism Manager, Frieda Lloyd, who told the group a little more about the origins of the Artwalk.

Hermanus First Fridays is an event that follows in the footsteps of the global phenomenon of First Thursdays, originated by a gallery in London’s East End. The concept behind it was to make art galleries and museums more accessible to the public, adding much-needed life to city areas where people are not inclined to walk around after dark.

The same could be said of Hermanus, but Frieda sees our First Fridays not only as an opportunity to make our art galleries more accessible to the public, but also to make our politicians more accessible.

“On my last visit to the First Thursdays in Cape Town, I was inspired by Alan Winde, Minister of Local Development and Tourism, who keeps his office open on the first Thursday of every month, providing members of the public with the opportunity to approach him after hours. If our local politicians participate in First Fridays this could also provide an ideal networking platform and a social way to engage with the public.”

A high level of talent was on display at the Grade 12 final exam exhibition for Visual Art and Design at Hermanus High School on Friday evening. The students, from Northcliff House College and Hermanus High, each had a dedicated space in the school hall to exhibit their artworks for viewing by members of the public. The versatile exhibition included not only paintings and drawings, but also photographs, models, fashion and jewellery. Art teachers Jeandré Marinier and Vivienne Mitchley said they were very impressed with the body of work produced by their students this year. Jeandré and Vivienne teach the Hermanus High students after school hours as art and design are not offered as school subjects for grade 10 - 12 students. Jeandré was excited to announce that this would be changing as Visual Art will soon be reintroduced at Hermanus High.

PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer

Fikiswa Gxamesi with artist Lize van der Walt, Mayor Dudley Coetzee, artist Christine Henderson, Deputy Mayor Elnora Gillion and, in front, Leeroy Matala and Leendo Cwele, at The Art Gallery.

PHOTOS: Hedda Mittner

Galleries and pop-up exhibition spaces are encouraged to remain open until 21:00 and offer free entrance and refreshments on the first Thursday of every month, with neighbouring bars, restaurants and retailers joining in to give revellers a chance to venture safely on foot from venue to venue and soak up the arts and culture their cities have to offer. Thanks to their popularity, First Thursdays now take place in cities all over the world, including in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban every month.

In a smaller town such as Hermanus, it was decided to host the event on a Friday evening, thereby encouraging visitors to stay over for the night or spend the whole weekend. During last week’s Artwalk, Frieda informed the group that First Fridays was also not a new concept. It was started in the US in 1991 by a group of galleries in the Old Town of Philadelphia, where the city’s commercial buildings have fostered a cultural ambience with the densest network of galleries in the city. Their First Fridays quickly grew into one of Philly’s most vital, signature cultural events.

MATRIC ART STUDENTS IMPRESS

Jeandré Marinier with Hermanus High Visual Art student Charissa Cloete next to her display of drawings, paintings and photography.

Mena Lourinho chatting to Sheraine van Wyk of Whale Coast Conservation at Pure South in Main Road. The interior of this art gallery and fine craft shop has been revamped by the new owners who took over from Liz Coates in May.

Northcliff House College Design student Anelisa Tshazibana with her jewellery and clothing designs and prototypes.

Jenny Jackson of Gallery 19 in High Street chatting to one of the many enthusiastic admirers of her art during last week’s Hermanus First Fridays (HFF) Artwalk.

Frieda also invited William Ntebe and Fikiswa Gxamesi of the Zwelihle Youth Cafe on the Artwalk so that they could gather some insights that may be useful in the planning of their upcoming initiative – Third Thursdays. This event, to be hosted at the RDP Centre in Zwelihle, will kick off on 18 October and everyone, young and old, is invited to join in the fun.

“Just as First Fridays draws people who don’t generally visit art galleries, we are hoping that Third Thursdays will draw people who don’t generally visit Zwelihle,” says Frieda. “William and Fiki have created a safe and inviting space at the RDP where people can mingle and enjoy the local culture, which will include food, drink, music, dance and stalls selling locally-made goods.”

For more information on Third Thursdays, William can be contacted on 076 969 5830. The first Third Thursdays will be on 18 October and the next First Fridays Artwalk will take place on 2 November.

Tourism Manager of the Cape Whale Coast, Frieda Lloyd, with Cllr Kari Brice, William Ntebe of the Zwelihle Youth Café, Adinda Jantjies (CWC Tourism), artist Leon Müller, and Deputy Mayor of the Overstrand, Elnora Gillion at Leon’s Art Thirst gallery in High Street.

Artwalkers admired the many artworks on display at Walker Bay Art Gallery, both inside and in the courtyard.

12

3 October 2018

New flaming-hot grill for Voëlklip

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was pleasantly surprised when I popped into the new Walker Bay Grill this weekend, just up the road from the iconic Voëlklip beach. It has only been open for just over a week and already it feels as settled, comfortable and lived-in as my favourite old cardigan. I was unable to pick up on any opening jitters and it seemed to be plain sailing all the way.

Backtracking to the moment I entered the restaurant, I was quite wowed by the interior, which has been completely redone. The overall effect is one of elegance and sophistication but without any hint of stiffness; instead the ambience is relaxing and inviting.

Added to that I was warmly received by polite and competent staff eager to look after my every need. So far so good, I thought to myself…

Within half an hour of my arrival at 18:00 on Saturday I realised that I was not the only one pleasantly surprised by this impressive make-over, as a steady stream of diners started pouring in. “It’s been like this every day since we opened,” said a smiling Paul Buckingham of LB Seafood Bistro at the Village Square, who has partnered with Han Meerburg in this new venture.

But why would he want to expand his business interests at such a difficult time? Knowing how hard local restaurants have been hit recently by the unrest and the economic downturn, I simply had to ask. Paul’s response was an even bigger smile. “I just love this venue,” he said. “I enjoy the space and the positive energy.” I couldn’t really argue because I felt it, too.

The space was filled with happy people – from the friends chatting outside on the veranda over sundowners, to the couple holed up in a cosy corner and the family at a larger table perusing their menus and debating what to have for dinner. I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to say that this restaurant, which previously housed The Daily Bread, has been completely transformed.

What’s Cooking RESTAURANT NEWS Hedda Mittner While Paul hardly needs introduction, his partner in crime, Han, has only been in Hermanus for three years. (And no, he is not familiar with Han Solo and has never watched Star Wars!) Dutch by birth, Han grew up in South Africa and spent 20 years in the IT industry before turning his back on the corporate world to pursue his love of food and wine.

And coffee, as it turns out.

Han’s first venture into the food and beverage business was the Caturra Coffee Company, followed by three restaurants in and around Cape Town. He and his wife Marijke van Bergeijk, who is responsible for the fabulous make-over of the restaurant, relocated to Hermanus to open a guesthouse, Walker Bay Manor which, incidentally, also needed extensive renovations. It now garners rave reviews from guests and has earned a Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence and a Best Value – Top Establishment award from AccommoDirect.

Once the guesthouse was up and running smoothly, Han started looking around for a way to indulge in his favourite hobby. “Food is my passion but I knew that I needed the right partner and the right spot. Now I have both, along with three excellent chefs and an experienced staff complement,” he said, adding that “I’m having such fun – this keeps me young!”

They certainly are two happy chappies, Paul and Han, all smiles and enthusiasm. But what about the food, you may well ask? At first glance the menu does not offer anything out of the ordinary – a selection of classic starters such as prawn ritz, drunken mussel pot, steak

tartare, carpaccio and pulled short rib on crostini; and for mains a selection of fish and seafood dishes that include baby calamari tubes, linefish, flame-grilled tuna and crayfish, along with chicken skewers and a vegetable moussaka.

As the name of the restaurant would suggest, however, the focus is on steak (250g Sirloin, Rump and Fillet with a choice of sauces), and the owners are thrilled to have found a new supplier – a boutique butcher who they say sources only the best.

I was rather thrilled myself with the melt-in-the-mouth fillet I enjoyed with a delicate Hollandaise sauce and asparagus. Thumbs-up to Head Chef Matt Becker and his team – next time I’ll come hungrier so that I can also have the banoffeepPie for dessert.

I entirely agree with Han’s description of the food as “simple and good” – and the offering is set to expand with the addition of a lunch menu this week that will include salads, burgers and pizzas. By 1 December Paul said they want to be open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner – and I have no doubt that they’ll be busy.

Another gesture that I like very much is Paul’s assurance that they will never charge corkage. Walker Bay Grill has a comprehensive wine list but if you’d like to bring that special bottle to enjoy with your meal, you are most welcome to do so.

Find Walker Bay Grill at 121 10th Street, Voëlklip. Their trading hours are: Lunch: Monday to Sunday from 12:00 - 14:30; Dinner: Monday to Saturday from 18:00 - late; Closed for dinner on Sunday evening. Call 028 314 1637 to book.

The premises of The Daily Bread have been completely transformed into an elegant restaurant.

Han Meerburg and Paul Buckingham are business partners in the new surf ‘n turf steakhouse, Walker Bay Grill.

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10 October 2018

Let them eat cake!

Raphael da Silva

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hile these infamous words, commonly attributed to MarieAntoinette, have found their place in history as an indication of insensitivity to or incomprehension of the realities of life for the unfortunate, visionary and trailblazer, Wilco den Otter is breathing new positive meaning into them and hoping to create his own cake revolution.

In what must be a first for Hermanus, Wilco, well-known as the owner and baker of Dunya Cake Delights in the CBD, has taken the strategic decision to close his Dirkie Uys Street premises after being there for nearly two years and reopen in Zwelihle at the RDP Centre.

“If you just step back for a moment and look at the business opportunities, you realise that there are more than 20 000 residents in Zwelihle,” says Wilco.

Wilco will mentor William and two interns until May 2019 after which he will focus on Dunya Cake Delights while offering support to the new business in the background. The hope is that the interns will go on to set up their own cake businesses in Zwelihle to continue the cake revolution. “It’s important for Zwelihle to develop an economy,” Wilco says.

For Wilco, the move to the township was a nobrainer. Fifty percent of the existing customers for his speciality cakes and confectionary were already from Zwelihle. Now these core clients will no longer need to catch taxis to transport Wilco’s exquisite, individually created treats precariously back to Zwelihle.

Along with a cheaper rent and better access to water and electricity than at his previous shop, the move made commercial sense. “In two weeks, I was able to sort out issues that I was not able to in almost two years,” says Wilco, pleasantly surprised by how painless the move has been. “I love the positive energy of Zwelihle. Here you need to be creative and find solutions.”

As well as continuing his focus on speciality cakes with Dunya Cake Delights, Wilco has teamed up with William Ntebe, coordinator of the Zwelihle Youth Café, to open up The Rondavel Cake Café, also at the RDP Centre.

Wilco, who hails from the Netherlands, made the move to Hermanus in order to escape from the 100-hour weeks he was working in his bakery in Rotterdam, where he grew up and has lived for most of his life.

This new business, which opens in the first week of November, will focus on baking cakes for Hermanus restaurants and coffee shops as well as supplying supermarkets and companies. Coffee and cake will also be available at the Rondavel.

Visit Dunya Cake Delights at the corner of Mbeki and Zuma Streets, Zwelihle, call 071 481 6519 or order online at www.dunyacakedelights.co.za. The Rondavel Cake Café, also at the same address, can be reached on 076 969 5830.

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10 October 2018

Old Fourlegs: a misnamed fish A

s most people of my generation will know, ‘Old Fourlegs’ was the name given by the popular press to the first ‘in the flesh’ Coelacanth to be discovered, off East London. At the time (December 1938) the fish was thought to have been extinct for 65 million years. It was only known from fossil records – mainly from Madagascar.

So you can imagine the excitement of the scientific community, the public and the press. JLB Smith, who correctly identified it, became as famous across the world as any modern-day celebrity.

Incidentally, the nickname for the Coelacanth was coined by the press as a result of the taxidermist having mounted the fish with its fins pointing down, resembling legs. We now know that the fins are not used as legs but like oars to keep the fish steady in underwater currents.

The dramatic, suspenseful story of the identification of the fish is told by JLB Smith in his book Old Fourlegs – recently updated by Mike Bruton with annotations. It is undoubtedly one of the best reads you will find on the shelves of your favourite book store or library.

The error about its legs was only one of several stories circulating at this time. Another was that the Coelacanth must live in very deep water – else why had they never been found before? In fact fishermen along Africa’s east coast

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had caught specimens before, but they were no good to eat as the flesh is very oily, and were thrown back.

JLB Smith postulated that the fish’s habitat was shallower rocky reefs at about 100-500 meters – else why would it be bright blue as colour is unimportant at great depths? He was indeed correct and, with the right equipment, you can now scuba dive (under supervision) with Coelacanths in Sodwana Bay at depths of 100 meters or even less. They like to hang out in caves and crevices on rocky reefs where they are opportunistic feeders, grabbing whatever comes along.

After this initial find, JLB became obsessed (even more than usual) with finding another Coelacanth, so that the organs could be studied in detail. He made several hair-raising expeditions to East Africa and the Comoros (where he believed they lived) before, after exactly 14 years, he received news of another Coelacanth.

In desperation, and late at night, he phoned the then SA Prime Minister (DF Malan) who was sick in bed and on his December holiday. Without

hesitation, and to his credit, Malan instructed an air force Dakota (dubbed the “Flying Fishcart”) and its crew to fly him to the Comoros to fetch the fish. This dramatic story is itself worthy of a movie script.

Mike Bruton writes: The word ‘coelacanth’ even entered public parlance when a ‘prominent member of the British parliament … in attacking an opponent, called him a “Coelacanth” on the grounds that from his long silence in that august assembly it was a surprise to find him still alive’ (Smith 1956)

The Coelacanth was thought to have been extinct for 65 million years before the first live one, named ‘Old Fourlegs’ was discovered off East London in 1938.

Coelacanths are really quite remarkable in that they have been around for a very long time – about 400 million years. They pre-date the dinosaurs by 170 million years and have survived several great extinctions, including the Cretaceous extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs, and 75% of all life, 65 million years ago.

They were around even before living creatures moved onto dry land.

Coelacanths are often called “living fossils” but they are not fossils at all, as they are still evolving. They are doing so very slowly because there is very little environmental pressure on them to change.

Mike Bruton knew both JLB Smith and his wife Margaret. Theirs is a story of deep understanding and commitment to each other and to science. Mike has told their story in a recently published book The Fishy Smiths. If you are fascinated, as I am, by what drives remarkable people to achieve what they do, you will love

Mike Bruton has recently updated JLB Smith’s book, Old Fourlegs. the book as well as Mike’s upcoming talk about this famous couple.

What is the future of this amazing fish? According to Mike Bruton: Rapid environmental changes wrought by humans … represent a severe threat even to the most exquisitely adapted organisms, and particularly to the most specialised ones, such as the Coelacanth. Humans have brought about many changes to the environment of the coelacanth, including global warming, plastic and insecticide

pollution, alterations to predator and prey populations, direct mortalities …. and the environmental impacts of blast fishing, poisoning and the destruction of coral reefs. Sound familiar?

Mike Bruton is the guest speaker at Whale Coast Conservation on Tuesday 23 October at 17:30 at the Green House. All are welcome.

– Anina Lee Whale Coast Conservation

Support conservation by adopting a whale The annual Southern Right aerial surveys carried out in October each year have provided invaluable information on the behaviour and breeding habits of the Southern Right whale.

As winter visitors to our shores it is without a doubt in the interests of local conservationists to be as knowledgeable as possible since the whales’ presence provides a big boost to local tourism.

The surveys, started in 1985 by the Whale Unit of the University of Pretoria’s Mammal Research Institute include research on the ecology, population dynamics and behaviours of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises). The aim is to provide data which can be used to promote their conservation.

This year’s survey started on October

2 and according to Dr Els Vermuelen of the Whale Unit, it was, weather permitting expected to take two weeks. All female whales and calves spotted between Nature’s Valley (south coast) and Muizenberg are counted and photographed.

The photographs are used to identify the whales by their callosities, which like fingerprints are unique to each individual. This allows scientists to track the number of calving females along the coastline, estimate how often the same female has a calf and monitor the calf survival rate. This enables them to assess the population trends and characteristics.

The good news is that based on these surveys it was estimated that the South African population of Southern Right whales contained 6 116 individuals and showed an

annual increase of 6.5%.

To raise much needed funding the whale Unit has initiated an Adopt a Whale project. Sponsors will receive: • an official adoption certificate, • a profile of your adopted whale, • a complete Southern Right Fact sheet, • an annual newsletter with up-todate information on SA’s Southern Right whales with a special mention of yours, • a high quality photo of the year.

For further information on this project go to www.adoptawhale.co.za which has the names, pictures and profiles of the whales up for adoption. Funding raised through the project will go toward covering the cost of the Unit’s fieldwork.

– Tweet Gainsborough-Waring

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10 October 2018

T

Fishing line threatens marine life

his African Penguin entangled in fishing line was spotted by the skipper of Dreamcatcher, the Dyer Island Cruises boat, just off Kleinbaai on 17 September. The penguin was heavily entangled, with fishing line tightly wound through the beak, around the neck, flippers and feet, preventing the bird from swimming or diving. The penguin was exhausted and drowning was imminent.

The team from Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) immediately launched Happy Feet, a smaller rubber duck that allows them to operate in shallow water. The penguin was rescued and rushed to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary. The APSS team, together with Dr Marc Walton of the Hermanus Animal Hospital, commenced with "plastic surgery" immediately.

“Thankfully, this story has a happy outcome and Sindile (meaning ‘I

survived’ in isiXhosa) is doing well.

Most often we find only the remnants of seabird carcasses with deadly fishing line filaments,” said Brenda du Toit of DICT. The Fishing Line Recovery and Recycling Programme launched by DICT along the Gansbaai shoreline in 2010 is gaining more reach along the South African coastline. It includes the fishing line bin project which forms part of this innovative project aimed at reducing the severe environmental damage caused by discarded fishing line to our coastline and marine life.

amount of fishing line being recycled.

In partnership with DPI Plastics and the Overstrand Municipality, more than 20 bins have been placed in the Gansbaai area and at various locations around the country, including alongside Blue Flag beaches, and is proving to be an icon for the fight against marine pollution.

Bins are placed at local beaches and popular fishing spots, encouraging anglers and beach walkers to dispose of their used fishing line. In this way DICT hopes to reduce the amount of fishing line entering the marine environment, as well as to increase the

Xolani Lawo with Sindile, the entangled penguin that was freed by the APSS team and released back into the ocean.

Invaluable advice is value for money Last month I wrote about Steve and the unfortunate timing of his investment decisions and how he survived financially regardless, because he didn’t disinvest when the markets crashed. In this article, I’m going to explore John’s story and discuss the benefits of financial advice fees, which include greater returns in the long run, tax and investment fee savings – and importantly, assistance with major decisions, such as donating to children at the expense of enough funds for retirement.

As a financial planner, I have the privilege of making a real difference in my clients’ lives which is why I love my work. One of the real differences I’m able to make is to assist in the selection of investments which results in increased returns on hard-earned money. The investment research company, Morningstar, recently conducted global research which indicated that financial planners could increase the returns on investment portfolios by 1.8% per annum which can amount to a staggering 29% of increased capital for retirement*.

Are advice fees worth it?

Let’s discuss John’s concern. He complained that he was paying too much for financial advice. When I asked why he felt that way, he explained that his advice fees were higher than his monthly contribution of R5000 towards his grandchild’s

Financial Matters

By Janet Hugo Director of Sterling Private Clients and Financial Planner of the Year 2018

school fees. It’s easy to understand his alarm as he sees the immediate benefit of the school fees. To address his concern, we decided to review past financial planning decisions, crunch the numbers and analyse the benefits from the advice fees.

We first reviewed the financial benefits from the restructuring of his family trust investments which resulted in significant savings on capital gains and income tax. Next came the savings on investment fees.

We structured the family investments correctly in portfolios that were appropriately priced, and importantly they excluded performance fees. These fee and tax savings added up to R12 136 per month or 1.64% per year, relative to the

financial planning fees of R6 656 per month.

This monthly saving doesn’t begin to reflect the estate duty savings and other benefits he and his family will receive in the future.

Kindness can result in disaster I’ve recently become more and more aware of the hugely quantifiable difference that a good adviser can make in assisting clients to make significant decisions, such as giving children an early inheritance.

John’s daughter wanted an advance on her assumed inheritance and he, being a very generous person, wanted to go along with her request.

I was able to counsel him against his

instinct to rescue his daughter as I had the tools with which to analyse the effect of this decision on his retirement capital. We had planned a safe monthly drawdown on his investments which ensured that he would have enough to live on until 100 years old.

This time frame is good practice these days as longevity is a real possibility. We recrunched the numbers based on the decision to donate money to his daughter and it was clearly evident that he couldn’t afford to do so. His generosity would result in the depletion of his capital and insufficient income for retirement.

John’s daughter appreciated the

advice as she certainly didn’t want to be the cause of financial distress by inheriting capital 20 years in advance.

Having gained her confidence, I was also in the position to review her spending habits and budget and to suggest changes so that she had a greater sense of control and the ability to allocate funds to more meaningful investments such as university fees down the track.

Saving him from his generosity and managing the expectations of the next generation with unemotional numbers and projections, helped the family get through what could have been a real problem. I was able to guide them towards their goals of providing for John’s retirement years and ensuring that his grandchild had the wonderful opportunity of tertiary education.

Do remember that financial advice is never a once-off opportunity. As a professional adviser, I’m in the position to be a family Chief Financial Officer and to continue to research investment managers and their portfolios and make the necessary changes as financial circumstances change. I also continuously monitor tax implications to minimise the cost and revisit cash flows from capital to ensure long-term financial freedom and stability. *References: Morningstar report, Cirano report, Vanguard report

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10 October 2018

The Installer and Trellidor - positive and growing Don and his wife moved to Hermanus two years ago and bought the existing Trellidor franchise. A veteran engineer from the platinum service industry, Munro took advantage of the downturn in the mining industry to change careers. Despite having never visited, his wife was insistent that she wanted to move to Hermanus. When he asked why, she said, “That’s where the whales are!”

Raphael da Silva

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s the summer season approaches and businesses, particularly in the trade and construction sectors, gear up for the anticipated increase in enquiries, quotes and work, The Village NEWS sat down separately with Frank Mao-Cheia, owner of The Installer and Don Munro, owner of Windor Solutions, the Trellidor franchise for the Overberg, to get their thoughts on the past few months and, more importantly, their outlook for the future.

Frank Mao-Cheia is no stranger to the Hermanus community and has experienced first-hand its growth from a sleepy village to a bustling town. A resident for 24 years, Frank set up The Installer, a family-run business, 12 years ago to provide expertise in the design, installation, repair and maintenance of blinds, awnings, flooring, shutters and security, with a particular focus on timber structures such as wooden flooring and decks.

But even Frank admits that the last few months have been tough, not just as a result of the recent unrest in town but also because of the general slowdown in the economy of the country. “If I had to come in now and establish from scratch, it would be difficult. I admire anybody who is in business today,” he said.

The challenges notwithstanding, both men remain positive. So positive, in fact, that not only were they able to withstand the adverse effects of the recent months without having to lay off any members of their team, but both companies are now each hiring an additional person.

The Installer’s staff complement will be growing to 16 while Windor Solutions will increase to 11 staff members. “We can see an uptick in the Overberg,” said Don, who pointed out that meeting the security needs of farmers was a growing part of their business.

The team of The Installer, a family-run business: brothers José and Frank Mao-Cheia with Frank’s wife Michelle and Irene Kühn.

Frank’s advice to other businesses and the community is simple. “It is to serve and give. You can’t be successful if you just take. I had to learn this. If you go the extra mile, you don’t always get it back in the short term, but in the long term, you do.”

“Even though we have been established for so long, the current economic climate is making it challenging to be in business. We are doing nothing different but we have to give more for the same. That’s quite a challenge,” he said. “We have to pull harder every year to stay in business.”

Having experienced life in Gauteng, Don believes that “If you can’t be happy here, it’s your own fault”.

On how to move forward as a community, both men are very clear. “Support local. What that really means is that we are supporting each other. That just builds the community,” said Frank.

Don Munro agrees. His business is still down on last year. “People are thinking more about where to spend their money,” he said. “But,” he added, “we also feel that the recent protest action has provided us with an opportunity to assist people to feel safer by giving them greater peace of mind.”

Don isn’t a scaremonger. First and foremost, he views his primary role as advisory – and selling his products comes secondary. “I’m going out of my way to deal with customers’ needs,” he explained.

According to Frank, the basis of their success is that 60%-70% of their clients are from referrals.

“Advertising does work but it is so much better with a personal recommendation.”

“Keep communications open. As soon as this fails, there can be no solution. It is the only way to get a win-win solution and to move forward. Our issues cannot be solved overnight,” added Don.

Don Munro of Windor Solutions with his left and right hands, Johan and Antoinette.

As José Mao-Cheia, Frank’s brother, also at The Installer, said: “We try hard. We work hard. But if you do it with a smile, it helps.”

The Installer: 3-year guarantee

New Trellidor product: Clear Guard

Refusing to sacrifice on quality, The Installer has not only had to face the local challenges over the past months but also a depreciating Rand that makes offering competitive pricing a real challenge. The Installer supports ‘Buy South African’ but owner Frank Mao-Cheia points out that many of their products have to be imported from overseas. “But thankfully, the clients have always come back for more,” he said, a reflection of the long-term customer relationships his team have built over the years and the fact that they guarantee their workmanship for three years, with their material!

Windor Solutions have introduced a new Trellidor product, Clear Guard, which allows customers to “experience the outdoors with the security of indoors”, offering picture-perfect views through strong see-through security screens. Made from a high tensile, coated stainless steel mesh panel, Clear Guard is the natural replacement to the wire mesh mosquito netting that so many of us use to protect us from being bitten at night while enjoying the ocean breezes on the stoep or sleeping. For residents who live on the mountains, owner Don Munro says that it is a great product to protect against baboons entering the house as it is incredibly resistant to attack by intruders.

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3 October 2018

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NSRI shaping up for summer season

ith the year drawing to a close, so the holiday season draws nearer. The warmer weather, unique activities and picturesque beaches attract local and international visitors alike, with many flocking to our beautiful coastal town to unwind with family and friends.

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NEWS

HELPING Hand Sponsored by Hermanus

“As Hermanus prepares for the holidays, so does the NSRI Station 17.

Gearing up for their busiest time, the crew prepares well ahead of time to ensure that all hands are on deck for the inevitable callouts that come with this time of the year. Made up entirely of volunteers, the team is constantly growing and improving themselves so as to better serve the community and save lives on our waters,” says Station Commander Deon Langenhoven.

He says while many already know the value of the NSRI, with a vast majority of sea rescues being carried out by one of the many stations set up along our coast and around 4four inland dams, what many people don't realise is that the volunteers alone save the NSRI a staggering R300 million in salaries every year.

Pink Torpedo Buoys equipped with a safety line have been erected at danger spots around our coast. The Pink Buoys initiative was launched in November last year and the devices have already saved five lives during the high season in the areas where they were deployed.

The Village NEWS and Talisman have each sponsored a Pink Torpedo Buoy.

ALL SMILES AT THIS YEAR'S CAPE TOWN ROTARY WINE AUCTION Danielle Fourie, Mark McLagan, Jessica Pote, Richard Lindeque, Station Commander: Deon Langenhoven, Bertie Fisher, Ray Megwede, Chris Venter and Station Commander of the brand new rescue base at Kleinmond: Schalk Boonzaier.

“It's because of this selflessness, as well as the generous donations and support by local and international communities, that the NSRI is able to operate at all. Knowing this, many events are held every year to raise much-needed funds for the stations, helping to equip them with better gear, to assist in new crew training and uniforms, put rescue vessels in the water and continue to supply a dedicated volunteer rescue force unlike any other,” says Deon.

The hard work and dedication of the NSRI volunteers of Hermanus Station 17 were rewarded In June when they were awarded the Pat O’Sullivan Award as the best Class 1 Station in the country.

According to Deon the award recognises the work done by the volunteers who selflessly brave the waters in treacherous conditions to assist those in need. “While we are humbled to be named the best Class 1 station in the country, we are bursting with pride.

The men and women of Station 17 work hard to ensure that everyone in our waters is safe. We all have fulltime jobs and families but each of us is willing to drop what we are busy with to help save someone in need,” he says.

The members of Station 17 not only save human lives; they also regularly make use of their whale disentanglement kit to assist whales caught in

bidders walked away with some of the best wines in the area (all generously donated to the auction).

Station 17 (Hermanus) and Station 42 (Kleinmond) also had several of their crew members there to assist with the auction, even helping the guests to their cars with their purchases.

Later this month, on 26 October the annual NSRI Golf Day will be hosted at Arabella Hotel and Spa, where 4-ball alliance teams can enjoy the beautiful scenery and wet holes set up along the course. At the end of the day golfers can look forward to a prizegiving and mini-auction – the perfect way to end off the event. All funds go towards the station's upkeep and equipment and all donations, sponsorships or entries are welcome (see contact details on P 22)!

Deon Langehoven with Holly Bellingham-Turner of Sumaridge at the launch of the Maritimus last year. lines and nets. The team has also saved baby dolphins from the breakers, birds entangled in netting at the golf course and assisted a paraglider who was stuck in a tree near the Old Boy’s Club earlier this year.

This past year has also seen Station 17 grow in volunteers, a growth that’s mirrored more and more throughout South Africa. With this growth comes the need for new and improved equipment, uniforms and training, all of which are sponsored by generous donors. “Last year February saw the donation of the station’s newest vessel; a brand new

4,2-meter RIB (rigid inflatable boat) that was sponsored by Holly and Simon Bellingham-Turner and the team at Sumaridge Wine Estate. This vessel, named Maritimus after Sumaridge’s flagship white blend, has been fundamental in shore and surf rescues since then. This rescue vessel is equipped with a 50horsepower engine and is ideal for rescue operations in the surf area and up to 1 nautical mile from shore,” says Deon.

“To cap the recognition of winning the Pat O’Sullivan award, Station 17 was also given a surprise donation of R755 000 by the Bellingham-

Turners. Holly and Simon have truly opened their hearts over the last few years by assisting us with generous donations. This makes the world of difference to us,” says Deon.

On 4 October the Cape Town Rotary Club held a wine auction at the beautiful Bay Hotel in Camps Bay, where funds were raised for a new 6,5-meter RIB. This comes after the decision to transfer the station’s 5,5 meter to the new Station 42 in Kleinmond, enabling faster rescues within that area. The auction was a massive success, raising around R300 000 for the new vessel, and

In December you can also look forward to the annual NSRI Blikkieskud, where crew members from the station dress up in ridiculous outfits and ask for donations alongside the main roads in Hermanus. This event not only raises funds but also awareness for the NSRI, a doublewhammy of goodwill. Last year Station 17 raised over R60 000 from the day and they’re hoping to do even better this year.

A proudly South African institution, the NSRI is always growing and evolving to better serve the community. For more information on how you can help, please visit www.nsri.org.za or contact the local station 082 990 5967.

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3 October 2018

Dignity in the face of emotional and physical trauma

O

ctober is traditionally Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

According to Globocan 2012 (the new version of IARCs online database) the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide are lung (1.8 million, 13.0% of the total), breast (1.7 million, 11.9%), and colorectum (1.4 million, 9.7%).

The most common cancer-related deaths however are from lung (1.6 million, 19.4% of the total), liver (0.8 million, 9.1%), and stomach (0.7 million, 8.8%) malignancies. This highlights the fact that if detected early, breast cancer is a very treatable disease.

One of the treatments that many women undergo is a mastectomy, the removal of a breast(s). The psychological consequences of losing one or both breasts can be myriad and include grief, anxiety, depression, vulnerability and sexual challenges. This can manifest in both an avoidance of the surgery (which is potentially life threatening) and an unhealthy obsessive preoccupation with the loss of a body part, both of which are highly problematic.

In our public sector, approximately 8 000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually. Of these, about 80% will have a mastectomy. These patients often feel that they were not provided with many treatment options other than mastectomies and are rarely offered the option of reconstructive

THE

NEWS

MY Health

surgery (due to medical, organisational and financial constraints).

on the public sector for their health care.

According to Dr. Apffelstaedt, renowned breast cancer surgeon in Plattekloof, during all his work in the breast cancer field, he has come across very few worthwhile long-term support systems. This is despite the very obvious physiological side effects of a mastectomy. There is therefore a responsibility from the private, public and NGO medical sectors to understand this and recognise the role that both support and the provision of something as simple as a breast prosthetic can play.

All of Reach for Recovery’s volunteers (214 of them) are breast cancer survivors themselves and, through their own journeys as well as the support groups they manage, have seen first-hand the power of the prostheses. Stephné Jacobs, Chairperson of the Reach for Recovery Board of Management, truly believes that the quality of life of patients and volunteers is definitely improved with a prosthesis and finds it encouraging that in their experience, not only the physical symptoms and emotional distress abate over time but more often than not that the simulation of a breast leads to the resumption of the normal ability to enjoy life.

As one of South Africa’s oldest breast cancer support organisations, Reach for Recovery has provided over 5 000 indigent women, unable to afford prostheses on their own, with silicone breast prostheses. This is under the auspices of The Ditto Project, a prosthesis provision and fundraising initiative that was launched as a Reach for Recovery initiative in 2011.

At approximately R2 000 (or more) per patient, breast prostheses are pricey and often too expensive for indigent patients who have to rely

Through the national Ditto Project, Reach for Recovery hopes that all South African women can have access to the tools that they need to live a normal, healthy post-operative life.

If you’d like to be part of this initiative and donate, visit https://www.givengain.com/cause/59 25/campaigns/15210/

PARTNERS IN PINK Doctor Justus Apffelstaedt is a specialist surgeon with a particular interest in breast, thyroid and parathyroid health management, as well as soft tissue surgical oncology. Dr Apffelstaedt is registered as a specialist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), a Fellow of the College of Surgeons of South Africa, a Founding Member of Breast Surgery International, Founder and first President of The Breast Interest Group of Southern Africa, and a Fellow of the International Union Against Cancer.

Dr Apffelstaedt will be the guest speaker at Creation’s special Ladies Pink Tasting on Saturday 27 October. He will discuss the holistic approach to breast cancer therapies and the preservation of quality of life, as well as his work with Reach for Recovery’s Ditto

Project, which has provided numerous women with prostheses in an effort to restore their confidence and quality of life post-recovery. The full cost of the tickets at R150 per head will be donated by Creation to Reach for Discovery’s Ditto Project.

The creative name given to the campaign by Chen Sasonof, a student from the AAA School of Advertising in Cape Town, is based on the dictionary meaning of Ditto – “the same thing, again”. He felt this was appropriate as surely the patients who are to receive their prosthesis would like to have something as close to the real thing as possible, hence the word ditto.

The connected letters ‘T’ and ‘O’ of the word ditto create a completely symmetrical representation of a woman’s chest area, reinforcing the idea of having a full chest again, just as before.

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10 October 2018

Partners in Pink

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH In recognition of Breat Awareness Month, Creation is hosting a Ladies' Pink Tasting on Saturday 27 October.

Guest speaker Doctor Justus Apffelstaedt, specialist breast cancer surgeon and former professor and head of the Head, Neck and Breast Cancer Unit at Tygerberg Hospital, will discuss the holistic approach to breast cancer therapies and the preservation of quality of life as well as his work with Reach for Recovery's Ditto Project which has provided numerous women with prostheses in an effort to restore their confidence post-recovery.

The Ladies' Pink Tasting will take place from 10:00 12:00 and will cost R150 per person which includes sparkling wine and breakfast canapés. The full cost of the ticket will be donated to Reach for Recovery's Ditto Project. RSVP before 25 October: salome@creationwines.com or 028 212 1107.

Creation Wines is located off the R320 in the Hemel-enAarde near Hermanus,

Win two free tickets!

To enter, head to our Facebook or Twitter page to nominate an inspirational woman close to you who has fought or is currently fighting breast cancer. Explain why she inspires you, using #pinkladies. The selected winner's inspirational fighter will receive double tickets to attend the event. Only one nomination per entrant.

CREATION Creating Wines of Destinction

PINK POWER BREAST CANCER AWARENESS WALK Women of all ages, accompanied by family and friends, donned their funniest, cutest, craziest and even most outrageous pink outfits to take part in God Shift Era’s fun 4 km walk hosted by Benguela Cove Lagoon Estate on Saturday morning. October is breast cancer awareness month and this event is one of several local initiatives in support of breast cancer fighters and survivors. All funds raised by the Pink Power Walk will go towards getting the Pink Drive to Hermanus to do school presentations and breast cancer screening tests for women. (Pink Drive is the breast cancer organisation that runs South Africa’s first and only mobile mammography and educational units.) To add more fun to the day there were lucky draws and a prize for the best outfit, which went to local attorney, Renate van Dyk. On the right are Marelie le Roux, Renate, Riette Creightin and Marietjie Dalbock in full pink party dress.

PHOTO: Frieda Lloyd

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10 October 2018

RealNet branches out

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ealNet Hermanus, based in the Clocktower Building in Main Road, Sandbaai, has opened a satellite office in Mitchell Street in order to have a footprint in town.

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“This will enable us to provide a better service to our clients on the eastern side of Hermanus,” says owner/ principal, Cornel Janse van Vuuren, who has been in the real estate business for 14 years.

Starting as a personal assistant to the principal, then becoming an agent herself and now the proud owner/ principal of RealNet Hermanus, Cornel believes in providing good service and always walking the extra mile.

She treats her clients with empathy and knows that it is not only about buying or selling but a change in lifestyle and circumstances. Her vision is to be known as the estate agent with a heart, who supports her clients throughout their property journey.

Cornel remains upbeat about the future of her business and Hermanus as a whole, and believes that a positive attitude is more important now than ever. “I don’t have time for negativity

Gas Installations 028 312 2020 and long faces,” she says.

“I know businesses have had to face many challenges and we have also had to deal with clients who cancelled appointments to view property and decided to rather buy elsewhere. And still we’ve managed to have one of our best months this July since we opened, so we are optimistic about the future.”

Contact RealNet on 028 316 3657 (Sandbaai office), 067 166 8870 (Hermanus office) or Cornel on 083 704 8636.

Cornel (front left) with her team in front of their new office in Hermanus: agents Hannah Maury, Melinda Jacobs, Johan Eyssen and Gideon Schoeman. In front, next to Cornel, is office administrator Corné Breytenbach.

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10 October 2018

RUNNING FOR CHARITY

Runners of all ages were excited to set off on the 6 km fun run from The Marine Hotel.

The annual FinGlobal Cliff Path Night Run presented by Hermanus Adventures took place on the rather chilly and windy evening of Wednesday 3 October. There were two distances for runners and joggers to choose from – a 6 km family fun run from The Marine Hotel or the more adventurous 10 km run from the New Harbour.

Participants were required to run with a torch or headlight and people of all ages were welcome to join in. These night runs in aid of charity have become legendary and were once again well attended. Both routes ended at Dutchies on Grotto Beach where the prize giving was held later that evening. There were cash prizes for male and female runners as well as attractive whale tail medals.

R4 000 was donated by FinGlobal and Hermanus Adventures to the Overstrand Association for Persons with Disabilities (OAPD).

PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer

From left are Pieter de Kock and his wife Jonene, with Noelene Noone and Byron Martin. Jonene, Noelene and Byron are employees at FinGlobal and enjoyed the bonding time away from work.

To advertise in The Village NEWS, phone 028 312 2234 or email ads@thevillagenews.co.za

22

10 October 2018

A true legend of golf in our midst

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ony Runkel, an Honorary Life member of the Hermanus Golf Club, is affectionately known around the Club as ‘Uncle Runkel’. He celebrates his 87th birthday next week and is the oldest member of the Club who still plays regularly in the weekly men's competitions.

Tony looks back over the many years of "walking the fairways" of the Western Cape and describes golf as "the catalyst for my family and many friends". Tony's wife, Valerie and his son, Peter have also played the game at many venues throughout the Western Cape.

Tony's first introduction to Hermanus came in 1972 when the Runkel family spent a caravan holiday at De Mond with friends; among them, the Wrigley, De Wet, Roberts and Du Plessis families. A permanent move to Hermanus followed and Tony joined the Hermanus Golf Club in 1983. He held the position as Captain (1997- 1999) and President (2003- 2006).

In true Uncle Runkel fashion, he made meaningful contributions to the Club, being at the forefront when Hermanus hosted the National Nomad Tournament in 1999. He was involved in the

Offside Tony O’Hagan

Club's development, the building of the terrace and the extension of the course from 18 to 27 holes. In recognition of his services to the Hermanus Golf Club, he was made an Honorary Life Member.

Hermanus formed a great part of Tony's golfing life but there was a good deal before it as well. This was written in Cape Golfer: "Tony Runkel has been around a long time and has contributed a great deal more than most others of his vintage to the game." Golfing friend and long-time Hermanus member, Deon Esterhuyse notes that "Tony's achievements in the golf arena stretch far and wide".

His golf career started way back during his membership at the 9 hole Welgemoed Golf Club, later converted to 18 holes and transformed into the Bellville Golf Club. Tony held the position of Captain and President of both these clubs, commencing from the early 1960s. At the Bellville

Club, he also had the honour of captaining their Champion Harry Solomon team.

The accolades continued to abound and are evident in his contributions to Western Province Golf and Nomad Golf. He served on the Western Province Golf Union for 8 years and held the portfolios of course ratings and handicapping. He was Manager of both the Western Province under 20 and Senior golf teams in 1979 and 1980. He was elected Vice President of the Western Province Golf Union, resigning due to a change in his working environment.

Tony has legendary status at Nomads Golf, having been a member since 1977. He Captained Western Province Nomads in 1988 and was subsequently awarded Honorary Membership. He then founded Boland Nomads and made Captain in 1994.

He has participated in 27 SA National Nomads, 5 Zimbabwean National

Connor chosen for Bokkieweek Junior National team Connor van Tonder, a Grade 8 learner at Hermanus High School (photo right), was invited during the July school holidays to join the Griekwa U14 team that participated in the annual Bokkieweek held in Naboomspruit. Connor did Hermanus proud with an excellent performance, scoring 3 tries in his first 2 matches. He was also selected as Man of the Match on day 2.

Connor has now been chosen to play in the U14 Bokkieweek Junior National Team from 2 – 12 December in Buenos Aires, Argentinia.

He was then selected for the Bokkieweek Summer Sport Griekwas U14 Sevens, held at Vanderbijlpark in Gauteng from 3 – 6 October. This team won their matches against, among others, Hoëveld 29-7, Northern Transvaal 33-0, Stellaland 14-0 and Transvaal 52-0. With his 10 tries over 3 days, and 26 out of 30 successful conversions, Connor has significantly contributed to his team’s winning effort.

The tour’s cost is about R40 000 per player, depending on the exchange rate, plus pocket money. Connor is looking for sponsors to make this opportunity a reality. Donations from anyone who would like to support him will be greatly appreciated.

Banking details: Connor van Tonder, FNB Youth Account.

Acc No 62454182983. Branch code 250655.

During the finals Griekwas U14 beat Natal 52-0, and Stellaland 19-14, walking away as the Bokkieweek U14 Sevens Champions.

Tony Runkel is an Honorary Life member of the Hermanus Golf Club and the oldest member who still plays regularly.

Nomads and a Swaziland National Nomads.

He has played over 380 rounds of Nomad golf! Tony and Alan McRindle of WP Nomads are such legends of Nomads that a trophy, known as the 'Macrunkel’ trophy was contested for by the Boland and WP Nomads.

Tony may not be eligible for the Ryder Cup but that lot will never have the pleasure of playing for the Macrunkel trophy and two other

interesting events organised by Tony and golfing counterparts – the Perlemoen Trophy contested between Bellville and Hermanus and the Veldskoen Trophy between the Boland and Free State Nomads!

In conclusion, Tony Runkel has this to say about his amazing golfing achievements: "When you've been around so long and play so many courses, it's wonderful to know you have friends everywhere". A true legend of the game.

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10 October 2018

You are never too old to get moving 100th place.” Unfortunately, hot on his heels was a youngster who pipped him at the post, putting him in 101st place. On the bus to the start he sat next to a chap whose number was 99!

Benning says he found this sequence of numbers an unusual coincidence.

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I

t’s a treat to speak to Leo Benning (85) about the benefits of remaining active throughout your life. His passion and enthusiasm for field and track athletics is contagious, so much so that my interview included a demonstration of discus and javelin throwing on the Hermanus High School sports field.

The high jump, for which his tall frame is ideally suited, is Leo’s event of choice. In 2003 he represented South Africa in Puerto Rico at the Masters International Field and Track Championships called WMA (World Masters Athletics) where he won the 70-74 year age group. In 2013 he competed again, this time in Brazil, where he took second place in the 80-84 year age group.

Masters athletics was founded in South Africa by Springbok Danie Burger in 1975. Leo, a member of the Whalers Athletics Club in Hermanus would like to see more events and more effort put into getting master athletes on the track in Boland.

Master athlete Leo Benning demonstrates a few tips on how to throw the javelin.

He believes that no one is too old to compete, which accounts for The Leo Benning Masters challenge, a track and field series named after him. It took place this month at the Green Point stadium.

A master athlete is a man or woman over the age of 35 and Benning believes that bringing the element of competition into your exercise regime at this age is a wonderful way of keeping mind and body active. “Not only do you meet different people, you also get to travel, sometimes even overseas should you wish to do so for international events.” An interesting fact is that master teams are not selected and you can choose to enter yourself.

So, what can you expect should you

want to start competing over 35 – or much older? Well, one thing for sure is that athletics at master level is definitely more sedate though there is much more fun and camaraderie.

Leo says this is because athletes put more emphasis on bettering their own times and distances than winning, although provincial and national records always beckon.

And what if you are more of a plodder and never competed before?

Benning’s enthusiastic reply is a story about athlete Deidre Larkin, a 87year-old music teacher in Johannesburg who took up running at age 78 with a view to helping her osteoporosis. She has certainly done well in this event, holding world records in her age group (over 80) for the 10

km and half-marathon distances.

Leo does, however, caution against diving straight in after many years of inactivity without first getting a medical check-up. He goes on to explain that track and field offer a wide range of disciplines from which to chose. For instance, events taking place on the running track include various sprint and hurdle options while the field events include jumping and throwing or combinations thereof.

Leo says there is no need to be put off by the thought of hefting a heavy weight, or having to negotiate massive hurdles in the steeplechase.

Consideration is given to the more mature athlete in that the javelins,

discus and shot put are not as heavy as those used by the senior athletes.

He adds that some of the hurdles events are run over shorter distances and the heights of the hurdles are lower.

Leo’s passion for athletics has led him to compile a book of motivational stories from master athletes he has met while competing. A mean raconteur himself, he will no doubt pepper the book with a few of his own stories – like when he ran his 100th marathon, which was the 1988 Foot of Africa held in Bredasdorp.

His number for that race was 100 and he remembers as he entered the stadium, the race commentator saying, “Here comes Benning in

Leo is now in the 85-89 year age group and is looking forward to his next opportunity to compete before the end of this year.

More recently three athletes from the Whalers Club took part in this year’s world championships in Spain. He is looking forward to their return to hear about their experiences first hand.

If you are keen to have some fun, give your health a boost, or simply want to bring a new dimension to your track and field training, you are welcome to join The Whalers.

Contact Leo Benning on 028 316 4960 / 0710142723 or leobenning@lantic.net For further information about the club in general or road running, contact Louise Erasmus (secretary) on 028 312 2220 / 082 897 1650.

To advertise in The Village NEWS, phone 028 312 2234 or email ads@thevillagenews.co.za

24

10 October 2018

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MY Sport

Truekrav Comes to Hermanus defence system,” says Matusik. “That means it embraces whatever means necessary to help save your life in a life threatening situation.”

ruekrav, the Cape Town-based Krav Maga studio, has opened its doors in Hermanus, giving the town’s residents the opportunity to learn what is arguably the world’s most practical and realistic selfdefence oriented martial art.

Matusik, who lives in the Hemel en Aarde valley and has been actively involved with various rural safety initiatives in the area, was born in the Swiss town of Winterthur and moved to South Africa with his parents at the age of four.

Founded by Etienne Ferreira in 2011, Truekrav has two fully-fledged schools in Cape Town (Gardens and Cape Town) and will soon be opening a third near Century City later this year.

Truekrav also has an international presence with schools and training centres in Italy, Namibia, Australia, the US and another that is due to open in the Netherlands.

The Hermanus Truekrav chapter, which will initially operate as a training centre before graduating to an official school, will be run by former parabat and local resident Marcel Matusik who is a certified Truekrav trainer and is just months away from receiving his coveted instructor’s certification.

“The great thing about Krav Maga, and Truekrav in particular, is that it teaches you a very realistic set of self-defence

principles that can ultimately help save your life,” says Matusik. “It’s also something that anyone can learn regardless of age or gender provided they are committed to putting in the time and effort.”

Krav Maga, which literally translates as `combat contact’ in Hebrew, is a self-defence system developed by the Israeli military and draws its influence from a range of martial arts

including boxing, wrestling, judo, karate and straight up street fighting.

Unlike other fighting techniques, Krav Maga is not a rules-based system, but is rather focussed on the most effective and practical way to defend yourself in a life threatening situation.

“While it’s open to anyone it is important to bear in mind that Krav is not a sport but an offensive self-

Growing up in Germiston and Pretoria he joined 1 Parachute Battalion after matriculating in 1990 and has retained an interest in selfdefence and security ever since. After completing his military service he studied building science and ran his own construction company for 23 years. Matusik and his family also spent just over 2 years working for an NGO in South Sudan.

A unique feature of the Truekrav methodology is that it is specifically adapted for situations most likely to be faced in the South African environment. This is particularly important given the high propensity

of South African criminals to resort to extreme violence at the first hint of resistance.

“We really try to prepare our students for actual situations they are likely to face and look to adapt our training for application in the South African context,” says Ferreira. “One of the first things we will teach you is to submit because no possession is worth your life. Resistance should only be used as a last resort to save your life or that of a loved one, but once you do make the decision to resist you have to do so explosively and decisively.”

Truekrav places a lot of emphasis on conditioning and fitness in order to prepare students for the extreme physical and emotional stresses that can arise in a self-defence situation.

Classes will take place on Monday and Wednesday evenings at the Sandbaai Hall from 18:45 to 19:45.

Those interested in joining can contact Marcel Matusik on 082 650 0662 or at truekrav@hermanus.co.za.