The Village NEWS 12 Feb - 19 Feb 2020

12 FEBRUARY 2020

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Jenny Parsons from Pringle Bay captured this beautiful photo of a Spotted Eagle owlet while it was learning to fly in her garden. It took refuge below her deck once it was done practising for the day.

Orcas kill bronze whaler shark Writer De Waal Steyn

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wo Orcas named Port and Starboard are believed to be behind the first recorded carcass of a copper shark (also known as bronze whaler shark) last week in the Walker Bay area.

Port and Starboard made international headlines in May 2017 when they were linked to the killing of several great whites, as well as sevengill sharks in South Africa.

The carcass of the three-metre-long

bronze whaler shark was found on Wednesday, 5 February after it washed up on Grotto beach.

Resident Riekie Louw spotted the carcass on the beach and alerted The Village NEWS, which in turn contacted the Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) team, who collected the dead shark.

firmed to have predated on both sevengill and white shark species in this manner off the Western Cape coast, but this was the first copper shark carcass to be linked to them.

The pair is known to specifically tear open their shark prey to extract the large lipid rich liver and discard the body,” said Alison Towner, a DICT biologist.

“The female shark was torn open at the torso with its liver and heart completely removed. The previous day, Port and Starboard were observed in False Bay, 100 km west of Hermanus. This orca pair is con-

“We can confirm the presumption of orca predation, as the injuries were similar to other shark species predated on by them. There were also raker marks (tooth impressions) of killer whales on the carcass.

“This behaviour is being observed more frequently in South Africa, causing ripple effects in certain shark species’ distributions, as well as potentially influencing the ecology of the Western Cape coastal areas, because of sharks avoiding their traditional aggregation sites for extended time periods,” said Towner.

Louw said she went for her daily walk on Grotto last Wednesday when she happened upon the carcass just 100m from the main beach. “When I took a closer look and saw the gaping hole, I immediately thought this must be an orca attack. I read the

stories in The Village NEWS in 2017 and remembered that these wounds looked exactly like the pictures I had seen. I instantly went back home to fetch my camera to take pictures in order to let the newspaper know,” she said.

It has been confirmed that the pod of orcas that were observed interacting with white sharks in Mossel Bay and Knysna during early November and February are not Port and Starboard, as their dorsal fins are different.

See picture on Page 5

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12 February 2020

Monitoring baboons proves a challenge Writer De Waal Steyn

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he team from Human Wildlife Solutions (HWS) who were appointed in November 2019 by Overstrand Municipality to manage the Voëlklip and Pringle Bay baboon troops had their hands full over the holiday season with the abundance of human-derived food drawing baboons into the suburbs.

According to a baboon management report by the municipality, the team had to constantly deal with rogue baboons that have been moving in and out of the urban environment for years without management.

paintball guns have been able to keep the troop together for longer periods than has been the case in the past five years.

ganisation comprised of nominated members of the public who live in suburbs of the Overstrand that are directly impacted by baboons.

“Over the holiday season members of the public have complained that the baboons are to be found on the urban edge and that the programme is not working, but this is not so. The rangers have been herding the baboons out of the urban area and back into the mountains. But the Voëlklip troop, consisting of 28 baboons, often splits into two or three different groups and run in various directions. With not enough rangers in place, it is impossible to keep them all from entering the suburbs,” states the report.

During December, the Voëlklip troop entered the urban area on 12 occasions, compared to three in November 2019. In that time there were a total of 123 calls to the baboon hotline, 107 of which were raid-related calls received from managed areas, compared to 28 calls received in November. Most calls were from Voëlklip. The Vogelgat troop was reported in the Voëlklip suburb on nine occasions during December, while The Hamilton Russell troop was reported on the mountainside just above Hermanus Heights on four occasions. These two troops are not managed by HWS.

“These rogue baboons have been pulling the troop in various directions and have made the physical implementation of the ‘virtual fence’ impossible. If the fence is implemented while the troop is split into various smaller groups, it will be impossible to maintain it and the programme will not succeed,” states the report.

In situations like these where rogue baboons split up the troop and lead smaller groups on raids into the suburbs, it is advised that these animals need to be removed from a troop.

These so-called damage-causing baboons are teaching the younger animals in the troop to raid and to become fearless of people. This is detrimental to the public, the individual baboon and the troop.

The virtual fence is made up of a sophisticated radio transmitter system that relays the movements of a troop to a cellular phone. If a troop moves too close to a residential area an alert is sent out and baboon monitors deploy sound boxes that emit sounds of predators roaring, animals dying and other frightening sound effects, including bear bangers that make a loud banging noise. The baboons are tracked via collars attached to the troop leaders. If this landscape cannot be maintained, the baboons will not be alarmed by the process and will ignore it.

“HWS, together with their partners from the City of Cape Town, CapeNature and UCT developed guidelines for categorising and managing damage-causing baboons and in terms of these guidelines, in the last three months the municipality has made recommendations to euthanise three damage-causing baboons. These baboons have subsequently been euthanised with advice from a veterinarian and in accordance with the Animal Protection Act,” according to the report.

The report states that while the virtual fence has not yet been implemented, rangers armed with

The report further states that the municipality is in the process of developing a Baboon Liaison Group (BLG) which is a formally-constituted or-

“The Three Dams and picnic area in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve were particularly difficult to manage with numerous picnickers bringing food into the area or chasing the baboons away from the dams and back into town,” according to the report.

The report goes on to say that over the past three years the Environmental Department had to bury six baboons killed or injured because of human-induced actions: • Two adult males that were the alpha males of the troop were shot in the gut and it took a week for them both to die, while their stomachs were rotting from the inside caused by the damage of the bullet. They died a painful death.

• A juvenile female that was poisoned and picked up in a person’s yard. She also died a

• •

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long and painful death.

A juvenile male that was run over by a car and not killed on impact had to be taken to a veterinarian to be euthanised.

A baby female that was shot several times with a pellet gun had to undergo a sonar only to find that her entire body was full of pellets and her stomach was perforated. She had to be euthanised.

A juvenile male that was shot while sitting on the wall of a house and killed instantly.

“It is good news that since the implementation of the Baboon Programme none of these actions have been repeated.”

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12 February 2020

Visbaai – bay of fishes The history of Hermanus as a fishing village 1855-1960 Writer Dr Robin Lee

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or the first 100 years of its life, Hermanus was a fishing village.

True, fishing became industrialised, and the village became a town.

But, in the popular mind, fishing was the ethos of the settlement, and that sense has not changed, even in 2020.

The Old Harbour, now a national monument, still lies at the heart of the town’s appeal.

The first European families that settled here in 1855, already knew about the almost unbelievable abundance of fish in Walker Bay. They had seen it, from their time at Herries Bay (Hawston). But they were pleasantly surprised to find a better inlet in the coast, protected to a degree by a promontory (we call it Gearing’s Point), though this also caused freak waves and deceptive currents.

They called the inlet ‘Die Visbaai’, not naming it after anyone and merely referring to the use they were making of it. For the next couple of decades, everyone called it by that name, whether speaking English or Dutch.

But, by the early 20th century, English speakers, especially visitors, started to call it the ‘harbour’. Its present name of ‘Old Harbour’ dates from the 1950s, when the government built a ‘New Harbour’ at Still Bay, just along the coast.

salted or air-dried for later meals for the family or for sale to farmers in the area.

Nicknames were much in use by fishermen, partly because many men had the same surname. Some of the nicknames that have been recorded are John ‘Sly Fox’ Aproskie, Danie ‘Kasterolie’ du Toit, Jurie ‘Floukoffie’ Swart, and Hennie ‘Pylstert’ Wessels.

A brochure issued by the Old Harbour Museum describes the life of a fisherman: The return of the fishing boats to the rocky inlet was the event of the day.

The boats often had to ride outside the harbour in heavy seas, waiting for a break between swells before they could row in to land their frail craft.

Large crowds gathered to watch this fascinating daily ritual as the catches were carried ashore and gutted and sold on the spot, while the boats were lifted and placed on the turning-stone before being carried up the slipway by sixteen men – eight fore and eight aft – straining under the carrying-poles.

Some of the fish was salted and dispatched in crates for sale in other towns, while snoek and harders were salted and dried on ‘bokkom’ stands in the harbour area and in the backyards of the fishermen.

The same source describes the boats used:

Early fishing was organised on a family basis. Individual fishing boats were operated by a ‘skipper’ and a crew of seven or more men, probably all related to or close friends of the skipper.

He was responsible for discipline on board, as well as seeing that each fisherman’s catch was allocated to him.

At first, the boats depended on sails and oars, but later some were equipped with inboard engines. An examination of the back of the keel, through which the shaft for the screw passed, shows whether the boat was converted for use with a marine engine.

The catch was mainly used to feed the families of the settlers, while some of an exceptionally good catch was

However, all the boats kept a cut-out section for the mast in the second thwart. Slats from the thwart to the 3

floor of the boat kept each fisherman's catch separate. All the boats showed the marks of successful fishing lines under strain, gouged into the wood.

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‘Subsistence fishing’ is a phrase still widely used to describe the way of life of the families at Hermanuspietersfontein, though the term ‘artisanal fishing’ is politically more acceptable.

The term ‘subsistence’ means that the activity of fishing was undertaken to feed the fishermen and their (extended) families. Fish were sold when there was a good catch. Still, sometimes there were so many fish that a surplus remained. This had to be buried soon before the stench permeated the entire village.

In Hermanus, there was always a chance of selling exceptionally large and healthy whole fish to one of the thirteen hotels that existed in the 1930s, as a special treat for their guests that very evening.

‘Artisanal fishing’ did not last much beyond the first decade of the 1900s.

As early as 1885, ‘fish merchants’ set up business in the harbour. The earliest were Walter McFarlane, Adel and David Allengensky, and Eli Melnick.

They regarded fishing as a profit-making opportunity and began to re-organise the activities into a more efficient operation. First, the merchant negotiated with the skippers of boats a price at which he would buy the entire catch. The skipper then had a degree of certainty that he would realise the value of his catch and no longer depended on buyers turning up – or not – at the harbour.

The merchant then employed the same women who had cleaned fish for their families to process the catch according to his instructions and paid them a wage. The financial stability of two sources of income was a significant advance for the fisher families.

The fish merchant then took steps to increase the market for the fish, fresh or processed. Quite soon, the

1. The Old Harbour today – a national monument that lies at the heart of the town’s appeal.

2. & 4. The Old Harbour in the early 1900s. Large crowds gathered to watch the daily ritual of catches carried ashore.

3. The boats had to be lifted and carried up the slipway by 16 men.

PHOTOS: Old Harbour Museum market expanded to Cape Town and surrounds, and a Mr Joffe was credited as being the first to use ice to keep fish fresh during the journey to distant markets. There are reports of fish being exported to Mauritius, but I have not verified this.

In short, the fishing activities became part of a capitalist economy in Hermanus. This fact had a significant impact on the general economic development of the town.

Several of the fishermen were among the first to buy plots when land was put on the market after 1875. Some of them moved away from fishing and set up small businesses. An early example of this trend was a fisherman known as Jean-Louis or ‘Swede’, with the surname Wessels. He set up a boat-building and repair business in a cottage where the Burgundy Restaurant is today and supported his family as an artisan and businessman for many years.

The artisanal fishing in Visbaai exist-

ed on the cusp of significant changes in South Africa. Cities, towns and the country as a whole was moving out of the pre-industrial era and into the early stages of industrialisation. As the Hermanus economy did not include mining, manufacturing or, even, large-scale agriculture, this historical development had to occur in its underlying fishing economy.

However, it is interesting that this change that caused riots and strikes and enduring hostilities between ‘capital’ and ‘labour’ in many places, was drawn out and argumentative, but took place peacefully. Indeed, as we will see, many fisher families took to land ownership and business without much trouble.

This article forms part of an exclusive series on the chronological history of Hermanus by Dr Robin Lee. The author can be contacted on 028 312 4072 or robinlee@hermanus.co.za.

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Curbing the scourge of gender-based violence Writer Hedda Mittner

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he Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, John Jeffery, officially opened a Sexual Offences Court in Bredasdorp on Friday. This small rural town bears the brunt of many social ills, among them, gender-based and sexual violence. It was thrust into the international spotlight in 2013 when 17-year-old Anene Booysen was found brutally raped and murdered. The teenager had been gang-raped and her abdomen slit open, before being discarded on a construction site.

“Gender-based violence is on the increase and the community of Bredasdorp has been suffering over these past few years. The government does not disregard the cries of victims or turn a blind eye on gender-based violence, but has worked hard to make this initiative a success,” said Muammer Nicholls, Senior Administration Officer at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in a press release. “It will serve as a deterrent and criminals will be dealt with speedily in our court system.”

A total of 94 Sexual Offences Courts have been established throughout the country and a further 10 regional courts will be upgraded by the end of March 2020. In accordance with the Judicial Matters Second Amendment Act, these courts have specific facilities and measures in place to render services that will better protect complainants, enhance the quality of evidence given in sexual offence cases and increase the success of prosecutions, as well as minimising secondary trauma for complainants.

At the opening of the Bredasdorp Sexual Offences Court, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, John Jeffery pointed out that South Africa had one of the highest rates of crimes against women and children in the world. “Roughly every three hours, a woman is murdered in this country, and one in five women have been the victims of gender-based violence.

We cannot bring these women and children back, but we can ensure that there is justice for them and for their families.”

Jeffery added that approximately 2 700 women and 1 000 children were murdered in South Africa in 2018, mostly by people they knew. In many communities, including Bredasdorp, violent assault by a partner is considered the norm, largely due to alcohol abuse and poverty.“We are painfully aware of some women’s financial dependency on husbands, fathers, partners and family members, which increases their vulnerability to living with domestic violence, rape, incest, abuse and murder,” he said.

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“That is why many victims are unwilling to take action against their abusers and why even those who have laid charges often withdraw them before they get to court. There are also instances where a woman or child has been so broken down physically, emotionally and psychologically that they feel helpless and don’t know where to find help.

"They often remain in a relationship out of fear or in the hope that their abuser’s behaviour might change, but that only exposes them to more dangerous consequences and results in many attackers going unpunished.”

The Sexual Offences Courts differ from other courts in that victims are kept separate from their perpetrators and proceedings are normally managed by a court intermediary. In order to avoid the onset of secondary trauma, victims never have to face their perpetrators. They have separate waiting rooms, with court prep officers who will assist them and explain the whole process, providing a safe environment.

The Sexual Offences Courts will also make use of in-camera testifying services for children, persons with mental disabilities, and all traumatised victims, irrespective of age. These measures are aimed at preventing victims from coming into direct contact with accused perpetrators, as this often induces further trauma and affects the ability of the victim to become a strong witness in the court process.

Nicholls is confident that the introduction of Sexual Offences Courts throughout South Africa, with trained magistrates and prosecutors who have the necessary skills to take care of the victims’ cases, will speed up the conviction rates and show the community that the government is very serious about curbing this type of violence.

“We are standing behind victims and we have heard their call. We are here to assure our women and children that these courts will provide them with a safe haven and that we are here to assist them,” he said. “Victims can have peace of mind that justice will be served on those who commit these harsh offences.”

Victims of gender-based violence can call the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre toll-free on 0800 428 428 for assistance. They can also contact the Command Centre by way of a ‘please call me’ at *120*7867# with a request that a social worker contact them or they can sms the word ‘help’ to 31531. They can also call institutions such as Life Line, toll-free, on 0800 150 150 or 0861 322 322.

Ralph Watson, a marine biologist from Marine Dynamics, and Dickie Chivell took part in the necropsy that was done last week on the carcass of a three-metre-long bronze whaler shark, which was predated on by a duo of orcas named Port and Starboard. These orcas made international headlines in 2017 after they were found to be responsible for predating on great white sharks. Apart from the great white shark killings, it seems the pair was also responsible for the killing of five broad-nosed sevengill sharks (also known as cow sharks) that washed ashore last year in Betty’s Bay. Orcas are apex predators and they appear to have a predilection for organ meat. Orcas will essentially split a shark open. Each orca grabs a pectoral fin, then the shark is flipped over and pulled apart, splitting open the throat and chest cavity and eventually exposing the liver.

PHOTO: Marine Dynamics/Dyer Island Conservation Trust

Ward delimitation meeting on 25 February In preparation for the 2021 municipal elections, the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) conducts ward delimitation (the subdivision of wards) meetings for all metropolitan and local municipalities to propose new ward boundaries.

The primary focus of these meetings is to afford members of the public and all stakeholders an opportunity to participate in the ward delimitation process. Interested parties will be allowed to give input on how they would like their wards to be configured.

The public meeting for Overstrand Municipality will take place on Tuesday, 25 February at 09:00 at the Municipal Auditorium.

Overstrand residents are welcome to work through the draft ward maps and comment on which draft wards are acceptable before the finalisation of ward boundaries ahead of next year's local government elections.

Draft ward maps are available for scrutiny at the respective Area Managers’ Offices of the four administrations of the municipality, as well as from Haneen van Tonder at the municipal head office in Hermanus.

Information is also available on, and downloadable from, the MDB’s website at www. demarcation.org.za/site/2019-2/ For purposes of the 2021 Municipal Elections, the MEC for local government gave notice that the number of councillors for Overstrand Municipality is 27, with 14 wards.

Overstrand Municipality has 57 821 registered voters on its segment of the national common voters’ roll (March 2019). The minimum number of registered voters allowed per ward in this municipality is 3 511.

The maximum number of registered voters allowed per ward in this municipality is 4 749.

ACCOR COLLECTION

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12 February 2020

FROM THE EDITOR

MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) tourism sector.

Business tourism can lead to investment At an event last week at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange CEO of SA Tourism, Sisa Ntshona, said that tourism should not only be used to attract visitors for leisure purposes but also for business.

up to three times more than a leisure tourist.

As a region that is largely dependent on income raised via tourism this is a very important factor for us to take note of.

He stated that attracting business tourism to the country is where the money is at, as visitors who attend a business function in another country are likely to spend

While it is often reckoned that business travel might be the domain of cities, the Overberg is perfectly poised for growth in the

Not only are we situated close to the Cape Metropole, but we have an abundance of locations that are well suited for business travel.

Taking into consideration that an increasing number of business tourists are combining their trips with leisure travel, we are the ideal option for this market.

In addition, business travel also brings with it the opportunity to attract future investment from visiting corporates. To that end, it is time for the Overberg to position itself not only as a leisure tourism market but also as a destination

where investment is welcomed.

Several towns and cities in the country are already actively wooing business owners to relocate their businesses, and we should get in on the act of prioritising the marketing of investment opportunities to visitors.

Tourism should be viewed as a gateway to business investment.

In terms of job creation, the tourism industry is one of the lower hanging fruits, and investments by companies in the area can add invaluable growth to our economy.

This is the good NEWS – Ed

Poachers, Passion-Killers and the Power of Gold By Murray Stewart thevillagemuze@gmail.com If you should have an urge to impress and entertain those forlorn folks sitting in queues at the Traffic Department or dentists’ waiting rooms, here are some amazing facts they’ll remember forever.

Drink ’n Dive Ten years ago, an old shipwreck was discovered in the Baltic Sea between Finland and Sweden. From it, divers retrieved 168 sealed wine bottles, and those labels still legible bore the date 1840.

So, what do you do when you find bottles of wine that old? Of course you do, which is exactly what the crew did, and not only found it palatable, but rather pleasant nogal.

News spread and soon Croatia became the first country to develop underwater ‘wine cellars’ in 2011, and since then wine producers around the globe are happily chucking crateloads of their cherished produce into the sea.

The fjord-like coastline in parts of Croatia presents the ideal conditions though. Temperatures remain at around 15 degrees all year, and at

20 to 40 metres down, the sheltered inlets ensure the bottles remain undisturbed for a few years. Good thing too, seeing as they sell upwards of an eye-watering R1 500 a bottle over there – barnacles included.

Anyway, a few local producers have recently started experimenting in the art of underwater maturation among the rocky coves in Walker Bay, but the ‘cellar’ locations are obviously kept highly secret.

However, our intrepid Persistent Abalone Poachers (PAP), under immense pressure from marine conservationists, just love the concept.

Passion Killer The sometimes unpredictable experiments we endure today concerning contraception and birth control are nothing new, and various methods to avoid unintended offspring go way back through the ages. An ancient Egyptian papyrus, dated 1850 BCE, describes what must be the earliest recorded technique (apart from abstention) to prevent surprise pregnancies.

excrement, and some sort of gummy substance’. Crocodiles were plentiful, but where on earth did they find the soda? Understandably, things can get twisted or lost in translation, so unfortunately (or not), little was revealed about the composition of the rather disturbing ‘gummy substance’.

Well, I don’t know about other male readers, but that deterrent would work for me, and I sure as heck would stay well away from there.

Gold Fingers Ancient Egyptians almost crippled their own economy by burying their leaders with huge quantities of gold, silver and priceless artefacts. Luckily, entrepreneurial grave-robbers would salvage the stock market by returning the loot into circulation – for a meagre finder’s fee, of course.

One man, however, single-handedly achieved what the grave-robbers were avoiding – he crippled the market in Cairo and brought the economy to its knees.

In 1307, Mansa Musa became ruler of the vast West African Mali Empire.

It was the size of Western Europe, and he accumulated his vast wealth through gold, salt and slavery. By today’s standards he’d be worth over

This method wouldn’t go down too well these days, as I’m sure the ladies will agree. It required them to… um… internally apply a ‘concoction of honey, soda, a dollop of crocodile

$400 billion – the world’s richest person ever.

Being lavish in his generosity, his gifts towards those less fortunate (everyone?) made a favourable impression among all his people at home. He made an international impression though, when he embarked on his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324, because this was no dash across the Sahara with a handful of camels. No. He took the scenic route from his capital on the Niger River, and schlepped north through Mauritania and Algeria, then along the coast to Cairo.

His caravan consisted of 60 000 men including a personal retinue of 12 000 slaves, each clad in brocade and Persian silk, and carrying 20kg gold staffs – which must have cheered them up. Eighty camels each carried 300 pounds of gold, and this deluge of bullion into Cairo’s marketplace devalued it so much that it took 12 years for the economy to stabilise.

Hotels, I would imagine, did very well though.

Anyway, he returned home to build a vast trading empire and, among other institutions, the ancient Archives/Library/University/ Mosque in Timbuktu, destroyed by al-Qaeda in 2012, but that’s another story.

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LET'S TALK

Concern about visitors’ safety in Fernkloof Whilst the majority of Hermanus residents are breathing a collective sigh of relief at the successful outcome of the future Special Rating Areas which will boost general security in the town, spare a thought for one of the most precious natural resources we have.

Fernkloof Nature Reserve is a place where residents and visitors alike should be able to enjoy nature in peaceful surroundings. However, this sense of tranquillity was shattered in the middle of one afternoon last week when a young couple from Cape Town were ambushed on the boardwalk leading to the waterfall by two men wielding knives.

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Fortunately, they had nothing of value on them and whilst one of the attackers agreed to back off without harming them, one threatened to “cut” them. Thankfully, his companion persuaded him otherwise, but understandably this young couple was left severely traumatised. Word of such an occurrence spreads and taints the reputation of our beautiful town as a desirable tourist destination.

Although the Hermanus Botanical Society is viewed as the guardian of Fernkloof, taking responsibility for the maintenance and management of the reserve, the municipality owns the land and needs to take seriously

the safekeeping of the visitors, both local and from many parts of the world. Formerly, there were at least two guards based at the Visitors’ Centre, appointed by the municipality to either offer to accompany walkers or simply be there to keep an eye on the vehicles. Unfortunately, these guards were removed due to ‘cost cutting’.

Please will those in authority take on board the severity of the present situation and ensure that positive steps are taken to prevent such attacks from becoming the norm.

Jim and Ann Sweet Concerned Members of the HBS

Healthy and robust debate are crucial for democracy.

The Village NEWS firmly believes in freedom of the press as well as the right of individuals to freely express themselves, as long as they don’t infringe upon the rights of others. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors therefore do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Village NEWS. Letters may be shortened and/or edited for clarity and style. Enjoy our paper.

Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za The Municipality answers: Following the incident last week, two meetings were held between role players to address the critical issue of safety in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve (FNR), which is one of the top three activities enjoyed in Hermanus.

The drafting of an FNR operational safety plan was facilitated by Neville Michaels, municipal Director of Protection Services.

This plan will be tabled at the next Hermanus Safety Forum meeting on 24 February.

The essence of the plan is the establish-

ment of a Tourism Safety Monitoring Team who have already been deployed on Monday to do patrols.

These monitors will focus on the hotspots within the FNR and will be available to accompany visitors on hikes. In addition to the daily visible patrolling, private security and Law Enforcement officers will do patrols and the SAPS will be requested to do the same. Weather permitting, a drone will be used to give an aerial overview of FNR. Visitors who would like to make use of a free guide to accompany them, can contact Hermanus Tourism on 028 312 2629.

Hermanus Photographic Society lauds its members The Hermanus Photographic Society had its first meeting of the new year on Wednesday 5 February, which doubled as the Annual General Meeting. The club’s President, Elizma Fourie, gave the members a short review of the club’s activities over the last 12 months. These included not only the very successful hosting of the Western Cape Interclub’s Annual Photographic exhibition held at the Sanlam Centre Art Gallery in Bellville, but also the club’s continued participation in the annual FynArts Festival and its joining of Hermanus First Fridays in 2019.

At the AGM, various members of the club were recognised for their photographic achievements over the past year. Hestie das Neves was awarded the trophy for the Best 5-star Photographer of the Year, while the Best 4-star Photographer of the Year was the club’s President, Elizma Fourie, the Best 3-star was David Wilson, the Best 2-star was Ansie du Toit and the Best 1-star Photographer was The Village NEWS’ very own Taylum Meyer.

The evening included the club’s regular photographic competition.

The set subject, and also the theme for the upcoming FynArts Exhibition, was ‘Poetry in Motion’ and a good

Klein River Lagoon Kite Surfers by David Wilson. selection of work by members was evaluated. The senior Image of the Month was ‘Uniquely Amsterdam’

by Hestie das Neves with the Junior Image of the Month ‘Let’s Twist Again’

by Marie Botes.

For the upcoming year the major challenge for the club is to expand the junior section of the club with beginners and less practised photographers, who will be mentored by those

more senior, so they can increase their photographic skills. So on the third Wednesday of every month (this month it will be on 19 February) the club will hold a series of Camera Basics Appreciation Classes to share information with members of the public on how to operate all types of cameras being used by members of the club. In addition, a camera workshop will be available to explain the hidden techniques of the partici-

pants’ own cameras and to adjust the settings accordingly.

Join the Hermanus Photographic Society on Wednesday 19 February at 19:00 at the Dutch Reformed Church in Church Street Hermanus. Further details of the classes can be found on the club’s website. A small donation would be appreciated by the club to cover the hall hire. In addition to these classes, the club members

meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 19:00 at the Dutch Reformed Church. Visitors are most welcome.

The Hermanus Photographic Society is affiliated to the Photographic Society of South Africa (PSSA).

For more information, visit www. hermanusphoto.co.za or contact Elizma Fourie on 082 499 5116 or info@hermanusphoto.co.za

8

www.thevillagenews.co.za

12 February 2020

MY ENVIRONMENT

Know the worth of water

By Dr Anina Lee

Give your event all the advertising it deserves. It’s FREE! Last year, 135 000 unique readers from 198 countries and territories visited The Village NEWS website (thevillagenews. co.za).

So, if you are hosting an event and want to give it some additional free publicity, why don’t you advertise it on What’s On Overberg? It’s easy to use, mobile-friendly and you can even upload pictures!

When the well is dry, we’ll know the worth of water. – Benjamin Franklin

H

ermanus has a long history of searching for water. The first fresh, clear water in the area that is now Hermanus was found by Hermanus Pieters who watered his sheep at a spring just below the present Marine Drive. The first settlers in Hermanus built their homes at a spot west of Hermanuspietersfontein called Rietfontein in the present Westcliff. Again, a source of fresh water was vital to settlement.

Later, the growing town used water from the Onrus River stored in a reservoir near the present Gateway Centre. In the 1930s three dams were built on the Mossel River to supply the needs of the residents.

When De Bos Dam was built in 1976 it promised to be the answer to Hermanus’ water needs for many years. At the time, Onrus had sufficient water of its own, but the Hermanus Municipality insisted that this be discontinued and that everyone should buy water from the dam.

In truth, it is nothing more than a large farm dam and is now inadequate for the population explosion in Hermanus. The greater Hermanus area now uses approximately 4 to 4.5 million cubic metres (4 to 4.5 billion litres) of water per year.

As an added boost, all events on the website also get shared to The Village NEWS - What’s On Overberg Facebook group (facebook.com/groups/ tvnwhatsonoverberg/) and may be selected to feature on the What’s On pages in The Village NEWS newspaper each week.

Most residents are probably unaware that approximately 30 – 40% of their water (1 to 1.5 million cubic metres) now comes from groundwater. The water is abstracted from 10 (soon to be 12) boreholes spread across three wellfields.

These were developed during the first decade of the 21st century. The remainder of the water is supplied by surface water from De Bos Dam. These three wellfields tap into the Peninsula Aquifer of the Table Mountain Group (TMG).

Two of the wellfields are situated in the Hemelen-Aarde Valley at Camphill and Volmoed. The third, the Gateway Wellfield, is opposite Gateway Shopping Centre in Hermanus.

The rock formations of the TMG create a globally unique groundwater resource. There are two aquifers present below Hermanus. These are not connected to each other in the greater Hermanus area. The upper aquifer (known as the Nardouw Aquifer) is near the surface in the vicinity of Hermanus town centre and is predominantly used by private residents for garden irrigation.

The second aquifer (known as the Peninsula Aquifer) is deeper, being approximately 100 – 200 metres deep in the vicinity of the three wellfields. The Overstrand Municipality uses only this aquifer for municipal water supply.

However, the water pumped from these boreholes has a high iron and manganese content.

www.pressreader.com www.issuu.com/dwaal 083 700 3319 theagency@thevillagenews.co.za

We are all familiar with the brown colour of local borehole water that is due to red iron oxide leached out of the rocks.

The water from the boreholes has to be treated at the Preekstoel Water Treatment Works to remove the iron and manganese. The Municipality makes use of very interesting and effective biological processes to precipitate these metal ions out of the water. But that’s another story.

ABOVE: The De Bos Dam with Die Neus vineyard of Bosman Hermanus in the background.

PHOTO: Wines of SA BELOW: The new GWP17 Gateway Wellfield Production Borehole.

PHOTO: WCC

Once treated, the water is mixed with water from other sources and further purified for human consumption.

In addition to being a welcome water resource to the greater Hermanus area, these aquifers play an important role in the endemic fynbos ecosystems in the mountains around Hermanus.

According to Dylan Blake of Umvoto Africa, the Overstrand Municipality uses a world-class, telemetry-based wellfield operational and monitoring system. This system makes it possible to monitor the flow of water and its quality in real time. If at any moment the quality of the water changes negatively, the entire system shuts itself down. It enables the Municipality to withdraw groundwater from the Peninsula Aquifer sustainably, without impacting on important and diverse ecosystems.

As environmentally-conscious citizens we are all concerned about the possible effects on Fernkloof and other mountain fynbos refuges of extracting so much groundwater. How do we know when it’s too much? What is the expected lifespan of the boreholes and are there plans to tap other sources of water should the wellfields become unsustainable? Does water abstraction from the Nardouw aquifer by the hundreds of private boreholes in Hermanus affect the water table? Some of the private boreholes are over 100m deep. Are they sucking the ground dry in surrounding gardens? Are they drawing water from the Peninsula Aquifer?

A further concern is the ecological health of the Onrus River and its estuary (‘lagoon’) downstream from De Bos Dam. To function properly the river requires adequate water from the dam.

Figures published by the Municipality indicate

that the volume of water released from the dam is insufficient to keep the estuary functioning.

Can we afford to release more water for the benefit of nature and the people who depend on it? Can we afford not to?

For some of these answers, please join Whale Coast Conservation on Tuesday 18 February at 17:30 at the Green House for a talk on Hermanus Hydrogeology. The speaker is Dylan Blake who is an associate and principal geologist at Muizenberg-based earth science and groundwater research consultancy, Umvoto Africa.

He has worked on the various Hermanus TMG wellfields since 2007, while Umvoto Africa has been involved with groundwater development in both the Hermanus and Stanford areas since the late 1990s. All are welcome. And remember to celebrate World Water Day on 22nd March every year.

THE VILLAGE

EXPLORER ART | FOOD & WINE | EVENTS | PEOPLE

Hello darkness, my old friend Writer Hedda Mittner

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2

Photographers Hedda Mittner & Taylum Meyer

N

ot even load-shedding could deter art lovers from participating in the monthly Hermanus First Fridays (HFF) Artwalk on Friday 7 February, when the lights went out between 18:00 and 20:00.

Art consultant and owner of Intethe Gallery in The Courtyard, Barbara Lindop.

While Jozua Rossouw hired generators for his two galleries, Rossouw Modern and SPACE, others made use of rechargeable and solar lamps.

Originals Gallery had battery-operated fairy lights, which added a romantic atmosphere.

Owner Terry Kobus quipped, “We all came up with creative solutions – we are artists, after all!

Load-shedding is nothing we can’t handle.”

He added that the Artwalk definitely wasn’t affected; in fact, he thought many people opted to do the Artwalk instead of sitting at home in the dark with nothing to do.

“There were also a lot of foreign visitors about on Friday evening,” he added. “Many Artwalkers used the torches on their phones to get around and to shed more light on the artworks they were viewing.”

In other words, ‘n boer maak ‘n plan. So now we know: power or no power, the next HFF Artwalk will take place on Friday 6 March from 17:00 – 20:00.

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3 1. Charmaine de Jongh Gelderblom and Harold Botha in their gallery in Art Alley.

2. Lize Art Gallery in Aberdeen Street is the latest member of Hermanus First Fridays. From left are Tanya Ganz, Yolanda Theron, Lize Smit and Keith Murray.

3. Regular Artwalkers Dirk and Karin Oosthuizen with Tineke Meiring and the chair of Hermanus Art Circle (HAC), Adéle Nortje, in front of works by Tineke in the HAC’s pop-up gallery at the Whale Museum.

4. Jozua Rossouw with Alex Marmarellis, whose solo exhibition opened at SPACE Gallery on Friday.

5. Jenny Jackson chatting to Trudie and David Hilton Barber in Gallery 19 in High Street.

6. Ian Macdonald and Ed Bredenkamp in Forty X 40 Gallery in Art Alley.

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10 | FOOD & WINE

12 February 2020

Creation teamwork makes the dream work Writer & Photographer Tweet Gainsborough-Waring

T

he creativity and enthusiasm of our region’s inspired young chefs and winemakers will no doubt ensure the future of the Overstrand’s designation as a Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy.

At Creation Wines on Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, I found two chefs and two winemakers who join a long list of youngsters that have benefited from the opportunities offered by co-owners, Jean-Claude (JC) and Carolyn Martin and their team. Fired by ambition and the urge to learn, these talented individuals are well on their way to carving a successful future in the food and wine industry.

Executive Chef Jaco Grové (40) from Sandbaai originally hails from Namibia. He describes himself as the “father figure” in the kitchen, where his job is to create dishes and develop the menu in collaboration with Carolyn and the culinary team.

Jaco particularly enjoys working with fish, and says he loves the challenge of creating a dish that not only looks and tastes delicious but also shows off the accompanying wine to perfection.

Innovation and creativity are key, as the art of food and wine pairing involves matching the characteristics of the wine, its colour, nose and taste to the dish.

He says one of the most exciting aspects of his job is that you never stop learning, and so it has been for him from the day he first saw a man in a tall hat and asked his mother what he was. With most of his family being involved in the hospitality industry, it was pretty much a given that he would follow suit.

His family moved to the Cape and then to the Overstrand where, with encouragement from his mother and sister, he enrolled at Warwick’s Chef School. After graduation his first appointment was at The Marine Hotel, followed by a stint in Britain and Thailand. After returning to South Africa, he went to Johannesburg before joining Creation in 2013.

In line with Creation’s ethos of innovation, Jaco’s passion for food and wine constantly motivates him to create original and distinctive flavours that pair harmoniously with Creation’s elegant, award-winning wines. Much of his inspiration comes from nature and the bounty of our ocean and the fynbos kingdom. This is reflected in the colour, texture and flavour of the dishes he prepares. And with so much fresh, local produce available it’s possible to create exciting seasonal dishes.

Jaco also makes sure that he keeps up with the world’s latest culinary trends and says he truly

ABOVE: Joseph Pook from Stanford is the Sous Chef at Creation.

ABOVE MIDDLE: Cellar assistant Urle Hansen from Mount Pleasant is very proud of the first wine he’s made – a Pinot noir named ‘Emily’ after his daughter.

ABOVE RIGHT: Creation’s Executive Chef Jaco Grové is the “father figure” in the kitchen.

RIGHT: Kirsten Myburgh is very proud of his maiden wine, K’s Sauvignon Blanc. believes that the day you give up learning is the day you hang up your apron.

Assisting Jaco is Sous Chef Joseph Pook (27) from Stanford, who says his journey started when his mother gave him a Jamie Oliver cookbook at the age of 16. After graduating from Hermanus High School, he also trained at Warwick’s Chef School. Joseph considers himself most fortunate as an anonymous German sponsor funded his training.

After graduating he did a stint at Springfontein Eats near Stanford with Michelin Star Chef Jurgen Schneider, whom he describes as his inspiration. He says he will never forget Schneider’s words when he asked Joseph: “Do you know how a diamond is made?” The answer was, “Pressure.” He took this advice to heart, doing his best to attain personal targets like getting to work in a three-star Michelin restaurant – an experience he funded himself in August 2018 when working at Inter Scaldes in the Netherlands.

When it comes to food, Joseph says he loves vegetables and has a particular passion for truffles. He joined the Creation culinary team three months ago and is all fired up to learn as much as he can, working alongside Jaco. He shares his executive chef’s ambition of making Eat Out’s Top 50 restaurants in South Africa for 2020.

Cellar assistant and winemaker Urle Hansen (27) now lives in Mount Pleasant but he grew up on Diepgat, not far from Creation, and attended the farm school before progressing to Swartberg Secondary in Caledon. After completing a course in Electrical Engineering at Boland College, he

joined Creation Wines in 2013 as a cellar hand.

Since his first year at Creation, it has been Urle’s ambition to make his own wine. His enthusiasm didn’t go unnoticed as he tried to learn as much as possible under the mentorship of co-owner and winemaker JC Martin. In addition to the hands-on work in the cellar he attended several courses at Elsenburg Agricultural College.

In 2018 Urle was one of six cellar workers from the Western Cape to be accepted on the Burgundy Exchange Programme. Looking back on the six weeks he spent in Burgundy, Urle says: “From learning the way they make wine, to the way they enjoy it, it was a tremendous experience.

It gave me a new appreciation of my surroundings and the opportunities I have to learn and grow.”

Now Urle’s first barrel of Pinot Noir has been bottled, he couldn’t be more thrilled and has named the wine after his daughter, Emily. His hopes for 2020 include another overseas trip to gather inspiration and broaden his knowledge – and the opportunity of making another wine.

Like Urle, Kirsten Myburgh (26) lives in Mount Pleasant. He completed his schooling at Hawston Secondary School. Joining Creation during the 2014 harvest, he was thrown in the deep end. Although he admits that it was hectic, he loved the excitement and says it was “an awesome learning curve”. In addition to the daily hands-on work as a cellar assistant, he completed his SKOP Level 3 qualification. SKOP is an Afrikaans acronym for Senior Cellar Worker’s Training Programme, which kick-starts empowerment for many of its learners.

It is clear that Kirsten revels in all aspects of the winemaking craft. He’s ready for any challenge that comes his way and is quick to point out the benefits of having winemakers JC and Gerhard Smith as his mentors.

Kirsten’s first wine was a wooded Sauvignon Blanc, named K’s Sauvignon Blanc 2019. This maiden wine is an achievement that Kisten shares with pride and enthusiasm. Once the 2020 harvest is over, he’ll be heading to New Zealand for two months and on his return, he says he’d like to make his own Chardonnay. It is his cultivar of choice because of its complexity and depth, its beautiful aromas and distinctive flavours.

His advice to those wanting to join the wine industry is not to be scared of the unknown but to grab with both hands the opportunities that come their way.

Staff training at Creation goes beyond what is taught in the cellar or in the kitchen, says Carolyn. She believes that through an holistic approach to training, the high standards that have been set for the Overstrand’s designation as a Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy will not only be achieved but continue to flourish.

FOOD & WINE | 11

12 February 2020

WINE & DINE

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

0846 885 885 hermanus Country Market crafted roasted picked cooked Nestled under a family of bluegums at the foot of a mountain.

EVERY SATURDAY 9 am

- 1 pm

Sourced Locally Just For YOU !

We welcome all those far and wide to experience the warmth of our seaside village.

gps -3 4. 4 0 6 7 5 3, 1 9.2 4 3 6 9 8

WHAT’S ON

13 - 29 FEBRUARY 2020

OVERBERG 13

Thursday

Whalers Athletic Club Join the Whalers for their weekly time trials, every Thursday afternoon.

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

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

Contact Frank on 082 870 1187 to confirm your attendance.

Mollergren Park, Main Road, Hermanus | 19:00

Wine & Dine with Spookfontein This series of Wine & Dine events each features a local wine estate and this month the spotlight is on Spookfontein wines, paired with entertainment and a lavish four-course meal of carefully-selected dishes prepared by the Caledon Hotel’s Executive Chef, Casper Pieters. Tickets to the Wine & Dine experience cost R275 pp and there is also an enticing ‘stay & dine’ package available for R1 550, which includes the Wine & Dine experience, accommodation and breakfast the next morning for two people. Book your tickets at www.tsogosun.com The Caledon Hotel & Spa | 19:00

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make a fresh start – come for a fun session! There is no charge and balls and tea will be provided. If there is a good response, this could become a regular session at the Hermanus Tennis Club. For further information, contact Heather on 083 265 2777 or just come along.

Hermanus Sports Club, Jose Burman Drive | 07:30 – 09:30 Bhuki Café During the month of February, Hermanus Library invites you to spread love and kindness to book lovers by buying them a cup of coffee at the Bhuki Café, every Friday morning.

‘Buy a Cappuccino for your Valentino’ costs R15 and includes two biscuits.

There is also the option of purchasing a coffee token anonymously at the library counter on any day of the week.

Simply provide the person’s contact details and the library staff will call them for you, so that they may collect and redeem their token. The funds generated will enable the library to buy new books.

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

Onrus Dutch Reformed Church | 09:30 – 11:30 Great Railway Journeys U3A Overberg continues its popular

www.thevillagenews.co.za/whatson

series on fascinating railway journeys to remote and unexpected places.

The title of this week’s session is Railroad to Mandalay.

Catholic Church Hall | 10:00

THE S O U T H

A F R I C A

VALENTINES ON THE DECK COMPLEMENTARY WELCOME DRINK MCC BOTTLE + 4 OYSTERS PLATTER Valentine’s DayOPTIONS Bubbly(FOR 2): CHEESE PLATTER Celebrate Valentine’s Day at HermaBREWERS BOARD COMBO OF THE nus’s trendiest wine barABOVE with their all-day bubbly specialTABLE – buy one glass DESSERTS and get the second one free. Stay for LIVE BAND a meal and enjoy the vibrant vibe as you wind down your week and ease into the weekend.

Per Couple Bookings essential The Wine Glass, 23164626 Harbour Rd | 028 10:00 - 23:00Limited tables available

R550

Valentine's Day Sunset Visit Enjoy a unique evening with your loved one as the sun sets and the cats come alive after a long day of rest.

Sunset is a magical time at Panthera Africa, when you may hear and even see the lions roar! Only for people 16 years and older. The cost is R450 pp and pre-booking is essential.

Duration: 2 hours. Panthera Africa is a non-profit company and all proceeds from ticket sales go towards the animals and creating a better life for them. For more info visit www. pantheraafrica.com Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary, near Stanford | 17:30

Friday

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

Meet every Friday morning at the beginning of Rotary Way. For more information contact Charlyn on 082 558 8731 or charlynvosloo@gmail. com Rotary Way | 06:15 for 06:30 – 08:30 Tennis for 'Returning Ladies' Calling all ladies who haven’t played tennis for a while and would like to

quirky and catchy Whela (Kapela) was released in 2017 and created a stir in the Cape Town music industry.

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

Ulumbaza Wine Bar(n) @Springfontein Wine Estate | from 18:00 Valentine’s Day Dinner Experience Treat the special person in your life to a romantic dinner at the Moody Lagoon Restaurant, where Benguela Cove’s Chef Annie Badenhorst has carefully crafted a five-course menu.

Each dish has been perfectly paired with Cellar Master Johann Fourie’s selected cool-climate coastal wines to give you and your partner an evening to remember. The cost is R550 pp and booking is essential. Contact info@benguelacove.co.za or 087 357 0637. The menu can be viewed at www.benguelacove.co.za/valentines-day-dinner-experience Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate | from 18:00 Valentine’s Day Dinner at The Marine Celebrate the most romantic day of the year with The Marine’s special ‘We found Love in the Valley’ MCC pairing dinner. Showcasing the Hemel-en-Aarde’s finest bubblies, the four-course Valentine’s Day menu features Tuna Tataki, Smoked Salmon Mousse, Seared Duck Breast and Dark Chocolate Marquise paired with the finest MCC by Domaine des Dieux, Creation and Sumaridge. The cost is R545 pp and bookings can be made by contacting 028 313 1000 or bookings@themarine.co.za.

The Marine Hotel | 18:30

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

Saturday

Hermanus parkrun Meet for the weekly 5 km timed walk or run, come rain or shine. Run for your own enjoyment at your own pace. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome. There are also parkruns in Betty’s Bay (Harold

Porter Botanical Garden) and Groeneweide (near Franskraal). Register online at www.parkrun.co.za Camphill Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley | 08:00 Hermanus Country Market A favourite among the locals. Young, old, two-legged and four-legged family members are all welcome. You’ll find wholesome goodies, homemade crafts, local produce, beers and wine, speciality foods, coffee and live music.

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

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

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

St Peter’s Church, Main Road, Hermanus | 09:00 – 13:00 Stanford Saturday Morning Market Come and sample the artisanal delights on display, from home-made sheep and goats’ cheeses to cured meats, farm-fresh vegetables and deli delights to tantalise your taste buds!

Stanford Hotel Stoep | 09:00 – 12:00 Gansbaai Farmers Market Specialising in organic, homemade and homegrown products such as fresh farm produce, oven-fresh

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

With more than 30 different stalls providing local wine, craft beer, arts & crafts and artisanal foods. Visitors can greet the steam train on the platform or view its arrival from the upstairs viewing deck. There’s live music throughout the weekend, and plenty of activities to keep children entertained, such as a jungle gym, roundabout, and even indoor and outdoor climbing walls. The market is open Saturdays and Sundays, and the coffee shop with free workspace is open during the week from 09:00 – 17:00.

Oak Avenue, Elgin | 09:00 – 17:00 (Sat & Sun) Talk on Frogs and Tadpoles The Kogelberg branch of the Botanical Society of SA invites you to their February talk by Alan Channing titled Frogs and Tadpoles of the Betty's Bay area. Alan Channing is a zoologist specialising in African amphibians.

Apart from scientific publications, he has authored or co-authored four books, including The tadpoles of Africa and Field Guide to the Frogs and other amphibians of Africa. He retired from the University of the Western Cape but continues to research amphibians. All are welcome and entry is free (donations welcome). Come early to enjoy a glass of wine and a chat.

Nivenia Hall, Harold Porter Botanical Garden, Betty’s Bay | 17:30 for 18:00 Champagne Valentine’s Day Breakfast Support the Hermanus Frail Care Centre (Sofca) in caring for the elderly by buying a ticket to this wonderful annual fundraiser. The champagne breakfast will be served at long tables that seat seven people and you can book as many seats as you like. Tickets at R130 pp are available from the Sofca office at 1 Hospital Rd,

Hermanus (Tel: 028 312 3236) or via email at jennievorster@gmail.com.

Sofca, 1 Hospital Rd, Hermanus | 10:00 Federweisser Day Every year, at the early stages of harvest when their delicious Chenin juices start fermenting, the Beaumont family celebrates this short but sweet period of feathery white, aromatic wine – the Federweisser. As tradition demands, these lightly alcoholic nectars will be paired with home-made Flammkuchen and gelato ice-cream.

The day will also include a tasting of the Beaumont Family Wines range.

Children are welcome to use the fabulous new farm playground. Tickets are R150 for adults and R90 for children. Contact 028 284 9194.

Beaumont Family Wines, Botrivier | 10:00 – 15:00

Rocking the Lagoon Enjoy a trip down memory lane at this Rock ‘n Roll concert on the edge of the Bot River lagoon. You’ll be entertained by Cloud 9 as they rock you through the ages from the ’60s to the ’80s with music from the likes of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Status Quo, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Moody Blues, Chuck Berry, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Eagles, Elvis, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and AC-DC. Tickets at R200 per adult (R100 for kids aged 4 – 12 and free entry for U4s) are available from www.webtickets.co.za, in-store at Pick n Pay or the Benguela Cove gift shop. Tasty gourmet hot dogs, cheese and charcuterie boards, delicious wines and refreshments will be available. For more information, contact 087 357 0637 or info@ benguelacove.co.za.

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate | 17:00 – 20:00 Folks Album Launch Join Takura Terry for the launch of his new album, which fuses his original folk sound with a bit of Afro. This is a great opportunity for fans of Takura’s music to gain a better understanding of his songs. There will be special

performances of the whole album, followed by a bit of a party with DJ Kim. Best of all, this event is free!

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

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Sunday

Afternoon of Musicals Overstrand Arts/Kunste (OAK) presents soprano Lynelle Kenned, who is a multi-disciplinary performing artist, TV presenter, corporate MC, actress and media personality. She’ll be accompanied by Elna van der Merwe on piano as she wows the audience with her beautiful voice, performing songs from well-loved musicals such as Quando m’en vo, Voi che sapete, Summertime, I feel pretty, Think of me, and others. Tickets at R150 pp (R60 for students) are available from the Hermanus Tourism Office in Mitchell Street (Tel: 028 312 2629). For enquiries, contact OAK secretary René du Plooy on 082 940 4238.

Municipal Auditorium | 15:30

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Monday

All about trees!

Join the Kogelberg Garden Circle on their next outing to the Harold Porter Gardens to hear presentations on trees and observe the new growth after the fire up towards Disa Kloof.

Tim Attwell will talk about his tree experiments in his treeless, sandy garden and Ebraime Hull, one of Harold Porter Gardens’ very knowledgeable horticultural staff members, will be sharing his unforgettable tour of tree wonders from Cape Town to Mozambique. Remember to bring your BotSoc membership cards or R30 for entry. For enquiries, contact Rea Borcherds 072 238 8144.

Meet at Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, Betty’s Bay | 09:00 Quilters’ Guild meeting Anyone with a passion for quilting is welcome to join the Overberg Quilters’ Guild at their monthly meeting. For enquiries, call Elize

on 082 374 1533.

De Wet Hall, Roos St, Onrus | 09:00 for 09:30 Understanding Japan The last session of U3A Overberg’s 4-week DVD series on the cultural history of Japan covers Japan during the Tokugawa Shogunate and Japanese Theatre: Noh and Kabuki.

Catholic Church Hall | 10:00 HAC Annual General Meeting Join the Hermanus Astronomy Centre for its AGM. For more information, contact petermh@hermanus.co.za or 081 212 9481.

Our Lady of Light Catholic Church, Lord Roberts St, Hermanus | 19:00

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Wednesday

Hermanus Bird Club AGM Join the club for its annual general meeting, which will include a short presentation by John Saunders titled Birds on Flags. Non-members are welcome to attend but will not be permitted to vote on the revised Constitution or the election of a new committee. Contact John on 078 955 9785 for any further information.

Fernkloof Hall | 18:00 for 18:30

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Wednesday

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Saturday

Tuesday

Whale Coast Conservation Talk Have you ever wondered where the water will come from to supply the huge influx of people into Hermanus and surrounds? Guest speaker Dylan Blake, an associate and principal geologist at Umvoto Africa who is currently working towards his MSc on the Table Mountain group aquifers, is just the person to shed light on the subject of The Hydrogeology of Hermanus. Specialising in groundwater assessments and the project management of borehole drilling contracts, Dylan has gained significant experience in the geology and hydrogeology of the Cape.

The Green House, R43 Vermont | 17:30

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Sprint Triathlon: 500m Swim /12km MTB / 5km Trail Run; Junior Triathlon (Ages 7–13): 200m Swim / 5km MTB / 2km Run or Kids Triathlon (Ages 3–6): 100m Swim or Wade / 500m Cycle or Push bike / 300m Run or Walk. Register at the Grabouw Country Club on Friday between 17:00 and 19:00, or on Saturday morning from 06:30 – 08:00. Tickets are available online at scuttle.co.za Grabouw Country Club | from 08:00

Saturday

Cross Tri Challenge Experience the pristine waters of the Eikenhof Dam and the world-renowned trails of the Grabouw Country Club like never before. Choose between the Full Triathlon: 1 000m Swim / 21km MTB / 8km Trail Run;

MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY

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Robert Semer joins the Hermanus branch We are delighted to welcome Robert Semer back to our stable of experienced Pam Golding Properties agents in Hermanus.

With over 17 years’ experience in property sales, Robert has priceless insights into the factors affecting property values, having lived here for the last 27 years.

Please feel free to pop in for a chat at our office, 171 Main Road, Hermanus. or contact Robert on 082 535 9126, or robert.semer@pamgolding.co.za.

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12 February 2020

Are you fitter than a nonagenarian?

H

ermanus’s renowned fynbos specialist and conservationist Frank Woodvine realised a cherished ambition recently: when he reached his 90th birthday, he would test himself by attempting to climb to Aasvoëlkop, the highest point in Fernkloof Nature Reserve.

Having reached that landmark age on 14 January, Frank was ready to go. But the spell of hot summer days that followed would have made the climb too demanding, even for a much younger person. He waited

Frank on the path leading to Galpin Hut, still below the mist.

until cooler and cloudy weather was forecasted for Friday 31 January – and the date was set.

The next consideration was to decide on the most suitable route.

Approaching Aasvoëlkop directly from the centre of Fernkloof Nature Reserve entails a very steep and arduous climb. An alternative route from Rotary Way and along the high ground would have been a very long walk. The best way would be to approach from the Hemel-en-Aarde side.

After driving to the farm boundary of the Hamilton Russell Estate, Frank set off on his walk, which started with a fairly steep initial approach before continuing at a more gentle gradient and intersecting with the footpath to Galpin Hut. At this higher elevation the landscape was completely enveloped in mist, with very few landmarks for the untrained eye.

During his 20-year tenure as Curator of Fernkloof it was Frank himself who had surveyed and established many of the paths in

ABOVE: A tired but delighted Frank after reaching the survey beacon at the top of Aasvoëlkop. CIRCLE: Despite the thick mist, Frank easily found his way along the paths he knows so well.

Fernkloof, so in spite of the lack of visibility he always knew exactly where he was.

The Hermanus Botanical Society works together with Overstrand Municipality, which is responsible for the reserve. Frank has been a member of the Hermanus Botanical Society for 44 years and still assists them with documenting the flora, maintaining the paths and removing invasive alien plants.

The hope was to meet members of the Botanical Society who were on a survey to find a rare orchid but, although Frank could hear their voices in the mist, the opportunity to share in his triumph was not to be.

The only witnesses were a long-time

forestry friend who tagged along as sherpa, and a solitary boulder at Sculptured Corner where Frank stopped to rest.

The final steep section was taken 10 steps at a time, but a triumphant Frank reached the top, fulfilling his personal challenge and becoming, in all probability, the oldest person ever to have stood on that summit.

Unfortunately, the mist persisted so the spectacular 360o view from the top, which takes in the town of Hermanus, Walker Bay, the Hemel-enAarde Valley, Babylonstoring, Maanskynkop and Klein River Estuary, and stretches all the way to Danger Point, Betty’s Bay, the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Hottentots Holland, Fran-

schhoek and Stellenbosch Mountains, could not be appreciated.

The trip back down went a lot faster and Frank returned to his vehicle six hours after he’d set off. This inspiring demonstration of determination and stamina should be an inspiration to us all.

Hopefully, Frank’s remarkable achievement will encourage people to follow his example and enjoy the world-famous scenic beauty and biodiversity of the Fernkloof Nature Reserve. You may even be lucky enough to get Frank to guide you and explain the many botanical treasures, each with its own story.

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– Julie Woodvine

Love is patient, love is kind...

M

ost of us equate Valentine’s Day with romantic candlelit dinners with our one and only. And that is quite right. But sometimes it is necessary to focus beyond that which is sold to us via mass marketing.

Here is a challenge to you to find an opportunity to demonstrate true love by searching for a way to perform a random act of kindness as evidence of your love for others.

As the Bible says: Love is patient; Love is kind; Love does not envy; Love does not boast; Love is not proud; Love does not dishonour others; Love is not self-seeking; Love is not easily angered; Love keeps no record of wrongs; Love does not delight in evil; Love rejoices with the truth; Love always protects; Love always trusts;

Love always hopes; Love always perseveres; Love never fails.

It is possible to write a story on each of the 16 characteristics of love but, space not permitting, let us just encourage you this Valentine’s Day to at least focus on “Love is Kind.”

Here are some suggestions of random acts of kindness: • Look up a forgotten friend; • Write a note of appreciation to someone; • Hug someone and tell them you love them; • Forgive an enemy; • Encourage a child; • Keep a promise; • Bake some cookies for someone; • Spend an hour listening to a lonely person; • Speak kindly to a stranger; • Smile at people for a day; • Take a leisurely walk with a friend; • Apologise for a wrong; • Talk with the TV off; • Volunteer to do the dishes; • Treat someone to an ice cream; • Fix breakfast Saturday morning; • Buy someone flowers;

• Encourage a lonely widow or widower; • Visit a stranger in the hospital; • Invite someone to share tea and cake with you after church; • Tell a person what you most appreciate about them; • Offer to babysit for a weary mother; • Make a meal for a family with illness; • Go keep someone company at an old age home.

While this may not be traditional Valentine’s advice, it may have the power to change someone’s life or at least bring some hope during the month of love – and support a local restaurant and flower shop.

Fun facts on Valentine's Day • The oldest record of a valentine was a poem Charles, Duke of Orleans wrote to his wife when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415.

• Hallmark was one of the first to mass produce a Valentine’s Day card, way back in 1913.

• About 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year, making this the second largest seasonal card

sending time of the year.

• In the Middle Ages, youngsters drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They would wear this name pinned onto their sleeves for one week for everyone to see. This was the origin of the expression 'to wear your heart on your sleeve.'

• Diamond retailer, James Allen found in 2017 that

43% of millennials chose Valentine's Day as their top choice of day to propose or be proposed to.

• The first Valentine's Day box of chocolates was introduced

by Richard Cadbury in 1868.

• Every year, around 9 million people buy their pets a Valentine’s Day gift.

• Many believe that the 'X' symbol became synonymous with the kiss in medieval times. People who couldn't write their names signed in front of a witness with an

'X', which was then kissed to show their sincerity.

• Physicians of the 1800s commonly advised their patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining for lost love.

• A kiss on Valentine’s Day is considered to bring good luck all year.

• In the United States, consumers buy over 58 million pounds of chocolate.

• The gift most given on Valentine's Day is sweets, followed by flowers and cards.

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MY WELLNESS Youthful Living

12 February 2020

Dr Arien van der Merwe is a medical doctor specialising in natural medicine, herbal remedies, stress management and holistic health counselling. Address: 16 Hope Street (c/o Dirkie Uys & Hope St), Hermanus. Website: www.DrArien.co.za

The green way to health Ginkgo biloba, on the other hand, is great for mild depression, to lower high blood pressure, improve concentration and memory, and can be used together with a prescription antidepressant. I would prescribe this to patients, while I support them throughout the process of gradually tapering their prescription antidepressants should they wish to do so. Ginkgo biloba has also been well researched for its efficacy in improving memory, concentration and blood supply to the heart, brain and extremities.

umans and plants have been evolving together for millennia.

We know each other: nature connects to every one of our 50 trillion cells. Plants work on a cellular level to repair and balance our own physiology, while alleviating symptoms. Plants therefore have few side effects if used correctly and appropriately. This is the major difference between mainstream and natural medicine.

three characteristics and these can be used freely. When you add herbs and spices to your food, you not only improve the taste and aroma of the dish, but you and your family are benefiting from the healing properties of the herbs. When you put a bunch of fresh lavender or roses in your home, you brighten your space, but also enhance your mood with the specific properties of these flowers.

We sometimes forget that most mainstream medicines originally came from plants. Plants cannot be patented. Therefore, some active ingredients were isolated once technology developed, and these were then patented, while natural herbal remedies were maligned and fell out of favour. Now warnings around the dangers of herbal remedies abound!

Garlic, ginger, turmeric, thyme, rosemary, basil and sage are herbs with a wealth of healing properties, acting mostly as anti-inflammatories – they also improve the taste, flavour and texture of most foods. Grow your own herbs and use them generously in food or take them as a tea.

However, it is mostly the prescription or OTC (over-the-counter) drugs that are bumped off the cell receptors because our cells recognise and prefer plants. Therefore, the medications accumulate and cause more side effects, and not the herbal remedies. We often forget that our natural state is to be healthy! Once this natural state is restored, health shines through.

Essential oils of lavender, camomile, orange blossom and rose geranium can be added to a bath to relieve stress and anxiety. These herbs can also be taken as a tea, as well as hibiscus flowers, sage and rosehip.

By Dr Arien van der Merwe

H

Herbs are fresh plants (root, flowers, seeds, leaves or all of the above) with healing or medicinal (botanical medicine), aromatic and culinary properties. Most herbs and spices have all

From left are Anri van Rooyen (holistic health coach and partner in Ariani Health Solutions), Dr Arien van der Merwe (medical doctor specialising in natural medicine and founder of Ariani Health Solutions), Mariette van Niekerk (reception and admin) and Paddy Wallington (Weight Control Clinic nurse) in front of The Green Healing Space in Hope Street, Hermanus.

Echinacea, garlic, nasturtium flowers and leaves, camomile, sage and thyme are natural antibiotics which also support the immune system.

I believe in supporting the immune system to do what it is supposed to do, and that is to protect the body against all disease-causing agents.

I advise against reacting in fear to a viral threat such as the Coronavirus, because the fear itself suppresses the immune system! And please remember that antibiotics are not effective against viruses at all. I therefore recommend Echinacea drops twice a day, for two days before traveling to the Far East, while away, and for seven days after your return. Echinacea is effective against viruses, bacteria and parasites (e.g. malaria).

Only a few general examples are mentioned here. More herbs are discussed in my book (also available as eBook) Health and Happiness and on my website (www.DrArien.co.za), where specific herbs are recommended to support different systems of the body.

Also read about Medical Cannabis (Parts 1 and 2) on the website if you’re interested to know more about this

and our marvellous Endocannabinoid System (ECS) and how to enhance its function through many herbal remedies.

Herbs with medicinal properties specifically, can improve our health and wellbeing, while restoring physiological function to the systems of the body. Although herbs are natural, the ones with mostly medicinal value must be used circumspectly, and some herbs are not always safe to take together with prescription medicine.

An example is St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum), which is excellent for mild to moderate depression, but cannot be taken together with prescription antidepressants, because the prescribed medication then becomes potentially more harmful.

The increased interest in the use of medicinal herbs does not mean that we always understand exactly how they work. Plants are complex creations and forces of nature, where most active ingredients haven’t even been identified, and understandably, these compounds work together synergistically inside the plant. A herbal remedy therefore, is always much more complex than the use of single active ingredients.

There is not enough information and research on the interaction of prescription drugs with one another, let alone the interaction between prescription drugs and herbs. Herbs are combinations of many ingredients. Do not randomly mix herbs with over-the-counter and prescription medication. If you are uncertain, consult someone who is knowledgeable about herbal remedies as well as prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Having said that, most herbs are beneficial and improve general health because they support our physiology naturally, gently and effectively.

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12 February 2020

Mon - Fri: 08h00 to 17h00 Sat: 08h00 to 13h00 Tel: 028 316 1532 | 028 316 4122 Hemel & Aarde Village, Hermanus, 7200

Let’s hand it to you this Valentine’s!

By Lindi Prinsloo & Dr Michelle Emett, Refine Clinic Hermanus

Slowly, our elasticity declines as the tightly-knit network of fibres under the skin begins to loosen. The skin at the back of the hands becomes loose and begins to sag. The development of wrinkles or lines is also common.

Collagen Induction Therapies: are the best option to tighten skin on the hands through various treatments like Fraxel or Dermapen (skin needling).

These treatments stimulate the skin to produce more collagen and elastin, leading to long-term firming of the skin.

H

ave you ever heard the saying, “If you want to really know a woman’s age, look at her hands”? The hands are often amongst the first areas of the body that show off old age.

They are also highly visible in almost everything we do in daily life. One can hide a few extra kilograms with clever clothing and well-applied make-up can make you look years younger, but neglected hands will certainly give away your age. In fact, your hands should get as much attention as your facial care to help prevent the tell-tale signs of ageing.

Hand ageing is characterised by a loss of tissue volume and elasticity of the skin, which can increase the visibility of tendons, veins, and bones on the back of the hand. Additionally, years of exposure to UV rays and other free radicals cause the skin on the hands to appear spotted, dull, wrinkled, and/ or crêpey.

The good news is that there are many great ways to address hand ageing.

The following hand rejuvenation treatment options are grouped according to the specific ageing symptom they address:

Sun damage / Dullness / Roughness The tone and texture of the hands can degrade after years of accumulated exposure to the various elements like radiation from the sun, cold winter temperatures, or pollution. Most individuals will start to notice the accumulation of sunspots and sun damage as early as their late 30s. The skin along the back of the hands can also appear dull and be rough to the touch.

Fraxel: is a non-invasive laser treatment that causes sloughing of the outermost layers of the skin to improve both skin texture and tone.

The procedure can also minimise the appearance of sunspots on the skin.

Chemical Hand Peel: is a great way to lighten sunspots and refresh the skin. Peels are topically applied formulas that revitalize the skin surface by creating an even and controlled shedding of the skin cells. This allows new layers to be exposed, creating a fresh appearance and smoother texture to the skin surface.

IPL: uses precise amounts of visible light to effectively treat pigmentation and sun damage.

Loose skin / Wrinkles Over time the skin on the hands (and all other areas of the body) experiences a decrease in the production of collagen and elastin, two proteins that help the skin stay plump and firm.

Bony hands and Protruding veins Normal ageing causes the fat and other tissue below the skin to deplete.

This volume loss results in skeletal-looking hands as the bones and tendons of the hand become more prominent. The only way to correct volume loss is to replace it. The normal ageing process results in both the loss of camouflaging tissue and the darkening of veins. This results in another common characteristic of ‘granny hands’: the appearance of unsightly spider veins.

Dermal Fillers: Dermal fillers can instantly replace volume, masking tendons and bones on the back of the hands. These fillers have been approved by the FDA for effectively and safely restoring lost volume to the hands. The procedure is relatively painless, requires no downtime, and

results last for up to one year.

Dry, crêpey skin The skin on our hands is thinner, constantly exposed to the weather, water, soap and all sorts of chemicals that could result in dehydration and visible signs of ageing. Our ‘magic’ Skinboosting Machine will hydrate and plump up the skin, with immediately visible effect. Results will improve even more over the next few months as the skin’s collagen production increases. The use of a very fine filler will give you a smooth, hydrated finish.

What do we recommend?

Any facial treatment you are using to improve the signs of ageing, whether it is a chemical peel, IPL, laser or needling, should be used for your hands as well. Ask your therapist to extend your treatment to include your hands – and at a much-reduced price if it’s done in the same treatment!

As Valentine’s Day approaches, we at Refine would like to ‘hand you’ a Hand Rejuvenation Workshop on 20 February. Make a booking for a hand rejuvenating filler from R3 000 and receive a Neostrata to the value of R650 absolutely free. Booking is essential as limited space is available. Call Refine to secure your place and spoil your hands this Valentine’s month!

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12 February 2020

MY HOME

Six myths that may hinder a property sale A

lthough improving, the property market remains largely favourable to buyers while sellers must compete for the limited pool of buyers in a market which is generally still overstocked. While pricing is important in any market, it is especially so in this market, says Samuel Seeff, chairman of the Seeff Property Group.

He says that any property sale involves competing interests. Firstly, that of the seller who wants to achieve the highest possible price and secondly, the buyer who wants to pay the lowest possible price.

Since the listing process starts with the asking price, the seller will often think that setting the price at the highest possible level will get you better offers closer to the desired price.

In reality, says Seeff, there is simply no evidence showing that a higher asking price will result in a higher selling price; it actually has the opposite effect by putting buyers off from the outset. There is a psychology to pricing and the consumer’s mindset about price can make or break a sale. A New York

Times report states that “in a market where buyers and sellers circle one another warily, each certain that he or she is being taken advantage of, no matter what the conclusion of a deal, the asking price of a property is rarely a straightforward reflection of comparable values.”

It says that sellers often start at a point which equates to “wishful thinking” and even when the seller and agent finally reach a point of consensus, it is often still slightly above the ideal price level. Buyers, on the other hand, simply love a bargain and will always look to deconstruct the price, not just in terms of how it represents fair value, but they will actively look for vulnerabilities.

In this climate, says Seeff, the role of an experienced local area agent becomes pivotal as they know the area, what is on the market and what has sold and for how much.

With an eye on the market and nose to the ground, such an agent will offer guidance to ensure that your property is not standing out like a sore thumb with an out-of-kilter

price, but that it is also not competing at the same price level as every other property on the market.

Setting the price at the right level can mean the difference between getting a quick offer and drawing little interest, which may result in having to drop your price to get an offer. Seeff says there are many pricing myths which can stand in the way of a successful sale and highlights six of the most common misconceptions: 1. A high price leaves room to negotiate Nope. Seeff says this is a weak strategy which will have the opposite effect. Today’s buyers are informed and aware of market conditions and prices. They will simply overlook an overpriced property in favour of those which are correctly priced.

This could mean that you may have to make price cuts, which in turn could attract bargain hunters rather than serious offers.

2. The news says the market and prices are up With so much written about the market, often by people who are

not local experts, it is easy for sellers to get caught up in the hype of rising prices. Many sellers also look at the property portals which are generally overpriced. It is best to trust your agent who will use local area sales to advise on the appropriate asking price.

3. Renovations and improvements will get a higher price Renovations do not equal a higher price. While some improvement of an older property may well be advised, you should take care not to overspend and overcapitalise.

Always consult a local agent and do a ‘cost versus value’ analysis before embarking on renovations.

4. A quick offer means the agent priced too low Not at all, says Seeff. The objective of selling is to get a good offer as quickly as possible. Receiving an offer soon after listing means that the property is on the market at the right price to attract buyer interest.

If you appoint a credible agent, they will not risk their reputation on giv-

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ing you incorrect pricing advice.

5. Let’s wait for a better offer Research has shown that the first offer is often the best, as it is based on the value that buyers attach to the property. Sellers tend to be skeptical at first, thinking that the buyer is trying to make a quick bargain buy.

If it is a fair offer, you should always consider it. There are no guarantees that another offer might come along, especially in this market.

6. Reducing the price will entice bargain hunters While no seller or agent would want to be in this position, there may come a time when it seems that the market is just not reacting to a particular asking price. In such an instance, if you need to, or are motivated to sell, your agent may advise a price drop.

Remember, time is money and the longer your property is on the market, the more it costs in bond repayments, utility costs and so on. Lowering the price could even result in a better offer.

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12 February 2020

MY SPORT

Beach box – the natural science of movement Writer & Photographer Sarah Taylor

T

he training schedule for young members of the Overstrand Whale Boxing Club (OWBC) has notched up a level, with free two-hour classes offered by natural movement and performance coach André Oelofse.

ABOVE: André Oelofse puts teen members of the OWBC through their paces on Grotto Beach. From left are Athi Damesi and Thandile Bosman, and Siphamandla Damesi and Mabini Kasi.

LEFT: Natural movement and performance coach André Oelofse rolls with the punches from Overstrand Whale Boxing Club (OWBC) champion, 16-year-old Akhule Mgoqi, during a free, multi-disciplinary physical training session for the Zwelihle club’s members on Grotto Beach. An expert in pilates, boxing, T’ai Chi Chuan and natural movement, André made the charitable gesture to assist OWBC coach Mzi Damesi in his training of 40 young boxers, ranging in age from 9–25 years.

André’s sessions promote balance within the autonomic nervous system, regulating nervous tension, the cardiovascular system, weight, and energy. He aims to promote greater mobility, agility, grace and a sense of calm within his students.

Speaking after the first two Grotto Beach training sessions in the last month, André said: “It is inspiring to work with youngsters who want to learn and are motivated. Most importantly, they listen! They have a beautiful spirit. They’re alive and they are disciplined!”

Fluid movement is a hallmark of André’s approach to physical and mental training and this is where his expertise in Pilates, boxing, T’ai Chi Chuan and natural movement combine seamlessly to create a fitness routine that packs a power-punch.

He was exposed to movement and sports from birth: his mother was a prima ballerina with the Royal Academy in London. His father was a professional soccer player, playing for Chelsea for five years in the early 1950s before joining the Springbok South African National Soccer Team.

For André, his life’s journey is about unearthing a structured syllabus targeting the nervous system, substantiating and teaching how one can neutralise excess nervous energy, stay calm and perform under pressure.

“If you observe the nature of water, it has a rhythmic fluidity, structure and strength. But it also has a softness.

Because our bodies comprise almost 80% water, it makes sense that we should move more like water. Wild animals still have that fluidity. Around the age of seven, we lose this ability to move optimally. Re-learning this is challenging due to all the mental interference we experience in the highly pressurised battlefield of daily life.

“If we move optimally, we enter what is our inherent state, free of mental interference and other pressures. When there is any kind of pressure or urgency in life, it is very important how we move our bodies. The thinking brain doesn’t help us to move properly. It makes us too defensive. Moving from the spine is key to moving with fluidity. I teach people to trust their bodies under pressure, to improve their performance. When we move optimally, the thinking brain doesn’t interfere. It should be there for strategy but not movement.”

André has teamed up with UCT sport scientist Dr Laurie Rauch as partners in their ‘Calm in the Storm SA’ teachings.

André approaches this work based on the practice and nature of movement, while the science of movement is Laurie’s expertise. Their work combines ancient martial art teachings, modern day science and pioneering research.

André says he is privileged to help nurture the young talent of the OWBC, supporting all the endeavours of their coach Mzi Damesi and aspirations of the club. “I am passionate about sharing my teachings with these incredibly dedicated individuals, enabling them to perform optimally under pressure through demonstrating a natural rhythmic movement through the spine.

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Sixteen-year-old boxer Nambita ‘Cassandra’ Mbatha takes on coach André Oelofse.

“In this way, I help them achieve the correct chemical balance within the brain, promote deep relaxation and composure while under immense pressure, and discover optimal trust in their own bodies, enabling them to better fulfil their true potential and heartfelt dreams.”

If you would like to donate money or equipment to the OWBC, contact Carole Dods on 082 890 5749 or 028 313 2769. See also the club’s Facebook page (Overstrand Whale Boxing Club).

For further info on natural movement and performance classes, contact André Oelofse on 083 527 5305 or andre@bodytechnology.co.za or visit calminthestormsa.com

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MY SPORT

12 February 2020

Share your sport news with us! Send it to admin@thevillagenews.co.za and we will gladly consider it, whether it be competition results, a friendly rivalry, a once-off feat or a major tournament.

The greatest ambassador for tennis By Tony O'Hagan

Roger Federer (left) with his mom Lynette and Rafael Nadal on the Grande Parade in Cape Town.

PHOTO: Esa Alexander

T

he whole country was gripped by Federer fever as the all-time tennis great arrived last week for the Match in Africa showdown against Rafael Nadal at Cape Town Stadium on Friday evening. Other celebrities who participated in this huge charity event were Bill Gates and Trevor Noah.

Federer’s mother, Lynette, reportedly said that watching her son in action on her home soil was “a dream come true”. And it appears that the South African genes she passed on to her son had more than a little to do with Roger’s success.

In an interview with SA People News, Roger Federer’s father, Robert says that Roger inherited his athletic gifts from his mother, who he admits is a better tennis player and golfer than he. Lynette (neé Durand) grew up in an Afrikaans-speaking family in Johannesburg and was a top athlete at school, competing in several sports, including hockey, before she had to quit because of a leg injury.

Robert met Lynette on a holiday in South Africa.

They relocated to Basel in Switzerland, married in 1973 and had two children, Roger and older sister, Diana. Lynette remembers Roger, as a young boy with a racquet and ball hitting against the garage wall for hours on end.

Roger credits his family trips back to South Africa during his childhood, as an inspiration to start the Roger Federer Foundation when he was just 22 years old. He wanted to share his success with those less fortunate. His motivation to give back “comes from the values of my parents and me, when I was a young boy in SA, seeing that Switzerland is different to SA and that you can have a big impact if you do it the right way”.

The Roger Federer Foundation has raised millions of dollars since first formed in Port Elizabeth in 2003. The monies raised have been spent in providing access to education for young disadvantaged children in six African

countries. Much of these monies have been raised via Matches for Africa, similar to the one played in Cape Town over the weekend against great rival and good friend, Rafael Nadal. The Cape Town event, the sixth of its kind, raised $3.5 million for the Foundation, attracting a record crowd of just under 52 000 spectators.

This eclipsed the previous record attendance of 42 000 at a single match played in Mexico City.

Since May 2004, citing his close ties with South Africa via his mother’s country of birth, Federer has also been supporting the South African-Swiss charity IMBEWU, which helps children better connect to sport as well as social health awareness. Federer credits much of his success on and off the court to his mother, Lynette and to the family trips back to her homeland of South Africa when he was growing up. His mother loves accompanying him “back to my home country” to visit the crèches in Limpopo province where his foundation has partnered with READ Education Trust since 2010.

Roger Federer’s success on court has been well documented. A living legend with, to date, the

most Grand Slams (20) in history for a male player. Many consider him the greatest tennis player of all time and the greatest athlete of his generation. He has been given many nicknames, including ‘Fed Express’ or ‘Fedex’, ‘King Roger’ and ‘GOAT’ (Greatest Of All Time).

He has also received multiple awards and accolades away from the courts. In September 2011, in a South African poll, Federer was voted the second most trusted and respected person in the world after Nelson Mandela. In 2016, Federer ranked No.1 in the list of most recognised people in Switzerland, surpassing personalities such as Albert Einstein and William Tell. He has been voted by his peers to receive the tour Sportsmanship Award a record 13 times and voted by tennis fans to receive the ATP Fans’ Favourite for a record 17 consecutive years. He has won the Laureus World Sportsman of The Year Award a record five times. In 2017, Federer was named the most Marketable Person by researchers at the London School of Marketing. In 2017, Federer was awarded an honorary doctorate by his home University of Basel, in recognition for increasing the international reputation of Basel and Switzerland. It was also awarded for the work done in Africa through his Foundation. In December 2019, Federer became the first living person to be celebrated on Swiss coins. His face is on the 20 franc coin and in May 2020, the Swiss mint plans to issue a Federer 50 franc gold coin featuring a different design.

Federer is set to become the fourth billionaire athlete and the first tennis player. He will join this club, together with Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Floyd Mayweather. According to Forbes this could happen in 2020. His annual earnings in 2019 amounted to $93.4m, primarily from annual endorsements such as Uniqlo ($30 million), Möet & Chandon ($6 million), Mercedes ($5 million) and Rolex ($2 million).

Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slams may be surpassed but he will surely remain the greatest ambassador for tennis, both on and off the court.

12 February 2020

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MY SPORT

On the Greens

By Willem Lindeque Hello Golfers

Firstly, congratulations to all the winners of our competitions this past week, and especially to Phillip Munro on his hole-in-one this last Saturday.

It is with sadness that we learnt that one of our members, Lance Nel passed away last week at the age of 86. An informal celebration of Lance’s life was held at the club on Tuesday 11 February.

Congratulations to Emma Privett who took part in the West Coast Canoe Challenge on 1 February. Emma raced the 10 km course and came in 16th overall. She was the first in the girls U12 age group and also achieved second place in the Ladies Open Category.

PHOTO: Cape Town Sport Photography

The children and teachers of the Hermanus Waldorf School are very excited that their admin head, Bertus van Zyl, and gardener, Charles Matiyenga will ride in the Cape Town Cycle Tour again this year to raise funds for the school.

Bertus and Charles would like to thank Jannie Nel of Village Cycles (middle) for sponsoring their shirts.

Hermanus hosted the first leg of the ICM Cup this last Saturday between Hermanus and Bredasdorp. Bredasdorp walked away with the lead and have an advantage of 13 points heading into the final leg. The return fixture will be played at Bredasdorp on 31 October. We hope our guys can make a come-from-behind victory possible.

This week I’d like to give a brief explanation of the No Play Zones, which are causing confusion to some players:

There are some penalty areas that are No Play Zones. They are marked with red stakes with green tops. These penalty areas are: • on the driving range, to the left of the 1st and 8th holes; • around the greens of holes 14, 15 and 26, and behind the 16th hole; • to the left of the 15th, 23rd, and left and right of the 26th and 27th fairways.

Balls may NOT be retrieved or played from any of these No Play Zones. A penalty of 1 stroke under the Code of Conduct for entering these areas will apply. For a ball played from these areas a 2-stroke penalty applies.

So, please take note of these red or yellow stakes that have a green top, and also inform your playing partners. These are not to be treated as normal penalty areas as per the local rules above, which are also displayed on the back of the scorecard for reference.

Happy golfing and see you at the club.

Golf results • Saturday 1 February Club Competition – 4BBB Stableford & ICM CUP; East Course Winners – 1st: JJ Du Plessis & JP Du Plessis - 48 pt, 2nd: EG Lakey & K Trollig - 47 pts; South Course Winner – 1st: John Rynell & Peter Gibson - 47 pts, 2nd: Elsa Senekal & Lynne Behagg - 46 pts; North Course Winner – 1st: Solms Beyers & Brandon Senekal - 46 pts, 2nd: John Simson & Don Adams - 45 pts • Tuesday 4 February Ladies’ Competition – Individual WGSA Meda; Silver Division – 1st: Jaqueline Clifford; 2nd: Emma Hayter; Bronze Division – 1st: Moira Stadler; 2nd: Rici Hanekom • Wednesday 5 February Men’s Competition – Individual Progressive Stableford; East Course Winner – Gerrie du Plooy - 38 pts; South Course Winner – Gerald Coates - 39 pts C/I; North Course Winner – Hennes Schreuder - 38 pts C/I

Several chess players from Generation Schools Hermanus participated in the OFC (Overberg Chess Federation) Chess Tournament in Caledon on 1 February. Special congratulations to all of the players who received medals: Trust Mapfumo (U8 first), Lyle Prinsloo (U8 second), Qiella Pieper (U8 third) and Jonas Crookes (Open second). All the learners played exceptionally well and the school is looking forward to future tournaments.

PHOTOS: Supplied by Generation Schools Hermanus

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12 February 2020

MY SPORT

Overberg athletes set new records

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earners from several high schools in the Overberg took part in the North Zone athletics trials at Hermanus High School on Saturday 8 February, to battle it out for a spot in the South Boland athletics trials, which will take place this Saturday in Grabouw.

The learners participated in a variety of track and field events such as hurdles, shot put, discus, long jump, high jump, running and javelin.

School (Zwelihle) and Umzeyo Secondary School (Grabouw).

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The day was a huge success, with 25 new records being set. Hermanus High school performed extremely well, setting 13 of the new records (hree set

by Chanté Roux, two set by Celino Peterson and two set by Jumile Lukas) and snagging 61 gold, 44 silver and 22 bronze positions.

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Some of the schools that participated were Curro Hermanus Independent School, De Rust Futura Academy (Grabouw), Gansbaai Academia, Grabouw High School, Groenberg Secondary School (Grabouw), Hawston Secondary School, Hermanus High School, Qhayiya Secondary

De Rust’s athletes set 4 new records, Grabouw High set 3 new records, and Curro Hermanus, Qhayiya Secondary, Gansbaai Academia, Groenberg and Umzeyo each set 1 new record.

The top athletes at the South Boland athletic trials on Saturday 15 February will be selected for the Boland Athletics High School Championships in the Dal Josaphat Stadium in Paarl from 21 – 22 February.

– Taylum Meyer

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1. McKayla Slabbert, a Level 3 first aider at Hermanus High, helps a runner who injured his hip.

2. Jacques Augustyn (left) and Ulrich Visagie (middle) from Gansbaai Academia compete againt Dalen Absolom (right) from De Rust, who set a new record in the U17 boys 100m hurdles.

3. Kerin Helmbold from Curro Hermanus flies ahead to win the U17 girls 100m hurdles.

4. Celino Peterson from Hermanus High set two new records in the U19 boys 100m and 200m.

5. Nadja Jasprica continued the winning streak for Curro Hermanus in the U19 girls 100m hurdles.

6. Aidan Marinus from Hawston Secondary placed second in a close race in the U19 boys 100m.

7. Jack Armando from Gansbaai Academia had a strong lead and came first in the U15 boys 800m.

8. Nadia Pieterse from Gansbaai Academia shows the skill that won her the U17 girls high jump.

9. Soné Thorpe from Hermanus High came first and set a new record for the U17 girls 200m.

10. Keaton Kiewitz from Groenberg Secondary attempts to break the U17 boys high jump record which currently stands at a height of 1.85m.

PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer 8 5

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