The Village NEWS 14 Nov-20 Nov 2018

2

Demands on land issues answered

14 NOVEMBER 2018

4

A burning issue: Preparing for ire season

VE

Five Star Platter’s wine news in Village Explorer

VE

#ALLOVEROVERBERG We’ve Got You Covered

What’s On Overberg Where to go, What to do

YOUR FREE COPY Your Number 1 stop for trailer & skip hire

4 MIMOSA ROAD, INDUSTRIAL AREA, HERMANUS TEL: 028 312 2280 • 028 312 1380 EMAIL: ccsplant@telkomsa.net 28 YEARS

PLANT, TOOL & TRAILER HIRE

The iconic South African band, Mango Groove, rocked Hermanus on Friday evening. Go to page 2 of the new-look Village Explorer for more photos.

PHOTO Taylum Meyer

Plans sought to keep R43 open Writer De Waal Steyn The appointment of a task team, consisting of councillors and members of the public, to investigate all options to ensure that R43 traic low is not compromised was agreed on Monday evening.

This was the resolution of a public meeting at the Municipal Auditorium convened by Masizole Mnqasela, Member of the Provincial Parliament

for the Overberg. The venue was illed to capacity with concerned members of the public and business owners, with many opting to stand in the back or sit on the steps in order to follow the proceedings.

According to Mnqasela, the meeting was a follow-up to the stakeholders’ meetings that were started during the riots that rocked Hermanus earlier this year. “I also held a meeting with all the councillors where we discussed the problems facing our town

and where I made it abundantly clear to them that, as leaders, they have the obligation to clear up the mess that has been created,” he said.

Three main problems were identiied at the meeting. The irst was how the municipality could communicate better, the second was how the council and administration could take better decisions and thirdly, inding options to prevent closure of the R43.

“That road is the lifeline of Hermanus

From Toyota vehicles older than 5 years Wash and vacuum included.

* Ts & Cs Apply

and we cannot allow anyone who has a grievance to block it. It seems that this has become the default option for those who are looking for attention and we cannot allow it,” Mnqasela said.

Local businessman Clinton Lerm suggested that the possibility of appointing a security company from outside of Hermanus to patrol the road, ensure the safety of motorists and prevent people from closing the road should be investigated.

“We are all business people here and all of us have lost money over the last few months and we cannot let that continue. Even if we, as a business community, have to pay for this, I am sure that the majority of us would immediately be willing to do so,” he said to loud applause.

He said, according to initial calculations, the cost of appointing a task force would amount to around R150 per ratepayer per month.

Continues on page 3

R1 200* Hermanus Toyota 028 312 1177

2

14 November 2018

Response to Overstrand Unite demands Raphael da Silva

A

spokesperson for Overstrand Unite (OU) has said that they will not be commenting on the letter received from the Overstrand Municipality, dated 7 November, in response to their list of 22 demands, until they have had a chance to consult with their members. However, both the Hermanus Business and Community Forum (HBCF) and the Hermanus Business Chamber (HBC) have issued statements in response to OU’s demands.

In an email to The Village NEWS, OU said: “Entire working class communities need to be consulted and give input outside of business hours. We will respond officially in due course.”

OU added that the Municipality’s response does not engage on the central issues of the demands. “There is no sign of them using the opportunity we have given them to communicate more effectively with their constituents or any willingness to seek new alternative approaches to tackle the serious and long-standing housing shortage throughout the Overstrand.

They have rather taken a ‘business-as-usual’ approach to policy implementation which is not serving large numbers of the most vulnerable citizens or there wouldn't have been so many protests in the Overstrand this year.”

In a letter (see full letter on Page 6) to The Village NEWS, Barry van Vuren, Chairperson of HBCF, said they deem it unnecessary at this point in time, to comment on the reasonability or not of OU’s demands. However, he did pose a few questions: “Why are these groups, which are clearly detrimental to the broader community, even tolerated? Why are these groups and their leaders given so much publicity by the local media?”

HBCF further added: “These groups are legitimised, thereby pretending to be representative of the large community when in fact they are but irrelevant minor activist groups with their own agendas. This causes a further divide in our population. Zwelihle Renewal and OU are poison to our community.”

In a press release issued 12 November, the Hermanus Business Chamber said: “It is with regret that we learn of renewed threats of mass

actions, the closure of the R43 and the destabilisation of the Hermanus economy should the demands of OU not be met… To this end the Chamber insists that the maintenance of law and order be a top-priority and that the closure of any roads in the region be prevented at all times.”

In their written response to OU, the Overstrand Municipality said that, out of the 22 demands, they were only able to fully satisfy a limited number as the majority of OU’s demands were outside their legal authority, already in the process of being done or that set processes enshrined in law needed to be followed.

The municipality has agreed to provide a list of all sales of public land made in the last 20 years as well as a list of all land currently owned by themselves. OU was requested to ask the Overberg District Municipality for all information relating to the district.

The municipality also agreed that additional waste skips will be placed on the periphery of the Schulphoek land and one skip will be placed at Die Kop, Stanford. A full explanation of why rates, taxes and electricity have been

increased so much was also provided to OU. However, the municipality noted that building a high school in Kleinmond was the respons-ibility of the Provincial Department of Education.

On expropriating the Schulphoek land, the Municipality said that OU has already been informed that the Schulphoek matter is currently being dealt with by the Provincial Minister of Human Settlements and his department.

On all the Paradise Park demands, the municipality was adamant that as the land was private property, OU will need to speak to the owner.

For the remaining 13 demands, the municipality either invited OU to follow the established processes as detailed in legislation or by-laws, or informed them that the administration was not legally allowed to take action. For example, OU was invited to follow the processes for becoming a member of ward committees, providing input to the Integrated Development Plan or making a complaint against a municipal worker. OU was also encouraged to have their members apply to the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP) in order to secure title deeds, for example, for Peach House, Zwelihle residents.

Commemorating Poppy Day in Hermanus Hundreds of people on Sunday gathered at the cenotaph above the Old Harbour to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Popularly know as Poppy Day, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month signifies the end of hostilities that claimed the lives of millions of soldiers and civilians.

respect and silent reflection. It also has the ability to unite us in striving for peace and harmony; and, more importantly, transcends all economic, social and cultural boundaries.”

The Mayor said the symbolic red poppy worn at times like this is steeped in history and, like the Last Post, has its origins in Ypres in Belgium. The sea of poppies that greeted British Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae on the bloodsoaked fields of Ypres in 1915, inspired him to pen the deeply moving In Flanders Field. Ever since then, the poppy has become widely synonymous and accepted as the symbol of remembrance of the great wars.

Mayor Dudley Coetzee said at the ceremony that as residents gather to reflect, it is fitting for everyone to also remember their duty – to educate future generations about the sacrifices made. “Remembrance should be at the forefront of our national consciousness; remembering those who gave their lives during battle so that we can be here today. Remembrance Day was founded to commemorate the almost 10 million soldiers who fell during WWI. I am saddened that since then, many more have paid with their lives in various wars around the world,” he said.

“It is in this spirit that I urge you to take hands and work together to create a South Africa without violence for the generations who will follow us,” said Coetzee.

“The Last Post is usually played by buglers at ceremonies of this kind and represents a final farewell to those who have honoured our freedom with their lives. Even though seemingly simple, this tune often invokes the most solemn

He thanked the organisers of the ceremony, the Hermanus Seagull Shellhole and all participating troops and sentries for the preparation and efforts involved in commemorating Poppy Day in Hermanus.

Members of the public laid wreaths at the cenotaph above the Old Harbour during the Poppy Day commemoration ceremony on Sunday.

3

14 November 2018

‘We have to act now to save our town’ From P 1

Hermanus to find solutions to the problems that face the town.

“It is not the intention to have armed guards patrolling the road, but rather a reaction team, similar to a neighbourhood watch, that has access to vehicles and equipment that can prevent individuals from taking the law into their own hands by obstructing the road or placing motorists in any other danger.”

Mnqasela said that, from his discussions with the South African Police Services (SAPS), it has become evident that they are unable to ensure that the road will not be closed. “They are understaffed and if we have vehicles patrolling the road and preventing people from closing it. The police just have to show up and arrest those responsible. We cannot let the SAPS continue to negotiate with those who close the road as this does not benefit anyone in Hermanus.”

“We cannot keep on complaining to the SAPS as they are up to 90% understaffed and, every time something happens on the R43, we have to wait for the Public Order Police Unit to arrive from Worcester or for members of the Tactical Response Team to show up. This is unacceptable. We, as ratepayers, must now stand up and do something. We cannot just stand by and see our town die.”

Mnqasela said that newly appointed Community Safety MEC, Alan Winde, has indicated that he will work together with the community of

SAPS Overstrand Cluster Commander, Brigader Donovan Heilbron, said it was a pity that he was not invited to the meeting. “I am a servant of all the people of the Overberg and it is my duty to ensure that the SAPS does its job. If I had been invited, I would have been there to explain to residents what our challenges and orders are,” he said.

(Read more on P2) Matthew Browne, owner of ProActive Fitness, said he is very concerned about the future of town, especially since the last leg of the Wines2Whales Mountain Bike Race to Hermanus was cancelled due to the fact that residents of Mount Pleasant had closed the road.

“Sitting on my bike at the starting line for the last leg and knowing that we will not be riding to Hermanus due to safety concerns was the most embarrassing moment of my life.

I could simply not believe that this was happening. It has now come to our attention that the Cape Epic, set to come to Hermanus in March 2019 for two days, is under threat because of the same safety concerns. After the Tour de France, the Epic is one of the most well-known cycling events on the planet. A decision to not bring it back to Hermanus will cause irreparable damage. We now have to act to save our town,” said Browne.

Michael Silva, Race Operation Manager of the Cape Epic, said that a final decision on whether to keep the start of the race in Hermanus is still being discussed. “ We are doing an emergency services analysis of the entire route and will be visiting Hermanus on Wednesday. The safety aspect will be discussed in detail as the route will be the same as was used by Wines2Whales.

Only after all the assessments have been made, will we take a final decision,” he said.

It is estimated that the 2019 Cape Epic will bring some R75 million into the economy of the Overstrand.

Rob Fryer, Chair of Whale Coast Conservation, said that planning for a task force to keep the R43 open is not the answer.

“The closure of the road is simply a symptom of a bigger problem. The real problem is that the town does not have a proper plan to accommodate the growth we have seen.

There are no plans on the table to create mixed-use zones that will enable businesses in Hermanus to grow and provide jobs for those who

so desperately need it. The problem is land and housing, and a shortage of it for those who live and work here.

plan to make Hermanus thrive and be all it can be, rather than making plans on how to keep a road open,” said Fryer.

“The only plans that are on the table now are for the development of luxury resorts and housing. We do not need 3 800 more luxury houses. We need 3 800 houses for all the people who live here and cannot afford housing. We need a

Further comments from the public were that Hermanus is “the bestperforming town in the country when it comes to writing parking tickets, but that it does not use its law enforcement officials to enforce bylaws equally in all areas”.

Book for final proposal on Hermanus Varsity The proposed Hermanus Varsity (HV) steering committee will be presenting their final proposal at a meeting hosted by Mayor Dudley Coetzee on Thursday 22 November at 18:00 at the Municipal Auditorium.

“All interested parties are invited to join us as we present our proposed plans to establish a varsity in Hermanus. Presuming that we receive the green light, it will be all systems go for initiating the programme that will

lead to the establishment of an accredited varsity in Hermanus, possibly to a limited extent in July 2019, but certainly more fully in 2020,” says well-known local academic and Head of the HV Steering Committee Prof John de Gruchy.

More details on the timing of the launch of the varsity as well as how registration and related matters will proceed will be contained in the

proposal.

At the start of the planning process of the HV John said a lack of tertiary education options for the Overberg had prompted members of the Hermanus community to probe the possibility of establishing a varsity in Hermanus. “At present few learners in our area who complete matric with exemption can attend university simply because of a lack of money. It is our aim to change that.

“This is a 20/20 vision for 2020 for Hermanus where local industry meets tourism meets education to address the shortage of academic options for the region. This is a project for the community by the community.”

The Hermanus Varsity Trust is currently being processed and in a few weeks it should be a legal entity.

“Until now we have not been in a position to solicit major funds, but

now we need all the support we can get. Until the HV Trust is finally approved, those who wish to support HV financially may do so through the following bank account: Sparklekids NPC, FNB Branch No: 200412, Account number: 6278 9888 173, Reference – HVT. Seating is limited. Send your RSVP to Nombasa Mahlanyana at hermanusuniversitycollege@gmail. com before Thursday 15, November.

4

14 November 2018

Overstrand fire season: a burning issue With the fire season underway, the Overstrand is on high alert. It’s time to take precautions to stay safe in an area deemed high risk for runaway veld fires, writes SARAH TAYLOR.

D

on't be fooled by the smattering of rain experienced in the Western Cape last week. Fire season has begun and it's time to take preventive measures in a bid to avoid huge disasters, such as those that took place in George recently. While fires cannot be avoided completely, municipal services are taking precautions to limit damage to property and loss of life, and property owners can also take preventive measures.

Also on hand to assist in the event of runaway veld fires only is Working on Fire, which is an extended public works programme under the DEA. It has two teams, one based at the CapeNature office in Voëlklip and the other at our Kleinmond Fire Station.

What can we do?

Home and land owners can also take action.

Smith says land owners should make their own strategic burns, usually done in the winter, to minimise the fire load during a fire and to prevent it spreading, and they can put in requests to the municipality for this. The fire service can give advice in this regard as well as supplying a permit to conduct such a burn if the conditions are suitable. Houses next to grasslands especially need to ensure that there are sufficient fire breaks between their properties and the grasslands.

Overstrand Fire Chief Lester Smith has declared a longer fire season this year, starting a month earlier than that normally stipulated for the Western Cape, due to fluctuating weather patterns resulting from climate change. This year Smith has declared fire season to run from 1 November 2018 (rather than 1 December) until 31 May 2019.

“The reason for this is that from the beginning of October we have already had a few big fires, such as around Fisherhaven, due to the current drought conditions and climate change. We use our fire season plan to anticipate big fires and to prepare to deal with them,” he says. Having an earlier fire season also means the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre is forewarned that it may need to call in assistance from other municipalities.

Smith's advice to property owners living along the urban boundary, for example houses in Voëlklip next to Fernkloof or Chanteclair above Onrus, is to create 'defendable' space in which firefighters could defend a possible fire, and to ensure that there is access for emergency vehicles, by keeping driveways and other access points clear.

He says a rule of thumb is to clear an area of vegetation around one's property two-and-ahalf times the height of the highest vegetation on the property, particularly if the vegetation is dense. Property owners should also clear their gutters and drains of leaves, cut back overhanging tree branches close to their properties, and dispose of dead vegetation on their property at municipal refuse dumps.

Much of the Overstrand is surrounded by fynbos in nature reserves in mountainous areas, such as the Kogelberg Biosphere around Kleinmond, Betty's Bay and Rooi Els, and the Fernkloof Nature Reserve around Hermanus. Due to the topography and the current conditions, there are associated high risks to urban areas that border these natural areas. As such, the Overstrand Municipality has a service level agreement with the Overberg District to control wild land (veld) fires in the Overstrand as well as urban fires such as structural fires, motor vehicle fires and hazardous material (hazmat) fires.

Smith feels confident that the department is prepared to tackle potential fires in their area of jurisdiction. Staff members have been undergoing professional, international-level firefighting training. All emergency vehicles have been maintained or repaired, and plans are in place for the management of big fires.

Ten high-risk areas in the region have been identified for wild land fires in mountain areas or areas where the urban interface borders the veld. Some of the high-risk areas include Vermont, Hoek van de Berg Private Nature Reserve between Hawston and Vermont, Fernkloof, as well as the Gansbaai-Pearly Beach areas.

“Identifying these high-risk areas in advance helps us to plan so that in the event of a fire we can get equipment and as many vehicles, or even aerial resources, as possible to come and assist us,” says Smith. “If I declare a Code Red it means that all our resources in the Overstrand are used or busy and we can no longer cope, and this is when the Provincial Government will send in resources from other parts of the Overberg District Municipality or City of Cape Town, Stellenbosch Municipality, Cape Winelands Municipality or the West Coast Municipality.”

He points out that it is not always possible or affordable to get aerial support for wild land fires as he needs to stick to a budget. The Provincial Government provides a limited budget for aerial firefighting support, which must be used within an hour or so of the fire starting, or it will need to be paid for – by the municipality or private land owners.

If there is a fire in your area, you should close all windows and doors to prevent embers from travelling on the wind and entering the house.

“Just the helicopter alone costs almost R40 000 per hour and this doesn't include the cost of the associated spotter plane, which amounts to an additional R7 000 – R8 000 per hour.”

Extended fires are managed using an Incident Command System, in which objectives are set according to the status of the fire and the number of 'flanks' or fronts it has. The municipality also does regular strategic block burns or vegetation cuts on municipal property to make fire breaks in high-risk areas to aid the fire department in managing runaway veld fires.

“If we hadn't done such a burn above Mount Pleasant two years ago, for example, that entire mountain would have burnt down,” says Smith, referring to a fire that started there in early November. He says if fire risks are determined by his department on land owned privately or under control of specific municipal area managers, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) or the Department of the Environmental Affairs (DEA) directives are sent to those owners to clear the areas within 28 days. Smith notes that private land owners can be charged for clearing costs if they fail to do this themselves and the municipality or the DEA needs to intervene to do the job.

In the wake of a fire, investigations involving outside investigators are conducted. Smith notes that if a fire is found to have started on private land, the bill for aerial support and other costs incurred to combat that fire will be sent to the private land owner.

He says a large portion of the fires his team has to deal with are a result of people setting the veld alight intentionally, through arson, or negligence, for example by carelessly discarding a burning cigarette butt. “During the last three to four fire seasons, for example, most of the big fires started no more than 50m from the R43 in the Overstrand from Rooi Els up to Die Damme, for example, because the road provides access to the public.”

On the bright side, he says, in the past five-anda-half years, the Overstrand fire department has gone from seven full-time staff to nearly 50 officers, firefighters and logistical crew, maintaining a 24/7 service, and the municipality has realised the importance of investing in the fire department. “They have really come to the party with funding to ensure that our environment is as safe as possible,” he says, adding that plans are afoot to build a full fire station in Hermanus next year and to buy a second major fire and rescue pumper.

The South African Weather Services (SAWS) provides daily severe weather as well as, during fire season, high veld fire danger warnings, which can be accessed by the public on www.weathersa.co.za/warnings. These warnings are also placed on the Overstrand Municipality's Facebook page to inform the public of high risks for fires on specific days.

Prevent veld fires by: • Never throwing cigarette butts out of cars or in the open veld and disposing of cigarette butts sensibly.

• Making braai fires only in designated/safe places and ensuring they are extinguished after cooking. Never leaving fires unattended.

• Not throwing bottles in the veld as the glass can magnify the sun's rays and start fires.

• Reporting large fires immediately to the relevant authorities and allowing professionals to deal with them.

(Source: SAWS) Important numbers: People must also ensure that they have the contact details of their local fire authorities at hand should there be a fire emergency.

■ Overstrand Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management emergency number – for farms and homes in the Overstrand area: 028 312 2400 or contact Overstrand Municipality’s 24hr control room on 028 313 8000/ 8111 ■ Overberg Fire and Rescue (Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association) – for homes and farms outside of the Overstrand but within the Overberg: 028 425 1690

5

14 November 2018

An open letter from The Village NEWS: Adapt positively or die complaining “The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude towards the problem.”

Although the (in)famous Captain Jack Sparrow is not a real person but rather the figment of Hollywood’s imagination, his words reverberate a sense of truth for all residents of our beautiful region.

As a community we have found ourselves faced with new challenges that demand new thinking and innovative solutions.

The time for burying our heads in the sand and hoping for our problems to disappear is long gone. The challenges of South Africa and, indeed, what is happening in the rest of the world, have landed squarely in our backyard, literally so.

example not only to the rest of South Africa, but to the world.

In order to reach this point, however, we must take up the challenge and rethink our paradigms about our life here in our corner of paradise.

The Village NEWS is no different. As an organisation solely dependent on advertising revenues from small and medium-sized businesses, we too have been seriously financially impacted. As a thought leader in the community, we also have had to re-examine our role in this region and decide which path to follow.

Today, The Village NEWS is pleased to announce the road we have chosen to take.

As a proudly local company and as a fierce supporter of keeping the wheels of our economy turning, The Village NEWS has taken the decision to increase its investment in the Overstrand and Overberg.

We have decided to adapt positively instead of dying complaining.

To ignore rapidly changing circumstances in our community will be the death knell of The Villages NEWS.

We firmly believe that the Overberg’s best days are still ahead of us and that we, as a community, will be prosperous, serving as an

For The Village NEWS, this is a clarion call to action. And we are taking action.

A new look for The Village NEWS Fresh, fun and functional. These are the words that Creative Designer Jessica Pote uses to describe the new look. Other changes include: • The Village Explorer is now in a magazine pull-out format for future reference - Take Me I’m Yours • An expanded What’s On Overberg • A Weekly Nom Nom restaurant guide focusing on a different town each week • Stories that link back to the website and social media for future reference and additional information and photos

Become a CLUB 100 member • Club 100 is an exclusive group of companies in the Overberg, predominantly in the tourism, hospitality and lifestyles sectors, who collectively have the power to drive the economic development of the district.

• Club members will have a common digital platform, marketing and advertising benefits to promote their activities, enrich their profiles and increase awareness of their brands.

• If you believe you should be a member of this club, contact us @ raphael@thevillagenews.co.za

A new website thevillagenews.co.za • www.thevillagenews for all the latest news • A new website has been launched to complement the Village NEWS’ growing Facebook and Instagram presence. Catch all the latest news 24 hours a day. Go online for more stories and pictures. With over 2 000 stories from all the Village NEWS editions from the past three years, www.thevillagenews will be the website to go for stories about the Overberg.

• Stay tuned for lots of exciting announcements in the future as we launch new features and information.

The Village AGENCY established • The Agency - big city power at small town prices • With the power of a team of experts in advertising, marketing, public relations, branding and strategy, The Agency will be able to offer clients in the Overberg all the advantages of a large full service advertising agency at small town prices.

• Other services offered include website design, event management, publishing, social media, brochures, pamphlets and newsletter.

6

14 November 2018

Let’s Talk

THE

NEWS

Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

Gas Deliveries 028 312 2020

Overstrand Unite not representative of larger community I refer to articles in the same vein as the recent list of demands which emanated from the so-called Overstrand Unite (OU) movement and which was published in your 7 November 2018 edition.

setting of goals subject to effective execution and management.

There is no doubt that you may anticipate many more reactions thereto and I request that you give this letter from Hermanus Business & Community Forum (HBCF, previously HBF) as well as those from the Concerned Citizen’s Forum (CCF), the reply from the Mayor (which was also issued on 7 November 2018 as you are aware) and others, the same exposure in your paper as you granted OU. HBCF deems it unnecessary at this point in time, to comment on the reasonability or not of OU’s demands.

The mission and vision of HBCF is aimed at rendering a positive contribution to the improvement of our communities, based on law and order in a peaceful and safe environment, which sets the tone for organised progress.

It is a reality that this process will offer its fair share of challenges, which in turn will require proper planning and

Hermanus

The average citizens and businesses in our area focus on daily mundane activities and ACCEPT that the above is in process and in place, as this is typically the task of the Municipality working in conjunction with the chosen ward councillors.

By definition, questions will be raised in times such as those we are currently experiencing where our communities are disrupted by minority groups such as Zwelihle Renewal (ZR) and OU, especially when arguably the most peaceful town in South Africa is disrupted by lawlessness and unrest.

It is only reasonable to ask what the causes are: • Is it due to the fact that a portion of our community is dissatisfied? It appears to be the case.

• Is the lack of available land for housing and services the main cause? It too, appears to be the case.

• A continuously and rapidly growing nation is a reality,

Clear

•

•

•

Gauged by all the above, we agree that the municipality is facing a huge challenge but this should improve with EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC on a regular basis, and improved TRANSPARENCY. Then, especially regarding the last point, my question is: what have Zwelihle Renewal and Overstrand Unite delivered to date?

■ The ANC Government is already behind in budgeted funding for housing in our Municipality, yet ZR and OU burn property and close roads to the detriment of the entire community and the local economy!

■ Having said that, they also list their demands to receive more!

■ Individuals in our communities are encouraged and incited by ZR and OU to unlawfully occupy land, knowing full well that the process for obtaining additional land is in hand. So why now the sudden impatience? Is it a disingenuous attempt to obtain political legitimacy? The answer is a resounding YES. It is the only reason – all to the benefit of a handful of people with their own agendas.

■ The influx of people from outside of our communities is encouraged, to the detriment of the entire community due to an unchallenged rise in crime.

■ Throughout this impatient process, should the unreasonable

expectations not be met in time, threats of continued riots and roadblocks are commonplace.

■ The blatant support of Socialist and Communist principles, spiced with racist actions akin to those of the BFLF and EFF (where ZR has its roots), is a threat to the entire community.

Why are these groups, which are clearly detrimental to the broader community, even tolerated? Why are these groups and their leaders given so much publicity by local media?

These groups are legitimised, thereby pretending to be representative of the large community when in fact they are but irrelevant minor activist groups with their own agendas. This causes a further divide in our population. ZR and OU are poison to our community.

The time has come for the true colours of these threatening groups and their supporters to be exposed to the innocent and peace-loving people of our area!

Barry van Vuren Chairperson – HBCF

Weather forecast for the next week & De Bos Dam level

Wednesday 14 November Thursday 15 November Friday 16 November

17°C / 21°C

•

especially in Africa, which adds to the pressures referred to above – this exacerbates the problem of planning for the future.

The population growth creates added pressure on job creation, the lack thereof escalating crime and lawlessness.

Greater focus on economic growth and law enforcement becomes all the more imperative.

Cooperation, effective communication, positive input and transparency are basic requirements to the above.

This brings about a huge responsibility on each individual to build on these requirements.

18°C / 20°C Partly Cloudy

17°C / 29°C Cloudy

www.yr.no

Saturday 17 November

Sunday 18 November

Monday 19 November

Tuesday 20 November

16°C / 21°C

17°C / 24°C

17°C / 26°C

19°C / 21°C

Clear

Clear

Partly cloudy

Partly cloudy

De Bos Dam Level

66.7%

7

14 November 2018

PUBLIC MEETING

The Village is published every week and the next edition will be available on 21 November 2018.

The NEWS can be found at over 300 distribution points on the Cape Whale Coast, from Pringle Bay to Gansbaai.

Get your copy from major retail stores such as Spar, Checkers and Pick n Pay, and at restaurants, tasting rooms, galleries and shopping centres.

Notice is hereby given that a Public Meeting of Ward 3 will be held on Wednesday, 14 November in the Fernkloof Hall, Hermanus at 17:00 for the Ward Committee members, followed at 17:30 by the public meeting, to consider the items set out in the agenda below: AGENDA: 1. WELCOME 2. APOLOGIES 3. APROVAL OF THE MINUTES: 17 OCTOBER 2018 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES Overstrand Municipality Draft Events By-Law De Mond Development Toilet facilities at Fernkloof PUBLIC MEETING: 5. WARD-SPECIFIC PROJECTS 2018/19 – STANDING ITEM 6. WARD-SPECIFIC PROJECTS 2019/20 – STANDING ITEM 7. CBD REGENERATION PROJECT 8. FERNKLOOF INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT PLAN (IMP) 9. ILLEGAL ACCOMMODATION ESTABLISHMENTS 10. PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ITEMS: 20/11/2018 11. NEXT MEETING ■ ■

Date: Council will be in recess for the December/January holidays. The next Ward meeting will be on 13 February 2019 – Public meeting tbc Items for discussion: To be submitted before 24 January 2019

12. CLOSING

OVERSTRAND HOSPICE 600 CLUB DRAW This month’s lucky draw was done on Friday 19 October by Sr. Lee Steyn, here with Nel-Sue Fourie from Don Adams Auditors. The winners are: 1st B Woodward, 2nd F Bulterman, 3rd E/Late W Smal.

Should you wish to support the Overstrand Hospice through their 600 Club, contact Norma Scott-Tomlin on 028 312 4679 or send an email to 600admin@overstrandhospice.com

22 Demands – Eish!

The list of 22 demands by Overstrand Unite, as published in the 7 November edition of The Village NEWS, refers. #16. "An explanation of why rates, taxes, and electricity have been increased so drastically."

Overstrand Unite (OU) does not seem to have much grasp of elementary arithmetic, economics or the basis of taxation.

Firstly, the municipality does not generate its own electricity. It buys in bulk from Eskom and resells with a markup to users on its network. The markup covers the cost of the municipal reticulation infrastructure, nonpayment for electricity by municipal users and so on.

The price of electricity supplied by the municipality is largely dependent on the price paid to Eskom. That price is influenced by astronomically high bad debt owed to Eskom by municipalities that have failed to pay for electricity used, and theft. Of course it is also influenced by inefficiency and corruption at Eskom, but that is another matter.

Secondly, municipal rates and taxes are paid by property owners. Those rates and taxes have to cover the costs of providing services to all residents within the municipality, whether or not they are property owners or pay their rates and taxes. The more people who arrive to take up residence in the municipality without skills, money, jobs or employment but plenty of demands for services, land, houses and so on, the more the rate payers will have to pay if those demands are met. That is the nature of taxation at every level. The municipality has no income of its own to speak of. #15. "Immediate dissolution of Council."

Waldorf School says thank you The pupils, teachers and parents of the Hermanus Waldorf School had such an enjoyable day at the school’s Fair on Saturday 3 November. The weather played along and it was a wind-still, slightly overcast day – perfect for fun and games!

We were overwhelmed by the generosity of the Hermanus community and would like to thank the following businesses who supported us: Eden Café, Lizette’s Kitchen, CanD’s Kitchen, Rossi’s Restaurant, The Cuckoo Tree, The Beanery, Betty Blue Bistro, Oskars, Hermanus Fish Shoppe, Pick ‘n Pay Hermanus, Walker Bay Nursery, Le Marchand, Hermanus Factory Shop, Die Woltas, Hallelujah Boutique, Smart Toys, Nails by Maria, Build It, and Office National.

We would also like to thank the following individuals: Helen Viljoen, Dr Michelle van Niekerk, Mrs De Kock, Lois Apter and everyone who gave us items for our white elephant stall.

We appreciate everyone’s contribution so much. THANK YOU from all at the school Ninky Matthee Fundraiser, Hermanus Waldorf School

WANT A COPY? T: 028 312 2234 C: 083 228 7523 FACEBOOK: /thevillagenews NEWS HQ at 6 Royal Street.

THE NEWS TEAM De Waal Steyn Publishing Editor dewaal@thevillagenewco.za Raphael Da Silva Online Editor raphael@thevillagenews.co.za Hedda Mittner Content Editor hedda@thevillagenews.co.za Elaine Davie Journalist elaine@thevillagenews.co.za Nickey Jackson Graphic Designer nickey@thevillagenew.co.za Jessica Pote Graphic Designer jessica@thevillagenews.co.za Tania Hamman Administration & Finance admin@thevillagenews.co.za Kathy Bentley Marketing & Sales kathy@thevillagenews.co.za Leijla Steyn Social Media & Sales ads@thevillagenews.co.za

Excellent service from SAPS

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

OU seems to have an even poorer grasp of the concept of democracy.

Councillors are elected, not appointed. It follows that the Council can only be dissolved by the same voters who elected them. Democracy gave the country an ANC government and the country has to live with that until democracy gives the country something else, no matter how bad, useless, inefficient and corrupt the ANC government is. The same applies to the Council (and I am not suggesting our council is bad, useless, inefficient or corrupt – far from it). A fairly simple and easy to understand concept.

As for the rest of the demands, it is clearly a case of the unelected tail seeking to wag the elected dog, also undemocratic.

Dairmuid Short

We had a break-in at our house in Sandbaai and I would like to commend the Hermanus Police Station for being more than helpful in investigating the incident.

Sergeant Sigcau wrote the report and an SMS with the case number was sent to my phone within the hour. On Sunday Sergeant DW Scheepers (forensics) came to the house to get possible fingerprints. On Monday Sergeant Zimmerman also came to the house to find out exactly what had happened.

I wish to thank these men for their dedication and excellent service.

Marianne Rabie

WhatsApp or SMS us with your stories and photos

083 625 6667

E M RS KE OU TA Y I ’M

THE VILLAGE

EXPLORER FOOD | WINE | ART | MUSIC

The Sage of Sauvignon Writer and Photographer Hedda Mittner

W

inemaker Bartho Eksteen’s love afair with Sauvignon Blanc goes back many years and reached what many thought was a pinnacle when he won the prestigious Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Award in 2010 for his Hermanuspietersfontein Sauvignon Blanc Nr 5.

But Bartho, who left Hermanuspietersfontein four years ago to once again strike out on his own, is clearly not done yet with Sauvignon Blanc.

At the launch of the Platter’s by Diners Club 2019 South African Wine Guide last week he walked away with the Wine of the Year Award in the Wooded Sauvignon Blanc category for the highest scoring ive-star wine, Bartho Eksteen Houtskool 2017.

“I never want to stop learning and trying new approaches,” he says.

“This Sauvignon Blanc is completely diferent to any of the ones I’ve made before.” And there have been many, earning him the nicknames M’sieur Sauvignon Blanc and the Sage of Sauvignon.

A irm believer in the terroir of Walker Bay, Bartho is as much an entrepreneur as a winemaker; one who has always been inclined to push boundaries and think out of the box. His quirky sense of humour and down-to-earth boyish charm hide an astuteness that has made him a key igure in the rise of cool-climate wine wards “over the mountain”. He became a self-proclaimed “Sauvignon Blanc freak” while working with this varietal as a young winemaker at Wildekrans Wine Estate in Bot River, winning one award after another.

After ive years at Wildekrans, Bartho moved to Hermanus with his young family – wife Suné, son Pieter Willem and daughter Shani. Here Sune, a sommelier in her own right, opened a wine shop, Wine & Co, while Bartho consulted at various wineries, including Newton Johnson and 2 Sumaridge in Hemelen-Aarde and Raka near Stanford. He also started making wines under his own label in a store room in the industrial area which he’d converted into a wine cellar.

In 2006 Bartho became a founding partner of the new Hermanuspietersfontein Wynkelder, where he produced a range of wines with grapes from the vineyards of the co-owners’ farm in another undiscovered wine region, the Sondagskloof (Sunday’s Glen) between Stanford and Elim.

Despite numerous medals, trophies and awards over the years (and not only for Sauvignon Blanc but also red varietals), Bartho decided in 2014 that is was time for a change. He wanted to spend more time on his new project, the Bartho Eksteen Wine Academy

(Wijnskool) which he’d founded with Suné at the Boland Agricultural High School in Paarl. Here the Eksteens impart their passion for the culture, art and craft of winemaking to the next generation of winemakers.

1 Suné and Bartho next to the irst wine tank that was recently installed in the cellar.

2 An enchanting corner of the tasting room. big step will be completing the cellar next to the house, where the irst wine tank has already been installed.

Not that Bartho stopped making wine himself – far from it! In 2015 the Eksteens purchased a small, 5 ha farm on the banks of the Onrus River in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, which consisted of a run-down farmhouse and a few dilapidated stables and outbuildings.

Over the last three years they have lovingly restored the house, cultivated the garden, planted a small vineyard, converted an old mill house into a tasting room and created several outdoor areas where visitors can enjoy special occasions, picnics and wine tastings. The next

The Eksteens have also become partners in a new farming venture in Afdaksrivier, where 6 ha of new vines have been planted, with a further 10ha to follow. In the meantime Bartho is as productive as ever. In addition to the wines he produces for the Cape Winemakers Guild Auction there are two ranges – the Tree of Knowledge Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz which are produced under the Wijnskool label, and his signature Bartho Eksteen range of seven wines, which includes the two lagship wines, Houtskool Sauvignon Blanc and Groepsdruk Rhone-style Blend.

Bartho Eksteen Wines has become a real family afair, with Suné leading the charge on all fronts and Pieter Willem working alongside his father as assistant winemaker. Even Shani, who is studying through Unisa, has started her own aftercare on the farm called ‘Plaasjapies’. They are a closeknit unit and the farm is a happy place where visitors get to experience not only Bartho’s expertly crafted wines but the uniquely unpretentious brand of Eksteen hospitality.

Wijnskool – the home of Bartho Eksteen Wines is situated on the R320 in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. They are open for wine tasting Monday to Saturday from 10:00 – 16:00.

Picnic boxes can be pre-ordered by calling Suné on 072 323 5060.

4

3 Bartho and his son, winemaker-in-the-making, Pieter Willem, in the old mill house on the farm that has been converted into a tasting room.

4 Pieter Willem and cellar hand Dewald Grobler at the al fresco bubbly bar.

1

3

2

14 November 2018

Mango Grooves Hermanus A time for dancing and relection Photographer Taylum Meyer It was a night that residents, especially those who grew up in the 1980s, will remember for a long time. It was the night The Global Challenge brought Mango Groove to town and, for many, it was not just an opportunity to dance under the stars to one of South Africa’s most loved bands, but also a moment to relect on the journey that this country has undergone.

Mango Groove, who along with Julu-

7

ka, were the only major South African music groups with both black and white band-members in the 1980s and early 1990s, not only thrilled the audience with their selection of Afropop golden oldies, but also kept the audience on their feet with their latest songs. #BangTheDrum, the anthem for The Global Challenge golf tournament, saw the Team South and Team North teams on stage showing us that their moves are not just conined to the greens, while the students of JD Academy Hermanus, under the di-

rection of Nadine Venter, were given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dance on and in front of the stage with lead singer, Claire Johnston and the rest of the band.

| MUSIC

1

With food on sale by the FabMoms of Hermanus High School, beer by Hermanus Brewery and wine by Hermanuspietersfontein, this concert provided lots of opportunities for locals to beneit from the evening.

But for many in the audience, watching Mango Grove brought up memories of a poignant time in South Africa, of the rainbow nation envisioned by Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela, of how far we have come as a country, but also, how far we still need to go.

For more photos, visit us on www.thevillagenews.co.za

3

2

6

5

1 The owner of La Pentola, Shane Sauvage, dancing with a friend’s child.

2 Di Rattle from Hermanus Brewery poors a customer a beer.

3 The lead singer of Mango Groove, Claire Johnston, sings and dances with Nadine Venter’s dancers from JD Academy.

4 The crowd couldn’t get enough of Mango Groove.

5 Claire’s back-up singers inspired the audience with their moves and clear enjoyment of their music.

6 Founder of The Global Challenge in Hermanus, Tania Fourie with MC Tracy Going.

7 Guitarist Thomas Selmer-Olsen entertained the audience with his smooth skills and rocking moves.

4

WINE | 14 November 2018

3

Pickin’ up good vibrations Writer and Photographer Tweet Gainsborough-Waring Yoga and wine may well be at either end of the lifestyle spectrum, but Dean Leppan, viticulturist at Newton Johnson Vineyards has successfully combined the two. After all, dedication, passion and attention to detail are characteristics you’d expect to ind in both a viticulturist and a yoga teacher.

While there is clearly a juxtaposition between the wine business and yoga, Dean says it’s all a question of looking for and achieving a balance. Something which applies equally to life, a yoga pose and a good wine. You may well ask how this came about and which came irst?

In search of meaning Dean and his wife Pauline had been living in Taiwan, and it was while working as English teachers that they irst developed an interest in yoga.

“It appealed to me partially because my parents (children of the 60s) had been into transcendental meditation, the Beatles and gurus etc.,” he says.

In Taiwan they started practising yoga with friends, initially without any formal teaching. As their interest in yoga grew, they decided to do to India. Here they spent six months experiencing the lifestyle and philosophies of the East, which nurtured their search for a measured outlook and deeper meaning to life.

After their return to Taiwan, Dean’s mom passed away in 2005, leaving him even more determined to ind answers to life’s bigger questions

such as how to cope with separation and loss. With Dean’s father, Steve and grandmother Daphne Leppan both living in Hermanus, the couple decided to settle here – a brave move as they realised that they would have to create their own opportunities to earn a living in Hermanus.

Their dream was to open a yoga studio and to this end they returned to India in 2007 in order to certify as yoga teachers. This meant they could combine their love of yoga with the teaching skills they had gained in Taiwan.

They rented accommodation and a scooter in Mysore and commenced four months of intensive training, with Dean enrolled at the Atmavikasa Centre of Yogic Sciences, and Pauline at Prana Vashya Yoga Shala. They lived “a super simple life”, says Dean.

Food was basic, using ingredients bought from the market. Students were on their mats at the shala (school) before sunrise every day, six days a week. There was a 2-hour break around midday to have something to eat and a rest, after which it was back to the mat until 5or 6pm.

On their return they initially taught at various gyms and the now closed New Moon Studio before setting up their own studio, Yogaheart in 2012, teaching classical yoga. This year they reached a 10-year milestone of teaching yoga in Hermanus. Not ones to rest on their laurels, they completed a further three-year teacher training course ofered by the Iyengar Institute of South Africa last year.

Dean says he’s been drawn to this

Dean with vineyard worker Eric busy with suckering.

Yogaheart At Yogaheart, you’ll ind a collective of instructors who are passionate about teaching yoga.

Pauline Leppan and her team have their diferent styles, but all share the same objective: to ofer quality yoga classes in a safe and caring environment. Students are treated as individuals and classes are divided into various levels to ensure

that each one inds a class that is best suited for his, or her, needs. All are welcome, not only those lucky enough to live in Hermanus, but also visitors to our beautiful corner of the world. Yogaheart’s studio has beautiful sea views, and is easily accessible in the heart of Hermanus. You’ll ind them on the 1st loor of Woolworths Station Square, Hermanus.

T: 071 304 6456 A: 175 Main Road, Hermanus W: www.yogaheart.co.za

form of yoga because of its link to the true roots of the practice and its precision. He sees yoga as teaching lexibility not only of the body but of the mind as well. “I like to focus strongly on holding poses that are well aligned, and on breathing.”

Making ends meet Initially making ends meet with a yoga practice in a relatively small town was not easy, so Dean and Pauline jumped at the opportunity ofered to them by their clients Felicity Newton Johnson and her late daughter-in-law, Ezanne. In addition to having a wine farm in Hemel-enAarde, the Newton Johnsons were grazing cattle and had a surplus of milk which they ofered to the couple.

Dean and Pauline set about learning to make cheese in addition to running the studio. The cheese production lasted three years, with most of their products being sold at the Hermanus Country Market and to various restaurants in town.

The Newton Johnsons were so impressed with Dean’s “can do” attitude that they ofered him the position of farm manager. “It was the dream job that I hadn’t yet dreamed of having!” laughs Dean.

However, running a vineyard with no formal training was no simple task.

Dean says he found himself in charge of experienced vineyard workers who had planted the irst vines on the farm. He quickly assessed the sit-

Dean in the Newton Johnson vineyard

uation as one that required respect – for the land, and for each other.

The vision he had was that “The workers would teach me, and together we would teach each other”.

In order for this to happen the workers had to be viewed as more than just the hands and muscle.

Dean set out to cultivate a sense of self-worth by encouraging communication and valuing their input, which led to greater knowledge on both sides, although he admits that in the beginning it was tough. “Newton Johnson is known for their Pinot Noir and there’s a reason why it’s called the ‘heartbreak grape’. It has a thin skin and it can’t handle too much, nor too little, water, sun or wind. For Pinot Noir it all has to be just right.

Everything that goes into producing a great wine – the fruit, the soil, the climate and the impact of man – has to be in perfect balance.”

Dean says his yoga practice has helped him develop mental lexibility in his outlook to viticulture. For the past three years the farm has started to shift its approach to more

sustainable farming methods using organic, biodynamic and biological practices. “It’s both exciting and a bit scary as we want to maintain the high standards of our wine,” he says.

If he needed any encouragement that his approach is working, the recent launch of the 2019 Platter’s South African Wine Guide certainly provided it by bestowing the coveted Editor’s Award for 2019 on Newton Johnson Vineyards, as editor Pieter van Zyl’s “personal commendation of this family venture’s consistently superb quality over a range of wines”.

Visit www.thevillagenews.co.za for more great stories!

WHAT’S ON OVERBERG www.thevillagenews.co.za/whatson Piet Botha & Jake Gunn Live

GOT AN EVENT? Send us an email to events@thevillagenews.co.za or send us a WhatsApp to 083 625 6667.

An intimate, acoustic night of soulful blues with Piet Botha and young guitar maestro Jake Gunn.

Tickets at R100 pp can be booked on 028 313 2137.

Soul Café, 181 Main Road | 20:00

FREE for community and non-proit organisations.

R 100 for everyone else.

R 150 with a photo.

HERMANUS Thursday | 15 Nov Rotary Club of Hermanus Visitors are welcome at Rotary’s weekly meetings. Contact Frank on 082 870 1187 to conirm your attendance.

Mollergren Park | 19:00

Where local and international foodies and wine lovers meet. You’ll ind real plates and real cutlery; real cups and real glasses; a real hangout for real people.

Hermanuspietersfontein wine cellar | 09:00 – 13:00

Join the HAC’s monthly meeting for a presentation by Dr Jenny Morris on Table Mountain: Astronomy and some Geology. Contact Peter on 081 212 9481 or petermh@hermanus.co.za.

Catholic Church Hall | 19:00

The last networking session of the year will feature a three-course food demonstration by Angelique Brink to inspire your Christmas menu and table decoration. R120 pp includes tastings and recipes. Contact hermanus.womeninbusiness@gmail. com.

Sandbaai Country House | 11:30

Terriic Tuesdays

Hermanus parkrun

Hermanuspietersfontein Food & Wine Market

Hermanus Women in Business

Tuesday | 20 Nov

Saturday | 17 Nov Meet for the weekly 5 km walk or run, come rain or shine. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome.

OTI Camphill Road | 08:00

Hermanus Astronomy Centre

Sunday | 18 Nov Music in the Courtyard Enjoy summer tunes in The Courtyard with oysters and bubbly, wine, craft beer and tapas. For more info or to reserve a table, call 028 312 2553.

Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Road | Sundays | 12:00

Join Wellness Coach Nicholas McLean, also known as the Gut Health Yogi, for a group session of BodySensing intuitive yoga to release tension and restore energy and mobility.

Sessions are free but donations are welcome. Call Nicholas on 082 437 9776.

Fynbos Crescent, Sandbaai | Tuesdays | 07:30

Everyone is welcome at Friends of the Library’s Bhuki Café where a cup of tea or cofee and delicious eats will cost only R20. Every cup helps to raise funds for new books.

Hermanus Library | Fridays | 09:00 – 11:30

STANFORD Thursday | 15 Nov Little Leopards Rescue

Kolwyntjie Teetuin

Join Whale Coast Conservation as they come to the aid of the Western leopard toadlets that have to cross the road. Adults R120, children R60.

Contact Anina on 083 242 3295 or anina.wcc@gmail.com.

Caltex Garage at the entrance to Stanford | 08:30

Enjoy a sweet treat and tea or cofee at a nominal fee, and make new friends at the Onrus Care Centre (Dienssentrum).

Onrus Dutch Reformed Church | Fridays | 09:30 - 11:30

The lives of great scientists

The Hermanus Botanical Society hosts guest speaker Dr Nunette Gordon, research manager for Abagold.

Well known for her work in Estuarine Ecology, she will introduce the topic of coastal phytoplankton communities, how they are inluenced by sea currents and their efect on red tides.

Fernkloof Hall | 17:30

Saturday | 17 Nov Hermanus Country Market A favourite among the locals. Young, old, two-legged and four-legged family members are all welcome. You’ll ind wholesome goodies, homemade crafts, local produce, beers and wine, speciality foods, cofee and live music.

Critical Mass Everyone with a bicycle is invited to join this social bike ride to celebrate cycling as a healthy, safe and eco-friendly mode of transport in Hermanus. For more information, contact Carel Kushke on 074 849 5936.

Whale Sculpture, Market Square | 18:00

Rewind Join Soul Café every Friday night and relax to the tunes of their resident band as they perform all your favourite hits from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

R50 pp. Call 028 313 2137 to book.

Soul Café, 181 Main Road | Fridays 20:00

: The fourth in this series of six monthly Trail Running events on wine farms in the scenic Hemel-en-Aarde Valley will be hosted by La Vierge.

The trail is a moderate 6 km route through the La Vierge vineyards and mountains. Get all the info at www. vinetovalley.co.za or contact Bianca on 082 075 7477 or info@coastlineevents.co.za.

La Vierge Wine Estate, Hemel-enAarde Valley | 08:00 Join Benguela Cove in raising funds for the Hermanus Night Shelter. R250 pp includes the timeless charm of Cole Porter’s music and a light lunch paired with one glass of wine. Contact 021 137 0739 or dine@benguelacove.co.za to book.

At Moody Lagoon Restaurant, Benguela Wine Estate | 12:00

Bhuki Cafe

Red Tides, the beautiful danger

Vine to Valley

Cole Porter Musical & Lunch

Friday | 16 Nov

U3A’s presentation by Mike Brownlee will focus on the work of the intriguing and multi-talented 17th century genius, Isaac Newton.

Catholic Church Hall | 10:00

Saturday | 24 Nov

Monday | 19 Nov Leonard Bernstein Centenary Celebration U3A Overberg presents the irst of a two-part series on American composer, conductor and music director of the New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990). Prof Ella Fourie will introduce the DVD, Larger than Life.

Catholic Church Hall | 10:00

Overberg Quilters

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

Walker Bay Recycling Cleanup Join Walker Bay Recycling, in collaboration with BirdLife Overberg, the Onrus Litter Ladies, Agrimark, Spar, Clicks and Coastline Flooring for the irst of their monthly coastal cleanups.

Grotto Beach | 09:00

Stanford Saturday Morning Market

Join the Overberg Quilters Guild for their last meeting of the year. For more info contact Pat Hewson at fredpat@sonicmail.co.za.

De Wet Hall, Roos Street, Onrus | 09:30

Mindful Mondays Join Wellness Coach Nicholas McLean for a group session on Mindfulness, Movement and Meditation. Let go of stress and distraction, and realign body and mind to ind inner focus and calm. Sessions are free but donations are welcome. Contact Nicholas on 082 437 9776.

Fynbos Crescent, Sandbaai | 18:00

Land Transport in South Africa The fourth lecture in this U3A course, presented by Bob Stanway, is about Public Transport by rail, taxi and bus and how these systems are working.

Catholic Church Hall | 10:00

Wednesday | 22 Nov Hermanus Bird Club Join the club for their monthly meeting where guest speaker Carin Malan will give a talk on A Journey through the Kalaghadi. Liquid refreshments will be available for a small donation.

Fernkloof Hall | 18:00

Yummy fresh artisanal goodies, from home-baked breads and delicious confectionary to handmade sausages and fresh veggies.

Stanford Hotel | Saturdays | 09:00 - 12:00

Panthera Sunset Visits Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary near Stanford invites you to visit their four-legged friends as they come alive after a long day of rest. R490 pp (only for people 16 years and older).

All proceeds from ticket sales go towards creating a better life for the animals.

Thursday | 23 Nov Rotary Club of Hermanus Guest speaker will be JP Rossouw, publisher of the Platter’s South African Wine Guide, who will present a talk on Wine tasting: is it all on the tongue or all in the head? Guests welcome. Contact Frank on 082 870 1187 by 20 Nov. Mollergren Park | 19:00

For more information, visit www.pantheraafrica.com Panthera Africa | Saturdays | 17:00

Saturday | 24 Nov Stanford Stumble

Art exhibit celebrates diversity

This popular annual event entails a gentle meander (or a run, if you are that way inclined) through the vineyards, with teams encouraged to dress in their most outrageous outits. Prizes, giveaways, live music, food stalls, cash bar. Shuttle service available. All proceeds go to the Butterly Foundation. Call 072 639 6135.

Stanford Hills | 16:00

2

1

Sunday | 25 Nov Overberg Toy Run Gather on the Village Green to view the roaring spectacle of bikers and their colourful friends – teddies and toys for disadvantaged kids throughout the Overberg. Along with the bikers, spectators are asked to bring along a stufed friend or two to add to the collection points. Look forward to food stalls, children’s entertainment, craft beer, live music and more, as over 700 bikers are expected to participate in this year’s event. Get all the details at www.stanfordinfo.co.za Stanford Market Square| 10:00

BOT RIVER Saturday | 17 Nov Fioré Country Market Browse this new country market in Bot River for homemade crafts, books, local treats, fresh fruit and more. Stands are free and in the event of rain the market moves indoors. For enquiries, contact Debbie Randall on 028 284 9220.

Fioré Garden Centre & Cofee Shop | 09:00 - 14:00

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

Botrivier Hotel | Saturdays | 10:00 - 14:00

KLEINMOND Thursday | 17 Nov Kleinmond Market Free entry, ample parking, arts and crafts, food stalls, handmade items by local vendors, live music and fun competitions – a great outing for the whole family. Contact Erna on 076 708 0818.

Mthimkhulu Village, Main Road | Saturdays | 10:00 - 14:00

2 Art teacher Ashleigh Temple-Camp shows visitors around the exhibition titled ‘Art is my irst language’ at Enlighten Education Trust.

1 Siphosethu Ntetha and Tadiwanashe Dzenga, both Gr 7 learners at Zwelihle Primary, stand proudly in front of their artworks.

A remarkable art exhibition drew large numbers to the Enlighten Education Trust on Wednesday evening, 7 November, relecting the year-long work of two groups of Zwelihle children who attend extramural classes at the centre once a week.

An uninhibited and vibrant explosion of colour characterised the 160 artworks that lined the walls and exhibition screens. The older children, in particular, showed evidence of great sensitivity to composition and design and, in many cases, talent way beyond their years.

The production of such a large array of beautiful images is all the more impressive given the fact that only 28 children in total participated in these art classes. In the older group (Grade 7s from Zwelihle Primary) there were 13, taught by Art Facilitator, Ashleigh Temple-Camp and in the younger group, taught

by Karen von Maltzahn, there were 15 from various primary schools in the area.

“I sincerely hope that this exhibition will serve as a window for highlighting and celebrating the beauty of our cultural diversity as well as our persistent pursuit of peace and harmony,” said Enlighten Trust Manager, Magriet Peter. “We are still here,” she emphasised, “and while we are all here, together,

GOT AN EVENT? Send us an email to events@thevillagenews.co.za or send us a WhatsApp to 083 625 6667.

FREE for community and non-proit organisations.

R 100 for everyone else.

R 150 with a photo.

we can achieve anything.”

Ashleigh expressed her gratitude to the principal and teachers of Zwelihle Primary for their whole-hearted support and active encouragement of the pupils in this initiative. She said she was delighted that Enlighten has decided to add a class next year for children from Grades 8 and 9.

“My great concern is that once the learners progress to high school there is very little opportunity for follow-through,” said Ashleigh.

“Between last year’s senior primary group and this year’s, there are at least six children who really should have the opportunity to take art for matric and possibly beyond. That’s what we’re working towards, even if it means inding bursaries for them. I’m excited about their potential; we must do everything we can to encourage them.”

3

3 Miriam Mutseriwa, also a Gr 7 learner at Zwelihle Primary, with Elvia Bury and Theo Krynauw.

All the art on the exhibition was for sale, with half the money going to the parents of the children and half to Enlighten’s art project. While 34 works have already been sold, members of the public will have another chance to purchase an artwork for as little as R30 to R100, on Friday 16 November. Who knows, it may be the best investment you will ever have made when one day the artist becomes a superstar on the international art scene!

For further information contact the Enlighten Education Trust on 028 3130974.

6

Head for the hills Writer Hedda Mittner Photographer Taylum Meyer “It’s a place where people can just be happy and enjoy themselves,” says Jami Kastner of Stanford Hills, a boutique wine estate just outside the quaint village of Stanford. A place that envelops one with a deep sense of relaxation as soon as you turn of from the R43 onto the dirt road leading up to the farm.

Encapsulating country living at its laid-back best, the hub of the farm is the restaurant, The Tasting Room, housed in an old renovated farm building with a large covered veranda surrounded by extensive rolling lawns, a dam, vineyards and fynbos, all against the picturesque backdrop of the Klein River Mountains.

“There aren’t many places where parents can enjoy a day out with the whole family, including the children, grandparents and dogs,” Jami points out. She and her husband, Peter, who is also the winemaker, are the owner-managers of Stanford Hills and live on the farm with their two young boys, Jack and Alex – and numerous friendly animals that include Pinot, the Ridgeback, Crackling, the pig and Stuart, the lamb. The boys are often around, as are the children of staf members and their pets.

Stanford Hills is a paradise for children and the perfect spot for an inter-generational get-together.

Under the care of Jami and her staf, visiting The Tasting Room is like joining a jovial family gathering. While

14 November 2018 the adults relax with good food and wine, the children can run around to their hearts’ content, playing in the sandpit, on the jungle gym or the swing, or paddling around the dam in a little boat.

In the kitchen chef Jana Conroy and her team ensure a constant low of down-to-earth decadence. The emphasis is on fresh and inventive food, and the chalkboard menu changes daily according to what is seasonal and locally available, including produce from their own vegetable garden. And the children are not neglected – they have their own menu of wholesome and freshly prepared food.

Jami and Peter Kastner in the Stanford Hills wine shop.

The full range of award-winning estate wines can be enjoyed with your meal at cellar door prices. Two ranges are handcrafted by Peter from 12 hectares of vineyard, including Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, Shiraz, Rose and a limited quantity of Methode Cap Classique. The somewhat basic cellar is located in one half of an airplane hangar on the farm, where Peter, a self-taught winemaker, does most of the work by hand. He believes in the quality of his grapes and in minimal interference during the winemaking process, allowing the grapes to express their individual identity.

popular venue for private parties, functions and weddings, and has become well-known for hosting music concerts that bring some of South Africa’s greatest musical talent to the Overberg, including Louise Carver, Ard Matthews, Watershed and Arno Carstens. They also host a variety of fun events throughout the year such as their winter craft beer festival and the upcoming Stanford Stumble.

Stanford Hills is also a working lower farm that produces a variety of indigenous fynbos, including Proteas and Pincushions, for the international market. The lowers are hand-picked on the farm and exported to European countries such as Holland and Belgium, and also to the Middle East and Far East. From August to December the farm is illed with these colourful blooms, which are also for sale at the rustic wine shop, along with their wines, grappas and a range of homemade and regional products.

This popular annual event, which takes place on Saturday 24 November, is a fundraiser for The Butterly Foundation, a non-proit organisation founded by Jami that is dedicated to the educational needs of children who do not it into the mainstream.

It entails a gentle meander (or a run, if you are that way inclined) through the vineyards, with teams dressed in their most outrageous outits in the hope of winning the best-dressed prize. As with all Stanford Hills events, the Stanford Stumble is a unique experience – quirky, heart-warming and a whole lot of fun, illed with good food, wine, music and laughter.

Unsurprisingly, Stanford Hills is a

Visitors to Stanford Hills tend to

linger as it’s not easy to leave – and the good news is that you don’t have to. The farm still boasts the immaculately preserved Manor House that along with two refurbished labourers’ cottages serve as self-catering accommodation. In addition there are ive luxury “glamping” tents that form part of the AfriCamps collection of boutique camping accommodation. This outdoor living company, based in Cape Town, successfully combines the serenity of nature with luxurious comfort by partnering with local farmers in creating the ultimate outdoor experience on the most beautiful working farms and estates in the country.

During their stay visitors can take part in various activities such as horse-riding, hiking and even whale-watching by air in a small aircraft which takes of from the farm’s private landing strip. You can also have a swim in a farm dam, try your hand at ishing, or simply lie in bed, listen to the birds and enjoy the wholesome gifts that nature has to ofer.

The Tasting Room and the wine shop, which ofers daily wine tastings, are both open seven days a week from 08:30 – 19:00. For more information, visit www.stanfordhills.co.za.

Contact The Tasting Room on 072 639 6135 or thetastingroom@ stanfordhills.co.za; for wine and lowers, contact the Stanford Hills oice on 028 341 0841 or lowers@ stanfordhills.co.za; and for accommodation, send an email to accommodation@stanfordhills.co.za.

| WINE

WINE | 14 November 2018

7

FOOD

& DINE Our wine stars shine WINE LISTINGS bright in 2019 Platter’s Guide Local producers upheld the reputation of Walker Bay as an outstanding region for cool-climate wines at the launch of the Platter’s by Diners Club 2019 South African Wine Guide, which took place at Cape Town’s Table Bay Hotel on 5 November. Over 200 guests were in attendance and the VIPs included those wine producers who achieved the maximum Five Star rating in the new edition – reserved for wines that are ‘South African classics’.

A total of 90 wines achieved the coveted Five Star status in this year’s edition of Platter’s, including familiar names from local producers from the Elgin, Bot River and Hemel-en-Aarde region. They include Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir 2017, Luddite Shiraz 2014, Restless River Ava Marie Chardonnay 2016, Beaumont Hope Marguerite Chenin Blanc 2017, Alheit la Colline Semillon 2017, Benguela Cove Catalina Semillon 2017, and Shannon Capall Bán White Blend 2015.

The ultimate accolade, Winery of the Year, has expanded to a trio of pinnacle awards – the Newcomer Winery of the Year (won by Erika Obermeyer Wines), the Top Performing Winery of the Year (won by Mullineux) and the Editor’s Award for 2019 which went to Newton Johnson Vineyards, as editor Philip van Zyl’s personal com-

mendation of this family venture’s consistently superb quality over a range of wine styles.

In a further innovation, the number of Wines of the Year has also been increased, and the expanded line-up now relects the highest-scoring Five Star wines in their category. This is the irst time that 100-point scores have been introduced, printed alongside the familiar Platter’s Stars.

The publisher of Platter’s by Diners Club, Jean-Pierre Rossouw comments: “100-point scoring is the global standard, and by combining this notation with our own long-standing star-rating system, we hope that our international readers in particular will better understand and contextualise our judges’ assessments. We see the two rating systems coexisting in the guide in the future.”

Among the 25 remarkable Wines of the Year are several from our region that were the highest-scoring Five Star wines within their category.

Merlot: The Shannon Black 2013; Pinot Noir: Crystallum Cuvée Cinéma 2017; Sauvignon Blanc, Wooded: Bartho Eksteen Houtskool 2017; White Blends, Other: Thorne & Daughters Rocking Horse 2017; and Noble Late Harvest: Paul Cluver Riesling 2017.

A: The Village Stall Hemel en Aarde Village T: 028 316 2407

Gas Suppliers 028 312 2020

A: Village Square, Waterfront Piazza T: 028 312 3611

Mogg's Country Cookhouse A: Old Harbour T: 028 312 3454 H: Open daily from 11am

A: Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hermanus T: 076 314 0671 H: Wed-Sun: 12:00 - 14:30 | CLOSED Mon & Tue

A: Village Square, Hermanus T: 028 312 1313

A: Village Square, Hermanus T: 028 312 1313 H: 08:00 - 21:00

A: Carriages Centre, Shop 7, Hermanus T: 066 174 8263 A: Mon - Sat: 07:30 - 17:00

A: Village Square, Shop 4, Market Street T: 028 312 1986

A: Village Square Piazza T: 028 313 1153 H: Open 7 days/week | Sat & Sun: 09:00 - 12:00

A: Village Square, Hermanus T: 028 313 1178

A: Village Square, Hermanus T: 028 313 1224

A: Section 4 - 6, The Village T: 028 316 2348 H: CLOSED on Mon | Tue - Sat: 11:30 ‘til late | Sun: 11:30 - 15:00

A: New Harbour, Hermanus T: 028 313 0752 H: Lunch: 11:30 - 16:00 | Dinner: 18:30 - late

A: Gateway Centre, Hermanus T: 028 312 4439

A: High Street, Hermanus T: 028 312 2848

A: Section 4 - 6, The Village T: 028 316 2348 H: Open 7 days/week from 11:00 - 02:00

A: 181 Main Road, Hermanus T: 028 313 2137 H: Tue - Sat: 08:00 ‘til late | Sun: 08:00 - 14:00

A: New Harbour, Hermanus T: 028 312 2920 H: Open 7 days/week for lunch & dinner

A: 7 Harbour Road, Hermanus T: 028 312 4840

A: 21 Marine Drive, Hermanus T: 028 312 2859 H: Open 7 days/week

A: 12 Mitchell Street | Onrus Trading Post T: 028 313 0377 | 028 316 4357 H: Open daily from 10:00 - 02:00

A: Van Blommenstein Street, Onrus T: 028 316 2967 H: Tue - Sat: 12:00 - 22:00 | Sun: 12:00 - 16:00

A: Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley T: 021 200 2148 H: Wed - Sun: 12:00 - 15:00

A: 87 Marine Drive, Village Square T: 028 313 1685

A: 121 10th Street, Voëlklip T: 028 314 1637

AFFORDABLE TRANSPORT DOOR TO DOOR 084 688 5885

1

1 The publisher of Platter’s by Diners Club, Jean-Pierre Rossouw, with winemaker Bartho Eksteen (on his right) and Bartho’s son and assistant winemaker, Pieter Willem Eksteen (left) who won Wine of the Year for the highest-scoring Five Star Wooded Sauvignon Blanc, the Bartho Eksteen Houtskool 2017.

2 Nadia and Gordon Newton Johnson receiving the coveted Editor’s Award for 2019.

2

Join us at Ocean Creek Spur T: 028 312 3095 | A: Whale Coast Mall, Sandbaai Open Mon-Sat: 08:00 - 22:00 | Sun: 08:00 - 20:00

8

14 November 2018

| TOURISM

The story of the world’s only Whale Crier As a relatively new resident of Hermanus, she was fascinated by the haunting timbre of the Whale Crier’s alerting call. More importantly, OLIVIA SCHAFFER learnt that Hermanus was the only town, worldwide, to provide such a service.

In the midst of a bumper whale season in Hermanus, my curiosity about the whale crier led me to Anne Philip, one of about six folk who were instrumental in initiating this tourist attraction.

Cape’s best-kept secret. On hearing this – and eager to put a good opportunity into practice – local, long-time resident, Jimmy Wepener, set about planning what was to become a unique tradition.

“We were a group of business owners,” explained Anne. “Back in 1990 trade boomed over the December-January holiday season – and often over Easter and long weekends, too – but we all agreed we couldn’t aford the quiet times; that we needed an attraction to encourage visitors to Hermanus out of peak season.

As Jimmy is one of the businessowners in Anne’s recollection of the story, I’m conident the two accounts are linked. Anne was the owner of Beadthreaders Cottage and Jim was the owner of Kenjockity and manager in the tourism oice. Di Curtis, who owned Stitch Witchery, and Glynis van Rooyen were two other names that came to mind when Anne recounted details of the story. Each one received the Mayor’s Award for playing an important role in enriching Hermanus.

“We, therefore, formed a group that would meet and brain-storm ideas.

Collectively we came up with a unique solution, something that was speciic to Hermanus. If many cities in the world could have town criers, we would have a whale crier who would alert the community that whales had been spotted.”

Anne clearly recalled that it was Brian Anketill who ofered to create the horn. “Brian – who owned Impressions, an interiors shop, at that time – was a beachcomber, so fashioning a piece of kelp into an instrument was an interesting and exciting challenge for him,” she said. “Blowing the device was another story. It required a particular talent and a code similar to Morse Code was developed to indicate where the whales had been sighted.”

According to Anne, there was no chairman of the informal panel called the Business Support Group but world-renowned restaurateur, Michael Olivier, then owner of Burgundy, volunteered to steer the committee. No one took notes at the meetings that were held to get this “grand proposal” of the ground, which means there are no archived records. Memory is the only reference.

Another report tells the story of a visitor to Hermanus exclaiming that the whales in Walker Bay were the

Prior to Pieter Claasen being appointed as Hermanus’ irst whale crier, the local radio station, Radion Kontrei (now KFM) would announce the sighting of whales, by courtesy of community members.

One of these were well-know resident Glenda Pope of the Missions House who became known as the ‘Whale Lady of Hermanus’.

PHOTO: Olivia Schafer

her book Hermanus Stories II, local historian and author, SJ du Toit recalls that Pieter was chosen for the job because he was the only person who get the kelp horn to make a sound.

On Pieter’s retirement, the whale crier position was passed to Wilson Salukazana of Zwelihle, who unselishly shared his considerable understanding of whales – as well as his knowledge of Hermanus – with anyone willing to learn. Tourists were so impressed that he was said to be the most photographed South African after former president Nelson Mandela.

Wilson was invited to represent South Africa as the ‘Only Whale Crier in the World’ in

Manchester in the United Kingdom.

He served an eight-year term before creating Ubuntu Tours, focussing on cultural visits to Zwelihle, and handing over to Godleck Zolile Baleni, who served as the whale crier for the next three years.

Godleck’s successor, Pasika Noboba proved to be another well-loved whale crier. Locals and visitors were kept riveted to the information that he shared with eager enthusiasm.

Eric Davalala followed Pasika. A former parking attendant, he charmed eager whale watchers with his deep understanding of whales, and successfully changed the whale alert from the Morse Code method to one long call.

Today’s whale crier is

Thembinkosi Sobazile, afectionately called Bravo, who sends out the alert when whales are spotted. He has been the man behind the kelp horn for more than two years and, judging from all the whales I have spotted over the past few months, this must have been a busy season for him.

And did the appointment of a whale crier improve business?

“It certainly did,” says Anne. “It deinitely increased the low of visitors to Hermanus – and it put us on the international map.”

Visit www.thevillagenews.co.za for more great stories!

“Pieter’s irst uniform comprised a black-and-white, dome-shaped sandwich board, over a white, collarless, smock-like shirt – made by Di – and black trousers. The call codes were painted on the sandwich board,” Anne recalled.

“Di also made the hat which was a moulded-felt trilby complete with small felt whale tail.”

It must have been a memorable, goose-bump moment for those who heard – and witnessed – the irst whale crier alert in August 1992. And for Pieter it led to local, national and then international recognition. As guest of honour, he was invited to lead the procession of the annual Town Criers Competition held in Topsham in the United Kingdom. In

Did you know?

The World Wildlife Fund recognises Hermanus as one of the 12 best whale watching destinations in the world.

Walker Bay is the mating and breeding ground of Southern Right whales that migrate from the Antarctic in about June to calve and mate. Calving is in August and September and the males arrive for mating in October when the whale population peaks.

Whale-watching season: July to December Whale -watching tours: Land-based: All along The Clif Path - Dreunkrans; Gearing’s Point; Die Gang; Siever’s Point; Kwaaiwater; as well as Voëlklip and Grotto beaches, are popular viewing points By boat By air Guided sea kayaking

Thembinkosi ‘Bravo’ Sobazile is the man behind the kelp horn that alerts eager whale watchers.

9

14 November 2018

I

Octopus for lunch?

have a problem with eating calamari – or cephalopods of any kind. Any animal as smart as an octopus is hard to swallow.

“Eight smart limbs plus a big brain add up to a weird and wondrous kind of intelligence.” So says Peter GodfreySmith, an expert on the brain of an octopus.

MY NEWS Environment THE

Octopuses and their kin (cuttlefish and squid) stand apart from other invertebrates, having evolved with much larger nervous systems and greater cognitive complexity. The majority of neurons in an octopus are found in the arms, which can independently taste and touch and also control basic motions without input from the brain.

“They are probably the closest we will come to meeting an intelligent alien.”

Octopuses became social media second favourites – just behind cats – after an episode of the BBC’s Blue Planet II showed a wily octopus that twice avoids predation by a pyjama shark. First, the octopus somehow weaves an arm into the shark’s gills and stops its breathing long enough to get away. Later, when the octopus is caught outside its den, it suckers up a mess of shells and rolls itself inside them. The bewildered shark pokes at this assembly, and the octopus jets off once again.

There are many more quirky things an octopus is reported to do – some accounts more reliable than others.

Did you know they can walk upright on two arms, or hide inside a coconut, or pretend to be a fish? Did you know an octopus can change the colour and the texture of its skin, and undo the lids of screw-top jars? Did you hear about Otto the octopus, the one in Germany that juggled hermit crabs? He once got so annoyed about the light above his tank that he squirted water at the bulb to short it out! How about the octopus that sneaked into another tank at night

for secret meals of fish?

Captive octopuses can recognise and behave differently toward individual human keepers. In a lab in New Zealand an octopus took a dislike to one member of the staff, and whenever that person passed by, she received a jet of water down the back of her neck.

An octopus mother would rather die than leave her kids. The maternal instinct to protect supersedes an octopus's own need to eat. The octomom will guard her eggs and will ensure that fresh water circulates around them for many months, never leaving them to eat. When the job is done, she dies.

Octopuses are famous for their uncanny ability to blend in – thousands of colour-changing cells in their skin give them the ability to quickly disappear in plain sight. They share this superpower with squid and cuttlefish.

Rampant octo-philia affects our diets, too, with some now calling for octopus to be added to the list of foods that people shouldn’t eat.

“Octopus are too smart to be food,”

Gwyneth Paltrow wrote on Instagram. “I had to stop eating them because I was so freaked out by it.”

Eating live octopuses is a culinary thing, especially in South Korea.

Before you dive in, though, you may want to consider that "octopuses experience the world consciously”, according to one anthropologist. Or, to put it another way, when you take a bite out of a still-squirming octopus, it knows.

But should you ever lunch on a live octopus you may notice that the doomed cephalopod bleeds blue.

This is because octopuses have copper (and not iron) in the blue blood coursing through their system.

As for me? How can I eat anything that plays with toys like a puppy?

- Anina Lee Whale Coast Conservation Sources: https://slate.com/technology/201 8/03/against-the-octopus-theoverrated-cephalopod.html https://www.scientificamerican.co m/article/the-mind-of-anoctopus/

MARINE CONSERVATION HERO This image of Wilfred Chivell, founder of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) and CEO of Marine Dynamics, was created by local naturalist, illustrator and photographer, Duncan Butchart. He is the author and editor of numerous articles and books on wildlife, including Wildlife of South Africa and Garden Birds in Southern Africa (Struik Nature). Duncan, a specialist in ecotourism communication who has travelled the globe drawing inspiration from nature, is also the creator of the beautiful seabird pamphlet for pelagic birding cruises with the DICT’s eco-tourism partners, Marine Dynamics and Dyer Island Cruises.

As a dear friend of DICT, he completed this arty image of Wilfred, who coined the term ‘Marine Big Five’, depicting the whales, dolphins, sharks, seals and penguins of the Dyer Island ecosystem that he loves so dearly. Using the medium of digital painting, Duncan captured all this perfectly well and included seabirds of course. Wilfred was grateful and surprised at this personal image, which Duncan sent to him with the following message: “It’s a present for you Wilfred – in admiration of everything you do for marine conservation.”

You can see more of Duncan’s work at duncanbutchart.wordpress.com or on Facebook (Nature Works – Duncan Butchart) and learn more about the Dyer Island Conservation Trust at www.dict.org.za

10

T

14 November 2018

Organic Fitness opens at Eastcliff Village

he people who work here don’t work for me, they work for Organic Fitness – we are a team,” said Rudolph van der Veen earnestly at the opening of his second gym in the Overberg on Friday 9 November.

THE

NEWS

MY Health

His first gym, Organic Fitness Grabouw, opened last year and was a great success with the community, so much so that Rudolph decided this year to extend his brand to Hermanus.

Rudolph was in the security industry for 18 years before deciding to go into fitness, which was something he has always taken an interest in. He is currently living in Somerset West but makes frequent trips between his two gyms and is looking at relocating to Hermanus in the future.

with hanging space, showers, sinks, toilets and an area in the ladies bathroom where hairdryers can be used and make-up applied. Rudolph has also planned ahead for any power outages with strategically placed LED lights throughout the gym and a glow-in-the-dark ‘landing strip’ in the cardio section to lead the way through all the equipment.

The gym is still awaiting a few pieces of equipment but Rudolph says that the majority of it has arrived and that the spinning room will be functional by the end of this month. The gym itself is neatly organized and painted in the brand’s colours, black and green. Those signing up for a gym membership at Organic Fitness can look forward to enjoying access to all equipment in the gym as well as all of the classes they have on offer.

The gym has a refreshing water fountain where members can fill up their water bottles and Rudolph has joined hands with Anton Bosch, owner at the Running Rabbit downstairs, who has a variety of smoothies, fresh juices and healthy meals to choose from when you’ve finished your gym session. Organic Fitness is also situated across from the spa, Bliss, for those who want to relax or pamper themselves after a workout.

The equipment is logically placed in different areas throughout the gym, which includes a free weights section, circuit section, cardio section, plate-loaded section and a studio where several classes such as yoga, Pilates, Zumba and more will be offered.

THE ORGANIC FITNESS TEAM Back from left are Aiden (Sales), Tanya (Reception), Jean-Louis (Sales), Keith (Club General Manager) and Miguel (Fitness). In front are Morné (Fitness), Rudolph (Owner and MD) and Anthony (Fitness). Absent from the photo are Lauren (Fitness), Sipho (Maintenance), Victor (Maintenance) and Pru (Regional Fitness Manager).

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

“We have such an amazing view of the mountains from the gym that members will really enjoy during their workouts,” says Rudolph.

“There is nothing better – so come and join the Organic Fitness Hermanus family!”

The free weights section boasts a soundabsorbent floor made up of rubber and cork, a variety of benches, dumbbell weights ranging from 2,5 kg to 50 kg and a mix of barbells. The circuit section includes machines that focus on different muscles in the body such as legs, arms, back, chest, abs and glutes. The cardio section

proudly hosts wireless rowers which can be connected to one another, true-incline elliptical trainers and a long line of state-ofthe-art treadmills. The bright yet naturally-lit studio is filled with yoga balls, mats, aero-bics steps, a battle rope, skipping ropes and medicine balls among a range of other

equipment.

The studio, spinning room and gym are each linked up to their own sound system, allowing for the appropriate music to be played for classes or workouts. The music is also rigged to play in the bathrooms, which comprise lockers

Organic Fitness is open from 05:00 – 21:00 from Monday to Thursday, 05:00 – 20:00 on Fridays and 07:00 – 18:00 on Saturdays and public holidays. Find them upstairs at the Eastcliff Village Centre in Fairways Avenue. For more information pay them a visit, give them a call on 021 205 3387 or visit their website www.organicfitness.co.za

11

14 November 2018

Y

Becoming the person you’re meant to be

ou only have one life, and you need to live it to the fullest. And despite the inevitable setbacks we all face and the challenges that life throws at us, we must have hope. If you are without hope, then it is time to take charge of your life and change yourself to become the person you are meant to be.

That was the message from well-known local actor and winner of the first season of Survivor South Africa, Hykie Berg at a gala dinner at The One, Heaven and Earth on Friday, 9 November hosted

by Seeff Hermanus in aid of people suffering from drug addiction.

According to Paul Kruger, principal of Seeff Hermanus, the company undertook this charitable project to assist in raising funds for the support and rehabilitation of Hermanus youth and thus rebuilding families affected by drug dependency or substance abuse issues. Together with specialists in this field, Seeff Hermanus has established the One Life programme specifically to achieve this.

According to him their mission is to make a concrete contribution to the community by offering safe and secure support for families in distress.

The inaugural One Life gala evening was attended by 180 guests from as far afield as Stellenbosch and Paarl. Seeff Hermanus said the gala evening is set to become an annual event, and in future they would build on its success to extend the project in the Western Cape as well as nationally.

“The gala evening was an evening of fun and entertainment graciously sponsored by a range of companies and individuals, including The One, which sponsored the venue, guest speaker Hykie Berg, guest speaker Wouter Snyman, philanthropist and author of Ordinary Millionaire and three bestsellers on Amazon, and guest speaker Cole Davids from Tehilla Centre, who was caught up in the web of substance abuse and has been on the path of rehabilitation for

the past 13 years. Entertainment and music were sponsored by local band, Rewind and the sumptuous three-course dinner plus wine was sponsored by Creation,” said Susan McCarthy of Seeff Hermanus.

Four local chefs, Madré Malan of Eatery, Shane Sauvage of La Pentola, Petri Hendriksz of Pear Trea and Char’d, and Vaughan van Blerk and Charl du Preez of Spookfontein contirbuted to the auction by offering their services for a private dinner in your own home. Wines from Creation and Bartho Eksteen were also on offer.

“Even though this event only took place on Friday, the wheels have already been set in motion to facilitate change and support in the Hermanus area,” said Susan. “A speaking engagement has already been booked with Hykie for early 2019 where we will afford as many children and families as possible the opportunity to listen to his heartfelt story about how he turned his life around for the better. Even though we as a real estate company, are not directly involved with the rehabilitation of addicts, we do believe that rebuilding families ties in closely in with our ‘Home is Our Story’ tagline and values.”

For more information, contact Susan on 028 316 3171.

ABOVE: Simoné Visagie (left) with guest speaker Hykie Berg, Sinet Vogel and Corné Visagie at the One Life gala evening held at The One Heaven and Earth. BELOW: Wouter Snyman, philanthropist and author of Ordinary Millionaire and three bestsellers on Amazon.

PHOTO: Kürt Krause

12 THE

NEWS

14 November 2018

MY Home

HARCOURTS HERMANUS The tightly-knit Harcourts Hermanus team gathered for an evening of celebrations with friends, family members and clients at the official opening of their newly renovated office in Main Road on 31 October. Harcourts Hermanus has shown tremendous growth since setting foot in the Overstrand in August last year, when Principal Jana Smith, who hails from Louis Trichardt, started with a small team at their Onrus office. They opened a second office in Kleinmond in October last year, and this 150year-old traditional Hermanus fisherman’s cottage in Main Road is their third office. They now employ 26 property professionals and have expanded their area to include not only Onrus and Vermont, but the whole Overstrand region from Kleinmond to Voëlklip, and now also Gansbaai. Their phenomenal success can be attributed to the astute leadership and 35 years’ experience of Principal, Jana Smith. Add to that commitment and teamwork, and the positive energy of this highly professional and motivated team, and your property journey is guaranteed to be a pleasant and stress-free one. For sales and rentals of residential, commercial and industrial properties, visit hermanus.harcourts.co.za or contact 028 316 2980 / 082 895 9034.

Gas Installations 028 312 2020

13

14 November 2018

SAFE CYCLING to protect riders

I

n an effort to protect bike riders on the road, Project SAFE CYCLING has been established on weekends and Wednesdays with the cooperation of law enforcement officials, the Hawston Cadets and the Hermanus Cycling Club.

Jacqui Jackson, who along with Franklin Haman is managing the project, said: “We had our first ride on Saturday which was accompanied by various law enforcement agencies and we are absolutely elated about how the community, in such a short time, has pulled together this project.”

On Saturdays and Sundays, a law enforcement vehicle will patrol the area from the Sandbaai traffic lights to the Kleinmond turnoff from 06:00 – 08:00 in summer and 07:00 – 09:00 in winter.

On Wednesdays, the ‘Pain Train’ will be accompanied by a patrol car or personal vehicles from 05:30 at Engen petrol station in Sandbaai. A vehicle will provide a roof light and ‘Cyclist in Transit’ stickers.

According to Jacqui, the main reason for this project is the hijackings, accidents and attacks on cyclists in the past year, but she says: “I am also doing this to help our community to be aware that the roads are not there for cars and motorbikes only, but also for cyclists.”

Project SAFE CYCLING first started as a community project with the Hawston Cadets as part of the ‘Stay Wider of the Rider’ initiative. The Cadets will continue to support the project by standing on the road with posters during the morning on weekends.

This is a trial-and-error project which will be streamlined and modified as it develops.

New cyclists are welcome to join the club through the Facebook page (Hermanus Cycling, Running and Swimming Forum) or by sending Jacqui a WhatsApp on 076 043 3377 to be added to the Cycle Buddies WA Group. Safe cycling out there and remember: Safety First.

Sports Club making strides The long-awaited Hermanus Sports Club (HSC) is gradually nearing completion, with some of the activities almost ready for use.

courts will be completed. Four squash courts are under construction and the Clubhouse, with a restaurant and bar, should be completed by April 2019.

Tony O’Hagan, HSC Chairman, says: “The development is on track and we look forward to the Hermanus Sports Club being the sporting mecca of the Overberg. Next on our wish list, to add further value to the precinct, would be the construction of an aquatic centre.”

Mathew Browne’s Pro Active Fitness Gym, currently situated in the Hermanus industrial area, will relocate to the HSC, behind the Old Boys Club, at the end of next year after the building has been completed.

Within the next weeks, six tennis courts and two netball

HSC has been approached about the construction of a skate park, but no concrete proposal has yet been received.

Funds needed to keep BMX on track Construction of what will be the only BMX track in the Western Cape has started at the sports fields behind the Astro turf, as part of the new Hermanus Sports Club. But R200 000 in donations are needed to help pay for finishing the track, as well as installing an electrical start gate. Donations of old BMX bikes are also required.

These will be fixed up and kept at the club for use by all members of the wider community. Rickus Muller, of Overberg BMX, a non-profit club, is already seeing interest from riders in Cape Town who want to come and race over weekends. He believes that the club will get the opportunity to host national competitions, but he has even bigger ambitions. “My dream is that someone from Hermanus will go to the Olympics,” he said. For more information contact Rickus on 064 785 9417 or overbergbmxclub@gmail.com

14

G

14 November 2018

The Global Challenge Pro Am a huge success

reetings to you all from a very busy Hermanus Golf Club. Last week the weather definitely played along for our big international tournament, The Global challenge. Our greens were running in excess of 10 on the stimp meter, which for the layman means that maybe, on some greens, don’t take your putter cover off as you don’t want to hit it hard at all!

Play got under way promptly at 09:00 on Friday and having a one-tee start meant there was a steady stream of players teeing it up all morning.

Having a Pro Am is a great format to get to play with the professionals, as one lady professional tees up with a group of three amateur players. From what I saw, these ladies really play a fantastic game, hitting the ball long and straight! All my members who played in the Pro Am were extremely impressed with the ladies, although some did confess that they felt very

Scores at a glance

The Putting Pirate

SUNDAY MIXED 4 NOVEMBER 4 Ball Alliance 2 score to count 40 players Winners: David and Alison Buckmaster together with Alan and Ellen Davies 71 points Runners-up: Chris and John Pearce together with Mike and Lyndsay Harper - 69 points.

Julian Shaw

intimidated by a lady out-driving them by 50 metres!

Your pirate sails to Sun City Last week I was fortunate enough to be taken up to Sun City to see the Nedbank Challenge Pro Am. I haven’t been back to Sun City for over 20 years and it was a fantastic experience to revisit this world-class resort.

We saw all the great players – Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, Beefy Johnson and many more – in this 72-man world-class field. In the after-noon we had a Q&A with six young Pros,

including the up-and-coming great from China, Haotong Li. This is a man to watch on two fronts – one is obviously his ability to bat the little ball around but the second is that he also has an amazing affinity for getting on with people. His great sense of humour is a brilliant bonus in this game.

Interestingly, the subject came up about him missing a small putt last week to win the tournament and beat world number one Justin Rose, and as quick as a flash he chirped with a big smile: “Hey, at least I put a million (dollars) in the account!”

Karate development event a huge success

LADIES’ TUESDAY Betterball Stableford 39 players Winners: Heinke Douglas and Toni Upton - 45 points Runners-up: Janet Swarts and Ellen Davies - 44 points

Ex world number one Rory McIlroy.

Overberg Karate Federation (OKF) hosted National Junior Karate Coach, Sensei Mario Boer, to instruct at Hawston Primary school on Saturday, 3 November.

This session was part of a hugely successful triangu-lar event held over three weekends that consisted of visits by the National Chief Referee for South Africa on 18 August and the Chief Instructor of the SA Japanese Karate Association on 26 October.

As a result, the OKF has 11 new regional referees and afforded 130 development and elite athletes access to the most experienced individuals in their field. Learners from Protea Park in Kleinmond, Hawston, Mount Pleasant, Zwelihle, Hermanus, Genadendal and Caledon attended.

The success of this triangular event has led to the

MEN’S WEDNESDAY Betterball Medal 144 players Winners: East course: Tony Runkel and Pete Bouwer - nett 61; South course: Tony Behagg and Peter Sulley - nett 64 C/I; North course: Kruger van der Walt and Jan Swanepoel - nett 61; Best gross: Louis Bester - 74

idea of hosting it annually in Hermanus. A lot of time and effort went into organising the event and it could not have happened without the support of the Overberg Sports Council’s executives, whose assistance with funding was much needed.

To this end, we would like to thank Mr Julius Swart, Principal of Hawston Primary, for making the hall available as well as Mr Kobus Vermeulen, Executive Head of Curro Hermanus, for providing the school bus to get all the learners to the venue.

“As Chairman of the OKF I would like to thank my executive members and all parties involved in making this Development Triangular Event a success, and also the instructors for their continued dedication to the karate kids,” said Sensei Ronnie Knott of Hermanus.

15

14 November 2018

Team South triumphs at The Global Challenge It was all happening at the Hermanus Golf Club this past weekend! Professional women golfers teed up on Saturday morning for Round 1, and Round 2 on Sunday concluded with Team Southern Hemisphere holding up the Ralph Walton Trophy, winning it back from last year’s winners, the Northern Hemisphere.

There was no prize fund at this international tournament. The dynamic professionals who participated used their social media platforms to raise funds for local charities in the #BangTheDrum campaign. Over R100 000 has been raised so far.

The winners of this year’s Global Challenge, Team South, with the Ralph Walton Trophy.

You can still pledge on The Global Challenge website. Just go to theglobalchallenge.co.za and click on ‘Please Pledge’ . The beneficiary is the Full Tummy Fund, which will assist local charities associated with The Global Challenge – Learn to Earn, Just Care Aftercare and the Overstrand Association for People with Disabilities (OAPD).

“A huge thank you to the people of the Overstrand for supporting us, and to all the sponsors and partners who made this event possible,” said Tania Fourie, founder and organiser of The Global Challenge.

“The public was privileged to have world-class golf on our doorstep and all the professional women golfers have promised to return in 2019.

Dates for The Global Challenge 2019 will be announced shortly.”

PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer

Paralympian golfer Monique Kalkman of the Netherlands (Team North.)

Team North performing the dance moves from the latest internet craze, Baby Shark.

14 November 2018

16

MY SCHOOL Curro swimmers excel in gala

Sophia wins gold!

At the annual SANESA prize giving, on Saturday 3 November in Paarl, Sophia Byleveld received gold medals for the following: Dressage A, Dressage B, Showjumping A, Showjumping B, Equitation, Working Rider and Working Hunter. She also received the following trophies: Showjumping in the Overberg, Dressage in the Overberg, Working Riding in the Overberg, Equitation in the Overberg and High School Rider of the Year.

Thanks to her coach, Sarah Milton of ECO Kleinmond.

Go online for the full story.

Sophia and her horse, Lucky Lucy, during a showjumping event.

Lilly Ricco (middle) as a level 2 swimmer came irst in the 100m back stroke and the 100m freestyle, irst in the 50 m back stroke and butterly, and achieved second place in the 200m individual medley.

Curro Hermanus Aquatics Club (CUHE) took part in the Freda Barnard Invitational Gala that was hosted in Oudtshoorn from 2 – 4 November. A total of 29 clubs with 385 swimmers took part. CUHE came 16th overall in the competition. The results are as follows:

Visit www.thevillagenews.co.za for the full stories from your school

Laurent Blom – Qualiied for Level 3; achieved 3rd place in 100m freestyle and 2nd place in the 100m breast stroke.

Marc de Villiers – Remains at Level 1 but is creeping up to Level 2; came 7th in the 100m back stroke, 5th in the 50m back stroke; 8th in 100m breast stroke.

Ludwig Kumpf – Still at Level 1 but improving his times with every gala; came 9th in the 100m back stroke, 7th in 50m back stroke.

Lilly Ricco – Level 2: Came irst in the 100m back stroke and also won the 100m freestyle, came irst in the 50m back stroke and the 50m butterly; came 2nd in the 200m Individual Medley.

Lian Swanepoel, grade 9 learner of Curro Hermanus inished 2nd in the CSMX Enduro (Junior) Regional Motorcycle race held in Ceres over the weekend.

Delarey Roberts – Remains at Level 1; Came 13th in the 200m breast stroke.

Deandre Smit – Now at Level 2; came 8th in the 100m breast stroke.

Meghan Stapelberg – Level 2; achieved 7th place in the 200m breast stroke; and 7th in the 100m freestyle (improved her time by 3,69 sec in the 100m freestyle and by 3,13 sec in the 100m breast stroke).