The Village NEWS 14 Oct - 21 Oct 2020

THE VILLAGE

NEWS

14 OCTOBER 2020 YOUR FREE COPY #ALLOVEROVERBERG The next issue of The Village NEWS will be out on 21 October 2020.

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One of the last two sculptures to be installed at Gearing’s Point to complete the 2020 Pioneer Freight Sculpture on the Cliffs exhibition is The View by Jean Theron Louw. This sculpture depicts two baboons made in stainless steel mesh, the one reclining and the other looking frantically through a telescope, while balancing precariously on a life boat. The viewer, too, is invited to look through the eyepiece which reveals two images with a stark message. Read more on P9.

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

Stand against poaching needed Writer De Waal Steyn

W

e will not let up on the pressure against illegal poaching and poachers, and will continue to confiscate abalone that is illegally removed from our oceans,” said Brig Donovan Heilbron, SAPS Cluster Commander for the Overberg.

This follows a week of high tension in Kleinmond after Clarence Drive was blocked by burning tyres and protesting poachers pelted motorists with stones. The blockade followed the arrest of five men for possession of abalone. Diving equipment was also seized. One man was arrested for public violence after the protest.

to stop a bakkie carrying poached abalone, and a chase and shoot-out ensued. The poachers fled with most of their loot in another vehicle after the member’s vehicle collided with the bakkie.

One bag of perlemoen left behind by the poachers was confiscated.

Heilbron said the cases against the five men arrested last week would be handed over to a senior detective from the cluster. “We have decided to do this as some of the suspects are implicated in other investigations as well. By combining the investigations, we will be able to link the perpetrators to a number of illegal activities.”

On Sunday, several shots were fired at poachers by a member of the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) after a high-speed chase in Pringle Bay.

He said that Operation Phakisa, launched late last year under the joint auspices of several departments, would continue at full force. “The members of the operation met last week to discuss the way forward and we are confident we will be able to apply continued pressure on illegal poaching activities.”

According to Heilbron, the DEFF member tried

Last year DEFF said the presence of integrated

teams consisting of border police, fisheries’ officials, nature conservation and local law enforcement officials had resulted in a noticeable reduction in poaching activities.

ised for 25 October in Kleinmond and we will make use of that opportunity to say: ‘Enough is enough’.”

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on abalone poaching, with the ban on the use of beaches strictly enforced and very few illegal export opportunities presenting themselves, due to the world-wide restriction on travel and imports and exports.

According to SAPS, during last Monday’s protest, poachers attacked SAPS members with stones and rocks and later blocked the road with burning tyres. Several vehicles were damaged, and people were injured. Daily Maverick reported that one of its columnists, Ismail Lagardien, sustained serious injuries when a brick smashed through his car window in the Overhills area.

Kleinmond Councillor Grant Cohen said he was planning a public meeting with all stakeholders for later this week in the fight against abalone poaching. “There needs to be a concerted effort to curb poaching by all sectors of society and we must send out a unified message that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable.

In December the Western Cape Parliament announced that the South African Police Service would be reclassifying abalone poaching as a serious priority crime, classified in terms of Section 16 of the South African Police Service Act.

“We need to bring a sense of pride back to our towns and realise how fortunate we are to live here. For that reason alone poaching must be stopped. A march against crime is being organ-

A recent report by TRAFFIC, an NGO that monitors wildlife trade, says that approximately 96 million abalone were illegally harvested between 2000 and 2016 in South Africa. Most of the abalone ends up on the Asian market.

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Beachcombing in the digital age Writer Elaine Davie

T

he question is, what treasures of the sea are beachcombers searching for in this digital age? The answer is simple: anything and everything that can be turned into data describing the state of health of our coastal environment.

At least, that is what 31 smartly-turned-out young interns from Hermanus Varsity (HV) will be doing for the next two months. You may come across them somewhere between Vermont and De Kelders in small teams of six any day of the week.

They have just completed a gruelling year-long theoretical course in Criminal Law Enforcement in the Marine Environment, presented by Nelson Mandela University. Since the course comprises a mix of face-to-face lectures, online input and tutorials, the experience during lockdown has been particularly stressful for the young students, most of them straight from school. Now the time has come for them to put some of their newly-acquired knowledge to work and they are fired up with enthusiasm.

Kitted out with smart new hats, jackets, shoes and masks, they will be patrolling a stretch of coast approximately 40 km in length and are already finding the going tougher than they expected.

Although they are all local youngsters from Hawston, Zwelihle and Masikhane and familiar with the area, they are discovering that walking long distances along the beach is no joke. (Just ask the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Ladies!) One thing is for sure, by the end of November, they’ll be a whole lot fitter than they were at the start.

As it is, the exercise involves a lot more than just a pleasant walk on the beach. Each member of each small team has a specific role to play in collecting, processing and analysing the information they gather along the way. This includes noting beach strandings, pollution, the movements of birds, fishing activity and the content of catches.

They will be talking to fishers, tracking changing patterns in the local marine ecology and measuring and describing fish and other marine animals like starfish and octopus.

need to be aware of the legal framework within which it takes place. As we know, poaching is rife in our area and it is not our intention to expose the students to any danger, but they need to filter their findings through an understanding of the law enforcement provisions currently available.”

After only a few days on the job, Johann Kruger, HV’s Communications Co-ordinator says he can already see which students are the true environmentalists. “They are the ones who are picking up the differences between old birds and young ones, who are seeing the details and asking the right questions. But it’s not just the eco-system they’re learning more about, it’s themselves as well. They’ll be different people at the end of it.”

CapeNature is playing a supervisory role in the internship and HV is planning to make a documentary of the process. At its conclusion, they will organise an experiential debriefing, allowing the students to express themselves through role play, art and storytelling.

“We believe these youngsters will be eminently employable at the end of their course,” says Delana Finlayson, CEO of the HVT. They could be appointed as peace officers in a number of environmental contexts, or, indeed, as coastal rangers or guides. In fact, we’re hoping that the Overstrand Municipality will be able to appoint some of them, at least during high season, to patrol the cliff paths and answer visitors’ questions about the coastal ecology.

“We have already seen how much their language skills improved and how their self-confidence grew as the course progressed; the internship will provide the extra polish to round it off. They have knowledge of the local birds, fish, animals and plants and they are bursting with enthusiasm – what better PR could you want for our region?”

In fact, the Varsity’s School of Environmental Studies is itself planning all sorts of exciting activities for the December holidays with its students, including guided coastal walks, outdoor movies with an environmental focus, a Wine and Whales Evening and storytelling sessions for children.

According to Kirsten Neke, Co-ordinator for the School of Environmental Studies at HV, this will be the first time such an intensive study of our coastline has been undertaken and as such, the data gathered will be of immense importance in shaping future conservation planning.

In the meantime, plans for next year’s School of Environmental Studies courses are well advanced.

It is to be hoped that WWF will be in a position to fund the same Marine Law Enforcement course next year and the School will be introducing an aquaculture course from Stellenbosch University, as well as one on agro-ecology (sustainable farming) and a Marine Tourist Guide Course.

“The emphasis of the course is on coastal protection as a whole, which means that the students

For further information visit www.hermanusvarsity.co.za.

PHOTO: Johann Kruger

14 October 2020

De Bos Dam overflows The welcome rain that fell over the past week has pushed the level of the De Bos Dam to the 100% mark, with water spilling down the overflow wall over the weekend.

a rainfall total of 40 mm was measured, in June we received another 115 mm, in July 90 mm, in August a whopping 143 mm and in September 81 mm.

Hanré Blignaut, Deputy Director: Engineering Planning at the Overstrand Municipality, said he is elated that the dam filled up during the winter rainfall season. “Just as the rainy season started in June this year the level of the dam was at 35%, the lowest level since May 2011, when a record low of 18.6% was recorded.

Historically the average rainfall for Hermanus during the period May to September is 70 mm per month, compared to this year’s 93 mm. Combined with the 39 mm that fell during the first 10 days of October, the total rainfall for the year to date comes to 642 mm, compared to the long-term average of 447 mm for the period January to September over the past 50 years. The total annual average rainfall for Hermanus over the past 50 years is 626 mm, a number that was last reached in 2014.

“We have seen the level rise weekly during the past few months and we are blessed that we have had such a good season,” he said. Last year, the dam was at 44% at the end of September, and it was at 66.93% at the same time in 2018.

The De Bos Dam was last full in 2016, despite the start of a devastating drought in other parts of the Western Cape that saw the imposition of severe water restrictions in large areas of the province, with residents trying to survive on less than 80 litres of water per day.

This year was one of the wettest winters the region has experienced since 2013. In May,

According to Blignaut the water services bylaw will remain in place, which requires that no irrigation may take place between 9:00 and 17:00 daily.

“This is simply good practice, to limit evaporation during the generally warmest period of the day. When it comes to saving water and adhering to water restrictions, a municipality must have the buy-in from residents sticking to regulations,” he said.

– De Waal Steyn

Notice of Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of Hermanus Public Protection (HPP), which is the management body of the Hermanus Special Rating Area (HSRA), will be held at 18h00 on Thursday, 5 November 2020 at the Municipal Auditorium, Civic Centre, Overstrand Municipality.

As COVID-19 regulations may still be in place, the number of attendees will be restricted. Property owners within the HSRA who wish to attend, must register via email: info@hpp.org.za. Please provide your full name, ERF number and contact number. Attendees will be selected on a firstcome-first-served basis, with only one attendee permitted per property.

Registration to attend will commence on 23 October 2020. Only property owners who have registered to attend, will be allowed in. Owners will receive confirmation notifications via e-mail by 2 November 2020.

The meeting will commence at 18h00 sharp, however, attendees must be at the venue at 17h00 to allow time for the compulsory health screening. Masks must be worn. Further communication will follow via e-mail and the HPP website.

Property owners within the HSRA are also encouraged to register as members of HPP-NPC, as only members can vote on resolutions or matters pertaining to HPP-NPC. To register for membership, visit the HPP website.

The agenda, chairperson’s report and HPP’s financial statements (AFS) will be available on the HPP website ahead of the meeting. Please visit www.hpp.org.za. Please direct enquiries via email to the HPP Manager at manager@hpp.org.za

Kennisgewing van Algemene Jaarvergadering Die Algemene Jaarvergadering van Hermanus Public Protection (HPP), die bestuursliggaam van die Hermanus Spesiale Aanslag Gebied (HSAG) sal gehou word in die Munisipale Ouditorium, Burgersentrum Overstrand Munisipaliteit om 18h00 op 5 November 2020 Weens die huidige Covid-19 inperkingsmaatreëls sal daar ‘n beperking wees op die bywoningsgetal. Eiendomseienaars binne die HSAG wat wel die vergadering wil bywoon sal per epos moet registreer by info@hpp.org.za. Verskaf asseblief u volle name, Erf nommer en kontaknommer. Toelating tot bywoning sal geskied op ‘n basis van “eerste registreerders kry voorkeur” en slegs een persoon per geregistreerde eiendom sal mag bywoon.

Die registrasie-proses vir bywoning sal in aanvang neem op 23 Oktober 2020. Slegs eienaars wat geregistreer het sal toegelaat word om by te woon en sal by wyse van epos korrespondensie bevestiging hieromtrent ontvang teen 2 November 2020.

Die vergadering sal stiptelik om 18h00 begin maar persone wat die vergadering bywoon moet reeds om 17h00 by die lokaal wees om voldoende tyd toe te laat vir die nakoming van die verpligte Covid-19 protokolle . Die dra van maskers is verpligtend. Verdere korrespondensie sal volg via epos en die HPP webblad.

Eiendomseienaars binne die HSAG word ook aangemoedig om te registreer as lede van die HPPNie Winsgewende Maatskappy. Slegs lede het stemreg oor besluite en ander sake rakende die maatskappy. Om te registreer besoek asseblief die HPP Webtuiste.

Monitoring all aspects of the marine and coastal eco-system from Vermont to De Kelders is the task given to 31 Hermanus Varsity students for their course internship. It’s a responsibility they take seriously, but that doesn’t preclude them from having fun. At a local tidal pool, from left: Prince Munemo, Simbonile Mhlomi, Lydia Tom and Sindisiwe Mhathuna.

Die agenda, asook die voorsittersverslag en HPP se Finansiële state sal voor die aanvang van die vergadering op die HPP webtuiste beskikbaar wees. Besoek asseblief www.hpp.org.za. Indien u enige navrae het kan u dit rig aan die HPP Bestuurder by manager@hpp.org.za

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www.thevillagenews.co.za

14 October 2020

A fawn is born T

o everyone's delight, the rescued Cape grysbokkie that was found near the old ‘circus grounds’ on Main Road on 15 September, gave birth to a healthy fawn at 06:26 on Thursday morning, 8 October. Mom and baby are both doing well.

"We would like to thank Danie and Sonja van Zyl, who have been looking after the bokkie (and now also baby) on their farm in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley at their own cost. Due to their loving and caring nature, the bokkie is recovering well and the fawn is safe,” said Liezl de Villiers, Senior Manager: Environmental Management Services of the Overstrand Municipality.

Whale Coast Conservation, whose eagle-eyed chameleon rescue volunteers first spotted the injured grysbokkie, shared the story of her rescue with The Village NEWS (All hands on deck to

rescue grysbokkie, 23 September issue).

The obvious first call was to the chameleon project leader, Whale Coast Conservation’s Sheraine van Wyk, who in turn alerted the Fernkloof Senior Field Ranger, Dean Gardiner.

After capturing and sedating the grysbokkie, she was transported to the Bergview Veterinary Clinic where Dr Maarten van Dalsen took X-rays to inspect her injuries more closely.

She was found to not only have a fracture in one half of her cloven hoof, but also to be pregnant. Her hoof was put into a splint and she was kept overnight at the Fernkloof Nature Reserve until a suitable safe place could be found for her to recover. Sheraine then made contact with the Van Zyls, who were more than willing to assist with looking after and caring for the bokkie.

They have experience in wildlife rehabilitation and had a perfect space on their farm where she could recover in peace, and eventually give birth safely.

The Overstrand Municipality’s Environmental Department would like to thank Sheraine and the Van Zyls, who are giving up their space, time and own funds to feed and take care of the grysbokkie and her fawn. “We would especially like to thank Dr Maarten and his team from Bergview Vet for their professional veterinary assistance and for funding all the vet bills from their own charity fund for the love of our wildlife. Thank you, Dr Maarten that we can always knock on your door and know that we will never be turned away,” said Liezl.

Mom and baby will be released in Fernkloof Nature Reserve once they are strong and healthy.

CBD stormwater upgrades on track The stormwater upgrades in Main Road, Marine Drive and High Street, as well as in Mimosa and Prelliwitz Streets in the Industrial Area are on track and progress is currently in line with the planned construction programme.

Several incidents of unleashed dogs terrorising antelope in Fernkloof Nature Reserve have recently been reported. “One terrified grysbok was flushed out of hiding and seen frantically dashing through Voëlklip streets,” says Anina Lee of Whale Coast Conservation. “Tortoises and other small animals are also seen as prey by dogs.”

According to the Overstrand Municipality, no significant challenges have been experienced by the contractor to date. The anticipated completion date for this project is 30 April 2021.

Project status report: Phase 1 - Area 1 (Marine Drive and parking area) • Construction on Marine Drive is 90% completed and the parking area is open for vehicle parking.

Pedestrian access and movement is possible.

Phase 1 - Area 2 (Hamewith building) • The construction is 80% completed. Only the stormwater connection point, from Main Road to the entrance of the Hamewith building still has to be completed.

Phase 1 - Area 3a (Main Road)

Dogs threaten fauna and flora

The majority of nature reserves in South Africa do not allow domestic animals into the reserves. There are good reasons for this. Nature reserves are havens created to support, protect and conserve the flora and fauna in these wilderness areas. A balance must be found between allowing access to enjoy nature reserves whilst continuing to protect them.

It is anticipated that Main Road will reopen for traffic at the end of October.

• 70% of the construction works has been completed. The anticipated re-opening of Main Road is planned for the last week of October 2020.

Phase 1 - Area 3b (Dirkie Uys Street)

• Construction work commenced in the first week of October 2020.

Phase 2 - Area 2 & 3 (High Street) • Construction work for this phase will commence during the month of October 2020, as planned.

“Dog walking is one issue where this balance is difficult,” says Anina. “The fact is that dogs in reserves can cause a significant amount of damage, mostly unnoticed by visitors. International research has shown that dogs in natural areas, on or off a lead, result in displacement of many species of wildlife, particularly birds. Not only

does this negatively affect the biodiversity of the area, but in turn impacts on ecotourism, including bird watching, which is an increasingly popular pastime throughout the world. Dogs by their very nature are hunters, whilst birds and small animals, by their nature, are prey.”

In Hermanus, dogs on leads are allowed on the Cliff Path (part of Fernkloof since 2000) and on certain routes in the Fernkloof mountains.

This is a big concession in a nature reserve – not a right.

“We urge all dog owners to respect this concession, to keep dogs on leads and pick up after them. The truth is that dog poo is not harmless to the environment. It may introduce pathogens or simply too many nutrients for the fynbos. Furthermore, many dogs are routinely treated with systemic insecticides such as Bravecto, which is excreted unchanged and could kill any insects in the area, especially dung beetles,” says Anina. “Please respect the privilege of walking your best friend in a world-famous nature reserve.”

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www.thevillagenews.co.za

14 October 2020

Preparing for a future of high-flying tourism tures’ bid was accepted.

Writer Elaine Davie

H

ave you ever yearned to ‘fly through the air with the greatest of ease, like that daring young man on the flying trapeze’? If you have, it’s not too late, irrespective of your age.

Hermanus-based Clinton Lerm of SA Forest Adventures has just launched his latest zipline installation in the Harkerville forests between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay and according to him, his popular Mossel Bay zipline – the longest in the world over the ocean – regularly hosts tourists over the age of 90. (What’s there to lose, might as well throw caution to the wind and live dangerously!)

Not many people have the courage to launch a new tourism project in the middle of a pandemic, but the Knysna project has been a long time in the making – three years in fact.

When SANParks called for tenders in 2017, 35 were submitted and Clinton was delighted when SA Forest Adven-

However, because the zipline is located in a designated forest reserve, near the scenic Harkerville picnic site, they were obliged to comply with a number of strict environmental guidelines. As a result, this has been the costliest project they have tackled so far, calling for the use of special materials and minimal disturbance to the natural environment. Even the creation of noise pollution had to be taken into consideration.

The zipline, 200m from the ground, currently comprises four consecutive cables, with short scenic walks through the forest between platforms. It covers a total distance of 2.2 km, but two more cables will shortly be added, extending the length to 3.5 km. However, Clinton explains that the overall experience encompasses much more than just the zipline.

“The beautiful picnic site is already very popular, but the Park officials estimate that their annual turnover of 3 000 to 6 000 visitors, could more than

double with the added attraction of the zipline. So we’re encouraging visitors to make an excursion of it and after the zipline tour enjoy a picnic lunch there. Since launching, we have been offering a half-rate special to South Africans and so far, we’ve been fully booked every day since we opened on 15 September.”

With a boutique hotel in Hermanus, ziplines here, Caledon, Cape Town, Mossel Bay and now Knysna, as well as other adventure activities like quad biking and river rafting, Clinton has his finger on the pulse of the tourist trade in the Western Cape. He says he is generally optimistic about its revival, but it’s not happening as quickly as he had hoped. “Unfortunately, some businesses are simply not going to make it and what I really find scarier than anything else is the number of jobs that are being lost. It’s massive.”

With internal tourism picking up since the advent of Lockdown Level 1, visitors are starting to take weekend trips away, but as he points out, Hermanus and the Whale Coast simply die during the week. “That means we are having to survive on literally eight days’ income per month and in most cases that’s not even enough to cover overheads, let alone make a profit. It’s certainly unsustainable for most accommodation establishments. Some of them are closing altogether during the week and just opening over weekends, but that, of course, has financial implications for the staff as well.

“The other trend we’ve noticed is that potential visitors are far more cost-sensitive than they were before, and they are not booking in advance. They will wait to see what the weather is doing and then literally decide at the last minute to go away, which makes forward planning more difficult.”

Clinton was one of the tourism roleplayers behind the launch of the #WeAreOpen campaign in Hermanus. Here he poses in our famous yellow frame with Masizole Mnqasela, Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament.

In an informal snap survey carried out by Clinton in Mossel Bay, mainly amongst Cape Town visitors, the overwhelming perception was that Hermanus was an expensive destination, hence their decision to bypass

The new 2.2 km zipline which was recently launched near Knysna by Clinton Lerm’s SA Forest Adventures is located in a SANParks reserve and offers spectacular views of the world-famous Knysna forests, as well as the ocean. More than just a zipline, this is a total adventure package. the Whale Coast and head instead to Mossel Bay, despite the extra travelling distance. Comparatively speaking, he says there is no truth to this view, especially at this time when many local service providers are offering heavily subsidised packages.

However, perceptions count and changing them is one of the challenges we face. This is the moment when Clinton believes the Overstrand Municipality should be significantly upping its spend on marketing the Whale Coast. “Tourism is one of the top money spinners for our region,” he states, “and it should be front of mind and in the faces of all potential visitors. A survey conducted a few years ago indicated that only 2 – 4% of travellers on the N2 took the time to turn off it and visit Hermanus.”

Eye-catching signage is critical, he believes, and so is creating the impression that Hermanus is a tourist-friendly town. “We could even move that great big whale sculpture from Market Square to the town’s entrance, adding a large welcoming banner. Be that as it may, as citizens, we should all be putting pressure on the municipality to increase its tourism budget, to ensure that our region stands out above the rest.”

Unfortunately, he thinks it is unlikely that foreign recreational travel will get underway to any significant ex-

tent until January or February 2021.

“It’s all very well for our borders to be semi-open, but one plane-load of visitors does not make a summer; we need a circulation of foreign tourists in the country. Importantly, too, our main source of support – the UK, Europe and America – still remains closed.”

In any case, whether aimed at the local or the international visitor, Clinton believes we need to broaden our tourism focus. As he says, 24 other South African towns are now offering whale-based activities; it is certainly no longer unique to the Whale Coast.

We should be raising the profile of some of our other major attractions – like our superb wine industry, already the second-most-visited wine region in the country. Another major attraction is the diversity of outdoor adventure activities we have on offer, from hiking to cycling, to bird-watching, as well as ocean-based sports like fishing, snorkelling, kite surfing and underwater photography, not forgetting shark cage diving.

The good news is that Clinton is optimistic that local tourism will take off in this region during the December school holidays, which only end around 25 January, when, hopefully, foreign tourists will again begin to arrive in greater numbers to enjoy the unique people and place we are.

All Day Open Day No enrolment fee for enrolments in 2020!

Date: Friday, 30 October 2020 | Time: 09:00 – 14:00

The Hermanus Botanical Society requires the services of a Manager at the Fernkloof Indigenous Nursery. The post will entail work half-days from 08:30 until 13:00 on weekdays and 09:00 to 12:00 on Saturday. The post will initially be on contract for three months, extending if required, until a permanent post can be offered. Salary negotiable, depending on qualifications and experience.

Please contact Di Marais for further details and supply a CV via email.

Cell: 082 462 3624 Email: maraisdianne@gmail.com

We focus on academic excellence. Come and experience the difference!

Starting date for new academic year: 13 January 2021 028 316 4911 tinka.s@curro.co.za

www.curro.co.za

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www.thevillagenews.co.za

14 October 2020

T

he Hemel-en-Aarde Valley proved to be a great wine destination once again, when three producers made Hermanus proud with their remarkable performances at the 2020 Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction.

Ataraxia Under the Gavel Chardonnay 2019 earned a maximum price of R8 500 per 6-bottle case, Newton Johnson Vineyards Windansea Pinot Noir 2017 a maximum of R8 000 per 6-bottle case and the Bartho Eksteen Vloekskoot Sauvignon Blanc 2019 (wooded) a record-breaking R7 000 for a 6-bottle case.

PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

Hemel-en-Aarde wines shine in record-breaking auction LEFT: Having achieved record amounts for his wine at the 2020 Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction, Bartho Eksteen has proven that the success of his Vloekskoot Sauvignon Blanc is no fluke!

BELOW: The annual Nedbank CWG Auction raises international awareness of the outstanding quality of Cape wines.

“This is great news for Sauvignon Blanc,” says Bartho (aka ‘Monsieur Sauvignon Blanc’), who also achieved the highest bids on auction for this varietal in 2017 and 2018.

The 36th Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) Auction hosted by Bonhams in London on 3 October made history with record average prices per case being achieved across the board. An unprecedented and challenging year called for an innovative and charitable approach that resulted in two separate and distinctive online auctions raising a staggering total of R5.15 million.

Here Bartho broke another record by achieving an astounding R12 000 for a 6-bottle case of his Vloekskoot Sauvignon Blanc from six different vintages (2013 – 2018). “That bidder must have had an enormous thirst to be paying R2 000 per bottle!” Bartho quipped.

In support of fellow Guild member Samantha O’Keefe of Lismore Estate near Greyton, who lost her home, winery, and vineyards in a devastating fire earlier this year, the guild

23 October to 1 November

MAGIC ARCH

THE WAR WITH GRANDPA

Animation PG L V

Drama/Comedy TBC

SUMMERLAND Romance/War 10 - 12 PG D P

TROLLS

Animation/Comedy PG V PPS

The Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction alone raised R4.1 million. Vastly different to previous years, the 2020 Auction included only 564 cases (6 x 750ml). This comprised 17 red wines, one fortified wine (a Cape Vintage); and 11 white wines that included two Méthode Cap Classique wines.

The Vinotheque Auction had a two-week run-up to Auction day and concluded with an incredible total of R816 100 being raised for the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust and its Protégé Programme, aimed at nurturing young winemaking talent and supporting wine industry jobs. All the wines for this auction comprised previous CWG Auction greats donated from members’ personal cellars.

What to expect during the school holidays

DRAGON RIDER

Animation/Adventure PG IAT L V

MY SPY

Action/Comedy 13 L V

PHOTO: Supplied members donated the income from the first case of each of their wines on auction to her.

This gesture raised an amount of R223 300.

CWG Chair Andrea Mullineux said that this could only have been possible with the team spirit so evident amongst those involved in the Guild. “It is vital to work toward a common goal together and to support one another, especially through these unprecedented times, for the greater good of our beautiful South African wine industry.”

The interest in South African wines was widespread this year. While 65% of sales went to South African bidders, the balance of the wine went to bidders in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Hong Kong, USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore and Belgium. A record number of 163 bidders registered this year, with 82 from South Africa and 81 buyers from across the

globe.

According to Bonhams Global Director of Wine and Master of Wine, Richard Harvey, an important aim of the annual Nedbank CWG Auction is to raise international awareness of the outstanding quality of Cape wines. “I’m very pleased to say that by attracting a host of new bidders from around the world, we’ve been able to extend the auction’s international reach even further this year,” Harvey said.

The results achieved are a good indication of the world-class quality of wines produced by the Guild members, the immense diversity of South African wines and the continued commitment towards producing classic, characterful and innovative wines.

For more information, visit www.capewinemakersguild.com.

- Hedda Mittner

ANNOUNCEMENT We are excited to announce that the Whale Coast Theatre will be open every day during the school holidays!

We would like to emphasise that all COVID regulations will be adhered to and we would like to encourage patrons to make use of our online booking system.

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www.thevillagenews.co.za

14 October 2020

FROM THE EDITOR

Take a stand against crime The next edition of The Village NEWS will be available on 21 October 2020. The NEWS can be found at over 300 distribution points in the Overberg.

De Waal Steyn

PUBLISHING EDITOR E: dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za T: 083 700 3319

The protest and violence by poachers in Kleinmond last week must be condemned in the strongest terms.

The Overstrand is known for its peace, safety and tranquillity and incidents like this cannot be condoned. Bullies who threaten public safety and tarnish our public image must be brought to book.

There may be a limited level of understanding for those who find themselves on the wrong side of the law if they have been driven to a life of crime due to social circumstances. But to protest, block roads

Hedda Mittner

E: hedda@thevillagenews.co.za T: 083 645 3928

ONLINE EDITOR

E: raphael@thevillagenews.co.za T: 074 125 5854

Elaine Davie

By Murray Stewart murray.stewart49@gmail.com

T

he For Fact’s Sake columns are – according to Google and the Duck ’n Fiddle’s Explanation of Everything – based in truth. Occasionally, however, names and places have been changed to protect innocent people involved.

Psychics and Seers

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Nickey Jackson

No matter who we are, no matter what community we live in, irrespective of race, creed or language, we are all deeply affected by crime and violence.

During this time of economic recovery after the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic has passed, we need to address the social ills that plague our communities and drive them

to crime. The new normal needs to be a space where there are lawful economic opportunities for all. By making a coordinated effort we can improve the quality of life of all people living in our area. This means eliminating poverty, which is a major contributing factor to a climate of crime and violence.

We must remain vigilant and work with the police, neighbourhood watches and other role players to keep our communities safe. Criminals must not be harboured among us. In far too many instances, perpetrators are known to communities

and are sheltered by them.

To weed out criminality we need to stand together, not only to condemn these acts, but also to help to end them.

Our thoughts are with Daily Maverick columnist Ismail Lagardien who is suffering from a broken jaw and a chin fracture after a brick was thrown at him by protesters.

Together we must root out lawless behaviour of this kind. It is not who we are.

This is the good NEWS – Ed

Past Prophets and Potential Presidents

CONTENT EDITOR

Raphael da Silva

and pelt vehicles with stones is unacceptable and those found to be responsible must be arrested. The saying goes: ‘do the crime, and serve the time’.

Throughout history, certain individuals have been granted a paranormal sixth sense, giving them access to information from another dimension which enables them to predict the future. We’re not talking about Madame Rosa with her bohemian gypsy caravan, Pep doek, and nicotine-stained fingers caressing an upside-down fish bowl.

No. We’re looking at prophets/fortune-tellers from the past who mysteriously got it right more often than not. They were selected to savour the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge and, with this insight, they’d hopefully help humanity evolve technically and spiritually, or perhaps forewarn us of impending catastrophes.

An early forerunner to Madame Rosa was the Oracle of Delphi. Although she didn’t have a caravan or nicotine stains, she had her own cave. Periodically, swirls of intoxicating gasses (not hers) wafted from the bowels of the earth through a deep crevice in the cave floor, sending her into a psychedelic swoon that opened her portal to the owner of the fruit tree.

She was consulted before all major undertakings, like impending wars or new colonial acquisitions. She was taken seriously and was obviously pretty good, because Michelangelo painted her portrait in the Sistine Chapel, although he had absolutely no idea what she looked like.

Nostradamus was another famous foreseer. Back then, clairvoyants were deemed heretics, and burnt at the stake. So, with the pungent aroma of braai-ed witch wafting through town, he wrote his prophecies in code to avoid contributing to the swirling stench. Code-writing leaves room for sceptics to interpret things differently, though in reality, he did get things wrong sometimes.

But the fact that he got some things right is baffling on its own.

He predicted King Henry II’s death

from a splinter of shattered lance through his eyeball whilst jousting.

Eish! He predicted the rise of Hitler, but misspelt it Hister (typo?). He also predicted the dates of the French Revolution, both World Wars, the Holocaust, the dissolving of the USSR and Iran’s revolution of 1979.

During the first quarter of this millennium, he foresaw the Twin Towers attack, and various natural disasters – earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods and devastating fires which are constantly in the news. He was spot-on, although he never foresaw a global pandemic.

But guess who this passage could refer to: The next son of an important one will become all powerful in the realm of the privileged, and everyone will be afraid of his greed. ( Well, hellooo Donny...)

Where does this information come from though? Why are only some people like Einstein, Teslar and Stephen Hawking granted access to futuristic cutting-edge science? Like the theory of relativity, a blueprint for space exploration, or the invention of electricity which powers the whole world? How can some folks multiply 3647 by 20.98 in their heads

in a few seconds? It’s just not fair on the rest of us.

So, this access to knowledge from a different dimension is a reality, but most of us aren’t evolved enough to understand it yet, and what we don’t understand we blindly reject.

But if we could see into the future, horse-racing, roulette and insurance policies would be pointless nè?

Bonfire of the Moralities We’re currently waist-deep in a sewer of insults, denials, hyperbole and downright lies in the battle for Earth’s most powerful person. It kicked off with a debacle of a debate.

Then hubris, in the form of Covid-19, dropped a floater in the punchbowl, warning that even the most powerful man on Earth is not spared.

But wounded predators are extremely dangerous and losing is not an option. With personal debt repayments of around $400 million due over the next four years, the Toxic Orange needs the immunity of the Oval Office, or he’s stuffed. So although he’s not a recognised psychic, he’s predicted that if he loses the election, it’s been rigged – and he’s going nowhere. Heaven help us.

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14 October 2020

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

Enjoy our paper. Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za.

Hermanus Siyakha is alive and well The Coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating effect on small businesses in our region, as is evidenced by the empty shops and the number of folk who are now out of work and dependent on social welfare grants.

Hermanus Siyakha, the organisation that provides small, interest-free loans and supportive mentoring to small businesses has not escaped the impact of the last six months.

While not able to process new loans, and with most businesses in lockdown, we were nevertheless able to provide some humanitarian assistance by way of grant offers to needy business owners.

Of the 26 businesses who were recipients of interest-free loans before the lockdown announced in March, most have been unable to operate over the past few months. Throughout this time our mentors remained

in contact with business owners, offering encouragement and moral support during this very difficult period. In addition, all borrowers were granted an extended moratorium on loan repayments, although a number were able to continue monthly capital repayments, largely because of alternative income sources.

The good news is that with the phased lifting of lockdown restrictions, 14 businesses have been able to recommence operations, some of them with the assistance of additional start-up finance from Hermanus Siyakha. A further seven enterprises are dormant and are waiting for market conditions to improve. These businesses are largely in clothing and non-essential goods.

The remaining five businesses appear unlikely to recover, although

we continue to offer what support and encouragement we can.

At the moment Hermanus Siyakha has in excess of R85 000 that has been loaned to existing borrowers, excluding loans that have already been fully repaid. We are very thankful that, due to the continued support of our funders even in these very difficult economic times, our financial position remains healthy.

Given the lessons learned over the last year and particularly during the pandemic, Hermanus Siyakha is in the process of rethinking our business model. We are excited about the possibilities of extending our focus to include more established micro and small enterprises which function well and are in need of both cash injections and mentoring support. These businesses could be

Paul’s solution to pesky pigeons Pesky pigeons are becoming increasingly irritating to Hermanus residents in Fernkloof.

Observant and innovative engineer, Paul Buley, noticed whilst visiting Hilton in KwaZulu-Natal that when a yellow-billed kite was soaring above there was a great flurry of pigeons and they moved somewhere safer.

Checking with resourceful Google he discovered that the Greater London Authority now employs Hawkforce to control the pigeons in places like Trafalgar Square. It is no longer acceptable to feed the birds as recommended by Julie Andrews but instead fines are issued.

Lemmy, a falcon and his owner handler, also a Paul, work between the Houses of Parliament and Charing Cross. Lemmy is fed a diet of chicken scraps but once a day he enjoys getting a bird’s eye view of London and the pigeons have retreated. So it is a humane and environmentally friendly method of control.

During lockdown Paul of Fernkloof made a yellow-billed kite out of an old baking tray. It is

attached to a fence pole and yebo, no more pigeons on our patio. I wonder if the yellow-billed kite ever sings the old refrain: Accept the fact that some days you are the pigeon and some days you are the statue.

Kathie Buley

located throughout our Overstrand community, not necessarily limited to areas of disadvantage.

In this regard we are hoping to be able to augment our present crowd-funding model by partnering with like-minded organisations to provide funds for this extended vision. We are also adapting our mentoring model to make provision for the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic presents and to ensure that the expertise of mentors is optimally utilised.

ness sector through the availability of interest-free loans and mentoring once the situation allows. We are excited to be entering a new phase in our mission to transform communities by building relationships and growing businesses.

Nigel Thatcher Director, Hermanus Siyakha

Unfortunately, because of the restrictions currently in place we have not been in a position to process and issue new loans or engage new mentors. However, we are using this time to position Hermanus Siyakha to be able to make an even more significant impact on the small busi-

Save the new Baboon Hotline The Overstrand Municipality Baboon Management Programme has set up a new hotline for baboon reporting.

The Human Wildlife Solutions (HWS) hotline number will be available for the operational projects in the Eastern Section which includes Voëlklip, Hermanus Heights and Fernkloof, and in the Western Section in Pringle Bay. In these areas, residents can phone the hotline to report sightings and request assistance from HWS. The new number to report baboon issues is 072 028 0008. Please save this number on your phone and delete the previous number as it is used for reporting the Cape Town baboons. When contacting the hotline, always mention the number of baboons seen and the specific address where the baboon(s) were last seen. If you can no longer see the baboon(s), indicate the time frame (how long ago you saw it/them. Whenever possible, please try to report baboons in the urban area immediately.

If you can, also provide the following information: What the baboon was doing (e.g. foraging on the side of the road/ raiding a bin/ entering a house); • Whether the baboon is in the house/ garden or in the road; • Take note if you see any ear tags or collars on the baboon, and what colour the ear tag is.

In those areas where projects are not in operation as yet, such as the Eastern Section in Onrus and the Western Section in Kleinmond and Betty’s Bay, people can phone the hotline number to report sightings but reaction from HWS will not be possible until the projects in these areas start in November 2020. When people in these areas do phone in with reports on sightings, however, it will assist HWS with the capturing of information on the movement patterns of the troops so that their activities in the area can be better understood.

8

www.thevillagenews.co.za

14 October 2020

MY ENVIRONMENT

For the love of chameleons

E

verybody loves chameleons. I’m not sure what exactly attracts people to these little reptiles.

Perhaps it’s their resemblance to dragons or precious relics of the dinosaurs that fascinate every child.

Chameleons are slow-moving so that we can get close to them. They are predators, and we can watch them hunt. Add to these their bright colours, which change in response to their mood or the temperature (no, not to match their background), and you have a winning formula.

Older people who had the privilege of growing up in the Western Cape had Cape Dwarf Chameleons right there in their gardens. They fondly remember going round with a chameleon on a finger, hunting for flies it would catch. Nowadays, it’s a rare privilege to see even one chameleon in our gardens. The truth is that they increasingly fall prey to habitat transformation, pesticides and domestic cats.

There are still pockets of undeveloped stands in the Hermanus suburbs, where chameleons make a last stand. But these, too, will eventually be cleared for construction.

Fortunately for chameleons, during 2020 the construction of new houses was delayed by the pandemic, giving Whale Coast Conservation a chance to prepare for chameleon rescues before development picks up again.

Our immediate target is to establish a chameleon sanctuary on the Whale Coast Nature Reserve between Vermont and Hawston. The sanctuary area was historically infested with thick stands of alien vegetation. The large trees were felled, chipped and the stumps poisoned – a hugely labour- and capital-intensive exercise.

But all this effort would be in vain if new growth is not constantly removed.

The challenge is to uproot every new alien plant that grows back in the

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sanctuary to allow the natural fynbos to re-establish. It is important that this follow-up is done in the first year after the initial clearing, because it is still possible for volunteers of all ages to do this with simple hand tools. The restoration is helped along by also planting some fynbos shrubs.

small children, teenagers and adults are removing the alien Port Jacksons at the chameleon sanctuary. The alien plants' root systems are just plain scary. So never again underestimate the harmless looking little Port Jackson. Below the surface is a system of strong invasive roots!

Whale Coast Conservation’s chameleon rescue project relies on the enthusiastic involvement of dedicated teams of chameleon volunteers. Two such teams are the Hawston Cadets and The Homeschool Chameleon Monitors.

The collective efforts of the Homeschool Chameleon Monitors have removed so many Port Jacksons that they were dubbed “Poor Jacksons”.

During the winter months of 2020, the Hawston Cadets volunteered for two hours a week to clear invasive vegetation in the chameleon sanctuary. They were enthusiastic and hard-working, making a big impact.

Through education and training onthe-job provided by WCC staff, they understood the importance of their work for conservation. Their credo was “Shut up and do it”.

Now that the Cadets have returned to school, the work is being continued by the Homeschool Chameleon Monitors, led by Tertia Hendricks.

The homeschool group has been involved with the chameleon project for some time.

In 2019, Tertia received a small grant from WCC, funded by the Table Mountain Fund (TMF). The aim of the project was to find out how many chameleons still remain in the Hermanus urban areas that might require our help in future.

“It was such a privilege to be part of the project, learning about chameleons and conservation issues right here on our doorstep, and being encouraged that even in small ways we can make a huge positive difference to our environment!” says Tertia.

“This past year has been challenging, but now further work can continue on the chameleon sanctuary, battling the invaders.”

From little saplings to bigger ones –

Although our online readership has grown exponentially since the lockdown, we have also been inundated with calls and messages from people who want to know where they can get access to a printed copy of our weekly newspaper.

We are printing as many as we can afford to at the moment, but to keep up with the demand we need your help to print and distribute even more.

It is clear that the knock-on conservation benefits of the project funded by the TMF small grant is continuing beyond the lifespan of the small grant. It has tremendous ongoing benefits for conservation, education and sustainability.

Presently the sanctuary is 7 hectares (70,000 m2). So far 1 900 m2 have been cleared of regrowth. Clearly a lot of effort is still required. The target is to double the size of the sanctuary in future, with the help of many more volunteers.

The work will not let up. Port Jackson seeds can remain dormant in the soil for decades, and constant follow-up action is required. Many more keen bright eyes and eager busy hands are needed for an hour or two per week to assist in this outdoor conservation activity – suitable for volunteers of all ages, at a safe social distance.

So take your family down to the Green House on Wednesdays at 10:00 and enjoy an interactive chameleon storytime, followed by an hour of outdoor teamwork as we prepare a safe home for our chameleon friends. If you are not able to join on Wednesdays, you are also welcome at any other time in the week that is convenient for you.

Please contact Shirley Mgoboza of WCC if you would like to volunteer on 078 515 1078 / 028 316 2527 or shirleym.wcc@gmail.com.

Please note that masks were worn and only removed for the photos.

little as R50 per month and help your proudly-local newspaper to continue bringing you the Good News every week.

Contact Raphael on 062 837 3122 or on raphael@thevillagenews. co.za for more information.

Alternatively you can get all the information you need by visiting our website, www.thevillagenews. co.za.

CIRCLE: Chameleon illustration by Margo Crossman TOP: The Hawston Cadets with WCC’s Sheraine van Wyk (left), Cadets leader Noël Dreyer (third from left) and Shirley Mgoboza (second from right).

PHOTO: Denfred Bruintjies MIDDLE: A group of Homeschool Chameleon Monitors at work.

PHOTO: Tertia Hendricks ABOVE: The collective efforts of the Homeschool Chameleon Monitors have removed so many Port Jacksons that they were dubbed “Poor Jacksons”.

PHOTO: Tertia Hendricks

THE VILLAGE

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This atmospheric photograph by Mark Jago was recently taken at sunset at Onrus Beach, a popular spot for local surfers and body boarders. The water quality of the Onrus Lagoon however has again come under the spotlight as high levels of bacteria necessitated the closure of the estuary on 11 September. Find more of Mark's photos on Facebook and Instagram by searching for 'Jago Photography'.

The Hermanus Waterfront was buzzing with visitors and locals enjoying the beautiful weather on Heritage Day last Thursday. The air was filled with the sound of children laughing, music and muted chatter as people enjoyed drinks and meals at the Waterfront’s restaurants. Providing the music for most of the day was Ilitha Lelanga Marimba Ensemble, a vibrant marimba band from Cape Town.

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

Long weekend a success Writer De Waal Steyn

B

y all accounts, the Cape Whale Coast had a highly successful long weekend with thousands of out-of-towners enjoying all the area has to offer.

“Most accommodation establishments reported good occupation numbers, with self-catering establishments leading the way. It seems that groups of visitors from over the mountain opted to make use of the option to rent holiday homes for the weekend,” said Frieda Lloyd, Tourism Manager of the Cape Whale Coast.

According to her all the markets along the coast did brisk trade on Saturday, with the Farmer’s Market in Gansbaai reporting that goods at some stalls, including the Clivia booth, were sold out by the afternoon. The first Sunset Market in Stanford since February also attracted scores of shoppers and at the Harold Porter

Botanical Garden the plant sale was a huge success. The garden also reports that bookings for free guided tours have been received all the way up until the end of October. All the major towns in the area reported remarkably busy roads leading up to and during the weekend.

The weekend also saw several accommodation establishments and restaurants opening their doors for the first time since the lockdown began. The Arabella Hotel and Spa reported that they were fully booked during the long weekend and forward bookings for the rest of the year were picking up, especially over weekends.

Despite the inclement weather on some days, many visitors took part in outdoor activities.

Both whale-watching and shark-cage diving boat operators said they were busy and that although they were still some way off from the normal number of passengers, there was a marked increase over the weekend as locals took to the water with them.

Brenda Walters from Marine Dynamics in Gansbaai said they undertook a number of trips during the weekend. “On some days the weather did not play along, but we are happy that people are coming to see the whales and sharks. We are offering special deals to locals and due to Covid-19 restrictions cannot accommodate as many people as before. This does have an impact on our business, but we are certain that we will bounce back. While we are looking forward to international travellers returning to our shores, we invite locals to make use of our special discounted rates,” she said.

According to Brenda, their Great White House restaurant had a busy weekend with many visitors from across the mountain.

The popularity of our wine farms was also evident, with scores of people visiting for a meal and a wine tasting. Carolyn Martin of Creation said they were busy during the course of the whole weekend. “We unfortunately had to show

some people away as we have limited capacity due to the lockdown restrictions. We urge visitors to make reservations, especially over weekends, to avoid disappointment,” she said.

According to her the restrictions in terms of mask wearing and social distancing bring with them new challenges. “Especially on days when the weather is not so good, it is difficult to seat everyone and still ensure safe distancing between people. But we are learning to adapt every day and we keep on improving. We are happy that tourists are returning, and we can start seeing business increasing.”

Sebastian Beaumont of Beaumont Family Wines in Bot River echoes her sentiment. “It is great to see our tasting room full again and it is heartening that so many locals are buying local wines.

We look forward to many busy weekends in the near future,” he said.

Continues on P3

Pollution causes a stink of the water.

Writer De Waal Steyn

A

public outcry followed the decision once again to close the Onrus lagoon for recreational use, after a sewage spillage resulted in high levels of E. coli and Enterococci bacteria.

According to Ward 13 Councillor, Jean Orban, the decision by the Overberg District Municipality (ODM) to close the lagoon was not taken lightly. “There was a sewage leak into the lagoon on 19 August during a power outage. Due to the outage, the pump station was disabled and the backup generator did not kick in because of a technical fault. This led to a build-up of sewage in the system and the resultant spill,” he said.

Shortly after the high levels of bacteria were detected a notice board was erected next to the lagoon, warning members of the public of the dangers and requesting them to steer clear

According to Liezl de Villiers, Senior Environmental Manager of the Overstrand Municipality (OM), a second water sample was taken as prescribed by the legislation. “While the results of the test are awaited, the lagoon must be closed for recreational use,” she said.

But, according to the Onrus River Estuary Forum (OREF) the problem runs much deeper than just this spill.

In a statement, OREF said since its inception it had been in consultation with the municipality to address the problem. “We have repeatedly raised the alarm about shortcomings in the management of the municipal sewerage system and previous sewage leaks into the Onrus Estuary, resulting in high bacteriological test results. Responsible action by the municipality would have avoided the need to close the estuary on 11 September,” reads the statement.

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But while on the face of it, the management of the estuary should be a straight-forward task, it is in reality so fraught with bureaucratic redtape that it makes the head spin.

The management of estuaries in the Western Cape falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial government. In turn, CapeNature is the official management authority on behalf of the province, except for certain estuaries that do not fall within their mandate. In the Overstrand, the Onrus and Buffelsrivier estuaries are not managed by CapeNature.

In the case of these two estuaries, the ODM takes responsibility for their management in such a way as to protect the health of bathers, and there is a strict set of standard operating procedures for the management of sewage spillages.

At the same time, the Overstrand Municipality is responsible for the management of the sewerage network. In addition, the Worcester-based

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It is this overlap of bureaucratic responsibilities and a lack of clear communication that allows for the spillage to hit the proverbial fan, says OREF Chair, Peter van Niekerk.

According to him, OREF has been unsuccessful in its endeavours to persuade the municipality to accept the role of responsible management authority (RMA).

“We asked the municipality a year ago to request the delegation of authority, but we have had no feedback since then. At this stage, it is unclear if the OM has a policy about accepting the RMA role,” he said.

Continues on P3

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www.thevillagenews.co.za

14 October 2020

MY ART

Sculpture on the Cliffs is now complete Writer & Photographer Hedda Mittner

and the human world,” said Gavin.

W

This sculpture also playfully hints at the suggestion which few humans ever consider, which is that while we observe animals they might also be observing us. When viewing the sculpture, you are invited to peer into the open end of the telescope – and discover the true threat.

ith the last two sculptures now installed, Hermanus FynArts hosted the final opening and an informative walkabout of the Pioneer Freight Sculpture on the Cliffs exhibition on Saturday morning.

Almost all the participating artists were present and could add their own voices to the walkabout, which was conducted by the curator, Gavin Younge.

Jean Theron Louw’s sculpture at Gearing’s Point, entitled The View, is a delightful addition to this exhibition, which elicits much interest and is widely commented on every year. The life-sized sculpture of stainless steel, mild steel and resin features two baboons on a life-boat – apathetic Jane #I’m Staying and frantic Julius #I’m Outa Here. Jane reclines, pondering the fuss and Julius is frantic, staring through a telescope. Both baboons are wearing orange life-jackets and are in perfect balance, but if one should make the wrong move, the boat would tip over.

As Gavin explained, this is Jean’s point – our planet is in jeopardy through climate change. The View is a metaphor for the precarious situation of our planet – we need to either change our ways or we’ll tip it over the edge.

It refers not only to Hermanus’s long journey with the local baboon populations, but more broadly to man’s relationship with nature. “It conjures up the unintended and unresolved conflict between the animal world

“The purpose of my work is to awaken a consciousness of our connectivity with the planet as a whole. I want to draw the viewer into moments of self-reflection and soul searching, for this is what makes us truly human,” said Jean.

The second new work to join this ensemble of Sculpture on the Cliffs is Kevin Brand’s Bremen Arpeggio. Based on a Brothers Grimm folktale, Town Musicians of Bremen, it tells the story of four domestic animals – a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster – that were mistreated by their owners after a lifetime of hard work.

They eventually decide to run away and become town musicians in the city of Bremen. However, they never arrive in Bremen. On their way they come across a robbers’ den and succeed in scaring them off by means of standing on top of one another and producing a combined cacophony of sound. The robbers run away, our animal heroes capture their spoils and move into their house.

Gavin explained that Kevin’s interpretation was to place the animals, not on top of one another as in the

notes of a chord played at the same time, but in a procession-like format, leading to the title, Bremen Arpeggio.

(An arpeggio being a ‘broken chord’, when the notes of a chord are performed one after the other instead of all at the same time.)

Another interesting detail pointed out

by Gavin was that Kevin’s works were prepared for casting in aluminium, with each of the four animals cast in two halves which were then joined to make the whole animal by using the sand-casting process.

A close inspection will reveal the seam lines, something the artist chose to emphasise as a reference to toys, and the casting process.

With all 12 sculptures now installed, this exhibition is sure to be a source of pleasure and contemplation for both local residents and visitors until the next FynArts Festival in June 2021.In closing, Gavin thanked all the artists for their valuable contributions.

Thanks also went to the sponsors, Pioneer Freight, who came on board for the first time this year under challenging circumstances, to the FynArts committee, administrator Chantel Louskitt, and Festival Director, Mary Faure, to whom Gavin referred as “a fortress of support and perseverance”.

LEFT: Jean Theron Louw (with Gavin Younge on the left) speaking about her sculpture, The View (above), at the opening of the completed exhibition on Saturday.

ABOVE: The second of the new works to complete the Sculpture of the Cliffs exhibition, Kevin Brand’s Bremen Arpeggio, is based on a Brothers Grimm folktale, Town Musicians of Bremen. BELOW: David Griessel talking about his sculpture, Travelling Hermit, which suggests that humanity and crustaceans have something in common – both are ensconced in a shell.

FAR LEFT: For her sculpture, The Hunt, which has been widely misunderstood, Nanette Ranger drew on the legend of Artemis and Actaeon. “There was no need for her to be persecuted on Facebook,” said Gavin. LEFT: Right Mukore in front of his carved camphor wood sculpture, Watch Dog, which refers to the empathetic relationship between nature and humanity, and the way in which the sounds and movements of birds especially alert us to the time of day and what is about to happen next.

Become part of Night of 1 000 Drawings On the evening of 4 December, the Hermanus First Fridays (HFF) galleries will once again host the Night of 1 000 Drawings. This much-anticipated annual event is based on the concept that we should all enjoy the indulgence of purchasing artwork – even if modest in terms of size and price.

Over the coming weeks, the galleries will be asking anyone who feels they have any artistic ability, to produce paintings, drawings, sketches and illustrations; on paper, card or board; in oils, watercolours, pastels, inks, pencil or charcoal; of landscapes, seascapes, portraits, abstracts or still lives – the only stipulation being they must be sized A5 and the artists must be willing to donate them.

In addition to these works donated by members of the public, gallery owners will be approaching the professional artists who regularly exhibit in their galleries and ask them to contribute some of their own artworks. These will be mixed in with all the other collected works and distributed amongst the galleries. On the evening of the event, they will be displayed and available for purchase, all at the same price of R100 each.

be considered as a beneficiary should drop a letter of application off at any of the galleries or email it to HFF chairperson, Liz Coates, at amzam@polka. co.za. The letter should give a brief description of the charity, its history and objectives.

Anyone wishing to contribute artworks can drop them off at any of the HFF galleries. All the proceeds from the sales of these artworks will be divided between selected Hermanus charities.

This would not have been possible without the active participation of the Hermanus community, and the HFF galleries are again asking artists and art lovers to be part of this heart-warming event.

– Hedda Mittner

Any Hermanus charities wishing to

Last year’s Night of 1 000 Drawings raised well over R100 000 which was divided between four, small Hermanus-based charities.

14 October 2020

www.thevillagenews.co.za

The unique Afropop-folk sound of Takura Terry

Writer Hedda Mittner

P

erforming artists have been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic – just think of the singers, bands, choirs, orchestras, dancers, actors, stage technicians…

All of whom were left high and dry when the entertainment industry came to a standstill.

It has been no different for the talented young Takura Terry, who before the lockdown was gathering a loyal following and had just launched his first eight-track album, Folks.

Singer, songwriter, guitarist, percussionist and rapper, Takura had been performing at various venues in Cape Town and Hermanus, including The Brewery, Burgundy, Tipples, Char’d, Bosmans, Springfontein and the Birkenhead Boutique Hotel, when Covid-19 struck – just as his music career was finally taking off.

“It’s been a tough couple of months,” he says, “and I’ve had to use my savings to see me through. There are very few gigs now. Before, I was performing several times a week but now I’m lucky if I get one gig a week.”

Originally from Zimbabwe, where he grew up in a small town near Harare, Takura came to Hermanus in 2012, because some of his siblings and cousins had already settled here. His father passed away when he was 14 but his mother still lives in Zimbabwe. “She visited Hermanus so that she could be here for the launch of Folks, and made it back home just in time before the hard lockdown,” says Takura.

“I was very influenced by Zimbabwean music while growing up and taught myself to play various instruments including the guitar, harmonica, drums and kalimba (a traditional instrument of the Shona people, known in Zim as the mbira). I used to be a rapper before I started singing as a way to help me deal with the loss of my father, who was a big music lover.” Among the artists who inspired Takura were Bob Dylan, Jack Johnson, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty and Leonard Cohen.

When he first arrived in Hermanus, Takura was employed as a chef de partie at Lizette’s Kitchen for four years, occasionally moving out from the kitchen to behind the mic (“Lizette was the first person to pay me for a gig!”). Eventually he decided to pursue music full-time in order to share his authentic “life stories” with a wider audience.

With South Africa having moved down to lockdown Level 1, he has now regrouped with two band members, Emmanuel Bhande and Zander Barnard to form ‘Takura Terry and the Rocking Souls’. Their sound is a unique mix of Afro-popfolk music, with jazz and blues influences that fall softly on the ear. The trio also enjoys doing covers from the eighties.

Takura Terry and the Rocking Souls are available for live performances at restaurants, bars, markets, wine estates and hotels, and for corporate and private functions, parties and weddings.

Contact 072 755 8505 or hello@takuraterry. com. Their website will be up and running soon at www.takuraterry.com

11

WHAT’S ON

15 OCT – 23 OCT 2020

OVERBERG 15

Thursday

Free guided hikes Harold Porter Botanical Garden is offering free guided tours, every Tuesday and Thursday until the end of October. Booking is essential and numbers are limited to 10 persons per tour. The normal entry fee will still apply. For more information, contact Loretta Floors or Etienne Smith on 028 272 9311 or L.Floors@sanbi.org. za or E.Smith@sanbi.org.za.

Harold Porter Botanical Garden, Betty’s Bay | 08:00 – 16:30 Thursday Talks @ Harold Porter Ebraime Hull is presenting a series of free talks at Harold Porter, every Thursday during October. The topic of discussion on 15 Oct is ‘The pruning of plants’. The normal entry fee will still apply. For more information contact Ebraime on 028 272 9311.

Harold Porter Botanical Garden, Betty’s Bay | 11:00 – 12:00 Wild Women Drawing Workshop Join local artist Gillian Hahn online for her ‘Drawing with Confidence’ workshop via Zoom, every Thursday afternoon. You’ll find all the info at www.gillianhahn.com/workshops/ or contact 076 181 2964.

Virtual event | 14:00 –15:00 WCC Zoom Chat Join Whale Coast Conservation for a Zoom chat with the brilliant Prof Mike Bruton, who will regale his audience with humorous anecdotes about great scientists and naturalists, and the sometimes unorthodox ways in which research has been carried out. You will be awed, shocked and amazed – and science will never be the same again! ‘A funny thing happened on the way to the lab…’ will be live streamed via Zoom and will no longer be presented in person at the Green House, as previously advertised. To register for the talk, contact

anina.wcc@gmail.com.

Virtual event | 18:00

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Friday

Wine Down Friday Celebrate that TGIF feeling at The Wine Glass at the end of a busy week!

Enjoy the vibe and get two for the price of one on selected wines, beers and nibbles. This special offer now also extends to Super Saturday at the same time, from 16:00 –18:00. Book via www.thewineglass.guru or call 082 082 0007.

The Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Rd, Hermanus | 16:00 – 18:00 (Fri & Sat)

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Saturday

Hermanus Country Market A favourite among the locals. Young, old, two-legged and four-legged family members are all welcome.

You’ll find wholesome goodies, home-made crafts, local produce, beers and wine, speciality foods, coffee and live music.

Next to Hermanus Cricket Field | 09:00 – 13:00 Die Markie Looking for koek? Vetkoek, pannekoek, soet koekies, sout koekies, lewer koekies? A peaceful place to while away Saturday mornings, glass of wine in hand, with Woefie lying at your feet? Olives, freshly shucked oysters and other nibbles made by real people? Served on real porcelain, using real cutlery, sipping wine from a real wine glass? Then you’ll want to hotfoot it across to Die Markie at Hermanuspietersfontein. Here safe parking is a doddle and life is easy.

Hermanuspietersfontein Wine Cellar | 09:00 – 13:00 Stanford Saturday Morning Market Come and sample the artisanal delights on display, from homemade sheep and goats’ cheeses to

It's time to celebrate! From 1 October until 1 November, Restaurant Week XXL is your best excuse to dine out at The Marine and enjoy the best of Origins restaurant!

2-course lunch R 250 pp 3-course dinner R 350 pp

We are open

wood-fired ciabattas, pastries and pies, farm-fresh vegetables, freerange eggs, flowers, preserves and deli delights (including gluten-free, wheat-free and vegan goodies) to tantalise your taste buds! #Nomasksnoservice.

Stanford Hotel Stoep | 09:00 – 12:00 Junktique Market One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Pop in and give new life to a previously loved item. Treats and nibbles also available. R50 per stall.

To book contact 028 341 0340 or book@stanfordinfo.co.za.

Stanford Tourism Office Courtyard | 09:00 – 12:00 Gansbaai Farmers’ Market Specialising in organic, homemade and home-grown products such as fresh farm produce, oven-fresh bakes and pastries, local wines and craft beers, and indigenous plants and herbs. No plastic or polystyrene packaging; only eco-friendly wood, paper, glass and earthenware used to display goods. For enquiries, contact 028 384 1439 or doulene@gansbaaitourism.co.za Kapokblom Street, opposite Gansbaai Tourism | 09:00 – 14:00

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Sunday

Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Practice Walk Join the L2L ladies for the first in a series of four practice walks before the main event in 2021. The practice walk will cover a distance of 22 km in Fernkloof Nature Reserve (duration: 7 hours) and the terrain will include coastal path and fynbos bush track.

The dress code is pink in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Register on www.quicket.co.za (search for Practice Walk 1 – Fernkloof ).

Meet at The Beanery, Gateway Centre | 07:00

lunch & diier...

www.thevillagenews.co.za/whatson Brewery2Brewery 2020 Entries are open for this year’s beer & bike fest which will see MTB riders tackle the route from Greyton to Hermanus. Early registration at Old Potter’s Country Inn, Greyton from 14:00 – 17:00 on Saturday 17 October, followed by a beer fest with live bands performing. Event day registration at Old Potter’s on Sunday morning at 06:00, with the 85 km B2B race setting off at 07:00 and finishing at The Brewery in Hemel-en-Aarde Village. For tickets and more information, go to brewery2brewery.co.za Greyton to Hermanus, finishing at The Brewery between 11:00 – 15:00

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Monday

Overberg Quilters Guild Anyone with a passion for quilting is welcome to join the Overberg Quilters Guild for their meeting. For more information, contact Elize on 082 374 1533.

De Wet Hall, Roos St, Onrus | 09:00 for 09:30

20

Tuesday

Overberg Quilters Guild Anyone with a passion for quilting is welcome to join the Overberg Quilters Guild for their meeting. For more information, contact Elize on 082 374 1533.

De Wet Hall, Roos St, Onrus | 09:00 for 09:30

21

Wednesday

Wild Women creative drawing workshop Join local artist Gillian Hahn online every Wednesday afternoon for her creative writing and story-telling workshop via Zoom. You’ll find all the info at www.gillianhahn.com/workshops/ or contact 076 181 2964 or gillianhahn14@gmail.com Virtual event | 14:00 –15:00

Grape Expectations The Wine Glass’s popular wine evenings are back and selling out fast!

Join winemaker Peter-Allan Finlayson for an evening that will start with an arrival drink and canapés, followed by a formal tasting of Gabriëlskloof wines, and a three-course, winepaired dinner. Early reservation is essential at R265 pp. The event is limited to 40 people to allow for social distancing. To book, contact 082 082 0007 or foh@thewineglass.guru.

The Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Rd, Hermanus | 18:30

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Friday

Book launch Join Laurette Moolman for the launch of her book, The Anti-Clockwise Fish – Memoirs of a diplomat’s wife, which gives an insight into the interesting, sometimes funny and sometimes strange experiences that the author and her diplomat husband, Barry, had during their last three diplomatic postings in India, Kazakhstan and Iran. For more information, contact Santa on 082 854 2686. The book talk is free, but you are welcome to make a booking directly with The Wine Glass for lunch after the event. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at a special price of R200.

The Wine Glass | 11:30 for 12:00

14 October 2020

13

www.thevillagenews.co.za

MY HOME

By LB Vorster

Deed of Sale: Two important clauses

1. A clause dealing with fixtures In a deed of sale relating to immovable property it is always advisable to specify which items will, by agreement, be removed by the seller and which are fixtures that form part of the sale. In the unfortunate event that the deed of sale is silent on this, the test to determine whether an item is a fixture, and therefore forms part of the sale, is best explained by using a satellite dish as an example:

• •

•

Is the dish attached to the fixed property? In the majority of cases the answer to this will be in the affirmative.

Is the dish attached to the fixed property in such a way that it is clear the seller’s intention was that the attachment should be permanent? Normally this is not the case.

Will it be possible to remove the dish from the fixed property without causing structural damage? Yes, this is normally possible.

Is it therefore clear that a satellite dish, for

example, will not necessarily form part of the sale of immovable property. However, the situation with regard to installed air conditioners, for example, becomes more problematic.

A purchaser may convincingly argue that the intention of the seller must have been that such air conditioners would be of a permanent nature, while the seller may similarly convincingly argue that it was never the intention that the air conditioners would become fixtures.

To add to the uncertainty, it may well be possible to remove the air conditioners without causing structural damage.

Therefore, should a purchaser have the intention of purchasing immovable property together with a satellite dish, air conditioners, or any other fixtures that may give rise to uncertainty as to their permanency, it is advisable that the inclusion or exclusion of such fixtures should be specified in the deed of sale.

2. The “voetstoots” clause What is meant by “voetstoots”? It simply means that the immovable property is sold “as it is” or “as it stands”, in other words, together with any patent and latent defects, if any.

•

•

What is a “patent defect”? It refers to any defect of the immovable property that is visible to the naked eye, in other words one that is easily recognisable and does not require expert inspection, for example, an obvious structural crack in the wall or a collapsing ceiling.

What is a “latent defect”? It refers to any defect that will not be apparent, nor discovered, during normal inspection of the fixed property, for example, a leaking roof, defective plumbing or a foundation defect.

What are the respective liabilities of the seller and the purchaser in terms of the “voetstoots” clause?

The purchaser will always be liable for the

patent defects, unless the parties agree otherwise. As far as the latent defects are concerned, the purchaser will, similarly, be liable for them unless the seller is aware of the defects.

Irrespective of whether the seller intentionally conceals the existence of the defects, or merely refrains from informing the purchaser of their existence with the intention of defrauding the purchaser at the time of entering into the deed of sale, the seller will be deprived of any protection under the ‘voetstoots” clause.

On various occasions in the past our courts have made it clear that there is a duty on a seller of immovable property to disclose the existence of latent defects to a purchaser, the failure of which may be deemed as dishonesty on the part of the seller.

In our next article we will be discussing the effect(s), if any, that the Consumer Protection Act may have on the “voetstoots” clause.

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Competition ends 31 October 2020. Winner will be notified telephonically on 30 November 2020!

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This single level home offers two well-sized bedrooms with two ensuite bathrooms, an easy flow open-plan kitchen, dining area and lounge featuring a wood burner with easy access to the terrace and a landscaped enclosed garden. This home is equipped with a double garage and embraces the surrounding environment for serene living.

The comfort of a traditional home but with all the convenience of low style maintenance and easy-care living.

The Arabella Country Estate is an appealing alternative for younger families seeking to escape the growing stresses and congestion of city life and is located on the Bot River Lagoon. This Estate offers waterfront living as well as a world-class hotel, clubhouse, and beautiful fairways. Residents and visitors now have access to the Bot River Lagoon to use for non-motorised boating activities and lagoon fishing. A look-out deck situated right on the water’s edge makes a breathtaking spot to have lunch or sundowners and allows easy access to the water, storage of canoes and fishing.

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16

www.thevillagenews.co.za

14 October 2020

Two Oceans Aquarium partners with Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse T

he Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Ladies (L2L) committee was excited to announce their new collaboration with the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation (TOAEF) last week. The Turtle Rehab Team from the Foundation will be joining the ladies on their two 100 km charity walks in 2021.

The Foundation focuses on rescuing weak and vulnerable sea turtle hatchlings that are stranded along our coastline every year between March and July, which coincides with both L2L walks (in February and May).

Two Oceans Aquarium was opened to the public for the very first time in 1995 and has since grown to be not only a top tourist destination, but also an institution internationally respected for its contribution to environmental education programmes and conservation efforts.

These important and exciting activities all fall within the newly established Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation, of which one of the most active programmes is the Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release Programme.

As part of the project, members of the public ranging from school kids to dog walkers, from truck drivers to park rangers, have helped by rescuing distressed turtles and getting them to the Two Oceans Aquarium Turtle Rehab. Over the last three years, this has grown into a Turtle Rescue Network that is over 1 000 km long and has over 60 active members.

Over the past few years, TOAEF has undertaken education-oriented coastal road trips to create awareness, teaching people about the stranding season and enabling them to be turtle rescuers, both when they find a stranded turtle on

the beach and in their lifestyle choices every day. In 2019, this road trip reached over 10 000 members of the public, including school learners through ECD-focused puppet shows and story books.

Once in TOEAF’s care, the little rescued turtles receive all the nutrition, medical attention and life support they need in order heal and grow strong enough to be released back into the ocean.

These stories of rescue, strength and resilience, of partnership and teamwork, and ultimately of release are powerful and inspiring to all involved. (You can read some of these stories at www.aquarium.co.za/content/page/ turtles.)

The four ‘mermaids’ of the Turtle Rehab team will join the 120 Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse walkers on both 100 km walks next year to raise awareness for this project. They are looking forward to being ambassadors on behalf of turtles as they ‘walk to teach, walk to learn, walk to support, and walk to rescue’.

LEFT: A rescued turtle hatchling receiving care at Two Oceans Aquarium.

PHOTO: Two Oceans Aquarium ABOVE: The Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Ladies Committee and members of the Two Oceans Turtle Rehab Team met at Burgundy Restaurant to finalise their collaboration last week. From left to right are Ronelle van Zyl (L2L Chairperson), SImone Heunis and Elna de Villiers of L2L; with owner of Burgundy Restaurant Rudolf van der Berg; and Maryke Musson, Tracey Whitehead and Talitha Noble of TOAEF.

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

The four mermaids will continue walking for an additional 120 km along the coastline at the end of the first 100 km walk in February to continue with their work and several members of the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse committee will join them.

– Taylum Meyer See details of the first L2L Practice Walk on 18 October in our What’s On diary on P11.

AUDIOLOGIST

Felicity Maclennan-Smith M.CommPath (Audiology) UP

The practice is still situated at 8 Magnolia Avenue in Hermanus (opp. the Municipality) and is fully operational again.

Contact 028 3131437 or 0834430221.

With proper apologies to Dr Seuss

Choose to hear!

14 October 2020

www.thevillagenews.co.za

M&R: Supporting learners, teachers and parents

I

t’s been a rough few months for Rhoda and Murison Kotzé of the M&R Math and Reading Centre in Hermanus. Not only did they have to move all their operations online within a week when the hard lockdown was announced back in March, but Rhoda was also very pregnant at the time and gave birth to a bonny boy, John-Murison, on 2 June.

by the couple when they returned from teaching in South Korea and Taiwan. In May 2009, Rhoda and Murison identified the need for an education centre in Hermanus and decided to open a math and reading facility that would address the various numeracy and literacy needs of school-going learners in the area.

Their initial focus was on providing lessons in mathematics, English, Afrikaans, spelling, phonics, and reading with comprehension.

Now, a decade later, their teaching portfolio also includes science and accounting, short courses in study skills, as well as parenting and teaching skills through the Love & Logic® institute, which they launched in 2016. All these courses have now resumed and, with end-ofthe-year exams looming, they are busier than ever before.

lems. Keeping the youngsters motivated was also a challenge, as they need the stimulation of personal interaction. That’s why we kept our learners in the same groups when doing Zoom sessions, so that they could ‘see’ their friends.”

“Many of our teachers are retired and not as tech-savvy as the youngsters; they had to find out for the first time how Zoom works!” laughs Rhoda. “Then there was the problem that some of our learners didn’t have internet access and their lessons had to be conducted on the phone.”

While the schools were closed, Rhoda says they were able to schedule the tutorials throughout the day instead of only during after-school hours – but there was a downside to that, too. “Normally I would use my mornings to prepare, but suddenly we were working all day long and I had to do the prep work in the evenings, while also looking after a newborn.

I don’t think I’ve ever worked this hard in my life!”

Rhoda says adapting to online learning was very overwhelming for the learners, too. “Even with the school teachers trying to keep their pupils on track by sending them work to do from home, they weren’t always available to explain it to them if they were having prob-

This dedication of Rhoda, Murison and their team has no doubt provided a lifeline for many a parent and learner during these challenging times. When learners started returning to their classrooms in June, they were able to reopen their centre and resume in-person tutorials

17

Rhoda Kotzé of the Hermanus Math and Reading Centre with baby John-Murison. (with all safety protocols being followed), although Rhoda says many parents decided to rather let their children continue with the online tutorials. M&R also provides support to homeschoolers, either in-person or online.

M&R celebrated their 10th birthday last year.

The Math and Reading Centre was envisioned

Throw four-month-old John-Murison, who is still being breast-fed and accompanies his mom to the centre every day, into the mix and it’s even more astounding that Rhoda appears so calm and relaxed. But she clearly has a calling and says she loves working with children.

Murison and Rhoda share a holistic vision for education and their centre has helped more than a thousand learners improve their marks, confidence and skills during the past decade.

For more information on M&R’s courses and to read what parents and learners have to say about the centre, visit www.m-n-r.co.za.

– Hedda Mittner

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www.thevillagenews.co.za

MY SCHOOL

Curro matrics dance the night away O

n Wednesday 7 October, the 2020 matrics of Curro Independent School Hermanus enjoyed their matric dance at The Clubhouse at the Hermanus Sports Centre, which was beautifully decorated with plants, flowers and candles

by Grade 11 Curro learners. The small group of grade 12s and their partners arrived at staggered times in an assortment of fancy and vintage cars.

Once inside, the matrics were treated to non-alcoholic sparkling wine and chocolate-covered strawberries while they socialised with their peers before being served dinner by the Grade 11s. The Clubhouse’s kitchen made a yummy pizza starter followed

by delicious steak with potato wedges, and dessert was brownies with chocolate sauce and berry coulis made by the Grade 11 Curro hospitality group.

After dinner it was time to hit the dance floor to bust some moves whilst others headed outside to enjoy the cool night air on the Sports Centre’s deck. Teachers and chaperones kept an eye on everyone to ensure that Covid-19 protocols were followed while the learners enjoyed this annual highlight of every matric’s school career.

PHOTOS: Tinka Venter and Taylum Meyer

14 October 2020

Hermies hockey players selected for Premier League

Well done to young bowlers

On Saturday 3 October, two junior members of the Hermanus Bowling Club competed at the Final Boland Singles in Worcester.

Zidane Langston, a Grade 12 learner at Hermanus High School, and Hanru Pool from HoĂŤrskool Overberg, qualified earlier in the year after winning their playoffs against the West Coast and Winelands.

The Cape Town Premier Hockey League, which will take place from the 17 – 25 October at the Western Province Cricket Club, is a franchise hockey tournament for youth hockey players based in the Western Cape. The event is divided into three sections with U14, U16 and U18 boys and girls. The franchise teams taking part are the Raptors, Raiders, Heat, Royals, Rebels and All-stars. The league is a Western Province Hockey and South African Hockey Association sanctioned event, and squads were selected on 29 September. Congratulations to the five Hermanus High School hockey players for their selection to the Cape Town Premier League squads! They are Elizabeth September (U18 Girls Heat team), Kelsey Block (U18 Girls All-Stars team), Liane Gotze (U16 Girls Heat team), Attie de Vries (U16 Boys) and Adam Lawson-Smith (U18 Boys).

Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 restrictions, the finals had to be postponed and finally took place two weekends ago. After a day of nail-biting competition, Zidane ended in second place with silver and Hanru in third place with bronze.

Congratulations to these two boys from the Hermanus Bowling Club!

Above is Zidane Langston (Hermanus High School) with Robert van der Merwe (Coach/Team Manager).

PHOTO: Supplied

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www.thevillagenews.co.za

14 October 2020

MOTORING

F

on cars

Compiled by John Floyd

Cortina connects with Springbok heritage A

few years after the first Cortina bakkie was launched in South Africa in 1971, Ford released a limited edition of the Cortina MK3 bakkie, badged the Cortina Springbok edition. This unique vehicle, designed to commemorate the All Blacks rugby tour to South Africa, started a trend for the many iconic nameplates that would later arrive in Ford’s 96-year history in the country. This special bakkie receives a tribute during Heritage Month.

Influenced by the famous green and gold kit worn by South Africa’s national rugby team, the Springboks, Ford set about replicating the striking two-tone combination on the Cortina that was produced at Ford’s vehicle assembly plant in Port Elizabeth at the time. Ford then sealed the vehicle’s exclusivity by limiting production between Cortina bakkies (or pickups) and Cortina sedans. Among the South African population, the Cortina bakkie was affectionately given the nickname ‘bokkie bakkie’.

Painted in that resplendent green and contrasted with gold paint – most evident on the wheels and roof – the Cortina Springbok is still a sight to behold on the road, especially among rugby fans, although not everyone

might grasp how rare a sighting it is.

Many interested onlookers initially surmise that they’re looking at a MK3 Cortina with a custom paint job, rather than an authentic and serialised Ford model from the 1970s.

“We’ve celebrated Heritage Day with our locally-assembled Rangers before, but we’re really testing the extent of our country’s knowledge with this special Cortina Springbok”, says Dale Reid, Product Marketing manager at FMCSA. “Based on one of Ford’s most iconic vehicles of that period, its qualities of power and versatility were instinctively telegraphed through Springbok rugby. It is bound to stir our country’s emotions, and we’re thankful that there are owners who have given their time and effort to ensure that this page of Ford’s history has been so well maintained.”

As far as spotting one in pristine condition, Dr Brian Hodgson Rademeyer’s Cortina Springbok bakkie certainly looks as fit and healthy as the rugby team it was named after. The car has been in the family since Brian’s grandfather, where its dual-purpose practicality was thoroughly tested by long distance drives between Pretoria and Belfast in Mpumalanga, as well as by regularly filling the loadbox with

coal for the fire back on the farm. As a result, the odometer reading has exceeded its own limitations multiple times and reset!

It was only recently, after inheriting the bakkie from his late father Hugh Rademeyer, that Brian began to realise that this family-owned Cortina bakkie held manufacturing and marketing provenance under its then-faded Emerald Green paint. Unable to find other owners of a Cortina Springbok edition, Brian enlisted the help of Gustav Nel and his son Johan from Pretoria to restore the Cortina bakkie. They had the experience as well as all the contacts to revitalise the paintwork and mechanical components successfully and professionally.

The car’s factory paint code was found, the three-speed gearbox overhauled, suspension and other rubber parts were sourced and replaced, and all other wear and tear components replaced. Brian wanted to modernise the safety of the vehicle by having three-point safety belts fitted. The 2.5-litre V6 engine was removed and thoroughly checked and is still under the bonnet. The gold-painted Springbok emblems were carefully traced and cut from vinyl. Brian’s Cortina Springbok deviates from the origi-

nal specification only because of its lighter genuine leather interior colour - compared to the darker vinyl in the original – as well as the rubberised loadbox with tonneau cover.

The Cortina bakkie is widely considered the genesis of the South African bakkie, according to Stuart Grant, who has devoted his career to studying Africa’s classic cars. “Technically the term bakkie stems from the colloquial term bak, which loosely translates to bowl or container, and scanning through 1970s motoring publications reveal that it wasn’t until the Ford Cortina pickup’s production was in full swing that South Africans started using the term bakkie for any light utility vehicle.”

Did the Cortina bakkie start the trend?

It’s difficult to say for sure, but the word ‘bakkie’ has become an intrinsic part of South African culture and has been used as the generic term for all pickup models ever since, including the current Ford Ranger.

“Ford has been an integral part of the automotive landscape in South Africa since local assembly of the Model T began in Port Elizabeth in 1923. Ford remains one of the country’s largest vehicle manufacturers and exporters

and these heritage cars have added to the local Ford story,” says Neale Hill, managing director of Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA).

“Heritage month complements our ‘For South Africa' brand campaign that goes beyond just highlighting Ford's corporate and product legacy. It captures the essence of what makes Ford, and the Ford family in South Africa, deeply involved and committed to this wonderful and vibrant country,” Hill adds.

Ford South Africa’s bakkie-loving culture has moved forward in long strides, from the pioneering Cortina to the modern Ford Ranger, which is consistently among South Africa’s top-selling vehicles. The current-generation Ranger Double Cab, in particular, popularised and redefined the segment when it was launched in 2011, contributing to it becoming the choice for thousands of active South African families.

However, the legendary Cortina is where it all started, and for the many South Africans whose blood runs green and gold with national pride, the Cortina Springbok holds a special place within Ford’s rich heritage in South Africa.

14 October 2020

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New era for Maserati with MC20 M

aserati enters the new Era with MC20, the new super sports car that combines performance, sportiness and luxury in the unique Maserati style. MC20 was presented to the world in Modena on 9 September during the “MMXX: Time to be audacious” event.

The new MC20 (MC for Maserati Corse and 20 for 2020, the year of its world première and the start of the Brand’s new Era) is the Maserati everyone was waiting for. It is a car with incredible aerodynamic efficiency, which conceals a sporty soul, with the new Nettuno engine, a 630 horsepower V6 with torque of 730 Nm that delivers 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 2,9 seconds and a top speed over 325 km an hour. An engine that signals Maserati’s return to producing its own power units after a hiatus of more than 20 years.

The MC20 is an extremely lightweight car under 1,500 kg (kerb weight), and thanks to its power output of 630 hp it comes out best in class in weight/power ratio, at just 2.33 kg/hp. This record is achieved through the use of choice quality materials, exploiting all the potentials of carbon fibre without any sacrifices with regard to comfort.

Nettuno, the first engine in this new chapter of the Trident's history, is the MC20's twin turbo V6, a technologic gem already awarded an international patent, which puts the MTC (Maserati Twin Combustion) technology, the ground-breaking combustion system developed in-house, onto the world's roads.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Overall, this revolutionary project has resulted in a car that epitomises Italian excellence. In fact, MC20 was designed in Modena and will be built at the Viale Ciro Menotti plant, where the Trident’s models have been built for more than 80 years. The new production line, created in the spaces where the GranTurismo and GranCabrio models were assembled until November 2019, is now ready for action in the historic plant. The site also features a new paintshop incorporating innovative, environment-friendly technologies. Nettuno will also be built in Modena, at the newly established Maserati Engine Lab. The MC20 design was produced in about 24 months, with the involvement from the outset, in an innovative approach, of a team of Maserati Innovation Lab engineers, technical specialists from the Maserati Engine Lab and designers from the Maserati Style Centre.

The Virtual Vehicle Dynamics Development system, which includes the use of one of the world’s most advanced dynamic simulators, was developed in-house by the Maserati Innovation Lab and is based on a complex mathematical model called Virtual Car. This method allowed performance of 97% of dynamic tests, optimising development times. The car was then fine-tuned in the best Maserati tradition with exhaustive track and road test-driving sessions in the most widely varying conditions of use.

The guiding theme of the MC20’S design was the Brand’s historic identity, with all the ele-

• ENGINE Layout V6 90° MTC twin turbo Displacement (cc) 3000 cc Bore x stroke (mm) 88 x 82 mm Compression ratio 11:1 Max. power output 630 CV @ 7500 rpm Peak torque (Nm @ rpm) 730 Nm @ 3000 - 5500 rpm Ignition system MTC (Maserati Twin Combustion) Twin Spark with passive prechamber Fuel system

PD( Direct injection 350bar + Port injection 6bar) Induction

Twin Side Turbo with electronic actuated waste gate Lubrication Fully variable Oil pump on Dry Sump System with scavenge Pumps & external oil tank Timing system Double over head camshaft with variable valve timing • PERFORMANCE 0-100 Km/h (s) <2,9'' 0-200 Km/h (s) <8,8'' Top speed (km/h) >325km/h Braking distance <33mt from 100 to 0 km/h (m) Cx <0,38 • TRANSMISSION Gearbox DCT 8 gears Gear ratios

2.905/ 1.759/ 1.220/ 0.878/ 0.653/ 0.508/ 0.397/ 0.329 R 2.632:1 final 5.174 Transmission Rear-wheel drive with rear limited slip self-locking mechanical differ

ential (Electronic differential opt) • SUSPENSION Front Double-wishbone with virtual steering axle , anti-roll bar (Lifter opt) Rear Double-wishbone with virtual steering axle , anti-roll bar • BRAKES Front Ventilated discs 380x34 mm (CCM disc 390x36 opt); Brembo fixed calipers; 6 pistons Rear Ventilated discs 350x27 mm (CCM disc 360x28 opt); 4 pistons

gance, performance and comfort integral to its genetic make-up. The focus on performance led to the conception of a car with a distinct personality, with unmistakable forms that render it unique.

The butterfly doors are not only stunningly beautiful but also functional, as they improve the car’s ergonomics and enable optimal access to and from the cabin.

The aerodynamics were designed through over two thousand man-hours in the Dallara Wind Tunnel and more than a thousand CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations, which enabled the creation of a genuine work of art. The resulting car has a sleek line, with no mobile appendages but just a discreet rear spoiler that improves downforce without detracting from the MC20’s beauty. The CX is more under 0,38.

The MC20 is designed to enable coupé and convertible versions and for full electric power.

Once inside the cabin, the driver is always central, and nothing must distract them from the sporting driving experience. Every component has a purpose, and is completely driver-oriented. Simple forms, very few sharp edges and minimal distractions. Two 10 inch screens: one for the cockpit and the other for the Maserati Multimedia System (MIA). Simplicity is also the keynote of the carbon fibre-clad central console, with just a few features: the wireless smartphone charger, the driving mode selector (GT, Wet, Sport, Corsa and a fifth, ESC Off, which

deactivates the control functions), two speed selection buttons, the power window controls, the Multimedia System controls, and a handy storage compartment underneath the armrest.

All the other controls are on the steering wheel, with the ignition button on the left and the launch control on the right.

The new MC20 will be connected at all times with the Maserati Connect program. The full range of services includes connected navigation, Alexa and Wifi Hotspot and can also be managed through the Maserati Connect smartphone or smartwatch App. For the launch, Maserati has also developed six new colours to characterise MC20: Bianco Audace, Giallo Genio, Rosso Vincente, Blu Infinito, Nero Enigma and Grigio Mistero. Each of them has been conceived, designed and developed exclusively for this car and they all convey important themes: a strong reference to Made in Italy, to Italian identity and to the land, as well as one linked to Maserati tradition.

Both visually and conceptually, there are strong references to the MC12, the car that marked Maserati’s racing comeback in 2004. In the same way as its predecessor, MC20, with its explicitly racing soul clear from its name alone, announces the intention to return to the world of racing.

The production launch is scheduled for the end the current year with orders to be accepted from the 9th September after the world Première.

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14 October 2020

True Adventure with the new Africa Twin!

I n a post Covid world, what’s better than getting back out into nature? The experience of riding a brand new 2020 Honda Africa Twin of course, with the possibility of winning this ultimate adventure bike.

The finalists for the 2020 Honda Africa Quest battled through Quest Bootcamp in March; only to have the event postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

With intense anticipation the 14 finalists will be stepping aboard their 2020 Honda Africa Twins in Springbok this November to compete for the grand prize as winners of Honda Quest True Adventure 2020.

Iconic, beautiful and often challenging terrain of the Western and Northern Cape; namely Namaqua, Bushmanland, Kamieskroon, Cederberg and Richtersveld will host the finalists on this ultimate adventure ride.

Quest will kick off on November 6, 2020, with the winners ceremony taking place on November 13, 2020.

Honda Motor Southern Africa would like to wish the finalists a safe journey as they embark on a life changing adventure challenge with the all new Honda Africa Twin CRF1100L.

Elevate your journey with the new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport M

itsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA) is taking an upmarket approach with the launch of the latest version of the New Pajero Sport (see right), including a new Dynamic Shield front grille, new features, and additional luxuries.

The line-up will be expanded with Mitsubishi’s most stylish Pajero Sport yet, the 2.4L MIVEC Turbodiesel 8-speed A/T 4x4 Exceed, joining the 2.4L MIVEC Turbodiesel 8-speed A/T 4x2 and 2.4L MIVEC Turbodiesel 8-speed A/T 4x4.

The new “Boss of the Mitsubishi Stable” will turn heads thanks to more style and more luxury as well as various improvements thanks to Mitsubishi’s Dynamic Shield design approach.

“The new Pajero Sport is extremely important to Mitsubishi Motors and it ticks all the boxes to become our hero model, says Nic Campbell, General Manager of Mitsubishi Motors South Africa. “It is important to note that Mitsubishi Motors is taking a new direction, focusing on growing market segments – and the new Pajero Sport certainly leads the way for our future.”

One of the most outstanding visual features of the new Pajero Sport is its new Dynamic Shield front grille, giving the upgraded version an enhanced, more stylish and modern look.

Although most of the changes are in the form of style and more luxury equipment as part of the standard package, Mitsubishi’s engineers persisted with the ever reliable and powerful 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel.

Unique, more luxurious, and more advanced Unique: The New Pajero Sport is Mitsubishi’s unique platform, offering seven seats, making it a new-generation all-round SUV that combines off-road perfection and luxury on-road comfort.

The latest version includes more technology and driver comforts.

All models are powered by the 2.4L MIVEC Turbodiesel four-cylinder intercooled turbo diesel offering a powerful 133 kW and demanding 430 Nm of torque driving the wheels through Mitsubishi’s advanced 8-speed automatic transmission. The pairing between engine and the automatic transmission's wide range of gear ratios provides smooth acceleration and low rpm high-speed cruising that enhances driving efficiency.

The new derivative in the range, the Pajero Sport Exceed, offers all the built-in safety features

inherent of the Mitsubishi brand, and like the standard 4x4 version, is paired with Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD-II system which delivers performance in the most challenging driving conditions and rugged terrain. The selectable Off-Road Modes maximises traction on and across various surfaces. The Gravel, Mud/Snow, Sand or Rock setting can be selected to suit surface conditions to optimise engine output, transmission settings and braking for superior traction control.

features distinguishing it from its comrades: • Power Tilt and Sliding Sunroof • Mitsubishi Remote Control Connectivity and • Electronic Tailgate with Dual Kick Sensors

park distance control and the rear spoiler are standard. On the Exceed version we have the electric tailgate with dual kick sensors for added convenience.”

“The new Pajero Sport has a refined high-quality design thanks to Mitsubishi’s advanced dynamic shield with new distinctive rear combination lamps, a modernised high luxury console and a new diamond white body colour,” says Campbell.

Improvements inside the cabin include an upgraded centre console, soft padded door and knee trim and the adoption of two outstanding new features – the new 8-inch LCD meter cluster in full colour and an 8-inch SDA.

Adding to the new frontal design, standard design features of the updated range include Mitsubishi’s RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) body construction.

Improvements have also been done to the already quality and comfortable cabin, offering a soft, luxurious feel, more leg room and elbow space, the aforementioned additional outlets and ports and the seven high-quality, comfortable leather seats.

“The 4x4 driver selector dial on the new Exceed allows the driver to select between no less than four driving modes,” says Campbell. “Serious adventurers can rest assured that Mitsubishi’s advanced Super Select 4WD II system is among the best in the world and will be an asset on any excursion.

“The Pajero Sport has a 30-degree approach angle, the best in its class, which allows adventurers to challenge tough obstacles head-on, while the 24-degree departure angle will get you back down safely.”

To help keep occupants safe, the Pajero Sport has a variety of passive safety features such as its 7 airbags and ISOFIX child seat anchors.

Active safety features found in all models include active stability and traction control (ASTC), anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), and an emergency brake assist system (BAS).

All models also boast a hill-start assist system (HAS), dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, rear park distance control and a rear-view camera for safer and easier parking.

“Make no mistake – this is a very safe, quality-built machine,” says Campbell.

Luxurious: On the inside, the new range builds on the existing luxury of the Pajero Sport, including tilt and telescopic adjustment for the steering column with a multi-function leather-clad steering wheel with audio and cruise control settings at your fingertips.

The new range offers Bluetooth with hands-free voice control, coupled to Mitsubishi’s advanced smartphone-link display audio (SDA) connected to a large 8” touch screen.

Life is made easier for the driver thanks to a new full-colour digital instrument display, automatic dual-zone air-conditioning throughout the 7-seater cabin, including rear passenger controls, and electric windows all round.

“The Pajero Sport is our hero in the Mitsubishi line-up with a truly luxurious, yet practical interior,” says Campbell. This includes outstanding innovation and convenience with a new 8-inch colour LCD cluster with different display options and settings.

The new range also has an 8-inch smart link display with Apple Car Play and Android Auto for your smartphone, and an electric parking brake with auto hold function.“The new Exceed also boasts a remote control and Mitsubishi App system for its new electric tailgate with hands free access, including ‘kick points’ to open the rear door, as well as an electric tilt and sliding electric sunroof.”

According to Campbell, the Dynamic Shield design, which is the new face of the Mitsubishi brand, symbolising its tough, prestigious, and legendary heritage, is clearly visible on the Pajero Sport’s front.

This includes LED headlamps, daytime running lights and fog lamps set in a solid and robust front grill finished off with high quality chrome Dynamic Shield and now also fitted with cornering lamps.

“Looking at the New Pajero Sport from the side, its silhouette shows the new 18-inch alloy wheel designs and repositioned side steps set perfectly to enhance the design, while the higher nose has raised the centre of gravity, offering improved ride quality and off-road ability.”

All models now have additional USB and additional accessory sockets (dual USB for the rear passengers) and a 220AC 150-Watt power plug with full leather throughout the interior.

From the rear, the improved design combines the thicker bumper with a rear diffuser to highlight the Pajero Sport’s stable stance on the road.

Advanced: The new Exceed boasts advanced

“Shorter LED rear combination lamps, rear

As safety is of the utmost importance for Mitsubishi, the Pajero Sport is packed with safety features owners have become accustomed to from a Mitsubishi.

The 2020 Pajero Sport colour palette has been extended by two hues: White Diamond and Graphite Grey.

Warranty and service The new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has a 3-year/100 000km manufacturer’s warranty and a 5-year/90 000km service plan with 10 000km service intervals.

Legendary heritage The Mitsubishi Pajero – first launched almost 38 years ago – is a true legend and lays claim to being the most successful vehicle in the history of the Dakar Rally, with no fewer than 12 wins, including seven consecutive victories. More than 3.3 million Pajero derivatives have been sold world-wide since Mitsubishi first introduced the famous Pajero in 2006. The all-new Pajero Sport was named one of the finalists in the 2019 South African Car of the Year competition.

Pricing: Mitsubishi Motors South Africa offers the three derivatives, including the new Exceed, at competitive prices: • Mitsubishi Sport 4x2 Auto: • Mitsubishi Sport 4x4 Auto: • Mitsubishi Sport Exceed:

R609 995 R659 995 R679 995