The Village NEWS 23 Dec - 5 Jan 2021

Happy holidays and stay safe

23 DECEMBER 2020 Next issue: 6 January 2021

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NEWS www.thevillagenews.co.za

The heroes that are keeping residents and visitors safe this festive season include Hermanus Public Protection (HPP), the Rotary Club of Hermanus, SAPS, Critical Medical Care (CMC), Overstrand Fire & Rescue and the Traffic Department, whose representatives gathered next to the two ‘snowmen’ under the tree in Swallow Park that has been decorated to add some much-needed festive cheer to the summer season.

Don’t let Covid steal Christmas Writer De Waal Steyn

W

ith Christmas and the New Year on our doorstep the Western Cape Government has adopted a three-pronged approach to help contain the Covid-19 resurgence in the province, said Premier Alan Winde.

According to him this includes a continuation of its health response to ensure that every person gets care when they need it; a campaign to help change behaviour to prevent new infections; and increased enforcement of existing Level 1 regulations that will ensure the compliance needed to contain the virus.

cases, with more than 33 000 of those in the Western Cape. Meanwhile, a new Covid-19 variant is said to be accelerating the spread of the virus.

Western Cape Health head Dr Keith Cloete said the active cases are at an all-time high. “It’s the highest we’ve ever had and that has resulted in more than 2 400 people currently being admitted in hospital.�

“Together these three pillars are the best way to roll back the resurgence, while keeping our economy as open as possible. This is how we intend to save both lives and livelihoods,� said Winde.

This means hospitals in the Western Cape are currently under severe pressure, with the province’s Health Department stating the 231 adult ICU/high care beds across hospitals are currently fluctuating between 80 –100% total capacity daily (technically full). An additional 136 dedicated adult ICU Covid beds were made available, bringing the combined ICU/high care beds to 367. The department urged patients with non-emergencies to access healthcare services at their local clinic and only visit the hospital emergency centre for serious emergencies.

South Africa has passed the 100 000 mark in active

“The protracted pressure on scarce health resources

may result in possible delayed admission to hospital or the possibility that certain service packages cannot be rendered. To assist the teams the Department has initiated ethics committees to support the clinical decision making. “Both clinical decision making and access to certain care packages will, by necessity, be different to those experienced in normal day-to-day services – for both Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients. These are unprecedented times globally and require us to take unprecedented actions to support the most vulnerable patients. Senior management fully supports clinicians in this very difficult time as their decisions are guided by equity, fairness, dignity, and engagement,� the department said in a statement. “In the Overberg there are currently 82 patients in Covid-19 wards across the district, 37 of which are patients under investigation. As hospitals in the Overberg are district hospitals, patients who require intensive care are transported to Worcester and

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“While the situation remains fluid, Mediclinic Hermanus’ ICU and High Care units remain under extreme pressure. Where the facility is unable to accommodate any further patients in these units due to lack of additional resources, a decision will be made to divert emergency services for a period of time. This decision will be constantly reviewed and withdrawn when the unit is once again able to receive patients,� he said.

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Dr Gerrit de Villiers, Group General Manager: Clinical Performance, Mediclinic International said the second wave has resulted in a strong demand for care. “In the Western Cape, it has now become clear that the numbers of patients seeking care within our hospitals has exceeded previous numbers during the first peak and that the demand in many of our ICU and High Care units has reached capacity.

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Tygerberg Hospitals,� the department said.

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23 December 2020

Overview of the year JANUARY A black spitting cobra (Naja nigricinta woodi) was the last thing a family in Sandbaai expected to find in their home in the early hours of the morning. The snake, approximately 1.6m in length, was first thought to be a ring-necked spitting cobra (rinkhals) as black spitting cobras are not found in the Overberg.

The only plausible explanation was that the snake had hitched a ride with a family member who visited Sandbaai from the Cederberg, by slithering into her car or luggage. Luckily, the man who found the cobra behind his bar fridge was wearing reading glasses that protected his eyes from the snake’s cytotoxic venom when it spat at him.

The matric class of 2019 made history when the Minister of Basic Education announced on 7 January that the national pass rate had exceeded 80% for the first time since 1994.

Overstrand schools celebrated their results, with Hermanus High achieving a 99.4% pass rate, Gansbaai Academia 89.4%, Qhayiya Secondary 84.7% (a massive improvement on the previous year’s 73%) and Hawston Secondary 80% (also up from the previous year’s disappointing 65%). Northcliff House College and Curro Hermanus each had a 100% pass rate.

FEBRUARY Three Special Rating Areas (SRAs) are on the cards for the Overstrand after Hermanus secured the required number of votes to start with the application process to the municipality for the establishment of a Hermanus SRA. A majority of yes votes had already been secured for the establishment of SRAs in Onrus-Vermont and Kleinmond.

Price drops in the open market for recyclable materials compelled Walker Bay Recycling to close its doors. The new owner had taken over the business after the original recycling facility was burnt down during the 2018 riots.

The municipality confirmed that plans were moving forward for the construction of a new Material Recycling Facility (MRF), which would be completed in the new year.

As the 2020 harvest season got underway,

the pioneering wine farm in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hamilton Russell Vineyards, celebrated its 40th harvest. The history of this world-renowned wine estate dates back to 1975 when Johannesburg businessman, Tim Hamilton Russell bought the 170ha property with the aim of producing South Africa’s top cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.

2020

by Pres Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday evening 23 March in an attempt to slow down the infection rate of Covid-19. The next day, stores in the Overstrand were filled with shoppers trying to stock up on last-minute essentials. At the time, only 544 people had been infected with the Coronavirus in South Africa, with four confirmed cases reported in the Overberg.

APRIL

Two Orcas named Port and Starboard are believed to be behind the carcass of a bronze whaler shark that washed up on Grotto Beach.

Port and Starboard made international headlines in May 2017 when they were linked to the killing of several great whites, as well as sevengill sharks in South Africa. However, it was the first time that the Orca pair had predated on a bronze whaler shark. The 3-metre long female was torn open, with both its heart and liver removed. This orca behaviour was linked to the change in certain shark species’ distributions, as they avoided their traditional aggregation sites for extended time periods.

Human Wildlife Solutions, appointed by the municipality in November 2019 to manage the Voëlklip and Pringle Bay baboon troops, reported having their hands full in dealing with rogue baboons that had been moving in and out of the urban environment for years without management, which made the implementation of the ‘virtual fence’ more difficult. Their rangers were making use of paintball guns to keep the troop together and out of residential areas, which caused some controversy among conservation groups and concerned residents.

The hard lockdown took effect at midnight on 26 March and was intended to be in force until midnight on 16 April, but was extended by two weeks until the end of April. With the lockdown’s disastrous impact on the local economy, the Overberg community rallied to assist those who could not afford to buy food or did not have adequate shelter. Municipal councillors and the organisers of local NGOs and soup kitchens were inundated with offers of help, including food and financial donations. Several local initiatives also got to work making face masks for essential workers and members of the public.

MAY The lockdown restrictions were eased from Alert Level 5 to Level 4 on 1 May. While the controversial bans on the sale of alcohol and cigarettes remained in place, certain businesses were permitted to resume trading and restaurants could offer take-out delivery service. However, the wine, tourism and hospitality industries, crucial to the local economy of the Overstrand, remained firmly in lockdown and were struggling to stay afloat. By 18 May, more than 70% of the country’s Covid-19 cases were in the Western Cape, where 9 927 infections out of a national total of 15 500 were recorded. The number of infections in the Overberg district stood at 53, of which 24 were reported in the Overstrand.

JUNE MARCH A state of disaster was declared on 15 March and life as we knew it came to a standstill when a 21-day national lockdown was ordered

Pres Cyril Ramaphosa announced on 24 May that the whole country would be moving to Alert Level 3 of the lockdown on 1 June.

Preparation was also underway for schools to reopen in phases from 1 June, starting with the return of Gr 12 and Gr 7 pupils.

rain storms boosted the level of the De Bos Dam by almost 13 percentage points to 48%.

There was more good news when both the Klein River and Kleinmond lagoons breached due to above average rainfall experienced in the region in June and July.

reported brisk business.

JULY At the end of June, in an effort to reactivate businesses and save jobs, Pres Ramaphosa announced ‘enhanced regulations’ for Level 3 that included the reopening of cinemas, theatres, casinos, personal care services, accredited and licensed accommodation, conference venues and restaurant sit-down service, while adhering to stringent protocols and restrictions. However, on 13 July the government moved swiftly by reintroducing the ban on alcohol sales and a curfew between 21:00 and 04:00. It also became a legal requirement for citizens to wear a face mask in public. This followed the country’s continued spike in infections which was putting the health care system under extreme pressure. South Africa had moved up to the 10th position of countries with the most infections world-wide, with the Western Cape recording 78 548 cases, the Overberg 2 062 cases and the Overstrand 1 071.

The Women’s Day long weekend presented accommodation establishments and tour operators with the first opportunity in more than 125 days to welcome guests, albeit under strict lockdown conditions, including inter-provincial travel restrictions. With thousands of domestic tourists streaming to our towns at the height of the whale season, the local economy received the boost it so desperately needed.

Although South Africa now held the 5th position among countries in the world with the highest number of infections, Premier Alan Winde said all indications were that the Western Cape had passed its peak of infections. On 10 August the province had a confirmed total of 98 656 cases, the Overberg had 2 935 and the Overstrand 1 416 cases, of which only 111 were active.

There was a palpable sense of relief and excitement amongst business owners and the public as the more relaxed Level 2 lockdown restrictions came into effect on 17 August. The Cape Whale Coast embraced the #HermanusIsOpen campaign to welcome visitors back, as the focus of the pandemic now shifted to urgent efforts to assist economic recovery.

Whale Coast Conservation (WCC) chameleon rescue volunteers spotted an injured Cape grysbok lying under a tree on the field near the old circus grounds in Main Road. A coordinated rescue operation followed and the grysbokkie was taken to the vet, who not only discovered that she had a fractured bone in one hoof, but was also pregnant. She was kept overnight in a kennel at the Fernkloof Nature Reserve before a compassionate farmer in the valley agreed to take the pregnant bokkie in and care for her until she’d given birth and recovered fully.

OCTOBER The University of Pretoria’s Mammal Research Institute, which monitors the South African population of southern right whales, published the findings of their 41st annual whale survey. In total, 136 females and calves (68 pairs) and 29 unaccompanied adults were counted and photographed between Nature’s Valley and Muizenberg over three days. The total of 165 southern right whales marked the second-lowest number in the past 32 years.

A series of cold fronts and accompanying

Hermanus High School matrics celebrated their last day of school after a most difficult year with a Valedictory ceremony at the school, followed by the traditional jump into the ocean from Piet se Klip in their school uniforms.

The Overstrand pulled out all the stops to make the coming summer season a success for local businesses, while at the same time ensuring that lockdown restrictions are adhered to. This included the ‘Seats on the Streets’ campaign, allowing restaurants to apply to the municipality for permission to seat customers on pavements and other public areas, thereby creating more space for social distancing. This initiative tied in with the bigger #HermanusIsOpen campaign to lure visitors back to our shores.

After giving birth safely on 8 October, the story about the rescued grysbokkie had a happy ending when she and her six-week-old fawn were released back into the Fernkloof Nature Reserve after convalescing on a farm in Hemel-en-Aarde.

DECEMBER

SEPTEMBER

On 22 July, local restaurateurs, supported by the deputy mayor and several councillors, joined a nationwide peaceful protest, ‘Million Seats on the Streets’, initiated by the Restaurant Association of South Africa (RASA) to highlight the crippling effect that the alcohol ban and 9pm curfew were having on the industry’s efforts to survive and save the jobs of their staff.

NOVEMBER The establishment of the Hermanus Special Rating Area (HRSA) is concluded with the signing of the final financial agreement between the newly-established Hermanus Public Protection (HPP) NPO and the municipality. The new-look HPP ushered in a new era for Hermanus public safety by offering not only foot and vehicle patrols but also cleanup services.

AUGUST With the more relaxed regulations, which included the lifting of the ban on the sale of alcohol (but not tobacco) came a call for greater vigilance, as the number of confirmed cases in the Western Cape continued to rise and the peak was only expected in early July. On 1 June the Western Cape recorded 21 103 confirmed cases, of which 124 were in the Overberg and 43 in the Overstrand. By the end of the month, these figures had skyrocketed, with the Western Cape breaking through 60 000 infections, while the Overberg had over 1 000 infections and the Overstrand more than 550.

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23 December 2020

The much-anticipated extension of the famous Hermanus Cliff Path at Poole’s Bay suffered a blow after the municipality stated that it does not have the authority to implement a right of way servitude across private property.

This followed several attempts by the Cliff Path Action Group (CPAG) over the last three years to have the 12 km-long Cliff Path connected between Sea Road and Mickey Way near Mollergren Park.

With the number of Covid-19 cases continuing to decrease, a semblance of normalcy started to return to life in the Overstrand. The Heritage Day long weekend was a huge success, with accommodation establishments reporting good occupation numbers. Wine farms, restaurants, retailers and tourism operators also

Over 300 people from across the Western Cape gathered at the wall of the Theewaterskloof Dam for a thanksgiving service to express their gratitude for the dam not only being full, but overflowing for the first time in nearly a decade. The De Bos Dam also reached 100.25% after excellent rains.

Conservation authorities expressed their concern after large quantities of plastic pellets, known as nurdles were found on beaches from Cape Infanta to Muizenberg. The municipality urged the public to assist with collecting washed-up nurdles on Overstrand beaches and handing them in at designated spots to prevent them from polluting our shoreline and ending up in the marine food chain.

South Africa was awarded 77 Blue Flag status sites for the 2020/2021 season, including 48 beaches, 6 marinas and 4 boats.

In the Overstrand, Grotto Beach celebrated a remarkable 20 consecutive years – one of only two beaches in the country that hold the record for being awarded the longest uninterrupted Blue Flag status. Hawston and Kleinmond beaches also received Blue Flag status for the 15th consecutive year, and Castle beach in Pearly Beach for the second year running.

Onrus beach was awarded pilot Blue Flag status.

As the Cape Whale Coast prepared for a busy summer season with thousands of visitors, the Western Cape Government expressed its deep concern over the increasing number of Covid-19 infections and hospitalisations.

This resurgence quickly escalated to a fullblown second wave in just a matter of weeks, prompting Pres Cyril Ramaphosa to announce new measures on 14 December to contain the surge, save lives and protect livelihoods.

In addition to Nelson Mandela Bay, the Sarah Baartman and Garden Route districts were declared Covid-19 hotspots.

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23 December 2020

New Covid-19 variant spreading faster From P 1

ties will be allowed.

Over the weekend National Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced that a new Covid-19 variant is said to be accelerating the spread of the virus. He revealed that they were confident that the second wave could be ascribed to this new variant which appears to be more potent and transmissible, although it is unclear whether it will cause higher mortality rates or more severe illness.

A departmental spokesperson said health facilities in the Western Cape are still subject to strict adherence to health protocols. “If you have any questions about visitation restrictions, please call the hospital in question to enquire. We understand that it is difficult not being able to visit your loved ones, but we ask for your understanding and cooperation.”

Prof Salim Abdool-Karim, co-chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19, noted how the second wave has “well and truly overshot the peak of the first wave in the Western Cape”. He said he was concerned that a higher viral load being picked up in nasopharyngeal swabs may mean higher transmissibility. “This second wave may be different in some ways – it may be that people who had the virus before it changed can now be infected with SARS-CoV-2 for a second time. It may be that the virus spreads more easily; or causes slightly more severe infection,” he said.

In the Overberg there are currently two facilities for quarantine and isolation. Those who cannot safely quarantine and isolate at home are urged to make use of these facilities. If you are in the Overstrand, contact 028 312 1166 or Erma.Mostert@Westerncape.gov.za; in Theewaterskloof contact 028 212 1070 or Makondelele.

Rambiyana@Westerncape.gov.za; and in Cape Agulhas contact 028 424 2652 or Johannes.

Schoevers@Westerncape.gov.za.

The Western Cape Health Department on Monday announced temporary service delivery changes in Overberg health facilities. These include the restriction of in-hospital visitations and therefore no visitors to public health facili-

• • • •

where possible Essential services will continue, such as TB and HIV screening and treatment, chronic care, family planning, immunisations, and antenatal and postnatal care Dental services limited to emergencies only Eyecare services limited to emergencies only MOU’s (midwife obstetric units) will continue to operate.

No person will be allowed inside Western Cape Government Health facilities without wearing a cloth mask covering their nose and mouth.

Patients are encouraged to make an appointment before visiting a healthcare facility, by calling their local clinic.

In addition, the following changes in the current service delivery offering include:

Overstrand Mayor Dudley Coetzee said Covid-19 has had a direct impact on the region’s protection services who have been rendering an essential service since the beginning of the pandemic.

• • • •

Non-urgent outpatient appointments will be postponed, and patients given alternative dates Non-urgent elective surgery will be postponed, and patients provided with a later date Patients who are in hospital but are stable will be discharged for further management at home or at a step-down facility Outreaches from district and regional hospitals will be suspended.

Emergency services that will continue are: emergency surgery, obstetric surgery, high risk obstetric clinic, fracture clinic, limited eyecare and eye surgery, and allied health for emergency cases.

Amended services at clinics include: • Medication delivery to stable chronic patients will continue, either to the home or the small community groups that have been set up already • Medication will be given for longer periods

Coetzee confirmed that Overstrand beaches will remain open between 09:00 – 18:00. “We were given the privilege to allow our beaches to stay open so that they can be enjoyed – please be responsible and heed the Covid-19 health and safety advice,” he added.

He said Overstrand is expecting an influx of visitors and while this is good news for the tourism economy, it will have a huge impact on service delivery and law enforcement agencies during the season.

He urged everyone to support Premier Winde’s plea to all residents to wear a mask when they leave home, to wash hands regularly, and avoid queues wherever possible. “In instances where you must queue, ensure that you are keeping 1.5 metres apart. If you are entertaining family and friends at home, keep the gathering small and try to keep it outdoors. Drink responsibly

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and do not share drinks, cigarettes, or cutlery. If we can encourage residents and visitors to do that, we will defeat this virus.”

The municipality’s operational plan for this period will include the following:

• • • • • •

Increase law enforcement presence during the festive season with a zero-tolerance approach Visible patrolling on a 24/7 basis Random roadblocks On-going policing of issues such as speeding, drunken driving and vehicles that are not roadworthy Prevention of social crime Effective beach monitoring and control.

From Tuesday 22 December Mediclinic Hermanus has withdrawn visiting hours. “While we understand that visiting hours are important to our patients’ recovery, we believe that this is currently the most appropriate decision,” the hospital said.

According to Mediclinic exceptions will be made for visits to Neonatal ICU (one parent at a time), visits to the paediatric unit (one parent may live in with their child), visits to the maternity unit (father / partner may visit), and visits to critically ill patients (visits per arrangement with hospital management).

PLEASE NOTE: The 24-hour Fire & Rescue control room is contactable on 028 312 2400 (fire, accidents, drowning etc). For day-today law enforcement complaints, phone 028 313 8996 or other safety and security issues, phone 028 313 8980. For general enquiries phone Overstrand’s control room on 028 313 8000 or 028 313 8111 for basic services emergencies.

You light up my Sandbaai

ABOVE: André’s neighbour Robbie van Toorn with his daughters Amelia and Alissa (who simply couldn’t contain her excitement for the photo), and Lukas and Petrie van Niekerk who often pop by the house during the evening. Robbie, who is an electrician, sometimes comes to André’s rescue when there are any problems with the lights! LEFT: André van Eyssen with the Sandbaai Neighbourhood Watch donation box. He dresses as Santa Claus every year to welcome visitors to his property.

R

esidents who have lived in Sandbaai for more than a decade are no doubt familiar with the ‘Christmas House’ found at 7 Piet Retief Crescent.

Each December for the past 16 years, André van Eyssen and his wife, Joy, have adorned their property with Christmas lights, reindeer, sleighs, carriages (handmade by Henk Marais), and other festive items for their neighbours and passers-by to enjoy.

This December marks the 17th year that this tradition has been upheld, and the first year that André has done it on his own as Joy has sadly passed away.

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23 December 2020

The tradition of decorating their house started when they were still living in Cape Town, 37 years ago. One December evening, one of the Eyssens’ sons suggested that they take a drive together to look at all the decorated houses (something that is quite popular in certain parts of Cape Town). According to André, as they were driving around the bug bit and since then he and Joy decorated their house every December – for 20 years in Cape Town and 17 years in Sandbaai – for them and others to enjoy.

Each year, adults and children alike ask André if he will be doing his Christmas House again and his answer is always a

smiling ‘yes’. Besides the joy that André gets (and brings!) from sharing his beautifully decorated property with others, he also uses it to collect donations for the Sandbaai Neighbourhood Watch, of which he is a member while also taking care of the finances.

Everyone is invited to come and have a look, take photos and make a donation towards the neighbourhood watch if they wish. The lights and music are switched on from 19:30 to 22:00 each night until 28 December. Please remember to wear a mask. André will sanitise your hands and take your temperature before you are allowed on the property.

Christmas tree brings festive cheer to Hermanus

The Hermanus Revival Group recently called a meeting of the local businesses to discuss what could be done to liven up the town to welcome tourists and to create some Christmas spirit after the challenging year we have all faced.

Several buildings in the CBD had their walls painted in vibrant colours, with ‘I Love Hermanus’ added in bright red, while the municipality assisted in sprucing up others to make the town look more inviting. It was also decided that the large Norfolk pine tree in Swallow Park should be decorated to add a festive atmosphere for the holiday season. This job fell to Kim Maclean (Sharklady Adventures & Majestic Cruising) and

Clinton Lerm (SA Forest Adventures) who quickly gathered the support of staff members and volunteers to create oversized and most original Christmas decorations.

The decorations and lights went up last week with the help of Overstrand Municipality. Kim says they have already had lots of positive feedback, with people coming to take photos and complimenting the finished project – something to lift everyone’s spirits!

Kim and Clinton would like to thank all the sponsors who contributed to this project, as well as the volunteers who helped to bring it all together.

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

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23 December 2020

Happy Holidays! Can you find the three elves that are hidden in the newspaper?

FROM THE VILLAGE NEWS TEAM What does one say at the end of a year such as 2020?

In previous years reference has often been made to an annus horribilis. But for some reason not even those words can adequately express the long, tiresome, and confusing year we have all endured.

This year has indeed been filled with low-lights and at times it was difficult finding a glimmer of hope among all

Stay safe this holiday

the bad news.

But if you take the time to sit back, relax and reflect on our tenacity as a species, our will to live, our scientists and medical staff working miracles to help those in need, and our sheer determination to see this pandemic through, you will come to realise that there is indeed hope.

When we look at the new year stretching out before us, let our hopes, not

THE VILLAGE

NEWS

our hurts, shape our future. Let us all realise that there are so many things to still be thankful for.

is our sincere hope that you and your loved ones will be safe, healthy and happy in the coming year.

Let us celebrate hope, as it is this one small thing that allows us to see the light despite all the darkness.

This is our last edition for 2020 and we will be back on the shelves on 6 January 2021.

From The Village NEWS team we wish all our readers a prosperous and healthy festive season. We look forward to keeping on bringing you the good news every week in 2021. It

For those of you who want to stay abreast of the latest happenings, be sure to follow The Village NEWS and The Village Explorer on Facebook.

Also bookmark www.thevillagenews.

not, is a minefield. You’re bound to offend at least one group of people, whatever you write.

De Waal Steyn

PUBLISHING EDITOR T: 083 700 3319

E: dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

Hedda Mittner

E: hedda@thevillagenews.co.za

Raphael da Silva ONLINE EDITOR T: 074 125 5854

E: raphael@thevillagenews.co.za

Elaine Davie

JOURNALIST T: 084 343 7500

E: elaine@thevillagenews.co.za Taylum Meyer PRODUCTION MANAGER, PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN T: 084 564 0779

E: taylum@thevillagenews.co.za

Charé van der Walt

We bid you good-bye and good luck for now. May you all remain hopeful – we are indeed addicted to hope.

This is the good NEWS – Ed

Jou Ma se Pa rup a pum pum

WhatsApp or SMS your stories and photos to 083 700 3319

CONTENT EDITOR T: 083 645 3928

com as we will bring you continuous coverage of all the news and happenings in our region. For those who want to follow the Dakar Rally, visit Floyd on Cars on our website and on Facebook and search for The Village NEWS on YouTube to follow all the video action from this epic race.

By Murray Stewart murray.stewart49@gmail.com

T

he instruction from my editor was terse and to the point. “It’s Christmas!” she hissed through her face mask while holding a pellet gun to my temple and rummaging around with her free hand for pellets.

“So for Pete’s sake write something Christmassy! Comprendo?” I nodded, too terrified to ask who Pete was, and leapt out the window before she found a pellet.

Back home, after swilling down a relaxing broccoli and spinach smoothie, I sharpened my pencil and pondered my options. Writing Christmassy articles, whether for Pete or

So, despite their bile-inducing tendencies, I can’t mention the slew of “Gee! I love Christmas” movies oozing out of our TVs, nor the disturbing noises they make.

It’s a succession of strategically jingled sleigh bells, strung together with saccharin-sweet storylines and bowel-churning ditties sung by dewy-eyed B-grade actors in the snow. And I dare not mention the ostentatious strings of festive lights that don’t help Eskom’s battle against load-shedding one bit – so I won’t.

And I’d definitely be hounded by at least one global organisation who claims it’s all part of a child’s spiritual upbringing. Well, perhaps – but there’s a danger that some kids might happily grow up thinking, correctly, that Christmas is dedicated to only one man – but incorrectly assuming he’s from the North Pole and wears funny clothes. He does, after all, bring them presents if they’re ‘good’ – whatever that means.

Another topic I dare not mention is the awkward question about the real date of Christmas. Let’s face it, Jesus’ birthday, and the arrival of

to know all this, so mum’s the word.

Santa Claus falling on the same day doesn’t make good marketing sense.

One would think that moving Santa to June or July was the obvious solution, but oddly enough the opposite happened.

And I’d get nasty emails from over-eager Christmas shoppers if I lamented the acres of discarded wrapping paper/plastic and miles of sticky-tape that clog the bins on Boxing Day, and end up in landfills to fester for centuries. So I’ll steer clear of that altogether.

You see, most mainstream theologians and historians agree that Jesus was born some time between 6 and 4 BCE, and probably in September.

From October/November onwards the temperatures in that neck of the woods plummet, and sheep were penned in and sheltered for the winter. No self-respecting dyed-inthe-wool shepherd would be out in December watching his flocks by night, never mind three of them.

But on the bright side, I’m delighted to announce that Management is flying the entire staff, plus partners, on an all-expenses-paid holiday to the Railway Hostel outside Mynfontein near De Aar. Apparently it’s still the only Covid-free spot on earth, so we won’t have to wear masks or stay 2 metres away from each other’s spouses.

In 336 CE, Emperor Constantine, having recently converted to Christianity, substituted the pagan holiday to the Roman god Saturnalia with Jesus’ birthday. December 25 was a festive occasion anyway, and coincided with the winter solstice and the sun’s ‘rebirth’ towards summer.

Talking about spouses, spare a thought for America’s First Lady.

Her poor hubby has misplaced his crown, and is really grumpy about having to find another job next year – and new digs. If all goes well for some Manhattan attorneys though, he won’t have to. They’re keeping a cell open for him on Alcatraz.

It was a stroke of genius at the time for the Emperor, because although the original Santa (St Nicholas, born in 280 CE in Turkey) was already gathering a bit of a cult following, it took a few centuries before his popularity almost hijacked Christmas altogether. But the kids don’t need

Anyway, I think I managed to avoid any offensive Christmassy stuff, and the plane’s about to leave so until next year, stay sane, safe and selectively secluded.

HERMANUS: SEVEN-DAY WEATHER AND TIDE TABLE Wed | 23 Dec

Thu | 24 Dec

Fri | 25 Dec

Sat | 26 Dec

Sun | 27 Dec

Mon | 28 Dec

Tue | 29 Dec

17°/22° Partly Cloudy

16°/19° Partly Cloudy

15°/22° Clear

18°/22° Clear

17°/21° Partly Cloudy

17°/24° Clear

18°/21° Cloudy

LOW HIGH LOW HIGH

LOW 05:09 HIGH 11:33 LOW 18:09

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23 December 2020

Hermanus has talent!

H

ermanus is known for its whales, wines and its beaches, but on Wednesday night the audience at the ‘Hermanus Has Talent’ competition, held in the amphitheatre at the Hermanus Waterfront, discovered something else. There is a depth of artistic talent hidden amongst the young people in the Overstrand and it needs to be nurtured.

Chad Hendriks, an alumni of Hermanus High School, is a talented music producer and Beat artist and his passion in life is to encourage the youth in Hermanus to develop their creative gifts.

Dep Mayor Elnora Gillion, Levi Levels Lewis (3rd), Producer Chad Hendriks, Rudairo Mudarikwa (1st), Maryke Hoogenboezem, Cllr Charmaine Resandt (judge), Janine Neethling (judge), Kerwin Baatjies (judge). Front: Starlieto (special prize), Undeground Kings (2nd).

PHOTO: Earl Maree

Together with his partner, Maryke Hoogenboezem, they produced their first talent competition last week under strict Covid-19 protocols. Judging by the positive feedback received they will definitely be repeating this competition next year.

The judges, Janine Neethling, Kerwin

Baatjies and Cllr Charmaine Resandt were delighted with the youthful talent in our region. The bulk of the contestants wrote their own music, lyrics and poetry, and choreographed their own routines.

There were 10 finalists and the winners were: 1st: Rudairo Mudarikwa (Praise Poet).

She won a Reel Productions video shoot, a Sorbet Voucher and 2 x movie tickets.

2nd: Underground Kings (Rap). They won a recording session, a Spur voucher and 4 x movie tickets.

3rd: Levi Levels Lewis (Beatboxing). He won a Performance Coaching session with Ian von Memerty, a Mugg & Bean voucher and 2 x movie tickets. A special prize was awarded to Starlieto, who won a photoshoot from Delight Photography and 2 x movie tickets.

“As a member of the judging panel, my greatest joy was sharing knowledge and giving input to the contestants during the auditions and then seeing on show day who had implemented that input,”

said Janine Neethling, a multi-award winning musical director, pianist and composer for South African theatre and television. “As part of their prizes, the top 3 contestants are receiving professional input, whether it is an online coaching session with Ian von Memerty, a studio recording session or the creation of a video of their original work. The hunger and need for training and constructive input is huge.”

At the end of the prize-giving the judges expressed the hope that ‘Hermanus Has Talent’ will grow to such a degree that workshops will be held leading up to the competition, led by industry professionals who would help these youngsters grow as artists. In years to come this show could reveal South Africa’s next performing sensation.

The organisers would like to thank the following sponsors: Food Lover’s Market, Creation Wines, Sorbet Salon, Spur, Mugg & Bean, Whale Coast Theatre, Reel productions, Curro Hermanus and Earl Imagery.

- Ann Wright

LET'S TALK

Of banana trees and Christmas

Thank you for supporting Hospice

Forty odd years ago I knew nothing about bananas.

Moving into a new home in Amanzimtoti I was thrilled to find young banana trees in the garden.

The Hospice Shop is happy to report that as we approach the end of this historic year, we have survived and have safely kept our doors open for the Hermanus community. Our customers have generally been most patient while waiting in the queues, which have now become a regular feature. Depending on how the pandemic develops, this Covid-19 protocol could be with us for some time. We thank our customers who wear their masks and who attempt to keep a safe physical distance whilst in the shop.

They produced splendid purple flowers at the top of their stems and magnificent bunches of delicious bananas. We had bananas for breakfast, lunch and supper, baked banana bread, gave bananas away… we went, well, bananas.

Then, horrors! The banana trees began to lean over and wilt. I propped them up with wooden poles, weeded all around them, watered them, treated them with fungicide. I pleaded with them not to die. But they died anyway. Devastated, I asked an agricultural friend: “How do I stop my banana trees dying?”

“Cut them down.”

“What!”

“While they are dying, new shoots come up at the base, then you chop the old trees down.”

righteousness and praise to spring up.

Remarkably, this verse was composed in the rubble of Jerusalem, ruined by Babylonians decades before, its inhabitants exiled to Babylon. Their children, now returned, asked, “Do we rebuild the past, or something new?”

Isaiah chose the new: Good news for the oppressed, healing, liberty, gladness, restitution.

Fast forward 500 years to Thessalonica in Macedonia.

The locals think the world is ending; things can’t go on as they are. That may be, writes St Paul (1 Thessalonians: 5), we don’t know; it will be like “a thief in the night”. So what to do? St Paul says, “Let us not fall asleep...let us keep awake...we belong to the day... we arm ourselves with faith, love and hope...encourage one another and build each other up.” Every ending contains the green shoots of new beginnings.

That’s what I did. New shoots appeared. Saying goodbye to the old trees, I cut them down. The next season we ate bananas again.

John (John 1: 19ff ) was known for baptising people preparing for renewal. If John the Baptist had lived in KZN he might have said: “Don’t look for new bananas on old banana trees… look for new shoots.”

The book of Isaiah, Chapter 61 vs 11 says: For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord will cause

For Christians at Christmas the new shoot is a baby.

Rev Tim Attwell,

Betty’s Bay

Our donors have continued to support

us and each day the shop is blessed by somebody dropping off a bag of goods for resale. We will still be able to collect donations by prior arrangement with Petro in the shop (Tel 028 313 1884). Please note the shop will close at 11:00 on Thursday 24 December and will reopen on Monday 4 January at 09:30.

The Board and staff of Overstrand Hospice wish all our benefactors, donors and customers a blessed Christmas and healthy 2021. To all our patients and their families, may the New Year be filled with peace, love and hope. Overstrand Hospice Shop

Overstrand Whale Boxing Club Raffle After many months of delay due to lockdown restrictions our raffle for the 2-seater canoe was drawn by Natalie Munroe (Food4Love) at the Hermanus Country Market on 19 December. The lucky winner was Pennie Wieffen, a local resident. Many thanks to the donor of the canoe who prefers to remain anonymous. A total of R3 120 was raised and thanks go to all those who participated.

Dave Worrall, Overstrand Whale Boxing Club

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Hoy’s Koppie

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(The place our village was originally named after)

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Join us at Ficks, 7 days a week, for your favourite pinchos, wine & cocktails. We also have a range of crispy flammkuche available as well as a delicious selection of desserts.

We are situated at 8 Marine Drive, Westcliff , overlooking the historic Ficks Tidal Pool. We have wheelchair access to the left side of the parking area.

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23 December 2020

WHAT'S COOKING

Enjoy a feast of seafood at the water’s edge Writer Hedda Mittner

T

his is not your average fine dining experience,” announces the disarming Gustave du Bois as his guests get ready to tuck into the first round of delectable seafood served up at this beach restaurant on the edge of the Klein River estuary at Prawn Flats. “Hier werk dinge ‘n bietjie anders.”

Those who don’t understand Afrikaans had better take someone along who does, as you would not want to miss out on his most entertaining brand of local humour and Gustave, whose family hails from the West Coast, says they only speak English in cases of “severe emergency or self-defense”.

It is safe to say that De Vette Mossel is a restaurant like no other. Don’t expect starched tablecloths and crystal glasses – or even much in the line of crockery and cutlery. At De Vette Mossel Beach Seafood Restaurants (yes, Groot Brak near Mossel Bay, Parys and Hartbeespoort Dam each have one) you dine in true beach fashion as the owners believe that the only way to enjoy seafood is with the sand under your feet – and who needs knives and forks if a mussel shell works just as well.

It’s an informal and no-fuss set-up, encouraging diners to kick back and relax. The “restaurant” is a rustic structure covered with a tented roof and fitted with windows on the seaside that can be opened or closed

depending on the strength of the breeze. The other side is open and affords diners full view of the fire pit where all the seafood is prepared over open flames.

The venue is a paradise for children, with lots of space to run around and explore, and a most imaginative jungle gym that will keep them occupied for hours. Even a trip up to the bathrooms via wooden walkways is an adventure – whether you need to “go” or not, don’t leave without checking it out! Humorous signs are posted along the way to ensure you don’t lose your way.

On the menu are seven courses, starting with mussels served two ways, followed by snoek and patats (sweet potato), a seafood potjie served with rice, vegetables and salad, and then a meat potjie (for those who are not that crazy about seafood), fresh melon and watermelon, and finally coffee and delicious koeksisters. For those with a humongous appetite for seafood, additional options include catch of the day, calamari steak, prawns and West Coast lobster.

Suffice it to say that the only way to tackle your De Vette Mossel experience is to come hungry. Very hungry.

The abundance is quite overwhelming, warranting a friendly warning from Gustave: “Remember to pace yourselves – that way you will get to taste a bit of everything.”

Unsurprisingly, your dining experience at De Vette Mossel can last up to three hours. It is more of a seafood

orgy than a normal restaurant meal.

And I haven’t even mentioned the freshly-baked potbrood, which Gustave describes as the “Jezebel” of De Vette Mossel – and the main culprit when it comes to not making it through the whole menu. “Remember that you are here for seafood, not bread,” he chuckles.

And yes, the rumours are true: for a set price of R260 per person you can eat as much as you like! No orders are placed and no bill is presented at the end of your meal; the bread (with butter and apricot jam, West Coast-style) and mussel starters are brought to the table in enamel plates and after that you help yourself to what Gustave calls a “rolling buffet” of dishes.

Two years after its opening, De Vette Mossel has proven to be a great asset to Hermanus and its owners, Gustave and his equally charming wife, Charné have succeeded in creating a quirky, unpretentious and family-friendly venue that offers quality seafood at great value for money.

All their staff members were unemployed before the Du Bois’ took them in and trained them; they are now an integral part of the De Vette Mossel family.

Booking is essential and can be done online for either an afternoon (12:00 – 15:00) or an evening session (18:30 – 24:00). Visit www. devettemosselhermanus.co.za to book and pay, or call 064 552 6627.

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THE VILLAGE

The next issue of The Village NEWS will be out on 18 November 2020.

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NEWS 2m

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

It almost felt like the ‘good old days’ before Covid as artwalkers came out in support of the Hermanus First Fridays galleries on Friday evening. Groups of friends were also out on the town to enjoy a drink or a bite to eat at places such as The Wine Glass. Read more about the Artwalk on P11.

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This sculpture titled ‘Hare with baggage waiting for ship to come in’

by Guy du Toit is one of the artworks that form part of this year’s FynArts Sculpture on the Cliffs exhibition. The hare is made of cast patinated bronze and is seen as a proxy for human behaviour – lively, witty, fast-talking and delightfully unpredictable.

Read more about this exhibition on P8.

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

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

Keep your guard up Writer De Waal Steyn

A

s the festive season approaches, it is critical that “we do not become the architects of our own undoing”, said Pres Cyril Ramaphosa in his weekly letter to the nation on Monday 9 November.

With tourism, one of the biggest contributors to our local economy, still under severe pressure the president’s words ring especially true for the Overstand, according to Frieda Lloyd, Tourism Manager for the Cape Whale Coast.

“While we are cautiously optimistic about the increase in the number of tourists, we must remember that we are still quite a way removed from the numbers we normally see, especially

during this time of year. Almost all the tourists now are from the Western Cape or neighbouring provinces and there are very few international tourists. Therefore a large chunk of the income we would normally see will not realise this year. The effects of the pandemic are still very much a reality in our towns, despite the relatively low numbers of infections,” she said.

“Over the weekend the Overstrand had a total 41 active cases and the Overberg 81 cases. But as can be seen in KwaZulu-Natal and in George, it takes truly little for a spike in new infections to occur and should that happen here it will be devastating to our economy,” Lloyd said.

In his weekly letter, the president said that “the greatest vigilance” is required from all citizens to keep the virus at bay. “A resurgence at any

scale will not just dramatically reverse our health gains. It will choke the green shoots of economic recovery that have emerged and take us back from spring to winter. To prevent a second wave of Covid-19 infections, we must observe the public health guidelines that remain in place. When we fail to wear a mask at a social gathering, when we attend crowded events, we are not only putting ourselves and others at risk. We are also putting our economic recovery in jeopardy.”

Lloyd said while the Overstrand is known for its beaches, activities, restaurants and wine farms, a sudden rise in Covid-19 infections will put even more strain on already struggling businesses. “We are fortunate that most of our businesses have thus far survived and that there has been a steady influx of tourists. But should

tougher restrictions be put back into place, it is a certainty that we will have business casualties that would negatively impact our towns.”

Lloyd called on all residents, tourists, and businesses to strictly adhere to the safety measures.

“Everyone who enjoys an outing in our towns, whether it be for shopping, a wine tasting or eating in a restaurant, must remember that they have a personal responsibility towards everyone else. It is up to everyone to ensure that they stay safe and keep those around them safe. Especially in restaurants, people need to remember that social distancing must be practised and for the sake of the staff and the other guests, please keep those masks on when you are not eating. Our businesses are doing their level best to stick to the rules, so please respect their efforts.

Continues on P3

New school for Sandbaai

Long weekend a success

T

B

Writer De Waal Steyn

he Western Cape Department of Education is planning on building a brand-new and much-needed technical high school in Sandbaai.

According to documentation that is set to serve before Council at its meeting on 26 August, it is proposed that a portion of the open erf next to the AFM Church in Long Street be alienated by the Overstrand Municipality to the Department of Transport and Public Works (DT&PW).

It is recommended to Council that the land, ±2.6 ha in extent, be transferred to the DT&PW at a nominal purchase price of R1.00 (including VAT) and that the department be liable for all additional costs such as transfer fees and town planning approval. The current value of the property is estimated at R3.46 million.

“The value that establishing a new technical

school will bring to the community can, however, not be expressed in financial value,” states the documentation.

The application by the department to acquire the property was done on 3 June 2020 to accommodate the growth in student numbers in the Overstrand and to meet the growing demand for skills in the country overall.

“Initially it was considered to motivate a donation of the property to the department, but as indicated by the department, it is easier legislative wise for them to motivate a purchase at a nominal purchase price than to motivate a donation,” according to the documentation.

It further states that it must be noted as a point of consideration that during the President’s State of the Nation address in February 2020, he said that in line with the Framework for Skills for a Changing World, government is expanding the training of both educators and learners to respond to emerging technologies, including the

We are thrilled to invite you back to The Marine from Friday, 4 September. Bookings are open and we look forward to safely welcome you back to enjoy our gourmet delights.

internet of things, robotics and artificial intelligence.

panding the number of technical schools in the province is a focus area of the department.

“Several new technology subjects and specialisations will be introduced, including technical mathematics and technical sciences, maritime sciences, aviation studies, mining sciences, and aquaponics. To expand participation in the technical streams, several ordinary public schools will be transformed into technical high schools,” the president said.

“Within our current framework is a three-stream model of education, including an academic pathway which can lead to university; a technical vocational pathway, such as our offerings at technical high schools, leading possibly to tertiary education but focusing on much-needed technical and artisanal skills; and the technical occupational pathway such as schools focusing on skills development through basic practical subjects for employment.

According to the documentation the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, confirmed this and said that government plans to have a technical high school in each regional school circuit.

The Overstrand falls under the Overberg Education District and in this regard Overstrand, and particularly Sandbaai, was identified as a suitable area to construct and establish a new technical school, according to the documentation.

Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the Western Cape Department of Education said ex-

“A total of 24 schools in the province currently offer the technical vocational stream and focus on subjects such as civil technology, which could include woodworking and plumbing; engineering graphics and design; mechanical technology, such as welding and motor mechanics; and electrical technology,” she said.

The decision whether to sell the land to the department can only be ratified by Council.

Writer De Waal Steyn 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 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

028 313 1000 | bookings@themarine.co.za themarinehotel.co.za/whats-on

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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Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency (BGCMA), on behalf of the national Department of Water Affairs, conducts bacteriological sampling, in addition to the testing done by the ODM. The BGCMA also undertakes a monthly chemical analysis of the waters of the Onrus River and its estuary.

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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Non promotional products and prices may vary from store to store. Selected products may not be available at all stores. Actual products might differ slightly from images represented. No traders. Savings are calculated using average market-related selling prices. Errors and omissions excluded.

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23 DEC 2020 – 2 JAN 2021 www.thevillagenews.co.za/whatson 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

Wednesday

Sumaridge sundowners and picnics Enjoy refreshing sundowners and a delicious picnic on the lawns of this picturesque wine estate overlooking the dam and rolling hills of vineyards.

Live music by Jaco Tosen will add to the romantic ambience. Picnics must be booked in advance at R475 (for 2–4 people, including a bottle of Lifestyle wine). Contact 028 312 1097 or sylvester@sumaridge.co.za.

Sumaridge Wine Estate, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley | 16:00 – 19:00

Watershed Live There can be no better way to start off the New Year than with Watershed, one of the most successful and well-loved bands ever to come out of South Africa. Having just celebrated their 20th year in the music industry, this will be their first time performing at Benguela Cove. This multi-platinum selling band will throw out hit after hit during their 2-hour performance, with their distinctive melodic guitar sounds blending with the sultry tones of lead singer and songwriter Craig Hinds’ voice to create soothing and classic rock that is easily recognisable and yet utterly unique. Limited tickets at R200 pp available on Quicket. For more information or to book, go to benguelacove.co.za.

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate | from 16:00

Summer Night Markets The Hermanus Country Market’s popular Summer Night Markets are back, every Wednesday evening.

Bring a blanket and enjoy cocktails, wines, craft beers, delicious eat-onsite foods, live music – and fresh air as far as the eye can see!

Next to Hermanus Cricket Field | 17:00 – 21:00

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Saturday

Panthera Sunset Visits Enjoy a unique experience by visiting Panthera Africa’s big cats at sunset, when they come alive after a long day of rest. Your passionate host will take you around to the big cat enclosures and tell you their heartfelt stories, and how they came to be at this non-profit sanctuary. Only for people 16 years and older. Pre-booking is essential at R490 pp. Contact 071 182 8368 or info@pantheraafrica.com. Wear sturdy and comfortable shoes, and bring your camera and a jacket.

Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary (near Stanford) | 18:00

Benguela Cove on the edge of the Bot River lagoon for a screening of The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman. Food and beverages will be for sale and picnics can be pre-ordered 48 hours prior to the event at info@benguelacove.co.za. The doors open at 16:30 and before the movie starts at sunset, guests will be entertained by Ard Matthews, singer, songwriter, and front man of South African multi-platinum selling band, Just Jinger. Tickets are R95 for adults and R75 for children 12 and under, available online from nomadgigs. co.za or via benguelacove.co.za.

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate | from 16:30

30 JARED PRI OR PERFORMING LI VE THIS SUMMER DEC 2020 SAT 26th 12am - 5pm JAN 2021 FRI 1st 5pm – 9pm SAT 2nd 12am – 5pm TEL: 028 284 9640 E-MAIL: info@bothot.co.za

Sumaridge sundowners and picnics Enjoy refreshing sundowners and a delicious picnic on the lawns of this picturesque wine estate overlooking the dam and rolling hills of vineyards.

Live music by Jaco Tosen will add to the romantic ambience. Picnics must be booked in advance at R475 (for 2–4 people, including a bottle of Lifestyle wine). Contact 028 312 1097 or sylvester@sumaridge.co.za.

Sumaridge Wine Estate, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley | 16:00 – 19:00

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Sunday

Ard Matthews Live & Outdoor Cinema Experience the magic of open-air cinema under the stars when you join

Wednesday

Wednesday

Sumaridge sundowners and picnics Enjoy refreshing sundowners and a delicious picnic on the lawns of this picturesque wine estate overlooking the dam and rolling hills of vineyards.

Live music by Jaco Tosen will add to the romantic ambience. Picnics must

be booked in advance at R475 (for 2–4 people, including a bottle of Lifestyle wine). Contact 028 312 1097 or sylvester@sumaridge.co.za.

Sumaridge Wine Esate, Upper Hemelen-Aarde Valley | 16:00 – 19:00

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Wednesday

Run Beaumont Run or Walk 5km or 10km through vineyards, pear orchards, single track and jeep track – with views forever!

Hang around for coffee, breakfast and of course wine tasting. Medals, timing, Coke at the finish line, prizes and lucky draws. R120 pp. Enter at raceday. co.za. For more details contact Japie Swanepoel on 082 44 33 033 or japie@ raceday.co.za.

Beaumont Family Wines, Botrivier | 07:15

Hermanus Country Market (every Sat) 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

Gansbaai Farmers’ Market (every Sat) Specialising in organic, homemade and home-grown products such as fresh farm produce, oven-fresh bakes and pastries, local wines and craft beers,

Outdoor Cinema Experience the magic of open-air cinema under the stars when you join Benguela Cove on the edge of the Bot River lagoon for a screening of Four Christmases, starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon. Food and beverages will be for sale and picnics can be pre-ordered 48 hours prior to the event at info@benguelacove. co.za. The doors open at 16:30 and the movie starts at sunset. Tickets are R95 for adults and R75 for children 12 and under, available online from nomadgigs.co.za or via benguelacove.co.za.

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate | from 16:30

CHECK US OUT ON... www.thevillagenews.co.za www.issuu.com/dwaal www.pressreader.com www.facebook.com

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23 December 2020

MY PET

Festive season gifts for pets

By Dr Hilldidge Beer

U

nlike humans, finding festive season gifts for pets is relatively easy. Here is your pet’s Christmas wish list: 1. Quality time Dog or cat, active playtime and cuddles with you is the best gift you can give your pet. All pets crave your company, even those apparently aloof felines. Make playtime for fun by investing in good quality toys that outlast even the toughest chew.

3. Sterilisation Spaying or neutering your pet is his or her best protection against mammary, uterine and testicular cancers.

Each time your pet goes through a heat cycle, her risk rises. Cancer treatment is expensive; prevention is always better than cure.

EberVet Vetshops have a wide selection of ropes, balls, rings and puzzle toys that’ll keep you both entertained for hours.

4. A clean mouth We brush our own teeth every day but we tend to forget that pets have dental issues too. Plaque build-up can lead to gingivitis which, in turn, may lead to more serious illnesses like heart failure. A dental checkup at your veterinarian is free. To prevent tartar build-up, ask your EberVet Vetshop for pet-friendly chews that clean their teeth while they gnaw.

2. A microchip More dogs and cats stray during the festive season than at any other time of the year. A microchip is your best bet of being reunited with your pet should they wander. It’s inexpensive, takes just a few minutes, there’s no anaesthesia, and it’s painless for your pet.

5. Shade and water We would have thought it goes without saying but sadly, some pet owners neglect their pets’ water needs. All pets need clean water every day, and in summer it should be kept in a shaded area. If your pet is locked in a yard, ensure he has a shaded place to nap.

6. Protection from heatstroke Astonishingly, some pet owners still believe it’s OK to leave their dogs in the car while they shop. It isn’t.

The temperature inside a car rises much faster than outside, even in the shade and even with windows cranked open. If you’re going to the shops, leave your pet at home.

Heatstroke is deadly to pets and occurs very rapidly. Don’t risk your pet’s life.

7. Pet-friendly treats Feeding your pet from the table significantly increases his risk of obesity and tooth decay. An obese pet is at risk of diabetes which can be difficult and expensive to treat. Stock up on delicious ProBono biscuits in a variety of flavours, Pet’s Elite biltong for dogs, catnip or tiny Treatz biscuits in salmon flavour for cats. Your nearest EberVet Vetshop has a wide selection of pet treats that are as tasty as they are good for your pets’ health.

8. A new collar and lead Collars and leads that are worn or cracked provide the perfect breed-

ing ground for bacteria. Fill your pet’s festive season stocking with a collar or harness and lead from Rogz.

Find Rogz at your EberVet Vetshop.

9. Ban the bugs Fleas, ticks and worms love summer. Heat and moisture provide the perfect breeding conditions and once infestation occurs, it’s really difficult to eradicate. A new summer bed, in cool, washable fabric will go

a long way to protect your pet. Add parasite control – available as chews, spot-ons, powders or collars – and your pet is assured of a healthier, more comfortable summer.

10. Love Whether you show it by cuddling your own pets, or by fostering or adopting a shelter pet, make it your top priority to give love. It’s what we all want for Christmas.

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23 December 2020

MY HOME

By LB Vorster

How death impacts the transfer of immovable property

A

simple property transaction can become fairly complicated if, for example, the seller dies during the transaction, i.e. prior to transfer of the property to the purchaser having been affected at the Deeds Office.

Sale prior to death An agreement of sale that was entered into prior to the death of either the seller or the purchaser and in respect of which transfer has not yet taken place, remains valid and enforceable in all respects. However, the death of either party will inevitably cause delays.

In the event of the death of a seller, for example, the transferring attorney/s will have to obtain a ‘Power of Attorney to Pass Transfer’ from the executor of the estate of the seller. However, before that can happen, the executor needs to be formally appointed by the Master of the High Court by virtue of Letters of Executorship. This, unfortunately, can take some time as a number of documents have to be completed and signed by the nominated executor which, together with the original will and copies of various supporting documents, have to be submitted to the Master for due consideration.

This may give rise to frustrating delays in the transfer process that otherwise would have been completed within 2 to 3 months from date of acceptance by the seller of the purchaser’s offer. It also means that had the parties already signed their respective transfer documents at the time of death, all those documents will become obsolete and will have to be replaced by freshly prepared and signed transfer documents that will reflect the demise of the seller and that the estate of the latter is now being represented by the duly appointed executor.

to comply with the bank’s requirements, thereby rendering the transaction virtually impossible to be proceeded with.

In addition, the ‘Power of Attorney to Pass Transfer’ will have to be endorsed by the Master of the High Court which can cause further delays.

The Master will only endorse the said power of attorney in terms of section 42(2) of the Administration of Estates Act once it has satisfied itself that all its documentary requirements have been met.

(Transfer of immovable property to the heirs can only be affected once the liquidation and distribution account has been formally approved by the Master of the High Court and it has lain open for inspection by the public for 21 days at the Master’s Office and the Magistrate’s Office of the district in which the deceased had normally resided, without any objections having been raised against the account.)

In the event of the death of the purchaser, on the other hand, it might be entirely impractical to proceed with transfer as, for example, the one who has applied for a mortgage bond in order to finance the transaction is no longer available

Sale after death An executor can only sell and transfer immovable property (prior to having acquired the Master’s formal approval of the liquidation and distribution account) with the consent of all the heirs to the deceased estate, unless the property has to be sold in order to settle the debts of such deceased estate.

In the event of the sale of immovable property by the executor with the consent of all the heirs, an application will have to be submitted to the Master of the High Court for its endorsement

of the ‘Power of Attorney to Pass Transfer’ of the property in terms of section 42(2) of the Administration of Estates Act. Such an application is made by the executor by completing form JM33 and annexing thereto all the required documents such as, for example, a copy of the deed of sale and the consents of the respective heirs.

From the above it is quite clear that extreme care should be taken when preparing an offer to purchase immovable property where a deceased estate is involved. The entailing process is to be adequately explained to all the parties to such a sale agreement. In particular they should be alerted to the inevitable delays that will be experienced while the executor and/or the transferring attorney will be complying with the provisions of the Administration of Estates Act and the Deeds Registry Act, respectively.

This article is merely a general information sheet and should not be used or relied on as legal or other professional advice. No liability is accepted for any errors or omissions, nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information contained herein. Always contact your legal advisor for specific detailed advice or contact us for further assistance.

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23 December 2020

MY WELLNESS

SOS solutions for summer skin

H

wonder it is often found in moisturisers, creams and lotions formulated to treat dry skin as well as products designed to reduce stretch marks.

Refine’s top pick: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic

uman skin is constantly bombarded by external insults. These are capable of inducing the generation of free radicals as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS). Extrinsic skin damage develops due to several factors: ionising radiation, severe physical and psychological stress, alcohol intake, poor nutrition, overeating, environmental pollution, and exposure to UV radiation (the sun).

3. Resveratrol A chemical compound found mostly in the skins of fruits like grapes and berries, peanuts, tea and red wine, resveratrol serves as the plant’s defensive armour. It’s an antimicrobial substance produced by plants to protect themselves from air pollution, infection, intense UV radiation and extreme climate changes.

Find it in: SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E

It is estimated that among all these environmental factors, up to 80% of skin damage is caused by the sun. UV-induced damage to the skin develops when the formation of oxygen free radicals exceeds the antioxidant defence ability of the skin. The only natural innate protection we have in our skin is melanin and enzymatic antioxidants.

This is supported by the antioxidants in the food we consume (vitamin A, C, E, etc.) or apply to our skin. The most important strategy to reduce the risk of sun damage is to avoid sun exposure and the use of sunscreens. The next step is the use of antioxidants, either orally or by topical application, to prevent oxidative stress and enhance DNA repair.

(sunscreen), but secondary treatment could be achieved with the use of antioxidants either by oral ingestion of products such as Metagenics Alpha Lipoic Acid, Co-enzyme Q 10 and Vitamin E. Exogenous (from the outside) antioxidants like vitamin C, E and many others cannot be synthesised by the human body and must be taken up by the diet.

Human skin is naked; it is essential that we utilise all the help and support on offer to us. DNA damage results in loss of collagen, elastin and vital skin proteins. The end result of oxidative stress is pigmentation disorders, redness or thread veins on the face, as well as a lax, wrinkled appearance of the skin.

However, it is important to pre-treat the skin with antioxidants before sun exposure. No protective effects are shown when antioxidants are applied after sun exposure. UVR-induced skin damage is a rapid event, and antioxidants possibly prevent such damage only when present in relevant concentration at the site of oxidative stress. In fact, treatment of the skin with antioxidants after the damage was caused by the sun, might cause additional harmful effects on the skin.

Skin DNA molecules are constantly bombarded by free radicals. If the frequency of damaging events exceeds the repair capacity, it can possibly lead to the beginnings of skin cancer. The primary treatment of photoaging is photo protection

Many antioxidants also have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. In general, topical

antioxidants found in creams and serums work by downregulating oxidative pathways that damage the skin. A wide variety of antioxidants can provide substantial protection for your skin. We have highlighted a few of our favourites which are readily available.

1. Vitamin C This antioxidant protects skin from UV damage, stimulates collagen production and lifts away dark spots, revealing bright glowing skin.

Vitamin C scavenges and neutralises free radicals, protecting the cell membranes and improving resistance to sun exposure.

Refine’s top pick: Lamelle Vit. C Lipid 2. Vitamin E Vitamin E is an important vitamin required for the proper functioning of many organs in the body, including the skin. Aside from being a powerful antioxidant, vitamin E is widely recognised for its ability to accelerate the skin’s healing process. No

“Good days start at night” Karin 028 312 2616 083 261 6093

6 Adam Street Whale Park, Hermanus

4. Alpha Lipoic Acid An organic anti-oxidant compound which protects against sun and stress caused by pollution and other environmental factors. It improves lines and wrinkles, brightens the skin and helps with redness and inflammation.

Find it in: NIMUE Alpha Lipoic Activator 5. Sunblock 80% of skin ageing is caused by solar radiation.

The latest sunblocks contain not only sun filters, but also comprehensive DNA protection such as glycolase and endonuclease, thus preventing and repairing DNA damage. Together with high levels of antioxidants, these protect, neutralise and repair skin.

Keep an eye out for our top pick: Heliocare Oral supplements, Heliocare sunblocks and Lamelle Helase SPF50 This Festive Season we wish all our clients and sunseekers in Hermanus a safe, ‘anti-oxidant’ and merry Christmas.

– Dr Michelle Emett and the team at Refine Anti-Aging Clinic, Hermanus

23 December 2020

www.thevillagenews.co.za

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23 December 2020

MY ENVIRONMENT

Talking the walk in Whaleworld I

t’s difficult to imagine anyone prouder and more stoked than two young men from Hermanus on the evening of Reconciliation Day last week. At a function at The Marine, Dylan Beukes and Ashley Booysen were introduced as Hermanus Varsity’s first two fully-qualified Whaleworld eco-guides. Smartly kitted out in their brand new uniforms they were hardly able to contain their excitement at being able to give locals and visitors alike a unique insight into our very special marine and fynbos environment.

Having completed an exhaustive five-week training course presented by Grant Hine of Zen Guiding at De Kelders, and after successfully passing through a tough examination and monitoring process, they were presented with a guiding certificate from the Marine Dynamics Academy and are now registered eco-guides with the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA). Three other students are still undergoing training and hope to be registered by March next year.

Grant, who was with FGASA for 17 years, comments that most people sleepwalk through life and even when surrounded by nature, are barely conscious of what they are seeing, hearing or smelling. It is the task of the field guide to draw their attention to the environment and to interpret it – to awaken all their senses, so that they can begin to rediscover their connection to nature.

To start off with, there will be three Whaleworld trails for visitors to choose from, varying in length and eco-environments. The two young guides are keen to emphasize that although they will want to keep group sizes down to a maximum of six to

eight people, they would be very happy to include children. It’s important to feed their curiosity when they’re young, they say, it will last them a lifetime.

This project fits snugly into what Hermanus Varsity Trust (HVT) refers to as its ‘Blue-Green Programme’, encompassing the gradient from blue ocean through to green fynbos, which seeks to promote economic growth, social inclusion and preservation or improvement of livelihoods, while at the same time ensuring environmental sustainability.

At the function, HVT’s CEO, Delana Finlayson emphasised that the training of these two eco-guides was the first step towards the realisation of a much wider vision, to establish a world-class Marine Science Centre in the Overstrand which would act as a catalyst for further community, business and economic development in the region.

“Our natural environment is our greatest asset and the Eco Trails project, with its family-friendly focus, is aimed at sharing not only scientific knowledge, but also the social histories and rich folklore of the area with visitors as well as local residents. An added bonus is that all proceeds derived from this project will be ploughed back into student education.”

As she pointed out, the pandemic had brought home the stark reality that fundraising for an institution like HVT was going to rely in the future as much on income from transformative social enterprises, such as this, and partnerships with the local business community, as on donations from philanthropic Foundations and individuals. She paid specific tribute to local businesses like The Marine Hotel, Creation Wines, Marine Dynamics and Hermanus Experience for buying into the Eco Trails project with so much

enthusiasm.

Expanding on HVT’s vision for the creation of a Marine Science Centre, recent Hermanus resident Grahame Lindop of The Ulwazi Partnership outlined his ideas for what he has called the Whaleworld Science Centre, to be jointly developed with HVT. He would like, he says, to see Hermanus become the whale capital of the world, combining high-calibre scientific research with a strong educational component.

He says through Councillor Kari Brice they have obtained endorsement from the Overstrand Municipality for the R75 – R100 million project, and a potential site for the project is currently being discussed. If all goes according to plan, he sees this ‘worldclass attraction’ taking between 24 and 27 months to reach completion.

The increased tourism the centre will bring to the area, will, he believes, add a multiplier effect to its existing drawcards and thus to economic sustainability.

From a conservation point of view, specialist whale photographer, Dave de Beer underlined the important function such a centre could have in protecting the Right whale species in particular. In a region where largescale commercial whale-hunting was once practised, it would be appropriate to focus attention on the important role whales play in the marine eco-system.

So, in a few days’ time when Dylan and Ashley step on to a Whaleworld coastal trail for the first time with their first group of eco tourists, join them – be a part of history-in-the-making. Like Satchmo, you might end up saying: ‘And I think to myself, what a wonderful world’.

For more information on the ecotrails, contact 084 808 1100 or whaleworldecotrails.co.za.

ABOVE: Dylan Beukes with Ashley and their instructor Grant Hine, who presented the fiveweek Marine Dynamics Academy course. LEFT: The newly-qualified Whaleworld eco-guide, Ashley Booysen exploring the Marine Pool with a young guest.

BELOW: Anina Lee of Whale Coast Conservation, Delana Finlayson of the Hermanus Varsity Trust and Cllr Kari Brice at the launch of Whaleworld Eco-Trails at The Marine.

PHOTOS: Johann Kruger

PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

Writer Elaine Davie

23 December 2020

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Cousine Island in the Seychelles By Jax Bath

E

very summer in the southern hemisphere, islands of the tropics and countries bordered by water experience turtle season. This is when female turtles leave the safety of the water to attempt to lay their eggs. Turtles have been doing so for millions of years and it is quite extraordinary that these water dwelling reptiles use this specialised system in order to ensure the survival of their species. In last week’s ocean story, I wrote about the female turtles of Cousine Island in the Seychelles.

move them after they have already been in the sand for several hours. Great care is taken to make sure that the eggs are protected from the baking hot sun by a shade cloth whilst the mother lays the rest. Monitors also make sure not to shake the eggs around too much when relocating them. Either a slow walk or golf car ride will then ensure that the eggs are taken to the turtle hatchery where whoever was handling the eggs would then have to dig a nest.

The nest must emulate that of the turtle, with a bowl at the bottom and a chamber towards the top. You would not believe how much the shape of the nest impacts the survival rate of the hatchlings inside it. Should the nest be too deep, they struggle to get out. Should the chamber be too wide, the pulsing movement that helps the little turtles emerge won’t work to full effect and also cause the tiny hatchlings to struggle. Once the person has dug the nest, the eggs are carefully placed in it and then covered in sand.

Sometimes, from the beginning of the pulse, it only takes a few minutes for around 100 little turtles to emerge. The sleeping hatchlings are eventually woken up by the movement caused by their kin and then, they are ready to be released.

On Cousine Island, we move them from their nest into a bucket dusted with sand. We then take them to the beach and do a controlled release, watching the hatchlings with an eagle eye and chasing away any Ghost crabs trying to make a meal of them.

We would release them fairly far up the beach because that walk into the water is thought to be an important developmental moment for these tiny creatures.

It is likely that this rush to the water is the last time that any male turtles in the batch will ever find themselves on land. For the females, they will wait up to 30 years before returning to the same area to lay their own eggs one day. As the last hatchling enters the water, it is always hard not to feel like a proud parent as we send them out into the world.

Along with the pride however also comes a sense of trepidation, with only 1 in 1 000 hatchlings reaching adulthood in the wild.

It is for this very reason that people around the world come together to help turtles, for it seems that at every step of their journey they need to defy the odds just to survive. Next week, I’ll be sharing some of the weird and wonderful things I watched turtles do during my time in the Seychelles.

Cousine is a small granitic island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, 4 degrees south of the equator. It is an important breeding habitat for the critically endangered Hawksbill turtle and also one of few sites where they breed during the day. On this island, we would begin our turtle walks at 6am and undertake our last at 6pm. Walking up and down a stretch of beach on a tropical island may seem idyllic, and it is, but it is also harder work than one might imagine.

One of the objectives of these walks is to try to ensure we don’t miss a turtle laying. Missing nests is unfortunately an inevitability, but doing so can cost you three hours of your day as you dig around the nesting site in order to locate the eggs. On Cousine Island, we would mark every nest with a GPS and a set of poles to ensure we could monitor it and fence it at the 50-day mark. If the eggs have been laid in an area below the highwater mark, or one known for erosion or a high ghost crab density, we had to move the nest.

In 50 days’ time, we will revisit these nests to put a fence around them. In the hatchery, the fence is purely used to allow researchers to count how many little turtles have emerged from a particular nest. In the wild or in situ nests, this little fence also serves as a line of defense against the Ghost crabs. These scary looking crustaceans will eat absolutely anything but seem to love little turtles in particular. From day 50, nests are checked every morning and evening on the first and last walks of the day.

They are most likely to emerge at this time, although they will sometimes also emerge when the temperature drops during the day due to a storm.

Cousine Island is a small granitic island 30 ha in the Seychelles 6 km west of Praslin Island. It is a combination luxury resort and since 1992, a nature preserve.

The emergence process is amazing. It can start three days before we see the little ones at the surface, with eggs hatching below and those hatchlings moving up in the chamber. Sometimes, you can see the heads of the little ones peeping out when the emergence is going to happen, but the ones at the top have already done their hard work so they opt for a nap.

The little turtles below begin to push up against them in an event known as pulsing. The sand around the nest becomes hot due to all the activity, as the turtles rigorously push towards the surface.

Moving nests is ideally done as soon as the female lays. Eggs are caught, counted and then placed carefully in a bucket with a layer of sand at the bottom. When they first come out, these eggs feel like ping-pong balls and are fairly flexible, which makes sense given that they drop 20–30cm down into the hole mother turtle has dug.

As the eggs age, they get harder and so it is not advisable to

History In 1992 the island was purchased and a conservation program was introduced to protect nesting sea turtles and maintain the existing populations of endemic land birds.

Flora & Fauna Cousine Island is a breeding ground for seabirds and has a population of transplanted Aldabra giant tortoises. The island has undergone an extensive vegetation rehabilitation program which involves planting of indigenous flora and the removal of alien plant species. Since 1995 over 2000 native trees have been planted. Indo-Pacific hawksbill turtles are known to nest on this island.

Important Bird Area The island has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area because it supports populations of the Seychelles warbler, magpie-robin and fody, as well as substantial breeding colonies of wedge-tailed shearwaters, white-tailed tropicbirds, lesser noddies and white terns.

Tourism In order to finance the restoration project a small exclusive bungalow resort was built on Cousine. The hotel manager, his family, and an ornithologist with his family, live in the staff quarters on the east beach. They are responsible for the restoration, maintenance and preservation of flora and fauna of the island. It is 30 hectares. As of 2012, it is the world's third most expensive private island.

Local expertise, national presence and international audience

SEASON’S GREETINGS FROM FINE & COUNTRY

CELEBRATING A SEASON LIKE NO OTHER We know that this season, more than ever, your home is your sanctuary. Savour this precious holiday with family and friends and dream of your grand plans for 2021. And when the time comes for a change, we will be here to help you every step of the way.

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Family home with adjoining stand, one of the last remaining stands with spectacular views, available in Hermanus Heights. If living close to nature and panoramic views ticks all the boxes then this home is meant for you.

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23 December 2020

Print me out and colour me in!

Click 'download' and open the PDF, then click 'print' and select to print just page 20.

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23 December 2020

MOTORING

F

on cars

Compiled by John Floyd

Toyota GR Yaris: from Rally to Road • South African introduction planned for mid-2021 • Will join GR Supra in Toyota’s GR product portfolio • 1st Turbocharged AWD Toyota in SA History • Spiritual successor to the Celica GTFOUR GR Yaris has all the credentials for competition success. At its heart is a new 200kW/370Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine - the world's most powerful mass-produced three-cylinder powerplant.

Along with an all-new platform, unique three-door body, aerodynamic styling and a new GR-FOUR permanent all-wheel drive system, GR Yaris has an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 156kW/tonne and sprints from 0-100 km/h in 5.2 seconds.

GR Yaris is the first all-Toyota sports car and the company's first homologation model for WRC competition since the Celica GT-FOUR ended production in 1999. It

brings motorsport technology directly to the world of the road car through the combined design and engineering skills of Toyota's title-winning TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and World Rally Championship teams.

Aerodynamic design and sports performance As a bespoke three-door, the low tapered side profile and wide squat stance of GR Yaris mark it as a serious performance car.

Sharing just three exterior components with the Yaris hatch - headlights, taillights and mirrors - the sculpted, aerodynamically designed car achieves a kerb weight of just 1280kg1.

It features a Toyota-first carbon-fibre roof and aluminium panels for the bonnet, doors and tailgate.

The lightweight, compact 200kW turbo engine adopts motorsport technologies to deliver an exhilarating drive experience, including multi oil-jet piston cooling, machined intake ports and large-diameter exhaust valves. It is also equipped with

direct and port fuel-injection, high-speed combustion, a single scroll ball-bearing turbocharger, an aluminium oil cooler and a large-capacity water pump and air cleaner.

Mated to a six-speed intelligent manual gearbox (iMT) with rev-matching on up and down shifts, its top speed is 230km/h.

Agile handling and stability in safety The GR Yaris has a new, dedicated platform that combines the front end of Toyota's GA-B platform (Yaris) with the rear of the GA-C platform (Corolla). This accommodates a new suspension design and GR-FOUR all-wheel-drive system, while also contributing to the car's excellent stability and handling.

Driver-selectable AWD settings are Normal (directing 40 per cent of available torque to the rear wheels), Track (50 per cent to the rear wheels) and Sport (70 per cent to the rear wheels). The system will adjust torque split automatically based on driver inputs, vehicle behaviour and road or track conditions.

Every element of the new fully independent front and rear suspension setups has been optimised for performance, including high-response shock absorbers.

Front MacPherson struts are more rigid than the five-door Yaris hatch with newly developed knuckles and stiffer bushes for maximum control and stability.

A multi-link rear suspension, in contrast to the torsion beam layout in the standard Yaris, is also more rigid with new upper arms and stiffer settings for optimal responsiveness, handling and traction in high-speed cornering.

Large 356mm two-piece ventilated discs with four-piston callipers provide stopping power at the front, with 297mm ventilated discs and two-piston callipers at the rear, both designed to provide confident, stable and fade-resistant braking performance.

The short-stroke brake pedal has been tuned to provide a linear feeling with solid feedback while the clutch also features a mechanism to ensure consistent pedal

feel and compensate for wear over time.

Driver-focused interior The driver-focused cabin marks GR Yaris as a serious performance car with a small-diameter leather-wrapped steering wheel with fingertip controls, leather-wrapped short-throw gear shifter and handbrake, and aluminium pedals.

Large ‘speedo’ and ‘tacho’ dials sit either side of a 4.2-inch multi information display that offers an array of details including turbo pressure and gear-shift indicators.

Premium sports front seats offer the support and comfort of large bolsters. The adjustable driver's seat and tilt-and-telescopic steering column contribute to an ideal seating position. Two rear seats feature ISOFIX anchor points and are split 60/40 - to expand the 141-litre luggage space.

Local Introduction Local introduction is currently targeted as mid-2021. Detailed specifications, pricing and model line-up information will be released closer to introduction timing.

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www.thevillagenews.co.za

23 December 2020

How a legend was born The Jimny DNA: Always shaping new frontiers This year sees the popular Suzuki Jimny celebrating its 50th anniversary, after making its debut in 1970. Since then, more than three million units have been sold around the world.

improve durability and quality, and also to facilitate mass-production. A Suzuki 360cc two-stroke engine replaced the original Mitsubishi engine, and a new body rounded off the new design.

Rigorous endurance testing also ensured optimal reliability, as befits a vehicle from the Suzuki stable.

The story of the Suzuki Jimny started in 1967. Flailing Japanese car firm HOPE introduced its Hopestar ON360, a tiny 4x4, built to conform to Japanese Kei car (small car) regulations. Unfortunately, there was to be no hope for it… the ON360 was a momentous commercial failure, with only 15 units eventually produced.

The Suzuki LJ10 (for Light Jeep 10) went on sale in 1970 – and was an instant hit on the sales floor.

Build quality was said to have been horrible, it was unreliable, and the ‘fuel gauge’ was simply a clear plastic pipe that the driver had to keep an eye on. If there was fuel visible in the pipe, the ON360 was good to go… but if there was no fuel visible in the pipe, best the driver started looking for a filling station, fast!

The LJ10’s on-road prospects were less rosy. Powered by the 360cc engine, the LJ could muster a top speed of about 70km/h. The spare wheel was mounted where one of the rear seats would have been, so it was a three-seater only, with hardly any space for cargo.

In a last-ditch effort to salvage something from the project, HOPE put the design for its 4x4 up for sale. Suzuki bought the plans for the equivalent of about R6.5-million, in today’s monetary terms.

The company’s engineers then set about righting the wrongs of the original ON360.

The ladder-frame chassis, solid axles and leaf-spring set-up were refined to

The tough-as-nails little 4x4 could run with the big Japanese 4x4s like Toyota’s Land Cruiser and Nissan’s Patrol in an offroad environment, yet was much easier on the pocket to acquire and run.

By 1976 Suzuki introduced the LJ50.

With the focus no longer on keeping the LJ conforming to Kei car regulations, a bigger 539cc two-stroke engine was fitted, and the spare wheel moved to the rear door. Top speed was increased to a whopping 100km/h… with a bit of a tailwind.

Sales continued to increase around the globe, as the little Suzuki’s popularity and

reputation grew.

In 1977 the LJ80 followed. By that stage Suzuki had started to scale down on its two-stroke motorcycle engine production, so a 797cc four-cylinder, four-stroke engine made its way into the LJ. The fuel tank capacity was increased to a ‘massive’ 40-litre unit to increase range – ironically the same size still used today.

The SJ410 was launched in 1981. It was a completely new vehicle, but the well-proven leaf-sprung suspension and live axles set-up was retained. The engine’s capacity was increased to 970cc, and power peaked at 33kW. Two years later the SJ413 followed, with Suzuki increasing the capacity of the mill to 1 324cc – the largest capacity engine in Suzuki’s catalogue in 1983. Towards the end of the SJ413’s life cycle it became clear that many customers were using their vehicles as daily runners, and occasional off-road machines. So, there was a clear shift towards more on-road comfort, without sacrificing the lightweight Suzuki’s legendary off-road prowess.

And so a coil-sprung front suspension was introduced in the early Nineties, along with in-cabin luxuries such as air-conditioning, electric windows and even tape-deck/radio sound systems.

The third-generation of Suzuki’s little 4x4 was launched in 1998. Now branded as

Jimny the 4x4 featured a new coil-sprung suspension set-up, automatically locking front hubs, a dial to select between 2WD, 4WD High and 4Low (instead of the traditional second gear lever, or kort stokkie), and a new 16-valve 1.3-litre petrol engine producing 63kW. It was still very capable in an off-road environment (even without any electronic driving aids or locking differentials) and fared reasonably well in the city.

The third-generation Jimny remained largely unchanged for the next 20 years, give or take a few facelifts and specification updates.

It was only in 2018 that Suzuki introduced the current generation Jimny. Now the company can, much like in the Seventies, hardly keep up with demand for the

popular little 4x4.

“The Suzuki Jimny is a legend in its own time. In the Seventies it rewrote the 4x4 rulebook, demonstrating that bigger is not always better. And it is still the compact 4x4 to beat today,” says Andre Venter, divisional manager of sales and marketing at Suzuki Auto South Africa.

“The Jimny’s reliability, genuine off-road ability, comfortable cabin with all the modern amenities and low running costs have clearly served to further bolster its reputation. The award-winning styling is pretty much spot-on too – the similarities with a classic like the LJ50 is clear, yet it is modern and trendy.”

“Judging by the world-wide demand for the latest Jimny, this legend is far from a done deal, even after 50 years,” says Venter.

www.thevillagenews.co.za

23 December 2020

The all-new Nissan Magnite’s powerful HRA0 1.0 turbo engine T

he HRA0 1.0-litre turbo engine is available with Manual 5 speed and X-TRONIC CVT gearbox variants of the SUV. With Nissan’s signature Cruise Control and wider gear range, the all-new Nissan Magnite delivers seamless performance even in peak city traffic. Its D-STEP logic control computer software uses dynamic inputs like vehicle speed, accelerator pedal position and application speed to determine the ideal gear ratio needed to deliver an exhilarating drive and smooth highway cruises. The Magnite will be available in South Africa and Mauritius, Seychelles, Malawi, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda and Tanzania Sub-Saharan African countries in early 2021 “Nissan is pleased to welcome the new Nissan Magnite to South and Sub-Saharan Africa in 2021. The powerful HRA0 1.0, turbo engine will offer robust performance which we are excited for our consumers to enjoy. To reiterate our commitment to BCross/SUVs, we are taking a bold step to truly establish our presence

as leaders in relentless innovation, advanced technology and true customer experiences,” said Kabelo Rabotho, Country Director, Nissan South Africa

overtaking situations.

The HRA0 1.0-litreturbo engine borrows “mirror bore cylinder coating” technology from world-class sports cars such as the Nissan GT-R, thus reducing resistance inside the engine, cutting weight, improving heat management and combustion, thus delivering smooth acceleration and efficient fuel use.

Rabotho commented “the all-new Nissan Magnite embodies our philosophy of Nissan-ness, which stands for empowering people through breakthrough products and technologies. The B-Cross/SUV signifies another milestone in our Nissan Next phase catering to an eclectic and highly enjoyable driving experience, while reducing emissions and offering great mileage – a compelling combination that every car owner can appreciate."

The HRA0 1.0-litreturbo engine also features six technical improvements that result in better fuel economy.The engine provides a new experience of responsive and quicker acceleration, whilst also refining noise, vibration and harshness through improved powertrain and road noise isolation, resulting in a quieter cabin. The HRA0 1.0-litre turbo engine also provides up to 50 percent better acceleration compared to naturally aspirated engines, especially in take-off and

The HRA0 1.0-turbo engine’s elastic accessory belt is made of a special material allowing it to run without a tensioner, reducing weight and friction, further improving fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions. The compactly designed cylinder head, which features an integrated exhaust manifold and plastic cover, provides improved engine packaging and reduces the number of ducts for better and faster catalyst warming, resulting in cleaner emissions.

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www.thevillagenews.co.za

23 December 2020

Jaguar F-PACE SVR moves to the next level T he new Jaguar F-PACE SVR is now faster, more dynamic and more refined than ever. The pinnacle of the performance SUV range is elevated to another level thanks to the latest enhancements by the Jaguar SV team.

flagship, while the brake system uses a new electric booster system. The improved cooling and aerodynamics of the vehicle also improve the performance of the brakes, giving the driver even greater confidence.

The updates are delivered by a combination of new hardware and the move to Jaguar’s advanced Electronic Vehicle Architecture – dubbed EVA 2.0 – and include motorsport-inspired design details, a luxurious and performance-focused interior and the latest connected convenience technologies.

The 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged petrol engine is paired with Jaguar’s ultra-responsive, smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission which delivers rapid gearshifts for effortless performance, while adapting the way power is delivered to suit the driving situations.

The new F-PACE SVR is available exclusively with Jaguar’s 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged petrol engine, which produces 405kW and 700Nm torque – an increase of 20Nm. This uplift in torque delivers enhanced performance, with the F-PACE SVR capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in 4.0 seconds, three-tenths faster than before, and a top speed of 286km/h.

The powertrain now features the same torque converter used in the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 super sedan, to withstand the higher loads produced. As well as the improved torque and acceleration, CO2 emissions are reduced from 281g/km to 275g/km with fuel economy now down to 12.2l/100km*.

The transmission and dynamics systems have also benefitted from incremental tweaks. The uprated Dynamic mode features unique tuning, delivering a focused and honed driving experience.

A new Dynamic Launch feature also uses driveline inertia to maintain power to the wheels during gear changes, contributing to the SVR’s sharper acceleration from a standstill. At the same time, F-PACE SVR is now more comfortable and enjoyable to drive at a relaxed pace, without compromising its high-speed dynamics, further underlining the new model’s duality of purpose.

The steering system is enhanced with a new electronic power-assistance system delivering greater immediacy, providing a heightened connection between the vehicle and driver. Modified tuning of the adaptive damping provides a more refined ride at low speeds, which is further improved by revised chassis bushes.

Drivers also benefit from improved brake feel in the new F-PACE SVR. The 395mm (front) and 396mm (rear) two-piece disc brakes are now supported by a new Integrated Power Booster which, along with a recalibration of the system, delivers a sportier and shorter brake pedal. This tuning is specific to the SVR performance

Jaguar’s All-Wheel Drive with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics is fitted as standard.

Adaptive Dynamics suspension technology ensures a precise, dynamic set-up coupled with a supple ride, while Configurable Dynamics provides enhanced driver appeal by enabling the driver to set up the vehicle to suit their personal preferences. A stopwatch, G-Meter and pedal graph also help the driver to monitor performance in Dynamic mode.

The design of the new F-PACE SVR is inspired by SV’s motorsport experience, with enhanced airflow and aerodynamic benefits delivered through new apertures and vents for improved powertrain and brake cooling. The changes deliver superior aerodynamic performance including 35 per cent reduction in aerodynamic lift, while drag is cut from 0.37Cd to 0.36Cd. As well as the performance enhancements, these elements also provide a more purposeful aesthetic.

The interior of the new F-PACE SVR is comprehensively redesigned, with materials enhanced to heighten the dynamic character of the revised cabin and its controls.

Seat and door inserts are finished in Alcantara, with elements such as the central cubby and leather midroll wrapped in luxurious Windsor leather. The 12.3-inch HD Interactive Driver Display is wrapped in Alcantara with ebony stitching, while aluminium patterned finishers feature as standard with open-pore carbon-fibre available as an option.

Optional slimline semi-aniline leather sports seats with heritage logo-inspired diamond embroidery across the front shoulder section, feature a unique perforation across the backrest, while the same pattern is used on the leather on the seatbacks. An embossed SVR logo on the headrests adds a final flourish.

Jaguar’s new Drive Selector has a more performance-focused feel for the F-PACE SVR, finished in dimpled leather with heritage logo-inspired detailing

and debossed SVR logo. The new SVR split-rim steering wheel is finished with tactile zinc-alloy shift paddles, providing heightened driver engagement when making manual gear changes.

New F-PACE SVR features all of the advanced technologies found in the latest F-PACE, ensuring it is always connected and always up-to-date for enhanced driver convenience. These include intuitive Pivi Pro infotainment, Software-Over-Air capability, Active Road Noise Cancellation and the latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and optional wireless device charging.

The new Jaguar F-PACE SVR will be launched in South Africa in the first half of 2021 and is available to order now with a starting price of R1,835,700. All Jaguar vehicles come with a standard 5-year/100,000km Jaguar Care Plan and warranty.

Jaguar F-PACE SVR 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged ENGINE & TRANSMISSION • Engine type - V8 Supercharged, 32-valve, electronic control, direct injection • Engine capacity (cc) - 5,000 • Bore/ stroke (mm) - 92.5/ 93 • Compression ratio - 9.5:1 • Max power (kW) - 405 • Max torque (Nm) - 700 • Transmission - ZF (8HP70) 8-speed automatic • All-wheel drive system - Torque on-demand all-wheel drive with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics CHASSIS • Front suspension - Double wishbone, coil springs • Rear suspension - Integral Link, coil springs • Steering - Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) rack and pinion; variable ratio • Front Brakes - Four-piston fixed caliper; 395mm two-piece vented disc • Rear Brakes - Single-piston sliding caliper; 396mm two-piece vented disc PERFORMANCE & FUEL ECONOMY • 0-100km/h (sec) - 4.0 • Top speed (km/h) - 286 • Fuel consumption (litres/100km) EU WLTP (TEH) combined - 12.2 • CO2 emissions (g/km) EU WLTP (TEH) combined - 275 *All emissions and fuel economy figures are EU – WLTP (TEH) Combined Note: The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer's tests in accordance with EU legislation. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ.

CO2 and fuel economy, figures may vary according to factors such as driving styles, environmental conditions, load, wheel fitment and accessories fitted.

www.thevillagenews.co.za

23 December 2020

Toyota Gazoo Racing Dakar 2021 F loyd on Cars and The Village News will once again be reporting the progress of the Toyota Gazoo Racing team from the start to the final podium ceremony in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on the 15th January 2021.

The official start will be on the 3rd January following two days of documentation, scrutineering and the prologue, competitors then face a total distance of 7,646KM, of which 4,767KM will be special stages.

Toyota Gazoo Racing will run four South African built Toyota Hilux vehicles this year in the capable hands of Nassar Al-Attiyah and co-driver Matthieu Baumel (No. 301), Giniel de Villiers with Alex Haro (No. 304), Henk Lategan with co-driver Brett Cummings (No. 332) and Shameer Variawa with Dennis Murphy (No. 330).

A major change for the 2021 race Toyota Hilux is the exterior design, which now reflects the latest version of the production vehicle.

The new DOHC, 16 valve, 2755 cc diesel engine generates 150 kW/ 204 DIN hp at 3400 rpm and, with automatic transmission, 500 Nm of torque between 1600 and 2800 rpm.

Maximum torque for manual transmission versions is 420 Nm between 1400 and 3400 rpm.

The 4x4 Hilux's already peerless offroad credentials have been further enhanced by the addition of a new

electronic function (that can be activated in 2WD mode) replicating the effect of a mechanical limited-slip differential for improved traction on low grip surfaces in 2-wheel drive mode (available on 4WD models only); the lowering of engine speed at idle from 850 to 680 rpm and a tuned accelerator response for greater driver control; an updated VSC system; dedicated Variable Flow Control (VFC) map for appropriate steering effort, and a new tyre angle monitor.

Further reinforcing its go-anywhere credentials, the Hilux boasts class-leading minimum running ground clearance of 310 mm on Double-cabs, all-important approach and departure angles of 29 and 26 degrees respectively, and the ability to wade to a depth of 700 mm.

A new digital roadbook will be introduced for the 2021 edition, with the route only made available right before the start of each stage. This approach was trialled for select stages at the 2020 Dakar Rally but will become the norm.

This new format not only adds an extra level of unpredictability but also makes the entire process easier to administer and control by race officials.

For those who want to follow the Dakar Rally, visit Floyd on Cars on our website and on Facebook and search for The Village NEWS on YouTube to follow all the video action from this epic race.

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