The Village NEWS 24 Dec - 15 Jan 2019 by The Village NEWS

24 DECEMBER 2019

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The next edition of The Village NEWS will be on the shelves on 15 January 2020. We wish all of our readers and clients a safe and happy festive season.

A view of the Old Harbour taken from a whale watching boat called Miroshca, a Southern Right Charters catamaran.

PHOTO: David Wilson

Overberg fires under control Writer De Waal Steyn “While the devastating fire that raged near Greyton, McGregor and as far afield as Riviersonderend has been bought under control, a special investigative team will now set to work to bring those responsible to book,” said Overberg Fire Chief, Reinhard Geldenhuys. According to witnesses at least two children were seen starting the fire on Wednesday, 18 December in the nature reserve alongside Greyton. The fire quickly spread, engulfing more than 18 000 ha of fynbos and farmland, as well as destroying at least five structures.

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Geldenhuys said they aim to send a strong message to members of the public who start fires, no matter what age they are. “The days where something like this can be excused as children being naughty are long gone. The preliminary cost for just the firefighting is estimated to be more than R15 million. If one adds the cost of the vineyards and other farmland that were lost, as well as that of the structures, it will come to an astronomical figure, and someone needs to be held accountable for this.” He added that he did not want to make any predictions before the investigation was completed, but should it be true that children were responsible for the fire they will be

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charged. “We've appointed Enviro Wildfire to investigate this and hopefully it will result in criminal proceedings. Because they are minors, we cannot charge them with arson under criminal law, but we can charge them with malicious ignition. "There are three issues here: The damage to infrastructure, the cost, and the fact that it is unacceptable behaviour. These children started the fire for no reason. We use the phrase 'malicious ignition' because it's not arson, which is a technical thing on its own. Two children went into the nature reserve, set the fire and left. We're going to bring them to book."

Sheldon April, the man accused of starting the New Year’s Day fire in Betty’s Bay is still out on bail after he was arrested on 3 January. The fire destroyed more than 30 houses in the area after April reportedly shot off a flare during New Year's Eve celebrations. April (34) was granted R5 000 bail

According to Geldenhuys he could

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not speculate what the outcome of the process would be. It might be that the children are held accountable or even their parents. “In a case a few years ago where a child made false claims that led to an extensive search-and-rescue operation, the child was given a community service sentence.”

and placed under house arrest at his sister's home in Elsies River. He faces charges including contravening the National Environmental Management Act and faces up to 20 years in prison. Samantha O'Keefe, well-known farmer and winemaker at Lismore Wines lost her homestead, cellar and large sections of her vineyards as the fire raged towards Riviersonderend last week. On the neighbouring Blue Hippo Farm several guest cottages had to be hastily evacuated and livestock moved to safety as the flames threatened to engulf the farm. The Eagle’s Nest guest house near McGregor was left in ruins as the fire quickly spread through the mountains and valleys. Continues on P3

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24 December 2019 PHOTO: Mike Visagie

PHOTO: Neil Bradfield

PHOTO: Pierre Brophy

Greyton's devastating fires From P1 In Greyton several homes also had to be evacuated as the fire burnt right onto their doorsteps. Spectacular flying in severe wind conditions by local fire pilot Mike Bothma helped save the town from any damage. According to Bothma he realised that his route to the nearby rivers and streams to fill the Bambi bucket with water would take too long to save some of the houses in Park Street. “I took the decision to fill the bucket in the pool of one of the residents. It was very tricky flying and I had to keep my wits about me. But it worked and I was able to save the houses. Anyone who wants to thank me, can go to the home-owners whose pool I used and help to fill it with water or repair the Kreepy Krauly that broke as I was scooping up the water,” Bothma jokingly said afterwards. (See the videos on thevillagenews.co.za) Bothma, who said the fire moved unexpectedly fast, spent more than six hours in the air that day, doing close on 100 water drops to help fight the blaze. Geldenhuys said some 130 firefighters from various wildfire agencies and fire stations in the Overberg were deployed for 5 days to assist in fighting the fire. “The chopper spent more than 20 hours in the air, while drones were extensively used to monitor the burn lines as well as to check for hotspots.”

In a message on Facebook O'Keefe said they had experienced a tragedy like nothing they could ever have imagined. “Thank you for the outpouring of love and support from the South African wine industry and everyone around the globe. Our hearts are broken, our home and my precious cellar are reduced to ashes, but it seems some of our vines are as tough as we are and may survive it all. “All of our bottled stock was stored off-site in Stellenbosch. I can assure everyone that Lismore wines remain available to the market. With the generous offers of cellar space, I will produce a 2020 vintage and will rebuild. I have not been able to reply to the hundreds of messages of love and support that have been sent to me, but please know that I have read every one of them. I am in shock and completely overwhelmed with the incredible emotion that each and every one of you has shared with me. I can’t thank you enough,” O'Keefe said. 7

PHOTO: Charmane Johnston

If you have pets, it may be an idea to create a go-bag for them too, including: • Medication they might need • Leashes • Food and water (to last a few days) • Bowls (for food and water) It is #fireseason and there may be a time when you need to evacuate your home due to a wildfire. This is a time of great stress and mistakes can be made as a result. According to Overstrand Municipality Fire Chief Lester Smith, it’s essential to have a go-bag ready to take with you. What to pack in your go-bag: • Your medication (or at the very least a list of all the medication you rely on and your prescriptions if you have any) • Crucial documents (driver’s licence, ID documents, passports, title deeds to your house, etc.)

In addition, an online funding campaign was started to assist O’Keefe and her two sons in rebuilding their lives. By Sunday a total of R330 000 was collected via donations from all over the world.

According to Geldenhuys, mop-up teams will stay in the area for the next few days and drones with thermal imaging cameras will be used to identify any areas where the fire might still be burning underground. The communities of Greyton and other towns also assisted in keeping the firefighters fed. “We want to thank everyone who contributed. It means a lot to us to know that we are supported wherever we need to go,” he said.

The order to evacuate will be given directly to you either by a fire or law enforcement official. Be sure to follow instructions provided by these officials during evacuation. They’ll know where the threats are, and how to ensure your safety. Keep an eye on the following Facebook pages for reliable updates during fires: • The Overstrand Municipality • The Overberg District Municipality • Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association (FPA) Source: overbergfpa.co.za

PHOTO: Richard Lapperts 1. Helicopters were out in full force to try and contain the fire. 2. Thousands of hectares of land has burnt in the Greyton fire. 3/4. Firefighters work to put out the flames. 5. An inside view of Eagle's Nest, one of the buildings that burnt down. 6. Greyton during the fire. 7. A man protects himself from smoke and ash.

PHOTO: Sandra Oosthuizen 6

PHOTO: Mike Visagie

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OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR

2019

If 2018 was the annus horibilis of the Overstrand, 2019 could be described as the annus medium (mediocre year), especially in terms of the economic downturn. Local businesses struggled to stay afloat and many had to close their doors. Adversity and change always bring challenges, but as Winston Churchill famously said, “An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty”. For every business that closed, a brave and innovative entrepreneur has opened a new one or reinvented an existing business. Several positive community initiatives were launched this year and there was also plenty of good news, including the opening of Hermanus Varsity, the Overstrand’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, the installation of a world-class smart city fibre network, the steps taken to establish SRAs for both Hermanus and Onrus-Vermont, and the progress made in the ongoing efforts to solve the affordable housing crisis, the baboon problem and the scourge of illegal abalone poaching. These developments provide the building blocks for a more prosperous 2020.

JANUARY The new year got off to a blazing start, literally, when a flare fired at midnight by a resident of Mooiuitsig near Kleinmond set the mountain fynbos on ire. Firefighting units and volunteers hurried to the scene and community members also jumped into action, collecting food, water and energy drinks for the men and women fighting the blaze in the scorching summer heat.

Schools in the Overberg received their much-anticipated matric results on 4 January. Whereas the Overberg had taken top honours the previous year as the best-performing district out of the eight school districts in the Western Cape, in 2018 it only managed to achieve third place, with a pass rate of 82.4%. However, the schools were pleased with the quality of the passes and the increase in the Bachelor’s pass rate.

all the learners in need of placement. Due to the influx of new residents in Hermanus, the schools had growing waiting lists, especially in Zwelihle, where Qhayiya Secondary was unable to accommodate more than 300 Grade 8 learners.

FEBRUARY

Curro Hermanus and Northcliff House College each achieved a 100% pass rate. Hermanus High School’s pass rate was 99.4%, with 80.6% of candidates achieving a Bachelor’s pass and 19 an A-aggregate. Gansbaai Academia had a pass rate of 86%, while Hawston Secondary’s pass rate was 65.9% (down from 78.9% the previous year) and Qhayiya Secondary’s 73% (also down from 83.5% the previous year). By the time The Village NEWS’s first issue of the year came out on 9 January, the fire that started in Betty’s Bay in the early hours of New Year’s Day was still raging out of control throughout the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, reaching as far as the Kogel Bay Basin and the Steenbras Catchment Area. At this stage, more than 7 500 ha of fynbos had been destroyed. The man accused of starting the fire was arrested and appeared in the Caledon Magistrate’s Court.

PHOTO: Justin O'Sullivan By Friday 11 January, gale-force winds were driving three devastating wildires – in Betty’s Bay, Hermanus and the Hemelen-Aarde Valley, and Franskraal. By the end of the weekend, more than 14 300 ha of fynbos had been destroyed and 47 houses completed gutted, while 30 more were damaged. Betty’s Bay suffered the worst damage when the fire jumped the R43 without warning and spread between the homes in Sunny Seas, forcing residents to evacuate and flee the inferno. One resident was severely burnt and later died in hospital.

An inexplicable, explosive boom left the earth trembling and alarmed residents not only in the Overstrand but all over the Western Cape and even as far away as Pretoria. Social media was abuzz with questions and theories, ranging from an earthquake and thunder to a massive bomb explosion.

According to Dr Pieter Kotze of SANSA, the real culprit was a meteor that entered the earth’s atmosphere around 20:15. The bright light trail of the meteor could be seen from Malmesbury to Gansbaai and the point at which it burnt up in the atmosphere was east of Hermanus. The loud bang was in fact a sonic boom or shock wave created ahead of the meteor as it travelled through the atmosphere. Mayor Dudley Coetzee announced at a special council meeting on 22 January that the extensive wildfires had resulted in unforeseen and unavoidable expenditure to the estimated amount of R9,348 million. He also expressed his sincere thanks to the firefighting teams for their bravery and dedication, and commended residents for their cooperation and support.

On 9 January it was back to school for the Overstrand’s learners. The schools were filled to capacity and many were unable to take in

Hermanus Public Protection (HPP) announced that it would be winding down its operations due to changes in the Property Rates Act, and the Special Rating Area Policy and Bylaw. According to these changes in legislation, the municipality could no longer impose the additional rates for the 2019/2020 financial year commencing on 1 July 2019. These rates had provided HPP with the necessary funding to carry out its mandate of ‘safety in public places’.

At a housing stakeholders’ meeting with then Premier Helen Zille the role-players agreed to work together to establish an integrated housing project scheme on the Schulphoek site similar to that of the Conradie Better Living Model that was being developed in Pinelands, Cape Town. The focus would not be on providing free housing but rather on creating housing that could be rented or bought with the aid of government subsidies.

The barriers that first needed to be overcome, however, included negotiations by the provincial government with the owners of the land to buy it back at a reasonable price, and the cooperation of the community to move off the land they had occupied illegally and move to alternative sites to enable development to take place on the Schulphoek land. Another red tide in the ocean, though not as large or strong as the one experienced in 2017, raised concerns for local abalone farms. At the same time, the dry hot weather facilitated algae blooms on the banks of the Klein River Estuary, leading to the dying of fish in large numbers. Environmental experts said the health of the estuary was also being jeopardised by continuous, excessive extraction of water and the inflow of chemical pollutants from farms.

MARCH In our 6 March issue of The Village NEWS, we reported on the proposed development of a safari park by Craig Saunders, the owner of Elephant Adventures, on his property, Lamloch Farm near Kleinmond. The development proposal included plans for a manor house, 20 chalets, a restaurant complex, tented camp and boma, staff quarters, and animal stables and enclosures. Species consid-

ered for introduction were elephant, buffalo, antelope and other game, leading to an outcry from conservation and animal rights groups. It was a historic moment for our town when the oicial opening of the home-grown Hermanus Varsity was celebrated at the Old Synagogue building, its administrative hub. The ribbon cutting was done by Dr Sindiwe Magona.

Hermanus played host to the 16th Absa Cape Epic, the most televised mountain bike race in the world and a highlight on the professional racers' calendar. Stage 1 set off from the Race Village at Hermanus High School and followed a tough 111 km route through Hemel-en-Aarde. Stage 2 took the riders towards Elgin and the eight-day stage race ended at Val de Vie in Paarl on 24 March.

18 – 19

PHOTO: Leanne Dryburgh One of Fisherhaven’s famous ‘wild horses’ was killed when a VW bus travelling on the Middlevlei Road between Hawston and Fisherhaven collided with the pregnant mare known as Star and two foals, one of which was also seriously injured. The driver of the bus and his three passengers escaped without major injuries.

APRIL Another feral horse, the stallion known as Streetfighter, was killed when it collided with a car on Farm Road in Fisherhaven. The driver and two passengers were fortunately unharmed but the two incidents within less than a week led to renewed pleas from residents and the Rooisand Horse Watch for safety measures such as improved street lighting, signage boards, secure fencing along the R43, a cattle grid at the entrance to Fisherhaven and a reduction of the speed limit.

The development of an affordable housing scheme on the Schulphoek land took another step forward with the

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creation of a steering committee. This was achieved when Helen Zille returned to Hermanus for another round of talks with the housing stakeholders’ group. The steering committee was tasked with scrutinising the three proposals received thus far for the proposed development.

Athletes and adventure seekers converged on Hermanus for the HI-TEC Walkerbay Xtreme, a three-day adventure sports festival that included events for the whole family. With the action centred in the heart of Hermanus between the old and new harbours, the spectator-friendly events included trail runs, MTB challenges, a night run and an open-water swim.

26 – 28

MAY

400 letters of objection and 16 000 people supporting an online petition against the proposed developments within the reserve.

JUNE Two more feral horses from the Fisherhaven herd were killed when a car travelling on the R43 collided with them near the turn-off to Fisherhaven. The driver, a firefighter from Kleinmond, was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Rooisand Horse Watch commented that conflict between the stallions in the herd, which developed after the first horse, a mare, had been killed at the end of March, led to the accident. It is believed that the stallion known as William was chasing the younger stallion, Diamond, when they both ran into the road.

The newly-formed Hermanus Baboon Action Group (HBAG) met with the municipality to discuss the escalating problem of baboon management in Voëlklip. Mayor Dudley Coetzee gave HBAG his assurance that as soon as the agreement between the municipality, the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board, and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development was finalised, the municipality would act immediately to address the problem.

Nearly four months after a wildfire raged through the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, the learners, boarders and staff of Camphil School were still unable to return due to the smoke and toxic gasses emitted by the peat fire, which continued to smoulder underground. The children had been temporarily housed in the Sandbaai Hall since January.

Overstrand residents went to the polls to cast their vote in the national election, which was won by the ANC (57.7%), followed by the DA (20.8%), EFF (10.8%), IFP (3.4%) and FF Plus (2.4%). In the provincial elections, the top 3 parties were the DA (58.98%), ANC (20.96%) and the Zwelihle-based Land Party (11.0%).

The Western Cape Police Ombudsman launched a formal investigation to determine if police stations in the Overstrand were adequately staffed and resourced to carry out their duties efficiently and effectively. Ombudsman Johan Brand undertook to study written submissions, conduct interviews and do research before compiling a report.

The long-awaited Draft Fernkloof Protected Area Management Plan (PAMP) opened for public comment on 31 May. This public participation process followed a revision of the original management plan for Fernkloof that led to a public outcry, including

a prestigious international voting academy. Creation was one of only three South African wineries to qualify for the Top 50 list along with Vergelegen and Delaire Graff Estate. The learners and personnel of Camphill School were overjoyed to return to the farm for the first time since they were evacuated on 11 January to escape the inferno of flames that ripped through the valley. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of Working on Fire, the Overstrand Fire Department and Environmental Department, the peat fire has finally been extinguished.

On 1 May, a 25-member Working on Fire team set up a base camp at Camphill along the Onrus River, an environmentally-sensitive wetland, to put out the peat ire by employing a unique spike they developed when asked, in 2015, to assist in fighting underground peat fires in Indonesia. This was the first time the spike was used in South Africa.

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24 December 2019

Hermanus awoke from its early-winter slumber when throngs of people flocked to the many art exhibitions, music and ballet performances, demonstrations, workshops, and food and wine events presented during the Hermanus FynArts Festival. This annual event had become a highlight on the cultural calendar and a huge drawcard for visitors to Hermanus.

07 – 17

The Village NEWS published an explosive report by journalist John Grobler, whose 18-month-long and ongoing investigation revealed a decade of debilitating mismanagement of South Africa’s fisheries' sector under former President Jacob Zuma, which had driven the illicit abalone industry in the Western Cape deep into the arms of Chinese transnational organised crime syndicates.

AUGUST After more than 18 months of wrangling over who was responsible for the management of baboons in the Overstrand, the municipality received a mandate from the provincial government stating that it was the municipality’s obligation to manage these animals. In terms of this agreement, once ratified by the Western Cape cabinet, the municipality would be able to use the R2 million budgeted for baboon control measures to curb this contentious problem, which had left residents at their wits’ end.

Hermanus was bursting at the seams as a surge of visitors came to enjoy the Kaliefees and other attractions and activities over the Women’s Day long weekend. The economy of the whole region benefited and businesses received a welcome boost after a slow and difficult winter. It was as if Christmas had come early this year!

The Village NEWS team again excelled at the annual Forum of Community Journalists’ (FCJ) Excellence Awards for 2018 held in Pretoria. In one of the toughest competitions to date, with community newspapers from around the country taking part, The Village NEWS distinguished itself by coming second in the coveted Independent Newspaper of the Year category (we’d won the trophy last year) and second in the Front Page of the Year category.

Elaine Davie was the winner in the writing category: Human Interest. Taylum Meyer was awarded second place in the photography category: Best General Photos, and humour columnist, Murray Stewart came second in the writing category: Column of the Year. Hedda Mittner and De Waal Steyn were finalists in respectively the Column of the Year and Editorial Comment of the Year categories, while Murray was also a finalist in the Headline of the Year category. Generous rainfall in July saw the level of the De Bos Dam rise from 38.6% at the end of June to 44% at the end of July. Although the level was lower than that of dams in other regions in the province, Overstrand Municipality’s Deputy Director of Engineering and Planning, Hanré Blignaut said Greater Hermanus was less dependent on water from the dam than before, thanks to the 10 boreholes that were able to meet 30% of the total demand. Two further boreholes being sunk at Gateway were also expected to come online within the next few months.

Hermanus High School competed against Overberg High School in the annual Inter-Schools for the 25th and final time. The schools decided to discontinue this traditional sports day as Hermanus High had grown too big. The memorable day ended on a high note for Hermies, as they won all but four of their games against Ovies.

David Watson, a well-known resident and avid hiker failed to return after he went for an early-morning walk in Vogelgat Private Nature Reserve. Search & Rescue teams were immediately deployed and, together with David’s friends, local trail runners, firefighters and AMS helicopter personnel, searched the terrain throughout the afternoon and night. Sadly, the 75-year-old’s body was found early the next morning near the beacon on Maanskynkop.

A new board of directors for Hermanus Public Protection (HPP) was elected at the 21st Annual General Meeting, after the outgoing board reached the unanimous decision to resign. This followed the termination of the agreement between HPP and the municipality, which meant the discontinuation of the levy that had provided the income for HPP to continue with its safety services from 1 July 2019.

JULY Creation Wines was named as one of the Top 50 Wineries at the inaugural World’s Best Vineyards (WBV) event in London. More than 1 500 nominated wineries from 17 countries around the globe were represented at the WBV and the winners were chosen by

When the Kleinmond Estuary started to breach, locals rushed to the beach to watch it break through to the ocean, cameras clicking. It was the first time in four years the estuary had breached, due to the drought experienced in the Western Cape during that period.

PHOTO: Trisa Hugo

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Western Cape Police Ombudsman Johan Brand released an impactful report, which emphasised the serious need to address the poor police to population ratio and vehicle allocations for detectives in the Overberg cluster. However, the main focus of his report was on tightening up police strategies to deal more effectively with abalone poaching. The Ombudsman’s recommendations included categorising abalone poaching as a ‘serious crime’ and ensuring that cases are investigated by the Organised Crime Unit of SAPS.

double up on their water conservation efforts. Level 2 water restrictions remained in place and the municipality warned that stricter measures might have to be considered in the short term. After a public meeting to inform residents of the details and procedures involved in the application to have OnrusVermont declared a Special Ratings Area (SRA), voting opened and was later extended until the end of December. A successful outcome in order to proceed with the establishment of the OVSRA would be 50% +1.

SEPTEMBER Fibre network supplier, Lightstruck started digging trenches in Northcliff, Eastcliff and the CBD as part of the rollout of their fibre optic network in town which will provide world-class, high-speed connectivity. The project will eventually comprise 403 km of fibre cables that will enable a total of 9 628 sites to have access to their network. In addition, Lightstruck undertook to provide all academic institutions in Hermanus with free fibre connections as well as creating free WiFi hotspots in Zwelihle.

During a series of public engagements in the Overstrand by Western Cape Human Settlements Minister Tertius Simmers on 8 September, he confirmed that the provincial government was in the process of inalising the deed of sale for Schulphoek after a price of R31.7 million had been agreed upon. As a provincial project, the municipality would be the custodian of the land but the provincial government would have to manage the development. He said the first phase of the 7 500-unit development, based on the Better Living Model, was expected to start in the second quarter of 2020.

The Overstrand Municipality announced that a new recycling centre would be built next year, consisting of three different facilities: a transfer station for the black bags of household waste, and a garden refuse area where garden refuse will be chipped, before both are transported to the Karwyderskraal Dumpsite; and a Material Recycling Facility (MRF) for the clear bags of recyclable materials, which will be sorted for recycling purposes in much the same way as had been done by Walkerbay Recycling before the facility was gutted last year during the riots.

24 December 2019

With the level of the De Bos Dam at 43.96% (against 68.07% at the same time last year), the municipality announced that Level 3 water restrictions would be implemented from 1 November. This followed less than expected rainfall during the winter season and very little ground moisture resulting in less run-off into the De Bos Dam.

Dr Els Vermeulen, Research Manager at the Whale Unit of the University of Pretoria’s Mammal Research Institute, reported that the Whale Unit’s 40th Aerial Survey revealed only 190 females and calves (95 pairs) and 10 unaccompanied adults along the coast from Nature’s Valley to Muizenberg. This was the second lowest number of southern right whales spotted along our shores in October since 1995, and showed a massive decrease from last year’s all-time record high of 536 cow-calf pairs on the same stretch of coastline. Vermeulen said scientists would be spending the next few months researching the reasons behind these fluctuating numbers.

It was a bumper weekend for Hermanus, with the annual Whale Festival, the Hermanus Wine & Food Festival, the Ubumnandi Music Festival, the GetSavvi Walker Bay 7s and the Build it 7s Rugby Festival drawing large numbers of visitors.

27 – 29

OCTOBER At the annual Mayoral Awards evening, special recognition was given to local residents who were making a difference in their communities by inspiring and empowering others and by making a positive contribution to the rich tapestry of the Overstrand. The coveted Lifetime Award went to Dr Robin Lee and Dr Anina Lee, the Achievers of Excellence were Jorika Rabie and Natasha Bruiners, and the Woman of the Year was Jami Kastner. The Environmental Conservation award went to Sean Privett, the Entrepreneurial Achievement award to Di Rattle, the Tourism Development award to Peter Kastner, and the Junior Achievement award to Izaan Newman.

With its new mandate from the provincial government, the Overstrand Municipality appointed Human Wildlife Solutions (HWS) to operate the virtual fence programme to keep baboons out of residential areas in Hermanus and Pringle Bay. This new development was welcomed by the Hermanus Baboon Action Group (HBAG). A 3-week blitz by HWS in 2017 had resulted in the Fernkloof baboon troop being kept out of the suburbs for more than 90% of the time. Back then, however, there had been no mandate or budget to continue with the programme.

Hermanus High School matric learners celebrated their last day of school with the traditional valedictory ceremony, before passing through a guard of honour as they walked out of the school gates and headed to Piet se Klip at Bientang’s Cave to jump off the rocks into the ocean in their school uniforms.

In our 25 September issue, The Village NEWS reported that below-average winter rainfall figures had left the De Bos Dam level at just over 44%. With the warm and dry season setting in, residents were urged to

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UNESCO announced that the Overstrand had been designated as Africa’s irst Creative City of Gastronomy, joining Cape Town and Durban as the only other two cities in South Africa to be included, respectively, as designated Creative Cities of Design and Literature. The UNESCO Creative Cities Network was launched in 2004 and includes seven categories. The Overstrand is now one of 37 cities in the world that has received the Gastronomy designation.

Overstrand Municipality announced that designated areas known as ‘dog zones’ would be introduced early in the new year on three Overstrand beaches (Kleinmond, Grotto and Pearly Beach) for a trial period of six months. The news was welcomed by dog owners, but the municipality emphasised that the bylaw ‘all dogs must be kept on a leash’ would still be enforced during the holiday period.

In anticipation of Council’s rejection of the proposed plan for the construction of an astronomy facility on Rotary Way, the Hermanus Astronomy Centre (HAC) developed an alternative proposal for an Astronomy Education Centre with self-guided displays at Gearing’s Point. The original proposal for a 288m² facility on Rotary Way, which was incorporated into the Fernkloof Nature Reserve Integrated Management Plan in 2016, had been fiercely opposed during the public participation process.

Just when we thought that the rainy season was over, the heavens opened and within a matter of hours Main Road in Hermanus was impassable due to a number of blocked drains that caused major looding in the CBD. The unexpected spring storm brought with it more than 135 mm of rain and gusting winds reaching speeds of up to 138 km/h.

The new Board of Directors of HPP and the Steering Committee of HRSA (Hermanus Special Ratings Area) formed a collaborative partnership to drive the establishment of an SRA, while ensuring the continuation of safety and security services. They undertook to work together to achieve a sustainable solution for keeping Hermanus a clean and safe environment and a sought-after investment and tourism destination.

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER An announcement was made in the Western Cape Parliament that the SAPS would be reclassifying abalone poaching as a serious priority crime to be investigated by the SAPS Organised Crime Unit. This followed a report by Police Ombudsman Johan Brand in October, in which he found that SAPS had a duty to assist in the fight against illegal abalone poaching. The news was welcomed by the DA’s spokesperson on Environmental Affairs, by conservationists and fishing communities.

With the drop in prices for recycling material and the rise in running costs, Walker Bay Recycling (WBR) struggled to stay afloat. After announcing that the business would close its doors, the owner decided in stead to scale back operations and stay open for as long as possible. He said residents were welcome to bring their dry recyclables, especially plastic and glass to the facility in Arum Street in the Industrial Area.

The voting period for the Hermanus Special Ratings Area (HSRA) opened and homeowners were urged to cast their votes before the cut-off date at the end of January 2020. Meanwhile, the voting period for the Onrus-Vermont Special Ratings Area (OVSRA) was extended until the end of December. A 50%+1 vote is needed for the establishment of both the HSRA and OVSRA.

hardly contain their exuberant joy as the Bokke streaked ahead to win the game 32–12 and lift the cup as world champions.

Venues across the Overstrand were packed to the rafters as Springbok supporters gathered to watch the Rugby World Cup final against England. Audiences could

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www.thevillagenews.co.za

24 December 2019

FROM THE EDITOR

Christmas for our times Lest we forget, Christmas is celebrated by Christians throughout the world as the day a baby boy was born in a stable in an insignificant country occupied by a foreign force more than 2 000 years ago.

The example he set and the values he preached are in accord with those of all the major religions of the world and so for people of all faiths, this is a time to re-evaluate our lives against the blueprint he left for us.

The odds that he would be remembered beyond his lifetime couldn’t have been worse. Yet the message of hope proclaimed by Jesus of Nazareth has resonated through the ages.

Let us remind ourselves that right here in the Overstrand, there are children who go to bed hungry every night, there are old people who have been discarded on the rubbish dump of life and there are many who have been denied the dignity of decent jobs.

He came, he said, to bring good news to the poor, give sight to the blind, bind up the broken-hearted and set the prisoners free.

A Far Kraai

They are the responsibility of this

are a resilient, resourceful and compassionate people who can laugh at ourselves and ‘make a plan’, even in the darkest of days.

community; we dare not turn a blind eye to their predicament. Even the poorest of us has something of value to offer. By sharing what we have, the whole town will benefit. Each one of us can make a contribution towards sustaining both the people and the environment of the Overstrand. And let us not forget how privileged we are to live in, or indeed, to visit this beautiful place.

As we stand together, candles in hand, at this special time of the year our hope is for better times ahead where strangers become friends and we pull together for a stronger community. So, this is Christmas. Rejoice and be glad in it, for it brings good tidings of great joy to all the world.

Many are feeling depressed about the socio-economic and political situation in South Africa as this year ends, but the good news is that we

– This is the good NEWS – Ed.

What Swallows swallow for Xmas

By Murray Stewart thevillagemuze@gmail.com

“Go home and write a Christmassy article for the Swallows!” demanded my editor, holding a pellet-gun to my temple. “And this time make it interesting!” she hissed, searching for a pellet. Trembling slightly, but relieved that the offices were pellet-free I slunk home to ponder. Where exactly do these Swallows originate from I wondered, which got me curious about what they normally eat when they feel Christmassy. When in doubt I consult my tried and tested The Duck ’n Fiddle’s Explanation of Everything, and once again it illuminated the murk. For starters, the bird – swallow – also migrates south nowadays when it’s winter up north. Contrary to popular belief, they are called swallows after observing and imitating Willy Swallow, an intrepid Scotsman who started the southward trend decades ago. It caught on quick and has become an annual event for both

birds and humans. Apparently the weak Rand has nothing to do with it. But where do these Swallows migrate from? The most popular variety is the Brit, which has four species, depending on the colour of the rugby jersey they support. This apparently also changes their accents and terminology to the extent that they often don’t understand even each other. But whether they hail from blue, white, red or green territory, the traditional Christmas feast is the standard turkey, which has been excavated and then rudely rammed full of stuffing, which often tastes better than the fowl. Cranberry sauces, relishes and gravy, however, save the day. Vegetables are equally dubious. Boiled carrots, parsnips and potatoes make space for the ubiquitous and much-debated Brussels sprouts, so named to hoodwink children into eating at least something green on their plates, because the word ‘cabbage’ invariably induces face-pulling and fake retching. To youngsters, eating cabbage is as much fun as leaping onto a bike without a saddle. Out of morbid interest, pheasant,

goose or boar were traditionally eaten until the French Jesuits introduced turkeys to Britain in the 1700s. Anyway, these days, depending once again on your colour preference, Christmas dinner is eaten either before, after, or conveniently during the Queen’s Speech at 3pm. Swallows also hail from Europe. In France the Christmas meal is traditionally eaten in the wee hours after midnight mass on the 24th. It’s goose in Alsace, and turkey in Burgundy, but the chestnut, bread and herb stuffing gets shoved into both. Ham and venison are also a hit with cranberry sauce and relishes. Starters can be foie gras on homemade breads, or escargot and oysters along the Brittany coast, liberally gargled down with dollops of sweet wine. Nothing quite like a Xmas hangover before dawn.

Spain and Portugal have fairly similar menus for Christmas Eve dinner before midnight mass. They stuff various things into the turkey like truffles, onions, cheese and ham, which once again are more palatable than the hapless bird. In the Netherlands they cheat a bit. Their gift-giving and celebration – called Sinterklaas (St Nicholas) – happens on 5 December, mainly for the kids. The adults, however, still observe the 25th, and apparently wear clogs and eat cheese and tulip bulbs in their windmills. Ducks, geese and rabbits are common among the riff-raff in Germany, although the gentry enjoy bunging their turkey with apple and sausage stuffing. Red cabbage, sour or not is a huge hit, and apparently cures sporadic flatulence, hair loss, ingrown toenails and bad spelling. However, through all this frenetic researching (remember the pellet gun?), I discovered the most popular dish for the majority of Brits on Christmas Day or in fact any day is… Chicken Tikka Masala. From India.

Oyster shucking when sober is delicate enough, but drunken revelers with razor-sharp knives create a steady flow of blood – and income – for local doctors stitching gashes and reattaching digits. Talking of culinary injuries, to avoid cutting your fingers when chopping vegetables, get someone else to hold the vegetable.

Hier hou ons net ‘n braai.

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24 December 2019

MY ENVIRONMENT #AllOverOverberg we’ve got you covered. The small, picturesque village of Botrivier lies in the foothills of the Houw Hoek Mountains, en route to Hermanus. The Bot River, after which the hamlet is named, meanders its way through a fertile valley surrounded by mountains covered in fynbos, historical wine farms and fields of wheat. A whole generation of South Africans was introduced to the town of Botrivier as the setting for their favourite TV series - ‘Nommer Asseblief’ (number please). Go online to learn more about Botrivier. Honingklip – the land of beer and honey thevillagenews.co.za/honingklipthe-land-of-beer-and-honey/ At Honingklip Brewery on the R43, ‘brewer and quaffer’, Mark ter Morshuizen and his ‘alewife’, Analize have been successfully combining a love of nature with a love of Belgian-styled beer for the past six years. Beaumont Family Wines poised for a new chapter thevillagenews.co.za/beaumontfamily-wines-poised-for-a-newchapter/ This family-owned and -managed farm situated in the heart of the town of Bot River is home to the region’s oldest wine cellar, originally established in the 1700s by the Dutch East India Company. Named Compagnes Drift, the outpost was a self-sustaining farm that supplied the garrison of soldiers and travellers to the interior with fresh produce. Barrels and Beards wine makers raise over R110 000 thevillagenews.co.za/barrels-andbeards-winemakers-raise-over-r110000-for-local-bot-river-educationprojects/ A rain-drenched day turned into a magical evening for this annual event as the clouds parted and the heavens opened up, a symbolic blessing for the night’s activities. www.pressreader.com www.issuu.com/dwaal

083 700 3319 theagency@thevillagenews.co.za

The Christmas Bug – nature’s magnificent flying machine By Dr Anina Lee

y childhood memories of Christmas holidays on the Cape south coast always recall the happy sound of the Cape Turtle Dove and the shrill song of cicadas in the midday heat. In the southern hemisphere, where Christmas falls at the height of summer, cicadas are known to us as Christmas Beetles or Sonbesies. They are indeed besies or bugs (Hemiptera family) and not beetles. So they should rightly be called ‘Christmas Bugs’. Cicadas are found on every continent in the world, except for Antarctica, because cicadas don’t like the cold. There are about 150 species of cicada in South Africa. When I started writing this article it occurred to me that I had not heard cicadas for some years. When I mentioned this fact to my son he was astounded. “What do you mean you haven’t heard them? They are splitting my ears right now.” I had not realised that my ageing ears could no longer hear their screech in the 0.5 to 25 kilohertz range. The song of the cicada Only male cicadas sing, and only those belonging to the group of cicadomorpha can produce sounds that are audible to humans. Cicada sounds have been recorded up to 120 decibels, which is close to the level of jet planes and can damage human hearing. Unlike similar insects, such as crickets, the male cicada does not use stridulation (the rubbing together of body parts) to make their loud sound. Instead, they use a pair of tymbals, special structures on each side of the abdomen, just behind the last pair of legs and covered by a membrane

ABOVE: An adult cicada. RIGHT: A Floury Baker (Abricta curvicosta) cicada. PHOTO: commons.wikimedia.org called a tympanum. The tymbals are ribbed membranes, each having strong muscles attached to it. Contracting and relaxing these internal tymbal muscles causes the tymbals to rapidly vibrate and produce pulses of sound. In some cicada species, a pulse is produced as each rib buckles. The sound so produced is further amplified by the almost hollow abdomen which serves as a resonance chamber. As mentioned before, only male cicadas sing and each species has its own song. They do it, of course, to attract a female of the right species – who responds to the song by flicking her wings. They have an interesting life cycle Cicadas are insects and the breeding cycle begins when adults mate after the males lure the females with their attractive cicada songs. After mating, the female lands in a tree, and she uses her egg-laying organ (ovipositor) like a saw to cut a slit into the bark where she lays her eggs. When the eggs hatch, the nymphs drop to the ground and they burrow down to depths of 2.5 metres into the soil. They then excavate chambers close to plant roots. There they feed on the juices from the tree roots by inserting their sucking mouthparts into the roots. They may spend up to 17

years and go through several ‘instars’ (developmental stages). Cicadas have the amazing ability to synchronise their development so that they all reach the final instar stage at the same time. This is when they all tunnel to the surface at once, leading to a ‘plague’ of many thousands of cicadas. The instars crawl up plants where they shed their skins for the final time, morphing into adulthood. The 17-year cycle occurs most notably in the USA. In 1987, when visiting the north-east USA, we saw branches breaking off trees under the weight of the huge numbers of cicadas that emerged that year. This is the stage when the singing starts. The males die after mating and the females die after laying their eggs. So they don’t have much of a life other than the troglodytic one of the nymphs. What are the biological advantages of a long instar phase and synchronicity? There are some theories that explain advantages to the cicadas of ‘outsmarting’ their predators. Potential predators cannot rely on this food source year after year. One year they are there, and then they may be gone for anything up to 17 years.

An unreliable food source means that the predator numbers remain low. Because the cicadas all emerge in their thousands at the same time, it means that predators are ‘overwhelmed’ by the numbers as they can only eat so many at one time. Other defence mechanisms Cicadas have excellent camouflage. They look like bark, with disruptive patterns on their bodies that allow them to blend in with tree bark. This is why you will hear many cicadas singing, but it’s almost impossible to spot them. They have a capacity to ‘throw’ their sound, which further confuses us. Cicadas are excellent ventriloquists – they are never where you expect them to be. Cicada wings do not reflect light, thereby preventing the typical insect cuticle shine. They are also very strong fliers and are able to fly at high speeds to escape their predators. These facts about cicadas illustrate the evolutionary truth that any species exists only to continue to exist. Cicadas have evolved a complex life cycle which optimises the survival of every generation. Wishing you many happy Christmas Bugs.

THE VILLAGE

EXPLORER FOOD & WINE | BOOKS | COMMUNITY

Wine and horses – an excellent pairing Writer & Photographer Tweet Gainsborough-Waring

he Hemel-en-Aarde region is home not only to internationally acclaimed wine estates but also to several stud farms breeding spectacular horses. Thoroughbreds (race horses) flourish in this scenic environment, where the moderate temperatures and cool sea breezes create ideal conditions for the maturation of both horses and wine. The Thoroughbred breed was founded in England in the 17th and 18th centuries, when English mares were bred to three imported stallions of Barb, Turkomen, and Arab lines. The breed is known for its heart, work ethic, and people-oriented nature. Bred to race, and generally energetic, they are not always ideal for the novice rider. The Hemel-en-Aarde Stud Farm, owned and managed by David

Hepburn-Brown, is located among award-winning wine estates and fittingly produces renowned race horses. On average 90 foals a year are born, making it without a doubt a commercial operation. Good bloodlines ensure success and included among the farm’s stallions is Jay Peg, a stallion born and raised by David himself in the valley. During an illustrious career he amassed over R40 million in stake earnings and raced in three countries. David says breeding these magnificent animals is about “chasing the dream” – a feeling described by one part-owner in a horse, who happened to play for Chelsea FC, as “better than scoring the opening goal in a big match”. David has raised horses in the valley for 30 years. Originally, he managed Four Seasons Farm, before starting High Seasons Stud in a partnership. During these successful years, many winners were bred, and the Stud continuously finished in the top 10

on the national breeders log, producing over 100 winners in the one season. The excellent standard continues as he has recently brought to stud the stallion, Horizon for which a record price of R5.2 million was paid as a yearling. Hemel-en-Aarde Stud has strong representation at all the yearling sales around the country, starting in January with a selected sale in the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Its paddocks sprawl across the slopes of the Babylonstoren Mountains, where new fencing has systematically replaced the old. The layout is such that it allows close monitoring of the mares, which are kept two or four to a paddock, ensuring they never battle for food. With 120 mares, their foals and stud stallions, David is fortunate to have as his wife well-known local vet, Sandy Waddingham, who shares his passion. In a paddock overlooking the valley

Horizon being led out at Stallion Day held at Mogg's Country Cookhouse to introduce him to potential shareholders earlier this year. stands Pocket Power, now retired. Race-goers will remember him for, among other successes, being the first horse to win the Winter Triple Crown; unbeaten in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes from three starts; four consecutive Grade 1 Queens Plates and three consecutive Grade1 J&B Mets; plus a dead heat in the 2008 Durban July with Dancer’s Daughter. Having won over R10 million in stakes, he is now happily munching grass with retired companion, River Crossing. In the racing world these top-class horses are often bought by syndicates, a system which is growing in popularity in South Africa. Visit hnastud.co.za for more. Another Thoroughbred Stud farm in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Oldlands Stud, is internationally known for producing high stake earners. These include Lucky Find, selected in 2008 to go to the prestigious Dubai Cup. Bred by the owner of Oldlands, Barbara Sanne, Lucky Find, whose stakes earnings exceeded R12 million, fetched R450 000 at the 2005 Emperor’s Palace yearling sales.

The dedicated team of grooms at Oldlands Stud.

Barbara’s passion lies in the mares and maintaining strong bloodlines through them, as she is convinced they have the biggest influence on

their offspring because of the time a foal spends with its mother in utero and after birth. Her dedicated team comprises stud manager Nicolene Dormehl, assistant Samantha Newnham and 10 dedicated permanent grooms. Veterinarian Martin Denkhaus plays an important role in the ongoing reproductive health of the mares. Their foundation mares, affectionately known as “our girls” are carefully selected based on bloodlines, soundness, fertility, race record and allround suitability. The stud sells all its male offspring and keeps the mares, which are either used for breeding or racing, carrying her yellow, black and white colours. Run on bio-dynamic principles, Oldlands’ quality grass is available year round. Organic compost is made on the farm and no fertilisers or pesticides are used, ensuring a healthy environment in which to develop young horses. Thirty two mares and their offspring, with resident stallion Indigo Magic (GB) make up the stud, so it is small by industry standards and perhaps that is part of the reason why Barbara Sanne has been referred to as “that obscure German woman breeder”. Visit oldlands.co.za/about for more.

10 | FOOD & WINE

24 December 2019

OK Foods on track with its 'healthier for you' strategy Writer Raphael da Silva

t has been only eight months since OK Foods opened its doors at the Gateway Lifestyle Centre in Hermanus and already its ‘handmade, homemade, healthier for you’ Mitolife strategy is starting to take root. A key component of this vision is a commitment to sourcing locally. Not only does this ensure that customers receive fresher products, but supporting local companies helps to reduce the store’s overall carbon footprint and ensure that money remains circulating within the Overberg. According to store manager, JJ Smith, of the approximately 150 suppliers whose products are stocked by OK Foods, over 30 are from the Overberg, including 17 wine estates. Organic fruit and vegetable produce from Pure Farm in Bot River, meat from Bredasdorp, take-away coffees made from Tulip Coffee Roasting’s beans and bags of roasted coffee beans, The Beanery and Eden Café, and cheeses from Klein Rivier and Stonehouse are just some of the ‘homemade’ brands that shoppers are able to enjoy. Organic fruit and vegetables have been particularly successful. Since

the store first opened at the end of April 2019, sales have tripled. “We are constantly on the lookout to improve our range of healthy living products,” says JJ, who points out that they have just introduced items from The Allergy Free Kitchen in Cape Town, a gluten-free, high in fibre range of baked snacks, breads and treats that have no added preservatives or sugar and are low in glycaemic carbohydrates. But the biggest point of difference and what sets OK Foods Gateway apart from the competition has been the introduction of ‘Mitolife’ labelling on the shop shelves, coupled with the opportunity to ‘Shop with Doc’ and purchase ready-to-eat Mito Meals. Progressively, the shelves have been labelled with green Mitolife stickers indicating that the product is mito-friendly. “We get new products in all the time that are healthier and more affordable than what we had when OK Foods Gateway opened. We constantly send requests to management for what our mito supporters need and generally, the products are on the shelves within weeks,” says Dr Julienne Fenwick, who is responsible for deciding which products meet the

criteria to be labelled as mito-friendly and who also runs the Shop with Doc tours. Mito, the shortened form of mitochondria, are the body’s powerhouse. They make most of the cells’ supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a molecule that cells use as a source of energy. Research has shown that certain nutrients and enzymes play a huge role in how the mitochondria function. Simply put, as the saying goes, ‘You are what you eat’. If your mitochondria are not working properly, your cells won’t have the energy to do their jobs. This can lead to ill health. This year, two Shop with Doc sessions have taken place. According to Julienne, “The Shop with Doc attendees thoroughly enjoyed the experience and learned a great deal about how to shop using food as medicine.” “The experience was enlightening for me as I got to see first hand what misconceptions consumers are under when shopping. For example, when people are informed that their favourite cereal (advertised as high in fibre and super healthy) is, in fact, full of harmful flavourants, emulsifiers and hidden sugar (all info supplied on the label of course), they are horrified that they have been ‘lied to’. The conversations were eye-opening and

I believe the attendees got a great deal of value from the tour. “The shoppers were furiously taking notes and were subsequently able to redesign their monthly grocery shop. We did calculations to prove that buying healthier food doesn’t have to be more expensive. By following the green dots to replace certain favourite staples, one can actually save money. I received a few messages from Shop with Doc attendees asking me to check their proposed new healthy shopping lists. It is really rewarding to have an impact on such a seemingly small aspect of people’s lives, and yet eating yourself to health is the best (and cheapest!) medicine around,” says Julienne.

where people coming from the gym, or popping in after a long day’s work or simply feeling in the mood for a snack, can enjoy a delicious, healthy Mito Meal with a variety of dishes that are satisfying and affordable. It takes patience and persistence to change the habits of a nation. This is our goal. One delicious Mito Meal at a time.” Next year, OK Foods plans to sell organic vegetables from the Zwelihle Youth Cafe’s urban gardening project. OK Foods will also sponsor a few Shop with Doc tours for educational purposes to organisations they feel may benefit. “Anyone is welcome to approach management with suggestions,” adds Julienne.

“For me, Shop with Doc was just what I needed to kickstart my clean eating regime,” says Dr Michelle Emmet, who attended one of the first tours. “Changing the way we eat and cook can be overwhelming but this was a wonderful experience that really opened my eyes to the many healthy and accessible shopping items that are available. I learnt so much!”

She concludes by saying, “We look forward to working more closely with the community and populating the shelves of OK Foods Gateway with healthy food options that everyone can afford. The focus will then be on teaching the community about these options and showing them how to shop and cook to prevent and treat chronic disease."

The introduction of ready-to-eat Mito Meals is still a new concept, but Julienne says it has been well received not only by her patients but also local business owners and their staff. “Our aim is to create a hub of health,

"In a society where healthcare is inaccessible for most, we need to treat food as medicine in order to stay healthy. This is our small contribution to health education in our local community.”

FOOD & WINE | 11

24 December 2019

Meet me at the market A mong the many attractions of our region, including pristine beaches, verdant wine valleys and scenic hiking trails, are a variety of markets featuring local food and wine, innovative art and crafts, laidback entertainment and other goodies that will keep you and the family busy during the holiday season.

Several of the markets, such as Hermanus Country Market, Hermanuspietersfontein Food & Wine Market, the Stanford Saturday Morning Market and the Elgin Railway Market, have even been listed on websites such as SA Venues, TripAdvisor, The Inside Guide and Culture Trips as the best markets to visit this year. Be sure to drop by these markets if you are spending your holiday in the Overstrand: Hermanus Country Market

Hermanuspietersfontein Food & Wine Market

Elgin Railway Market

The Hermanuspietersfontein Market (also known as Die Markie) is a place where local and international food and wine lovers meet. Choose from a buffet of classic breakfast, savouries, confectionaries, cheeses, cured meats, olives, breads, oysters, smoothies, fynbos flowers and much, much more. The market is set outdoors and while casual, it remains elegant. It is open no matter what the weather and a cheerful atmosphere awaits you whenever you go. Die Markie is open on Saturdays from 09:00 to 13:00. Hemel-en-Aarde Village, Hermanus Stanford Saturday Morning Market

The Hermanus Country Market offers a variety of organic produce, herbs, pickles, jams, deli-treats and homegrown goods, as well as several stalls offering wine, coffee, home decor, clothing and accessories. This vibrant market is a hubbub of activity within a relaxed, rural atmosphere and has become one of the most popular weekly market venues in the country. It is open on Saturdays from 09:00 to 14:00, with the addition of Summer Night Markets on 1 & 8 January from 17:00. Hermanus Cricket Grounds, Hermanus

along and fill it with fresh produce and treats for the weekend ahead. Once you’ve had your fill, you can pop in to the quaint vintage and antique stores surrounding the market to find some beautiful collectibles, books, crockery and furniture. The Stanford Market is open every Saturday morning from 09:00. Queen Victoria Street, Stanford

From homebakes, preserves, flowers and herbs, to fresh vegetables, honey and other seasonal goodies, the Stanford Saturday Morning Market caters for everyone. Take a basket

The Elgin Railway Market is a hit among tourists and locals alike. Set in an old apple warehouse filled with space, light and quirky design elements, this market is filled with the smell of craft food and sweets, the sound of live music, and the colours and flavours of South African products. Visitors to the market should definitely come hungry and can look forward to pizza, curries, grills, steaks, pies, low-carb breads, vetkoek, soup, biltong and more. There are also stalls selling clothing, jewellery, accessories, ceramics, wooden creations, furniture and freshly cut flowers. As if that weren’t enough, visitors may also have the chance to see the steam train that makes a trip to the market from Cape Town a few times a month. Visit www.elginrailwaymarket.co.za for their opening times. Oak Avenue, Elgin/Grabouw

Hermanus Station Centre Cnr Royal & Lord Roberts Street, Hermanus

THE BEST COFFEE AND BREAKFAST IN TOWN! NEW YEAR'S DAY 08h00 - 16h00 Open for breakfast platters! Bookings advisable

Sources: hermanus.co.za; blog.sa-venues.com

028 312 4096

Christmas on the Lagoon Christmas Market at MOSAIC Saturday December 7, 2019, 11:30am-5:00pm (Gallery will be at MOSAIC through mid-January) Location: 1892 Spookhuis at MOSAIC Wortelgat Road, on the Hermanus Lagoon, Stanford

Join us for a family day! Wishing you happy holidays and a blessed new year! Join us for wine tasting and a delicious farm style platter for lunch. The Tasting Room will be open: Mon - Fri: 10h00 - 16h30 | Sat: 10h00 - 15h00 We are closed on Sundays, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. We look forward to your visit! The Beaumont Family Wines team will be here to welcome you with open arms and to ensure that you have a great time. Compagnes Drift Farm, Bot River | 028 284 9194 | www.beaumont.co.za

Country platters and grilled skewers will be served at Lagoon Cafe’ Wine from Springfontein Wine Estate - Belgium Beer on tap - DIY gin station. Accommodation at MOSAIC Cottages Beautiful selection of art, gifts and décor Tracy Algar Art - Handbags by UGLEE - Inkomo Nguni hide rugs - Ardmore Jewelry by Beryl Dingemans - Old book collections - Christmas décor Contact: Simone 082 817 2077 or 028 313 2814 admin@MosaicSouthAfrica.com www.MosaicSouthAfrica.com

WHAT’S ON

26 DEC - 12 JAN

OVERBERG 26

www.thevillagenews.co.za/whatson the coffee shop with free workspace is open during the week from 09:00 – 17:00. Oak Avenue, Elgin | 09:00 – 17:00 (Sat & Sun)

Thursday

Stanford 6s Join the locals for their annual Stanford 6s tournament on the cricket pitch. This traditional Boxing Day event includes potjie competitions, music, craft beers and gin and tonics on tap, blow-up pools, food trucks and fun for the whole family. What makes it even more special is that all of the proceeds go to a local charity. Stanford Village Green | 08:00 – 16:00 Black Oystercatcher Summer Festival Head to Black Oystercatcher Wines this December for five days of sizzling summer fun close to Africa’s southernmost tip. From 26 – 30 December, The Black Oystercatcher Wine Farm presents a festival of live music, paired with cool-climate wine, tasty craft beer, festival-style food and a lively country vibe. Enjoy a day out at this Overberg destination at R150 pp, which includes a branded glass. The cost for children 7 – 17 years is R100 and children U7 enter free. Booking is essential and tickets are available from www.webtickets.co.za. The music line-up will feature the Bottomless Coffee Band on 26 & 27 December, DJ Paul Fletcher on 28 December, and Matt Carstens on 29 & 30 December. Black Oystercatcher Wine Farm near Elim | 10:00 – 17:00 (daily from 26 – 30 Dec) Sterreligkonsert Join Coffee Snobs for a concert under the stars and celebrate the festive season by listening to their soul music, which combines a touch of nostalgia with love, humour and inspiration. There will be an assortment of great wine and food on offer from Hermanuspietersfontein. Coffee Snobs are undoubtedly one of the most exciting South African bands and their music is fresh, original and poetic. Tickets at R150 for adults (R80 for children U12 and pensioners of 65+) are available at www.quicket. co.za. Hermanuspietersfontein Wines, Hemel-en-Aarde Village | 18:00 – 20:00

Ryno Velvet Live Local musician Ryno Velvet, a lead vo-

Hermanus Country Market A favourite among the locals. Young, old, two-legged and four-legged family members are all welcome. You’ll find wholesome goodies, homemade crafts, local produce, beers and wine, speciality foods, coffee and live music. Next to Hermanus Cricket Field | 09:00 – 13:00

run (or walk) where it’s only you against the clock. The whole family is welcome. Grab a post-run coffee in the Red Disa restaurant with fellow parkrunners. Harold Porter Botanical Garden | 08:00

calist, rhythm guitarist and drummer, will be back at Hermanus’s favourite music venue. Call 028 312 4665 to book. The Gecko Bar, Hermanus New Harbour | 21:00

Friday

Wine Farm Yoga Join us on the Lomond farm every Friday morning of December, for a relaxing Yoga class presented by local gym, Health and Active Gansbaai. The gym will provide mats but you are welcome to bring your own. Depending on the weather, the classes will either be held on the grass next to the dam or inside the newly-built wine cellar. R100 pp includes snacks and a glass of wine. For queries and bookings, contact Sanmarie on 082 908 0099. Lomond Wine Estate | 09:00 Blues, Rock & Roots Festival Come and enjoy the lovely outdoors of Stanford Hills Estate at their second Blues, Rock & Roots Festival, which caters for the whole family. The exciting line-up includes MC and guest artist, Albert Frost, Matt Carstens, Black Cat Bones and Gerald Clarke. The Bedouin tents will be up and food and drinks stalls will be open. Shuttle service between Stanford and Hermanus available. Tickets at R200 per adult and R150 per student (children U16 enter free) are available at www.webtickets.co.za. Stanford Hills Estate | from 13:00

MANUFACTURERS OF SIMULATED STONE PRODUCTS

HERMANUS

Bottomless Coffee Band Live As part of their Dec 2019 tour, Bottomless Coffee Band will also perform in Hermanus! Food and drinks stalls will be open from 19:00 (no BYO food or drinks allowed). Tickets at R150 pp can be booked at www.quicket.co.za. Hermanuspietersfontein, Hemelen-Aarde Village | 20:15 (gates open at 19:00) Jo Martin Live Enjoy an evening of honest, heartfelt music with Jo Martin, who will get those toes tapping and takkies squeaking! Call 028 312 4665 to book. The Gecko Bar, Hermanus New Harbour | 20:30

Saturday

Hermanus parkrun Meet for the weekly 5 km timed walk or run, come rain or shine. Run for your own enjoyment at your own pace. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome. Camphill Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley | 08:00 Betty’s Bay parkrun Join this free weekly 5 km timed

Groeneweide parkrun Bring the whole family (dogs on leashes are welcome too) and enjoy this free, timed 5 km run/walk at your own pace. Register online at www. parkrun.co.za Groeneweide, Franskraal | 08:00

Die Markie Looking for koek? Vetkoek, pannekoek, soet koekies, sout koekies, lewer koekies? A peaceful place to while away Saturday mornings, glass of wine in hand, with Woefie lying at your feet? Olives, freshly shucked oysters and other nibbles made by real people? Served on real porcelain, using real cutlery, sipping wine from a real wine glass? Then you’ll want to hotfoot it across to Die Markie at Hermanuspietersfontein. Here safe parking is a doddle and life is easy. Hermanuspietersfontein Wine Cellar | 09:00 – 13:00 Market in the Garden Hunt for treasures at this peaceful market set among the shady trees of a beautiful garden. St Peter’s Church, Main Road, Hermanus | 09:00 – 13:00 Stanford Saturday Morning Market Come and sample the artisanal delights on display, from home-made sheep and goats’ cheeses to cured meats, farm-fresh vegetables and deli delights to tantalise your taste buds! Stanford Hotel Stoep | 09:00 – 12:00

Elgin Railway Market This bustling steampunk station market, where Art deco meets Victorian, is unlike any other in South Africa, with more than 30 different stalls providing local wine, craft beer, arts & crafts and artisanal foods. Visitors can greet the steam train on the platform or view its arrival from the upstairs viewing deck. There’s live music throughout the weekend, and plenty of activities to keep children entertained, such as a jungle gym, roundabout, and even indoor and outdoor climbing walls. The market is open Saturdays and Sundays, and

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

Cobbles

Cladding

Coping

Pavers

Landscaping

Tiles

Market to Market Experience Hermanus and see how the locals live by joining the ChillGuru bus and cruising from market to market. Your ticket (R150 for adults and R80 for children U18) includes a round trip to the Hermanus Country Market and Die Markie at Hermanuspietersfontein, with a free coffee or drink and a tasty homemade something to nibble on, followed by a free lifestyle wine tasting at The Wine Glass. To make a booking, call 082 700 4163. Departing from Lemm’s Corner | 09:30 Baardskeerdersbos Farmers' Market Enjoy authentic local produce and winetastings by local wineries (Giant Periwinkle, Black Oystercatcher, Strandveld, Lomond) while the little ones play in the kids’ zone. After indulging in the yummy eats, join the relaxing guided village walk at 13:00. Baardskeerdersbos | 09:00 Lomond 5 km Trail Run Every last Saturday of the month, anyone who is feeling energised can run (or walk) for free at Lomond Wine Estate. This scenic 5 km trail running track is ideal for all ages. The tasting room will be open, serving coffee, wine, beer and delicious platters. For more details call 028 388 0095. Lomond Wine Estate | 10:00 – 16:00

picnic concert featuring South Africa’s iconic electronic trio GoodLuck, the super talented newcomers The World of Birds, and support DJs. It promises to be a magical afternoon, with fully stocked bars and facilities, an exclusive VIP viewing deck, delicious treats from a variety of food trucks, and the best line-up to kickstart summer! No BYO food or alcohol allowed. Tickets at R180 pp (R100 for kids U12) can be booked at www.howler.co.za or at the gate (IDs on request). Hermanus High School Sportsgrounds | 15:00 – 21:00 Panthera Africa Sunset Visits Come and enjoy the evening with your loved ones as the sun sets and the cats come alive after a long day of rest! Sunset is a magical time of day at Panthera Africa and you may even hear and see the lions roar! Only for people 16 years and older. Pre-booking is essential as only 20 places are available. The cost is R490 pp. Every Saturday until 31 March. Panthera Africa is a non-profit company and all proceeds from ticket sales go towards the animals and creating a better life for them. Visit www. pantheraafrica.com Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary | 18:00 Emo Adams Summer Sunset Concert Emo Adams’ creative expression through song, theatre and production has made him a household name in South Africa. Don’t miss this live performance by Emo and his band in the beautiful setting of the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens. Pack a picnic basket and blanket and bring your family and friends to enjoy an evening of laughter and music. Tickets are R130 for adults and R75 for youths 6 – 18 years (children U6 enter free). No booking is required and tickets can be purchased at the venue entrance. Call 028 272 9311. Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, Betty’s Bay | 19:00 (gates open at 18:00)

31 Get Lucky Summer Hermanus Get Lucky Summer is proud to announce the very first Hermanus edition of their popular Concert Series. Join them for a family sunset

Danger Point Lighthouse and over Walker Bay. Choose between three distances: 21.1 km, 10 km and 5 km. Enter at Gansbaai Primary on 30 December between 16:00 – 19:00 or on race morning from 05:30 – 06:45. Walkers are welcome. For more Info contact Boats van Staden on 072 789 3627. Gansbaai Primary School sports ield | from 07:00

Tuesday

Danger Point Half Marathon The race is run through a fynbos coastal reserve and the fishing village of Gansbaai. Run on a mixture of tarred and gravel roads, which are mostly flat and close to the coast, and enjoy the spectacular scenery around

hits between them, this magical concert will showcase their mastery of their instruments as they perform the songs that South Africans know and love. Tickets at R195 pp (R95 for children) can be booked at www. quicket.co.za. Stanford Hills Estate | 17:00 (gates open from 14:30)

Hermanus First Fridays Every first Friday of the month, the 21 art galleries in the Old Town of Hermanus stay open late for the monthly HFF Artwalk as part of a global initiative to make art more accessible to the public. Stroll through the village, savour a glass of wine from one of our local wineries and enjoy the impressive range of art, fine craft, photography and jewellery on display. An HFF map can be picked up at any of the galleries. Hermanus CBD | 17:00 – 20:00

Wednesday

New Year's parkrun Join Hermanus parkrun for a running start to 2020 at their special New Year's parkrun. Camphill Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley | 07:30 Summer Night Markets Don’t miss out on the popular Hermanus Country Market’s season of Summer Night Markets, every Wednesday evening. There are only two markets left: on 1 & 8 January. There is no better place to celebrate the first day of a new year in the company of family and friends! Hermanus Country Market | 17:00 – 21:00

Friday

Louise Carver Sunset Concert Join two of SA’s best singer/songwriters, Louise Carver and Ross Learmonth (frontman of Prime Circle) whose voices were meant to be heard together. With dozens of Top10

Watershed at The Brewery Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Watershed perform all their wellloved hits live in Hermanus. Tickets at R180 pp (kids U12 enter free) are available at www.quicket.co.za. Come early to choose your spots and enjoy dinner and drinks before the show (strictly no BYO drinks). The Brewery, Hemel-en-Aarde Village | 20:30 (doors open at 18:30) Jim Harisson Project This alter-rock-acoustic-blues trio from the infamous Bellville Rock City will be kicking off the new year with a live performance at one of their favourite venues in Hermanus. To book, contact 028 312 4665. The Gecko Bar, Hermanus New Harbour | 21:00

Saturday

Winemaker’s Lunch Enjoy a delicious three-course meal paired with Benguela Cove wines in the company of award-winning winemaker Johann Fourie. The venue on the edge of the Bot River Lagoon

could not be more idyllic! Tickets are R350 pp. Contact info@benguelacove.co.za or 087 357 0637 or visit benguelacove.co.za Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate | 12:00

Monday

Luna Paige at Springfontein Singer-songwriter Luna Paige will give a solo concert at the picturesque Springfontein Estate near Stanford. Come and experience this local talent in an intimate setting as she performs a selection of songs from her various albums and projects throughout the years. Expect a soulful, original repertoire of songs in English and Afrikaans that were inspired by life, love, novels, short stories, poems and collaborations with interesting and like-minded musicians who have crossed Luna's path over the last 20 years. Tickets at R400 pp include canapés and bottomless wine. Booking is essential. Contact info@springfontein. co.za or 028 341 0651. Springfontein Wine Estate | 18:00

Sunday

Big Bay Adventure Day Join Benguela Cove for their annual Adventure Day swim or swim-run in collaboration with Big Bay Events. Select between the 500 m, 1 km, 3 km or 5 km courses. This is a protected swim in the Bot River Lagoon which is a closed lagoon and offers the ideal environment for swimming events. The swim-run participants are required to run among the vineyards and swim short distances in the Bot River Lagoon to complete the course. For all the details and to register, go to www.bigbayevents.co.za. For enquiries contact 082 770 5798. Benguela Cove Lagoon, Wine Estate | 07:00 – 15:00

16 | FOOD & WINE 14

24 December 2019

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Under NEW ownership

17 BOOKS | 15

24 December 2019

South Africa’s Angela’s Ashes When Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes was published in 1996, it was hailed as the quintessential depiction of the innocence, vulnerability and resilience of childhood. Against the background of an impoverished and, in many ways, dysfunctional Irish household, it underscores the extraordinary ability of children to survive both physically and emotionally, and still see the funny side of life.

dialogue with herself and an opportunity for healing.

The 2018 autobiographical novel, All things Bright and Broken by Greyton author, Carol Gibbs, is in the same tradition, painting an evocative picture of growing up in the 1940s and ‘50s in some of the less salubrious suburbs of Cape Town where an alcoholic father was a dominant factor.

“My greatest hope”, she said, “is that it will give more people the courage to write their own story and that it will also encourage teachers to recognise and support vulnerable children in their classes. Someone once said to me, ‘You can’t change the beginning, but you can change the end’, and that’s what this book is all about.”

In a talk at ANDANTE in Kleinmond earlier this month, Carol said she started writing the book as a means of giving her children and grandchildren an insight into her childhood in a place and time very different from their own, but she soon found that as she mined her memories, the writing became both a

Published by Jacana Books and long-listed for the Barry Ronge Prize for Literature, the back-cover blurb refers to the book as “heartbreakingly honest, heart-warmingly written” and Carol herself said she dedicated it to every poor child who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks.

Copies of All things Bright and Broken are available at Exclusive and Bargain Books stores, as well as online through Amazon.com, or Carol can be contacted at caroljane.cd@gmail.com. – Elaine Davie

The collaboration of three local residents – Angela Heslop of the Hermanus History Society, John Morris, author and owner of The Book Cottage, and publisher Helga Steyn – has resulted in the publication of a new book on Hermanus. Richly illustrated with photographs accompanied by minimal text, Just Hermanus is the ideal souvenir for visitors to take home; its soft-cover format means it could easily be slipped into a bag or suitcase. “Helga and I realised there was a gap in the market for a book with strong visual representation of everything our town and the surrounding areas have to offer,” says John. “We approached Angela as an authority on the historical aspects of Hermanus and agreed that the book should be inclusive of all the suburbs in order to paint an authentic picture of the beauty and diversity of our town.” Published by Penstock, Just Hermanus is a great alternative to a heavy coffee table book, and more affordable, too, retailing at only R250. PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

Matching LAMY pens and notebooks now in stock!

028 313 0834 Station Square, Hermanus

18 | COMMUNITY 16

24 December 2019

Getting to the heart of the matter Writer Elaine Davie

o doubt about it, humankind is incurably curious. In centuries past, intrepid explorers risked life and limb on rickety sailing boats bucketing around the seven seas, while others braved the icy wastes of the Arctic. All to see what was on the other side. More contemporary adventurers have launched themselves into space, daring once more to venture where no man has gone before. For the past two and a half years, two young Hermanus film-makers, Michael Raimondo and Justine du Toit have been on a different voyage of discovery. What started as a fun project, a spin-off of their Green Renaissance travels to different parts of the world to make wildlife documentaries, has become an all-consuming passion to pin down what makes us humans human – getting down to the heart of the matter, you may say. Since July 2017, Michael and Justine have produced one short film a week – each about five minutes in length – in which they have invited people to talk about what makes them who they are: what gives them joy, what makes them sad, how they have navigated difficult circumstances in their lives. The 135 films they have made so far (about 12 of them featuring locals) are like small gems, unrehearsed, authentic, with no hidden agendas and handled with the lightest of touches. This year alone, they have visited the Faroe Islands off the coast of Denmark, twice, Scotland and New Zealand, and closer to home, the Klein Karoo. If proof were needed, their short profiles underline the fact that people are people wherever they live. They might have different traditions, live lives adapted to a specific climate; they may be located in cities or the countryside, but they share the same human condition, struggle to overcome similar demons and are happiest when they have come to terms with who they are and what gives meaning to their lives. People they have filmed include a homeless man on the streets of Edinburgh, the only taxi driver on

the island of Eigg in the Hebrides, artists and craftspeople of all kinds, like the man who binds books in New Zealand, the painter who has learnt to live with personal chaos through art, or the wood carver in the Faroe Islands who has built his own hobbit hole in a hillside. And then there are the people who have a special relationship with animals – the animal whisperer in Hermanus, the woman who is saving the Faroe Islands pony from extinction, the farmer’s wife in the Karoo who found peace after her husband’s death through the horses he loved. But apart from the magnificently rugged scenery, perhaps it is the people of the Faroe Islands who have inspired Michael and Justine the most. ‘’They are just incredibly warm, kind and generous, with an amazing connection to the land and their community,’’ Michael says. ‘’They are enormously proud of their culture, too, whether it’s their traditional dress or music. In a population of around 50 000, more or less the same as Hermanus, they have their own professional orchestra and 70 music teachers.’’ There are 18 islands in the group, many of them connected by under-sea tunnels and although owned by Denmark, they are 97% autonomous. Geographically, they are actually closer to Scotland than they are to Denmark and the Faroese language is more akin to Gaelic than to the Scandinavian language stream. Although most of them own sheep (there are around 70 000 on the islands) and grow their own food, paradoxically, they are super-advanced technologically, far more so than Denmark itself, and their education system is of the highest standard. ‘’It is the most egalitarian society I have ever encountered,’’ continues Michael. ‘’Nobody is excessively rich or excessively poor; there is no homelessness and no crime; older people are embraced and remain active members of the community. Everyone wears similar clothing, much of it hand-knitted by themselves (supermarkets feature an entire aisle dedicated to wool) – basically, they are just not interested in collecting ‘stuff ’. In the winter, they have only about five hours of daylight and they look upon this as their cosy time,

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ABOVE: Film-makers Michael Raimondo and Justine du Toit brave the cold on the Faroe Islands where they recently recorded footage for 14 short ilms that can be viewed at www.greenrenaissance.co.za. LEFT: Not just the rugged scenery, but the warmth of the extraordinary people they met on the Faroe Islands inspired Michael and Justine.

when they get together indoors to read and tell stories, or they invite cold, wet strangers in for a cup of tea and scones, as Grandma Disa did with Justine and me. ‘’This is what Hermanus must have been like in the early years of its existence, but somehow we have lost that sense of community and closeness to nature. The Faroe Islanders have a lot to teach us if we want to recapture that rare sense of interdependence.’’ On their first visit to the Islands they made 12 films, and the second time round, 14. All of them are real stories, authentic glimpses into the lives of ordinary people leading extraordinary lives, like the elderly ladies who go for a swim in the numbingly-cold ocean every morning year round and who invite Michael to join them. ‘’A huge part of the process is building trust with the people we film,’’ he comments. ‘’We meet them maybe twice before we start – they don’t

know us, we don’t know them – yet during filming they are often prepared to go very deep and personal in a very short time. It is a toe-dip into the life of someone, an intimate moment of sharing.’’ He says about 80% of their time is spent identifying suitable people to film, so they are often asked why they do it. According to Michael, their aim is to create a collection of films that are universal and timeless. ‘’These films can be shown anywhere by anyone at no cost. We simply want to spread messages of positivity, hope and inspiration, shining a light on the beautiful people of this world. ‘’Many of those we film tend to be older people who are willing to share their wisdom with us. It is an enormous honour that they are prepared to allow us into their lives like this and they, in turn, tell us how much they value the fact that we are prepared to take the time to really listen to them, to give them a voice.

“The only way to really enjoy seafood is top quality seafood, perfectly prepared and in abundance, sand under the feet, next to a bonﬁre, amongst friends and a glass of good Cape wine in hand."

We hand them a copy of the whole interview afterwards, not just the film, and their families and friends love to watch them. ‘’This is our idea of a good time and every conversation we have always has an impact on us personally. It challenges how we think and shapes how we live; it gives us meaning and purpose; it makes us smile. We have so much to learn from one another and our connections run so much deeper and stronger than we think,’’ he emphasises. ‘’About 2.5 million viewers follow us and if we can touch just one of them with each of our stories, we will have achieved our goal.’’ The Green Renaissance ilms are partially crowd-funded via Patreon. They can be seen free of charge by visiting www.greenrenaissance. co.za or on YouTube. If you would like to see this project continue, you can do so by clicking on the Patreon link on the website.

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19 17

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24 December 2019

Vendange – celebrating all things French V

endange is a French word that means ‘vintage’ and refers to the annual grape harvest. It is also the name of a new lifestyle gift shop that opened last month in the Village Square, adding a touch of French flair to the Main Road, onto which the shop fronts. With four Vendange branches in Johannesburg, one in Plettenberg Bay and one in Franschhoek, Vendange Hermanus is owner, Richard Davies’ seventh store. Much in evidence among the classy gift, home décor and lifestyle items stocked by Vendange, is Richard’s connection with Morena, a boutique wine cellar in Franschhoek that produces a range of Methode Cap Classique (MCC) and olive oil – and is owned by Richard’s father. Other unique items are provided by his two siblings, who are both accomplished wood crafters and artists. The interior of Vendange is light and spacious, and even though they stock a wide variety of products, the shop feels tranquil and uncluttered. You’ll hardly know where to start looking, as there are treasures hidden in every nook and cranny. For the home – and especially the kitchen – there is everything you can think of for entertaining in style, from champagne buckets, wooden wine crates, baskets of all shapes and sizes,

framed prints and scatter cushions, to Sagaform glassware, Laguiole cutlery and handmade knives, and a range of Trudeau Boutique Vineyards cheese and baguette boards, handcrafted from French oak wine barrels. For those in need of inspiration, copies of Around my Table by famed Ginger & Lime chef Denise Cowburn-Levy are available, in which she shares some of her favourite recipes. Among the clothing and accessories you’ll find stylish Kaftans that are ideal for those hot summer days, Breazies beach towels and swimming shorts (sold together in gift bags), fashionable Havaianans flip-flops, holiday aprons with humorous slogans, and all manner of bags, from travel wallets, purses and clutch bags to shoulder bags and beach bags.

The newly-opened Vendange is located at 104 Main Road, Village Square, Hermanus. Below are Burnie van der Merwe (operations manager), Anina Gillion (shop manager) and Nicole Gordon (shop assistant).

Then there are the bath and body products (including natural, handcrafted Pepper Tree soaps wrapped in beautiful paper) and a variety of scented candles and home fragrances from Madame Luna and Charisma, and olive oils and condiments, and sweet treats from Wedgewood... a seemingly endless supply of all the good things in life! Treat yourself by popping in to Vendange this holiday season. And if you still have some last-minute Christmas shopping to do – you know exactly where to go! – Hedda Mittner

PHOTOS: Hedda Mittner

BRINGING THE PROMISE OF THE HARVEST TO YOUR HOME

HERMANUS BRANCH | 104 MAIN ROAD VILLAGE SQUARE | 060 415 0651 | www.vendange.co.za

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24 December 2019 •

Be the author of your own life Writer & Photographer Taylum Meyer

ive seconds… that is how long it takes for your brain to talk you out of making a decision. The only way to succeed in life is to act on your ideas immediately and not to be scared of failure. It is natural for your brain to fight against uncomfortable situations, but life is short and you need to make sure that you live it with no regrets. You are the author of your life – the greatest author of all time.” These were the motivational words of local resident, AJ Stander during the official launch of his series of self-help journals under the umbrella name, Book of Life, last month at Tulip Coffee Bar & Bistro.

• • •

AJ, who’s been living in Hermanus since 2010, has had a keen interest in journaling from an early age. Over the years he has filled a number of journals, but last year he realised that those available in shops just didn’t have enough space or the layout he needed anymore. Shortly afterwards AJ had a custom-made journal printed in a layout that he found worked for him. He called it the Book of Life. His partner, Bernice Baumgarten, soon requested a copy of her own, which got AJ thinking – what if other people would also want to make use of it? Now, a year later, the first three chapters are available to the public. At the launch AJ explained that each Book of Life journal represents one month (called a chapter) and holds enough space for one month of journaling before you move on to the next chapter. “A few years from now you could have an entire library of your life – a legacy that your children or grandchildren could someday enjoy, or memories you can reflect back on… but that is not the aim of the books,” said AJ. “These journals were made to help you make a success of your life by learning to put thought to paper, and then to take that thought from

55 Main Road, Hermanus

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ABOVE: AJ reads an entry from his own journal at the book launch. CIRCLE: The Book of Life is available to buy at Tulip Coffee Roasters. paper to action. Don’t procrastinate or be scared of failure; you will only hold yourself back from reaching your true potential.

• “You need to spend about 30 to 45 mindful minutes, on your own, to complete a day’s entry,” he continued. “If you miss a day, don’t worry; life does get busy sometimes, but don’t make that an excuse.”

•

• What do I want from life? This will inevitably change, but you have to start somewhere. Use this space to write down what you expect from life. Thank You: What/who are you grateful for today?

mcfauel@mweb.co.za | jpzeelie@telkomsa.net www.tooth-implant.co.za | www.whalesmile.co.za www.hermanusdentalstudio.co.za

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Prayer and Compassion: Think of loved ones or even those you have just met – and wish them goodwill. My Heart and Body: Your emotional and physical well-being. What do you want to achieve in these areas? Do you want to be more compassionate or fitter and/ or healthier? My Future: You can only have what you know you want. Write down what you want in your future. This may seem like a dream page but it is only a dream until you do something to make it real. Canvas: Use this space to write, draw, take notes… or whatever you want to use it for! Big Things Today: Write down the important things you need to accomplish for the day to help you move closer to the future you want.

Serenity Battling with (Bio sculpture, CND shellac)

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“By sitting alone and making these entries every day you are forcing yourself to find out who you are, which can be very intimidating. Learn to be your own inspiration and don’t be afraid to reflect on your life. Only you can help yourself,” said AJ. “If you are serious about changing your life, you have to start spending time on yourself.” For more information, AJ Stander can be contacted at www.ajstand. com. Follow him on Instagram for updates and inspirational messages (@AJ_Stand). The irst three chapters of Book of Life can be bought at the Hermanus Country Market, Tulip Coffee Bar & Bistro or at www.bookolife. shop.

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Each journal has pages for you to write down your monthly and weekly goals before you start on your daily entries, which are broken down into different sections:

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Little Shits Today: A space for all the little things that need to be done, like going to the bank. These little things can be a distraction, so get them done! Diary: Plan your day in this space. Diarise what you need to do today to reach your future tomorrow. My day in two words Relecting on my day: A personal account of your day. Synchronicities: These are coincidences. You may, for example, have been thinking about calling someone when a few minutes later they call you; or maybe you are thinking about expanding your marketing business to Cape Town and a few days later meet a person from a Cape Town marketing company. Two people I spent the most time with today

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info@brigadoongroup.com | www.brigadoongroup.com Brigadoon Village, 30 Wallers Way, Betty’s Bay

Where anything is possible

24 December 2019

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www.thevillagenews.co.za

The Overstrand Hospice 600 Club Draw was done on Thursday, 19 December by Dr Arien van der Merwe (middle) of Ariani Health Solutions. Also present were Fran Tong, Overstrand Hospice Manager, and Don Adams from Don Adams Auditors. This month’s winners received a wonderful Christmas surprise: 1st Maria van der Merwe, 2nd Dirk Theron, 3rd Trevor Callanan.

The Hermanus Frail Care Centre t/a SOFCA

Our Christmas Wish List

SOFCA was established 34 years ago as a registered NGO & NPO We are a residential home that offers 24-hour care for the frail & inﬁrm elderly residents of Hermanus and surrounding areas. SOFCA cares for many residents who are not able to afford their full fees which results in substantial losses for us and makes any capital expenditure an enormous challenge. In light of this, we are appealing to local businesses and individuals to help us so our residents can live happily, safely and comfortably.

For only R50 a month you can join the 600 Club and support Overstrand Hospice in the work that they do in the community. There are monthly cash prizes up for grabs every month. Please contact Norma Scott-Tomlin on 028 312 4679 for more information or visit Hospice at their offices at 10 Hope Street, Hermanus.

R750 000

YOG A YOGAHEART 1st Floor, Woolworths Building, 175 Main Road, Hermanus 071 304 6456 / info@yogaheart.co.za www.yogaheart.co.za

R17 000

Wishing You & Your Loved Ones a Wonderful Christmas and a Prosperous New Year Contact Details: SOFCA, 1 Hospital Street, Hermanus 7200 Tel: 028 312 3236 email: sofca@telkomsa.net website: www.sofcahermanus.co.za or ﬁnd us on Facebook

Bank Details: Nedbank, Hermanus Name of account - SOFCA Branch Code - 147005 Account No. – 1470014343 Ref: Xmas/(your email address)

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24 December 2019

MY HOME

That’s all for 2019, folks By Stephen de Stadler Managing Director Fine & Country Hermanus, Arabella and Kleinmond form for the future. I sincerely hope so and do still trust in the business and political acumen of our current President to lead and guide us through these troubled times.

s the rest of the country takes some time off over the festive season, it is strangely encouraging to spend time in traffic jams, which appear to be worse than last year. This should mean that there are more visitors to the Overberg than there were a year ago, which translates to potentially higher consumer spending and real local economic growth. This will certainly be welcome, because, let’s be honest, this has been a tough year, no matter what industry you are in. On the residential property front, according to the research group Lightstone, in Hermanus there were 517 freehold property registrations in 2019, compared to 923 in 2018. Sectional schemes registered 89 transactions this year, compared to 120 in 2018. Vacant land registrations total 125 year-to-date compared to 126 in 2018. Residential property sales are significantly reduced at the current time, when compared to previous periods.

The trend was repeated in Arabella Golf Estate where 14 total registrations in 2019 can be compared to 28 the previous year. Kleinmond on the other hand reflects 192 registrations this year, which is well on par with 2018, where 191 sales were registered. With results such as these estate agents who have managed to survive over the last 12 to 18 months normally look forward to a feeding frenzy as pent-up buyers demand is satisfied. Will we thus see a return to the times of old in 2020, where properties that remain unsold for more than a month or so are the exception rather than the rule? While I retain absolute optimism

about the future, I am also a realist, and we must recognise that there are many factors directly outside our control that are affecting the market more negatively than normal. Eskom and load shedding, SAA under business rescue, private data providers being told to reduce their tariffs, the proposed implementation of a national health scheme, amendments to the statute to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation, the list is never ending and gets added to each day. This all sounds deeply negative, but surely this is merely the effect of a poorly managed economy in the past being allowed to shed its gremlins, thereby creating a more positive plat-

Hermanus Golf Club Invites applications from suitably qualiﬁed individuals for the position of

Membership Secretary

The creation of a more positive environment should lead to improved conditions for the housing market during 2020. Even in these troubled times, homes that are correctly priced, are selling. Expectations of capital growth over the last two years need to be tempered, because this is the current expectation from buyers, which is also supported by the empirical data, including the consumer price index and business confidence levels. In conclusion, we would expect the residential property market to become more active in 2020, however growth expectations are still low, meaning that sellers need to adjust their selling prices expectations downwards. Always remember that estate agents are generally not valuers of property but rather provide an estimate of an approximate selling price for your home, based on current market con-

Strong administrative and organisational skills Fluency in English and Afrikaans Computer literacy Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Previous experience in a similar position will be advantageous.

Please call today 061 752 1423 or email us at wcbc2020@gmail.com

Please forward your CV to The Manager, Hermanus Golf Club, Main Road, Hermanus E-mail: manager@hgc.co.za Closing Date: 4 January 2020

As this will be my final column for the year, allow me to express my thanks to the readers (both hard copy and online) of this newspaper for their input and interaction. I have at times expressed opinions which may be contrary to some of the readers’ own opinions, but that is the beauty of our country. We still have the right to discuss matters, to say what we believe is wrong, to help to make things right and to implore our chosen leaders to act with care and consideration of what their actions will mean for future generations of South Africans. Have a wonderful festive season, and wherever you travel, do so with care, and welcome 2020 with a breath of fresh air and positivity.

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ditions. Saying this differently, in the stock of available homes for sale, what price will ensure that your home has a chance to be listed as a registered sale in a few months’ time? Buyers normally look at more than one property before they decide on their next home. The correctly-priced property is likely to win more times than not.

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24 December 2019

9 Mitchell Street, Hermanus 086 188 8987 janet@sterlingwealth.co.za www.sterlingprivatewealth.co.za

Financial Matters

Rise of the machines asked Siri to remind me to take the mince out the deep freeze at 7:30am tomorrow. We’re having bobotie for dinner tonight.

By Janet Hugo CFP Director – Sterling Private Clients

have just returned from Australia, where I was invited to be a keynote speaker at an international financial planning congress. One of the presentations focused on how computers will replace much of the investment and calculation work we do for our clients. Apparently, as humans we get in the way of better investment outcomes. The Turing test, developed by Alan Turing in 1950, is a test of a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behaviour equivalent to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human. Nearly 70 years after Turing’s ground-breaking work on artificial intelligence, it’s clear that machines can think – at least to a certain extent. Take Apple’s Siri, for instance. It is much more than a convenient tool, it’s a very real application of artificial intelligence (AI) that is increasingly integral to our daily life. Last night I even

Machine learning is the application of AI where machines are given access to data and then can learn from it, rather than needing to be programmed by humans as to what to think about and do with the data. Every time Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant make a mistake when responding to your request, it uses the data it receives based on how it responded to the original query, to improve the next time. If an error was made, it takes that data and learns from it. If the response was favourable, the system notes that as well. But let’s bring this back to your investments. The analysis of investment opportunities has been the domain of fund managers for decades. Over time, developments in spreadsheets (e.g. Microsoft Excel), information databases and analysis tools (e.g. Morningstar) have certainly helped to process more information in a smarter way. But machine learning allows comput-

ers to learn on their own, independent of any boundaries, principles and constraints set by humans. It may sound like science fiction, but it’s very real and being implemented by hundreds of investment firms around the world. AI techniques can augment human intelligence to enable investment professionals to reach a higher level of performance, freeing them from routine tasks and enabling smarter decision making that leverages the collective intelligence of machines and humans. Successful investment firms of the future will be those that plan on incorporating AI, machine learning and big data techniques into their investment processes. There is much research that shows how sticking to an investment strategy will out-perform in the long run. The machines are not taking over (yet), but they may help us focus on sticking with the strategy while avoiding the emotional ups and downs that come with the market. Think back to all the uncertainty we felt this time last year when many investors felt more comfortable sticking

with money in the bank which gave 7.3%. Multi-asset portfolios enjoyed a better year as high equity portfolios (on average) delivered 9.1% to investors, at least 5% ahead of the annual inflation number. The mean conservative (low equity) portfolio ended the 12 months to end November 8.8% higher (net of fees). In both instances, the returns on these types of portfolios beat the performance of cash. Having said that, the resilience of the consumer sector bodes well for the economic outlook of the United States. Research indicates that the downturn in manufacturing to gradually unwinding. Which should be supportive of investment returns in global growth assets (equities and property) over the medium term. Current dividend yields on equities remain compelling compared with the extraordinarily low yields available on long-term government bonds. Returns from dividends for most markets will exceed those from bonds, and will provide the majority of total equity returns over the next decade. Valuations indicate that emerging market equities look particularly

attractive. The US-China tariff war, however, seems to hinder an unlocking of this value and it’s unlikely that emerging markets will outperform their developed more counterparts before uncertainty about a possible trade deal subsides. Patient investors would, however, do well to consider their investment options in emerging markets as current levels provide a very attractive entry point. Discerning allocations to equities and bonds in developing markets may yet prove to have been a smart move when assessed at the end of the next decade. I wish you a blessed Christmas and I trust that 2020 will bring you and your loved ones a much better decade (for your investments too). The future is here. Janet Hugo CFP® - was awarded the Financial Planning Institute’s Financial Planner of the Year award in 2019. This award recognises excellence in all areas of financial planning and wealth management. She can be reached at 0861 888 987.

Services

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08:30 Ken Jackson 10:00 James Gray 09:45 Lighthouse Kids will be looked after in the Lighthouse

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028 312 2717 | www.uchermanus.com Corner of Lord Roberts Road and Royal Street, HERMANUS

Thank you to all our clients for your wonderful support this year. Wishing you a great 2020 ahead!

Amelia van der Merwe

In-depth experience of current market complexities Solutions based expertise Longstanding reputation of excellence Free Valuations Respected Top Agent National Award Winner 20 years selling Real Estate NQF5 (Master Practitioner)

082 441 9874 | amelia@greeff.co.za

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Catherine Lamb 079 523 5224 Bedrooms: 1 | Baths: 1 | Parking: 2

Bedrooms: 5 | Baths: 5 | Parking: 6

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R5 900 000 Northcliff

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24 December 2019

FinGlobal Fun Run popular as ever T he FinGlobal Onrus 10 km and 6 km Fun Run, which started and ended at The Milkwood Restaurant on 21 December, was once again a huge success with over 700 people participating.

FinGlobal Onrus 10 km results

MEN'S OPEN: 1 - Danzel Paulse, 2 - Alantino Belillie, 3 - Barry-John Pienaar MEN'S 40 – 49: 1 - Jimmy Bonjesi, 2 - Christo Dowry, 3 - Jasper Cloete MEN'S 50 – 59: 1 - Japie Swanepoel, 2 - Marius Nel, 3 - Henry van der Watt MEN'S 60 – 69: 1 - Frank Gillion, 2 - William Snyders, 3 - Okkie Brand MEN'S 70+: 1 - Jan Roos, 2 - Schalk Hoon, 3 - Johann Kotze JUNIOR MEN'S 16 – 19: 1 - Gavin Oerson, 2 - Donovan Brink, 3 - Slaano Erasmus WINNING MEN'S TEAM: Sanlam AC

The run is hosted by the Whalers Athletic Club in Hermanus, which was established in 1996. The route has changed slightly over the years but has always been held in Onrus. The 6 km route was a fun run and the 10 km route was organised in accordance with the rules of Athletics South Africa and Boland Athletics, making it an official race. The route record for the 10 km is held by Owen McHelm (male, 29 minutes and 36 seconds) and Elana Meyer (female, 35 minutes and 24 seconds).

ABOVE: The 6 km runners get ready to start their race through Onrus at 07:15 from The Milkwood Restaurant.

The first 300 runners in the 6 km race received finishers’ medals. The first three men and women in the 10 km received gold, the top 50 received silver and the rest received bronze. There were also cash prizes for runners in this group.

LADIES' OPEN: 1 - Marisa van der Merwe, 2 - Chantell Breytenbach, 3 - Sharon Sunderland LADIES' 40 – 49: 1 - Sharon Sunderland, 2 - Annmarie Steyn, 3 - Joritha Kruger LADIES' 50 – 59: 1 - Michelle van der Watt, 2 - Tessie Bosman, 3 - Ester Brink LADIES' 60 – 69: 1 - Helen du Plessis, 2 - Lesley Peck, 3 - Annalene Botha LADIES' 70+: 1 - Veronica van Niekerk, 2 - Elsabé Kotze, 3 - Arlene Ehrenberg JUNIOR LADIES' 16 – 19: 1 - Chanté Roux, 2 - Lynne Swingler, 3 - Lorita Fourie WINNING WOMEN'S TEAM: Whalers AC

LEFT: Physical trainer, Adam McConnel with his 7-year-old son Harry and their 6 km fun run medals. BELOW: The winning woman of the 10 km run, Marisa van der Merwe.

The Whalers Athletic Club would like to thank their main sponsor, FinGlobal, for their continued support each year, as well as Coca-Cola and Oasis Water Hermanus. Jimmy Bonjesi (left) came first in the Men's Over 40 in the 10 km run. He can often be seen at the parkrun on Saturday mornings.

For all of the results from this event visit www.whalersac.co.za.

Friends Kayla Smith and Lea Boshoff, who will be in Grade 7 at Hermanus Primary School next year, after the 6 km fun run.

ABOVE: Both dogs and runners enjoyed the beautiful route. Cold Coca-Cola and water awaited them at the finish line. PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer

ABOVE and LEFT: Runners were all smiles upon reaching the finish line where family and friends were cheering them on.

OVERSTRAND MUNISIPALITEIT VERHURING VAN MUNISIPALE EIENDOM, ERF 2820 SANDBAAI

OVERSTRAND MUNICIPALITY LEASE OF MUNICIPAL PROPERTY, ERF 2820 SANDBAAI

UMASIPALA WASEOVERSTRAND UKUQESHWA KWEPROPATI KAMASIPALA, ISIZA 2820 E-SANDBAAI

Kennis geskied hiermee dat die Raad ŉ aansoek ontvang het vir die hernuwing van ‘n huur van munisipale eiendom, synde Erf 2820 Sandbaai, geleë in Jimmy Smithstraat, Sandbaai ingevolge die Raad se Beleid op die Administrasie van Onroerende Eiendom, 2015.

Notice is hereby given that Council received an application for the renewal of the lease of municipal property, being Erf 2820 Sandbaai, situated in Jimmy Smith Street, Sandbaai in terms of Council’s Administration of Immovable Property Policy, 2015.

Kukhutshwa esi saziso sokuba iBhunga lifumene isicelo sokuhlaziywa kwesicelo sokuqeshwa kwepropati kaMasipala, Isiza 2820 e-Sandbaai, esise Jimmy Smith Street, e-Sandbaai, ngokungqinelana nomGaqo-nkqubo weBhunga ongoLawulo lweePropati ezingenakuSuswa ka-2015.

Aansoeker: Ligging: Doel: Huurtermyn: Grootte:

Applicant: Locality: Purpose: Lease period: Size:

Umceli: Sandbaai Hall Management Committee Ingingqi Jimmy Smith Street, Sandbaai Injongo: Managing the Community Hall Isithuba senqgesho: Iminyaka eyi 9 nenyanga ezi 11 Ubungakanani: 8,912m²

Sandbaaisaal Bestuurskomittee Jimmy Smithstraat, Sandbaai Bestuur van die Gemeenskapsaal 9 Jaar en 11 Maande 8,912m²

Sandbaai Hall Management Committee Jimmy Smith Street, Sandbaai Managing the Community Hall 9 Years and 11 Months 8,912m²

The application can be viewed during normal office hours by appointment at the Property Administration Offices, c/o Molteno and Viljoen Street, Onrustrivier. Enquiries must be directed to Ms Willmary Murtz, (028) 316 -3724/ wmurtz@overstrand.gov.za.

Isicelo singabonwa ngamaxesha okusebenza aqhelekileyo ngokuthi wenze idinga neOfisi yoLawulo lweePropati, ekwikona yeziTalato iMolteno neViljoen, eOnrustriver. Imibuzo mayijoliswe kuNkszn. Willamry Murtz, kwezi nombolo zomnxeba, (028) 316-3724 okanye kule dilesi yeimeyili – wmurtz@overstrand.gov.za.

Any objections against the proposed lease must be properly motivated in writing and be lodged at the undersigned by no later than 24 January 2020.

Indien ŉ persoon nie kan lees of skryf nie, kan so ŉ persoon sy/haar beswaar/kommentaar mondelings by die Munisipale Kantore, Hermanus, aflê waar ŉ personeellid sal help om dit op skrif te stel.

Nayiphi na inkcaso ekhaba oku kuqeshwa kundululwayo kumele izathuzwe ngokufanelekileyo ngokubhaliweyo kwaye ingeniswe kulowo utyikitye apha ngezantsi ungadlulanga umhla we 24 Janyuwari 2019.

Persons who are unable to read or write can submit their objection/comments verbally at the Municipal Offices, Hermanus, where they will be assisted by a staff member to put it in writing.

Abantu abangakwazi ukufunda okanye ukubhala banganenisa inkcaso okanye izihlomlo zabo ngomlomo kwiiOfisi zikaMasipala, eKleinmond, apho bayakuncedwa ukubhala oko lilungu elingumsebenzi.

Kennisgewing Nr 183/2019 Munisipale Kantore HERMANUS, 7200 Datum: 24 Desember 2019 The Village News

Notice No 183/2019 Municipal Offices HERMANUS, 7200 Date: 24 December 2019 The Village News

Inombolo yeSaziso 183/2019 iiOfisi kaMasipala HERMANUS, 7200 Umhla: 24 Desemba 2019 The Village News

Die aansoek is gedurende normale kantoorure per afspraak ter insae by die Eiendomsadministrasie kantore, h/v Molteno en Viljoenstraat, Onrustrivier. Navrae moet gerig word aan Me Willmary Murtz, (028) 316 - 3724/ wmurtz@overstrand.gov.za. Enige beswaar teen die voorgestelde verhuring moet behoorlik gemotiveerd en skriftelik wees en die ondergetekende voor of op 24 Januarie 2020 bereik.

CC GROENEWALD MUNISIPALE BESTUURDER

CC GROENEWALD MUNICIPAL MANAGER

CC GROENEWALD UMPHATHI KAMASPALA

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24 December 2019

MY ESPORT

Locals make their mark in South African eSports Writer & Photographer Taylum Meyer

nite tournament in South Africa thus far, hosted by Maverick LAN Gaming.

The tournament was open to learners from all South African schools and the top 20 players from each of the four qualifying rounds were invited to the tournament final in Sandton on 7 December. Among them were 17-year-old James Coombe from Hermanus High, 15-year-old Kai van der Riet and 13-year-old Spencer Nicholas, both from Generation Schools Hermanus.

nline gaming is not only a popular pastime for youngsters but has become an increasingly competitive – and lucrative – eSport. The inaugural Fortnite World Cup that was held in New York in July this year, for example, had a prize pool of a cool $30 million – the biggest in eSporting history. The winner, a 16-year-old from Pennsylvania, USA, took home the top prize of $3 million. Here in Hermanus, three teenagers who only started playing competitively this year, recently proved their gaming mettle by making it to the finals in several big tournaments. The first one was the Fortnite National Online School Cup, the biggest Fort-

The final consisted of five games and the points accumulated over the five games made up their final score and determined their placements. All three boys managed to grab a spot in the top 50 at the finals, with Spencer placing the highest out of the three at 24th. The winner of this

tournament received R25 000, plus a further R25 000 for his or her school, or charity of choice. James, who will be in matric next year, has been playing Fortnite since October 2018 and was recruited by ATK Arena in June of this year for their Fortnite eSports team. ATK Arena has dedicated players and teams in various online games and is passionate about growing eSports in South Africa. James hopes to make a career out of gaming and would like to play internationally. Kai and Spencer both say that for now gaming is just a hobby. After coming back from the school cup final in Sandton on 7 December, Kai and Spencer went straight into another Fortnite tournament in Cape Town called the ATK Fortnite Holiday LAN Cup. They took part in two of the tournament’s qualifiers where they both did extremely well and secured cash prizes. The results were as follows: U20 Solo Qualifier (12 Dec) – Kai 2nd and Spencer 3rd; U14 Solo Qualifier (19 Dec) – Kai 1st and Spencer 2nd (Kai was still 14 at the time). Both will attend the tournament’s final which will take place on 9 January in Cape Town, where the winner will be taking home R5 000. ATK Arena Kai van der Riet, James Coombe and Spencer Nicholas.

WE MANUFACTURE

also hosted a duos tournament on 17 December. James and his partner Tristan van der Walt placed 4th and Kai and Spencer came 5th. James, Kai and Spencer would like to thank their parents for their continued support over this past year. Their parents say that although the gaming can be a distraction, the boys' school performance hasn't been affected and they fully support and encourage their boys in their eSports interests. James would also like to thank ATK Arena (www.atkarena.com), and especially Managing Director Warren Barkhuizen for sponsoring him and for helping him to grow his online reputation and presence, both essential for a career in eSports. We wish James the best of luck for the last qualifier of the ATK Fortnite LAN Cup on 7 January, the Open Solos. Good luck to Kai and Spencer for the final on 9 January. We look forward to hearing your results!

DECKING • SKIRTING • CEILINGS

028 313 2183

For those readers who are unfamiliar with the online game, Fortnite, it is fast becoming one of the most played games on the planet. Released in 2017 by Epic Games, the game consists of three modes: Fortnite: Save the World; Fortnite: Battle Royale and Fortnite: Creative. The most popular one, Fortnite: Battle Royale has, as of March this year, accumulated more than 250 million players. In the game, 100 players are airdropped from the ‘Battle Bus’ over the game’s map. Players glide down to the ground where they must hunt for weapons and resources with the aim of being the last player (or team) standing. What makes it even more challenging is the fact that the ‘safe’ area of the map shrinks due to an incoming storm. Players are forced to fight one another in an area that gets steadily smaller and smaller, and anyone caught in the storm quickly loses health points which are vital to stay alive in the game.

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R20 000 000 FINE & COUNTRY FEATURE SANDBAAI, HERMANUS, WESTERN CAPE

Exclusive upmarket lifestyle on the beach. Hugging the golden sands of Onrus Beach, this superlative home affords you the pleasures of watching the whales frolicking yearround from your patio, or the dolphins rehearsing their repertoires, magical sunrises and sunsets, Fynbos and grass terraces. This exceptional home offers a spacious open-plan living room with a built-in pizza oven, barbeque oven, built-in braai and a built-in bar with a counter made of old French oak. The open-plan dining room and gourmet kitchen, including a large breakfast nook, ideal for large family get-togethers. The ground floor also accommodates two bedrooms, one en-suite and the second with a full guest bathroom. All the bathrooms have underfloor heating and heated towel rails. The first floor offers an expansive living area with a kitchenette leading out onto a balcony. Three large bedrooms, two of which are en-suite and sea-facing, lead out onto balconies where stunning scenic vistas can be enjoyed. Enjoy an outdoor lifestyle from your verandah which overlooks the immaculate garden and grass terraces at the edge of the sea. This home is the sum of more than just its parts and words simply cannot accurately capture its magnificence. This is a case where seeing truly is believing. Jenny Küsel 083 262 7578 Stephen De Stadler 082 441 0120 WEB: 1426150

WESTCLIFF

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R13 000 000

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WAKE TO THE SOUND OF CRASHING WAVES.

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Prime position. Spectacular heritage home offers stunning sea views. Generously sized country kitchen, barbeque room and veranda complete the picture. Ideal to be run as a B&B with added managers housing.

This stunning vacant stand, one of the last seafront plots now on the market in the Western part of Sandbaai is ±1208sqm and ideally situated in the place to design and build your dream family or holiday home with magniﬁcent sea and mountain views.

Jenny Küsel 083 262 7578 Stephen De Stadler 082 441 0120

Hermanus Ofﬁce 16 Hope Street, Hermanus, 7200 + 27 (0)21 205 7135 hermanus@ﬁneandcountry.com

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Park Lane Ofﬁce 119/121 Park Lane, London, W1 +44 (0)207 079 1515 admin@ﬁneandcountry.com

WEB: 1381698

Regionally 20 offices throughout Western Cape Nationally 50 offices across South Africa Internationally Over 300 offices globally

The Village NEWS 24 Dec - 15 Jan 2019

Articles inside

Locals make their mark in South African eSports

Rise of the machines

That’s all for 2019, folks

FinGlobal Fun Run popular as ever

Getting to the heart of the matter

Meet me at the market

The Christmas Bug – nature’s magnificent flying machine

Overberg fires under control