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www.thevillagenews.co.za
24 February 2021
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TOTAL CASES AS OF 22 FEB 2021:
OVERSTRAND CASES: 19 FEB TOTAL (ACTIVE)
WORLD: 112 072 399 SOUTH AFRICA: 1 503 796 WESTERN CAPE: 274 046 (18.22% of cases in SA) OVERBERG: N/A
• FISHERHAVEN: 44 (3) • GANSBAAI: 182 (3) • HAWSTON: 440 (8) • HERMANUS: 716 (10) • KLEINMOND: 671 (11)
• MT PLEASANT: 355 (11) • ONRUS: 204 (7) • SANDBAAI: 215 (2) • STANFORD: 377 (3) • VERMONT: 91 (2) • ZWELIHLE: 1 081 (9) TOTAL: 4 973 (68)
LAST WEEK'S TOTAL CASES:
(15 FEB)
WORLD: 109 505 562 SOUTH AFRICA: 1 491 807 (15th in the world) WESTERN CAPE: 272 302 OVERBERG: 13 121 (459 deaths) OVERSTRAND: 4 947 (137 deaths)
LET'S TALK
Unbroken Cliff Path will enhance Hermanus I must react to the full-page ‘Save our Shores’ advertorial on page 10 of your 10 February edition regarding the Cliff Path Action Group’s (CPAG) proposed Cliff Path extension at Poole's Bay. There are numerous incorrect facts as set out in the 14 points under the headline: Stop the unnecessary destruction. I will deal with those points made in the same order. Firstly, this area is not an exclusively Critically Endangered Ecosystem – the rest of Walker Bay is classified as such, also where we swim on the beaches and walk our dogs. lt is no different to any other rocky parts anywhere along the Hermanus coastline. 1. The reasons why the Cliff Path has not been continued along this particular stretch of coast years ago are because of the cost, the legality and the homeowners of properties bordering the proposed path – and
not because of “endangering users of such a proposed path”. 2. While I agree with the sentiments in this paragraph, it has little or nothing to do with the desirability or not of the proposed path. 3. Survey work had to be done to align the proposed new path. It was done with absolutely minimal disturbance, leaving no scars. 4. This is clearly incorrect. High Water Mark is not "below the median sea level". Mean Sea Level (MSL) – please note the correct wording – is way below the High Water Mark (HWM). The lntertidal Zone is way below the High Water Mark and will be only slightly affected intermittently when the sea reaches its highest point. 5. The "profound degradation of concrete" referred to in this paragraph is nonsense. All the harbours in the world are built of concrete,
with the sea thundering against the structures. A properly engineered structure with quality concrete will have a maintenance-free life span of 50 years or more. 6. The structures have been carefully considered, with input from world-renowned engineers. The new path will in turn become famous, just as 'The Snake’ in Kirstenbosch Gardens has become world famous. 7. This is correct – there will be elevated walkways and buttresses. The walk will be spectacular, an enhancement to Hermanus as a special place. Everybody will want to walk from the town all the way to Grotto. 8. Great consideration is being brought to bear on the environment. Read the scoping report before making wild claims of "scant consideration…" 9. Refer to point 5 above. lt is irre-
sponsible to make assertions that it will be "severely damaged, if not destroyed, by wave action along the Hermanus coast". Please explain why the Old Harbour is still there after 100 years and the New Harbour requires no maintenance after about 40 years? 10. The cost is funded by the IAP's. The cost of R20 million is way over the estimate. The CPAG undertakes to guarantee the availability of funds before the project commences and won’t demand municipal funding for the project. 11. The project will take less than a year. There will be no concrete batching on site and the concrete will be delivered already batched. Great care will be taken at the two working areas at either end of the walkway in clearly marked and defined areas. 12. This statement is seriously misleading. Great effort is being spent
assessing the environment and the impact of the proposed pathway. Scientific studies by experts in their field concluded that there are no significant warning signs from a historical or avian point of view to prevent construction of a path. 13. On walking the whole route this author rapidly came to the conclusion that the ‘Save our Shores’ (SOS) lobby is alarmist. There were no signs of the creatures listed by SOS. 14. The bird island will not be disturbed. Witness the birdlife on Voëlklip lsland with swimmers and surfers all around them. ln conclusion it must be pointed out that in my opinion the SOS lobby has made a poor submission, which in many instances is actually incorrect. Pat Hart Pr Eng, Pr CM, BSc (Civ Eng), MICE, PE (Nam)
Michael Welchman: No ordinary man 8 September 1920 – 5 February 2021 Dr Michael Welchman passed away on Friday 5 February at Kidbrooke Place, five months after celebrating his 100th birthday. He was no ordinary man.
when he was a second-year medical student at Wits. In 1940 he joined the SAAF and obtained his wings a year later, flying Hurricanes and Tomahawks.
He was an adored husband, father and grandfather, a radiologist of note, overseeing the first scanner EMI brought to South Africa, a South African Air Force pilot during WWII – a period in his life he never tired talking about – and, post-retirement, a successful artist.
Subsequently sent to North Africa, he was posted to No 40 Squadron. As a reconnaissance pilot Michael flew operational sorties in extremely dangerous situations. Squadron members had to fly unescorted single or double aircraft missions over enemy concentrations to gather photographic and tactical information.
Michael was born and raised in Johannesburg. His father had been a surgeon and he decided to follow in his footsteps. WWII broke out
After the war, Michael completed his medical studies. He joined the colonial service and was posted to Ugan-
da – a country the Welchmans grew to love. It was there that Michael had the opportunity to work with lepers. He travelled to the UK intermittently to study tropical medicine and then to specialise in radiology. On leaving Uganda, Michael accepted a position at King Edward Hospital and later at Addington Hospital in Durban. Michael and his beautiful Betty fell in love more than 70 years ago. He was holidaying with his varsity friend, Bob Rogers (later Chief of the SAAF), at Scottburgh when he saw her for the very first time and fell in love. Betty also had a passion for flying. In the
1930s, while still a teenager in Johannesburg, she saved all her pocket money to take flying lessons. The couple married at St Peter’s Church in Hermanus and had links with the town for many years as Betty’s parents lived here. A strange coincidence was that her parents’ home in Contour Street, Fernkloof was next door to the grandparents of another war-time RAF pilot, Roger Bushel. Bushel organised and led an escape from Stalag Luft III, a German prisoner of war camp, where he had been incarcerated. The film The Great Escape was based on that escape. Michael and Betty retired to Her-
manus when Michael was 65. He is survived by Betty, three children, Jenty Young and Richard Welchman (who now live in the UK) and Rowena Spence (in Australia), eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. – Nelly Roodt
