NEWS NEWS
Village
The
26 September 2018
Cape Whale Coast
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FCJ Independent Newspaper of the Year
Weltevrede Farm near Stanford is not only home to Stanford Hills wines but also species of Protea and Leucospermum (pincushion) that are in full bloom between August and December. These stunning flowers are hand-picked on the farm for export to various markets, including Holland Germany and Switzerland. PHOTO: Reinette Rathbone
All at the ready for Whale Festival De Waal Steyn & Raphael da Silva
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ollowing one of the best trading weekends this year, Hermanus is readying itself to host the 27th annual Whale Festival from 28 to 30 September - and this year the Hermanus community has united to demonstrate its commitment to positive change and understanding. “The Hermanus Whale Festival has shown its commitment by taking hands with all communities in keeping all
casual jobs local, employing more than 50 extra local workers and awarding over 65% of all stalls to local entrepreneurs, including our local marine partners,” said Jeanette du Toit, Chair of the Whale Festival Committee. “A successful Whale Festival, in which there is participation by all citizens of the town will not only demonstrate that Hermanus is a caring community committed to change but will also send the right message ahead of the summer season that our town is open for business and welcoming visitors,” she said.
Various organisations and role players have worked tirelessly to ensure that the planned activities are successful, positive and inclusive. On Tuesday morning role players met with the South African Police Services to discuss the security at the festival. SAPS Cluster Commander for the Overberg, Brig Donovan Heilbron, said that all contingency and operational plans are in place and the security services are ready to ensure a safe festival. “We are ready and looking forward to a great festival that people can come and enjoy with their families,” he said.
Gcobani Ndzongana, the leader of Zwelihle Renewal, said in a statement they have met with representatives of the business community and the Deputy Mayor, Elnora Gillion and that all parties found common ground based on the need for greater inclusivity to ensure prosperity for all communities in our region. “We all agreed after serious engagement that the Whale Festival must be the stepping stone to the building of a new inclusive Hermanus and that the community of Zwelihle must take part in the festival through representation with stalls and performances
that showcase its talent during the world’s biggest eco-environmental festival in Hermanus. We also agreed that moving forward we will continue working together and engaging with all relevant stake holders to discuss and find solutions to the unresolved issues.” Gideon Serfontein, spokesperson of the Hermanus Business Chamber, said the Chamber commends the Whale Festival Committee, under the leadership of Jeanette du Toit, for all their hard work in organising this event in what have been challenging circumstances. Continues on P 3
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Whale Festival shines spotlight on local talent
estivalgoers will be introduced to new voices, faces and wares at this year’s Whale Festival. Among them are talented local entertainers who will be performing at the Whale Festival Old Harbour Music Series and two local entrepreneurs who will be selling their highly original creations. Spiwo Mlanjana, known as Spairo Entertainment, is a self-taught poet, writer, director, and dancer. Born in Thembisa, Spiwo moved to Hermanus in 1993 when the family that employed his mother as a housekeeper relocated. After completing matric in Zwelihle, Spiwo started online studies in marketing but had to stop last year after contracting TB and meningitis. Describing his work as “healing poems” for those “who need a shoulder to cry on”, he said, “I believe that poetry is the voice of the voiceless voices.” Spiwo will be supported at the Whale Festival by Arhenkosi Dimaza (Nickey Dee), a vocalist and Sipho Qashani (Msyffos), a poet. Both live in Paarl where they have studied at the Sommelier Academy. Both are dreaming of success in the entertainment industry but realise the importance of having a “day job”. Lindokuhle Cwele, under the mentorship of wellknown and always fashionably dressed Hermanus resident Fikiswa Gxamesi, is a colourful 24-year-old local who is well known in the community for his outrageous designs which he is often seen wearing. Under the Leendo label, he will be selling a range of unique T-shirts. These will be completed by Gxamesi’s range of fashion accessories.
The Spairo Entertainment Team, one of the numerous acts for the Whale Festival Old Harbour Music Series. From left are Sipho Qashani (Msyffos), Arhenkosi Dimaza (Nickey Dee) and Spiwo Mlanjana (Spairo). Lindokuhle, originally from Queenstown, came to Hermanus in 2000 when his father got a job working with horses in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Referring to his stand-out approach to dressing and people’s reactions, Lindokuhle said, “Since I am a fashion designer, I wear the stuff I design. It’s like they are watching a whale! They say, ‘Wow’ and they ask questions. People are very accepting – it’s a free zone for art here.” Prudence Bhema, originally from Zimbabwe,
has been in Hermanus for 10 years now. When she first arrived, she worked at a guest house for some years until she had saved enough money to buy a sewing machine five years ago. She designs her own clothes but is also able to copy designs if asked. Her clothes, which she describes as African contemporary, are sold at a local Zwelihle outlet, Rasta Shop. “I love this town,” she said, “but only these last few months, it has been difficult.” - Raphael da Silva
Heritage long weekend boom for region From P 3
support their families.”
“As a representative of Hermanus businesses, the Chamber acknowledges the commitment of the Whale Festival to use this event as an important milestone to repair the image of Hermanus, not only within the local community but across the country and globally,” said Gideon.
Thousands of visitors flocked to our region over the Heritage Day long weekend to enjoy spectacular displays of lobtailing and breaching by the hundreds of whales in the bay. Rough seas driven by the spring equinox, a full moon and an offshore storm resulted in huge swells breaking thunderously onto the cliffs, to the delight of the crowds.
Whale Coast Tourism Manager Frieda Lloyd said all the towns in the area were filled with visitors from mainly Cape Town, who took a break before the start of the school holidays at the end of the week.
Business owners in the region said trade during the long weekend far exceeded their expectations and several shops and restaurants had to scurry to buy extra stock to keep clients happy. The annual Flower Festival in Fernkloof had a record number of visitors and
“There were thousands of happy visitors in all our towns and at times the traffic volume was almost similar to what we experience during the festive season in December. We were blessed with good weather and that played a big part in the successful weekend we had.”
“While the estimated R400 million in economic losses to date as a result of the unrest will never be recovered, kick-starting the 2018 holiday season on a positive note will ensure that thousands of residents, particularly in the service, hospitality, tourism and construction sectors, will continue to have jobs and be able to
the Heritage Day Celebrations in Zwelihle as well as the Unity Festival in Mount Pleasant drew thousands of visitors. Read more on Pages 6 and 19.
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26 September 2018
A bumper Southern Right season Tweet Gainsborough-Waring
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018 will surely go down in the annals of Hermanus as one of the best whalewatching years ever.
The Southern Right whales are winter visitors to our shores, arriving around July (sometimes earlier) with numbers diminishing toward the end of October. They are different to the Brydes whales, which are year-round residents, in that they come to Walker Bay to calve and mate. In the previous two years the numbers of these gentle giants seen in the bay were disappointing to locals and visitors alike. This year, however, has seen a baby bonanza. A preliminary whale count survey is done annually in the first week of September by the Whale Unit of the University of Pretoria’s Mammal Research Institute. This year the total number counted between Hawston and Witsand (at mouth of Breede River) was 1 347, made up of 661 cow/calf pairs and 25 unaccompanied adults – almost triple the number of last year’s count, as reported by Dr Els Vermeulen, research manager at the Whale Unit. Marine Conservation photographer Jean Tresfon explains the poor whale count in 2017 and 2016 by pointing out that the whales come to Walker Bay to mate and give birth. The gestation period is 12 months, so in theory those that mate this year should return next year to give birth. Then there is usually a break when the whales do not migrate before the cycle starts again. Generally, a single offspring is produced every 3 – 4 years. However scientists now think that something is disrupting the calving cycle and it has been extended to 5 years, with the whales staying away for longer periods in between. Tresfon says that with a record number of calves this year, and not many mating groups, it was unlikely that next year would be so fruitful. But enough of the figures. These magnificent mammals clearly enjoy Walker Bay and its varied coastline. You will often see them lazing just behind the breakers, off the white sandy beaches. It is as if they love the gentle wash of the water over their ample backs. This year it has not been uncommon to see at least three mother and calf pairs off Grotto beach. The 14 metre plus cows with large callosities on their heads, are a bit like a mother ship just hanging about to keep check on the calves. Every so often they will dive, coming up to exhale a V-
A Southern Right cow with her calf attempting a breach off Sievers Point. shaped spout of water from the two blow holes on their head. This V-shaped blow is one of the distinguishing characteristics of the Southern Right. It’s not unusual to find whale watchers out before 8 am with coffee, rusks and a blanket to see the leviathans at play. Early morning often sees them in close, the cows taking the calves into rocky coves where they tangle with the kelp, popping out of the water with strands of seaweed over their heads. It is thought that they enjoy the feeling of the strands rubbing across their backs. The most spectacular behaviour is that of breaching, when virtually the entire whale rises out of the water in an exuberant leap. Adults can be seen doing this a little further out in the bay
where the water is deeper, but the calves will give it a go in the shallower waters under mother’s watchful eye. The calves also enjoy tail lobbing and it is lovely to see their shining black, unblemished tails emerge from the water, only to slap down in a flurry of foam. The Hermanus Cliff Path has been alive with tourists, locals and international film crews, everyone smiling from ear to ear at the whales’ antics. It’s easy to find a sheltered place on the rocks from which to take unlimited pictures of nature’s circus. And it’s not unusual to hear onlookers remark, “Everywhere I looked something was happening.” Among the best places to view the whales from along the Cliff Path are Gearing’s Point, Roman Rock, Die Gang and Sievers Punt. You can see
PHOTO: Tweet Gainsborough-Waring them throughout the day, but early morning and late afternoon seem to be the best times. The Southern Right whale is a baleen whale which feeds by filtering krill through the baleen plates hanging from its upper jaw. The big gnarly callosities on its head are roughened skin and are unique to each whale, a bit like a fingerprint. It got its name from being the “right” whale to hunt as it is a slow swimmer and once killed, its huge body floated, making it easy to tow back to the harbour for processing. Today numbers of Southern Right whales are on the increase since the banning of whale hunting off this coast in 1935. At that time the global population had been reduced from an estimated 70 000 – 80 000 individuals to a mere 60 reproductive females.
2018 Aerial Whale Survey gets underway The research team of the Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit of the University of Pretoria will commence their annual Southern Right whale photo-identification survey on 1 October. “Considering the huge number of whales we are seeing this year, it promises to be a busy field season. We are very excited to get started, especially after the low count of whales along our shores in the previous years,” says Els Vermeulen of the Whale Unit. “And don’t forget to wave if you see us flying over!” Having commenced in 1979, this is the 39th consecutive annual survey and the resulting
dataset is one of the longest running datasets on any marine mammal worldwide. As every year, this aerial survey will be flown between Nature’s Valley and Muizenberg, using an Airbus H120B helicopter, and should take two to three weeks to complete. “Identification and analysis allow for sighting histories of known individuals to be compiled and a subsequent investigation of individual movement and distribution patterns as well as the reproductive / calving histories of females,” says Els. “This data will then be used to further investigate the vital parameters of the population, including abundance estimation, popu-
lation growth rate, survival, calving intervals, and age at first parturition (age at when a female has her first calf), which allows researchers to accurately model the population demographic parameters over the long term.” In celebration of this year´s all-time record of whales along our shores, the Whale Unit has launched an adopt-a-whale programme, in which everyone can support whale research and conservation in South Africa by symbolically adopting a whale. All raised funds go integrally to cover the costs of their fieldwork. For more information, visit www.adoptawhale.co.za
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26 September 2018
Wild Abalone faces extinction due to extreme poaching Raphael da Silva
U
nless urgent steps are taken to protect abalone, the species faces extinction due to extreme poaching, says TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, in a report Empty Shells: An assessment of abalone poaching and trade from southern Africa, released last week. According to the report over the past 18 years, poachers have stripped South African coastal waters of at least 96 million abalone. “Efforts to curb the illegal trade have roundly failed. Once abundant, the population of South African abalone Haliotis midae is declining at unprecedented levels. On average 2 000 tonnes of abalone are bagged annually by poachers – 20 times the legal take – in an illicit industry estimated to be worth at least US$60 million (R628 million) a year.” The illegal abalone trade, the report says, is driven by sophisticated trans-national criminal networks and local gangs that exploit the “deeply entrenched socio-economic disparities in the Western Cape, bitterly contested fishing quotas, drugs, and gang violence”. TRAFFIC's Programme Co-ordinator, Markus Bürgener says: “Because of the involvement of organised crime, the apparent links to gangs in Cape Town, the links between the trade in abalone and the trade in drugs, there are also some clear negative socio-economic impacts associated with it. You have whole cohorts of
Dried abalone from South Africa for sale in Hong Kong. 90% of exports are destined for Hong Kong with 43% of the illegal harvest being exported through sub-Saharan nations. 98% of all dried abalone reaches Hong Kong by air. people along the coast that are involved, and their work experience is only within an illicit economy.” The only solution, TRAFFIC says, are stricter trade controls on South African abalone and a listing of the species on CITES1, the Convention that governs trade in endangered, threatened, and at-risk species. The report is accompanied by a full documentary that delves deep into the illegal abalone trade and its wider social context. This can be viewed on vimeo.com by searching Empty Shells. The abalone industry is one of the most important employers in the Overstrand. These companies farm abalone on their
premises but also legally buy abalone quotas from local fishermen in the area. Any resident who regularly walks along the coastline beaches and paths will have seen first-hand poachers who freely plunder our ocean’s resources without fear of being caught. That our community is seeing a rise in drug use, cocaine and tik, among young people in particular should not surprise us. Poaching and drugs are fuelling each other. In the end, beyond the criminal justice system, educating young people is really the only solution. The Village NEWS encourages local schools and parents to download the documentary video and to access the TRAFFIC website www.traffic.org/publications/reports/emptyshells/ for more information.
SILENT PROTEST DELIVERS A SUBTLE MESSAGE Hermien de Vos (left) of Betty’s Bay is the woman behind the anti-plastic exhibition at the Old Harbour Museum. For her, the plastic revolution began in 2009. “I don’t collect plastic,” she explains as she plucks an offensive example from the pavement. “I pick it up while I’m walking, swimming or surfing.” Hermien’s unique imagination ignited her creative talents and many large and small, emotionally-evocative shapes followed. “I need to express what I see,” she says, adding that her creativity couldn’t keep up with the plastic she accumulated. “My house was full of plastic figurines, so I was delighted when permission was granted for me to exhibit my work in the Old Harbour Museum.” Hermien is encouraged by the growing awareness of the threat of plastics to the environment but admits that she doesn’t have a solution. You’d be well advised to visit this sensitively-expressive exhibition, to be displayed for an indefinite period. PHOTO: Olivia Schaffer
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Hermanus communities jol together on Heritage Day Hermanus was treated to beautiful weather over the Heritage Day long weekend and the various events hosted in the area were well attended. Heritage Day on Monday 24 September saw an array of festivals that were enjoyed by locals and visitors alike, including two festival firsts for Hermanus: the Unity Festival at the Mt Pleasant Sports Ground hosted by the Overstrand Municipality and the Heritage Day Festival at the RDP Centre in Zwelihle, organised by the Youth Café, the Rondavel Cake Café, RDP Fourm and Spairo Entertainment. There was lots of laughter and goodwill, dancing and celebrating as everyone rejoiced in this proudly South African holiday while enjoying the live music performances, food and drink, children’s activities and more at both venues. PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer
Emcee Arhenkosi Dimaza (aka Nickey Dee) kept people entertained with his witty sense of humour at the Heritage Day Festival in Zwelihle on Monday.
Those that attended the Unity Festival couldn’t help but dance to the live music that played throughout the day. This included members of Protective Services such as Wongalethu Mapapa from the Fire Department who showed his dance moves off to the crowd.
Spectators were treated to a traditional dance performed by the Zamani Cultural Dance Group from Khayelitsha.
Archie Klaas (Deputy Executive Mayor at the Overberg District Municipality) got into the spirit of Heritage Day at the Unity Festival and beckoned people to join him and dance.
ABOVE: Fikiswa Gxamesi and William Ntebe of the Zwelihle Youth Café were dressed in African-inspired clothing and accessories for the festival, which doubled as a celebration of Fikiswa’s birthday.
There was much to keep the children entertained such as tug-of-war, sack races, bowls, croquet, jumping castles and more.
Adults were not the only ones who enjoyed the music – this pair of friends spontaneously started to ‘sokkie’ to the music. Here the young boy dips his partner before lifting her up and spinning her under his arm.
LEFT: Ten-year-old Anovuyo Bonani moved spectators with her expressive poem that she wrote for the festival in Zwelihle.
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Finding your path on pilgrimage adventure “Our hosts, and folk along the way, were encouraging, welcoming and friendly,” she says. “At no time did any of us feel threatened or uncomfortable – except, perhaps, while climbing over a fence!”
Olivia Schaffer
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hen not working in her capacity as circuit manager of Circuit 2 within the Overberg Education District, Wendy Colyn of Sandbaai can be found either working out with her personal trainer or stepping out along the Overberg mountains’ contour paths.
Wendy describes her experience as an “outward and inward spiritual journey”. The days start with each participant focussing on an inspirational intent and then walking in a group in noble silence, for two hours. Thereafter individuals are free to walk alone or with a fellow walker. The days end with reflecting – and sharing if participants so choose. Nothing is forced.
“I’m neither an athlete nor a natural walker,” admits Wendy who, in 2015 decided her life needed change. “Aware that I was solely responsible for the required transformation, I set my mind to finding the right path.” Bruce Chatwin’s book, The Songlines (Franklin Press), based on the importance of travel to knowledge and culture – and the essential relationship of ecology to culture – opened the way and Wendy decided she had to take a pilgrimage adventure. Synchronicity played its part when, at the same time, she was introduced to Indlela yoBuntu, an African pilgrimage trail from Grahamstown to Knysna (soon to be extended to Cape Town). “I worked hard to get fit and strong enough to manage the first leg of Indlela yoBuntu,” recalls Wendy. “It was a challenging feat – from Grahamstown to the Gamtoos Valley – and I realised the rigorous workouts were worth the effort when I managed the 240 km walk, comfortably. Ten of us covered 20 km to 33 km per day for 12 days.” After successfully finishing the first leg, Wendy later completed the second, 13-day leg from the Gamtoos Valley to Knysna, and recently – with Rhona Duncan, of Grahamstown, in support – led a group along the first leg. She admits that it was a “demanding” experience, yet stimulating enough for her to be thinking about next year’s pilgrimage. The walks take pilgrims through rivers, across farmlands, over farm gates, into natural bush and along paths less travelled. Nights could be in the comfort of a farmhouse or a church, and sometimes in a shed or a barn, courtesy of the farmer who provides dinner and breakfast. Wendy noted that, when spiritually fulfilled, the body needed little food.
ABOVE LEFT: Wendy Colyn in her WCED office in Hermanus. ABOVE RIGHT AND BELOW: Wendy with groups of hikers on the South African pilgrimage trail, Indlela yoBuntu, which stretches from Grahamstown to Knysna.
“This pilgrimage is physically demanding,” warns Wendy. “Injuries occur when participants are walking fit but not core strong. Holistic exercise is essential. And shoes, too, are very important. I have seen terrible foot damage.” After completing the journey, Wendy advises two to three days of home rest to process the experience. She explains that after the quiet, remote environment, coming back to a daily routine can be a shock. “I walked through my front gate and into my home which I had left a lifetime ago,” is how one pilgrim describes it. The first official group walk was in 2014, and on the Indlela yoBuntu website, its creator – George Euvrard, a professor at Rhodes University – writes: “It offers participants an opportunity to take time out and to journey more mindfully and more soulfully. It has its own character and cannot be all things to all people, but when Indlela and pilgrim find each other, something special happens.” Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who has retired to Onrus, supports this initiative. "What a wonderfully inspired and inspiring idea," he says. The dictionary describes a pilgrimage as a journey or search of moral or spiritual significance. Arguably, the most renowned of these is Spain’s Camino de Santiago. “I’m proudly South African so I choose to spend my cents at home,” concludes Wendy.
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Let’s Talk
THE
NEWS
to an east-west ribbon of land trapped between the sea, the lagoon and the mountain, all of which are being jealously guarded by environmentalists. This constriction causes significant infrastructure problems affecting traffic flow, water and sewerage reticulation and the dayto-day problems of reaching amenities like shops, schools etc. Everything is just getting further and further away and there is simply no room for more roads, or further infrastructure development.
Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za
Hermanus: quo vadis? On their way to Hermanus for their Christmas vacation, a family stopped over in a northern Karoo town. It turned out that their host at the B&B originally hailed from our idyllic town but when he had heard that Woolies was opening a store here he decided it was time to move. How prescient was that? Hermanus, once a quiet holiday haven, has over the last 25 years or so undergone a metamorphosis and now seems to be at odds with itself as its inhabitants wrestle with such problems as maintaining its charm on the one hand and on the other hand, addressing the needs of a new class of inhabitants who need shelter, water, sewerage, electricity and further facilities such as education and health services. So, how did this come about? It seems as if there was a confluence of events, the most notable of which was the so-called tourist boom and the influx of new inhabitants, partly but not entirely caused by that boom.
Worldwide, tourism has flourished and is seen as a boon. It is postindustrial, it does not actually have factories that produce goods and pollution, but it generates the infrastructure and, of course, jobs. It came to Hermanus and we are now blessed with a plethora of facilities and festivals (morning, noon and night) and, therefore also jobs, which in turn attracts more job seekers. Some of the influx of new inhabitants have been financially comfortable people migrating south: the swallows from Europe and the UK. These ‘inkommers’ have a real interest in the welfare of Hermanus because this is where their investments have been made. The other newcomers are folk desperate and destitute, released from the restrictions of influx control imposed under apartheid, and looking for that better life promised by politicians. While the first group could either afford a home here or go elsewhere, the second group had no option but to head for the then
Zwelihle where there was no room for them at the inn, not even a stable, and so they headed for the airfield, an open piece of land next door to it and totally devoid of services. This was probably the first illegal land invasion in the new South Africa and the local authority has been playing catchup ever since. So, how does one cater for the new arrivals? At first glance it seems relatively straight forward. One needs to know 1) what space is available for development to provide for basic human needs, and to do so one needs to know 2) how big the need is. A guestimate for all inhabitants in the Overstrand is over 100 000, and we still do not know what the size of the Zwelihle problem is. Now, as far as available space goes, geographically Hermanus is not suited for large-scale development. Towns usually develop from a central core, like the layers of an onion and if a town gets too big, nodes develop that attach to the town. But Hermanus is constricted
There is also a shortage of space for housing needs, causing property values to soar beyond the means of most people and especially those folk who need to escape from the Zwelihle ghetto; thousands of destitute folk who came here because even a casual job once or twice a week is far better than what they had before. So they will not and cannot go away and are entitled to stay put and remain our problem. But they are getting impatient and are being exploited by populists. Doling out 150 or so stands for the erection of shanties is not solving the problem. Do I hear someone muttering “expropriation without compensation”? Rage, which can and will destroy our carefully nurtured tourist industry, is brewing. That rage has already had an impact on the industry. For how much longer is central government going to keep the Public Order Policing (POP) unit here to quell the unrest? POP is a Band Aid plaster, not a solution.
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We need to find a solution that can address the apparently insurmountable problem of caring for our whole population within the natural constraints already referred to. An Indaba on the future AgriSA and Landbouweekblad recently organized an Indaba in Bela-Bela and brought individual farmers, farmers’ unions, including the African Farmers’ Unions as well as government together and the result was a wave of optimism because everyone went away understanding the wider picture and with new ideas re the issues of land redistribution. Hermanus has an asset that is almost invisible but priceless: potential. There are any number of highly successful career people who have holiday homes here, whose interests and Hermanus’ are interwoven. A similar indaba facilitated by an outside organisation could be held here during the Christmas vacs. Invite the big guys, the local powers that be and other interest groups such as those lobbyists from Zwelihle to give up a weekend to have a think tank to look for a new ‘way forward’ for Hermanus. If we don’t tackle this problem head on we are on our way to becoming a failed town. For the town to ‘fail’ will take a while and be very painful, but it will certainly happen.
Now one hears the Tourism drum still being beaten. Tourism creates jobs, they say, but each job created causes a need for shelter,
Weather forecast for the next week & De Bos Dam level Wednesday 26 September Thursday 27 September
water, sewerage, electricity and other amenities for 4 to 5 people and at present it seems as if Hermanus has no Plan B. One has to ask whether this tourism bus has not run out of gas because we cannot service its needs. We need to start looking elsewhere.
Gert Cloete
www.yr.no
Hermanus
Monday 1 October
Tuesday 2 October
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26 September 2018
Kleinmond residents are fed-up
THE
NEWS
Phillip G Parsons is so spot-on in his summation (It’s time to stop the madness, The Village NEWS, 12 September) of the Overstrand Municipality’s hifalutin plans and development nightmares that he could well be describing the resentment and annoyance felt by most residents in the Kleinmond area.
and missing pavers on the walkway; red algae growing on the edges of the lagoon; reeds being left to proliferate in the lagoon; chipped or broken stones in the walls; embankment leakages in the parking areas at the main beach; and pathetic, ancient Christmas light decorations on Main Road that are an embarrassment.
Once upon a time, in the good ol’ days of yore, Kleinmond was commendably run by its own municipality; all services ran smoothly and were paid for from our own funds. Today the very large and obviously unmanageable Overstrand Municipality (OM) appears to believe that all the wealth collected in rates and taxes from the villages of Kleinmond, Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay and Rooi Els is for their exclusive use, with a ‘beggar you Jack, I’m okay’ attitude.
Bearing in mind that Kleinmond carries the honour of having a Blue Flag beach, it is shameful that this appellation should exist for only a few weeks and not for the entire calendar year as seems to be the case for Hermanus’s Grotto Beach. Lifesavers are also restricted to a few weeks, leaving thousands of beachgoers to the mercy of the seas, with no assistance available should there be a need.
Well, the folks say it is not okay; they want their pound of flesh. Kleinmond has grown exponentially, to the point where we are figuratively bursting at the seams. Neglect by the OM is obvious everywhere: a walk along the beachfront area shows broken
These are just some of the offensive issues that irk us on a daily basis and need prompt attention. M Riordan-Bull Kleinmond
OPINION Matters
Ask yourself: How can I help? The Overstrand stands on the precipice of a challenge that can either turn our community into a shining example of democracy, prosperity and cooperation that is so desperately needed in South Africa, or turn it into a quagmire of disharmony, division and chaos. We as a community, no matter what race, colour or creed, have suffered greatly and there is a true realisation that each of us must look inward and ask: What can I do to help? In this time of need and uncertainty it is easy to sow the seeds of doubt and anger. Yes, we are a community at odds with one another and we have reason to be angry. Angry at non-delivery, angry at being overburdened, angry at empty promises and angry at one another. It is not wrong to be angry. We need to acknowledge our anger and frus-
Swimming costumes, for example, only emerged in the mid 1800s, and can be tangentially attributed to a bloke called George Stephenson, the pioneer of the Railway Age. Annual seaside holidays for the shuffling masses back then were made possible only by rail, and coastal towns began to market the therapeutic and medical benefits of salt-water swimming. As a result coach-loads of binnelanders invaded the beaches for the recreational and medicinal advantages of bathing in the sea – and never mind what fish do in it. There were no swimming costumes yet, so men and women would get buttnaked and take the plunge – on separate beaches of course. Queen Victoria, however, was not impressed, and each summer The Times devoted pages to the scandalous concept of nude bathing, until a French innovation crossed the channel into Britain. According to an article in The Lancet (1865), “Both men and women wear what they call a Bathing Costume. For ladies, it consists of woollen drawers and a black blouse descending below the knees and fastened with a leather girdle. Gentlemen wear a kind of snug, striped sailor’s suit.” Very fetching. With Victorian morals restored, swimwear remained relatively respectable until the arrival of the Bikini – so devastating on the fashion scene that it was named after an atomic explosion on
A Far Kraai Murray Stewart thevillagemuze@gmail.com
Bikini Atoll, in the Pacific. All this put an end – in Western countries anyway – to the concept of swimming in woolly bloomers and belted blouses, which I’m sure is gratefully appreciated these days by most women taking the plunge. Another fashion accessory to cause a stir with the authorities was the creation of the Top Hat. In 1797, when James Hetherington gave it its first public airing in London, an immense crowd gathered around the surprised inventor. The crush was so intense that several women fainted, dogs barked frantically and children ran screaming in all directions at once. Chaos ensued. He was arrested and charged with a breach of the peace, “…having appeared on a public highway wearing on his head a tall structure of shining luster calculated to disturb timid people”. How disturbed must someone be to be intimidated by a hat, one wonders? Anyway, he was fined fifty pounds. Half a century later, another symptom of Victorian geniality arrived. It would appear the public had regained its composure, because this time there was no hysteria when Bill Coke produced his notion of a more practical type of headgear for horse riding. He envisaged a rounded, lowcrowned hat of hard felt, firmly
reinforced, so he submitted sketches to a French manufacturing house owned by a Mr Beaulieu. The French pronunciation is ‘Bowl-year’, so the closest the Poms could get was the Bowler Hat. Now, buttons were a bone of contention back in the Renaissance period. Laws were passed prescribing which fashions could be worn by the different classes, and buttons were the preserve of the upper classes. The ladies in the champagne ’n caviar set, despite having the convenient luxury of buttons, never dressed themselves. They had ladies-in-waiting for that. Most people, including their handmaidens, were right-handed, so for their button-threading convenience, buttonholes were on the left in ladies clothes. Men, it would appear, could dress themselves, hence the buttons on the right. Handkerchiefs were originally a fashion accessory in Roman times – one on the left wrist, and another tucked into the belt or around the neck. In the 15th century, handkerchiefs were allowed to be worn only by nobility, with special laws passed to enforce it. Anyway, thank goodness fads like these came and went. These days nobody really cares too much, and we can wear whatever falls out of the closet first. But let’s face it – you still can’t beat a Safari Suit, Crocs and a Springbok beany for panache.
028 312 2234
Publishing Editor De Waal Steyn 083 700 3319 dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za
tration and, most importantly, find constructive ways to express it that will help us move forward on a path of unity and peace. There have been countless meetings on a seemingly unending list of topics ranging from land to economic development, to job creation, service delivery etc. There have been meetings about meetings. We have had mass attendance and mass walkouts. But despite this our community and all its leaders have been at work trying to find solutions, trying to find opportunities that will enable us to be the example others want to follow. This is no easy task and we applaud everyone involved. It is, however, up to each of us to help shape our reality and our future. Let us take our responsibilities seriously and with honesty and resolve say: How can we help? This is the good NEWS – ED
Buttons and Costumes and Silly Hats A few weeks ago we touched on how fashions seemed to go round in circles every couple of generations. Well, this galvanised the elves into a fact-finding flurry deep in the shadowy archives of the Duck ’n Fiddle’s Explanation of Everything, and they uncovered some quaint clothing styles, which thankfully didn’t reappear.
The Team
6 Royal Street, Hermanus
Content Editor Hedda Mittner 083 645 3928 hedda@thevillagenews.co.za
Design and Layout Nickey Jackson 079 408 7722 nickey@thevillagenews.co.za
Office Administrator Tania Hamman admin@thevillagenews.co.za
FOR FACT’S SAKE 1. For amusement, four young friends decided to each write a ghost story. Percy Shelley, George Byron and John Polidori never finished theirs. Only the fourth, 18-year-old Mary Godwin did, and published it anonymously two years later in 1818. Her then husband, Percy Shelley wrote a preface for the novel - about a certain Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Remember him? 2. After many months of planning and discussion, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein took only five hours to compose the overture, the ballet music and all the songs for the famous stage production Oklahoma, which premiered in 1943, later to become a box-office movie success. This was the first of many hit musicals from the Rodgers and Hammerstein stable. 3. In 1930 the Taj Mahal was scheduled to be torn down so that the marble façade could be shipped to England for auction to the landed upper classes. Fortunately, a previous auction of valuable Indian artifacts had been a flop, and with wrecking machinery fired up and itching to start, the project was deemed unprofitable and cancelled at the last minute. Yay.
Marketing Manager Kathy Bentley 083 581 7219 kathy@thevillagenews.co.za
Marketing Representative Laetitia Prinsloo 082 738 3765 ads@thevillagenews.co.za
Journalist Elaine Davie 084 343 7500
Photography & Social Media Taylum Meyer 084 564 0779 taylum@thevillagenews.co.za
WHERE TO FIND US The Village NEWS is published every week and the next edition will be available on 3 October. The NEWS can be found at over 300 distribution points on the Cape Whale Coast, from Pringle Bay to Gansbaai. Get your FREE copy from major retail stores such as Spar, Checkers and Pick n Pay, and at restaurants, tasting rooms, galleries and shopping centres. Should you wish to receive a copy, call us on 028 312 2234 or 083 228 7523 or pop into our office at 6 Royal Street, Hermanus.
MEMBER OF
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26 September 2018
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NEWS
Let’s Talk
Cyclists vulnerable to attacks Mountain biking and road cycling are popular in Hermanus – the four bike shops and many happy cyclists in and around town attest to this. Quite a bit of investment is continuously being made by the cycling community into the development of this sport, mountain biking trails and related tourism in the Overberg. Two of the three roads leading into town are generally safe to ride because of broad verges and relatively light traffic on gravel roads – all contributing to a delightful experience with astonishing views and an amazing variety of flowers, especially during spring. Dr Wouter Heymann, a long-time home owner who regularly holidayed here from Pretoria, retired to Hermanus in February this year and has spent many
a blissful hour cycling from town. However, an alarming incident on the road leading through Hawston has shattered his sense of security and he and his large circle of cycling friends feel that an urgent warning to other cyclists is warranted. On the morning of Monday 17 September he was cycling past Hawston when he was accosted by three men standing on the verge of the road. They distracted him by indicating a non-existant vehicle behind him and then grabbed his handle bars. As he fell heavily, fracturing four ribs and collar bone and cracking another two ribs, they tried to rob him of his bike and backpack. Fortunately, two vehicles drove by at that moment and the villains scattered, together with quite a number of other individuals
hiding in the underbrush, with what sinister intent one can only imagine. Wouter's months of diligent preparation for his participation in the Karoo to Coast mountain bike race during the forthcoming weekend is dashed and his legal right to use a public road safely is challenged. Other alarming tales of stone throwing at this spot, even at a group of male cyclists, illustrate the vulnerability of any cyclist daring to enjoy his or her sport from our town. Dr Heymann intends to file a police report as soon as he is released from hospital but without the involvement of the larger Hawston community, it will be hard to curb this destructive, criminal behaviour. Riëtte de Villiers
Senseless killing of Egyptian goose Residents of Westcliff have been watching a pair of Egyptian Geese and their eight offspring for the past three weeks. They have been very good parents. On Friday one of the adults appeared to be missing until we spotted him (or her) watching from the roof of my house. Largely, they have been living safely inside Whale Rock Lodge where they were given the names Bonny and Clyde. Sadly, this afternoon one of the parents was brutally killed, apparently by a group of young boys who disappeared with great haste round the corner when I came out to see what the noise was about – and found the dying bird in a pool of blood on the edge of Sunnybrae Commonage. I suspect that he/she was doing its best to guard the eight little ones. And at the time of writing they and the other parent are surviving. We are saddened by this – yet another case for the need for education about the preservation of our wild life and the futility of violence. Andrew Murray
Village
EXPLORER The
FOOD • WINE • NATURE • EVENTS
Join Wine Village for a fine wine time T
he Overberg is once again gearing up for the highly anticipated Hermanus Wine & Food Festival from 5 – 6 October, presented at Curro Hermanus by the Wine Village. Celebrating 20 years of fine wine, this country festival offers one of the most impressive Wine and Craft produce line-ups from around South Africa. Over the past two decades the Hermanus Wine & Food Festival has supported the vast growth that has taken place in the Elgin to Elim wine region, from just 6 producers in 1998, to over 80 producers in 2018, and still growing. This festival has grown under the guidance of Paul and Cathy du Toit, the owners of the Wine Village who have a passion for the Overberg region and its amazing people. The winemakers and craft producers are part of the Wine Village wine family. Come and meet them, taste their magnificent wines and enjoy the festival with us. With some of the most soughtafter wines in the country on offer, you are invited to browse through the wine show, appreciate and delight in the fruit of the vines and discover your own favourites. Hermanus Wine & Food Festival has grown to be one of the largest platforms on which to taste and buy the finest wines, beers and the most innovative gins available on the South African market. Indulge in your craving for fine wine and gourmet food while relaxing in the festival arena with local bands and the best food trucks from the Overberg. This event continues to challenge winemakers and foodies to deliver premium quality for the ever-discerning palate. As
always, children are welcome, and there will be a special supervised activity centre in which they can play and be entertained while you explore the bountiful offerings at the show. This two-day event takes place on the weekend of 5 – 6 October 2018, from 11:00 – 21:00 on both days, with the promise of great weather and that champagne air for which Hermanus is famous. All the wines will be available for purchase at cellar door prices. This is a unique opportunity to extend your wine collection in anticipation of the festive season. The Hermanus Wine and Food Festival promises to be a vino-experience where you will meet and make new friends, discover new wines and find that whales are not the only reason for visiting Hermanus. Join us for a fine wine time this October!
“The Hermanus Wine and Food Festival has become one of the iconic festivals for wine producers from the cooler and more coastal wine regions of the Cape. It is a fantastic opportunity to catch up on all the exciting new wines being produced, or simply the latest vintages of old favourites. And all in a
wonderfully relaxed food and wine fuelled atmosphere.” Anthony Hamilton Russell – Hamilton Russell Vineyards “Some of the very best wines South Africa has to offer under one roof.” Wilhelm Pienaar, Winemaker – Hermanuspietersfontein
“The Hermanus Wine and Food Festival is the premier event of its kind, fantastically well organized and attended, and we wouldn’t miss it for the world!” Glenn Bryant – Sixdogs Gin “The annual Hermanus Wine and Food Festival is Ataraxia’s must-attend event, showcasing as it does the broadest
spectrum of locally produced topquality wines and fare, guaranteed to romance all tastes.” Kevin Grant – Ataraxia Wines “A celebration of the senses – eat, drink, shop and dance to your heart's content. A beautiful, brilliantly organized event.” Christo Bezuidenhout – Blue Bee Co
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Thursday 27 September
■ Rotary Club of Hermanus: Visitors are welcome at Rotary’s weekly meetings. Contact Frank on 082 870 1187 to confirm your attendance. At Mollergren Park, every Thursday at 19:00.
Friday 28 September
Saturday 29 September ■ Hermanus parkrun: Meet for the weekly 5 km walk or run, come rain or shine. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome. Set off from the Overstrand Training Institute (OTI) farm on Camphill Road in Hemel-enAarde Valley, at 08:00.
■ Bhuki Café: Everyone is welcome at Friends of the Library's Bhuki Cafe where a cup of tea or coffee and delicious eats will cost only R20. Every cup helps to raise funds for new books. Every Friday from 09:00 – 11:30, at Hermanus Library. ■ Kolwyntjie Teetuin: Everyone in the area is welcome to enjoy a sweet treat and tea or coffee at a nominal fee, and make new friends at the Onrus Care Centre (Dienssentrum). At the Onrus Dutch Reformed Church, every Friday between 09:30 and 11:30.
■ The Human Genome and DNA: U3A Overberg presents guest speaker Dr Phil HarriesJones. In the Catholic Church Hall, at 10:00.
Friday, 28 September 18:00 - 20:00 ■ Stanford Sunset Market: The new season kicks off! Hang out with the locals on the beautiful unspoilt village square and enjoy live music, good food and delicious drinks as the sun sets. Wrap up warmly and get into the groove as new vendors, a variety of musicians, more seating and a green spirit of recycling makes this season of sunset markets even better. For more information, call Phil on 082 667 0619. On the last Friday of every month, September to May. On Stanford Market Square, from 18:00 – 20:00. ■ Rewind: Join Soul Café every Friday night and relax to the tunes of their resident band as they perform all your favourite hits from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. R50 pp. Call 028 313 2137 to book. At Soul Café, 181 Main Road, Hermanus, at 20:00.
Debbie Randall on 028 284 9220. At Fioré Garden Centre & Coffee Shop, Bot River, from 09:00 – 14:00.
Tuesday 2 & Wednesday 3 October
■ Stanford Saturday Morning Market: A little bit of this and a little bit of that! Don’t miss out – you’ll be sorry if you do! On the Stanford Hotel Stoep, every Saturday, from 09:00 – 12:00. ■ Vine to Valley: The second in a series of six monthly Trail Running events on wine farms in the scenic Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Ideal for those who enjoy the outdoors and a healthy lifestyle, balanced with fine wines, camaraderie and a good dose of fun! Choose between the 6 km or 12 km route of single track through cliffs, to waterfalls and spectacularly high viewpoints. Afterwards you can enjoy food, drinks and of course wine with your family and friends while the kids get to play. For more information, contact Bianca on info@coastlineevents.co.za or 082 075 7477. At Bosman Vineyards, at 09:00. ■ Hermanus Country Market: A favourite among the locals. Young, old, two-legged and four-legged family members are all welcome. You’ll find wholesome goodies, home-made crafts, local produce, beers and wine, speciality foods, coffee and live music. Next to the cricket field, Fairways Avenue, from 09:00 – 13:00. ■ Hermanuspietersfontein Food & Wine Market: Where local and international foodies and wine lovers meet. You’ll find real plates and real cutlery; real cups and real glasses; a real hangout for real people. In the courtyard of Hermanuspietersfontein wine cellar at The Village, from 09:00 – 13:00. ■ Market in the Garden: Hunt for treasures at this peaceful market set among the shady trees of a beautiful garden. At St Peter’s Church in Main Road, Hermanus, from 09:00 – 13:00.
■ Stanford Junktique Market: Come and browse to your heart's content, and breathe new life into previously loved items. For more information, call 028 341 0340 or email book@stanfordinfo.co.za. In the Stanford Tourism Courtyard, from 09:00 – 12:00. ■ Botrivier Hotel Market: For hand-made crafts and tasty treats, come and browse the new weekly market in the hotel garden. New vendors are welcome; contact Erna at ernastark@outlook.com or 028 315 2582 or WhatsApp 076 708 0818 to book your stall. At the Botrivier Hotel, every Saturday, from 10:00 – 14:00. ■ Stargazing: Join the Hermanus Astronomy Centre (HAC) for telescopic, binocular and visual tours of the planets and stars. This event is weather dependent, so check the website www.hermanusastronomy.co.za after 16:00 on the day. For more information, contact Peter on 081 212 9481 or petermh@hermanus.co.za. At the Dutch Reformed Church, Onrus, at 19:30.
Sunday 30 September ■ Lemm’s Corner Market: This popular Sunday market offers exclusive arts and crafts, and handmade local products. At Fisherman’s Village (between Cattle Baron and Fisherman’s Cottage), from 10:00 – 15:00.
Monday 1 October ■ Fioré Country Market: Browse this new country market in Bot River for homemade crafts, books, local treats, fresh fruit and more. Stands are free and in the event of rain the market moves indoors. For enquiries, contact
■ Cosmology: Join the Hermanus Astronomy Centre for a presentation on Natural Philosophy: Science for the non-Scientist. For more information, contact pierre@hermanus.co.za. In the Catholic Church Hall, at 19:00.
■ Duplicate Bridge: All are welcome. To join, call Riekie Louw on 028 314 0662 or 072 230 9179. At Fernkloof Nature Reserve, every Monday at 13:00.
■ Zero Hour at Danger Point: Rev James Gray will present his highly-acclaimed talk about the sinking of the HMS Birkenhead. R50 pp, payable at the door. At the United Church, Hermanus, at 15:00 on 2 October and 10:30 on 3 October.
Wednesday 3 October ■ Hermanus Photographic Society: All are welcome, from the beginner to the advanced photographer, at the monthly meetings held on the first Wednesday of the month. The theme for the October club competition is Water Life and the October challenge for the Audio Visual Group, which will meet on 11 October at the same venue, is Funky. Visit hermanusphoto.co.za for further announcements of forthcoming monthly outings, challenges and workshops. For queries, contact Daniel Reddie at info@ hermanusphoto.co.za. In the Hermann Swart Hall, Dutch Reformed Church, Hermanus, at 19:00.
■ FinGlobal Cliff Path Night Runs: These acclaimed and well-attended night runs have become legendary with adventure runners and joggers alike. Choose between the 6 km family fun run or the more adventurous 10 km cliff path run, with only you, your headlight, your heartbeat and the sea in your ears. Park your vehicle at Grotto Beach and make use of the free shuttles to the start lines. The 6 km fun run is from The Marine Hotel to Dutchies on Grotto Beach, departing at 18:30, and the 10 km cliff path night run is from the Hermanus New Harbour to Dutchies, departing at 19:00. Prize giving is at 20:00. Book online at www.entrytime.com. For queries, contact Paul du Toit on 082 820 3331 or adventures@hermanus.co.za. Registration at The Marine Hotel will open at 17:00.
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Spend some time with Brinjals & Thyme
H
ermanus was blessed with fabulous spring weather this Heritage Day long weekend, with locals and visitors flocking to the Old Town, the beaches and Fernkloof, where the annual Flower Festival was in full swing. At the Old Harbour not only the whales put up a spectacular show, but the ocean itself was turned into a cauldron with massive waves crashing against the shoreline, due to the combined effects of the Spring Solstice and spring tide. At the waterfront the restaurants were packed, with every available outside table snatched up. I, however, was on my way to the first floor of The Village Square to have lunch at the newly opened Brinjals & Thyme (right opposite the entrance to Ocean Basket). While the owners, Jaco Nel and Hannes Pieterse were probably wishing that the throngs of people outside would follow in my footsteps, I was relieved to enter the calm, uncluttered interior of this stylish restaurant. The décor is eclectic but understated, with peaceful shades of grey and light avocado green. Beautifully framed artworks, vases, cushions, cabinets and Persian carpets complete the picture. I particularly liked the open-kitchen concept and the way they have opened up the space by replacing brick walls with glass panels. The menu is not very big but quite varied, with a selection of eight starters, ten mains and four desserts. They don’t specialise in any specific cuisine, but rather “a bit of everything – like the interior”, joked Jaco, who is the general manager. A glance at the menu revealed not only local but also Asian and Mediterranean influences. “I have a great love of traditional South African dishes, but I prepare them with a twist so that there is always an element of surprise,” said Hannes, the head chef. Among the starters there is a Smoked Springbok Carpaccio with strawberries, cilantro (coriander leaves) and
What’s Cooking RESTAURANT NEWS Hedda Mittner probably explains the Japanese touches I noticed on the menu. After 10 successful years the partners sold Gerard Moerdyk to open a restaurant and function venue on Rademeyers Country Estate, bordering the Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve. They also went on to run the luxurious Shikwari Bush Lodge on a game reserve near Hoedspruit and were the owners of the Tea Café in Waterkloof.
Chef Hannes Pieterse and general manager Jaco Nel of Brinjals & Thyme. ponzu (a tart, citrus-based sauce commonly used in Japanese cuisine), a spicy Prawn Tom Yum soup, Kale and Ricotta ravioli and an Exotic Village Salad. Options for mains include Kashmiri Chicken Curry, a Rosti Brinjal Beef Burger, Pinotage Lamb Shank, Asian Pork Dumplings, Drunken Oxtail and West Coast Bouilabaisse. The desserts sound equally mouth-watering – think Cointreau Pears and Apple Crumble or French Custard Crépes dressed with Marula fruit cream. Jaco and Hannes have been business partners for over 30 years. Although he studied law, Hannes said he never practised because the opportunity to purchase a restaurant instead proved irresistible. Cooking had been his passion since childhood and he has never looked back since taking over the Matador in Pretoria in 1985. In 1991 Hannes and Jaco opened their second restaurant, Gerard Moerdyk, named after the renowned architect who designed the Voortrekker Monument, along with several other
iconic buildings in South Africa. The restaurant was situated in Arcadia, just around the corner from the Prime Minister’s Residence and the American Embassy, and became a favourite in governmental and diplomatic circles. Jaco told me that among the politicians who often dined at Gerard Moerdyk were FW de Klerk, Pik Botha, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Eugene Terre’blanche, Graca Machel, Margaret Thatcher and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. “The restaurant had an old world charm about it and people used to dress up in formal gowns, suits and ties,” said Hannes with a big smile. “Patrons were given warm cloths to wipe their hands before dinner, drinks were served in crystal glasses and there were sorbets to cleanse the palate in between courses – the whole shebang.” On the side, Hannes also catered for the Japanese ambassador when he was entertaining guests – which
Their holidays were always spent in the Western Cape, where they often visited Franschhoek and the Whale Coast. Earlier this year Jaco and Hannes decided to relocate permanently to Hermanus and embark on a new venture called Brinjals & Thyme. They were originally interested in buying Heritage Cottage on Marine Drive, but those plans fell flat when the owners’ daughter, Maxzell Lerm and her husband Christo van Jaarsveld took over the restaurant instead. “It was quite a disappointment,” said Jaco, “and we were relieved to find premises here at the Village Square.” While both partners agree that Brinjals & Thyme is not ideally situated to attract walk-ins, they are hoping that the local trade will support their restaurant. “We don’t want to create the idea that this is a formal restaurant,” said Jaco. “Brinjals & Thyme might be elegant but there’s nothing stiff about it – we offer easy dining, not fine dining!” So there you have it. It may be tucked away, but this charming little restaurant is well worth a visit. They are open seven days a week for lunch from 12:00 – 15:00 and dinner from 18:00 – 21:00. Call 079 474 6781 to book.
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26 September 2018
Broad bean stew with special rice
S
pring means it’s time for broad beans, but what to do with them? How does one cook broad beans? This wonderful vegetable is the key ingredient in a Lebanese dish called Yakhnet Fassoolia. I was introduced to this broad bean stew at a little hole in the wall called Abu-André in Beirut. To this day, it remains one of my absolute favourite meals. It can be whipped together with little effort and, as with all stews, it is even better made in advance and reheated – this makes things easier and the taste only gets better for me. Ingredients • 1 Tbsp olive oil • 300g meat cubes, bitesize pieces • 1 bulb garlic, peeled and minced • 1 handful chopped coriander • ¾ tsp salt • ¼ Tbsp black pepper • ½ Tbsp cinnamon • Approx 900g frozen or fresh green broad beans • 2 ½ cups hot water (add more later if needed) • 1 Cup of chicken stock Method 1. In a pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat, then add the meat cubes. Cover and leave to cook until the juices that come out of the meat dry up (maximum time 10 min).
2. Add the minced garlic and coriander. Mix well for a few minutes, then add salt, black pepper and cinnamon. Mix for a further 5 min. 3. Add the green broad beans, and either mix gently, or cover with a lid, and using both hands with oven mits, shake the pot to mix everything together (this avoids breaking the green broad beans). Leave covered over medium heat until the green broad beans gain some colour or begin to slightly soften (around 15 min). 4. Add the hot water (enough to barely immerse the green broad beans) and the chicken stock. Mix, then cover and leave over medium heat, mixing from time to time, until the green broad beans soften, and the meat is well cooked (around 45-50 min). If the mixture dries up, add more hot water and mix. – Supplied by Eunice Rademeyer, Goozi Kitchenshop
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Message in a bottle
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harmaine Beukes of White Shark Projects invited conservation colleagues and friends to a celebration lunch at Platbos Forest on Friday, 21 September, the last day of their 21 Days for the Ocean campaign. Through this educational initiative, White Shark Projects aspires to raise ocean awareness in the Overstrand communities that rely indispensably upon marine tourism. Their intention is focused on educating the youth and making them aware of how some of our everyday actions impact negatively on the marine environment. 21 Days for the Ocean was born from the concept that it takes 21 days to break a habit and it emphasises the simple steps we can all take to prevent further damage to our oceans and marine life. In that spirit, guests were encouraged to write down their pledges on recycled paper and place them in one of the 21 glass bottles that were hung from the trees.
Chantel Oosthuysen of Panthera Africa, Lindsey Gibaud of Big Tree Marketing, Andrew Russell of Cape Africa Tours and Reneé Leeuwner of Two Oceans Aquarium.
Charmaine Beukes, general manager of White Shark Projects with Janet Marshall.
Mandla Ngazini, Monica Jozana and Sandisiwe Sigwela of White Shark Projects.
Shane and Janet Sauvage of La Pentola Restaurant with Annamarie Williams-Sales of The Potting Shed.
Charmaine thanked all her staff members and volunteers for their dedication and hard work during the campaign, which included outreach programmes at schools, creches and churches, a coastal cleanup, beach outings and a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium. Guests were then treated to a healthy vegetarian lunch under a magical canopy of milkwood trees. White Shark Projects is a shark-cage diving operator based in Kleinbaai that is dedicated to ecotourism, research, conservation and social development. Visit whitesharkprojects.co.za for more information. – Hedda Mittner
The real problem is not just plastic So, the front page of The Village NEWS of 12 September an-nounces ‘A cleaner, greener Whale Festival’. The organisers are quoted as saying there will be signifi-cant investment in litter clean-up and collection and a moratorium on some plastic products. Collecting litter and cleaning up other people’s mess is commendable. But it is also necessary to educate festivalgoers that they should not be littering in the first place. A start will be made this year with educational clean-ups with children. The next step should be that all visitors are made to understand that littering will not be tolerated. This zero-tolerance should be backed up with spot-fines for such anti-social behaviour. So, KFC will replace plastic straws with ‘biodegradable’ straws. There are no real ‘biodegradable’ straws. Even if they are made from plant material, it is converted to a form of plastic that only biodegrades at high temperature in commercial composting facilities. KFC (and others) should rather be saying ‘no straws’. The problem with ‘biodegradable’ substitutes is that they land up in the conventional plastic recycling stream and contaminate the plastic and make it unusable.
MY NEWS Environment THE
We are told stall holders will be issued with ‘recycled’ plastic bags. Recycling is better than nothing, but is very expensive in terms of the hidden energy and water consumption. Rather instruct stall holders to first ask patrons if they have their own bag before dishing out plastic ones – recycled or not.
planet. However, we fail to ask ourselves where the corn starch would come from, how much land and water is needed to grow it, or how much food production it will displace. We overlook the damage maize cultivation would inflict in terms of soil erosion, pesticides and fertilisers.
The real problem is not plastic. The problem is consumer behaviour in pursuing, on the one planet known to harbour life, a four-planet lifestyle. Regardless of what we consume, the sheer volume of consumption is overwhelming the Earth’s living systems.
Certainly, our greed for plastic is a major environmental blight, and the campaigns to limit its use are wellmotivated and sometimes effective. But we cannot address our environmental crisis by swapping one overused resource for another. A better form of consumerism will not save life on this planet.
Plenty of people imagine we can carry on as we are, as long as we substitute one material for another. For example, asking a coffee shop to replace plastic coffee cups with ones made from corn starch is seen as a huge advance in caring for the
The problem is a political system captured by commercial interests and an economic system that depends on endless growth. Of course we should try to minimise our own impacts, but we cannot confront
these forces merely by ‘taking responsibility’ for what we personally consume. A good example of what I mean is the fishing industry. Marine plastics is in large part a fishing issue. It turns out that more than half of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which has come to symbolise our throw-away society, is composed of discarded nets and other kinds of fishing gear. Abandoned fishing materials tend to be far more dangerous to marine life than other forms of waste. Over-fishing is a much greater threat to ocean life than plastic bags. It is reported that in Antarctica only two penguin chicks out of a colony of 40 000 survived this year. The rest starved as a result of industrial-scale fishing depleting their food source. The African Penguins along our own shores are also critically endangered, mainly by over-fishing. It is commendable, but not good enough, to insist that our king prawns from Woollies should be packed in our own containers to reduce the use of packaging materials and then linking this to the protection of our oceans. The truth is
that eating prawns causes many times more damage to marine life than any plastic in which they are wrapped. Prawn fishing has the highest rates of bycatch of any fishery, scooping up vast numbers of turtles and other threatened species. No-one ever calculates what the real cost of those prawns are. To the question “how should we live?” the answer is: “simply”. One-planet living means not only seeking to reduce our own consumption, but also taking a stand against the system that promotes the great tide of junk. This means fighting corporate power, changing political outcomes and challenging a growth-based, worldconsuming system. Disposable straws or coffee cups made from new materials are not just a nonsolution. They are a perpetuation of the problem. Defending the planet means changing the world. Is it even possible? - Anina Lee, Whale Coast Conservation Source: George Monbiot, published in The Guardian, 5 September 2018
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26 September 2018
Hermanus shows its Flower Power This year’s annual Hermanus Flower Festival at Fernkloof Nature Reserve from Friday 21 September to Monday 24 September was filled with attractions and activities, including flower displays, talks and presentations, a kiddie’s corner, a market hub and an eco-tent. The main flower display in the Fernkloof Hall by the Hermanus Botanical Society was beautifully presented, with flowers from farms in the Hermanus area. Food and local beer and wine were available for visitors to enjoy in between the talks and presentations and many goodies were on sale at the market hub tent. The eco-tent hosted a number of organisations that ranged from Marine Dynamics to CapeNature to Whale Coast Conservation to the Overstrand Municipality, with representatives who were there to answer questions and inform the public on our magnificent fynbos heritage and various conservation issues related to this year’s festival theme, ‘Watching Water’. The festival was enjoyed by old and young and raised muchneeded funds for the maintenance and repair of the well-used hiking paths in the reserve. PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer
Members of the Hermanus Botanical Society (BotSoc) ensured that the festival runs smoothly. From left are Linda Griffiths, David Beattie, Di Marais, Peter Coxall and Mary Ann Bester.
Samantha Erwee, a homeschooler in Hermanus holds Skye, the Southern White-Faced Scops Owl at the Eagle Encounters exhibit at the Flower Festival on Saturday 22 September.
Lily Upton of the Grootbos Foundation and Fiona Matthes of Hermanus Eco Shop at the Whale Coast Conservation stand with their eco-friendly products for sale.
Hermanus’s ‘Water Explorers’ (a global initiative involving children aged from 8-14 years) helped to inform the public on how to conserve water and become more environmentally-friendly by using a variety of props.
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26 September 2018
Negester Onrusrivier helps you make your ‘little house by the sea’ dream come true
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nrusrivier is an Overberg coastal town, just around the corner from Hermanus, which has become a preferred destination for fiftyplussers over the past few years. The environment provides residents and holidaymakers with premier wine estates, beaches, golf courses, shopping centres, restaurants, a Mediclinic hospital and much more. With its ideal location, Negester Onrusrivier gives you the opportunity to come and settle down in this beautiful, safe environment, between the Groenberg Mountains and sea. Your little house by the sea This secure lifestyle estate blends in beautifully with its surrounding areas with alluring design elements such as vintage porches, low walls and landscaped gardens. The variety of timeless architectural styles reminds you of Stellenbosch’s Dorp Street, the BoKaap’s Cape Malay style and a comfortable modern farmhouse style. Negester Onrusrivier consists of 125 fulltitle properties. Various show homes are for sale, alternatively there are plot-andplan-packages of two or three bedroom homes with a single or double garage available. Underfloor heating and a braai area are additional options. The
home sizes range from 144 to 205m². Prices of the completed homes start at R2 860 000. Since Negester Onrusrivier’s launch in October 2013, 95% of the full-title properties have already been sold.
equipped with a kitchenette and spacious bathroom. The care centre offers a cosy dining room, living room with fireplace, ladies’ bar, small library, hair salon and a clinic.
ATKV as development partner for peace of mind About seven years ago the ATKV board adopted a diversification strategy to, among other things, be involved in the development of lifestyle housing for the fifty-plussers group. According to Schalk Cilliers, the managing director of ATKV-Sake, it was their strategy to establish a secure lifestyle housing footprint in South Africa. Negester Klein-Kariba and Negester Onrusrivier were the first steps taken towards implementing this strategy.
Home care is offered as a standard option by Medwell, the health care service provider. Medwell specialises in hands-on, valued community, medical support, and nursing services. They also have a practice number that enables them to recover costs from the medical aid on behalf of the residents in certain cases. Schalk Cilliers states that, “It is also our aim to provide home care at each Negester as a service option, and to build modern and well-equipped care centres that make provision for residents’ medical needs and in so doing, ensure peace of mind.”
A sanctuary for gentle care Negester Onrusrivier also has a modern, well-equipped sectional title care centre with 50 residential units. This centre opened its doors on 6 December 2014 offering three care packages: basic care packages from only R10 200 p.m., assisted care packages from R16 900 p.m. and frail care packages from R23 800 p.m. The modern en suite dwellings are all
Shine bright! Well-known Afrikaans author and poet, DJ Opperman’s poem, Negester en stedelig, was the inspiration behind the development of the Negester brand and slogan. The Negester vision expanded on this, namely the development and management of sustainable, secure and valued lifestyle estates where the total wellbeing of the fifty-plussers group is cherished.
Visit our exhibition from 26 to 30 September at the Whale Coast Mall and stand a chance of winning great prizes!
And, as with Opperman’s poem, “always remember that to your deeds borders an eternity […] and may the Southern Cross and the Nine Star, whiter than the city lights, keep sparkling in your soul” (freely translated), Negester Onrusrivier believes that its lifestyle estate truly provides such a sustainable environment for its residents.
Phone Elmar van Tonder on 081 534 5604 (elmar.van@seeff.com) or Basie Oelofsen on 083 259 7597 (basie@aidaonrus.co.za) or visit www.negester.co.za/onrusrivier to find out more about the show homes, residential units, plot-and-plan- and care packages, and to realise your dream of a little house by the sea in Onrusrivier. – DJ Malherbe
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26 September 2018
Happy 40th birthday, Camphill!
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amphill Farm Community Hermanus, which has provided residential care and supported work for adults with intellectual disabilities since 1978, celebrated its 40th anniversary on Saturday in the Mercury Hall.
thanked the management team, staff, therapists and specialists, the residents and their families, the Association of Camphill Communities UK and Ireland, Camphill School and their generous donors for their ongoing support.
This rural Community, nestled in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, is currently home to 52 adult residents, who were joined by family members, friends of Camphill, staff and management, to mark this momentous milestone with a dinner and a concert performed by the residents.
Camphill Farm Community can be contacted on 021 200 2230 or admin@camphill-hermanus.org.za
At Camphill Farm Community, residents share their lives with engaged staff and volunteers who support them in living self-fulfilled lives with access to sound nutrition, medical care, meaningful work, therapies and a versatile social and cultural life. The Community promotes and sustains meaningful inclusion, equality, mutual respect, independence and choice in a safe and sustainable environment. Executive Manager, Sam Hodson
LEFT: Sam Hodson (Executive Manager) opened up the night’s festivities. ABOVE RIGHT: Residents of the Camphill Farm Community decorated the Mercury Hall for members of their families that came to celebrate the evening with them. RIGHT: The Camphill Farm Community residents performed scenes from the Bible as entertainment. PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer
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26 September 2018
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26 September 2018
Hermanus property shifts to a buyer’s market
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he whale and flower season have arrived, and as we enter the warmer spring months, Hermanus is already abuzz in anticipation of another busy summer tourist season. The holiday months are now fast approaching and we look forward to welcoming many visitors to our town, hopefully many of whom will take the opportunity to look around at the excellent property investments on offer. Hermanus is one of the most soughtafter coastal towns of the Overberg. The close proximity to Cape Town and the superb facilities and amenities on offer locally make it a popular choice for a variety of buyers and investors, from locals looking to buy up or down as their property needs change to people looking to relocate to the town from other inland provinces and areas such as Johannesburg and Pretoria. The town is of course a top choice for mature buyers and retirees and those looking for holiday and second homes. In 2017 more than 1200 property transactions with a combined value of over R2 billion, took place in Hermanus in the first nine months of the year – the highest rand value ever recorded for the town. A 2017 Lightstone Property report showed the median price for property in the area increased by about 12% over the preceding two years and by more than 40% in under five years.
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by January 2020, which will further enhance the town as an education centre.
MY Home
Until recently, it was one of the most dynamic coastal property markets in the Western Cape and performed well above expectation, despite the poor economic climate. The town and its surrounds have become a sought-after property destination, with luxury properties reaching prices of R20 million to R40 million. For all these reasons, Hermanus property will always be in high demand, but the market has been subjected to the same economic and property market pressures as the rest of the country. These shifts have resulted in a drop in the demand levels in the town since the start of the year. This change in market conditions has notable consequences for sellers. It translates to fewer buyers in the market, and those who are looking to buy or
invest, are well informed about conditions and will not pay high prices. Price growth has been quite robust in recent years, causing somewhat of a property bubble with prices climbing drastically. The macroeconomic landscape though has now had a dampening effect and we are beginning to see a decline in prices offered by buyers. We are seeing strong resistance from potential buyers who then move their searches to other towns in the Overberg that offer better value. With price growth and demand slowing at a progressive pace, sellers need to be more market related with their price expectations. In fact, our agents are citing high prices as one of the draw-backs for the Hermanus market right now. We therefore see
A multi-million rand Sports Centre with a gymnasium, swimming pool, squash and tennis courts and various other training facilities is currently under construction.
that reasonably priced property still sells at a brisk pace when sellers are negotiable with their asking prices. The local property market now needs to adjust to national economic and political influences and there is no doubt that the land issue has introduced some uncertainty into the investor market here and in the entire province. That said, where sellers adjust their asking price to more realistic market-related levels, these properties sell quickly, showing that there is still a healthy demand. Hermanus still offers many advantages over other smaller towns along the Cape Coast. These include several schools, with Generation Schools opening a Generation International College which will offer students the opportunity to continue their studies right here in town. The Hermanus University College is also set to open
Hermanus also offers world-class health facilities ranging from the Provincial Hospital and MediClinic to the Day Hospital, Pain Clinic, Oncology Unit and the only periodontal practice outside of a metropole in the country. In 2019, a new holiday resort at De Mond in VoĂŤlklip will open its doors and construction on a large housing development on the Sandbaai Common is set to commence in 2019. A plan to develop a hotel at the Yacht Club and Marina in Fisherhaven is also on the cards. As we have seen over the last few years, when the economy and property market take a turn for the better, property values follow. With the shift in the market and so much development in progress, there is no doubt that it is a great time to buy and invest in Hermanus. Paul Kruger Managing Director, Seeff Hermanus, Sandbaai, Onrus & Vermont
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26 September 2018
Transforming the world into a better place Elaine Davie
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hey come from all over Africa, from India, South-East Asia, the Americas and even from Europe, to attend Training for Transformation (TfT) courses at The Grail Centre in Kleinmond. Since 2002, literally hundreds of development practitioners have attended the many courses and, in turn, they have impacted on thousands of people, mainly women and children, in struggling communities across the developing world. At the beginning of this month the latest diploma course got underway, catering for 23 trainees from nine African countries and 14 different organisations. Although their developmental focus and circumstances may differ, they are already discovering how much they have in common and how valuable it is to be able to share challenges and solutions with one another. TfT is based on the writings of Brazilian, Paulo Freire on a new and creative approach to adult education. In his work Pedagogy of the Oppressed, he says: “Transformation is only valid if it is carried out with the people, not for them.” The training courses in Kleinmond are similar to those presented all over the world, highlighting the need to create a new generation of community leaders in emerging countries. The four training manuals they use were developed by Anne Hope and Sally Timmel of The Grail Centre and first used in Kenya in the 1980s before being transplanted to Kleinmond. As Ntombi Nyathi, Director of Training for Transformation points out: “Transformation begins with the self, unfolds into the family, community, society and the universe. However, liberation (from oppression, poverty and ignorance) is not carried out for the people, but with them. It is not neutral; its aim is radical transformation of society.” The course is hands-on, highlighting both the theory and practice of transformative development. It focuses on how the participants, who are all already working with community-based organisations, can become more effective agents of change, both in terms of their grassroots work and advocacy initiatives.
Divided into four segments, the yearlong diploma course consists of two, two-month periods of intensive residential training in Kleinmond, interspersed with two periods of monitored practical implementation at home. Since 2002, 458 civil society leaders and activists from 113 organisations in 40 countries have benefited from this training. The TfT Diploma and Certificate courses are jointly certified by the Kimmage Development Studies Centre, Dublin, Ireland, and The Grail Centre Trust. The following snapshots of five trainees from five different countries attending the current course give a fascinating glimpse into their diverse challenges: Abiodun Ozurumba (Nigeria) An award-winning radio journalist, Abiodun works for the Voice of Nigeria, collaborating with NGOs and community workers to highlight various cultural practices, both ‘good’ and ‘bad’, like female genital mutilation. By means largely of documentaries, she tries to present all sides of an issue to create public awareness. She anticipates that the new skills learnt on this course will enable her to speak boldly to power on behalf of the voiceless, especially in terms of human rights, but also to highlight those customs which have the ability to draw diverse people together through music, laughter and dance. Shean Mukocheya (Zimbabwe) Shean works for an NGO, the Zivakwawakabva Trust. In a country which views itself as 95% Christian, she believes that many of the ancient African cultural and traditional practices are being lost. As an orphan herself, identity has always been an important factor in her life and she has felt cut off from her roots. She feels, indeed, that the Zimbabwean social structure has suffered through being deprived of essential cultural knowledge, whether it be in the form of music, ecoconservation and agricultural practices, food or religion. This workshop is teaching her the necessary skills to network, share information and discover an effective way to address these issues. Margarida Silva (Angola) Margarida works for a Portuguese NGO called APDES, Piaget Agency for Development, which is concerned
mainly with matters related to education and health care in marginalised communities. They try to ensure that these communities, for example the elderly, sex workers and people living with Aids are not isolated, but are integrated into the wider society, and that risks affecting them are minimised. Her organisation supports and encourages the various NGOs and communities to co-ordinate their actions, using their combined voice to advocate for change. This course is already offering her new tools to facilitate her interaction with her target communities. Moureen Wagubi (Uganda) The Institute for Social Transformation, which was founded by a former TfT trainee, focuses mainly on the empowerment of market women, most of them with a low level of formal education but a strong business sense. They are beset by many challenges, mainly because it is the men who take leadership positions and make decisions without consulting them. These include issues like child-care facilities, access to funding, banking, safety and security and middle-men who try to muscle in on their businesses. Moureen’s NGO is trying to establish a co-operative movement for marketing women, so that they can confidently advocate for their own rights. Nomthandazo Bewana (South Africa – Mthatha) Her NGO, The Jersey Farm Advice and Information Centre is concerned with promoting human and gender rights, with a special focus on rural women. They work closely with other NGOs in the area, as well as Chapter 9 institutions to develop an understanding of their rights and to empower them to become leaders in defending and promoting those rights. At the same time, they reach out to boys and girls from pre-school level upwards to influence their attitude towards girls and women. Nomthandazo believes that she first needs to feel empowered herself before she can effectively assist other women.
Training for Transformation can be contacted at 028 271 4887 or tft@graiprogrammes.org.za Their website is trainingfortransformation.co.za
Course members engage in active debate and information sharing.
Getting down and dirty in hands-on training.
Facilitator Jumana Eltigani from Sudan and TfT Director Ntombi Nyathi lead a session during the diploma course.
To advertise in The Village NEWS, phone 028 312 2234 or email ads@thevillagenews.co.za
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26 September 2018
How do I know I am addicted? Hayley van Stenis
“Oh, this chocolate is so addictive!”
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MY Health
“I am completely addicted to the new Game of Thrones series.” These are statements you might have used in your life or heard others use. When we refer to addiction in this way, we are usually not being very serious. We are trying to highlight a habit, or a repetitive type of behaviour that we find ourselves engaging in. Determining real addiction An addiction is more than just a habit or repetitive behaviour. Addiction is out of our control. If you have no control as to when you start or stop a behaviour, or are spending large amounts of time obsessively thinking about how, when, how much and where you will engage in the behaviour, then it is more than likely an addiction. For me, the defining line is the intention behind the behaviour. Am I having a glass of wine because I enjoy the taste and the ritual of a nice meal with a good glass of wine? Or am I addicted? Am I watching what I eat because I would like to be healthy? Or do I have an eating disorder? Maybe I play on-line games as I find them challenging. Or perhaps I can’t stop? What if you spend half the day thinking about having a drink, and thinking this is the only way to make you feel
better. Let’s say you spend most days planning your meals and carefully monitoring your food or you deprive yourself of food because this makes you feel more in control of your life. Or you spend hours on end gaming, as a means of cutting yourself off from your other responsibilities. If this sounds familiar, then you need to sit up and start asking yourself some serious questions about the effects of this behaviour on your life and your loved ones. The problem with addiction The real intention behind addiction is to use something outside of yourself to fix a problem that is going on inside of yourself. The problem is uncomfortable feelings, and the goal is to not feel them and to feel better by indulging in an emotionally numbing, repetitive activity. The truth of the matter is, in the beginning, this might work, but it is not a real solution. What happens next is that you begin to feel those unwanted feelings again. This leaves you feeling out of control, so you decide to drink more or eat less or more, or game more, gamble, shop, watch pornography, have excessive sexual contact, take drugs or self-medicate yourself
with prescription drugs. Whatever the behaviour is, increasing it doesn’t help, and you feel more out of control, so you do it more. You begin to feel distressed and experience dramatic mood changes. You may experience uncontrollable anger, or suffer from a depressed or anxious mood. The addictive behaviour seems to be taking these oppressive, unwanted feelings away less and less and they seem to be growing. So, in the beginning, the behaviour might well have been of help with the uncomfortable feelings. However, that ship has now sailed, and it ain’t coming back! What happens now? Simple, I have seen it many times. If you are not prepared to make a change, what will generally follow, is a downward spiral, defined by more and more of the same self-destructive behaviour. Seeking help for addiction Another thing you need to know about addiction is that it is progressive. Defined as a disease, like any other disease it gets worse if not addressed. The “disease” within you will only increase if you are not able
to be honest with yourself and seek help. Patients and clients will often share with me that they never realised the extent of their addiction until they became open to exploring the obsessive, compulsive, dysfunctional, out of control way they were living their lives. And don’t think for one minute you are alone in this behaviour. I know the sufferer normally thinks that they are. But the truth is your addiction affects others and sadly the ones you love usually bear the brunt. More and more you might be isolating yourself, making promises to yourself and others that you can’t keep. Your relationships with others begin to fall apart. You might have increased financial worries and symptoms of an anxious or depressed mood. You feel like you are a bad, unloved, unworthy, misunderstood individual, whose life is spiralling out of control. Or, if you can recognise some of what I have mentioned above in yourself, then maybe you are suffering from a disease called addiction. A disease for which there is help, if you are open to it.
Hayley van Stenis is a Holistic Counsellor in Applied Psychology, specialising in Addiction, Crisis and Trauma. Dip Counselling (SACAP) Holistic Counsellor ASCHP HC2017/190 I use the perspective that a client is a dynamic psychological-spiritualphysical-social living system. I honour the diversity of the human being and use an integrated approach within sessions, excluding psychotherapy, social work, medical work and occupational therapy. I will work with a variety of applicable modalities, supporting the client with compassion, nonjudgment and open-mindedness. Together we work towards the client’s improved sense of wellbeing in work, personal or relational settings. Arundel Medical Centre, c/o Church & Arundel St, Hermanus. www.hayleyvanstenis.co.za Call 082 492 4285
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26 September 2018
The ins and outs of Cosmetic Smile Surgery
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e as a society are preoccupied with beauty, but in all fairness, all animals and humans are attracted to beauty. It must be stressed though that beauty really is in the eye of the beholder and thankfully not all of us want the same in a partner. There are also cultural differences to take into account and today’s clinician has to be aware of these as societies are multicultural, and none more so than South Africa. So where does the smile feature in facial beauty? In a study published in August 2018 in the USA, the smile beat eyes into second place as the most important feature of attractiveness in men. In other studies a beautiful smile was found to be important in creating a sense of approachability – regardless of other factors. No one will contest the fact that a beautiful smile is essential in our concept of a beautiful face/person. More shocking perhaps is that beautiful people get better jobs, lighter sentences, are more often promoted and receive less disciplining at school. No one ever said life was fair! Symmetry is one important aspect of a beautiful face that most experts agree on and this holds true for a beautiful smile as well. Although small discrepancies between the left and right side of the face/smile are acceptable, asymmetry detracts from a beautiful face or smile. A smile has three components, namely the lips forming the borders, the teeth (of which the shape, colour and size are important), and then the gums, where harmony of form, colour and symmetry around the midline also play an important part. The teeth can be changed in a few hours or days by bleaching them a
whiter shade, or in extreme cases making use of crowns or veneers to change the shape, size and colour. What cannot be changed so quickly is if the gums are not symmetrical, or if the shape and form is not aesthetic. The two most common reasons for asymmetry in the smile or changes in the gum harmony are, firstly, aggressive brushing which causes the gums to recede on some teeth and, secondly, if the gums never settled at the right level during the teen years. The latter causes what is called a gummy smile (Figure 1) with excessive gum display when smiling, while aggressive brushing will destroy a beautiful smile by creating the effect of being “long in the tooth”. The good news is that both gummy smiles and receding gums can be fixed. In both cases the only option is a surgical one. We can transplant gum where it has been lost due to aggressive brushing, or shape it into a balanced smile where it appears gummy or asymmetrical. Although the mere thought of surgery may scare away many patients, especially young ones, it is really not a big operation and I have done it on many scholars and students. It is done in the chair in our practice and the operation generally lasts for 1,5 hours if done by an experienced specialist.
(Periodontium is the name for the gums and jaw bone around teeth). The secret is not to remove any gum tissue (which cannot grow back!) and not to harm the jaw bone surrounding the teeth, but to rather shape the jaw bone around teeth. This is the only way to achieve a 48-hour postoperative result as in Figure 2. Although there is an immediate improvement, the gums will develop into a more pleasing smile over a period of weeks to months, with few noticing the surgical impact. To create perfect symmetry when doing this kind of operation takes years of specialist training and experience. If it is not done properly, it can be difficult if not impossible to repair the damage. In all gummy cases the patient displays shorter than normal teeth, but in almost all cases the teeth are actually normal in size, just covered by gums, thereby creating the abnormal “gummy” appearance. The teeth have to be exposed to a normal size to give a pleasing smile. In some cases the diagnosis is more complex and the patient will have the whole jaw in the incorrect relationship with the face. In such cases it becomes a multi-disciplinary treatment involving a periodontist, orthodontist and a maxilla-facial surgeon (Figure 3).
Conscious sedation in our surgery is always an option for the very nervous patient. Most patients can go back to work or school/university the next day and if done on a Friday there is the weekend to recuperate to be ready by Monday.
A comprehensive examination is needed to come to a correct diagnosis, and the staging of the surgery is of great importance. If the teeth are in fact short, heavily filled or damaged, new crowns will have to be done by the dentist or prosthodontist (Figures 4-6).
So what does the surgery involve? It is very much part of the speciality of Periodontics and is also known as Periodontal Plastic Surgery
Taking care of one’s smile by correct brushing and flossing is an investment for life – and one that will save you a lot of money in the long run.
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Figure 1. A gummy smile with excessive gum display when smiling.
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Figure 2. A 23-year-old student before and two days after surgery, with larger teeth and less gummy appearance even at this early stage. Ivisible sutures can also be used.
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Figure 3. A young patient with the jaw in incorrect relationship and needing orthodontic, periodontic and maxillo-facial treatment.
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Figure 4. A 33-year-old female with gummy smile requiring gum surgery and crowns.
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Figure 5. Six months after gum surgery and crowns on upper teeth.
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Figure 6. Patient showing a stable result 25 years after treatment.
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26 September 2018
Rabies is a real risk to pets everywhere
outh African pet owners should not harbour the false impression that urban and suburban pets are unlikely to contract rabies because they don’t come into contact with farm animals.
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MY Pet
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Dr Hilldidge Beer
As the virus progresses, the symptoms become more distressing, until death occurs. These include: • Severe agitation • Aggressive, uncontrollable behaviour • Inability to swallow • Excessive salivation • Seizures • An irrational fear of water, triggered when water is offered to drink (hydrophobia).
The reality is that in South Africa dog bites are responsible for more than 90% of rabies deaths in humans. Rabies kills more than 50 000 people worldwide each year and in Africa, the number is rising. In 2016, two cases of humans infected with rabies were reported in SA; but by the first 6 months of this year there were already 14. Ironically, while rabies is 100% fatal it is also 100% prevent-able through vaccination. What you can do to beat rabies 1. Vaccinate your pets, cats and dogs. It is a legal requirement in SA that all pets must be vaccinated against rabies. They should be vaccinated at 3 months of age, with a booster at 9 months, and then every three years afterwards. Given that rabies is endemic in South Africa, many vets are now recommending annual vaccinations. The majority of pets experience no adverse effects following vaccination. A small number of animals may become feverish and have a reduced appetite. These reactions are mild and of short duration. In extremely rare cases, an animal may experience a severe, lifethreatening allergic reaction. This can be treated successfully if attended to immediately. 2. Encourage your children to tell you if they have been licked or bitten by any animal.
Nausea and vomiting Tingling and intense itchiness at the site of the bite after the wound has healed Anxiety and difficulty sleeping
Sometimes people with rabies do not have these dramatic symptoms, but gradually become completely paralysed and slip into a terminal coma. This form of rabies is more difficult to recognise. What should I do if bitten by a potentially rabid animal? Hold the wound under running water for at least 10 minutes. Deep puncture wounds should be irrigated using a syringe. Wounds should not be sutured and local anaesthetic should not be given. Anti-tetanus treatment and antibiotics may be administered if indicated.
3. Teach them not to approach animals they don't know. 4. Donate to animal welfare organisations in your area that conduct rabies vaccination campaigns. The more pets that are vaccinated, the lower the risk of the disease spreading to your pets.
How rabies occurs The rabies virus, present in the saliva of an animal, can be transferred to a human through bites, scratches or other wounds that break the skin and allow the saliva to enter the body. It attacks the central nervous system of the host. Rabies can occur as long as 20 to 60 days
after exposure to the virus, but it can also occur months or years after exposure. Early symptoms are often vague, but can include: • Fever • Headache • Sore throat • Fatigue • Loss of appetite
■ A health professional will also offer you a series of rabies vaccinations (also called post-exposure prophylaxis) plus additional wound care and disinfection. Rabies can be beaten. Please don’t hesitate, vaccinate - Veterinarian Dr Hilldidge Beer is CEO of the EberVet Petcare Group and EberVet Vetshops. www.ebervet.com
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26 September 2018 THANK YOU, SEEFF HERMANUS On Tuesday 28 August, U17 rugby boys from Hermanus High and a few other schools took part in trials for the provincial tournament. The HHS team were the ones selected to represent Boland at the SARU Provincial Sevens tournament in Potchefstroom on 28 and 29 September. The boys were extremely excited to receive sponsored backpacks and tog bags from Seeff Hermanus with the Boland logo branded on them. Here is their coach Milton Prodehl (middle) with Susan McCarthy (left) and Paul Kruger (right) from Seeff Hermanus. PHOTO: Taylum Meyer
HERMANUS ATHLETES GO TO NATIONALS Four fitness athletes from Hermanus were among the few selected to represent their provinces at the IFBBSA National Championships in Rustenburg from 13 – 16 September. The athletes placed very well in the two previous IFBB competitions (see The Village NEWS, 7 August and 5 September editions) and it was no surprise that they all once again placed in the top five in their categories in South Africa. André, Annamarie and Gerhard represented Western Province and Natasha represented Gauteng. Pictured here are the athletes in their provincial gear at Proactive Gym where they train. From left are André Joubert (Men’s Masters third place), Natasha Byleveld (Ladies Beach Bikini Over 163cm fourth place), Annamarie Barnard (Ladies Physique first place) and Gerhard Ferreira (Men’s Classic Physique fourth place). Annamarie has also been sponsored by IFBB to compete in their prestigious Gentle Giant Classic event that will take place in Boksburg on 26 October. PHOTO: Taylum Meyer
HELP TO SPONSOR DANCE TEAM JD Academy was started just over a year ago by Nadine Venter, to ignite local children’s passion for dance and to create a space where they can explore and develop their talent. Since then, the school has gone from strength to strength, and a team of their dancers has now been chosen to represent Western Province at the DANCA Nationals in Durban. To help raise funds for the trip, Ocean Creek Spur at the Whale Coast Mall has come to their rescue. If you have a meal there on Wednesday, 26 September and Tuesday, 2 October, between 17:00 and 19:00, they will donate 10% of your bill to JD (Just Dance) Academy to make these girls’ dreams a reality! Anyone who would like to support these talented girls can contact Nadine on 082 923 7992 or nadinejventer@gmail.com
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26 September 2018
Ten out of ten for GetSavvi Walker Bay 7s
he inaugural GetSavvi Walker Bay 7s got off to a roaring start this weekend when more than 300 spectators and 400 athletes comprising 40 teams participated on Saturday in rugby, netball, hockey and dodgeball games at Hermanus High School. A development clinic was also hosted at the school on Friday, where almost 100 children from all over the region were trained in skills and technique by sporting professionals, Abeline Olivier of Western Province Stings Netball, Kobus van Dyk of the Stormers and SA hockey player Matthew Roman. “Development clinics are very important to the physical and mental development of young athletes. The quicker they have access to the best, the quicker they will become the best. We will be hosting this clinic annually and are hoping for more opportunities like these for young athletes,� said Bianca le Roux, Tournament Director. Full results and more photos on P 32
LEFT: At the back are Stormers player Kobus van Dyk and Jian Henn, rugby director of the tournament with a group of local children who participated in the GetSavvi Walker Bay 7s development clinic held on Friday at Hermanus High School. The clinic was followed by the 7s tournament on Saturday when teams competed in not only rugby but also netball, hockey and dodgeball. BELOW: Some of the children who were trained in rugby, netball and hockey by sporting professionals at the development clinic on Friday.
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26 September 2018
A sad farewell to Christo Nel
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reetings to one and all once more. We have definitely noticed an upward swing in the number of golfers coming through the doors, and it’s great to feel a little warmth and see a few more new swings!
The Putting Pirate Julian Shaw
Farewell, Christo Nel We start off this week with some sad news. A member for many years and an absolute gentleman, Christo Nel, passed away last week. A few things I’ll remember about Christo is how he loved wearing brightly-coloured clothes, especially pants, how he painted his own golf clubs to great effect and how he could play this game really well.
This week we had some super rains so much in fact that both the girls’ and the guys’ competitions had to be cancelled. Better luck next week! SATURDAY ALL TOGETHER 15 SEPTEMBER Betterball Bonus Bogey 115 players – Winners: Morgan O’Kennedy and Philip Munro +11C/I; Runners-up: Brandon Shaw and Damian Grib +11C/O 3 two clubs Ball pool paid to 68 Attendance draw sponsored by Sotheby’s (fellow member John Quincey) was won by Trevor Schouw. SUNDAY MIXED 16 SEPTEMBER 4 Ball Alliance 36 players – Winners: James Storbeck, Mike Wells, Pat van Renen and Elise Nykamp 76 points; Runners-up: Gawie and Marlene Erasmus, and Ant and Toni Upton 75 points.
John Stergianos and half for our ViceCaptain, Albert Streicher. Albert won’t be here that weekend so our treasurer, Richard Jones is standing in for him. It’s a betterball stableford competition with some snacks, prizes and a trophy – and of course, bragging rights galore!
In fact, at Hermanus Golf Club he was a bit of a legend. If you can shoot a score below your age it is a fantastic feat – and Christo managed this over 100 times. And if you think about it, not only do you have to play really well but you have to live long enough too! I managed to find this pic of Christo from when he crossed the 100 times barrier a couple of years ago. We miss you, Christo and thank you for what you contributed to our Golf Club. May you rest in peace, sir. Sharks vs Whales Coming up soon on 29 September is the Captain vs Vice-Captain competition. This is always a fun event, when half the field plays for the Captain,
Scores at a glance
Night shelter Occasionally something will come across my path that I think is just amazing. One of our members, Jan Mulder chatted to me about the Hermanus Night Shelter Association’s (HNSA) initiative to build a night shelter for our homeless residents. They are in need of funding and if ever I have heard of a deserving cause, this has to be near the top. Christo Nel
The HNSA has, since 2007, worked to alleviate the desperate situation facing the homeless population of
the Overstrand region. As part of their commitment to restoring hope and dignity, they are building and will operate an overnight shelter where homeless persons will have their basic needs of shelter, warmth, nutrition, privacy and access to ablutions met. They have managed so far to purchase land and start construction of the shelter but are in need of more funds to continue. If anyone would like to support them, please contact Ray Hartmann on nightshelterhermanus@gmail.com. You can find out more about this project at www.hermanusshelter.co.za I know for sure that on a cold rainy night I could not bear to think of myself or my family not under a roof, warm and dry. The very best of luck to you all. Until next week, remember to keep calm and go golfing!
32
26 September 2018
THE
NEWS
MY Sport
Walker Bay 7s results Rugby: Mens open final: Saggy Stone 45 – 40 Samurai (Hawston). At full time of this match the score was 40 – 40 and the game went into sudden death, Saggy Stones then scored a try to win the final. Rugby U/18 winner: Primrose High School (Southern Suburbs, Cape Town). Netball: Ladies open final: The Incredibles (Tygervalley) 22 – 11 The Supers (Montague). Netball U/18 winner: Bosmansdam Babes (Bothasig). Dodgeball: Club division: Throwbocops (Cape Town) 2 – 3 Sitting Ducks (Cape Town). Social: Beasty Balls (Cape Town) 3 – 2 Coastline Kings (Hermanus). Hockey: Mixed open: The Other Reds (Milnerton) 4 – 2 The Reds (Milnerton). U/18 winners: The Clout Gang (Hermanus High School team).
PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer and Walker Bay 7s
