THE VILLAGE
NEWS
27 JANUARY 2021 YOUR FREE COPY #ALLOVEROVERBERG The next issue of The Village NEWS will be out on 3 February 2021.
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Celebrating a century of life
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Close encounter with a snake
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Congratulations to top performers
Local resident Sam Beams is not only a keen hiker but also a talented photographer who has garnered an enthusiastic following on social media. This photo of Fick’s Pool, showing the idyllic setting of Ficks Restaurant & Wine Bar, was taken on a perfect summer’s day recently while on a hike along the Cliff Path from the New Harbour to Gearing’s Point. “Hermanus is the perfect place to live for great photo opportunities,” says Sam. Follow her on www. facebook.com/samscapesphotography. PHOTO: Sam Beams, Samscapes Photography
Tough times for tourism Writer De Waal Steyn
D
ata released this week by the Western Cape Government show the dramatic impact Level 3 lockdown restrictions and the Covid-19 pandemic have had on the tourism industry.
According to David Maynier, Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, the top attractions in the province have shown a 60% decline in visitors over the peak season. “This data confirms the desperate state of the tourism and hospitality industry in the Western Cape and considering the evidence that the Western Cape is passed its peak and the demand on our health services is stabilising, this reinforces the need to relax the Level 3 restrictions that are negatively impacting the economy,” Maynier said. Local tourism businesses echoed the minister’s call, with one of them saying that several tourism businesses would not survive if the ban on the
sale of alcohol, the early curfew and the closure of beaches continued.
decreased by up to 27% on South Africa’s major highways.
International tourist arrivals were much lower than initially anticipated for the traditional peak season. Passenger data of the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) show that international passenger travel at the Cape Town International Airport in December was a mere 19% of December 2019 volumes. Aircraft were operating at only 51% of their passenger load factors (compared to 72% in December 2019).
“With the announcement of hotspots and beach closures in December, coastal towns saw immediate cancellations from domestic markets. A survey by NightsBridge, conducted after the announcement of the Garden Route as a hotspot, found that one-third of guesthouses on the Garden Route indicated at least 50% of festive season cancellations. The same study reported that 12.7% of bookings in the Western Cape were cancelled,” said the minister.
The domestic terminal at Cape Town International Airport saw only 51% of the volume of travellers compared with December 2019.
These reports not only show the precarious situation of the tourism and hospitality industry, but also the impact of the restrictions on the economy in the Western Cape.
STR, a company that provides market data on the hotel industry, reports hotel occupancy levels in the Western Cape were at 32.7% in December 2020, compared to 68.1% in December 2019. Vehicle counts nationally indicate that there was a reduction in the number of overland domestic travellers during the season. Traffic volumes
“As we know from the most recent South Africa Tourism Survey (December 2020), 58% of tourism and hospitality businesses were unable to service their debts and 61% of businesses were unable to cover fixed costs in October 2020. This was before the Alert Level 3 restrictions were announced in December.
“I will write to the Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, calling for the immediate easing of restriction in respect of the curfew, the closure of beaches and the onsite consumption of liquor in restaurants and similar establishments, as well as allowing the tasting and selling of liquor at wineries and wine farms. I have also written to the Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi, to urgently extend the UIF Covid-19 TERS scheme for the duration of the Level 3 restrictions to assist businesses and employees who have been impacted by the restrictions,” Maynier said. Provincial head of Health, Dr Keith Cloete, said that there had been a significant decrease in the number of active cases, hospitalisations, and deaths. Active cases have seen a 33% drop in the last 7 days. Cloete said that it only made sense for restrictions to be eased. "The restrictions that we asked for as the Western Cape government was to specifically bring relief to the healthcare system towards the end of December and beginning of January to be able to cope with the cases."
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How to renew your vehicle licence disk O verstrand Municipality encourages residents to please consider online renewal of vehicle licences whenever possible. Ensure that you pay the correct amount into the Overstrand Municipality primary bank account and use the relevant car registration number as a reference. Transactions cannot be processed if the amount due and the reference number are incorrect. Members of the public can ascertain the correct amount due by phoning Traffic Services on 028 313 8175/8031/8166 (Hermanus Traffic), 028 384 8339 (Gansbaai Traffic) or 028 271 8400 (Kleinmond Traffic) before making an EFT payment. Due to high call volumes to the vehicle licensing office requesting the correct amount due, not all calls are being attended to. As an alternative, your request can be emailed to any of the following: jwilliams@overstrand.gov.za; pafrica@overstrand. gov.za; zbotma@overstrand.gov.za or iswartz@overstrand.gov.za. Unfortunately you will not receive an answer immediately but enquiries will be addressed within two to three working days. Please provide your vehicle registration number and ID number and contact details. Banking details to pay your car licence renewal: Bank: Nedbank Account Name: Overstrand Municipality Account Number (Primary Account): 1190136678 Type of account: Current Account Branch Code: 198765 Branch: Inland Garden Route SWIFT Code: NEDSZAJJ * use your car licence number as reference number Once payment reflects on the
municipality’s bank statement, the vehicle licence will be processed, and you can collect the disk from the respective traffic department (allow at least 3 – 5 working days for this or phone to ask if the disk is ready for collection). Remember to keep a copy of your proof of payment in the relevant car until you receive your licence disk – and keep your expired disk on your window in the meantime. As reminder: • Please, do not pay a random amount into the bank account. An incorrect amount will need to be investigated and will cause further delays. • Always use your car licence number as reference number e.g. CEM XXXX • Do not use ‘ouma se karretjie’ or ‘kerneels’ as reference. This will cause further delays. • Remember to take your proof of payment with you, when collecting the disk. Collection of vehicle license disks: Payments for license disks made via EFT can be collected at the relevant licensing and registration offices. When collecting the disk, bring proof of payment with. Inform the security officers at the door of the licensing office that you are there to collect your licence disk that you have paid for via EFT. Hand over the proof of payment and they will go inside the office to collect the disk on your behalf.
When somebody else collects the disk on behalf of the vehicle owner: • Authorisation letter stating the registration number and the authorisation of the person doing the collection (the person's full names). • A certified copy of your ID and their own ID.
27 January 2021
Fined during lockdown – now what? If you have been fined for an expired motor vehicle licence disk (or for that matter for the contravention of any traffic law), you have the constitutional right to appear in court and to put your case to said court. You can also dispute your traffic fine, in writing, with the municipal traffic department any time before a summons has been issued. Once a motorist is issued with a fine for a traffic offence or driving with an expired license disk, processes must be followed. Learner’s licences, driver’s licences
(card), temporary driver’s licences and professional driving permits that expired between 26 March 2020 and 31 December 2020 are deemed valid and validity has been extended for a further grace period ending 31 August 2021. Keep any proof of payment if you have renewed your motor vehicle driver's licence during lockdown, but were unable to collect due to the closure of traffic services. The extension on driver’s licences does not, however, apply to motor vehicle licence disks and motor-
ists are understandably frustrated with the renewal process of motor vehicle licences. Should you be fined, you would need to contest this as follows: Under the AARTO Act, motorists can make a representation to dispute a traffic infringement to the Public Prosecutor or to the Overstrand Traffic Chief. Forms can be obtained from the respective traffic offices (fines department) or via email to lcarolissen@overstrand.gov.za (Hermanus), zbotma@overstrand.gov.za (Gansbaai) or iswartz@overstrand. gov.za (Kleinmond).
Receive your municipal account via email Overstrand Municipality encourages residents to receive their accounts via email by sending a request to enquiries@overstrand.gov.za. If you have more than one account, you do not have to send the same request again. You can simply add the other accounts to your original email request. Accounts are payable at the latest by the 20th of each month. Please pay accounts timeously to avoid collection fees, interest, increased deposits and the termination and/or limitation of services. As convenient as electronic transfers may be, please take extra care when you enter the reference number or account name. If you make one payment for different accounts, specify (via email) how much should go towards settling each of the accounts. When paying an overdue account, please make sure that the municipality has been furnished with the correct information:
• the amount you will be paying now, • the name of the account holder and • the part of the account that is being settled. Residents can settle their municipal accounts at the Overstrand Municipal offices, supermarkets, via the Pay@ and Easy Pay systems, electronic transfers (EFT) and other online banking options that are available. Always use your account number as reference when making payment. If you have not received your account by the 10th, please contact a Client Services Officer at your nearest Rates Hall: Kleinmond (028 271 8400) Hermanus (028 313 8000) Stanford (028 341 8500) and Gansbaai (028 384 8300) – or direct any questions regarding municipal accounts to enquiries@overstrand. gov.za or visit your nearest municipal office to verify your account details. Please note that Overstrand Municipality cannot be held responsible
if the incorrect reference is used when making an EFT or third party payment. The bank account for Overstrand’s account payments: Bank: Nedbank Account number: 1190136899 Type of account: Current Account Universal Branch Code: 198765 Branch: Inland Garden Route (Please note that this is the correct reference for Overstrand Municipality) SWIFT Code: NEDSZAJJ Pre-paid electricity: Pre-paid electricity can be bought online. Visit the website home.ontec. co.za (or you can download the app from Google play store) or you can buy electricity directly from your bank. Pre-paid electricity may also be purchased from various outlets such as convenience stores, supermarkets and other small vendors.
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27 January 2021
A rose by any other name Writer Elaine Davie
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hat’s Hermanus Varsity we’re talking about. And it’s requesting your help. So read on‌
Less than two years ago, in March 2019, the Hermanus Varsity Trust (HVT) was launched to the polar extremes of excitement and scepticism amongst the local population. In the rock ‘n roll months that followed, the emotion felt by most changed to pride. It had truly become what it had set out to be, a project ‘by the community, for the community’. A home-grown rose, a sign of hope. Of course the founding vision, arising out of the violent protests of 2018, was that Hermanus Varsity would provide an affordable opportunity for the young people of this region to obtain a post-matric qualification without leaving home. Furthermore, the intention was that the focus would be on offering qualifications that would equip them for employment or entrepreneurial activities that would enhance local economic growth. The model chosen was one of partnership with recognised tertiary institutions around the country which would make online courses available to HV students. They would be assisted with tutorial support from retired academics living in and around Hermanus. Course curricula would be the preserve of the partnering institution which would also take responsibility for student evaluation, to maintain quality standards, and certification. The Universities of Stellenbosch and Johannesburg came on board immediately, followed by Nelson Mandela University.
everything was thrown into disarray. When students were unable to use the computers at the Hub, many of them had to receive their online course material on their cellphones. At a time when families were struggling to put food on the table, the data this gobbled up was completely unaffordable. HV realised it would not only have to get involved in food distribution for the students and their families, but also the provision of data.
of all the people of the Overstrand in this significant step, HV is calling for suggestions for a new name (see guidelines on this page). Unfortunately, there is no prize on offer, except bragging rights for the initiator of the successful suggestion. Once a name has been chosen a new Non-Profit Company will be registered which will be accountable to the Trustees of the Hermanus Varsity Trust, the name of which will also change.
What was even worse for the students was being deprived of contact with their tutors. If nothing had previously demonstrated how important the mentors were to the success of the students, it was this crisis. Although they did their best to remain in touch by phone and video links, nothing could replace face-toface support, from both an academic and personal point of view. Despite all these disruptions, 31 HV students and their tutors celebrated the successful completion of their courses at the end of the year.
Delana is enthusiastic about the year ahead. “We look forward to interacting with the DHET and various SETAs, as well as exploring exciting new partnerships with other organisations, institutions, and investors to improve the focus of our offerings. We also need to take a measured and cautious look at how we cut our coat to suit our cloth, and examine how we select and prioritise initiatives that will have a measurable impact. It may even be necessary to take the difficult decision to limit the scope of our efforts to ensure sustainability. Importantly, though, we intend maintaining and constantly improving the already extraordinary quality of the support we give our students.
Another wonderful opportunity for HV presented itself in September 2020, when they were approached by Stellenbosch University to make HV available as a case study for 30 post-graduate students from around the world who were participating in the Global MBA Consortium. The report they produced was extremely favourable; their research revealed nothing similar anywhere in the world and with a couple of tweaks, they felt it had an important role to play in bringing about societal change in the community.
The first course to be introduced in 2019 was UJ’s part-time 10-module LED (Local Economic Development) course, which was expected to take two years to complete. By the end of the year the students had achieved outstanding results for the first two modules. This course was slated to continue in 2020, and another oneyear full-time course, the Criminal Law Enforcement Programme – Environment (CLEP) presented by NMU, was added.
This objective feedback led to a decision by Delana and her team to press the Pause button for a while longer while they reimagined the role and future direction of HV, drawing on what was working well and correcting any missteps they might have made during the developmental process. Along with some management and structural changes proposed by the post-graduate MBA students, they decided to change the name of HV, to which the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) had registered objections. And this is where you, dear reader, come in.
But then along came lockdown and
Wishing to solicit the participation
“Not every student has that special spark, but we encounter so many that do and are prepared to sacrifice everything to succeed. We believe that it’s our duty to identify and invest in them, so that they in turn can act as role models for others. At the same time, we have a strong desire to help existing businesses be the best they can be by producing young people who have the necessary tools to enhance their enterprise, or indeed to become successful entrepreneurs in their own right.� HV is gearing up to open on 1 March and has already been overwhelmed by applications for the various courses it will be offering this year: a B Ed (Foundation Phase), ECD Level 5, Digital skills, Aquaculture and Agriculture, as well as the remaining LED modules and, hopefully, a new CLEP course. And as this remarkable project continues on its journey of re-imagination, we look forward to your suggestions for a new and inspirational name, in the certainty that ‘a rose by any other name will smell as sweet’.
Geliefde Aarden
Selma Ncube receives a letter of congratulation from HVT’s CEO, Delana Finlayson. One of the 31 HV students who successfully completed their courses at the end of last year, Selma achieved distinctions in both of the Coursera courses and has applied to study towards the B.Ed. Degree, starting in 2021. PHOTO: Johann Kruger
GUIDELINES: HVT RENAMING PARTICIPATION HVT (A registered Trust) is evolving into a non-profit company and we need a new identity. We are inviting the community to participate in helping us find a new name. Time to get creative! Here are some guidelines to consider: 1. Think outside the box! 2. We would like our name to reflect our creative, innovative, community-orientated, environmentally-friendly value system, where partnerships are key. 3. We would like a name that is transportable to other geographic areas, so the name should not include Hermanus or Walker Bay. 4. To comply with the require-
ments of the Department of Higher Education, we are not allowed to use the words university, college, varsity or school in the name of the new non-profit company. 5. We would like to steer clear of words in our new name that are too traditional, i.e. academy or institute. 6. Please read the article above carefully to get a sense of who we are and what we aim to achieve. 7. If you have any questions, please email Johann@ hermanusvarsity.co.za Please submit your suggestions via the email address above to us by 12 February 2021 with a written motivation of approximately 500 words to support your suggestion.
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27 January 2021
Celebrating a century of life Writer & Photographer Elaine Davie
involvement with children.
O
“She’s so small, but with us children, she was very strict,” remembers Hilda. “Each of the six of us – three girls and three boys – had our jobs to do around our farm at Eikenhof on the outskirts of Johannesburg, and you’d better be careful if you didn’t do what you were supposed to do. It was all about discipline, though, and I think the fact that we have all made our lives count had a lot to do with the sense of responsibility she taught us.”
n 1 February 1921, three years after the end of WWI, in the middle of the Spanish influenza pandemic and 18 years before the start of WWII, a baby girl was born on a farm in rural South Africa. On 1 February 2021 Antie Joutjie (Johanna) Kuhrau of Kleinmond will be celebrating her 100th birthday. And what’s more, she says she has been so blessed in her life that she would be quite happy to live another 100 years! How can one walk in the footsteps of someone who has travelled such a long road? Looking into her smiley eyes now, one can only guess at the social change, the joys and sadness, disappointment and fulfillment she has experienced along her journey. It’s all there, though, locked up in the vault of her memory. On Monday Antie Joutjie will be celebrating with a slap-up lunch with her six children, all still alive. Because of Covid limitations, her 18 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren will not be physically present but in her heart they will be there. One of the things her two daughters, Hilda Greyling (with whom she lives) and Alta Forster remember most about growing up with their mother was her
Perhaps the way she brought up her children was influenced by how she herself grew up. She, her seven sisters (one of them her twin, Lizzie) and one brother all had to help their disabled father on their farm. They had to pitch in and till the soil, plant the crops and weed the lands. “And if my father thought we were being lazy or slowing down,” she laughs, “he used to throw clods of soil at us.” Her mood changes. “Ja, we didn’t have an easy time growing up.” The happiest time of her life, she says, was working at Cotlands Baby Sanctuary in Johannesburg, after her own children had left home. “Oh I loved those little babies,” she smiles, her eyes turned inward to the memory. “I cried with the unmarried mothers when they left them with us and I cried when they were adopted and left the home. Oh, I loved those little things.”
Her daughters remember her making jigsaw puzzles with her grandchildren, too. The children would get bored and give up, but she kept going till it was done. “Unfortunately, her eyesight’s not really good enough for that anymore,” says Hilda. “It hasn’t stopped her knitting though. She has always enjoyed knitting and so it continues, morning, noon and night; mostly scarves, now.”
“I didn’t realise what an emotional experience this would be for me,” she says, “every name I add to the tree, every picture I paste, brings back so many memories. We’re a very tight-knit family and I know it will mean a lot to my mom. It’s such a strange world we’re living in and she often finds it
confusing, especially as her hearing is bad these days, so I just want to make it as special a day as possible for her.” And we, too, add our best wishes for Gesondeid to Antie Joutjie for her 100th birthday this coming Monday – as well as for the 100 still to come!
“Oh yes,” her mother chimes in, “I can’t sit here doing nothing; my hands have got to be busy. I knit and I read – the Bible and Die Groot Stryd – that’s how I keep busy.” No longer able to get around on her own, one of her greatest joys these days is to be taken by Hilda for a walk in her wheelchair around the neighbourhood. “People here are so friendly; they all know us and as we do our rounds, some invite us in for a cup of tea, or stop their cars for a chat,” says Hilda. “She loves getting out in the open air; that and sitting here at the big window overlooking the sea in the evenings, watching the beautiful sunsets.” So it’s all systems go for the big day. Hilda is busy creating a hundred-year family tree as a present for her mom, together with a scrapbook of memories, with pictures, letters from the past, messages, things that will be meaningful to her.
Antie Joutjie Kuhrau of Kleinmond who will be celebrating her 100th birthday next week, with two of her daughters, Hilda Greyling and Alta Forster.
Hermanus history and powered flight – Part 2 Writer Dr Robin Lee
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eople I have interviewed have told me that the Imperial Airways flying boat service between the UK and South Africa in the 1940s and 1950s sometimes made a stop at the Bot River Estuary. I have not been able to verify this information, and it seems such a stop would be too soon after take-off from Cape Town and too soon before landing at Cape Town. I continue to look for confirmation. Readers may be interested to know that the first weekly flights took 10 days, with 18 stops and lots of low-level sightseeing opportunities. In 1938 flights were doubled to two a week. By 1950, the final year of operation, the flight time was down to 4 days on the route Cape Town – Vaal Dam – Port Bell (Uganda) – Khartoum – Cairo – Augusta (Sicily) – Southampton and train to London. In the 1960s, Hermanus got its own airstrip, built where part of the suburb of Zwelihle is now. Many visitors flew into Hermanus on holiday, rather than drive from Cape Town and other parts of South Africa. Local flying enthusiasts kept hangars for private planes there and flew for pleasure. Readers of the Facebook post version of this article responded with stories
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27 January 2021
of their own. Mary Krone wrote: I landed at the Hermanus airstrip in the 1970s on one of my early training flights. What made it so special was that lots of tall trees surrounded the airstrip and it was rather a windy/gusty day. The ‘long & the short’ of it was that one had to ‘crab’ it in (i.e. keep the nose of the plane facing the 'wrong way' against the wind) until you were just at the height of the surrounding trees, at which point you had to adjust and aim at the runway itself quickly, or else you would have crashed into the trees due to the sudden loss of wind below the height of the trees. Scary stuff at the time, but exhilarating all the same. Andrew Embleton recalled several aspects of the airstrip in Hermanus, especially the fact that the Harvard planes used by the SAAF in the 1970s and 1980s, often landed there during training flights. (Andrew's father was a friend of Air Vice-Marshal Meredith referred to in Part 1 of this article.) As pressure for housing in the Zwelihle area grew in the 1970s, the airstrip became surrounded by human settlement. Acts of sabotage of the hangars and the planes began. Avril Sinclair noted: I have been living in Hermanus since 1987. My first visit here was by air, my first husband piloting the plane. We
Harvard planes used by the SAAF in the 1970s and 1980s, often landed at the Hermanus airstrip during training flights. This photograph was taken at an Open Day at the Hermanus airstrip in 1991. PHOTO: Andrew Embleton
PHOTO: African Wings
landed at the airstrip in about 1977, shortly before the place was vandalised. The airstrip finally ceased to function in the 1990s. Adrian Louw recalled that “the airstrip functioned into 1992 at least when an air show was held there. I managed to cadge a trip (to the show) in a rebuilt Super Dakota. The legendary Scully and famous announcers were there.”
ABOVE: African Wings is based near Stanford and continues to offer scenic tours that give visitors a bird’s eye view of Walker Bay and all its splendours. BELOW: Helicopters are a common sight during the fire season, scooping up water from the many dams in the area to fight wildfires.
Powered flight retained a link with Hermanus, even though the airstrip was no longer in operation. Evan Austin established the air charter company African Wings and recalled the more recent days of flight from an airfield near Stanford:
PHOTO: Charé van der Walt
My parents were Capetonians who moved to Pretoria in their twenties and lived on a farm where we grew up. My father flew as a means of travelling the length and breadth of South Africa with his family on holidays to every wild place imaginable in Southern Africa. In 1973 during a visit to Cape Town we drove out to Hermanus and Dad bought a holiday house in Westcliff. After that, the whole family would pile into the aircraft on the Pretoria farm and fly to Hermanus for the Christmas holiday. I moved to Hermanus in 1993 as a resident. I kept my aircraft on the Hermanus runway until it became untenable, after which I moved it to Weltevrede airfield in Stanford, which was owned by Jacko Jackson, an ex-airways pilot. I started African Wings, an air charter company with myself as the single owner/pilot/booking agent/aircraft washer. Had many enjoyable years flying whale-watching flights with my Cessna 175 and doing Namibia/Botswana private flying safaris from SA in a Mooney 201. The best ten years of my life. Then, stupidly sold the business to my brother and got a real job. African Wings is still doing whale-watching/ scenic flights out of Weltevrede, so Hermanus still has its own airline. (Read the whole story on www.africanwings.co.za) I have been seriously told that the
massive widening and straightening of Seventh Street in Voëlklip in the 1960s was done to provide an emergency runway for Mirages of the SAAF, in case other sites were unavailable because of enemy action. I have not been able to verify this fact. Powered flight is less evident in Hermanus in the 21st century. The road from Cape Town has been improved continuously and the driving time cut down, and tourists come by that route. From time to time, helicopters ferry in the really affluent visitors, usually landing at The Marine Hotel. Every year, the whale count takes place from fixed-wing aircraft that pass the town a few hundred metres offshore, but seldom fly over commercial or residential areas. They operate from Stanford. Very occasionally, jet fighters from de Hoop flash across the consciousness of residents and tourists. Autogyro flights by environmental photographers zoom in and out along the coast, looking for specific
target shots or images that capture the beauty of the coastline. Inland, helicopters also fly more frequently as the summer fire season sets in. They dip into one or more of the freshwater dams to fill their buckets and then rush off to help stem the spread of the fire. They maintain a practical link between powered flight and Hermanus but would see it as a failure to control the fire if they were forced to come too close to town. I have watched them dipping their buckets into the Rockfill Dam, one of the famous Three Dams that once supplied most of Hermanus with water. Increasingly, drones fly the skies over the coast and out to sea, to catch the ultimate publicity image for the next Airbnb website or a new book about Hermanus. They must be careful as, on any given day, there are many more paragliders hanging over the town than powered aircraft passing over it. Powered flight and Hermanus now intersect hardly at all. But, the history remains.
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FROM THE EDITOR
27 January 2021
Let's not stop caring
A year ago, when the first reports of Covid-19 reaching beyond the borders of China started surfacing, the Overstrand was still recovering from a busy season and businesses were readying themselves for the rest of the year. Little did we know what a devastating impact the Coronavirus would have on our lives. Looking back, we have had to adapt so much in such a short period of time. Words like lockdown and social
distancing were unknown to us, and the idea of having to don a face mask every time we stepped out of the house, let alone not being allowed to set foot on a beach did not even cross our minds. And although the virus and its impact will stay for us for a long time yet, we have so much to be thankful for. We live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, surrounded not only by the splendour of nature but also the warm heart of a caring community.
THE VILLAGE
NEWS WhatsApp or SMS your stories and photos to 083 700 3319
During the first wave of infections last year, the crisis still felt abstract to many of us, but with this second wave we all know someone who has
Realising he was the only person who knew the exact location of the wreck, voices from the bowels of his soul urged Marco to somehow get back there and claim his bounty. Being captured by Somali pirates didn’t help at all.
Hedda Mittner
CONTENT EDITOR T: 083 645 3928
E: hedda@thevillagenews.co.za
Elaine Davie
JOURNALIST T: 084 343 7500
E: elaine@thevillagenews.co.za Taylum Meyer PRODUCTION MANAGER, PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN T: 084 564 0779
Let us share the little we do have, for tomorrow we might need the same from others. There is an old saying: When you are going through hell, just don’t stop. Let’s not stop. – This is the good NEWS – Ed.
Let us not forget to show our
port of Lawrence O’Marks, she succumbed to Neptune’s temptations, and sank into his embrace with her precious cargo – the Kruger Millions.
E: dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za
E: raphael@thevillagenews.co.za
appreciation by reaching out to our neighbours, especially the sick and the hungry. We need to do this now, more than ever before. We are not alone; we are in this together.
Marco Polo and the Sultan of Swinging Zanzibar
De Waal Steyn
ONLINE EDITOR T: 074 125 5854
Being faced with death and hardship every day changes our outlook on life. We develop more appreciation for things we used to take for granted – the love and support of our loved ones, the warmth that friendship brings, the enjoyment of a nutritious meal.
While it is only natural at times to feel overwhelmed by Coronavirus-fatigue, now is not the time for us to stop caring.
PUBLISHING EDITOR T: 083 700 3319
Raphael da Silva
fallen ill or died. We are all feeling the impact more intensely, and our livelihoods are being threatened as never before.
So many individuals, businesses and organisations have reached out to help others during this difficult time, even while facing their own challenges.
By Murray Stewart murray.stewart49@gmail.com
T
his being the last edition of the month, we continue with the highs and lows of Marco Polo’s journey to the Far East via South Africa. Readers might remember that our captain, lured by the shiny prospect of finding Mr Kruger’s wagon-loads of gold, had deviated course to Delagoa Bay, where a vicious storm sunk his ship, the Santa Flatulata. Marco had no idea what the future may hold after being rescued by Somali pirates off the East Coast of Africa. Though thankful to be alive, he couldn’t stop fretting about the sinking of his ship. Just outside the
He couldn’t ask them to turn back and retrieve the gold, because once they had it, he’d be sleeping with the fishes. So he could only hope to escape and make his way either south to the gold, or east to where Pa was – in the land of chopsticks, silkworms and a Pleasure Dome called Xanadu. Fortunately for him, the only other European prisoner on board understood a smattering of French and Italian, so they could at least communicate while being tethered below deck. His name was Captain Phillips and his ship had been captured a week ago while completing a documentary on piracy in the Indian Ocean. He told Marco they were apparently bound for Dar es Salaam (Place of Peace) where they’d be auctioned off to Arab slave traders, and end up in some desert, digging for oil or building more pyramids.
After eight days of being shackled together in the stinking darkness, they eventually docked at Dar to much fanfare. It was market day, and apart from the food, clothes and trinkets on display, so too were the slaves. At noon, to a cacophony of yells, smells and tinkling bells, a frenzy of bidding by the slave traders reached a crescendo. These slaves were burly blokes, from the lands further south called Mo Zam Beek (Land Further South) and they were all snapped up pretty quickly. Because Marco and Captain Phillips looked obviously different, their pigmentation was deemed unsuitable for manual labour in the desert and, much to the amusement of the local rabble, they were the only two left. Nobody wanted them. After heated negotiations in Arabic, it was decided to send them to Zanzibar to work in the spice plantations, where being pale wouldn’t curtail the amount of cloves they could harvest. So that afternoon they were bundled onto a dhow, and with Marco still clutching his vuvuzela, they headed north-east to the islands. Now, Zanzibar was a breath of fresh air compared with the foetid squalor of Dar. For a start they were unshackled, because being an island, there was no escape. Sharks and treacher-
ous currents saw to that, and Marco and Captain Phillips were made fully aware of the peril. Anyway, there weren’t too many pale-skinned blokes on the island, and they stuck out like floaters in the punch bowl. Their personal guard and interpreter was a chap called Napoleon. He had recently retired from the French Foreign Legion after losing an eye in battle, and was fluent in French and Arabic. As it turned out, both he and Captain Phillips were fitness fanatics, and before the labours of the day would begin, they’d go for a run to the nearby Jozani forest and back. Before long, some locals joined in for fun and pretty soon it became known as the ‘forest run’, and Captain Phillips always led the pack. After a few weeks they were summoned to the Sultan’s Palace (Beit-el Ajaib), The House of Wonders. The Sultan hadn’t come across many Europeans recently and was curious about what they were up to. Marco was delighted to discover that he’d heard of that Pleasure Dome in Xanadu and that he, too, planned to travel there soon. Could this be Marco’s ticket to the East? When the Arabic notes are decoded, we’ll keep you updated – in the meantime, let’s hold thumbs...
E: taylum@thevillagenews.co.za
Charé van der Walt MARKETING & SALES MANAGER T: 082 430 1974
FORECASTS: HERMANUS, OVERBERG Proudly sponsored by Talisman Tool Hire Hermanus
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COVID-19 DASHBOARD OVERSTRAND
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EL
TOTAL CASES AS OF 18 JAN 2021:
OVERSTRAND BREAKDOWN OF CASES: TOTAL (ACTIVE)
WORLD: 100 010 010 SOUTH AFRICA: 1 412 986 WESTERN CAPE: 262 931 (18.6% of cases in SA) OVERBERG: 12 670
• FISHERHAVEN: 37 (5) • GANSBAAI: 173 (25) • HAWSTON: 384 (78) • HERMANUS: 403 (46) • KLEINMOND: 642 (53)
• MT PLEASANT: 338 (31) • ONRUS: 183 (22) • SANDBAAI: 202 (21) • STANFORD: 363 (45) • VERMONT: 86 (14) • ZWELIHLE: 1 062 (66) TOTAL: 4 756 (478)
LAST WEEK'S TOTAL CASES:
(11 JAN)
WORLD: 95 571 959 SOUTH AFRICA: 1 337 926 (15th in the world) WESTERN CAPE: 254 498 OVERBERG: 12 200 (376 deaths) OVERSTRAND: 4 572 (112 deaths)
LET'S TALK The Village NEWS firmly believes in freedom of the press as well as the right of individuals to freely express themselves, as long as they don’t infringe upon the rights of others. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors therefore do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Village NEWS. Letters may be shortened and/or edited for clarity and style. Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za.
Congratulations on your beautiful town! I visited Hermanus for the first time on Sunday 18 January with my sister and her husband, who live in Cape Town.
immaculate. The pots and hanging baskets everywhere were tidy and flourishing. I saw little or no litter anywhere.
We spent the day exploring and I was very impressed by your beautiful town. I love the quaint alleys, the lovely shops and the malls. But the tidiness was what really impressed me. The streets and walkways were
We stayed over at The Whale Coast apartments. It was also just perfect. Even the load shedding didn't worry us. On Monday morning we walked the
Cliff path and again were impressed by how neat and tidy it all was… and those views! I wish to congratulate the Overstrand Municipality and the residents of your beautiful little town. I hope to go back one day soon. Judy Usher Pietermaritzburg
Misuse of parking bays for people with disabilities in certain circumstances.
Illegal parking in disabled parking bays is becoming problematic as people who do not need wheelchairs are using the designated wheelchair parking bays. Most people abuse these parking facilities as they are close to the entrance of a building or shopping centre. According to Overstrand Municipality’s Traffic Chief, Rudi Fraser, wheelchair dependent people need space (width) to be able to open the door wide to allow wheelchairs next to the car without hindering access. “Far too often these disabled parking bays are used by people who have light-duty mobility impairment, people who are frail and people who feel that any impairment allows them to park in these facilities. But even people with other physical problems should not use these bays – they should park somewhere else because
This photo was taken from Sieverspunt by Donald Fraser Bett last week during a lovely evening walk along the cliff path. Donald says he just couldn't resist taking some photos of the sea with the mountain backdrop. He says it was so peaceful and therapeutic. The photo was taken facing Kwaaiwater and Voëlklip, and you can see a bit of Grotto beach in the distance.
wheelchair-bound people can only park where there is space for the wheelchair,” he said. Applying for a disabled parking disc If you have a disability, you can apply for a disabled parking disc from the Overstrand Traffic Department. All correspondence must be directed to the Traffic Chief. A disabled parking disc allows you to park in allocated disability parking bays in the Overstrand area and exempts you from parking provisions
To qualify for the disc, a medical practitioner needs to complete the form that explains the nature and constraints of the applicant’s disability. The applicants can get the form from any Traffic Department in the Overstrand. The disabled parking permits are valid for two years. For renewal of the parking disc the application process will have to be repeated. The following documents must be submitted, along with the completed form: • your ID document, • 2 ID photographs, • the prescribed fee. If you are issued with a disabled parking disc, you’ll need to display the disc clearly on your windscreen at all times. Please contact the Traffic Chief, Rudi Fraser, on email rfraser@ overstrand.gov.za to request or to submit the form.
The first monthly draw of the Overstrand Hospice 600 Club for 2021 took place on 21 January. The draw was done by Dr Barbara Swart, Board member of Overstrand Hospice (left) and supervised by Lynn (right), representative of Don Adams Auditors. Congratulations to the following winners: 1st prize R5 000 - Audrey Du Valle; 2nd prize R2500 - JHG Kuhn; 3rd prize R1 000 - DM Laver. We want to thank our loyal supporters for their contribution to our 600 Club during challenging times for all. Your contribution makes a difference in the lives of our patients. Please contact Suzette at 028 312 4679 to join. Overstrand Hospice needs your support!
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27 January 2021
A surprise visit turns deadly dly A
close encounter with a venomous Boomslang was not quite what local resident, Megan Carr had in mind when she penned the true crime story, Shopping for a Killer, which was published last year. This time the killer struck in broad daylight last week, in a suburban courtyard garden that is usually a haven of peace and tranquillity. What followed is a rather hair-raising tale – and also a cautionary one. The title? Snakes alive! In Megan’s own words, this is what happened: I love my enchanted little 6 x 4 metre courtyard garden, filled with small trees and flowers. I enjoy watching the little Wagtails who checked out the garden for safety before proceeding to build their nest in the hanging basket in the corner. For many weeks I followed the excitement and industry of the happy Wagtail couple as they tweeted and went about building their home. Once the chicks had arrived, they would fly into the garden and hop from chair to chair and into the nest. Always in the little beaks – small morsels of food for their chicks. Each taking turns with visits about every 10 minutes for hours. Magic moments. Then, on Thursday morning I heard much bird screaming and tweeting – I knew something was wrong. The agitation was electrifying. I went to the lounge to see what was up. Through the sliding door I saw the parent birds running around trying to protect a little chick battling to walk on the lawn. I assumed the tiny chick had fallen from the nest and couldn’t yet fly – so small it could sit in your cupped hand. As I opened the sliding door, the scared chick hurried inside, right past me, and tried to hide under the couch. (At that early stage of its life, it
seemed to know danger.) The parents didn’t follow but kept twittering outside the door. I quickly found a box and scooped up the chick. I thought it best to return it to its frantic parents chirping on the lawn outside. What a bad decision! A pity humans don’t as easily sense danger. As I upended the box onto the lawn, there was a movement fast as a whiplash as a huge snake, coming out of nowhere, made a dive for the chick, and missed. Again the chick ran in through the door and stopped almost at my feet. In a flash the snake shot in and got it in its jaws. It started chewing its prey immediately as the distraught parents hovered dangerously close by, tweeting and chirping. I felt helpless and enraged as I heard the little bones crunching and the wings still flapping. What to do? Automatic reaction? In in the middle of all this drama I picked up my cellphone and started snapping and videoing. Next? I didn’t want the slinky predator in my house, so I edged around them and ran for the broom. I beat at it with the brush end and it reversed out the door and hid behind the flower pots, still devouring the chick with wings sticking out of its mouth. Sanity returning, I closed the door and waited to see what next. After a few moments, entree over, I saw the snake climbing the Hibiscus shrub next to the hanging basket with the nest. (I later discovered it was a Boomslang – most venomous of snakes. And, of course, good at climbing trees.) It wrapped itself around the basket and the head went into the little nest. I ran out with the broom and hooked it off the nest and it plopped to the ground behind the flower pots. Not trusting it an inch, I ran inside and
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found two flimsy bathing wraps. I threw one over the basket nest and the other over the plants where it was now waiting. I thought it would not be able to work its way through the fabric. Wrong again. The wind blew away the one over the basket. The snake then sneakily approached from the ground on the other side, and simply stretched itself up and into the nest – tail still on the ground – and got the other chick. I again tried to hook it off the nest – but too late. He’d gotten them all as the agitated parents watched helplessly.
ABOVE: The Boomslang can be seen on the ground making its way up to the Wagtails’ nest in the hanging basket. LEFT: The Boomslang devouring the Wagtail chick in front of its anxious parents. BELOW: Megan Carr next to the now empty nest in her courtyard garden.
At that point I went inside, locked the door and phoned my daughter, Carole, to call the snake catcher, Jonathan Powers. He told her to tell me not to go near the snake as it was dangerous. Again, too late but at least I was safe. We later discovered he was more worried about me hurting the snake! When Jonathan arrived, with his big bucket and a long pole with a hook at the end, it took only a couple of minutes before the villain, with nowhere to go, was hooked and in his bucket. He estimated the Boomslang at about 2 metres and happily told me how a woman in Somerset West had died the previous week from a Boomslang bite. They are one of the fastest and most venomous of snakes. When asked, Jonathan said he would release the snake high in the Nature Reserve. I couldn’t help wondering: Like the other Terminator – would he be back? Nice juicy human toes still here. That night when Carole and I checked the nest, we found the most perfect little chick nest. Empty. Sadly the bird magic in the garden has stopped. (Like Donald Trump – no more tweets.) I could weep. The moral of the story, though, is that
I shouldn’t have gone near the snake. Even though I never felt scared – only angry – this was a dangerous snake and should serve as a warning to others, as there are so many snakes about at the moment. (Earlier in the week, Carole had found a Cape Cobra in her back yard!)
On Saturday, still feeling sad, I went into the garden and there, right next to the nest, was the most perfect huge yellow Hibiscus flower. I was left wondering if this was nature’s message about the good things around us, and about life simply carrying on regardless. Food for thought.
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27 January 2021
Preserving the architectural fabric of Hermanus Writer Hedda Mittner
ABOVE: Nicolette Lloyd with her Jack Russel, Mungo in front of her studio on Station Square. It forms part of the heritage property at 32 Mitchell Street which she owns and has remodelled to include several offices and shops such as the Book Cottage and the Honey Shop. BELOW: Nicolette with her team of architectural professionals: Leon Smith, André Snyders, Riaan Venter and Joubert Fick.
W
hen well-known architectural designer Nicolette Lloyd and her late husband Ambrose came to Hermanus 37 years ago from London for what would initially have been a period of three years, she had no idea that this coastal town would become her ‘forever’ home. At the time, Nicolette’s parents had retired to Hermanus and the idea was for Ambrose to join them in setting up a new business manufacturing kites. As for Nicolette, who had studied interior architecture at the Royal College of London, working as a woman in this male-dominated field was at first no easy task. “The structure of patriarchal hierarchy in Hermanus was well established and no one was going to take instructions from a woman, never mind an Anglicised one,” Nicolette remembers with a smile. Despite these challenges, she says, in other ways Hermanus was never your typical South African seaside village. “As an international destination, it always had a cosmopolitan ambience, with an ever-growing microcosm of professionals who chose to live and work here.” Hermanus gets much of its character from the amalgam of buildings in the town’s business centre, and the urban flow through town. “That is the most obvious way in which a town expresses itself; it determines how a town ‘feels’ and gives it a sense place. That’s why new build-
ings must be in sympathy with their surroundings and remain sensitive to the essence of Hermanus.” Having served on the Overstrand Heritage conservation bodies from their inception, Nicolette has a particular interest in the conservation and repurposing of heritage buildings. At the same time, however, she views this as a dynamic and not a static process. “We must look to the future and allow for growth without being too restrictive,” she says. Among the many aspects that have to be taken into consideration when designing a building are the client’s brief, the locality of the site, the climate, the ecology, the vernacular. “And the vocabulary,” she adds. “Every building is a cultural artefact that tells a story.” Her studio, Nicolette Lloyd Architectural Designs, established in the early 1980s, specialises mainly in residential projects – both new and adapted buildings. Her success over the years in design and management of building projects can be ascribed to her creativity, empathy, organisational skills and, above all, her nearly four decades of local knowledge and experience. “I am fortunate to be working with a dynamic studio consisting of a number of architectural professionals offering a range of skills and expertise in a well-established team. We are thus able to offer full professional services from project inception and feasibility analysis through to contract administration and certification processes,” says
Nicolette. “We are very concerned that our buildings should be site specific, and should exhibit innovative design solutions in the modelling of domestic and commercial spaces. We also have a particular interest in the utilisation of contemporary technologies, including the conservation of water and energy with particular reference to aspect and micro-climatic conditions.” In order to fully answer their clients’ brief, Nicolette and her team seek to develop a responsive, empathetic relationship with their clients, allowing them space for their own voice in the creative act of designing and constructing their building. Examples of the firm’s architectural projects can be found in and around Hermanus, from residential homes and accommodation establishments such as Die Vishuis in Hope Street, the M Hotel in Onrus and One Marine Drive Boutique Guesthouse in Westcliff, to the Hemelrand Winery in Hemelen-Aarde Ridge and the new Hermanus NSRI station building in the New Harbour. Nicolette Lloyd Architectural Designs is a member of the South African Council for the Architectural Profession, the Cape Institute of Architecture, the Vernacular Architectural Society of South Africa, and the Overstrand Heritage & Aesthetics Committee. You’ll find their offices at 32 Mitchell Street, Hermanus. Contact 028 312 3771 or lloydn@ hermanus.co.za.
27 January 2021
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Local expertise, national presence and international audience
R 14 500 000 FINE & COUNTRY FEATURE WESTCLIFF, HERMANUS, WESTERN CAPE
A primely positioned home with unsurpassed sea- and mountain views Wake to the sound of crashing waves, enjoy uninterrupted sea views on your doorstep, savour the salty sea air and inhale the fresh champagne breeze whilst bringing mind, body and soul into harmony. This grande olde dame is situated on prime stand in Marine Drive, Westcliff, a charming much-loved family home offering an idyllic lifestyle you previously could only dream of. This spectacular heritage home offers 4 bedrooms, the main is ensuite with stunning sea views. The 2nd bedroom also overlooks the sea, whilst the other 2 bedrooms enjoy magnificent mountain views. The open-plan lounge and dining room overlook the ocean and lead out onto the veranda where a lifetime of memories will be built. The generous family country kitchen, built-in barbeque, cosy family room and study complete this perfect picture. The position and ambiance of this enchanting home lends itself to working from home or could be run as a guest house or B&B. This proud exclusive instruction is close to the CBD, gourmet restaurants, cliff paths and shops. Jenny Küsel 083 262 7578 WEB 1397886
Hermanus, Arabella and Kleinmond Office 16 Hope Street, cnr Dirkie Uys, Hermanus, 7200 +27 (0)21 205 7135 hermanus@fineandcountry.com
Park Lane Office 119/121 Park Lane, London, W1 +44 (0)207 079 1515 admin@fineandcountry.com
Regionally 20 offices throughout Gauteng Nationally 50 offices across South Africa Internationally Over 300 offices globally
www.fineandcountry.com
Your dog's diet can help protect him against disease Whether he's a growing pup or a senior that's slowing down, what you feed your dog directly impacts his long-term health. Choosing the right food can be confusing; that's why at EberVet Vetshops we chat with you about your dog's unique needs. The more we know about your dog, the better our professional team can help you pick the food that's right. And if we don't know the answers, our veterinary team is just a phone call away. HERMANUS
ONRUS
Checkers Centre
2 Wybo Newmark Rd
Station Mall
Onrus
tel 028 312 3028
tel 028 316 2904
HERMANUS
CALEDON
Entrance 1
Victoria Mall
Whale Coast Mall
Caledon
tel 028 312 1453
tel 028 214 1112
ebervet vetshops are owned by a veterinarian. we care about your pets' health
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27 January 2021
www.thevillagenews.co.za
MY WELLNESS
New Year’s Skin Resolutions T
and dietary changes.
he Christmas and New Year’s parties are now over, and if you've been overdoing it, the holiday season is very likely to have taken a toll on your complexion.
We can boost your skin from within. Restylane Skinboosters infuse a thin layer of micro droplets of hyaluronic acid beneath the skin surface, where it draws water and provides longterm deep hydration. You will get a refreshed and radiant look that lasts.
Let’s be honest, the holidays can make your skin look tired, sallow and puffy. If your New Year’s resolutions include trying to have better skin, you might want to start by making amends and undoing the damage caused by the countdown.
5. Repair sun damage
Give after-holiday skin that extra SOS attention with these tips: 1. Get rid of toxins The most crucial step after partying is to remove toxins, which accumulate in your body when the liver is overloaded with alcohol and rich foods. These toxins will be expelled through your skin, giving you a tired, pallid complexion, a puffy face, and breakouts. The solution? The Black Diamond Facial – an ultra-detoxifying treatment which exfoliates, tones and brightens by blasting skin-saving, detoxifying carbon combined with light laser to promote lymphatic drainage and deep cleansing which will eliminate that puffy, after-party look. 2. Fight breakouts Pimples are a main post-holiday woe for many. During the holiday season
we find that clients don’t always stick to their strict skincare routine. The solution? Get back to basics with gentle antiseptic products that will help clear your skin without stressing it out. Our best-selling products to clear breakouts are the Lamelle Clarity and Acnevelle ranges. By combining an inside-and-out treatment of supplements with topical treatments, Clarity and Acnevelle give you a more comprehensive pimple solution. What’s more, the topical products in the Clarity range are some of the most technologically advanced in the industry. Clarity also contains a new, specially created form of retinoid (Vitamin A) that’s milder on the skin than prescription-strength retinol but just as effective.
3. Regenerate skin After giving your skin a good detox, a jolt into regeneration will help bring back that pre-holiday glow! The solution? Stimulate the skin with collagen induction therapy, such as Fractionated Laser and Skin Needling (Dermapen/Dermastamp) treatment. This helps rejuvenate, repair and restore skin. It powers the skin cells, stimulates collagen production and creates a healthy skin matrix, giving you plumpness in areas of volume loss, a tighter and firmer jawline and a reduction in lines and wrinkles. 4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate Dry, crepey skin is quite common after a long holiday, erratic sleep hours
seen all year, or in other words, not the ideal time to book a procedure that requires lengthier recovery times. We see lots of appointments for Botox, Voluma, and lip fillers. People who came in for Botox prior to the holidays also come back for just a sprinkle more so they're 'fresh' for the new year.
Sun damage is a given after any holiday season. 90% of your skin-ageing concerns are caused by UV exposure. An easy, painless procedure, the IPL (a light treatment) can fix any pigmentation, sunspots or redness – in one single treatment! The light lifts off any sun damage and can leave you with dark spots for 3 – 7 days. Once the marks disappear, you will be left with a glowing, clear skin.
How to avoid new year/new you pressure
6. Tweak and refresh
At the end of the day, it just feels good to do something for yourself. Whether the impetus is a desire for a smoother forehead, a small lift, or spots to go away, give yourself a break. Go talk to your therapist, or doctor, who can steer you in the right direction and work out a plan for the year to give you the results that you have always dreamt of.
As the first weeks of the year notoriously draw crowds to the gym, aesthetic waiting rooms are packed with people making good on their New Year’s resolutions. We often see an influx of patients with a ‘bucket list’ of procedures to try in the new year. While the January ‘makeover’ mentality may be part of the push, practical reasons also play a role in the bump. December often means travel, kids home from school, and encounters with friends and family you haven't
This time of year, many of us feel pressure to look, feel, or act differently. The culture impulse for a ‘new you’ to accompany the new year is a strong one, but it doesn't necessarily mean you should schedule that treatment that you have always wanted to do right away.
Time is a construct, after all, so try not to let the new year's pressure get to you, and leave your post-holiday stresses to the professionals. May 2021 be YOUR year!
27 January 2021
www.thevillagenews.co.za
Physiotherapy aids Covid recovery
V
an Vuuren Physiotherapists celebrate their 27th birthday this month, making this the oldest physiotherapy practice in Hermanus. With the current Covid regulations in force, celebrations were subdued but the team did get together for a special anniversary photograph. Above are (back row) Annelize Boshoff, Chanel Mouton, Antionette van Vuuren (owner), Charlotte Cronje, and (front) Hannah de Waal and Silke Struwig. Each of these therapists is passionate about their profession, with a variety of special interests to tend to patients’ individual needs, including women’s health courses, stretch classes and Pilates.
While most locals know ‘the blue house’ on the corner of Main Road and Albertyn Street in Northcliff, not everyone is aware of the important role that owner, Antionette van Vuuren and her team of physiotherapists are also playing in the fight against Covid-19. Not only do they assist patients in hospital but they also offer Covid-related rehab in the comfort of your own home. “Unfortunately the Coronavirus affects various systems in the body,” says Antionette. “The latest research shows that some of the symptoms and limitations can last well up to a year post-infection.”
The goal of Van Vuuren Physiotherapists is to reduce these long-term effects on the body by addressing physical difficulties such as poor cardiovascular tolerance, weakened muscles due to inactivity, and loss of functionality in and around the house.
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Local business assists with clean-up First impressions are lasting ones. The impression which visitors to Hermanus form of our town based on what they see when they arrive along the R43 between Sandbaai and Gateway is not what one would like it to be.
management team decided to turn this into an opportunity to serve the community. When the idle workers were asked if they would be willing to clean the road reserve, they jumped at the opportunity.
“The amount of litter lying in the road reserve and accumulating in the stormwater ditch next to the road is a real eyesore and creates such a distorted image of our lovely town. Proud locals cringe every time they drive, walk or cycle past there,” says Robbie Viljoen, owner of local business, Coastal Trusses.
Armed with masks, gloves, overalls and safety bibs, they took to the task and within a matter of two hours collected about 25 refuse bags of rubbish just on the northern side of the road between Rotary and Mountain Drives. The bags were taken to Ingomso Lelethu Recycling to be recycled.
When Coastal Trusses experienced a lull in their business activities earlier this week and found it difficult to keep all their employees constructively occupied, Robbie and his
“Not having enough work to keep your workers busy is painful. It’s a nightmare for any business owner. But the pain is alleviated when one converts it into an opportunity to make a difference,” says Robbie.
Many people also suffer from breathing difficulties due to Covid-19, and the physios can assist by breaking down and reducing phlegm, offering exercises to strengthen weakened breathing muscles and improve restricted chest movement, as well as breathing techniques and exercises to ease the effort when struggling for air. “Our Covid-19 rehab therapist, Charlotte Cronje is available to evaluate your specific needs at home and will work with other medical professionals where necessary to ensure that you receive the best care while recovering from Covid-19,” says Antionette. Contact Van Vuuren Physiotherapy in Hermanus on 028 312 1941 or their satellite practice in Onrus on 028 316 1577. – Hedda Mittner
Coastal Trusses employees Ayanda Ginya, Yanga Dalibango, Artwell Magqirha and Samuel Feni filled 25 refuse bags with litter along the R43 opposite Gateway Centre on Monday morning when the company did not have enough work to keep them busy.
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27 January 2021
Cat calls in a time of Covid
Congratulations to top performers
Writer Elaine Davie
W
T
he summer holiday season is always a busy time for Hermanus Animal Welfare (HAWS) and there was some concern about how Covid would affect the situation this year, especially since a lot of the usual summer volunteers – mainly university students home on Christmas break and foreign ‘swallows’ – would probably not be available to help out at the kennels and cattery. According to HAWS Chairperson, Pamela Quinn, in many ways it turned out to be completely different from previous years. On the one hand, they had far fewer abandoned animals to deal with, which she ascribes to the fact that perhaps not as many people travelled to other provinces for the holidays. However, for some unknown reason, they were inundated in December with mother cats and their kittens – 115 of them in total. The cattery was completely overwhelmed and had some not been fostered and others homed, they would not have been able to accommodate them all. As it is, there are still about 74 cuddly balls of fluff waiting for new homes. The clinic was also exceptionally busy during this period and since HAWS’ resi-
dent vet, Dr Nicole left in mid-December, the organisation had to rely on private vets to pick up the slack, for which they were extremely grateful. The demand for food has also grown exponentially as pet owners have lost their jobs or had their wages reduced. Another valuable project which has suffered as a result of the pandemic has been HAWS’ ongoing outreach to children to create an awareness of the importance of pet care. However, Pamela says she would like to pay tribute to the entire Hermanus community for the generally low level of neglect and animal cruelty to be found here, even under these stressful circumstances. Her greatest appeal at the beginning of a new year is for donations of dog and cat food and for volunteers willing to give some of their time to dog walking or playing with kittens and puppies – undoubtedly time well spent not just for the good of the animals, but perhaps even more so for the emotional well-being of the human volunteers. And don’t forget those kittens (not to mention older cats and dogs) all waiting for a new home to embrace with their love. HAWS can be contacted on 028 312 1281 or for emergencies 072 360 0102.
hile current news around education seems daunting and uncertain, Generation Schools Hermanus is very proud to announce its International General Certificate of Education (IGCSE) and Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS) results. “Despite the tumultuous year, our learners worked diligently to achieve their desired grades,” says Campus Head Nikki Malcomess. “Overall, these results are testament to our academic success and commitment to building a lifelong love of learning in the spirit of fostering creativity, knowledge, experience. “The IGCSE's are designed to provide learners with broad balanced programmes of study in a number of subject areas that develop critical thinking, analytical skills and the ability to communicate ideas effectively. Our IGCSE results are up there with top international schools offering the same curriculum.”
Kai
Dante
The key criteria used to judge examination performance is achieving five C grades or above, with an A or A* being the ultimate goal. According to Malcomess, 67% of the school’s students achieved one or more A or A* grades. The top three achievers in Generation Schools Hermanus and across the whole Generation Schools group are: • Kai van der Riet – 5 A*, 1 A • Dante du Plessis – 3 A*, 3 A • Logan du Plessis – 2 A*, 4 A In their AS group (a renowned international Matric) the school achieved a 100% pass rate. “These learners all go on to their chosen tertiary institutes and we wish them well for the next part of their learning journey,” says Malcomess. “Thank you to the Hermanus community for joining in this celebration of success!”
Logan
18
27 January 2021
www.thevillagenews.co.za
MY ENVIRONMENT
Wildlife on the Cliff Path: the Cape Genet By Dr Anina Lee
A
liens abound on the Hermanus Cliff Path – and I don't mean foreign tourists. There has not been a natural fire for decades, and everyone is a bit afraid of thinking of a controlled burn, with so many private residences right there. The Cliff Path Management Group has 'hacked' aliens manually for years, led by Frank Woodvine, his indomitable employed team and the occasional volunteers. There are clear benefits to volunteers hacking alien invasive plants on the Hermanus Cliff Path. Apart from the sense of satisfaction of contributing to the maintenance of local biodiversity, you might just get to see the wildlife.
Not so long ago, during the lockdown, when there were fewer people with their dogs walking on the path, Westcliff resident and member of the Cliff Path Management Group, Jan Cilliers, was doing his usual alien clearing when he spotted a gorgeous Cape Genet. “A genet came to check out what I was doing in his neighbourhood – hacking aliens on the Cliff Path... It seemed quite relaxed about our meeting, and sauntered away after a few minutes, very close past me. This was my first daytime encounter with a genet," he said. I was reminded of a photograph that appeared in the Hermanus Times some years ago. A Cape Genet had wandered from the Cliff Path into Hermanus town centre and apparently decided to check out a video for the evening from Mr Video in Main Road. The newspaper report did not disclose his entertainment choice, but the loan was declined. He was escorted out of the store and returned to his native habitat. Genets look a bit like a cross between a ferret, a cat and a lemur. Although genets are small cat-like creatures, they
are not in any way related to cats. Their bodies are long and slender. They have short legs and long tails, fairly long snouts, a spotted coat and alternating dark and light rings around the tail.
PHOTO: Joel Sartore
The Cape Genet (Genetta tigrina) is also known as the Large-spotted Genet. This is to distinguish it from another, very similar genet, the Small-spotted genet (Genetta genetta) also called the Common Genet. The names refer to the relative size of the spots, not to the size of the animal. In fact, they are of similar size – and that's not very big. The Small-spotted Genet’s spots are slightly smaller and totally black while on the Large-spotted Genet there is a rusty coloured centre in each spot. Another more noticeable difference is that the Large-spotted Genet has a black-tipped tail while the Small-spotted Genet has a white-tipped tail. However, you won't be confused on the Cliff Path as the Cape Genet occurs in Hermanus and the Common Genet does not. Genets are generally nocturnal to avoid daytime predators. So spotting one on the Cliff Path in broad daylight is very special. Cape Genets have retractable nails, so they are good climbers and well adapted to an arboreal way of life, though they do spend time foraging on the ground. Genets are omnivores that feed on small mammals, especially rodents, shrews, bats, birds and their eggs, frogs, millipedes, centipedes, scorpions, and various fruits. Their excellent eyesight and their agility make them highly effective predators of rodents and small reptiles like lizards. Chameleons will undoubtedly be on their menu. Cape Genets prefer well wooded and watered habitats, particularly forests and woodlands. They are found in the eastern areas of southern Africa and into the Western Cape's fynbos areas. (Common genets are found mainly in the northern parts of Africa and into southern Europe where they were introduced as pets.) So, if you also wish to spot the wildlife on the Cliff Path, consider joining the hacking group that will meet monthly as soon as circumstances allow. You can help to eradicate those aliens that have grown out of control during the lockdown. Email anina.wcc@gmail.com to join the group.
ABOVE: The Cape Genet (Genetta tigrina) pictured above, also known as the Large-spotted Genet, is found in Hermanus but not the Common Genet (Genetta genetta), also called the Small-spotted genet. They are very similar and the names refer to the relative size of the spots, not to the size of the animal. BELOW LEFT: Jan Cilliers recently spotted this Cape Genet on the Cliff Path – a rare sight in broad daylight as genets are generally nocturnal to avoid daytime predators. BELOW RIGHT: This photograph of a Cape Genet that had wandered from the Cliff Path into a video shop in Hermanus town centre appeared in the Hermanus Times some years ago.
27 January 2021
19
www.thevillagenews.co.za
Humpback whale super groups By Jax Bath
I
f you had to ask any South African when is the best time to see the whales, most would reply, “Between June and December”. This answer was for many years the right one, as whales would move from their sub-Antarctic feeding grounds to their breeding grounds during this time.
would call a ‘life lister’, which refers to the first time one encounters a species that you’re finally able to add to the list of whales, or birds, or whatever animal grouping you might have a particular tick for tracking down. Dusky Dolphins generally occur in cooler waters, though Dave De Beer has spotted them in Walker Bay a time or two. Dusky Dolphins are just about the most acrobatic oceanic creatures I have ever seen in my life, leaping out the water, twisting and exposing their gorgeous white flanks before crashing back into the water column, only to repeat this awe-inspiring action again and again and again.
In the past few years, however, we have started to see a phenomenon off the West Coast of South Africa, with Humpback Whales forming super groups, sometimes numbering over 100 animals! These majestic giants are attracted by dense swarms of zooplankton, which occur during our summer months when the warm water is blown offshore by prevailing winds and the cold waters below rise up, in a process known as upwelling.
After the duskies left us breathless, we spotted several blows out in the distance. We had happened upon the main event, with over 10 Humpback Whales feeding along their now famous highway. Thousands of terns and gulls gave away the presence of food below. The Humpbacks where up to some synchronised feeding, erupting in several bouts of blows before taking a deeper dive to take advantage of the swarms of krill below.
These super groups are not always present, but will form under the right conditions. When we’re really lucky, they form only a few hours’ drive away from us off the town of Hout Bay. After reports of super group action at the start of last week, I made my way to Cape Town to check it out for myself. The trip was truly one for the ages, with four different cetacean species and a super group of over 20 feeding Humpback Whales.
We set out at around 10:30 from the picturesque port of Hout Bay to see what the Atlantic had in store for us. Cruising through turquoise waters, we spotted an Ocean Sunfish on our way out the harbour and almost immediately set eyes on South Africa's smallest dolphin species. The Heaviside Dolphin is endemic to the cool western waters of Southern Africa and these little cuties put on a real show for us.
Each whale has a unique tail fluke which can be used to identify the whale, though some are easily identified even without that, due to scarring on the body or an oddly positioned barnacle. We noticed their individual markings, signs of struggle and hitchhikers giving away part of the secret lives of the world's most magical creatures.
We watched as the whales surfaced and showed off their flukes. We were treated to the pungent smell of whale breath, which is something I have always heard about but never experienced due to my whale watching taking place in breeding and not feeding grounds. We had whales tail throwing and lob tailing. One giant gave off a mighty breach while others swam just below our boat, giving themselves away with the beautiful white patches on their flippers, which happen to be the longest (and most majestic) of any whale in the world.
We even had them bow riding for a bit at the front and showing off their panda-like appearance with blunt dorsal fins and monochrome coloration. These dolphins are unlike any other species we encounter in the area, looking almost like a porpoise and reaching a size of only around 1.8m in length. They’re often spotted in Hout Bay and on the Atlantic Seaboard in small groups, and are a favourite amongst kayakers in the area.
We then spotted a spout of a different sort, one that we who live in the Overstrand know all too well. Two Right Whales could not resist joining in on all the action, giving us some views of their bulbous heads decorated in living rock gardens.
Our next sighting was what any weird animal person like me
We got some tail action, too, and then bid them off as they continued on their search for a hearty meal. The Right Whales were not inclined to spend as much time at the surface, so once we had gotten a few great sights, we made our way towards more Humpback Whales to finish off our tour on a high note.
During the tour, we also spotted a variety of other marine life, Including a Sun Fish, thousands of Sandwich Terns, A Cape Gannet and even a flock of Sabine’s Gulls, which are not often seen along the coastline, or certainly not around our parts. Though the Sunfish was probably in search of a jelly or two and the Gannet some schooling fish, the flocks of birds can be attributed to the krill swarms which make this boat trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience not only for whale enthusiasts but all wildlife lovers. These super groups stick around until March or April, so if you would like to experience this for yourself, get in touch with Captain Jacks in Hout Bay or Simon’s Town Boat Company, who are working together to bring South Africans this incredible experience. PHOTOS: Jax Bath
