Village
NEWS The
28 June 2016
Cape Whale Coast
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Picture perfect
Country Sketchers spent Saturday 25 June at Onrus Beach capturing the pristine beauty of the area on their canvasses. Chris Reid, who recently moved to Onrus and joined the Sketchers, shared this picture of his painting. “It was a perfect winter’s day and we had a lot of fun sketching this stunning beach. After living here for only a short while I have already fallen in love with the area,” he says. The Country Sketchers hold a monthly sketch crawl and all residents and visitors are welcome to join. For more information, call Charmé Southey on 082 773 9125. You can view the artworks on their Facebook page – Country Sketchers. Photo: Kim Brandt
Plans for Market Square stalled again The legal battle about the Market Square stalls above the New Harbour has once again been postponed after Judge Robert Henney on Thursday 23 June reserved his judgement in the Cape High Court. More than a year has passed since the Municipality terminated its trading agreement with stall holders and announced in May 2015 that the tender for the management of Market Square was awarded to resident Arrie de Klerk. According to the tender, Arrie would have taken over
management on 1 August last year and all existing traders had to vacate their stalls before then or reapply. But the Hermanus Market Traders Cooperative (HMTC) hit back by refusing to vacate their stalls and took the Municipality to court after they were served with eviction orders. “I am frustrated that the process has not yet been resolved,” says Arrie. “The continuous delays are not only costing me money but it is also unfair toward the 13
traders that are occupying stalls which they rent from me. For one they are paying more rent than the other traders and secondly they are not receiving the benefits of what I have planned for the market.” Arrie’s vision for the market is to create a proper town’s market aimed at drawing locals and visitors to the CBD. “The market is set to become a business hub that will become a part of the heartbeat of the CBD. The days of cheap, mass produced, imported flea market products being on
offer should now come to an end. The Market Square must only offer South African made products with an emphasis on locally produced wares. “But with the current state of affairs there is no real management of the stalls. There are owners who pay rent to me and then there are the 23 other traders who pay rent to the Municipality. The rules such as not moving trade into the walking areas and not setting down chairs on the walkways cannot be enforced,” says Arrie.
According to a report in the Cape Times, Shaid Bruinders, representing the HMTC, stated in court that the decision to terminate the trading agreement was taken without consultation. Judge Henney said the traders signed an agreement stating that there was no legal expectation that the lease would be renewed. “They knew what they were getting themselves into. They regarded it as a valid and rational contract,” said Henney. But, according to Bruinders, the traders did not know their rights and the
Municipality’s decision to amend its policy was irrational. Arrie says he is confident that the legal process will come to an end soon and that he will be able to take over full management of the stalls. “All my ducks are still in a row. I have more than enough businesses waiting for stalls to open up so that they can start trading. I have now lost a year of my three-year tender,” he says. It is expected that Henney will deliver judgement in July. - De Waal Steyn
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AGS Hermanus was privileged to acquire a plot
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Editorial Comment
We are really enjoying it and the fact that we can understand every word is
The Village NEWS is published fortnightly and is available every second Tuesday (Tuesday is NEWS day!) at all major retail centres from Kleinmond to Gansbaai, including Hermanus Pick n Pay and the Village Square, the Tourism Offices, restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, wine farms as well as various selected shops. If you are unable to find a copy, please contact us on 028 312 4424 / 083 700 3319 or visit us at our office at 6 Royal Street, Hermanus.
at the end of 2014 which enabled us to kick off our building project. A church building is important to us. It is a means to a greater end. So far, about R600 000 has been spent on the project. It is estimated that it will cost approximately R600 000 more to complete the first phase of the project. We are eternally grateful to God for the progress we have made with the available funds, and are convinced that what God has started, He will also
such a bonus! You tick all the boxes! Keep up the excellent work. Maggie Finch
Hermanus you beauty
With construction on the Whale Coast Mall well under way residents will soon find themselves stuck in traffic jams when roads along the construction site will be closed for upgrades. It is never pleasant to be stuck in traffic, especially when you are on your way to work or taking the kids to school. But residents must bear in mind that these upgrades will be to the benefit of all and will in the long-term lessen the traffic congestion in town. So too will the mall bring much needed economic activity to not only Hermanus but the whole region. When you are stuck in traffic remind yourself of where you live and how lucky we are to be here. And when the frustration really builds, remember that we do not have a peak hour but rather a few peak minutes. And while the economic boost for the area will be much welcomed, we as residents also need to ensure the survival of our CBD. The CBD has much to offer to not only visitors but
also to residents. It is with great expectation that we are looking forward to the High Court judgement on the future of the Market Square.
complete. The help we received from you means that we can work more effectively in serving people in Hermanus. Once again, many thanks for the donation. We pray for your blessing and prosperity in God’s name. With sincere thanks, Pastor De Wet Joubert
Ombudsman The press exists to serve society. Its freedom provides for independent scrutiny of the forces that shape society, and is essential to realising the promise of democracy. It enables citizens to make informed judgments on the issues of the day, a role whose centrality is recognised in the South African Constitution. The News of Hermanus subscribes to the South African Press Code and subsequently to the South African Press Council and the South African Press Ombudsman. Should you feel that our reporting was not free, fair or unbiased or that serious errors were made, you are welcome to lay a complaint with the Ombudsman, on 011 484 3612/8, or via e-mail at pressombudsman@ombuds man.org.za or visit www.presscouncil.org.za
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Letters
28 June 2016
Our heartfelt thanks to The Village NEWS, and in particular Dirk de Vynck, for the article about the fundraiser that was held in aid of our church’s building project. Our Winter Market was very successful and it is because of the goodwill and support of businesses and organisations such as The Village NEWS that we were able to raise R44 000.
The Village NEWS would like to publish your thoughts and concerns about issues that are important to you. All Letters to the Editor should be accompanied with the writer's name and contact details for verification. All letters are subject to editing for newspaper style and clarity, without changing the meaning of the content. Letters should be limited to about 300 words. We reserve the right not to publish all letters received. Send your letters to news@thehermanusnews. co.za
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News You Can Use
6 Royal Street, Hermanus 028 312 4424 Publisher De Waal Steyn 083 700 3319 dewaal@ thehermanusnews.co.za
Content Editor Hedda Mittner 083 645 3928 hedda@hermanus.co.za
Marketing Kathy Mulock-Bentley 083 581 7219 kathy@chartwellsupport.co.za
Graphic Designer & Layout Artist Nickey Jackson 079 408 7722 nickey1094@gmail.com
This prime piece of real estate in the heart of our town should be a display window of what we as a community have to offer. Irrespective of the outcome of the judgement, it is important that this landmark be managed properly and that it serves as a hub of commercial activity in years to come. The Market Square area needs to be on a par with the other parts of the CBD that are slowly but surely being beautified by landlords and tenants alike. Take time to walk through our CBD and see how pretty Astoria Village, Victoria Square, Royal Lane, The Courtyard, Warrington Place and High Street have been made. If you do not know where all these hidden gems are, take the time to find them all. You will be surprised at the variety of shops and eateries you will find along the way. That is the good news – Ed.
Waving good-bye to FynArts until next year, are the team who made it all possible: Gardean Lucas (Hermanus Tourism), Ann Wright (FynArts Committee), Annaline Duminy (Hermanus Tourism), Fixiswa Gxamesi (Zwelihle Youth Café), Mary Faure (festival director) and FynArts Committee members Colleen Stofberg, Martin Ranger, Frans van Rensburg and Jean Pieterse.
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26 JANUARY 28 June 2016 2016
Conservationists quibble over fate of leopard Concern over the fate of the handsome young leopard that killed 33 endangered African penguins in the Stony Point Nature Reserve in Betty’s Bay has reached fever pitch on social media during the last week. The incident has also been reported on in local newspapers and even on SABC3 News.
reserves to establish and maintain “corridors” of natural habitat to ensure their survival. In their statement, which elicited another flurry of comments, they point to the fact that African penguins do not naturally colonise mainland areas and evolved to nest on islands precisely due to the fact that they are not adapted to withstand land-based predators. “If they want unnatural penguin colonies (in effect a zoo) they need to protect them by building fences and deterring the cat, and not removing naturally occurring predators that are only doing what they are designed to do.”
This after a local resident, Van As Jordaan, spotted the leopard from his balcony as it entered his garden on Saturday 11 June. He immediately grabbed his camera and took several photographs as well as a video of the leopard – which was shared world-wide on social media and caused a buzz of excitement – before it disappeared into the bushes adjacent to the reserve. It is assumed to be the same leopard that later killed the penguins. The Stony Point Nature Reserve is managed by CapeNature, which issued a press release on 20 June that elicited over 500 shares and almost a hundred comments. With both the leopard (Panthera pardus) and African penguin being endangered species, threatened with extinction as a result of human exploitation, urban and agricultural encroachment and loss of natural habitat, the comments – and arguments – centre around the question as to which measures should now be taken to protect both species from further harm. While some comments suggest that the survival of the leopard is of more importance than that of the “overpopulated” penguin colony, local conservationist Alouise Lynch pointed out that “in the greater scheme of things they [leopards] are definitely not more endangered than a bird species which suffered a 94% population loss in 100 years at the hand of man. Both are highly charismatic species – and in my opinion this is where the real struggle lies. We are getting to a stage where we as humans have impacted so greatly on the environment and habitat of all of these species that we are forced to choose which is more or less important at the given
The Landmark Leopard and Predator Project also provided an answer to questions as to why the leopard had killed so many penguins, stating that is “known behavior by leopards (and caracals)” and referred to as "surplus killings". It further states that “It is exceedingly rare and the fact that it did so once does not mean, and has never been proven, that it will do it again. It happens in unnatural settings when prey species are confined, defenseless and cause overstimulation of the cat.”
PHOTO: Van As Jordaan moment. Tragic.” Among pleas to leave the leopard alone and allow it to roam freely, are suggestions that the leopard be relocated to a protected area. According to CapeNature, the course of action they have decided on includes proactively increasing nocturnal patrols and introducing additional scent deterrents to prevent the leopard from paying the penguins another visit. A press release that was also posted on social media, states: “Following the incident, we have been conducting daytime vigilance and nocturnal patrols at the colony by using scent deterrents such as lion scat and pepper spray to discourage the leopard from returning to the site. Dog patrols are conducted randomly to aid in defensive scent marking, while camera traps have
been set up in locations to remotely monitor occurrences.” While Justin Lawrence of CapeNature expressly said on SABC3 News that the leopard would not be hunted down, the Landmark Leopard and Predator Project has entered the fray by accusing CapeNature on social media of “threatening the life of a leopard” and “trying to remove this leopard from its natural habitat... [for] “completely natural behaviour”. The Landmark Leopard Foundation is a conservation NGO that focuses on the preservation of leopards in the Cape. Maintaining that leopards cannot be restricted to protected areas as obstacles such as fences are easily crossed, they work with private landowners, farmers and
The statement concludes that “This is not a clash of threatened species priorities. This is a clash between people and their worldviews…” Alouise also pointed out the complexity of what she referred to as a “catch 22 situation”. “It [conservation] is not an exact science,” she said, but rather a “dynamic process”. “We need to learn and observe – and lend tangible support where we can – rather than creating rifts where collaborations could have achieved so much more.” It remains to be seen what the fate of the leopard – and the penguins – will be. Readers can follow the debate on the Facebook pages of CapeNature and Landmark Leopard and Predator Project. Queries or comments can also be sent to: CapeNature CEO, Dr Razeena Omar at romar@capenature.co.za - Hedda Mittner
Road closures looming near mall development After the extensive roadworks that led to much frustration with stop-and-go-systems earlier this year, residents can now gear up for road closures for the next 15 months near the new Whale Coast Mall. According to a notice from the Municipality it is the responsibility of the developers to see to the upgrading of roads in the area of the shopping centre. The roads include Sandbaai Main Road, Bersig Street and
Schulphoek Road. “The first road that will be upgraded will be Main Road in Sandbaai. The stretch of road that will be closed runs from Agri Mark to Bergsig Street and work will commence during July 2016 and be completed by December 2016. This section will remain closed for this period,” states the notice. According to Jannie Kruger, CEO of Dorp Straat Property
Fund, says it is unavoidable for them not to close some of the roads during the construction phase. “I understand the frustration of motorists having to contend with this, but in the end the upgrades will be to the benefit of the whole community.” According to Jannie upgrades will be done on all the roads along the development, including the R43. “This is the largest single
development in the Overstrand and will bring a huge economic injection to the area. But for that to happen we need to complete the construction and with that comes some inconvenience.” Details on the exact closure dates and alternative routes/detours will be released by the Overstrand Municipality and notices will also be published in the newspapers.
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28 June 2016
Long walk to mom for Camphill resident Mark Meyer, an intellectually disabled, long-time resident at Camphill Farm Community who went missing for four days and sparked a national search, has safely made it all the way to his mother’s house in Port Elizabeth. Unable to read or write, Mark was totally unaware of the frantic search and arrived unscathed in PE on Saturday. According to Mark’s sister, Dana Pullen, he’d packed a suitcase and left Camphill to visit his mom early in the morning on Wednesday 22 June. “We knew he started hitch-hiking and was given a lift by someone from Hermanus to Stanford that same morning, but after that he disappeared from the
radar. We were besides ourselves with worry and immediately took to social media to try and find him.” Dana, who lives with her family in Taiwan, says her son created a Facebook page called ‘Help Find Mark Meyer’ and also paid for the advertising to promote the page online to residents and visitors to all the towns between Hermanus and PE. “Sitting on a different continent and not being able to come and assist with the search was very frustrating, but then the collective power of social media kicked in and the story was shared between thousands of people and
oganisations. From Hermanus to PE people got involved and KFM as well as the Herald newspaper in PE shared the story,” she says. While everyone was fraught with worry over his disappearance, Mark walked and hitchhiked the almost 700 km to PE. “The miraculous ending we all hoped for happened on Saturday morning in PE when Nicky, a good Samaritan, phoned my mother to say that Mark had been dropped off at her filling station on the outskirts of PE. She had found my mother’s contact details in Mark’s suitcase. “Mark says that he got lifts
from very nice people all the way from Hermanus to PE. He spent the nights at filling stations where he slept on his suitcase because it was softer than the floor. He had a little money on him so he bought some big chocolates and a bran muffin for supper at night and drank energy drinks during the day. “He has a very painful back and his knees are also sore because of all the walking he did between lifts, but he is physically unharmed and none of his possessions were stolen, although he did lose his phone. After a hearty breakfast at home he had a warm shower, fell into bed and slept soundly.
Mark Meyer from Camphill safely tucked into bed at his mom’s house in PE after having disappeared for four days. “Thank you to everyone who shared, cared, prayed and walked this bumpy road with us. My faith in humanity is restored and I now realise the unlimited potential and
warmth of social media that transcends differences and connects us all,” says Dana. - De Waal Steyn
Local diver survives shark attack A Betty’s Bay resident stayed calm as a cucumber when he was attacked by what is believed to be a Great White Shark while spear fishing near Arniston on Thurday 23 June.
dragging me to the bottom. I stayed calm and used my right hand to force open its jaws and pull my leg free.”
“The next thing I knew it had my leg in its jaws and was
According to Reinard Geldenhuys, NSRI Agulhas
Wit’s End
By Murray Stewart
According to René Nel (43) he was diving in the ocean when he saw the shark. “It was huge – I would guess at least 5 metres – and I swam in its direction to try and scare it off with my spear gun but it moved so fast towards me that there was no time to do anything,” he said.
René, who has been a commercial diver for the past 18 years, said he immediately swam to the surface where his friends pulled him on board their boat. “At first I did not think the injuries were serious but when I saw all the blood I immediately asked for the other diver to be pulled from the water.”
station commander, on arrival at the scene NSRI medics and Fire and Rescue Services paramedics treated René for multiple lacerations and an avulsion injury to his left leg and left thigh, as well as lacerations to his right hand. “His friends who brought him to shore used the rubber bands from their spear guns to tourniquet the wounds. Our medics then treated him with wound dressings, oxygen and intravenous fluids before an EMS ambulance transported him to hospital.”
Betty’s Bay resident René Nel (right) is visited by friends in hospital, where he is recovering from his shark bite injuries. René was stabilised at a Bredasdorp hospital before being airlifted by the EMS/AMS Skymed helicopter to a hospital in Cape Town.
Apart from the serious bite wounds to his leg, the shark’s teeth caused deep lacerations and several broken bones to his right
hand. He underwent a 4-hour operation on Thursday and is in a stable condition. – Sources: NSRI and Netwerk24
A miracle powder for koeksister stains “Another koeksister?” smiled the pleasantly plump housewife across the melamine and bamboo coffee table. She’d had a few in her time, and I wondered how many more we could consume before nausea overcame us. Mrs Plump was our fifth visit of the day, and each excited housewife had lovingly made melkterts, koeksisters or cookies for our arrival. Fresh hairdos, facials and only the ‘special’ doilies and tea-services were on display. They were, after all, going to be on the wireless. Moms over fifty will remember the Omo Mailbag. Back then, like now, savage rivalry existed between the washing powder manufacturers. Surf, Punch, Skip or Omo all promised dazzling results through amazing breakthroughs in detergent technology. Who thinks up the ridiculous names for these additives?
One ad agency decided to exit the chemical rat-race, and came up with the concept of personal endorsements from housewives who’d had washday nightmares. Real moms would write in to extol the virtues of this wonder powder, which helped overcome one problem or another like hubby’s greasy overalls or the kids’ bloodstained sports clothes. A few dozen ladies were chosen for the radio campaign and they were contacted and asked permission to broadcast their stories. Some declined initially, but all jumped at the offer on learning they’d be getting paid for just chatting into a tape recorder. This is where we came in. Percy Sieff, a doyen of theatre and radio back then, was the campaign anchor voice. I was the rookie sound engineer who would carry the tape
recorder. The ladies were grouped into regions. Twelve in Jo’burg and Pretoria, eight in Cape Town, four in PE, seven in Durban and so on. Over the next few weeks we flew around the country to interview them. Well, to the housewives this was Hollywood. They were going to be interviewed by Springbok Radio and become famous! Some of the old dears innocently thought the interview would be going out live, and front lawns were packed with friends and family clutching portable radios in breathless anticipation. We had a plan when it came to the actual recordings. Percy would sit at one end of the couch, his arm draped casually along the back towards the opposite end where the housewife sat, so the microphone would be pointing towards her but not right in her face. I’d be off to
the side, with the tape machine out of sight on a coffee table. He’d ask if the tape was rolling and I’d give the thumbs-up. Then he’d ease her in gently by saying something chatty like “So, Mrs Koekemoer, I hear that your husband’s a mechanic. You must have washday nightmares…” After a couple of minutes’ waffle, Percy would turn and say “Plenty to work with, you can switch off now,” and I’d pretend to switch off. But of course I didn’t and Percy, without moving his arm, would continue chatting. Relieved that the pressure of ‘live radio’ was now over, they would physically relax and loosen up completely. A couple removed their wigs, and a few felt so comfortable they even jettisoned their snappers. This was when the juicy soundbites popped naturally and uninhibited out of their mouths, teeth or no teeth,
and this is where the spontaneity and credibility came from. “I nearly died,” wailed one granny from Benoni, “I nearly died! You won’t believe what his overalls looked like!” These regular housewives had stories other housewives could identify with, rather than remembering which chemical additives went with which detergent. These days there’s a mixture of both approaches, chemical and personal endorsement, each less believable and cringe-worthy than the next. One wonders who approves and signs off these horrors for public consumption? So it begs the question - if they didn’t spend millions each year on unconvincing advertising, how much cheaper would these miracle powders be? And could they still remove koeksister stains?
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The ins and outs of traffic fines
“I was so flustered by a man knocking on my door saying he is a sheriff of the court and there are three outstanding warrants for my arrest that I could not think very clearly. I just know that when he offered to pay the tickets on my behalf I was so relieved that I handed over the money,” says resident Laurie, who prefers not to have her surname mentioned. Laurie was duped into handing over money knowing full well that payments for traffic offences must only be done at the traffic department or one of the EasyPay points. “But being confronted by someone holding a summons with my name on it in his hands, saying that I am in big trouble for missing my court date, made me forget that I should not hand over cash. “There were several warning signs that should have made me think twice before doing what I did. First off he told me that he was a sheriff from Somerset West, but the ID badge he showed stated that he was from Malmesbury. Secondly he said that because I missed my court date the original fine of R200 was now R800. I did not have that much money on me and told him I had only R400. He immediately said that would be acceptable. Thirdly the document he gave me clearly stated that it was a summons and not a warrant for my arrest even though it had a court stamp on it,” she says. “He said I had to drive all the way to Somerset West if I
wanted to pay the fine and I was very relieved when he offered to pay the fine on my behalf. He even signed his name on the document and added a ‘mas number’ and said he will SMS me as soon as he has paid the fine.”
Process 341
• Ticket issued by traffic officer and handed to offender • The offender who received the fine has 30 days to pay • The offender can also write a representation for mitigation of the fine within 7 days • If the fine was not paid by the first payment date a reminder is generated and the offender has another 30 days in which to pay • If the second payment date is also ignored a second reminder is sent and the offender has another 30 days to pay • An SMS will also be sent as a reminder • After this a summons is issued with another payment date and a court date • The court date will be 3 to 4 months from the issue date of the summons to allow enough time for the serving of the summons to the offender • If the offender does not appear in court or still hasn’t paid, a warrant is issued within 14 days after the court date • The warrant will be served to the offender with a new court date • If the offender does not appear in court on that day a bench warrant is issued by the court and the offender can be arrested • Payment for these fines can be done at the traffic department or by cheque into their account • If the first and second court dates were missed the fine must be paid at the Additional Court at the Municipality
According to Laurie only after he left did she have a good look at the document and saw that she still had a few weeks left before she had to pay the fine and the court date was set only for the end of June. It also clearly states on the document that only official pay-points may be used. “I then started to realise I might have been duped. I am still hoping that I might receive an SMS from him saying he paid the fine but I know I am only kidding myself. It also dawned on me that I need to alert residents to this as he had a whole bunch of similar fines in his hand and asked which way the house numbers in my street ran, as he had to deliver quite a few more warrants,” she says. According to the Traffic Department no official, even when in uniform, may receive any form of payment for a traffic fine. “People may only pay their fines either at our offices or at the EasyPay points,” says a spokesperson. According to the spokesperson there are three types of traffic fines (see info box) each with its own set of rules for payment dates and court
Process 56 (Direct summons)
Local resident Laurie with the summons she received appearances. “All the payment options, however, are the same. In the event of someone ignoring the payment and court appearance dates, a warrant for arrest will be issued by the court. This then becomes a legal matter for the courts and a sheriff will deliver the warrant personally to your address, where either the offender or
someone over the age of 16 at the address must sign for the delivery,” says the spokesperson. For those who have a drawer filling up with unpaid fines, either from Hermanus or from over the mountain, and who lie awake at night wondering how much trouble they are in, here are the facts:
• The ticket is written out by an officer and in most instances attached to a car window • The ticket indicates both a payment and court date • The court date will be between 2 and 3 months from the date of the offence to give the offender time to either pay or do representations to court • If the offender does not appear in court on the date given, a warrant will be issued with a second court date • If the second court date is missed a bench warrant will be issued and the offender can be arrested
Speeding tickets
• These tickets are issued mostly when trapped by a camera of radar • The same process is followed as with a Process 341 ticket *Fines can be paid at ABSA, PnP, Shoprite, the traffic department or via EFT or cheque
28 June 2016
Changing tourism one cup at a time
Frieda’s Footprints
Tourism News by Frieda Lloyd
Curious by nature, I like to discover new things and seek out new experiences. My latest discovery is a small coffee shop, eDongwe Coffee Writers, in Zwelihle. Situated at the taxi rank, this not necessarily a place where I normally hang out but definitely a place to which I will return. The coffee is good and the price is sweet. At R11 an Americano this could become my morning stop.
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the coffee venture going. It is with Birkenhead’s assistance that Mfundo has a good coffee machine that works from Monday to Saturday. Juggling work at Birkenhead and running his own business, eDongwe’s opening hours are Monday to Thursday 06:00 to 11:00, Saturdays and Public Holidays 06:00 to 17:00. Sunday is a rest day.
The owner of eDongwe is barista and multi-tasker, Mfundo Mcinjana. With his gentle nature he is converting Zwe locals from instant brews to cappuccinos. Slowly but surely the appetite for instant coffee is disappearing. A free coffee tasting is held every Friday at eDongwe, and Zwelihle will soon be talking foreign with all the different Italian coffee styles such as macchiato and cortado ordered at more frequent intervals.
eDongwe is very much online and has a Facebook Page, EDongwe Coffee Writers, where fans can catch up with photos of good tasting coffee. As with most businesses, this coffee shop relies on the support of others and Mfundo’s aunt helps by baking banana loaf and a lady from church supplies muffins to complement the coffee. It is all in a name and this business was christened for a friend’s interest in adding words and pictures in the cappuccino foam.
Mfundo has not given up his day job and still works at Birkenhead House where management has been accommodating in getting
Tourists have an increased interest in cultural experiences. They don’t rate culture as a reason for visiting a place or a country,
but after their trip, culture features at the top of the list of reasons for which they will return. eDongwe Coffee Writers is one example of a tourism business that is facilitating cultural tourism in our area. One cup of coffee at a time is what it takes to change our tourism landscape to a more inclusive arena.
Mfundo is converting Zwe locals from instant brews to the pleasures of Italian coffee at eDongwe.
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Soprano Minette du Toit Pearce in Last Night of the Proms
Festival director Mary Faure with Ilse Schumann of ATKV at the opening concert of FynArts 2016
Clarinetist Junnan Sun and conductor Richard Cock
FynArts a hit for local businesses “I’m still black and blue from pinching myself,” says Mary Faure, director of the Hermanus FynArts Festival. Although not all the statistics are available yet, Mary says that for this year’s festival, from 10 – 19 June, in excess of 8 000 tickets were sold. The festival has grown by about 30% on last year. “It was a very special year. What gave me the energy to carry on was seeing how much people are enjoying the festival. Many are now returning year after year and staying longer,” says Mary. “Hermanus is a phenomenal town with phenomenal people and I am very grateful for the way everyone has embraced this festival and for
the commitment of the many volunteers. I think the festival has struck a chord with everyone. What I love about it most is that it gets people out at a time of the year when we tend to stay cooped up indoors. It gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy themselves, to mingle with other arts lovers and to be invigorated and inspired, no matter what the weather’s doing.” According to Mary, there was a substantial increase in ticket sales for all the various events, including the music concerts, talks, demonstrations and workshops, many of which had sold out weeks before the start of the festival. “I believe the restaurants and
accommodation establishments in town also did very well,” says Mary. “Both The Marine and the Windsor hotels had special FynArts accommodation offers and various restaurants had special FynArts meals on their menus along with the FynArts wines.” The FynArts committee members all agree that this year’s FynArts was “very exciting”. There were almost no complaints from festivalgoers and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. “There was something on the programme for everyone, young and old,” says Frans van Rensburg. “I even met an elderly woman who told
me she had attended five different events – even though she is in a wheelchair.” Another committee member, Pieter Stofberg, says “The fact that so many events were sold out tells the whole story.” Johanri Meyer, marketing manager for the Windsor Hotel, says they were a lot busier this year and that FynArts 2016 attracted a good crowd. “It was fantastic. Our occupancy was high and we received great feedback from our guests. Most of them were from Cape Town and other towns in the Western Cape such as Stellenbosch, Paarl and Worcester. But we also had people from Gauteng and many said they would
be back next year.” “Festivalgoers must have liked what they experienced the previous three years with Hermanus FynArts as they came back in a big way this year,” says Frieda Lloyd, tourism manager of the Cape Whale Coast. “The Wine Plus series at The Marine was well supported with attendance figures at least 50% higher than last year. The Cap Classique tasting was very popular and amongst the first events to sell out.” According to Frieda, not all the visitors booked into hotels and guesthouses and many stayed with family and friends. A visitor from Johannesburg indicated
that her friends’ good feedback of the previous year's events encouraged her to fly down and she will definitely be back next year. “The Windsor, Whale Coast Hotel and The Marine experienced increased foot traffic due to workshops and demonstrations hosted on their premises. A significant amount of these festival goers were from Cape Town and an observation was made that the visitors fit the profile of the hotels’ target market. Therefore it is not just about the direct business gained during the festival but about accessing an audience that could benefit the town and its businesses in future,” says Frieda. - Hedda Mittnet
PHOTOS: Ann Wright
Angie Krynauw of Sparkle Kids and Mary Faure with John Kani, who received the FynArts Legacy Award.
Chef Garth Stroebel demonstrating the art of fine dining at the MacBrothers pop-up kitchen at Whale Coast Hotel.
Hansie Augustin and Shaun Bouwer at the exhibition of festival artist Louis Jansen van Vuuren at SPACE Gallery.
Steven and Candice Alfonso at the Keiskamma Art Project exhitibiton in the Municipal Auditorium.
Christopher Hope hosted a talk with popular singer, director and entertainer David Kramer.
Holly Bellingham-Turner with Jeanni Barkhuizen at the Youth Day concert where she was announced as the runner-up in the Violet and Anne Bellingham Trophy art competition.
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28 June 2016 Wednesday 29 June
Friday 8 & Saturday 9 July • St Peter's Handcraft Exhibition: At St Peter’s Church in Main Road, Hermanus. On Friday from 10:00 – 16:00 and on Saturday from 09:00 – 13:00. Freshly baked cream scones will be sold with tea for R20 on the Friday while the usual Coffee Morning with eats will be available on the Saturday. There will be an opportunity to buy some of the lovingly created items on both days of the exhibition.
• Hermanus Garden Club meeting: Catholic Church hall, 09:30 for 10:00. Members and guests welcome to come and listen to a local beekeeper speaking about beekeeping. There will also be plants for sale. For more information, call Sue on 028 314 0072.
Thursday 30 June & 7 July • Rotary Club of Hermanus: Weekly meetings every Thursday at Mollergren Park, at 19:00. Visitors welcome. Contact Ian Wallace on 082 895 8738 or Metcalf Fick on 082 568 2193.
and hobbyists bring to you homemade and home-baked goodies.
Friday 1 & 8 July
• Swallow Park Market: Browse the new market at Swallow Park between 09:00 and 13:00.
• Bhuki Café: Enjoy tea, coffee and eats at the Hermanus Library for only R20, every Friday, 09:00-11:30.
Wednesday 6 July
• ‘Kolwyntjie-Teetuin’: Senior citizens in the area are invited to enjoy a sweet treat and tea or coffee at the Service Centre (‘Dienssentrum’) of the Dutch Reformed Church, Onrus for only R30, between 09:30 and 11:30.
Saturday 2 July
• Hermanus parkrun: Meet at Hermanus Forest in Camphill Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley at 08:00. Free timed 5 km walk or run come rain or shine. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome. • Lemm’s Corner Market: From 08:30, Main Road, Hermanus. Crafts, clothes, jewellery, bags, toys and art. • Hermanuspietersfontein Food & Wine Market: In the courtyard at HPF cellar, The Village, from 10:00-13:00. Where wine and food lovers both local and international meet.
• Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve Challenge: The first Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve Challenge will be the ideal opportunity for athletes and walkers to experience all facets of a biosphere reserve up close. You can choose between a 21.1 km and 10 km run or a friendly 5 km Fun Walk. Race organizer Sandy Kiezerwaard has promised that all 3 routes are relatively easy, so no excuses! The first 100 entries will receive goodie bags and all finishers will receive a medal to treasure. Pre-entries close on Friday 24 June at midnight, but entries will also be taken from 06:30 on the day. Enquiries: Sandy on 0794136610 or sandykei@sonicmail.com • Book Talk: Debbie Calitz will present a talk on her book, “20 Months of Hostage Hell” at the Boat Club, New Harbour at 15:00. Debbie and her partner at the time, Bruno Pelizzari, were taken hostage by Somali pirates four years ago while sailing in the Indian Ocean, and held captive for 20 months. Debbie will talk about how she kept hope alive and managed
• Fernkloof Holistic Faire: Experience nourishment of the body and soul, and celebrate the joys and healings that Life offers, at the Visitors’ Centre, Fernkloof Nature Reserve, from 10:00 – 15:00. Everyone is welcome and entrance is free. Different therapies and treatments will be offered at special rates.
to survive this brutal ordeal. Donations only. RSVP: debbiecalitz1962@gmail.com. Copies of Debbie’s book will be for sale.
Saturday 2 & 9 July
• The Hermanus Country Market: Next to the cricket field, Fairways Avenue, from 09:0013:00. Stunning food, fresh and wholesome goodies. • Market in the Garden: At St Peter’s Church in Main Road, 09:00-13:00. A wonderful market set amongst the trees in the heart of town. Join the St Peter’s Coffee Morning and enjoy a sweet treat for only R10 and a cup of coffee or tea for only R5. Sit down in the shady garden and enjoy the surrounds. • Stanford Saturday Morning Market: The Stanford Hotel, 09:30-12:00. Farmers, crafters
Sunday 10 July
• OAK movie night: OAK (Overstrand Arts/Kunste) will be screening The Revenant at the Municipal Auditorium, at 18:00. The Revenant is a 2015 epic historical survival movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. The Revenant won three Golden Globe Awards, five BAFTA Awards, and three Oscars for Best Director, Best Actor and Best Cinematography, respectively. Tickets at the door: R45 (OAK Members: R30). Enquiries: John Taylor on 079 392 7282 or René du Plooy on 082 940 4238.
Thursday 7 July • Empire, War & Cricket in South Africa: U3A Overberg Open Meeting, Municipal Auditorium, at 17:30. Speaker Dr Dean Allen, ardent cricket fan, sports historian and Senior Academic at Bournemouth University in the UK and a Research Associate of Stellenbosch University, has succeeded in bringing together the different issues of the AngloBoer War, Cecil John Rhodes and Matjiesfontein into a gripping story of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when (with the discovery of diamonds and gold) the whole world realised that the dry and dusty interior of South Africa was actually worth something. His recent book, “Empire, War and Cricket in South Africa” will be on sale at the meeting. Admission: R10.
Monday 11 July • Fun Bird Quiz: This BirdLife Overberg monthly meeting will once again be their annual Fun Bird Quiz, with an interesting set of questions that should be funny and entertaining but also educational. Get your friends together and see if you can win some of the great prizes. Starting at 18:30 for 19:00, at the Community Hall, Mollergren Park, Hermanus. Catering at R80 per head. Bring your own drinks and glasses. RSVP: Helé at 073 456 0393 or birding@southernartceramics.com
Monday 11 – Wednesday 13 July • Drama Workshop: Helen O’Grady Drama Academy, Overberg, is offering a great holiday activity for the children at their premises in Gateway Centre. The Winter Warmer Workshop runs over 3 days, from 09:00 -13:00 daily. Activities include: voice work, speech, acting, improvisation, characterisa-tion, mime and movement. The cost is R650 and booking is essential. Contact overberg@helenogrady.co.za or 074 903 7025.
Village
EXPLORER The
ART • WINE • FOOD
‘Disembodied Still Life’ by Jenny Jackson (detail)
FOOD & WINE
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Cheers to the Hermanus Wine & Food Festival Village seen its clients grow up and come of age. Clients have multiplied with new generations of wine lovers introduced to the pleasures of local wines sold at cellar door prices and shipped anywhere in the world.
Location, location, location. Hermanus is centrally positioned at the heart of South Africa’s cool climate wine production area. Neighboured by the wellknown Hemel-en-Aarde with eighteen wine producers within close reach on one road. This is where you will find the Wine Village. Perfectly located for wine business at the gateway to the Hermanus Wine Route, halfway between Elgin and Elim with Bot River and Stanford sandwiched between. Fine wine country. But this was not always wine country. In 1975 Tim Hamilton Russell bought the first piece of land and with this purchase the South African wine scene was to change in an unprecedented way. Wine production needs wine
sales. Wine Village met this challenge and the rest is history. Soon after the shop was established the first Hermanus wine festival was presented. This was nineteen years ago and if this festival were a person it would be old enough to drink. It has reached the age to legally enjoy the fruit of its labour.
This annual festival has grown and is now old and mature enough to leave its nest. This year the Hermanus Wine and Food Festival will be held at Curro School in Sandbaai. More space for parking, food tents, walkabouts and most importantly more space for wine tasting. From where it started with six producers in 1997, space was the one thing that this festival needed to accommodate the growing number of producers who have surpassed the grand sum of eighty. Also to accommodate the growing number of clients and family who support the du Toits and their wine business.
The Hermanus Wine and Food Festival is Walker Bay’s annual wine celebration that conveniently coincides with a long weekend in August when the Kalfiefees is hosted and women honoured with their own public holiday. Lots to do in Hermanus and the opportunity to raise a glass of good wine with friends and family. Be sure to buy your tickets for the bigger, better Hermanus Wine and Food Festival that will be taking place from 6 to 8 August 2016 at Curro School Sandbaai. As in previous years, Percy Tours will be the designated transfer company for the Hermanus Wine and Food Festival. Those who require transfers to and from the event can contact Percy on 072 062 8500 or visit www.hermanuswinetours. com - Frieda Lloyd
The annual Hermanus Wine and Food Festival is a personal fair where new vintages are tasted and old friends reacquainted. The festival is not just about the wine, it is also about longstanding relationships with clients, producers and owners Paul and Cathy du Toit’s extended family. Just as clients have seen the Wine Village and its expert staff age gracefully like good wine, so has the Wine
A triumph of nature Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, which lies in the heart of the Walker Bay Conservancy, provided a most appropriate setting for the recent vertical release of Whalehaven’s Conservation Coast range of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, accompanied by a pairing menu to complement the wines. Over time Whalehaven has gained a strong reputation for its French-styled Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, creating wines that evoke the elegance and reserve of fine Burgundy wines. Winemaker Reino Thiart uses grapes from Whalehaven’s vineyard in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley to craft these cool climate, terroir-driven wines which celebrate the beauty of the Cape Whale Coast, where sanctuary is offered to indigenous fynbos flora and marine life. The exceptional elegance of the wines is reflected not
only on the palate but also on the design of the labels. The brand ambassador of this family-owned winery, Silvana Bottega, collaborated with calligrapher Andrew van Der Merwe to create the extraordinary wine labels that depict the wavy pattern of the sand and the ocean along our coast. The design was further interpreted as sand art on the magnificent stretches of beach in the Walker Bay Conservancy to raise awareness for the area. The icons of Whalehaven, the mother and baby whale, have also been incorporated in the label design. A limited edition of the three vintages of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, 2012, 2013 and 2014, are now available in a beautifully crafted wooden box that reflects the ethos of Whalehaven Conservation Coast: a triumph of nature.
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ART
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A boost for local art galleries
FynArts Festival Artist Louis Jansen van Vuuren at the opening of his solo exhibition at Rossouw Modern SPACE Gallery. The special art exhibitions hosted during this year’s FynArts Festival from 10 – 19 June drew many festivalgoers into the local art galleries of Hermanus. The enthusiastic response saw galleries packed beyond capacity during the openings and a steady stream of feet across their doorsteps. This not only resulted in increased sales for the artists and gallery owners, but further cemented the growing reputation of Hermanus as an art destination. Terry Kobus of Originals Gallery says the value of FynArts to local businesses continues to increase every year. “For the local artists especially it
creates the opportunity to put on special exhibitions of their work and reach a wide audience. The response this year was absolutely fantastic and there were days when we had 200 to 300 people through the gallery. It was especially encouraging to note that some festivalgoers had flown in especially for FynArts from as far away as Johannesburg. We also had more sales than in previous years and I think the next step would be for FynArts to attract art lovers who attend the festival specifically to buy art.” Joshua Rossouw of Rossouw Modern and SPACE Gallery
also hosted special FynArts exhibitions and says he thought the festival was “phenomenal”. More people than could fit into the gallery attended the opening of festival artist Louis Jansen van Vuuren’s exhibition at SPACE, and the opening of Abalone Art Gallery’s exhibitions of works by renowned artists Nel Erasmus and Judith Mason also attracted throngs of art lovers who were thrilled to engage personally with the artists. The owner of Abalone, Ortrud Mulder, says she was surprised by the attendance because there were many more art exhibitions this year than previously. Liz Coates, owner of Pure South Gallery and curator of the ceramic exhibition at the Windsor Hotel, Forms of Expression 2, says “It was an excellent festival”. The venue was packed during the opening of the ceramic exhibition and continued to draw visitors during the festival. “I also had good sales at my gallery where my exhibiting artist was Errol Norbury. The workshop hosted at Pure South was fully booked, as were the ceramic workshops presented by ceramic artists Rae
Goosen and Tania Babb.” Liz says the standard of the concerts and exhibitions during this year’s FynArts was very high. “I think the festival is getting better every year and is building on its good reputation. People now know about it and it’s on their calendar of things to do. What is especially encouraging is that some of the people visiting the galleries said they had come specifically to buy art.” Ed Bredenkamp of Lembu and Forty x 40 Gallery says the opening of Christa Clark’s exhibition was so well attended that they couldn’t fit everyone in the gallery. “The response was quite unexpected and the gallery was chock-a-block,” says Ed. “This was Christa’s first solo exhibition and we sold 16 of her paintings.” Ed also reported good attendance and sales for his solo exhibition at Lembu Gallery. “It was wonderful to see the town buzzing with visitors walking around with the programme booklet and supporting all the local galleries. The Monday after FynArts had ended the whole town felt deserted!” - Hedda Mittner
The owner and curator of Abalone Art Gallery, Ortrud Mulder, with renowned artists Nel Erasmus and Judith Mason, who had solo exhibitions at Abalone during FynArts.
Local artists Danny Myburgh and Terry Kobus, who hosted a joint exhibition at Originals Gallery entitled ‘Crossings’.
Local artist Christa Clark (middle) with her sister, fellow artist Louise Hennigs and husband Michael Clark at the opening of her first solo exhibition at Forty x 40 Gallery.
Investing in fine art prints Local artist Jenny Jackson of Gallery 19 in High Street recently had limited edition prints made of several of her works, and is so impressed with the quality of the prints that I decided to find out more about the process.
Like many artists, Jenny has experienced the wrench of parting with a favourite painting when it is sold, and has also shared in the frustration of art lovers who are unable to afford an original artwork.
“The reason I’m so excited about this is because of the extraordinary likeness of the prints to the original,” says Jenny. “The colour quality is astonishing and the texture shows up very well. The prints are done in the same size as the original painting, so it’s as close as you can get to the real thing.”
“Lots of people love my work but don’t want to lay out large amounts of money. This gives them the opportunity to rather buy a print.” The person responsible for Jenny’s prints is Lawrance Brennon, who offers this unique service to both artists and art buyers right here in
Hermanus. As a professional photographer who has been involved with digital printing for over 20 years, Lawrance has great appreciation for the arts. Before relocating to Hermanus in 2014, Lawrance and his ceramic artist wife, Catherine, owned their own gallery in Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal, for 12 years. Lawrance uses high definition cameras, professional lighting equipment and state-of-the-art digital printers to photograph and custom print limited editions of fine art prints for artists. Only the highest quality fine art paper and pigment inks are used to produce works
of exceptional quality that preserves the tactile quality and colour accuracy of the original artwork. This creates a new and sustainable market for artists, enabling them to sell a limited edition of a particular artwork while retaining the original. Lawrance recently commissioned one of the first new generation large format printers in South Africa. This printer, capable of printing images up to a metre in width, opens up new exciting possibilities for artists wanting larger prints. Lawrance will photograph and print entire editions or
Jenny Jackson shows off a fine art print of her work in her studio/gallery in High Street. single prints, and can print on demand or short notice. These professional quality photographs of artworks are also useful for future use such as in books, catalogues, retrospective exhibitions, websites and promotion of
the artist’s work. Lawrance is happy to meet personally with artists at his studio to discuss their print requirements and can be contacted on 082 872 7830. - Hedda Mittner
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New Chardonnay festival for Hermanus
Great news not only for wine lovers but for the economy of the whole region is the launch of the Hemel-en-Aarde Winegrowers’ new wine festival, the Chardonnay Celebration, which will take place for the first time this year on 18 & 19 November. “The Hemel-en-Aarde region is well-known both nationally and internationally for the quality of its Burgundian-style wines, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay,” says Dieter Odendaal, the new manager and coordinator of the Hemelen-Aarde Winegrowers’ Association, who took over from Frieda Lloyd in May this year. “Now that the Pinot Noir Celebration has become a popular sold-out event for three years in a row, attended by local guests and visitors from all over South Africa and as far afield as Europe and China, we thought the time was ripe to turn our attention to Hemel-en-Aarde’s other flagship cultivar, Chardonnay.” According to Dieter, the Chardonnay Celebration will be more informal than the Pinot Noir Celebration and more aimed at the general public, “but still stylish and upmarket”. The festival will be hosted at The Thatch House, a luxury holiday villa on the edge of the Klein River lagoon. Celebrations will kick
off on Friday, 18 November with the spotlight on all the wines of the Hemel-enAarde region, including those producers who do not make Chardonnay. “On the Saturday the focus will be exclusively on Chardonnay in the form of tutored tastings and a Chardonnay pairing lunch, for which only a limited amount of tickets will be available,” says Dieter. Chardonnay tastings will continue throughout the afternoon, with activities such as lawn croquet and boat cruises adding to the festivities. Guests will be able to purchase either individual tickets for the three different events or a multi-ticket. The festival will conclude on the Saturday so that visitors will be free on the Sunday to visit their favourite wineries on the Hermanus Wine Route. The participating wineries at this stage are Whalehaven, Southern Right, Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Bouchard Finlayson, Hannes Storm Wines, La Vierge, Sumaridge, Newton Johnson, Restless River, Ataraxia, Creation, Mount Babylon and Domaine des Dieux. “We chose 18 & 19 November as the dates for the festival because we saw a gap on the wine calendar,
which is packed with events and festivals all year round,” says Dieter. “November is usually a quiet time in Hermanus and the event will give the economy a bit of a pre-season boost.” The Chardonnay Celebration will focus on the exceptional quality and the uniqueness of Hemel-en-
Aarde’s wines, climate and terroir. “At only roughly 350 ha, the Hemel-en-Aarde wine appellation is one of the smallest but also one of the best-performing wine areas in South Africa. We are especially proud of the recent achievements of our Pinot Noir and Chardonnay,” says Dieter. - Hedda Mittner
Hemel-en-Aarde wines shine in SAWi’s Grand Wines Collection The South African Wine Index (SAWi) recently announced the South African ‘Grand Wines Collection’ (GWC). The GWC represents a little less than 500 of the 6 000 South African wines currently available that have consistently achieved the highest acknowledgement from various wine judging panels and respected wine commentators, all over the world. Among the 42 Chardonnays that made the list are six from Hemel-en-Aarde, with the topranking wine in the country being Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay. The others are Ataraxia Chardonnay, Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Chardonnay, Sumaridge Wines Chardonnay, Creation Wines Chardonnay and two from Bouchard Finlayson – the Kaaimansgat Crocodile’s Lair Chardonnay and the Missionvale Chardonnay. Each ranked wine in the collection has scored a minimum of 93 Index points and as a collective, the GWC sets a unique benchmark for South African wine quality. Among the selection of only 13 Pinot Noirs that made the GWC list, no less than seven are from Hemel-en-Aarde, with Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak Pinot Noir in topranking position, followed by Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir, Creation Reserve Pinot Noir, Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, Sumaridge Pinot Noir, Creation Pinot Noir and Newton Johnson Wind & Sea Pinot Noir.
Dieter Odendaal, manager and coordinator of the Hemel-en-Aarde Winegrowers’ Association
My Home
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Hermanus 028 313 0390
26 JANUARY 28 June 2016 2016
Fernkloof is the Bishopscourt of Hermanus The suburb of Fernkloof now ranks as the most exclusive address in Hermanus. With an average property valuation of R4,55 million, it outranks other suburbs by about 2:1 for its average property values. The only residential area to come close in terms of property values, is the neighbouring Fernkloof Golf Estate. The suburb achieves some of the highest prices in the town, and only beach houses have sold for higher prices in recent years. This is according to Jaco van der Merwe, one of the principals of Seeff Hermanus, who says the suburb has grown in stature over the last few years and is now regarded as the ‘Bishopscourt’ of Hermanus for its large stands, which can range from 2 000 m² to more than 9 000 m², and its mansions. “The houses are often multi-storey and sized from around 600 m² to 2 000 m² with at least four bedrooms, multiple living rooms and top class finishes. The gardens are generally lush and treed, and often come with a swimming pool and a borehole. Most of the homes enjoy lovely mountain and sea views across Walker Bay,” says Jaco. According to him Fernkloof is an upper income area and property owners tend to hold on to their homes. More than half of the properties have, for example, been in the same hands for well over ten years. It follows that although sought-after, few sales take place annually as there is always a shortage of stock. “There are only 162 properties in the whole suburb. Over the last five years, only about six or seven properties changed hands annually. Activity peaked last year with 11 transactions worth just under R50 million, and most sales have been in the
R4.5 million to just over R10 million price range. This year, there have already been five sales ranging from R5.5 million to R15 million,” says Jaco. Seeff agent, Annali Durr, says homes for sale are so scarce that there are currently only four homes on the market in the R8.9 million to R25 million range. She says the R8.9 million home offers excellent value and should catch the eye of astute buyers looking for a luxury home in a solid investor suburb. The property enjoys fabulous views and offers 600 m² of living space set over two floors with balconies, multiple living rooms with cozy fireplaces, garaging, staff accommodation and excellent security. The stand size is 2 624 m². “This house illustrates the superb quality of properties in Fernkloof that match up with the best on offer in the country, including those in Sandton in Johannesburg, and Bishopscourt and Constantia in Cape Town,” says Annali.
Seeff licensee, Reon van der Merwe, says the wealthy are increasingly heading to Hermanus. According to recent reports from New World Wealth (a Sandton-based wealth research consultancy), the town ranks among the most exclusive in the country, with about 40 multi-millionaire residents and at least 20 trophy homes in the R20 million-plus price category. “With annual sales that topped the R1.2 billion-mark last year, Hermanus is no longer a sleepy little holiday town. The market here has benefited from the great migration of buyers from other provinces to the Western Cape. Those who are not already moving here, are buying with their eye on moving in the near future,” says Reon. Hermanus also remains a popular retirement destination and there are plenty of options. Many older buyers, especially wealthy entrepreneurs, often retire in their fifties and then move down to the coast to a luxury estate house such as those in Fernkloof.
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Get your red marker out and make sure you keep the weekend of 19 to 21 August open to share in the official 75th year anniversary weekend of Hermanus High School. “We want everyone to join us during the events that weekend and we urge residents, parents of current learners and old Hermies to attend and make the celebration a huge success,” says principal Greg Hassenkamp.
GOOD
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The school will host a number of events during the weekend that include a reunion and the inter-schools sports fixture. “The weekend will also be the perfect opportunity for all past year groups to arrange reunions. It promises to be a fun-filled and memorable weekend and we are expecting thousands of people to attend the various activities,” says Greg. To commemorate the
and promises to be a keepsake. Both the book and the other memorabilia are for sale at the school during the year and visitors will be able to order it in advance during the weekend.
anniversary, a number of memorabilia as well as a special anniversary book will
be for sale. The book will cover the events at the school over the last 75 years
Photos of the memorabilia are available on the school’s website at www.hermanushigh.co.za and on the Facebook page, Hoërskool Hermanus 75-jaar Reünie.
During the weekend there will also be a display on the school’s history as well as a tour of the primary school. On the Saturday evening there will be a formal gala dinner and on the Sunday a special church service in the Dutch Reformed Church. Those wanting to attend the gala dinner need to reserve their seats as soon as possible. Contact the school at 028 312 3760.
The construction of the astro turf hockey field by Hermanus High School is taking shape by the day. After two years of planning enough funds were generated by the school to start the construction. The field is situated on the property of the Hermanus Sports Complex (HSC) and promises not only to be of benefit to the Hermanus Schools but also to the Hermanus and Overberg communities as a whole. The planning allows for the first phase to be completed in time for the high school to play their inter-schools hockey fixture on 20 August at the facility.
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26 JANUARY 28 June 2016 2016
Charlotte and Fixiswa in front of the wall hanging created at the workshop.
Lina, Simele and Lindo are three of the youths who completed the Keiskamma workshop.
Among the many exhibitions during this year’s FynArts Festival, was the Keiskamma Art Project which entailed a series of embroideries on display in the Municipal Auditorium. Included were embroideries depicting a Xhosa narrative that raises awareness of the plight of the Ground Hornbill, created by Cebo Mvubu and seven assisting artists, as well as the impressive Keiskamma Altarpiece.
highlights on the journey down to the Cape Whale Coast. Things that struck the travellers after leaving the rural Eastern Cape, where they were used to wide open spaces between their homes, was the overcrowding in the townships together with the commercial trappings of big towns.
Artists from the Keiskamma Art Project with the workshop participants at the exhibition.
FynArts reaches out to township youths
Based in the rural village of Hamburg near East-London in the Eastern Cape, the Keiskamma Project was started in 2000 to raise selfesteem and alleviate poverty among the local population. Under the directorship of Carol Hofmeyr, the Project has made many important artworks, including the Keiskamma Tapestry now
hanging in Parliament in Cape Town. Carol and the Keiskamma artists also presented a series of workshops at the Youth Café in Zwelihle as part of this year’s FynArts Outreach Programme. The youngsters, who have all completed Grade 12 in Hermanus and are looking for opportunities in the job market, were taught the art of fabric collage work. When they had completed their wall hanging, it was put on display at the Municipal Auditorium on Youth Day, along with the Keiskamma Art Project works. The wall hanging tells the story of the journey from Hamburg to Hermanus. Clearly seen are the bus, the gravel and tarred roads, the traffic lights and other
“The workshop was very successful and the youngsters were very proud to have their work exhibited during FynArts,” says Fixiswa Gxamesi, who runs the Zwelihle Youth Café with partner William Ntebe. “Carol said they will be back for follow-up workshops and I was also approached by a local artist who offered to give weekly art lessons to the youth. Now that people know about the work we are
About 30 children from Zwelihle took part in the Through their own Eyes project, which saw Dutch benefactors donate cameras to the children which they used to take photos of their families and neighbourhood. Their work was exhibited at the Youth Café during FynArts. doing, many have volunteered to help and have brought us pieces of
fabric to work with.” Anyone who would like to offer their assistance or
donate fabric, can contact Fixiswa on 076 969 5830. - Anne Phillip
28 June 2016
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Dr Maarten has a little lamb...
“There’s a new-born lamb at the Bergview Veterinary Hospital in Hermanus! He was saved by their veterinary team!” How could The NEWS team possibly ignore such a lovely humane story, in juxtaposition to this past fortnight’s bubbling cauldron of Brexit, the US Presidential Primaries and currency fluctuations to name a few. On Youth Day, 16 June, veterinary team Drs Maarten and Sherry van Dalsen and their fouryear-old son, Jack were driving along the Waboomskloof Road near Dassiesfontein. They spotted a tiny white bundle of wool on the side of the road, a newborn lamb, only around four hours old. Terribly vulnerable, they realised that this little creature couldn’t fend for itself without its mother, so they set about looking for her. They drove up and down the road, some 60km in all, seeking either the ewe, or the land’s farmer. After calling in at a number of farms, it transpired that the lamb was found on rented
land that didn’t belong to a farmer in the area. The ewe was nowhere to be found. Drs Maarten and Sherry realised that they couldn’t possibly leave the lamb where it was, so they decided to take it home to shelter and feed it. They looked after it for a week at home and then when Sherry went overseas, relocated it to their rooms at the Bergview Veterinary Hospital in Hermanus. The lamb is being fed on Ayershire milk and drinks twelve of its 150ml feeding bottles per day at the hospital. “We have found a wonderful home for the lamb at the Greyton Farm Animal Sanctuary,” says Dr Maarten. “It will be collected on 2 July and taken to its new, safe sanctuary.” Owned and run by Nicola Vernon and her team, the Greyton Farm Animal Sanctuary is based on a private farm just outside Greyton. “It offers a permanent home for rescued, orphaned, sick, abused or retired farm animals, where their every need is met for the rest of their natural lives.” We speak with Nicola, who is presently in London. “When lambs are very young, they need a lot of care. In the first two weeks, they require feeding every two hours, including right through the night. As I’m in the UK at the moment, we asked the vets if they could rear the lamb for two more weeks, as my team already has two newborn lambs and a piglet to care for. As they are vets, we knew he’d be in good hands. When he comes to us on Saturday, he will join our other young lambs, Julie and Meadow, plus our juvenile lamb,
Chané Marais, Bergview assistant (right), with the rescued lamb that has been named Shaun and is being cared for by Drs Maarten and Sherry van Dalsen and their team. Baa, who is looking after the little flock.” The sanctuary currently has 22 sheep and lambs, 20 pigs, 2 old dogs, one of whom came from Rescued Animal Drive (RAD) in Hermanus, 5 cats and 2 geese! Visitors are welcome to the Sanctuary, which is open 7 days a week. They can be found at Tabularasa Farm, seven kilometres on the Krige Road, between Greyton and the N2. Entrance is free, but donations are very welcome. To visit, call 082 558 7752 for directions and to advise them that you are coming. - Kathy Mulock-Bentley
To advertise in The Village NEWS please contact Kathy on 083 581 7219
My Pet
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The toughest choice Making the decision to euthanase a beloved pet has to be one of the most difficult decisions in life, but when a pet is seriously ill or so infirm that going to sleep alleviates pain and suffering that cannot be relieved in any other way, euthanasia is the kindest choice. If you’re faced with this decision, it may be helpful to remember the following: • You’re doing this because you love your pet; to alleviate his/her suffering • You’ve done everything possible to give your pet the proper love and care he/she deserves throughout its life • Your pet won’t suffer under euthanasia but will quietly slip into a deep sleep • You’re entitled to ask your vet any, and as many, questions you may have about the euthanasia procedure and how necessary it may be • It’s entirely up to you whether or not you want to be with your pet when
he or she is euthanased. If you choose to wait in the waiting room, it doesn’t mean you love your pet less; we all handle emotional trauma and grief differently. • Your vet will assist you in making the decision about euthanasia but it’s up to you to have the final say. • Some pet owners need time to come to terms with the decline of their pet while others want it done quickly to prevent any unnecessary suffering. Weigh your options carefully If the most important thing to you is waiting until the last possible minute to say goodbye to your baby, be prepared for a stress-filled, emergency ending which may not be peaceful. You may regret waiting too long. If a peaceful, calm, loving, family-oriented, inhome end of life experience is what you wish for your pet, then you will probably need to make the decision to euthanase a little sooner than you want. Above all, our pets do not
deserve to hurt. Dealing with the grief of euthanasia Many pet owners experience a very strong and lasting sense of pain and grief after the death of a special pet, but never feel guilty for feeling this way.
This is a sadness shared by all pet lovers. You may even feel depressed or experience denial, anger, and bargaining but, finally acceptance will come. Euthanasia is something that, when used appropriately and timely, prevents further physical suffering for your pet
and emotional suffering of your family. Above all, remember that your vet is there to help your pet and you. For information on the euthanasia procedure, go to www.ebervet.com and click on News.
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Why Corporate Social Investment matters Change is inevitable. Political leaders come and go, even the good ones. Policy upheavals and their economic repercussions have been a part of the history of South Africa since the age of the donkey cart. Right now, our economy is on the brink of another dramatic change from junk to jumpstart - and we implore big business to take up the challenge. Yes, the current signs are indeed disturbing. Anglo American is no longer our biggest listed company on the JSE. Old Mutual in the UK has regrouped. Standard Bank, SAB Millers and Shoprite are expanding outside the borders of South Africa. So the new order of business means doing what South Africans know and do best…hang tough and vasbyt.
In our time of need… Sir Winston Churchill, Britain’s grandest war leader of all time, renowned for his many rousing and uplifting speeches during the allies’ darkest days of the Second World War, was hailed for his historic radio address to the brave fighter pilots in the British Royal Air Force. Hopelessly outnumbered by a German Luftwaffe four times its strength, the gallant RAF stood tall and survived. Churchill proudly told the nation: “Never before, has so much been owed by so many to so few.” The hope of a better life for all now rests heavily on the shoulders of a few. The time for our big guns to step up and save the day is now. Chapter Two of our constitution asserts that: “Education shall be directed towards the development of the human personality and a sense of personal dignity, and shall aim at strengthening respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship among South Africans and between nations.” Clearly a good education is not just the promise of a salaried paid job. Education is the very thing that keeps our constitution meaningful and our democracy alive. So the multi-million dollar question remains: Whose responsibility is it for ensuring access to a quality education for our youth? Who is accountable for the policies that determine our education standards? And who, ultimately, will ensure
that the youth of today have the chance of a quality of life come tomorrow? Yes, our government and our tertiary institutions as the principal educators are unquestionably major players, but not all roads lead to Euphoria. Parents
If not in returns, then in the hope of a better life.
with children still at school are understandably concerned, and rightly so.
A role for public and private enterprise To move our country from a ‘basket case’ state of chaos into a developed nation of unity and strength is going to
take an unprecedented collaboration between our nation’s primary influencers both public and private enterprise. We are of the opinion that, in the quest for a better life for all, we are all equally accountable. We thank our ingrained sense of social responsibility and good moral judgments that we are not alone in our traditional thinking. South Africa already boasts some mighty corporate social investment champions too many to mention by name - that are leading by example. Fortunately for us, they know who they are. One such organisation to take up the challenge is Proctor & Gamble, through its involvement with the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Back in 2010, US President Barack Obama founded YALI with the specific purpose of empowering and grooming young African leaders for the future. YALI aims to foster entrepreneurial and innovative thinking and focuses on upskilling young individuals who have a proven record of active engagement in public or community service, volunteerism or mentoring. P&G, we at SOLOBEAR salute you. SOLOBEAR, also founded in 2010, has much the same aims and objectives. With a brand promise of “Pioneer your own frontier”, the SOLOBEAR youth art development project in Hermanus was conceived with the aim of creating selfhelp business entrepreneurs. We believe, properly managed, corporate social investments can make a difference in our local neighbourhoods and our communities. But without the help and support of the big guns, our future remains bleak. Now is the time for the few to stand tall… the mighty brave hearts.
Rola VW Hermanus are proud supporters of SOLOBEAR. Pioneer your own Frontier. A youth art development initiative in the interests of Overstrand entrepreneurship. Send an email to Alan Engelsman at alan@stoepsitstudio.co.za
Sport
Sport written & compiled by: Tony O’Hagan
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Major upgrading at Hermanus Golf Club The Hermanus Golf Club is currently in the midst of renovating large sections of the clubhouse. The areas being refurbished include the reception area, lounge/bar, dining area and halfway house. Large sections of the roof are also being painted and renewed. Sliding doors have been installed around the clubhouse and the renovated areas are being painted in lighter colours to portray a coastal theme. The old carpets have been uplifted and replaced with lighter vinyl flooring to adhere to the coastal feeling of the club. Several local contractors are
involved in the project which is due for completion at the end of August, 2016. Contrary to many other South African golf clubs, the rounds of golf played are ahead of last year following a record holiday season. Up and coming events include the annual Western Cape Inter Club Competition which falls under the auspices of the P.G.A. This competition is held at the club of the reigning champions, with the Hermanus 4 Ball winning last year’s event for the first time. The competition is based on an alliance format and 26 clubs have entered to date. The teams are made up of
the Club Pro, Manager, Captain and a committee member. This event takes place at the end of August and Hermanus will be represented by Julian Shaw, Stephen van der Merwe, Theo-John Stergianos and Richard Jones. Also on the calendar is the popular Walker Bay Classic, scheduled for 12 November, 2016. The club has a winter special for visitors at R270 for 18 holes, while the Twilight Special is available every evening from 15:30 onwards at a cost of R135, including a drink. The Hermanus Golf Club continues as a leading destination for golfers and
the new upgrade will further enhance the club's reputation as an experience not to be missed. Also thriving
along with the club are the 9 Springboks ("bokkies") which add to the welcoming ambiance of the club.
South Africa's cricketer of the 20th century selects his Best SA XI Graeme Pollock, South Africa's Cricketer of the 20th Century, was born in 1944 and played cricket for South Africa, Transvaal and Eastern Province. A member of a famous cricketing family, including brother Peter and nephew Shaun, Graeme is regarded as one of the finest batsmen to have played test cricket. This achievement despite Pollock's international career being cut short at the age of
26 by the sporting boycott of South Africa. He played 23 test matches, predominantly against Australia and England, who were the leading cricket nations of that era. He broke many records and completed his test match career with an average of 60.97. He was voted Wisden's "leading cricketer in the world" in 1967 and 1969. Pollock has a top score of 274 in test matches and took four test wickets.
In conversation with Graeme last week, I asked him to choose his best South African test eleven from his era up to the current era. He was told to include himself at number 4 in the batting order. He put forward 10 names in fairly quick time but he debated for a while as to the spinning option in his best XI. He felt Hugh Tayfield was our best, but Tayfield fell outside the time frame under discussion.
His selection for the best South African XI from his time up to today would be: Barry Richards, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Graeme Pollock, AB de Villiers, Clive Rice, Mike Procter, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Alan Kourie and Alan Donald. Others who were noted as worthy of consideration include Hashim Amla, Darryl Cullinan, Eddie Barlow, Dennis Lindsay, Herschelle
Gibbs, Denys Hobson and Makhaya Ntini, to name a few. In 1970, when South Africa trounced Australia 4-0 in a test match series, our team was considered No 1 in the world and we attained that position again under Graeme Smith's captaincy. We are currently No 6 in the test rankings, so let’s hope our Proteas can get us back to the top of the rankings in the not too distant future.
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Boxers fight their way into hearts of locals
On Youth Day, members of the Overstrand Whale Boxing Club in Zwelihle showed their appreciation to Carole Dods, owner of the Jol Emporium, for her continued support of their club by pitching up unexpectedly and cleaning the shop for her inside and out and from top to bottom. “I was left in tears for what they have done. Together with my Facebook friends, we have been able to assist the club a few times in the past with donations to buy much needed equipment or medals for tournaments,” says Carole. Regardless of the lack of a proper training area and a shortage of equipment, the club not only has the number one ranking in the Overberg, it has also produced two SA Champions in 12-year-old Akhule Mgoqi, who has been selected for the SA Championship team and Tanner Matodes, who won gold in his division at the national championships.
According to Mzi Damefi, owner and coach at the club, they have been in existence since 2007. “I was a professional boxer in the Eastern Cape and when I moved here I saw a lot of children playing in the streets and decided to start a boxing club to not only get them off the streets, but also to give them a chance at becoming champions. “The club used to operate from a shipping container but it was very stuffy as there were no windows and the roof leaked terribly. We now have a small room that we use to train in but it is bitterly cold in there in winter, and the roof also leaks. There are 32 members and the club is growing all the time. Children come to have a look and once they see you can become a champion at something they immediately want to join. “But we are grateful to all those who support us and I wanted to
show our appreciation to Carole. There is no use in waiting till someone is dead to say nice things about them next to their grave. You must show the people who assist you immediately that you are thankful. That is why we went to clean the Jol Emporium,” says Mzi. He says three boxers from the club will be travelling to Durban during the first week of July to attend the SANBO National Elite Championships. With the help of Carole, who is raising awareness via Facebook of the need to cover the travelling expenses for these boxers, a total of R4 400 has been raised of which R3 000 will go towards the travel expenses. “When the boxers, often with small children, travel to Cape Town they mostly hike with Mzi to get there if they do not have lifts, as the club has no transport of its own. The remaining R1 400 will
be the start of the Buy a Bus Fund for the club. We know we are hoping for a miracle but I am excited and confident that we will make this a reality,” says Carole. Several individuals and local businesses including The Beanery at Gateway Centre have made donations. “Guests of ours from Portugal also donated R1 000 while they were in Hermanus and sent another R1 600 after they saw an appeal for funds from me on Facebook after they returned home. “Mzi is a passionate, honest, kind, and extremely dedicated coach, who wants nothing more than to take the youth off the streets and improve their lives. I am extremely proud of Mzi and all he has achieved,” says Carole. The club now has a bank account for donations. The details are: Name: OWBC. Capitec Bank, Hermanus. Savings Account. Account number: 1474 152 749.
Rotary presents new MTB race at Wildekrans The Rotary Club of Hermanus recently announced a brand new fund-raising project – the first ever Wildekrans Rotary Mountain Bike Adventure, to be staged on 7 August 2016 as part of the annual Kalfiefees. As the name suggests, the MTB Adventure is going to be a fun ride aimed at the family and will offer lots of entertainment, music, food and wine. The unique track is already constructed and maintained by Wildekrans. Farm manager and viticulturist Braam Gericke remarks that even though it is
marketed as a fun event there definitely will be a few challenging spots en route for the more competitive rider. The route will stretch over ±35 km through some of the estate’s vineyards with spectacular scenic vistas of the Overberg. It will also include two short loops of 5 and 10 km respectively for children. Participants can enter at online.entries.co.za and there will be an opportunity for late entries on Saturday 6 August between 15:00 and 17:00 at the Kalfiefees tent in
Onrus and on Sunday morning from 06:00 at Wildekrans. The entry fee for adults is R400 per person and the children’s entry fee will be R30 for the 5km loop and R50 for the 10km loop. “We are extremely grateful to Wildekrans and its owners Gary and Mandy Harlow for their very generous offer to utilise their facility and expertise in presenting this event,” says chairmain of the organising committee, Johan Augustyn. “Although Wildekrans’s acclaimed restaurant, Forage, suffered
a devastating fire recently, they have assured us that everything is going ahead as planned and that they will be honouring all their commitments, so nobody needs to be concerned,” adds Augustyn. The Hermanus Rotary Club has been synonymous with mountain bike races such as the well-known Wines2Whales and Houw Hoek Inn MTB Race that took place in April this year. Members of the club are regularly spotted along the routes of such races where
Danie Goosen and Braam Gericke of Wilderkrans on their bikes. they marshal and serve at the various water points with the purpose of raising funds. For more information,
contact Johan Augustyn on 083 626 3081 or Sandra Lotz on 082 924 7254.