The Village NEWS 03 June - 10 June 2020

3 JUNE 2020

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Hermanus High School welcomed their 2020 matric class back to school on Monday 1 June. The learners were all screened on arrival and divided into four groups for their orientation into the new COVID-19 school environment, while allowing for social distancing.

The learners were all issued with two masks each. On the right is head girl, Ronelle Coetzee.

PHOTOS: Nanette Ras

Vigilance is now more important than ever to 11 099 and the number of deaths increased from 300 to 488 during the week.

100 000. The Western Cape now accounts for 65% of the positive cases in South Africa.

hile thousands of residents returned to work on Monday 1 June after more than 65 day in lockdown, the call has been made for greater vigilance than ever in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic under Level 3 regulations.

In the Overberg, identified as one of the hotspots in the country, the number of infections over the same period rose to 124 from 75. In the Overstrand the number of cases rose from 30 (with 18 recoveries) to 43 (with 24 recoveries).

More relaxed regulations imply more movement of people and this in turn will lead to an increased chance of spreading the virus. Between Sunday 24 May and Sunday 31 May the number of confirmed cases in the Western Cape rose from 13 969 to 21 103 – an increase of 7 134. The number of recoveries rose from 6 950

According to statistics made available over the weekend there are 14 hotspots in the country.

A hotspot is defined as an area with more than 5 cases per 100 000 residents. The Overberg has 9 cases per 100 000 residents (the 5th largest hotspot), while the City of Cape Town is the country’s largest hotspot with 117.2 cases per

According to Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, the move to Level 3 must be carefully managed, which is why the Western Cape Government's targeted hotspot plan will continue in areas where infections are highest. “This plan requires the support and assistance of all residents of these areas. With the peak of the virus in the Western Cape anticipated towards the end of June/ beginning of July, precautionary measures must be taken by every single person to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

Writer De Waal Steyn

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He said the virus was going to be with us for several more months, so we would need to

adapt our behaviour. “The world has changed and 'business as usual’ must become a thing of the past. We must be rigorous about hygiene and handwashing. Social distancing and the wearing of masks must become second nature; we must do these things instinctively. This is how we will be able to flatten the curve and slow the spread of the virus.”

Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi said on Friday that with many more people going back to work there were important actions that needed to be taken to ensure reduced exposure. To this end, some changes have been added to the existing rules that impose duties on employers to keep workers safe.

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3 June 2020

The nitty-gritty of Alert Level 3 From P1 Most of the previous rules remain, including the requirement for a Covid-19 plan to be in place with an accountable safety officer in charge of it. Nxesi said one of the changes provides that workers may refuse to work "if they have a reasonable belief that the necessary precautions have not been put in place to prevent the transmission of Covid-19".

Also, employees who have had close contact with someone where there is a high risk of transmission must be given 14 days of paid sick leave. This will apply to all workers, Nxesi said.

The two face masks that companies must issue to every staff member no longer need to be washed and ironed by the company, and the cost of Covid-19 personal protective equipment, cannot be recovered from employees in any way.

It is not yet clear when the changes will come into force.

Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has announced that under Level 3 some tourism sectors will be allowed to open up. The activities that are now allowed include hunting, game viewing and car rental services.

Public and private game farms may open for self-drive excursions and hiking is allowed – if it is done in compliance with existing guidelines and not in groups. Service professionals like tour guides, tour operators, travel agents and tourism information officers can also resume operations.

Under Level 3 the curfew which confined people to their homes between 20:00 and 05:00 every night has been lifted, but several restrictions on movement remain in place. People may only leave their homes for work, to procure groceries and essential services, exercise or perform any of the other activities specified for Level 3.

Restaurants with liquor licences can sell alcohol only for takeout and delivery, but the consumption of food and alcohol in restaurants, bars,

shebeens and taverns is still prohibited. Alcohol can be sold Monday to Thursday only, between 09:00 and 17:00. No alcohol sales are permitted on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays. Traders will be permitted to sell alcohol for consumption off-site and the consumption of alcohol at the place of sale is prohibited.

The restriction on the hours when people can exercise has been eased, but not completely lifted. People may now exercise at any time between 6:00 and 18:00, if it is not an organised group activity. Gyms, exercise centres, beaches, public parks, sports grounds, and swimming pools will remain closed. Only funerals and religious gatherings are permitted, and these are capped at 50 persons.

The regulations also state that all retail outlets may open, with stringent health protocols in place. Likewise, all economic sectors can operate, except those at high risk.

No movement is permitted between provinces, metropolitan areas or districts, except while

performing a service listed under Level 3 regulations, to attend a funeral, transport mortal remains, care for a sick relative or for work purposes. In each instance, a permit is required.

People may move to a new house, but they will need a permit from the relevant authority. No evictions are allowed during Level 3. All domestic workers and other care workers employed in private households may return to work, if their employer ensures that adequate safety measures are in place. The employer is also required to issue them with a permit.

In the hotspot areas patrols, roadblocks, and vehicle checkpoints will be carried out and SAPS, the SANDF and local law enforcement authorities will work together to control movement in these areas.

Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize may impose stricter lockdown rules in hotspots to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. More information on these hotspots is expected to be published at a later date.

Revised municipal budget approved Writer Hedda Mittner

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uring a virtual council meeting held on Wednesday, 27 May in Hermanus, Gansbaai and Kleinmond, the full council of the Overstrand Municipality unanimously approved the 2020/’21 municipal budget. Speaker Anton Coetsee pronounced this “a remarkable achievement that reflects a tremendous vote of confidence in the mayor, the municipal manager and the administration as a whole”.

Also serving before council was the third review of the municipality’s 5-year Integrated Development Plan (IDP), which articulates the needs of our communities and specifies initiatives to be funded by the municipal budget.

For the 2020/’21 financial year, the strategic direction set out in the 5-year IDP remains unchanged. The Draft Budget, however, was revised in order to reduce municipal expenditure and to assist ratepayers who are under financial strain.

“The national lockdown, imposed as a result of COVID-19, and the various regulations promulgated by National Government under the National State of Disaster, have unfortunately had a devastating effect on the economy of South Africa – and the Overstrand is no exception,” said Executive Mayor Dudley Coetzee in his address.

“The tourism industry, which forms the backbone of the Overstrand economy, came to an abrupt halt on 26 March this year. This has had an adverse effect on our ratepayers and many of our businesses, particularly smaller businesses.”

The mayor went on to say that the comments received from the public on the 2020/’21 Draft Budget mostly concerned the effect that the COVID-19 lockdown is having on our economy.

The Draft Budget could therefore not, as in the past, simply be adjusted, but had to be revised in its entirety.

“In this budget we have considered the impact that COVID-19 has had on our ratepayers as well as on the ability of the municipality to continue to operate and provide infrastructure and a high level of services that are only fully used during relatively short holiday seasons,” the mayor said.

Following a number of reductions in the interest rate, the Reserve Bank has forecast an inflation

rate for the 2020/’21 financial year of 4.7%.

Tariffs “Given the current challenges that our ratepayers and the municipality face, the increase in all municipal tariffs – with the exception of electricity – will be reduced from the proposed 5.9% in the Draft Budget to 4.5%. This includes the first 6 kl of water consumed.

“The cost of electricity from ESKOM to the municipality will increase by 6.9%, and in terms of the directive from NERSA the electricity tariff to municipal consumers will increase by 6.22% – a decrease from the 15% that was included in the Draft Budget.”

Property rates Mayor Coetzee added that the increase in property rates will also be reduced from 6.9%, as proposed in the Draft Budget, to 4.5% for all categories of property. Special Rating Areas have been approved for Hermanus, Onrus-Vermont and Kleinmond, and Coetzee thanked the three steering committees for their hard work and dedication in finalising these SRAs on behalf of their respective communities. The rate requested varies per area and is included in the list of tariffs.

Ward-specific projects “As in the past, an amount of R6.5 million, or R500 000 per ward, has been budgeted for ward-specific projects that are related to infrastructure. To contribute to reducing expenditure, no budget is provided for the Mayoral Fund, nor is funding provided for grants-in-aid or contributions towards festivals.”

Extended term payment agreement At the start of the lockdown in March, council approved an extended term payment agreement that businesses and residential ratepayers who found themselves under financial stress could enter into with the municipality for their March and April municipal accounts.

Council agreed last week to extend this concession to include the May and June accounts as well. In addition, tenants who are unable to use the property rented from the municipality for the purpose for which it was intended, are exempted from paying rent until the end of June.

Relief for accommodation establishments In view of the fact that the tourism industry has been particularly hard hit by the lockdown regulations, council also approved a temporary adjustment for all accommodation establishments to be charged the residential property rates tariff

retrospectively from April through to June.

“Given the uncertainty of how long the various lockdown regulations will remain in place, the above concessions may well have to be extended in the new financial year,” said Coetzee.

Salaries In his address, the mayor said the municipality had to comply with the current three-year collective SALGBC salary agreement for municipal employees, which came into operation on 1 July 2018. According to the principles of the agreement, salary increases were approved at 6.25 % for the 2020/’21 financial year. This was based on the average inflation for the period February 2019 to January 2020, with a minimum of 5%, plus 1.25%. Salary notch adjustments of approximately 2% have also been included in the salary budget.

“The remuneration of councillors is determined by the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. The proclamation with regard to the 2019/’20 increases was only published during April 2020 and set salary increases at 4%,” said Coetzee. “No indication for 2020/’21 has been received and therefore remuneration adjustments for councillors has been factored into the 2020/’21 budget at the same rate as the 2019/’20 determination.”

Vacancies According to the mayor, the 57 new permanent staff positions included in the Draft Budget have been withdrawn. This includes the additional Law Enforcement staff. The Law Enforcement Division will be reorganised to allow for the K9 units planned for Gansbaai and Kleinmond to be established. The driver’s licence testing centres planned for these two areas have been postponed.

Capital Budget projects “To assist in rebuilding the economy of the Overstrand, R15 million has been provided for temporary positions to help in creating jobs for our residents,” said Coetzee. “All items of a capital nature that can result in job creation for our people have also been included in the budget, particularly where this will address ageing water reticulation systems, as well as sewerage projects, and importantly also, stormwater projects.”

To this end the following items have been included in the Capital Budget: Zwelihle Sewer Upgrade Zwelihle Stormwater Upgrade Kleinmond Sewer Upgrade

R13.75 M R8.39 M R13.00 M

Masakhane Stormwater Overhills Stormwater Betty’s Bay Stormwater Hermanus Stormwater Hermanus Waste Recycling Plant Hawston Sports Complex Hawston Business Hub Mt Pleasant Sports Field Hawston R43 intersection Hermanus Well fields Pringle Bay Reservoir Gansbaai Reservoir Hermanus CBD Regeneration

R4.50 M R2.20 M R3.31 M R2.60 M R17.96 M R9.44 M R4.87 M R2.46 M R2.19 M R10.50 M R6.13 M R7.88 M R7.10 M

Water restrictions Level 2 water restrictions in the Hermanus area introduced from 1 June 2018 are still applicable.

The first level of water restriction tariffs is also still applicable in Hermanus.

The mayor concluded his address by thanking the public for their participation and input during the IDP Review and Budget preparation process. “I also wish to extend my sincere appreciation to the administration and the councillors who contributed to compiling the 2020/’21 Operating and Capital Budgets – particularly those who literally worked night and day to complete the total revision of the Draft Budget and so enable us to table the 2020/’21 Budget today.”

In summary, the proposed increases for a household for the coming financial year (2020/’21) are as follows:

• • • • • •

Property rates: Residential 4.5% Electricity 6.22% Water 4.5% Sewerage tariffs 4.5% Refuse tariffs 4.5% Property rates for business and undeveloped erven will also increase by 4.5%.

The average increase of a household Municipal account will be about 4.4% excluding electricity and 5.3% including electricity.

Hard copies of the IDP Review and Budget will unfortunately not be available for perusal at the library at this time, as all Overstrand libraries will remain closed during Level 3 of the COVID-19 lockdown. However, the 2020/’21 Third IDP Review can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/2XdYaAq and the Three-Year Budget for 2020/’21 to 2022/’23 can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/3cgD6NU.

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Traffic Department reopens CBD upgrade O

verstrand Municipality’s traffic department reopened on Tuesday, 2 June, in line with Level 3 lockdown regulations.

been postponed to the first available testing opportunity. The new dates will be communicated to the relevant applicants in due course.

Hermanus traffic services, situated on the corner of Short and Mussel Street, will now be open Mondays to Fridays from 08:00 – 18:00 and every Saturday during June and July from 08:00 – 13:00. The traffic offices in Kleinmond and Gansbaai will be open Mondays to Fridays from 08:00 – 15:30, with a lunch break between 13:00 – 13:45.

Grace period for expired licences Residents have a 90-day grace period from 1 June for documents that expired during the lockdown period between 26 March and 31 May. The grace period will be useful in avoiding a rush when traffic services reopen, as residents now have more time to renew their documents. These include: • driver’s and learner’s licences • temporary permits and professional driving permits (PDPs) • roadworthy certificates • registering and licensing of a motor vehicle, as well as annual renewals • Motor trade number licences that expired between 26 March up to and including 31 May 2020, will stay valid for a further grace period of six months from the date of publication of these directions.

The department will work at a 50% staff capacity. Adherence to access control and limited numbers inside the traffic offices will be strictly enforced. Safety measures and protocols governing the observation of social distancing, sanitisation and the wearing of masks will be observed.

To address the backlog, the following would be prioritised during June: • renewal of expired and lost driver’s licence cards • roadworthiness • applications for professional driving permits • renewal of motor vehicle licence discs Driver’s and learner’s licences No new appointments for learner’s and driver’s licences will be made initially. Bookings for new appointments will be accepted only from 1 July. This is on instruction of the Provincial Department of Transport so that the backlog of appointments can be dealt with first.

Confirmed bookings for those applicants who were affected by the lockdown have

Online renewal of vehicle licence disc The municipality encourages residents to make use of electronic funds transfer (EFT) to make payment, if possible. The correct amount payable can be ascertained by calling 028 313 8175/8031/8166 (Hermanus Traffic), 028 384 8339 (Gansbaai Traffic) or 028 271 8400 (Kleinmond Traffic) before making an EFT payment.

Documentation Remember to take your identity document with you when renewing your motor vehicle licence. Proof of address is required when renewing vehicle licences for the first time. A utility bill will be suitable for this purpose, viz. a municipal, telephone or retail store account

which is not older than three months.

If someone else renews your licence on your behalf, you need to ensure that they have a letter of authorisation to do so; a certified copy of your ID and their own ID; the licence disc or the vehicle's registration papers; and the appropriate fees. In the case of a married couple, a spouse doing the transaction can bring their marriage certificate and this will be sufficient proof of permission.

Roadworthy certificates Only a limited number of vehicles will be allowed per day for roadworthiness tests. We thank dealers who agreed to only send one vehicle per day to be tested.

Dealers Motor trade number licences that expired between 26 March up to and including 31 May 2020, will stay valid for a further grace period of six months from the date of publication of these directions.

Safety measures • No person will be allowed to enter the traffic facilities without a face mask that covers the nose and mouth • There will be a limit on the number of persons allowed to move through the driving licence testing centre (DLTC) and motor vehicle registration (RA) on any given day • Sanitation measures will be applied for fingerprints and eye test equipment between users • Counters and waiting areas will be cleaned regularly throughout the day • Daily temperature screening will ensure that no members of the public with a fever above 38 degrees Celsius will be allowed to enter the office.

goes ahead

The Overstrand Municipality has announced that the successful contractor, Meyer Beton Siviele & Boukontrakteurs, was officially appointed on 6 May for the construction of stormwater infrastructure for the Hermanus CBD and Industrial Area.

This contract includes the upgrading of the stormwater infrastructure in Main Road, Marine Drive and High Street, as well as the revitalisation of High Street. Stormwater upgrades will also be implemented in Mimosa Street and Prelliwitz Street in the Industrial Area.

The consultants, Element Consulting Engineers, have in the interim arranged with property and business owners of all the properties directly adjacent to the construction areas to conduct a survey of their buildings, commencing on 26 May. The intention is to conduct a comprehensive internal and external inspection of the properties to document any existing cracks and/or other damage to the buildings.

According to the municipality, the preliminary programme submitted by the contractor indicates that they intend to commence with the installation of pipes in June. The stormwater pipes installation is proposed to start in Marine Drive, followed by Main Road and then High Street. The installation of a sewer pipe in High Street will commence at the end of June, while construction in the industrial area is expected to start in mid-July.

The delays caused by the national lockdown have resulted in the planned due contractual completion date of December 2020 being moved to February 2021. The contactor is in the process of appointing a local Public Liaison Officer and a Community Liaison Officer, who will manage the communication between the contractor and the public.

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Bumpy road back to school Writer Hedda Mittner

I

t was a question of “hurry up and wait” as the Western Cape schools reopened for Grade 7 and 12 learners on Monday morning 1 June, despite another U-turn by the government at the eleventh hour.

Educators and parents nationwide were anxiously awaiting Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga’s press briefing that was due to have started at 18:00 on Sunday evening, before being abruptly cancelled and postponed until 11:00 on Monday morning.

Social media immediately erupted with agitated parents wanting to know what this meant: do they send their children to school in the morning, or not? And what about the boarders who had already been dropped off at their boarding schools earlier on Sunday?

One comment on Facebook read: “I’m so confused, my child’s confused, her teacher and principal are confused. I’m trying my utmost to console my Gr 12 daughter right now. We are angry, frustrated, infuriated, disappointed and discouraged. Angie, can you just make a decision and stick with it!!!”

About an hour later came another announcement from the national education department: the reopening of schools had been postponed by a week and “the date on which Grade 7 and Grade 12 learners have to report back to school, is 8 June 2020.”

The reasons given for this astonishing aboutturn included the fact that a substantial number of schools in the country were not ready for the arrival of learners and staff and that, in some provinces, schools had not received the required personal protective equipment (PPE) because suppliers had run out of stock. Water tanks had also not been installed at several schools lacking basic water and sanitation infrastructure.

It had already been widely speculated over the weekend that the reopening of schools for Grade 7 and Grade 12 learners on Monday was unlikely. When Minister Motshekga finally took to the stage for the long-awaited briefing on Monday morning, she admitted that the decision to postpone the reopening of schools had already been taken late on Saturday. This followed a marathon of consultations and meetings between Motshekga, the Council of Education Ministers, and representatives of various education unions and school governing body associations.

The Minister apologised for the “furore” caused by the late announcement of the postponement, which she justified by saying that she had to spend the whole of Sunday informing the many key stakeholders, including school

LEFT: Hermanus High School Principal Greg Hassenkamp was at the gate on Monday morning to greet the returning matric learners.

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

principals, of the department’s decision before she could hold a briefing. She added that the conclusion that the schools were not ready could only be reached once she had been presented with verifiable data and information that clearly pointed to the fact that not all schools had been able to prepare adequately and that some did not comply with the critical Covid-19 health and safety requirements.

BOTTOM LEFT: Irene du Plessis (middle) with teachers Hannetjie Joubert and Jessica Botha. Irene is a nursing sister and also a parent of the school, who has volunteered to assist with the daily screening of learners and staff.

PHOTO: Nanette Ras

The Western Cape Education Department, however, was not having any of it. Shortly after the announcement on Sunday evening that the reopening of schools would be postponed until 8 June, WC Minister of Education, Debbie Schäfer released a statement that Western Cape schools would be open to receive learners on Monday 1 June, in accordance with the Gazette promulgated last week by Minister Motshekga.

ing – instead of focusing on the difficulties we have been focusing on finding solutions. This is new to all of us and we are taking it one week at a time, but we are open to adapting to this new reality. The school will provide a safe environment for our children and I want to encourage all parents to send their children back.”

Following the postponement of the briefing on Sunday evening, Schäfer’s statement said “We can no longer allow our schools to hover in a state of uncertainty. Following the national minister’s earlier announcements, we have pulled out all the stops as a province to ensure that we are ready for the arrival of learners tomorrow.

Principals and staff have worked tirelessly to get all the health and safety requirements in place.”

Although there are parents who are, understandably, still anxious about the health risks, Hassenkamp said only a few have applied for exemption for their children. While President Ramaphosa had said earlier that “no one will be forced to send their child to school”, it now appears that the only valid reason for keeping a child at home is a pre-existing medical condition or comorbidity.

The statement confirmed that the Western Cape Education Department had already spent R280 million on PPE and cleaning materials, including 2.4 million masks (two for each learner and WCED-employed staff member), over 7 000 non-contact digital thermometers for the daily screening process, and millions of litres of hand sanitiser, liquid soap, disinfectant and bleach.

Learner transport had also been arranged for Monday morning and schools had made preparations for the provision of school meals.

Applications for exemption have to be made to the head of the provincial education department, accompanied by a medical report. In her briefing on Monday, Minister Motshekga also emphasised that parents who chose to keep a child without health issues at home were

“Learners have already begun to arrive at school hostels today, and parents have made preparations to take their children to school tomorrow morning. School staff and WCED officials have been working around the clock to ensure that all plans are in place to receive those learners on time. Given these preparations, and the enormous effort put in by teachers and non-teaching staff alike, it would be unfair to delay all schools from re-opening.”

Schäfer went on to say that the Western Cape’s schools were “overwhelmingly ready, including schools that serve poor communities. This has also been verified by the NECT.” This week would be “used primarily for the orientation of learners into the new Covid-19 safety and learning environment.”

Hermanus High School had received all the necessary PPE, the school had been thoroughly sanitised and all health and safety protocols were in place, said Principal Greg Hassenkamp on Sunday. “We have an amazing team and my staff members are very positive about reopen-

3 June 2020

obliged to apply for home education. Schools could not be expected to cope with the new challenges of reopening while also continuing to offer distance learning.

One mother who has chosen not to send her child back to school, says this means that learners who don’t return will effectively be “dropped” by the school. “Many children are anxious about returning to school and anxiety is not conducive to learning. Distance learning should be an option available to all students, whether they have an underlying medical condition or not,” she says.

“If learners were allowed to study from home this would have numerous benefits such as greater social distancing because the classes would be smaller and there would be more space on school buses. This could take some of the pressure off the schools and ensure a safer school environment for both teachers and learners, while also saving on the cost of PPE, sanitisers and paper towels.”

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3 June 2020

From baby steps to giant strides Writer & Photographer Elaine Davie

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hat started off as one individual’s initiative to bring about meaningful change in a poor Overstrand community, has grown organically into an increasingly inclusive and holistic development project.

Proportional Councillor, Charmaine Resandt had for some time been concerned about the conditions under which many people in the suburb of Mooi Uitsig in Betty’s Bay were living and wondering what she could do to bring about a sustainable change in their circumstances. She had already been approached by a community mover and shaker called Louise Plaatjies, whose idea was to start a soup kitchen for the needy residents, especially the children.

But where would the money come from for the food?

In her spare time, Charmaine is a power walker and she loves to walk in and around beautiful Betty’s Bay. Stepping out one day in February this year she suddenly had a light bulb moment. “All at once, I knew how I could combine my love of walking with fundraising,” she explains, “so I took to Facebook and asked if anybody would be prepared to sponsor me at R10 per kilometre.

“I called the project ‘Walk for Change’ and to my surprise the offers came pouring in. But then, just as it was really taking off, lockdown arrived and my outdoor activities abruptly ground to a halt.”

However, by this time Charmaine was on a roll, so she altered the name of the project to ‘Work for Change’ and took to her exercise bike, undertaking to ride a minimum of 5km per week.

Lockdown also brought with it a new problem.

With parents out of work, the situation was becoming bad for everybody, but she realised that no one was paying attention to the needs of the babies in the community. The parents couldn’t afford nappies, formula or clothes for the babies, some of whom were newborns. She knew at once this had to take priority.

So while the soup kitchen got under way at the Pikkewyntjies ECD Centre with the assistance of Overstrand Municipality, the Kleinmond Business Chamber, the Narrative Foundation and the Betty’s Bay Ratepayers’ Association, Charmaine took a detour to see to the needs of the babies.

“I’m passionate about protecting our environment,” she says, “and I hate those horrible disposable nappies which take years to biodegrade, so with the help of someone in Bot River, we designed reusable towelling nappies similar in shape to the disposables, with a waterproof outer layer. I saw this as an opportunity, too, to change the mindsets of the mothers and other community members and to make them more environmentally aware.”

Within a remarkably short space of time, Charmaine’s baby group, stretching from Kleinmond to Rooiels, has grown to 275, from newborn to three years of age. Each family is regularly provided with a large bag, consisting of appropriate baby food, six reusable nappies made to her design in Somerset West, toiletries and clothes.

One of the groups of volunteers to come forward with an offer of assistance was a knitting, sewing and crocheting group of Kleinmond ladies, co-ordinated by Marlene Lewis. They

make anything from caps, to scarves, booties, crocheted baby blankets and small jerseys and pants for the packs. Attached to each item is a label with a typed blessing for mother and baby.

Through her work for the babies, Charmaine also became aware of four elderly infirm people in the community, as well as two older disabled children, and they now receive similar packs, including over-the-counter medication like cough syrup, when necessary. “This has been the most incredible project I have ever been involved with,” comments Charmaine. “It’s been about ubuntu, about building relationships from the ground up, about community spirit and about giving people their dignity back. It’s not a case of handing out charity, it’s about working together towards a common goal.”

In the meantime, the soup kitchen is still going strong from Monday to Friday each week, providing between 200 and 250 people with a cooked breakfast and lunch. An offshoot of this project has been the establishment of a community vegetable garden, also at Pikkewyntjies, under the supervision of its principal, Zaan Cilliers.

The latest development has been the establishment of a homework centre at the community hall, with the creation of a Wi-Fi hotspot by Ask Security Services. This has given the local children access to online learning material and homework assignments sent by their schools.

The venue will also be used to teach older children the basics in skills like photography, film making and trades like plumbing and cabinet making. This centre is run entirely by a committee of volunteers, under the supervision

Proportional Councillor Charmaine Resandt makes up a new batch of packs for the 275 babies she is helping to support in the Kleinmond-Hangklip region of the Overstrand. of Charmaine, Fanie Krige, her colleague on the Overstrand Council and Wayne Jackson, a local resident.

“We see all these projects continuing, even after the end of lockdown,” says Charmaine.

“There may not be as much need for the soup kitchen after people return to work, but there will always be those who fall through the cracks. We’ve put in the hard yards, but now the community has taken ownership of the project and they are running with it - putting humanity back into humankind, you might say.”

Charmaine can be contacted on 079 885 5022 and if you would like to support the project, the banking details are: Name of account: Blue Wave; Absa Bank (Savings); Account No: 9356386733; Branch Code: 632005; Ref: Donor’s Name.

Curro offers best of both worlds

ENROL NOW

REMOTE LEARNING A reality at Curro Hermanus

Contact Tinka at tinka.s@curro.co.za or on 028 316 4911.

From 4 months to Grade 12 | Quality education for future leaders

028 316 4911 hermanus.admin@curro.co.za

urro Hermanus is ready to welcome its Grade 7, 11 and 12 learners and staff back to school from Monday 1 June.

C

able to interact with their teachers and fellow learners during scheduled classes every week.

All other grades will be phased in by 22 June as per special permission to private schools by the Department of Education. The school has been sanitised and has all the standard operating procedures in place to safely resume the academic year.

Committed to offering its learners the best of both worlds, Curro Hermanus learners have the option to return to school when it reopens for the different grades or to continue with the online lessons via Microsoft Teams daily from their homes.

Curro Hermanus incorporates 21st-century learning and technology in its curriculum, which has been to the advantage of its learners during the lockdown period.

“We are all in this together and by keeping ourselves safe, we keep each other safe,” says school marketer, Tinka Swingler.

All learners have continued with their school work from home via Microsoft Teams and were

For any enquiries, please contact the school on 028 316 4911 or send an email to tinka.s@curro.co.za.

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3 June 2020

FROM THE EDITOR

Making the crisis count The next edition of The Village NEWS will be available on 10 June 2020. The NEWS can be found at over 300 distribution points in the Overberg.

028 312 2234

6 Royal Street, Hermanus

De Waal Steyn

PUBLISHING EDITOR dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

Hedda Mittner

CONTENT EDITOR

When one is in the midst of an anxiety-ridden crisis, where life seems anything but normal, it is difficult to pause and consider what the new normal might look like post Covid-19. Will it be better or worse than the old normal (or will we simply retreat to our old hole in the sand and pretend it never happened)?

Scenario planners, sociologists and other analysts seem to agree that it is during the crisis itself, when we have been jolted out of complacency, that we need to look ahead and plan for a post-pandemic future. From there, we can actively drive a positive outcome.

Not wasting a good crisis is how they term it.

Over two months into a State of Disaster, certain facts have already emerged. The pandemic has no favourites when it comes to infecting the populace, rich and poor, urban and rural, all are at risk. However, the malnourished poor, living in crowded, unhygienic conditions, often with no access to clean water and sanitation are more likely both to succumb to the disease and transmit it to others.

Second, the condition of the schools their children attend is also more likely to affect the quality of learning that can take place there, both during and after lockdown, and is more physically threatening to the children’s safety. Thirdly, when the bottom falls out of the economy, the

entire country sinks with it.

And finally, citizens are more than willing to support government and/ or the State President in handling a crisis with wisdom and resolve. However, as soon as it becomes obvious that there is another, hidden agenda which has nothing to do with their wellbeing, civil disobedience begins to replace trust. Government has frequently proven that it is good at talking up a good story, but when it comes to implementation, not so much.

Despite – or because – of these negative perceptions, the people of the Overstrand have shown again and again they have what it takes to solve their own problems. We have

demonstrated this can-do attitude, together with a collaborative spirit of selflessness, innovative thinking and most of all, ubuntu, during this crisis as well as the fires last year. The establishment of Hermanus Varsity and support for a wealth of well-run community-based NPOs on the ground are further evidence.

Perhaps then, it is we, the people, who need to take the lead in creating the kind of post-pandemic society we long for, one of inclusivity, empowerment, dignity, environmental awareness and economic growth for all, where rich and poor, men and women all have a role to play. All it takes is courage, vision, commitment and unity of purpose.

This is the good NEWS – Ed

hedda@thevillagenews.co.za

Raphael da Silva ONLINE EDITOR

Sugar & Spice

Having time to kill

raphael@thevillagenews.co.za

they're freeing up prison space.

Elaine Davie SUB-EDITOR & JOURNALIST elaine@thevillagenews.co.za

Taylum Meyer PHOTOGRAPHER & PRODUCTION MANAGER taylum@thevillagenews.co.za

Alta Pretorius MARKETING MANAGER alta@thevillagenews.co.za

Charé van der Walt MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE chare@thevillagenews.co.za

Tania Hamman

ADMIN & FINANCE admin@thevillagenews.co.za

Apparently the fee for registering a church is R1 100. Just putting it out there... for the starving performers.

Maybe a silver collection after the service?

By Hélène Truter

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riters have to wait for the muse to strike. I'm waiting for my sense of humour to return. I wanted to send out a search party to look for it, but I don't have a valid permit.

My sense of humour left me somewhere between level 5 and 4. I don't know the date. Dates are irrelevant.

Every day is Sunday. Who was the wise-ass who coined the phrase: A month of Sundays? Well, it's been two and a half months of Sundays! Except we haven't been going to church…

Hang on, let me check Regulation 7395 Amendment 512a. Yes, people (no more than 50) can go to church.

(I don't take responsibility if Tannie Kopdoek changes it again by the time we go to print.) God help church member no 51. I wonder if the transgressor will be sent to jail? After all,

In a hundred years' time (if we haven't been wiped off the face of the earth) the next generation will wonder why humankind was complaining so much. With lockdown you don't go to work, you stay at home every day, live in your pjs, watch TV, eat, eat, eat. Lots of time to kill. Oh, and you don't get paid. Oh yes, there's that.

One thing that nearly killed me during Level 4 was the three-hour exercise slot every morning. You took our booze and cigarettes away and we had to exercise for three hours.

Getting up in the dark, half-asleep, freezing my butt off, trying to keep a social distance from the hundreds of other dutifully exercising citizens on the narrow coastal path, my glasses steaming up because of my mask and my heavy breathing (no, not that kind, I'm hardly awake!) was hell.

Besides being a shop owner, I'm also a scriptwriter. Scriptwriting 101: For a gripping TV experience, you have to capture the viewer's attention and hold it throughout the episode. You have to end with a massive cliffhanger (i.e., what is going to happen next?) in order for the viewer to tune in next week.

At the end of March a new TV series started. The President. Episode 1 was great. We loved our hero, we rooted for him. We made sacrifices. Gladly.

Our hero was saving the day. Good scriptwriting. Episode 2 was a little repetitive: Wash your hands, keep your distance, don't cough without covering your mouth. This is stuff that I was taught as a kid – not really riveting viewing. By Episode 3 I was just so over our hero. Wash your hands, wear your mask, social distance, blah blah blah... I have switched to another channel.

Now, when I hear that there's another follow-up episode featuring Tannie Kopdoek and some equally talentless actors, I don't bother. The scriptwriter of this soap will never make it in the

film industry.

I've just realised that I may be sharing my pearls with an audience of about ten or so. (At least that's allowed.) I suspect that when this edition hits the streets, a third of South Africans will probably still be queuing at the bottle store. (Remember the Battle of the Toilet Rolls?) The other third is probably still drunk. This week South Africa will be the drunkest country on the planet.

When I started writing this… what would you call it... a rant? Or a lament? Maybe it's just a feeble little whimper or a titter... You choose.

Anyway, when I started writing this, I undertook not to say anything about COVID-19 or share bad news and scare the hell out of you with the numbers. Alas. Forgive me, my muse is in quarantine. I promise to try harder... and wash my hands, wear a mask… Oh, please end this bad script. Roll end credits.

PS. If one more person says: This is the "new normal" I will throttle him.

After all, I have time to kill.

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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.

Handevat Music Project creates hope In this time of lockdown and economic crisis, with people losing their income and children going hungry, we also hear many feel-good stories about the caring people of our area, who spend their time cooking for the needy and distributing food, day after day, without giving up. I am really glad and very proud to be part of such a community.

At present we tend to focus on necessities like food, clothing and housing, whilst spiritual care, recreation and cultural aspects are neglected. This is not because these things are less important, but because we are now focused on survival and the ‘luxuries’ must wait! Yet, during this time, all over the world, what earns applause and puts smiles on people’s faces is the music made by ‘artists’ from

their balconies, gardens or deserted parking areas!

It is the intangible beauty of music that lifts the human spirit, so we can soar above the circumstances of our everyday existence, so we can be free. Our arts and culture are what define our humanity, and what give us hope in a time when many people are isolated and lonely.

I remember during my student days there was a commission appointed to investigate the socio-economic circumstances in the Western Cape.

They spoke of the ‘spiral of poverty’, which referred to the fact that children growing up in under-privileged communities could not see a better future for themselves and simply followed in the footsteps of previous

generations. The proposal was to generate programmes that would instill a vision and sense of purpose in these children to break the chains.

Here in Kleinmond is just such a project! The Handevat Music Project, started in 2013 by Stefné van Dyk, gives children from all sectors of all the Overberg communities the opportunity to learn to read music and play different musical instruments.

They are taught singing, marimba playing and the recorder, and how to read music. Then, if they show they are capable of the necessary commitment, dedication and hard work, they progress to more difficult instruments such as the clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, piano, violin, etc. Currently there are 117 children enrolled in the project and Stefné is

Join U3A for virtual lectures And so we move to Level 3! Although some are suggesting that the Western Cape has been gifted with a condonation rather than a proper pass, we are relieved, nonetheless.

On Friday, it will be 11 weeks since U3A suspended its activities – until further notice, I told our members at the time, indicating that we would reconsider the situation at the end of April! And then came the lockdown and we realised that it would be a long time before we could even consider resuming. Oh, misery!

And then, enter Zoom. This sanity saver that came our way enabled U3A to present its lectures online. Our first Zoom lecture on 27 April (by Phil Harries-Jones: The Spanish Flu) was

on a very relevant subject and was a hugely successful introduction. This was followed by lectures on Rwanda (by John Bristow), Wordsworth (by Letitia Snyman), Tretchikoff (by Robin Lee) and The 1820 Settlers (by David Hilton-Barber).

And there are lots more to come from this week, when we are launching into two lectures per week. Thank you to all the presenters, and a special word of thanks to Gert Claassen for his initiative, and for the excellent way in which he is administering our programme. He has hosted every session so far!

We have a very interesting and varied programme scheduled for the next few months, including a few more

anniversaries. In my talk on William Wordsworth, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of his birth in 1770, I referred to his rainbow poem as a relevant Covid image. The rainbow is a symbol of hope and restoration.

The rainbow comes after the storms and darkness have passed – as ours will.

We will this year also be celebrating the 250th anniversary of another great man, Ludwig von Beethoven.

At the end of his life, when he was desperately ill, his doctor prescribed some good Rhenish wine, which was not easily available in Vienna.

He wrote the following to his publishers in Mainz, asking them to send him some: “My health, which will not

assisted by several other teachers.

With the arrival of COVID-19, everything changed. Performances, workshops and other fundraising events had to be cancelled – with no clear idea of when things will revert to ‘normal’. Music teaching continues via various online platforms, but for this the learners need to be supplied with data. Those who can, do contribute, but for those parents who have now lost their livelihoods, this is impossible.

Costs to keep these children in the project have thus increased at the very time when normal fundraising events like concerts, workshops, golf days, etc. had to be cancelled. We know that the community is inundated with calls for help during this time,

but my plea is please, do not stop creating hope! Please help us to keep this wonderful project going and give children an opportunity to rise above their circumstances!

Handevat is registered as an NPO (226-287) and a PBO (930068873).

Contributions qualify for a tax deduction. Contact us at admin@handevatmusic.co.za to receive a Section18A receipt, and also if you need a BEE letter for your contribution. Let us know if you want to receive our newsletter, and follow us on Facebook (Handevat Music Project Kleinmond). Our banking details are: Absa Bank, Branch code 632005, Current account no.

9350909092. Thank you very much.

Louis Botes Kleinmond

Starting on 1 June, the U3A will be presenting two online Zoom lectures per week, every Monday and Friday at 12:00. Following Rob Fryer of Whale Coast Conservation’s presentation on ‘The Importance and Sustainability of our Estuaries’ on Monday 1 June, local adventure traveller Richmond MacIntyre will discuss his ‘Walk around Mont Blanc in the Alps’ on Friday 5 June.

The Zoom lectures are available to all paid-up members of Overberg U3A. Remember that you need to register separately for each presentation by sending an email to Gert Claassen at gc2441@gmail. com, indicating whether you wish to attend both or only one of the following week’s presentations.

The log-in codes will be emailed to you on the Friday preceding the presentation(s).

be restored for a long time, pleads for the wines which I have asked for and which will certainly bring me refreshment, strength and health.” I know how he felt, and look forward to being able to enjoy a glass or two next week!

haircut – there is a great deal to be said for not being visible during a Zoom lecture!

But what I really want, more than anything else at the moment, is a

I hope we will be able to get back to the desired ‘normal’ in the not-toodistant future. Until then, keep well and keep safe.

Letitia Snyman Overberg U3A chairperson

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issuu.com/dwaal Every week, readers from over 100 countries download nearly 2 000 copies of The Village NEWS digitally to read on their desktop, tablet or smartphone.

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3 June 2020

MY HOME

The time for decision-making and change is now By Stephen de Stadler Managing Director Fine & Country Hermanus, Arabella and Kleinmond

I was working from, it became quite difficult to concentrate on the webinar! The point is we human beings are incredibly adaptable, and during times of extreme crisis we generally do seem to find a way to make things work.

same way. In a buyer’s market, if you can afford not to sell, rather wait for the next seller’s market. That part of the answer is easy; what is more difficult, is to predict the next cycle.

ebinars, Zoom meetings, StarLeaf meetings, WhatsApp chats: who knew there would be so many ways to communicate with one another from the relative safety of our homes? I attended a global corporate webinar earlier this week with well in excess of a hundred participants. It was fascinating to observe those of them who had switched on their cameras.

But on to another webinar: Lightstone, a company which provides information, valuations and market intelligence on properties in South Africa, presented an excellent seminar to their clients during the week, and while what follows is reinforced by the information provided in this seminar, any opinions offered are my own.

Depending on which economist you choose to believe, the South Africa of the immediate future is going to show negative economic growth.

The consensus seems to be between negative 3% and negative 8%. At the same time, the inflation rate is increasing. Some of this has to do with the continued weakness of the Rand relative to all major currencies, which means that imports will be more expensive in Rand terms.

Because the weather has been so beautiful over the last while I have relocated my office to my patio, where the view over my shoulder is directly towards the mountains in this beautiful part of the Western Cape. I received so many ‘chats’ asking where

We live in extremely uncertain times, but I wish to focus specifically on one question that is asked of me and my team on a daily basis: When is the best time to sell? You can go back to any of my articles and you will see that I always answer in much the

The Reserve Bank (SARB) uses an inflation targeting range in order to manage money supply in the economy. The SARB has indicated that it wishes to manage the inflation rate (or Consumer Price Index in particular) in a range of 3% to 6%. It does

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this by adjusting the Repo Rate on an ongoing basis. We have had another reduction in the Repo Rate (of 0.5%) during the past week, because the SARB is confident that by doing this we will stay within the targeted inflation rate.

So, in a recession, if you are taking a mid-range recessionary pay cut of 5.5%, but inflation is going up by 4.5% (again at the mid-range), your real “loss” on an annual basis is 10%.

That is the simplified theory. I think we can thus comfortably conclude that in this environment, house prices are not going to increase in value anytime soon.

Back to the prime question: Unless you possess the skills necessary to see well into the future, no one can answer the “when do I sell” question with any certainty. The sensible answer, I believe, is that the present is the best time to sell, because the

? future is unknown.

This is my fourth column written under lockdown. In any situation such as this, some will agree with the measures being taken while others will not. In South Africa we are allowed to do just that – have differing opinions.

That is why we are called a democracy. My plea to all the citizens of this place we call home is to try as much as possible to observe the lockdown provisions. Our President has asked us to behave according to the regulations, so whether we agree with them or not, the longer we ignore them, the longer we will stay in lockdown.

Hopefully by the time I write my next article it will again be from my office in Hermanus! #Better Together #Stronger Together #Stay Safe.

The views expressed above are those of the writer in his personal capacity and may not necessarily reflect the views of Fine & Country as a national and international brand.

‘Sarmy Army’ feeds hundreds of children A couple from Fernkloof Village Estate, Brennan and Jacqui Davis, started what they call the ‘Sarmy Army’ almost four weeks ago in an effort to help feed hungry children in the Hermanus area.

Every Sunday morning, bags of fruit and sandwiches made by 30 to 40 volunteers (including children) in and around Fernkloof Village are collected by the Davis family, who then take them to the Zwelihle Youth Café at the RDP Centre, where they are handed out by William Ntebe, Fikiswa Gxamesi and their team.

The Sarmy Army volunteers use around 100 loaves to make sandwiches with various fillings (bought by them) every weekend, and their donations feed hundreds of children every Sunday.

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3 June 2020

with them.”

Estelle van Niekerk, the Communication Trustee at Fernkloof Village Estate who told The Village NEWS about the Sarmy Army, says that this is a great initiative by the residents, just like all of the charity efforts in our community. According to her, last week Sunday, the Sarmy Army donated a whopping 1 000 sandwiches along with 120 bags of fruit. If anyone would like to make a donation or become a Sarmy Army volunteer, contact Brennan on 082 896 4343.

PHOTO: Supplied

Nico Claassen It is with a very heavy heart that Hermanus High School shares the sad news of the passing of Mr Nico Claassen. Mr Claassen died peacefully on Monday 1 June at 15:30. He had been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer earlier this year.

Mr Claassen was at all times a loyal and committed teacher. He was an extremely friendly and helpful member of the school staff and well-liked by all who knew him. He will be missed in the classroom, on the sports fields, and in the lives of all who knew and loved him. May he rest in peace.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Tamaryn and the Claassen family.

May the Lord bless them and hold them firmly in the palm of His hand.

“I know there are so many worthy projects that have been initiated in our town, but adding food to a trolley or putting money into a bank account just didn’t feel real enough,” says Brennan. “Brilliant as those mechanisms are, and they are so very well run, I felt I wanted to be more handson in helping out. So we took a trip out to the Zwelihle Youth Café and that’s where we found the need for sandwiches on a Sunday to feed the many hungry kids in the neighbourhood.”

Brennan adds that they are in frequent contact with Food4Love to establish where the need is the greatest. “So far it has always been at the Zwelihle Youth Café, so we work quite closely

The Davis children (Josh, Piper and Luke) with sandwiches and fruit for delivery.

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3 June 2020

Hermanus Botanical Society – 60 years of private and municipal cooperation As we saw in the previous article, Hermanus society and the founding of NGOs, our town has an abundance of voluntary organisations that work towards the benefit of the community and the environment. Focusing on the conservation of our floral kingdom, the Hermanus Botanical Society took root only after several false starts. But it did adapt and survive by making the changes required of it in the world in which it had to operate, writes DR ROBIN LEE of the Hermanus History Society.

T

he ways in which the Hermanus Botanical Society adapted over the past 60 years are clearly documented in the publication, A Brief History of the Hermanus Botanical Society: 1960 to 2020, to which I have had access before its publication.

tourism strategy. This development was not limited to the fynbos. In time, a bird club emerged, various marine conservation projects started, and, in the 21st century, the Cliff Path itself became part of the tourist infrastructure on which public and private efforts focused.

The adaptation had three components. First, leading figures in the Horticultural and Wildflower Society, notably Dr Ion Williams, became aware of global changes in the approach to nature conservation. Later, Williams wrote: We thought we were going to turn Fernkloof into a lovely garden. We knew nothing about conservation.

The second theme was less favourable. Since the 1980s, successive municipalities had followed the path of consolidating their control over public contributions to conservation. Private initiatives were limited by regulations, and land usage became a source of conflict. This trend has strengthened since the establishment of the Overstrand Local Municipality.

His intellectual influence redirected the ‘Hermanus Botanical Society’, as it came to be called. The emphasis shifted from horticulture to acting as ‘stewards’ of the natural fynbos, identifying a large number of species, removing alien vegetation and publicising the value of the Reserve to residents and visitors.

In previous articles, I related the hesitant acceptance that Hermanus’s natural environment was at the core of its economy. By 1950, fishing as an income-generating activity and tourist attraction was failing, and along with it, the tourist-driven pastime of angling. No voluntary organisation appeared, to develop the opportunities created by the New Harbour.

And no one had seen a way to support and make attractive other aspects of the natural environment.

The second component of change affected the Society as a functioning organisation. Men such as Prillewitz, Williams, and Eric Jones had had experience in managing projects, and they created the programme of regular meetings, guest speakers and publicity that kept the loyalty of members going and created a sense of belonging to an initiative that was doing something important.

The third component of change was created

by Williams (again) and Eric Jones. The Society needed physical projects to channel enthusiasm, and to provide an opportunity for members to contribute physical work, and strengthen the sense of purpose. Williams set about making paths in the Reserve and eradicating aliens. Jones had the brilliant idea of creating a ‘cliff path’ from the New Harbour to Grotto Beach, and generated enthusiasm by beginning work on it at once.

The Municipality supported both start-up projects and set a pattern for cooperation between the elected authority and voluntary bodies that was to have a positive impact on Hermanus history. Two themes emerged in the history of Hermanus in the second half of the 20th century and first two decades of the 21st century. They shaped the developmental path of the town and brought to light the vital role of voluntarism in Hermanus life.

The first theme was acceptance of the natural environment as a component of the town’s

The opportunities created by the return of the whales and the popularity of shark-cage diving were still two decades in the future. Limited numbers of visitors could enjoy tennis at the Bayview, golf at The Marine or ‘bathing’ on the beaches below the Birkenhead, but were these options any different to those available in Camps Bay or Muizenberg? Where was the attraction that would mark Hermanus as a diverse holiday destination, within the financial reach of middle-class tourists?

International trends, as well as local efforts, brought the answer: ecology and conservation of the natural environment. In 1962, Rachel Carson’s book, Silent Spring started the world-wide concern that human beings were destroying the natural world of which they were a part, and so harming themselves. Starting from pesticides, the fear escalated to pollution of all kinds, species-loss, and negative consequences for human health.

At the same time, other research was revealing the true uniqueness of fynbos. Fernkloof was a small area internationally but had an extraordinary diversity of species. And when its counterintuitive relationship with fire was revealed, international researchers, interested lay people and, eventually, the ordinary tourist wanted to come and see for themselves.

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From 1960 the Hermanus Botanical Society was at the heart of these issues. Leading members such as Dr Ion Williams ensured that the Society kept abreast of research – and, indeed contributed to the latest work, as seen in Williams’ doctorate. Members educated themselves, as well as working strenuously in clearing aliens, creating paths and keeping records.

Mainly under Eric Jones, equally crucial public awareness was promoted. Tourists and residents of the town could enjoy the Cliff Path and the trails in Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Popular events like the annual Flower Show (later Festival) expanded awareness and generated income.

Yet, Fernkloof was legally a ‘municipal reserve’, with the Municipality designated as the manager. At the start, relations between the Botanical Society and various municipalities and other local elected bodies were excellent, and the Botanical Society was supportive and helpful.

The Municipality assisted with several additions to the area of the Fernkloof Nature Reserve and permitted the Society to take the lead in some initiatives.

Land was desperately needed for housing and modern facilities such as hospitals and schools.

Officials were told to increase income for these purposes and to scale back on support for voluntary bodies. The Botanical Society and other voluntary organisations now found themselves in an adversarial relationship with the elected authority. Publicity around the clashes heightened tension. A Brief History comments thus: The Hermanus Botanical Society has had a close association with the Reserve since the Society was founded. However, its influence has been restricted to representation on the Fernkloof Advisory Board, a statutory body appointed in terms of the Western Cape Nature Conservation Ordinance of 1974 to advise the Municipality on the management of the Nature Reserve.

Recognising the increasingly stretched responsibilities and diminishing resources the Municipality can devote to the Reserve, the HBS signed an agreement with them in 2018. The Society undertakes to maintain specific walking paths and has the authority to remove alien plants within the Reserve.

An example of this was the road leading to the view site on Rotary Way. A small group of private individuals saw the opportunity for access to the best view site in Hermanus. The relevant authority was quick to respond: The Caledon Divisional Council got to work, and within ten days a gravel road was completed from the Hermanus Main Road to the present parking space near the electricity pylon.

The Municipality accepted other guidelines for its action that respected what the Botanical Society had done and could do in the future.

However, differences between the Municipality and the Society became adversarial in 2020, when the Society was given notice to vacate premises it had built with Municipal approval and its own funds. The Executive Mayor had to intervene to prevent legal action, but the precarious situation has remained through more than two months of the lockdown.

However, from the late 1990s, Hermanus began to grow, with large-scale in-migration from the Eastern Cape, and demands on the new Overstrand Local Municipality escalated.

In one crucial area, the tolerance and mutual respect needed to sustain voluntary contributions to the development of the town has ceased to function.

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4 1. The first HBS building in Fernkloof Nature Reserve, now improved as the Visitors’ Centre.

2. Ion and Sheila Williams (left, closest to the camera) at the opening of the HBS Herbarium at Fernkloof in 1983.

3. Ion Williams, founder of the Hermanus Botanical Society (HBS) studying leucadendron. He wrote his doctorate on this plant.

4. Ion Williams (on the left), Mrs Williams, two HBS members, and Eric Jones (on the right). PHOTOS: Hermanus Botanical Society

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www.thevillagenews.co.za

3 June 2020

Just Care keeps caring J

ust Care Aftercare in Mount Pleasant, which provides a safe haven for approximately 130 local primary school children in the afternoons, has had to find different ways of supporting their young charges and their families during the lockdown. Founder and trustee Jacquie Rathfelder, with the support of fellow trustees, staff members and several volunteers, has been doing everything in her power to provide necessities for these households.

As an NPO, Just Care does not receive any subsidy from the government and is very dependent on donations and fundraisers. Unfortunately, due to the lockdown, their two biggest fundraising events, the annual Golf Day and the Joburg Ballet performances, had to be cancelled. Which is why they are more than grateful for the assistance they have received from their volunteers, local organisa-

tions such as Food4Love, Overstrand Disaster Management and HAWS, as well as generous members of the Hermanus community who have supported them with donations.

Food packages, sandwiches, soup mixes, fruit and vegetable parcels, pet food, warm clothes, educational materials, sanitary products and baby nappies are among the much-needed items that are distributed to the Just Care children and their families on a regular basis. Just Care’s champion volunteer, Les Clark, has also been sewing cloth face masks since the lockdown began and more than 400 masks, for adults and children, have been handed out for free to anyone who needs a mask. “We have the best group of volunteers backing us – we salute you!” says Marlinda Wright of Just Care.

As schools start reopening this week,

Just Care will be intensifying efforts to help the children with their school work by preparing worksheets and workbooks that will be delivered to them at their homes. The trustees and staff are also very grateful to have been approved for assistance by the Red Cross, which will be supplying stationery packs for the children as they go back to school. “What a wonderful help this will be for the children and their families in this difficult time,” says Marlinda.

“We would like to thank everyone who has showered us with generosity and care, putting us in a position to make a real difference in the lives of these families. But the need is great and we need your continued support, prayers and donations – of any kind.”

Marlinda can be contacted on 083 484 1871 or justcare@whalemail. co.za. Visit www.justcare.us

ESSENTIAL SERVICES – WE ARE OPEN

PHOTOS: Marlinda Wright ABOVE: Founder and trustee of Just Care Jacquie Rathfelder, with some food parcels for the Just Care children.

ABOVE RIGHT & RIGHT: Thanks to volunteer Les Clark, the children and their families have been receiving face masks.

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3 June 2020

MY ENVIRONMENT

A protected fishing area to boost the local economy?

By Anina Lee

W

e are all aware that the last few months have had a devastating effect on the economy, especially in the Overstrand that relies on tourism. This situation is not likely to change soon. Should we not take the opportunity to rethink ways of boosting local economic development?

We know that Hermanus Pieters found a spring of fresh water on the coast of Walker Bay and the town of Hermanus grew up close to it. But it was not just the fresh water that started to attract people to the growing settlement; it was the abundant fish in the bay.

frequently when huge schools of fish entered Walker Bay. Berdine Luyt commented on a run in 1945: “For the last four days, the kabeljou has been running. Everyone is at Kraal Rock, which is almost a solid mass of bodies and lines…”

In the 1920s came the trawlers, first steam-powered and later diesel-powered. The trawlers were much bigger and operated with huge nets, netting fish from the stern of the vessels.

The fishing industry on which the town relied was threatened.

The government of the day persistently refused all attempts to have a reserve or protected area established for Walker Bay. The Times of Hermanus reported in June 1969 that at least three delegations visited Cape Town to plead the case, but to no avail.

Another five years passed without action. On 21 February 1974, the Times of Hermanus again reported: “More than 80 fishing trawlers from Hout Bay and further up the West Coast were trawling for anchovies in Walker Bay…”

When the first settlers came to Hermanus in 1855 it seemed that the fish would never run out. For the next 70 years fishermen went out in rowing boats carrying eight men at a time, with fishing lines, and caught the fish one at a time.

Fishermen tied their lines to their toes while resting in the boat.

Serial overfishing by trawlers with huge nets destroyed the vast shoals of small fish – anchovies, pilchards and silverfish. Deprived of food, the larger fish left Walker Bay. Record catches started to fade from memory, while politicians and interest groups squabbled over sanctuaries and marine-protected areas and fishing quotas.

Angling from the rocks became a popular pastime and brought many tourists to Hermanus. One such regular was Sir William Hoy, who, as we know, was so enamoured of the quiet village and its fish bounty that he stopped the rail link from Botrivier to Hermanus to prevent the crowds from Cape Town coming to spoil his fun. Later he provided a bus service between the two towns.

In the last two decades, west coast rock lobster has moved into Walker Bay. Their movement is probably related to climate change, but the absence of predator fish means that lobster numbers are not controlled. Large fish would normally prey on immature lobsters, but now more lobsters survive – to prey, in turn, on sea urchins. Urchins provide a safe haven under their protective spines for baby abalone. A cascade of interrelated consequences thus flows from overfishing by trawlers, to a decrease in the wild abalone stock.

The arrival of well-heeled anglers, who spent vacations in hotels, started a fledgling tourism industry in Hermanus. Sadly, these anglers were not conservationists and caught as many fish as they could. Frequently fish that could not be eaten or sold that day were buried along the cliffs.

A sort of collective 'anglemania' surrounded the 'run' of a specific fish. Runs occurred quite

Then in 2001the government proclaimed the ‘Walker Bay Whale Sanctuary Marine Protected Area’. However, it is a rather special one designed solely for the protection of whales and boat-based whale watching. Draw a line from the New Harbour in Hermanus straight across the bay to the Gansbaai Harbour – the area be-

ABOVE: This map indicates the ‘Walker Bay Whale Sanctuary Marine Protected Area’, proclaimed in 2001.

PHOTO: Walker Bay Boat & Ski-Boat Club

RIGHT: Small-scale fishers rowing the waves.

PHOTO: Peter Chadwick tween the line and the shore is the rather small ‘whale sanctuary’.

Now draw a line perpendicular to your imaginary line to the shore at Sopiesklip. This effectively divides the whale sanctuary in half.

In the half closest to Hermanus (A) boat-based whale watching (BBWW) is allowed only by permit, but fishing vessels are not allowed at all.

“No person shall, except on the authority of a permit, operate any boat, vessel or craft of any kind within the Whale Sanctuary Area.”

In the half of the sanctuary nearer Gansbaai (B) the restrictions on activities “… shall not apply to vessels authorised to undertake boat-based whale watching in the areas… or to authorised commercial line-fishing, recreational line-fishing and harvesting of seaweed or any other marine resource within the Restricted Area.”

Furthermore – and this is important – ”The provisions and stipulations… shall only apply for the period 1 July to 30 November in any year…”

In essence, the Protected Area in Walker Bay is exclusively for the protection of whales and whale watching during the whale season and does not extend to the protection of any other marine life. This small whale sanctuary along our shore cannot play the vitally important role of protecting marine habitats and biodiversity that other MPAs (Marine Protected Areas) do.

In the words of Peter Chadwick, African conservation photographer: “With regards to fisheries stock management, MPAs provide benefits to protecting specific life stages of commercial species and in many cases protect the spawning and nursery grounds. These spawning grounds then act as dispersion centres for the supply of larvae and juveniles into the fishing grounds. Through habitat protection, feeding grounds are also protected. With the spill-over of commercial species from MPAs local communities can expect improved catch rates.”

Are we going to accept that the days of Hermanus, the fishing village, will never return? Or are we going to keep fighting for the protection of Walker Bay? Is there an opportunity to revive the angling tourism that first made Hermanus so popular? Could small-scale line fishers benefit from increased catches as well as the lucrative sport-angling tourism opportunities?

It would require that there be another line drawn from Pringle Bay to Danger Point and that no trawlers be authorised to fish within this Walker Bay ‘Protected Fishing Area’ at any time of year.

Isn’t it time to think more creatively about a local vision for the Overstrand? The Whale Coast Hope Spot speaks to this vision – namely the wellbeing of the community and all its components.