The Village NEWS 5 September - 10 September

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Village

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Cape Whale Coast

5 September 2018

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GLIDING INTO SPRING

A paraglider takes off from the launchpad at the top of Rotary Way overlooking Hermanus.

PHOTO: Carol Rollings

P4 HOUSING ISSUES

Minister gives feedback

P9 BUSINESS EXPLORER Your local business news

P 12 ARTWALK First Fridays is back

P 22 WALKER BAY 7s

Get ready for sports festival

University for Hermanus ■

A public meeting was held last week where the possibility of creating the Hermanus University College (HUC) was mooted

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Digital learning through online courses and the use of technology will form the cornerstone of the university college

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The plan is to launch the HUC by January 2020 with accreditation by at least one South African University

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Initially bridging courses and 2-year diploma courses enabling students to complete a degree at university will be offered

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Existing buildings in Hermanus Old Town and surrounds will form the campus and lectures will be in the form of tutorials with day and evening classes

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As a start three “schools” will be established: Sciences, Business & IT, and Humanities Read more on P 3

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5 September 2018

Hermanus University: growing education for transformation De Waal Steyn

A

lack of tertiary education possibilities for the Overberg has prompted members of the Hermanus community to probe the possibility of establishing a university college in Hermanus.

At present few learners in our area who complete matric with exemption can attend university simply because of a lack of money.

“It is our aim to change that,” said well-known local academic, Prof John de Gruchy at a stakeholder meeting on Thursday evening.

According to him, the idea for the proposed establishment of the Hermanus University College (HUC) is born from the need of the community to have a local institution where both young and old can further their academic qualifications. “This is a 20/20 vision for 2020 for Hermanus as we will aim to open HUC’s doors by January 2020. It is a place where local industry meets tourism, meets education, to address the shortage of academic options for the region. This is a project for the community by the community.”

According to John, the HUC will seek university accreditation to allow students the opportunity to complete their degree at a university after they have completed their twoyear diploma course in Hermanus. Conversations in this regard are already underway. The HUC will also provide bridging courses for students so that they can be better prepared for the accredited university courses.

“Our aim is to re-imagine education by creating skills development and to help realise the dreams of the students in our region. Some of the skills students need now in this new technological era, are critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, leadership, co-ordinating with others, service orientation and cognitive flexibility.

“This learning will be attained through the proposed establishment of three ‘schools’,

namely Science, with maths being the core subject, but expanding to offer courses in areas such as viticulture, aquaculture, marine biology, and botany.

“The school of Business and Information Technology will offer courses in private entrepreneurship, public administration, and computer science, while that of Humanities will focus on language and literature (IsiXhosa and English as basic) and communication skills, with possible future courses in psychology, social work, music and fine arts. The aim is to provide basic courses on which others can be built that serve both the students and the community’s interests.

“We feel that this incremental approach will offer us a strong foundation on which to build in future. In this disruptive time, learning and digital methodologies are constantly evolving. We need to use the latest cutting-edge innovations in learning to expose students to the most important innovations in learning. These include digital learning, tutorial and peer learning and new tools of evaluation,” de Gruchy said.

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This is a 20/20 vision for 2020 for Hermanus

”

The positive spinoffs of the HUC for the town would be that the proposed campus will be located in the Old Town and utilise existing vacant facilities; students will be employable by local industries and businesses as the courses will tie in with the economic opportunities of our region; students will be able to live and study locally; and tourism will benefit from specialised courses aimed at vocational training for the tourism and festival industries.

Carolyn Martin of Creation Wines, who has been involved in the establishment of the Pebbles Early Childhood Development Centre in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, says

the HUC holds great potential for Hermanus and the Overberg.

“I am very excited as this together with initiatives around skills development will make Hermanus an educational and academic hub that will be able to cater for the thousands of potential students in the Overberg and Overstrand.

“Apart from school leavers and locals who can attend HUC I also see an opportunity for educational tourism. Exchange students would be able to study and work in Hermanus, especially within the tourism sector.

There is also an opportunity to draw international academics to the area. In conjunction with the many retired academics in our towns HUC would be able to offer world-class education,” said Carolyn.

She added that education has the ability to revolutionise employment opportunities in the area. “Not only will students and graduates be able to work in local industries, there will also be scope for new investment as we will have a skilled workforce on hand. HUC will offer young people the opportunity to stay in Hermanus instead of leaving to pursue their career goals.”

According to John, he is aware that the focus of HUC is one of many other educational collaborations and initiatives that need to happen to fulfil the vision of Hermanus as a centre of educational excellence. “These include early childhood development centres and preschools, primary and secondary schooling, a technical college and apprenticeships, and adult basic education and training,” said John.

The HUC task team under John’s leadership will work on a formal proposal that can be submitted to academic institutions, government, municipality and the local communities of Zwelihle, Hawston and Mount Pleasant. The proposal will be ready for submission by 15 November. Three separate working groups will work on finance and funding, feasibility and infrastructure, and the academic development of courses.

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5 September 2018

Housing issues: is there light at the end of the tunnel?

De Waal Steyn

W

e are finalising the deal with regard to buying back the Schulphoek land from the current owner and we are confident that we will be able to start as soon as possible with the final planning for the development of housing opportunities there.”

This was the message from Western Cape Minister of Human Settlements, Bonginkosi Madikizela, to residents of Zwelihle, Mount Pleasant and Hawston during separate meetings on Sunday 2 September.

According to Madikizela the provincial government does not have the available budget to pay the owner what he wants for the Schulphoek land. “Therefore, we have made him an offer similar to the amount that he initially paid for and subsequently invested in the land. We feel that this is an equitable offer and I am confident that the deal will be finalised soon.”

The minister said that the Schulphoek land will be used for mixed housing opportunities for the communities of Zwelihle, Mount Pleasant and Hawston as these are the communities in greatest need of housing.

He said that the housing task team consisting of members of the provincial and municipal housing departments have been hard at work during the last few months and have identified several pieces of land that can be used for mixed housing developments. “At this stage I do not feel comfortable identifying these pockets of land as all over our country we are seeing landgrabs and we want to prevent that from happening in Hermanus. As soon as we are ready with the final plans we will inform the communities,” said Madikizela.

He went on to say that government has identified several shortcomings in its housing policy and the criteria that is used for the allocation of land and houses. “At the moment there are three types of assistance that are offered. The first is for

those earning less than R3 500 per month. If these people qualify in terms of the criteria such as being South African citizens, having dependants and being older than 40 years, they qualify for a free house. The second is for people earning between R3 500 and R7 000 per month. If you qualify in terms of the criteria you will receive a serviced plot that will be transferred into your name and you are responsible for building your own dwelling.

“The third category is for those earning between R7 000 and R15 000 per month. For them the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP) was developed. This enables first-time home owners to enter the housing market through subsidies. But individuals in these salary bands generally find it hard to qualify for housing finance; their income is regarded as low for mortgage finance, but too high to qualify for the free-house subsidy scheme. This has created much unhappiness and we have had to find a mechanism that will enable people in this bracket to either be able to afford a house or obtain financing.

“To this end I am happy to announce that we will now offer FLISP to residents earning between R3 500 and R15 000 to buy a fully serviced plot at the cost of servicing the land. In other words, we have identified pockets of land where the municipality will install services and those who qualify for FLISP will be able to buy the plots at only the cost of installing the services. You do not pay for the land. The average cost of these plots will be between R43 000 and R50 000 and owners will then only need to pay back the balance of the cost of the plot minus the amount of subsidy they qualify for. Owners can then build their own houses on these plots,” the minister said to loud applause.

The issue of land and housing has seen Hermanus reel from a number of strikes and protests and is still the most hotly-contested issue in the region. The long and short, however, is that more than 8 000 people in the Greater Hermanus area alone are in dire need of housing and no sphere of government will be able to meet the demand. The needs of the

ABOVE: Children were playing in the empty swimming pool in Zwelihle while the Minister of Human Settlements, Bonginkosi Madikizela gave feedback to the community about the housing plans for the area. BELOW LEFT: After visiting Zwelihle, the Minister also addressed residents at public meetings in Mount Pleasant and Hawston.

PHOTOS: De Waal Steyn various communities also differ widely from one another and each has its own unique requirements as to what type of housing is needed.

Currently in most suburbs of the town there are very few properties available under R1 million, placing pressure on rental properties that in many instances have become too expensive for many local employees to afford. The continuous increase in not only land prices but also building costs has a detrimental effect on the ability of government to supply housing.

In the Overstrand there are 9 low-cost housing projects, 10 restructuring zones in 5 suburbs for social housing (rental property) and 4 affordable housing projects in 4 different suburbs. This equates to the delivery between 2015 and 2019 of 5 692 housing opportunities.

In Zwelihle alone between October 2017 and September 2021 it is estimated that 838 houses will be delivered.

These are the issues relating to each of the communities: Zwelihle: Close on 7 000 so-called backyarders in the township need some form of housing. The needs range from serviced sites for the poorest of the poor to affordable housing developments.

Because there is very little land available for development in the township, the municipality and Zwelihle Renewal (ZR) reached an agreement in June on a short-term solution to accommodate 150 of the most desperate families on serviced plots on a piece of land behind the municipal swimming pool, named Marikana. This site is located on an unused berm where household waste was dumped.

It recently came to light that the area was filled with plastic waste and can therefore not be used for housing. The municipality however decided to rather use the site where the transfer station stood to accommodate the 150 plots. The transfer station was destroyed by a fire during the unrest at the end of July. The plots, which will be situated on the Swartdam Road side of the site, will be ready by the end of September.

At the weekend several structures were erected by the Zwelihle community on the Marikana site and Minster Bonginkosi Madikizela reiterated that the site is a health risk and that the structures need to be removed. Many of the structures were built with corrugated iron removed from the swimming pool offices and cloakrooms that were destroyed during the unrest.

According to the minister there is an urgent need to normalise the situation in Zwehilhe and that the leadership of ZR needs to become part of the solution to the housing need in the area.

In a 2017 report by social research company Soreaso titled A study into the needs and demand of affordable housing in the Overstrand Municipality, authors Ilse Eigelaar-Meets, Cornie Groenewald, and Wynand Louw made startling findings with regards to housing delivery in the area.

Continues on P 5

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5 September 2018

PHOTO: De Waal Steyn Some of the structures that were erected at the Marikana site over the weekend, with corrugated iron sheets taken from the rubble of the gutted Zwelihle swimming pool building.

While roughly 30% of township residents earn more than the R3 500 minimum wage to qualify for free housing, they still do not earn enough to qualify for a bond, increasing the frustration of people looking for a house. In Zwelihle the cost of delivering a 40m² unit is R445 753, excluding many residents from being able to afford a house as the minimum monthly income for a household to qualify for a bond of this size will need to be R11 700.

Thirty-one percent of household members are in full-time employment with 23% employed parttime. Nearly 17% of household members are unemployed. Generally, the income levels of those employed are disconcertingly low, with 70% of households earning R3 500 per month or less. In Gansbaai this figure is 81% and in Stanford 79%.

Nearly half of the households are not in a position to meet their monthly financial obligations, reporting a mean shortage of R1 020 per month.

Mount Pleasant: A total of 10 sites in Mt Pleasant have been identified for housing that will accommodate 371 of the 792 households in need of housing in the community. The list of people wanting housing is being scrutinised in order to ascertain who qualifies for what type of housing.

According to Madikizela land will also be made available in Schulphoek for residents of Mount Pleasant. The specific plots of land made available were not identified but according to the minister they are situated above and below the R43 and funding for these plots has already been approved.

Residents of the suburb wanted to know why only land within communities is made available to community members. “What happened to integrated communities where people of all races live alongside each other? We want to live in Hermanus. Why are only Mt Pleasant and Zwelihle being integrated in the new planning?” one community member asked of the minister. There was no answer forthcoming.

Some members of the Mt Pleasant community threatened to close down the R43 again if their demands are not met. “I am sick and tired of waiting for a house. I have been on the list for more than 10 years and every time I am told I do not qualify. I am not asking for anything else but assistance to have my own home and not live in a hok (shack),” he said.

Several community members claimed that corruption with the allocation of houses in Mount Pleasant gave rise to unhappiness and threats of unrest. Mayor Dudley Coetzee asked for any documentation relating to corruption to be

brought to him. “I undertake to have all complaints investigated. As a matter of fact, we are already busy investigating complaints of corruption that have come to light in recent weeks,” he said.

Madikizela asked for calm and for communities not to become impatient and threaten violence. “We as the government are trying our utmost to assist you. We will ensure that there is direct communication between the leaders who assist with allocating houses and myself and the mayor. In this way we can nip any potential corruption in the bud,” Madikizela said.

Hawston: There are a total of 732 households in Hawston that need housing while a total of 485 housing opportunities are being developed at present.

This will provide 378 RDP houses and 107 serviced erven. This development has been plagued with setbacks, but work has resumed.

According to Madikizela two sites for future development have been identified and negotiations with other stakeholders to develop on these sites have begun.

On the question of why the Housing Department did not keep to its promise in June that it will give feedback within four weeks on the progress in meeting the demands of the community, the minister apologised and said that not giving feedback in time was an oversight from his side. He did, however, promise that regular feedback will be forthcoming in future as the development plans are finalised.

Paradise Park: The fate of residents of Paradise Park still hangs in the balance after Madikizela told them on Monday that he is in talks with the current owners of the site.

He said it was his wish that residents should not be displaced after a protracted court case for the eviction of residents to enable the new owner to proceed with plans for a new luxury development. The case will again serve before the Cape High Court on 12 November.

According to Madikizela the provincial government would be in a position to negotiate with the owner of the site should the court case be withdrawn. Should this happen, there will be two possible options. The first is that the province buys a piece of the land to cater for housing for current residents. The second is that a mixed-use development be approved that will cater for the needs of the residents. This will however have financial implications. for residents.

Should the eviction order be granted, many residents will be left with little option but to make use of the emergency housing that will be made available by the municipality. In February it was said that emergency structures of 20m² on serviced sites will be provided for evicted residents.

A promise was made that further feedback would be given to residents in the next 4 to 6 weeks.

The way Forward: There seems to be two different opinions on the way forward.

After it was reported that Masizole Mnqasela, Member of the Provincial Parliament for the Overberg, intended to organise a multigovernmental Indaba to be convened by Premier Helen Zille, the office of Bheki Cele, Minister of Police, voiced its disapproval thereof.

Mnqasela said he was not in favour of the proposal made by Cele that a letter should be sent to Deputy President David Mabuza asking for a multi-ministerial meeting to address the various problems. It was also proposed that after this meeting an independent mediation process must be instituted to enable negotiations between the various parties.

Adv. Lennit Max, Special Adviser to the Minister of Police, said in a statement that the publishing of Mnqasela’s comments in The Village NEWS without first obtaining a response from the Minister of Police Mr. Bheki Cele was not appreciated.

“You might be aware that the violence which occurred in Hermanus destroyed property, threatened human life and negatively affected businesses and tourism. As a result, Minister Cele in terms of his constitutional mandate stepped in to quell the violence, contained and stabilised the situation. The Minister further consulted with Zwelihle Renewal and Overstrand Councillors respectively in an attempt to normalise the situation.

“Both parties agreed to the way forward regarding the process to be followed. Both meetings were conducted in a good spirit and with mutual commitment. It is therefore regrettable that Mr Mnqasela who was not a party to these consultations expressed publicly his own views in criticising the efforts of the Minister.

“I would like to state that it is not the time to politicise the situation and to ignore what was done by the Minister. The Minister at no stage

allowed politics to override public interest and he at all relevant times places the people of Hermanus first. As a result, I request Mr Mnqasela not to interfere with a process which was agreed to by the relevant disputing parties as it might be detrimental to the mediation process. I therefore urge all interested parties to respect the process to achieve normalisation and to refrain from making inflammatory remarks,” said Max in his statement.

In his response Mnqasela said that the Zwelihle Stakeholders Forum (ZSF) that was established before the minister’s first visit to Hermanus was ignored by Cele.

“The ZSF consists of the legitimate stakeholders of Zwelihle and includes all affected parties, businesses and councillors. By implication and design the Minister delegitimised the forum and it is our view that the actions of the Minister were divisive in nature. On his first visit the Minister kept ZSF waiting for more than 5 hours before meeting with us and even then, there was no apology.

“In the spirit of intergovernmental relations, the Minister has also not been in official contact with the Provincial Government or the Municipality.

What we need in Zwelihle is to involve the whole of society in charting the way forward, hence the plans for the Indaba.

“We are also implementing a programme of human settlements in Zwelihle and other communities and Minister Cele is ignoring all the hard work that has been done to date. During the height of the riots he was invited to visit Hermanus but when he did so, he claimed that he came by his own volition and not because of an invitation. He also never gave feedback on his discussions with the leaders of ZR who were arrested. The very act of him visiting these people in jail can be seen as interfering with the legal process and intimidating the investigating officers as he is their boss.

“I want to call on the Minister to put party politics aside and focus on the issues at hand,” Mnqasela said.

According to Max they dismiss Mnqasela’s comments with the contempt they deserve.

“It is clear that he is not fully aware of what has been happening and under no circumstances has the Minister interfered with any processes.

The main issue now is to bring together the disputing parties, in this case ZR and the Municipality. Once this has been done and mediation is underway all government agencies can continue with their work as normal and there would be no need for an indaba,” Max said.

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5 September 2018

Let’s Talk

THE

NEWS

Congratulations to The Village NEWS

Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

I want to express my appreciation to Mr Steyn and his team for producing such a well-made, professional and interesting weekly!

When on my last visit to watch the whales on Friday, the excellent galleries and what else is interesting in Hermanus, I grabbed a copy of your NEWS at Rossouw Modern Gallery.

We are letting the homeless down The name of the homeless person who died over the weekend was Micheal Dunston. On this photograph he is with Pastor Carlisle who ministers to the homeless at the taxi rank. Apparently he has family in Mt Pleasant but we do not have more information.

loving your neighbour? We should be seeing the desperately lost and broken in our society and be showing them the love of God as we are commanded to do. We should open our purses and store up treasures in heaven instead of here upon earth.

Once again the death of a homeless person has got some people in Hermanus talking and up in arms. This, so many years after a homeless man, Christiaan Jeppe died tragically on the pavement in the vicinity of the taxi rank and caused an uproar in the media!

The current unrest should serve as an indication of the desperation levels being reached – if you have no job, no money, no food, no future, how would you survive?

Remember those who are less fortunate than you every night when you have a hot meal and a hot shower before you climb into your warm bed with a roof over your head and be thankful.

But what about the others who died unnoticed and unsung, like the man who recently died in the shrubbery near the Windsor Hotel where he lived? These are people – someone’s brother/sister, father/mother, husband/wife, dad/mom… not "invisible" as some people in our community would like them to be.

Our Christian community has, and is, letting us down. Charities such as Hospice, Santa, Red Cross, Cansa etc. are supported by the more affluent members of society since they provide much-needed services which impact all levels of the community. Conversely, the elderly, poor, sick people in the disadvantaged communities, many of whom are homeless, hungry and live in abject poverty, are shunned and avoided.

Wake up Hermanus, Wake up Overstrand Municipality, Wake up Western Cape Government and Wake up South Africa – your judgement will be severe!

A Practising Christian

Where is the Christian principle of

Enough with the blaming and shaming I’m offended by the headline and some of the comments in Piet van Zyl’s letter (Shame on Hermanus) in the 29 August issue of The Village NEWS.

our youth.

be because they work hard for it!).

Considering yourself to be in a position to point a finger at the whole of Hermanus and making the accusation “Shame on you”… and then to complain about “self-interest above all else”! Seriously, Piet?

Possibly, and in all probability, the homeless person arrived here recently, like others, with an existing social, health or addiction problem. Or has Piet identified him as a long-time resident and one of ‘ours’? I doubt it. But suddenly he is “one of our people” and the blame game is again being played!

I do have empathy with the fate of the homeless. It is part of the sad but hard reality of problems in our society, such as drug abuse among

I wish people like Piet would stop with this mentality of ‘shame and blame’, especially against communities that are doing well (may-

Hermanus does not need headlines like that! The town’s image as a whole has already been tarnished enough, to the detriment of all communities, and mainly because of people who will rather apportion blame than work hard.

Or do you want to stoke the fire of guilt?

Barry van Vuren Hermanus

I was really surprised by not only the high standard of its content but also its attractive and appealing layout. Not a glossy publication focussing on the expectations of your advertisers, but bringing upto-date, critical news about the political and social situation, and

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I fully support the sentiments expressed in the letter to the editor

by Piet van Zyl re the tragic death of a homeless man on the streets of Hermanus last Saturday night.

Our society has become totally intolerant, self-centred and greedy with no thought for the downtrodden and underprivileged. The homeless are a part and product of our society and we, who have and are privileged, should reach out and become part of the solution.

The Hermanus Night Shelter Association [HNSA] has for years asked our community to ‘Have a Heart for the Homeless’ and to give both of their time, through joining us, and their financial contributions, instead of wishing the problem away. Homelessness is here to stay and is like a cancer which is a growing problem both nationally and worldwide.

With no funding from the municipality or government, the HNSA relies on fundraising activities and are working within severe financial constraints. Maybe this tragic event will raise awareness of the plight of the homeless and galvanise the Hermanus community into action and support. We need committed people who wish to become actively involved with the HNSA in order to achieve our goal of providing an overnight shelter for the homeless in Hermanus before the outbreak of the 2019 winter.

Anyone who is prepared to be of assistance is requested to contact me via email or telephonically so that we may move this project to its conclusion.

Ray Hartmann, on behalf of HNSA Grobbelaar Hall, Marine Drive, Hermanus Cell 083 731 0678

The Governing Body of HNSA would like to thank the volunteers who stood in the cold wind holding tins and the Hermanus community for their generosity.

Sunday 9 September

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Peter Rhode, Stellenbosch

The Hermanus Night Shelter Association (HNSA) held its first street collection on Saturday 25 August in Hermanus. R8 260 was raised towards the Night Shelter under construction in Malva Street, Mount Pleasant.

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Keep your flag flying high!

brought Thank you forProudly support to you by:

Friday 7 September

Rain

I am envious when I compare our lousy, boring and arrogantly Afrikaans-only weekly with The NEWS – and it’s free as well. Fortunately, we have the Bolander here, which tries to fill the gap but for a much larger area that includes Somerset West, Stellenbosch and Paarl.

Have a heart for the homeless

Weather forecast for the next week & De Bos Dam level Wednesday 5 September Thursday 6 September

also reports about arts, tourism, and enviromental affairs in and around Hermanus. This makes it interesting for your locals as well as for visitors like me – in stark contrast to the meagre journalistic landscape here in Stellenbosch.

Sharon Wicht, HNSA

www.yr.no

Hermanus

Monday 10 September Tuesday 11 September

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5 September 2018

Take note

THE

NEWS

With reference to your article (Hotel in sight for Fisherhaven, TVN 22/08/18) on possible development of the site currently occupied by the Lake Marina Yacht and Boat Club, I would like to correct the statement attributed to myself regarding the club. I did not want to imply that the club adds no value to the area. On the contrary I believe the club itself to be a valuable asset to the Bot River Lagoon, however its current use of the land as a caravan park for a few members does not add value to Fisherhaven.

Rob McDavid, Chair Fisherhaven Ratepayers Association A quote attributed to me in the article Indaba planned on Political issues (TVN 22/08/18) was misinterpreted.

What I meant to say is that the community took the decision to organise a stay away because we all support Gcobani Ndzongana and want him released.

We as a committee do not make decisions without the involvement of the community’s views; our mandate comes from the community. There were no incidents of intimidation reported to us and to SAPS, and no community members where intimidated as far as we know as ZR Committee. The community took a decision to stay away in solidarity with Gcobani Ndzongana.

Siyabulela Notwala, ZR Committee

The Team

OPINION Matters

6 Royal Street, Hermanus

028 312 2234

We are addicted to hope as we celebrate three terrific years There is always good news and bad news.

And as the saying goes, ‘Bad news travels fast, good news travels faster’. Never has a truer word been spoken as for the past three years The Village NEWS team has been privileged to bring our readers only the best news our region has to offer.

It is due to our loyal readers and advertisers that we are able to celebrate our third birthday with you. The past almost 1 100 days have seen The NEWS grow from a fledgling dream to not only being named Best Independent Newspaper in SA but also growing into the largest newspaper in the Overstrand. For this we want to thank each and everyone who has supported us.

As with any community, the Overstrand has had its ups and downs – and recently it seems more downs than ups. But if there is one thing we as The NEWS can say it is that we are addicted to hope. We passionately believe in the future of our lovely region and

we will keep on writing the articles that tell your stories, while bringing you all the news you can use. It might not always be good news, but we will always try our level best to bring you the good in the news, no matter how bad it gets.

As a community we have been through challenging times and a lot of hard work lies ahead of us. But together with the bad, comes the good. We have been offered the opportunity to rebuild our region to reflect a free and fair society.

In our diversity lies strength, in our differences lies unity, in our squabbles lie ans-wers, and we remain hopeful that we can arrive at a common vision for our region where everyone can pick the fruits of prosperity.

Publishing Editor De Waal Steyn 083 700 3319 dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

Content Editor Hedda Mittner 083 645 3928 hedda@thevillagenews.co.za

Design and Layout Nickey Jackson 079 408 7722 nickey@thevillagenews.co.za

We look forward to serving all the communities of the Overstrand for the year that lies ahead.

This is the good NEWS – Ed Office Administrator Tania Hamman admin@thevillagenews.co.za

Wealth: From Barter to Bitcoin to Bust The Fiddler on the Roof had it spot on.

Money makes the world go round. This was confirmed by the ancient prophets from ABBA in their ditty: Money Money Money – always sunny – in a rich man’s world. The concept was further cemented by the wall-builders Pink Floyd who claimed: Money – it’s a gas – grab that cash with both hands and make a stash.

Well, the Good Book states the lust for money is the root of all evil. This is very admirable, and the world would be a totally different place but for those 30 pieces of silver a while back. Sadly though, the noble notion of morals trumping greed very seldom succeeds.

In ancient Egypt, for example, kings were buried with all their gold, jewels and prized possessions. The worldly wealth they’d lusted after and accumulated would ensure a comfortable journey through the afterlife. That’s lust number one.

Lust number two stems from the grave-robbers. After a respectful period they’d simply loot the tombs, pawn the stash and reintroduce all that wealth and currency back into the system, for others to lust after and accumulate.

Money, as we know it today, is anything from cash to cheques to credit cards to EFTs to bitcoins. But long ago, when humans first settled into communities and raised crops and livestock, wealth was determined by tangible assets, like how many cows, fruit trees or servants you owned. Bartering between friends and neighbours was the currency.

In different parts of the world this all

A Far Kraai

Marketing Manager Kathy Bentley 083 581 7219 kathy@thevillagenews.co.za

Murray Stewart thevillagemuze@gmail.com

changed at different times. The Chinese – circa 1 100 BCE – used miniature replicas of goods cast in brass as surety for payment. For practical reasons they eventually became rounded and stamped.

Soon, carrying bags of coins on long journeys, like the Silk Road, proved cumbersome and dangerous, and paper certificates became accepted.

The first known currency, on our side of the world, was created by King Alyattise in 600 BCE in Lydia, Turkey. But other methods for the illiterate peasants of Europe were used. A tally stick, for example, was simply a stick with various notches cut into it, and split down the middle. Each party would retain their half as proof of debt or credit, and forgery was virtually impossible.

This worked very well for over 700 years, but we’ll chat about tally sticks later.

Unlike the Aztecs and the Mayans, the Incas had no formal bartering system and no monies changed hands, yet they became the wealthiest and most advanced country in South America. It was unapologetically socialist. Their currency was labour.

Men over 15 were obliged to work for the state for up to two-thirds of the year constructing public buildings, palaces, houses and a 6 000 km

road system. In return families received all the basic necessities like food, clothing, tools and homes.

Even if they had ‘money’, there were no shops, yet beneath their feet lay millions in gold and silver, which was never monetised and was displayed only during religious rituals. Gold, the ‘sweat of the sun’ and silver, the ‘tears of the moon’, remained sacred and largely untouched. Then a couple of Spaniards pitched up and all hell broke loose.

Back to the tally sticks. In England they were also used to collect taxes, and the system was only abandoned in1826. Eight years later Parliament decided to burn the thousands of tally sticks held in storage, so they fed them into the basement furnaces that heated the House of Lords. Well, things didn’t go quite according to plan. They burnt the entire complex to the ground – the biggest blaze in London since the Great Fire in 1666.

There’s so much more to this barter to bitcoin journey, but recent trials by Apple/Barclaycard claim to surpass the iPhone’s convenient touch-tone payment method, by creating a wristband/watch with extra functions when performing transactions, like voice recognition and fingerprint identity. Soon the words in the regular slogan ‘Watch press for details’ will need rearranging.

FOR FACT’S SAKE As a break from YouTube, and to astound your friends at dinner parties, here are some facts you probably didn’t know.

1. Around 1850, Spain acquired more territory in one generation than Rome had conquered in five centuries.

2. Joseph Stalin’s son Jacob was captured in WWII but dad rejected a prisoner exchange offer with the Germans and his son died in a POW camp.

3. The Great Wall of China wasn’t built to keep the Huns out. They could easily scale it with ladders.

But their horses couldn’t, and without them they were pretty useless invaders.

4. A chip of silicon 2cm square has the same capacity as the original 1949 ENIAC computer, which occupied a whole city block.

Marketing Representative Laetitia Prinsloo 082 738 3765 ads@thevillagenews.co.za

Journalist Elaine Davie 084 343 7500

Photography & Social Media Taylum Meyer 084 564 0779 taylum@thevillagenews.co.za

WHERE TO FIND US The Village NEWS is published every week and the next edition will be available on 12 September. The NEWS can be found at over 300 distribution points on the Cape Whale Coast, from Pringle Bay to Gansbaai. Get your FREE copy from major retail stores such as Spar, Checkers and Pick n Pay, and at restaurants, tasting rooms, galleries and shopping centres. Should you wish to receive a copy, call us on 028 312 2234 or 083 228 7523 or pop into our office at 6 Royal Street, Hermanus.

MEMBER OF

8

5 September 2018

THE

NEWS

Let’s Talk

Is the government destroying our freedoms?

One of our fundamental human rights is the right to own property, whether it be land or possessions.

From this fundamental human right, other rights spring forth. The right to protect your property and the right to decide what you do with your belongings.

Where people’s right to own property is undermined, the freedom of speech and religion is also threatened. Good examples are Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Whilst the debate over land ownership continues fervently, other basic human rights are being eroded without much attention.

The Bela Bill is the new educational law which is currently being drafted.

This bill takes various rights away from communities, which will hamper the delivery of quality education, i.e. language choice, expenditure of funds and the number of teachers to be appointed.

Secondly, there is parliament’s requirement through policy to compel all religious practitioners (Jews,

Christians or Muslims) to marry same-sex couples against their beliefs. If these practitioners refuse to marry homosexual people, their license to marry will be revoked.

The issue is not whether same-sex unions are moral, but the government’s persistent efforts to remove people’s freedom to practise their religion.

It is interesting to note that the Cato Institute released a Human Freedoms Index, which shows that countries in the top quartiles of Societal Freedom enjoy a significantly higher per capita income than those in lower quartiles. South Africa is currently ranked number 68. Human freedom is directly linked to prosperity and economic growth.

As a society the onus rests on us to redirect the course the government is taking.

We need to take action.

Victor Sabbe Chairman, ACDP Hermanus

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A tribute to Albie Götze

rig. Gen. Albie Götze, one of South Africa’s true War Heroes and long-time resident of Hermanus, died on 24 August at the age of 95.

Gen Götze was born in Prieska on 4 January 1923 and in 1942 at the age of 19, he volunteered for service in the South African Air Force (SAAF).

Deployed to the Middle East, he was seconded to 127 Squadron, RAF and saw service in Egypt and Palestine.

Thereafter he was transferred to England where he flew patrols and bomber escort missions to Europe and was involved in the shooting down of four German V-1 flying bombs.

“At 95 his passing was still a shock to us as he was so active and busy until he contracted pneumonia in late July 2018. This took such a toll on his system that he succumbed on 24 August,” said Albie’s son, Hugo. He also shared some of the fond memories that he, Marida, Joy, and all the grandchildren and greatgrandchildren have of his late father:

Brig. Gen. Albie Götze (1923 - 2018) in the Berlin Airlift.

On D-Day, 6 June 1944, Gen. Götze flew support and top-cover missions over France, an action that saw him awarded the Legion d’Honneur Medal by the French Ambassador, HE Christophe Farnaud, on 13 February 2018. Gen Götze was also awarded the General Service Medal by Wg Cdr Nigel Cookson, RAF, in March 2016.

In 1951 Gen. Götze, now a member of 2 Sqn, SAAF, went to Korea for a tour of duty in the Korean War, flying the F-51D Mustang aircraft.

He was recognised by the Government of the Republic of Korea for his contribution to securing their liberty.

Following D-Day, Gen. Götze flew his Spitfire on fighter/bomber missions from France, Belgium and Holland.

He was later posted to 137 Sqn, RAF where he flew the infamous Hawker Typhoon in Operation Market Garden. After the end of WWII, in 1949, he was deployed with the SAAF to fly as a navigator delivering supplies to the besieged city of Berlin

Gen. Götze subsequently became involved with the introduction of the South African Air Defence System and later served as Personal Military Secretary to the State President. He retired from the South African Air Force in 1978 and lived in Hermanus where he was regarded with great affection and respect.

“Over the last couple of years my dad, Alb as he was affectionately known by all, old and young, often asked me: ‘Son, I don't understand, why am I still here?’ Looking back over the last three years I know why the Lord kept him because he had touched so many people’s hearts and lives in such a short time. Even today I can see how much he has taught me and so many people who crossed his path.

“Despite his courage as a fighter pilot he remained humble and always had a loving and caring heart towards all he came into contact with. We will always cherish the many braais, hunting trips, skaapkop and afval, and his love of a good story. Most of all we will remember his steadfast love of and trust in the Lord. Herewith we release him into the hands of his Heavenly Father. May he rest in peace.”

A memorial service will be held in the United Church at 11:00 on Saturday 8 September.

EXPLORER

Business

The

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Doing business the Harcourts way

arcourts Hermanus set foot in the Overstrand in August 2017 and have shown tremendous growth in only one year, proving that they serve with excellence.

out at Checkers and made sandwiches for the police force. Jana has also thrown her weight behind the Hermanus Business Chamber as the member for safety and security on the management committee and has pledged Harcourts Hermanus’s support for the upcoming Global Challenge golf tournament as headline sponsor.

At the recent Harcourts Awards ceremony held in Cape Town on 28 August, Harcourts Hermanus not only walked away with Platinum status for the second quarter (April, May and June 2018) but also placed fourth in the Western Cape and ninth in the country out of 135 Harcourts branches.

Not bad for someone who said last year, shortly after their arrival on the property scene in Hermanus: “It’s a big change and a big challenge. Everything is different – the climate, the culture, the people. We have definitely stepped out of our comfort zone but we are loving it!

Hermanus is a very dynamic town that is on the move and offers many opportunities.”

LEFT: The Harcourts Hermanus team when they opened their first office in Onrus exactly a year ago.

From left are Johan du Preez, Charmaine Vogel, Jana Smith, Minét and Igno Vivier.

PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

That someone is the Principal of Harcourts Hermanus, Jana Smith, who relocated from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province, where she worked in the property industry for over 30 years, in order to start a new life – and a new business – in Hermanus. She brought a small but dynamic team with her – daughter Minét and son-in-law Igno Vivier – and they were joined by Johan du Preez and long-time colleague Charmaine Vogel, who had worked with Jana in Louis Trichardt for 15 years before moving to Hermanus a few years ago.

Jana was one of the founder members of Homenet, which later became affiliated with the Harcourts International Real Estate Group. With over 10 000 sales consultants in over 800 offices in 10 countries, Harcourts is one of the fastest-growing real estate groups in South Africa.

Since opening the Harcourts Hermanus office in the Rheezicht Centre in Onrus, Jana’s team has grown to 26 property

ABOVE: The Harcourts Hermanus team has now grown to 26 staff members with three offices. Their philosophy is: ‘When you partner with us, you'll become part of a bigger story, a family passionate about people.’

PHOTO: Leanne Dryburgh professionals and they have expanded their area to include not only Onrus and Vermont, but the whole region from Kleinmond to Voëlklip. They acquired a new office in Kleinmond in October last year, and a third office will be opened on 17 September in the Main Road of Hermanus.

The breathtaking way in which Harcourts Hermanus has established itself as a major role player in the property industry is explained by Igno, who

says: “It all rides on leadership”.

Add to that experience, commitment and teamwork, the strength of the Harcourts brand, superior technology and proven marketing tools and strategies, and this highly professional team’s mutual passion for property and working with people, and you have Harcourts Hermanus’s recipe for success in a nutshell.

Not only has Jana proven herself to be

an astute businesswoman, but she has also become involved with her new community in the same way she did back in Louis Trichardt. “Social responsibility has always been high on Jana’s priority list,” says Igno.

Over the past year, Jana and her team have rolled up their sleeves to support various charitable causes including The Mentoring Project, Hermanus Animal Welfare and local schools and churches. During the riots they helped

“We are passionate about serving the community outside the borders of our own gain. Our team has one purpose in mind and that is to add value wherever we go,” says Igno, who has been a top achiever since joining Harcourts in 2014.

At the recent Harcourts Awards ceremony, Igno also achieved Platinum status for commission generated, along with Herby Skog. Three more agents respectively received gold (Surina Koorts), silver (Charmaine Vogel) and bronze (Willem van Niekerk) status.

This might all sound like very hard work, but Igno says they also believe in laughter and having fun, “because we all love what we do”, and rejoicing in one another’s successes. The positive energy of this highly professional team will ensure that your property journey is stress-free and rewarding.

“Just as your home is more than just brick and mortar, selling or buying is more than just paper work – it’s personal,” says Igno, who adds that as incomers themselves, they understand buyers’ needs. “We not only find the right property for buyers but also assist, advise and inform them about the area, its businesses, schools and other attractions. We are proud to be ambassadors for Hermanus because we are excited about its future.”

Harcourts Hermanus specialises in sales and rentals of residential, commercial and industrial properties. Visit www.hermanus.harcourts.co.za or contact 028 316 2980 / 082 895 9034.

– Hedda Mittner

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5 September 2018

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Wednesday 5 September

■ Hermanus Photographic Society: Monthly meetings that cater for everyone, from the beginner to the advanced photographer, on the first Wednesday of each month. The theme for the September Club competition will be ‘A day in nature’ while the Audio Visual Group’s next challenge is depicting ‘Funky’. Visit hermanusphoto.co.za for further announcements of forthcoming monthly outings, challenges and workshops. Contact info@hermanusphoto.co.za. In the Hermann Swart Hall, Dutch Reformed Church, Hermanus, at 19:00.

Thursday 6 September ■ Hermanus Bird Club: The club’s monthly walk in Fernkloof Nature Reserve will be guided by Ronnie Hazell. Meet in the Fernkloof parking area, at 08:00.

raise funds towards the events taking place during the eleven days in October celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Parish of St. Peter’s. R85 pp or R510 per team of 6 will include soup and breads. Bring your own liquid refreshments and glasses. There will be great prizes on offer. Call or WhatsApp Anne Philip on 082 399 3925. At St Peter’s Church in Main Road (enter from carpark in Marine Drive), at 18:30 for 19:00.

■ Rewind: Join Soul Café every Friday night and relax to the tunes of their resident band as they perform all your favourite hits from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Cover charge R50 pp. Call 028 313 2137 to book. At Soul Café, 181 Main Road, Hermanus, at 20:00.

Friday 7 – Saturday 8 September

■ Rotary Club of Hermanus: Visitors are wel-

Friday 7 September

■ Kolwyntjie Teetuin: Everyone in the area is welcome to enjoy a sweet treat and tea or coffee at a nominal fee, and make new friends at the Onrus Care Centre (Dienssentrum). At the Onrus Dutch Reformed Church, every Friday between 09:30 and 11:30.

■ Botrivier Challenge: SA's most unique sports event where you can ride MTB (55 km, 40 km or 15 km), run trail (15 km or 8 km) or road (21 km, 10 km or 5 km) or simply do a guided historiccultural walk. This is combined with a lovely Spitbraai Festival and includes a Potjiekos Competition. All proceeds are used to support the Botriver Education Foundation. So don't miss out on this fun-filled day with exciting prizes, great food and warm hospitality. Registration for all races takes place at the historic Botrivier Station on Friday 7 September from 15:00 - 18:45 and on Saturday from 05:00 to the race start. Enter online at www.webtickets.co.za. In Botrivier, from 07:00.

Saturday 8 September

■ The History of Ancient Egypt: This popular DVD series presented by U3A Overberg continues with the topic of Dynasty XXI, Egypt Divided; Dynasty XXII, Egypt United presented by Gert Claassen. In the Catholic Church Hall, at 10:00.

■ The Sound of Colours: Northcliff House College presents their annual concert entitled The Sound of Colours, which will see learners from Grades R – 11 performing songs that have colours in either the title or the name of the artist. Tickets at R50 pp are available from the school or at the door on the night. There will be a tuckshop run by the Grade 11 class as a fundraising opportunity. At Hermanus High School, at 18:00 (the show starts promptly at 18:30).

■ St. Peter’s Quiz Nite: The church is having its annual Quiz Nite a little earlier this year in order to

■ Fioré Country Market: Browse this new

country market in Bot River for homemade crafts, books, local treats, fresh fruit and more.

Stands are free and in the event of rain the market moves indoors. For enquiries, contact Debbie Randall on 028 284 9220. At Fioré Garden Centre & Coffee Shop, Bot River, from 09:00 – 14:00.

■ Botrivier Hotel Market: For hand-made crafts and tasty treats, come and browse the new weekly market in the hotel garden. New vendors are welcome; contact Erna at ernastark@outlook.com or 028 315 2582 or WhatsApp 076 708 0818 to book your stall. At the Botrivier Hotel, every Saturday, from 10:00 – 14:00.

■ The Singing Cook: The Spring Opening of this new restaurant will be a family-friendly affair (kids and dogs welcome) where guests can enjoy an a la carte menu or a picnic on the lawn while the children play on the jungle gym. Booking is essential. Contact Antonio on 072 462 4271. At The Singing Cook @ Rivendell Wine Estate, corner of R43 & R44, from 11:00.

come at Rotary’s weekly meetings. Contact Frank on 082 870 1187 to confirm your attendance.

At Mollergren Park, every Thursday at 19:00.

■ Bhuki Café: Join the Friends of Hermanus Library for tea, coffee and eats for only R20 and help to raise funds for the library. Every Friday from 09:00 – 11:30, at Hermanus Library.

■ Market in the Garden: Hunt for treasures at this peaceful market set among the shady trees of a beautiful garden. At St Peter’s Church in Main Road, Hermanus, from 09:00 – 13:00.

■ Hermanus parkrun: Meet for the weekly 5 km walk or run, come rain or shine. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome. Set off from the Overstrand Training Institute (OTI) farm on Camphill Road in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, at 08:00.

■ Hermanus Country Market: A favourite among the locals. Young, old, two-legged and four-legged family members are all welcome.

You’ll find wholesome goodies, home-made crafts, local produce, beers and wine, speciality foods, coffee and live music. Next to the cricket field, Fairways Avenue, from 09:00 – 13:00.

■ Hermanuspietersfontein Food & Wine Market: Where local and international foodies and wine lovers meet. You’ll find real plates and real cutlery; real cups and real glasses; a real hangout for real people. In the courtyard of Hermanuspietersfontein wine cellar at The Village, from 09:00 – 13:00.

to bring your own drinks and glasses. In the Community Hall at Mollergren Park, at 18:30 for 19:00.

■ Astrophotography: Join the Hermanus Astronomy Centre (HAC) for a presentation on Image processing and a discussion of hardware and software compatibility. For more information, contact deonk@telkomsa.net. At Deon Krige’s house, at 19:00.

Tuesday 11 September ■ The History of Zwelihle: U3A Overberg hosts Angela Heslop, chairperson of the Hermanus History Society, who will do a presentation on her research project, The History of Zwelihle. In the Catholic Church Hall, at 10:00.

Wednesday 12 September ■ SAARP Monthly Club Meeting: The guest speaker at the South African Association of Retired Persons (SAARP) Hermanus Social Club’s monthly meeting is John Saunders who will do a presentation titled Easter Island. For more information, contact chairperson Ingrid Green on 028 316 2390 or 082 081 6889 or send an email to ingridgreen@hermanus.co.za. In the Sandbaai Hall, from 09:30 – 11:45.

Sunday 9 September

■ Lemm’s Corner Market: This popular Sunday market offers exclusive arts and crafts, and handmade local products. At Fisherman’s Village (between Cattle Baron and Fisherman’s Cottage), from 10:00 – 15:00.

Monday 10 September ■ Afrikaans lecture series: U3A Overberg presents a talk by Prof Marius de Waal who will talk about Die agtergrond en huidige stand van testaments-formaliteite in Suid-Afrika, met spesiale verwysing na tipiese probleme, nietighede en moontlike kondonering deur howe. In the Catholic Church Hall, at 10:00.

■ A celebration of African Oystercatchers: Join BirdLife Overberg for their monthly talk, presented by Jenny Parsons and Anton Odendal.

This presentation on the African Oystercatcher will mostly focus on the extended incubation and chick-rearing period that these birds face before the chicks fledge. The aim of the talk is to drum up support for the protection of these very vulnerable nest sites. Catering at R100 per head. RSVP Helé by sms to 073 456 0393 or birding@southernartceramics.com. Remember

■ Hermanus Bird Club monthly meeting: The guest speaker is biologist Sally Hofmeyr, who has studied large terrestrial birds (including the Black Korhaan and Secretarybird) and how they are responding to environmental change. Since January 2016 she has been working full time for an online academic English editing company, while continuing with ornithological fieldwork -bird ringing, bird counts, and penguin monitoring – as much as possible. At Fernkloof Hall, with drinks served at 18:00 and the meeting starting at 18:30.

Friday 14 September ■ Travel Writing Course: Hit the road to adventure and creativity on this course run by James Bainbridge, a Lonely Planet author with 15 years' experience. Featured at this year's UCT Summer School and National Arts Festival, the workshop includes a lively mix of teaching, exercises and opportunities for feedback on your work. It will cover everything from research techniques and memory aids to writing processes and honing your prose, with inspiration from passages by great travel writers. The cost is R1 000 pp. Booking is essential as places are limited. Contact 073 335 1196 or jamesbains.travel@gmail.com. At Betty Blue Bistro, 126 Main Rd, Hermanus, from 09:30 – 16:00.

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5 September 2018

Sightseeing from a sidecar with African Hoopoe Tours

M

arius du Plessis has only been in Hermanus for four months and already he says, “I don’t want to be anywhere else!” His enthusiasm and optimism about the future of our region is evident when he talks about his desire to add value to our town by offering visitors bespoke sidecar tours in and around Hermanus.

As an experienced tour guide and the owner of the dynamic tour and charter company, African Hoopoe Tours & Safaris based in Cape Town since 2007, Marius has been in the tourism industry for over 20 years. “My mission has always been to enrich lives by creating unique experiences,” he says.

“When I did my research on what is already available in Hermanus it struck me that this region offers a plethora of adventure activities. So it made sense for me to combine my tours with a central information and booking service in collaboration with all the established and operating adventure companies.”

Add to this service Marius’ unique tours that combine his passion for vintage vehicles and you have a recipe for some serious fun. His Hermanus Sidecar Tours involve a two to three

hour trip in one of his BMW sidecars, complete with vintage helmets and goggles. It is designed for two people – one in the sidecar and one behind the driver on the bike, taking turns – and takes clients up Rotary Way for a bird’s eye view of the Overstrand, down the other side for a wine tasting at Hamilton Russell or one of the other wine farms, and back to town for a tour of the most interesting and scenic spots, including a stop at Hoy’s Koppie.

Apart from two sidecars, Marius also has a number of classic vehicles that include a beautifully preserved ’64 Mercedes Benz Fintail, a ’74 Cheverolet Commando Station Wagon and a ’77 Mini GTS. He uses these vehicles for his Slow Tours, where the pleasure of a scenic trip is combined with the rare opportunity of riding in one of these nostalgic vehicles. Marius also rents out his classic vehicles for special occasions and functions.

Another innovative option is a cultural tour that includes a traditional lunch in Zwelihle. This tour is offered in collaboration with William Ntebe, the owner of the Zwelihle Youth Café at the RDP Centre, with 5% of the

tour cost being donated to the Youth Café for their various community projects.

Apart from these tailor-made local tours, African Hoopoe also offers half-day and full-day tours of the Cape Peninsula, the Winelands and the West Coast, a full-day tour to the southernmost tip of Africa, a fourday tour of the Garden Route, and several safari tours in Namibia. “We have a fleet of vehicles, motorbikes and sidecars to choose from for your adventure tour,” says Marius, who has a particular passion for on- and offroad motorbike trips. “But for the longer tours clients usually opt for the comfort of our 18-seater Mercedes Sprinter bus.”

He is looking forward to being of service to Hermanus by creating memorable experiences for our visitors, adds Marius with a big smile.

“Just tell us what you want and we’ll make it happen.” Contact Hoopoe Tours & Safaris on 021 510 7809 or info@africanhoopoetours.com or find all the details on their website www.africanhoopoetours.com - Hedda Mittner

Marius du Plessis of African Hoopoe Tours & Safaris recently took The Village NEWS’ photographer & social media manager, Taylum Meyer, for a spin in his sidecar to the top of Rotary Way. “It was really interesting to sight-see in the open air instead of through a car window. Taking in the smells and sounds really adds to the experience... and the sidecar was remarkably comfortable.”

12

New pop-up gallery at Homes International

5 September 2018

Hermanus First Fridays: On the go again!

T

he Village NEWS has kept you up to speed with our Hermanus First Fridays (HFF) Artwalk in a full page splash in the 7 August edition, advising readers that, after a winter break, the new season starts on Friday 7 September.

Art lovers will rejoice because strolling in central Hermanus as the sun sets is great fun.

Seeing some, if not all, of the 18 participating galleries reinforces the saying that we are truly THE art destination of the Western Cape.

Members of the Hermanus Art Circle (HAC) will present an exhibition of their finest artwork at a new venue for the Hermanus First Fridays Artwalk on 7 September. Hosted by Homes International at their new offices on the corner of Harbour and Main Roads, this exhibition will run alongside the HAC’s exhibition at their usual venue next to the Whale Museum. From left are Anri Linde and Pieter Hugo, property consultants of Homes International, with members of the HAC: Margi Crossman, Maryna Visagie, Jean Faure, Val Wright and Adéle Nortje (HAC Chairperson). Both exhibitions can be viewed from 16:00 – 20:00 on Friday, while the exhibit at the Whale Museum will continue on Saturday from 10:00 – 12:00. For more information, contact Adéle Nortje on 083 442 5985 or anor@absamail.co.za

Terry Kobus, based at Originals Gallery in Harbour Road and a key HFF driver, says he is delighted that, after four years, there has been no loss of focus. Stay open late, create a welcoming vibe with a glass of wine and snacks and get people over the threshold – distancing galleries from the elite image and showing everyone what is available. No hard sell, just a great chance to keep up with what’s hot and happening.

(The Artwalk concept is international and in Cape Town, for instance, the first Thursday is the day – and many other businesses apart from galleries have hopped on board, sometimes distracting a little from the art offerings.)

New galleries Hermanus is certainly not the same old, same old. The Whale Coast Mall has come and the Old Town needs support. There is a loyal core of galleries but one or two have fallen by the wayside and you will find some new faces and some familiar faces in new locations. This is as it should be and we are delighted to welcome the fresh intrepid “artrepreneurs” to diversify and strengthen our art scene.

Makiwa Mutomba In the Astra Building on Main Road, Makiwa as he is simply known, shows his powerful large canvasses, bright and appealing. He is no greenhorn; this brawny Zimbabwean opened his first gallery in Umhlanga Rocks in 2004 and has others in Franschhoek , Johannesburg and Pretoria. While his website will give you a good idea of his work and of the artists he has selected to share his space, he himself is in Hermanus for a week or two and you might want to take the chance of meeting him before he is off again to paint in his studio and to check on his other galleries.

The StART This is a brand-new venture by Theresa le Roux and Annette du Toit to cater for young artists

Art News

By Patrick Chapman

and young art buyers who don’t have a huge budget for art. Full-time woman on the spot is Natasha Steneveld – while the partners bed down the business, get the website up and running and keep half an eye on The Wine Glass, which is the spacious tasting room and wine bar linking the Main Road with The Courtyard. Jacques, Theresa’s husband, is a partner there and it was by chance that Theresa and Annette, old friends, saw the premises in The Courtyard and grabbed them.

FynArts Gallery With a corner spot in The Courtyard and open for a couple of months now under the watchful eye of Chantel Louskitt, this is the FynArts Festival’s permanent exhibition space. Currently showing Lwandiso Njara, whose exhibition was opened recently by the noted artist from Johannesburg, Gordon Froud. Lwandiso has many exhibitions and honours under his belt.

His offering is pencil and graphite works on paper – of great inventiveness, hybridizing man, machine and beast. While the gallery is run as a commercial gallery with profits supporting the Festival, it also provides a dedicated venue for the featured Festival Artist at FynArts time in June.

Can there be anyone in Hermanus who has not yet discovered The Courtyard? Slip down the alley off Harbour Road or shortcut through the wine bar. I can’t wait for the trees to come into leaf and for the subtle lighting which will create a magic atmosphere in the evening. The Wine Glass will ensure that you do not go thirsty even if it’s not the First Friday of the month. The tiny Post in the corner will give you coffee, Geta Finlayson will beguile you with her hand-crafted jewellery and her canvasses, Die Kunskantoor is a worthy successor to the highly-rated Abalone Gallery and the “new kids on the square” are bouncing with energy and ideas for this art hotspot.

We have had a hard winter, social unrest and businesses battling to survive. If you feel that art at these times is frivolous, just bear in mind the old Greek axiom coined by Hippocrates, more in relation to the craft and art of medicine, but it still rings true: Life is short, but Art is eternal. Enjoy!

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5 September 2018

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Old Harbour Beer wins back-to-back gold

he Hermanus Brewing Company has done it again by winning a second gold medal at the National Beer Trophy Awards last week for their classic South African lager, Old Harbour Beer. Founders James and Di Rattle could not be more proud – although this year round they say it was a more stressful experience than the previous year, when winning gold came as a complete surprise.

“Once again we were up against all the big national breweries,” said Di. “The standard of competition was also much higher this year, so we had to score additional points to achieve gold.” She added that it was important for them to show the highest quality and consistency, proving that they didn’t just get ‘lucky’ last year.

Brewed at their micro-brewery in the Industrial Area from Overberg barley and Southern hops, Old Harbour Beer is an easy-drinker that was a local hit right off the bat. “The last four years have been a whirlwind of hard work, dedication and tenacity, and our team has put everything in to make sure our brewery is a success,” said James, ad-

ding that it is most gratifying to know that they can hold their own nationally against bigger craft breweries.

“Since winning our gold medal in 2017 we have doubled our ‘on-tap’ venues and all the restaurants and bottle stores we supply have shown a significant increase in sales. We are most grateful for the huge support from locals and visitors to Hermanus.”

James and Di, who have been together for over 30 years and have three children, made the lifechanging decision to relocate from Cape Town to Hermanus in 2010. He enrolled at the World Brewing Academy in Chicago and on his return he teamed up with Richard Hammond, who was previously the master brewer at Napier Brewery. Using concise German-based brewing technology and the considerable knowledge and experience of Richard, who is ably assisted by Jay Ndike, the Hermanus Brewing Company, the first micro-brewery in Hermanus, was born.

bour Lager in January 2015, the team hit the ground running and could hardly keep up with the demand.

“When we started out some people thought we were crazy,” chuckled James, “but after the first year we had to double the size of our brewery.” Di is also involved full-time and prides herself on delivering a personalised hands-on service to all their clients while handling the sales, deliveries and marketing side of the business.

“We love living here and doing business with the wonderful people of Hermanus,” she said. “This is our Paradise.” And what about their plans for the future? “We have submitted a fabulous proposal to the Municipality to move our Brewery and Distillery to the New Harbour. We are still waiting for positive feedback,” said James.

Until then you’ll find the Hermanus Brewing Company at 11 Mimosa Street, Hermanus Industria. Contact them on 073 184 6076.

Since their first release of Old Har-

– Hedda Mittner

James Rattle, Jay Ndike, Di Rattle and Richard Hammond celebrated the Hermanus Brewing Company’s second gold medal with family and friends at the brewery on Friday.

A toast to The Wine Glass An exciting new wine bar that opened last week, aptly named The Wine Glass, has added a real touch of class to the centre of Hermanus Old Town. Fronting onto Harbour Road, the premises are chic and spacious, stretching all the way to The Courtyard at the rear. If you haven’t paid The Wine Glass a visit, the Hermanus First Fridays Artwalk on 7 September will present the perfect opportunity to drop in while browsing the many art galleries in the vicinity.

At The Wine Glass, financial experts Brennan Davis, Jacques le Roux and Mark Kahts have partnered to create a stylish but welcoming winetasting venue, with just under a hundred wines available to taste, savour and enjoy by the glass, by the bottle or in a tasting flight of six wines.

There has never been an easier way to explore and appreciate the fruits of our local vineyards.

“We pride ourselves in representing a wonderful selection of wines from Bot River, Hemel-enAarde, Stanford, Elim and Agulhas,” says Brennan.

“We aim to give our guests a real taste of the area.”

And while the award-winning wines and bubblies of the Walker Bay and Agulhas wine

districts take centre stage, The Wine Glass also offers a range of craft beers from our region and artisanal coffees. And there is no need to go home empty-handed once you’ve discovered your favourites – their wine and beer are available for purchase and can be delivered worldwide.

With an impressive menu of scrumptious food you won’t go hungry either. Consultant Toni Smith and head chef Zoë Spruyt have created inspiring platters and tasting plates prepared from top-quality local ingredients, which can be shared between a couple or a group of friends.

“We are not wine anoraks,” says Brennan. “We want wine tasting to be a relaxed affair that can be enjoyed by everyone. Patrons should feel free to hang out at The Wine Glass, whether alone or with friends, enjoying a tasting, a meal, or simply a cup of coffee and cake.”

You’ll find The Wine Glass at 2 Harbour Road.

Contact 028 312 2553 or visit www.thewineglass.guru - Hedda Mittner

WELCOME TO THE WINE GLASS At the back are partners, Mark Kahts, Brennan Davis and Jacques le Roux. In front are head chef Zoë Spruyt, front of house manager Amanda Hofmeyr, barista Alfred Chinamasa and chef consultant Toni Smith. The Wine Glass oozes style and elegance and has received rave reviews from patrons.

PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer

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5 September 2018

Discover a treasure trove of arts, crafts and crystals at The Craft Collective

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doors in March last year with four partners – Hero Stained Glass, Judy’s Crystal Corner, KaliCo and DG Fire Pot.

earching for that special gift for a loved one, or something unique for yourself or your home? Then look no further than The Craft Collective, where you will find three inspiring artists/crafters under one roof – Hero Stained Glass; Judy’s Crystal Corner and Vivienne McOnie Art & Ceramics.

Reneé, who originally secured the premises for Hero Stained Glass in December 2016, has worked in this family business with her father, Rudi Gort, in Napier since she matriculated. Established in 1990, Hero Stained Glass is dedicated to the creation of original and uniquely beautiful table and hanging lamps (both panel and Tiffany lamps), shades, pendants, panels and door insets. Rudi has been based in Somerset West since 2004 and Reneé decided to relocate to Hermanus two years ago in order to be closer to good schools for her daughter. She also admits that Hermanus is a little busier than Napier!

Vivienne and her husband Athol own the Stanford Harvest Farm Kitchen on Elandsvalley, their sheep farm just outside Stanford where Vivienne’s studio and gallery are located adjacent to the restaurant. Apart from being an excellent chef who garners rave reviews for her popular restaurant, Vivienne is an accomplished artist who started fabric painting many years ago, selling her table linen at markets. She later went on to painting on canvas – mostly colourful landscapes, fynbos and rural scenes of farm life – before turning her hand to pottery.

Judy Miller has been in Hermanus since 2001 and hardly needs introduction. As a radiographer she spent several years living and working in the US, and it is here that she became fascinated with crystals during a trip to the Arizona desert, where she picked up an amethyst crystal. After returning to South Africa she became involved in the tourism industry as a tour guide and accommodation manager while pursuing her new interest with passion, selling crystals and jewellery on Greenmarket Square in Cape Town. She even returned to the US for a six-month course at the Crystal Academy of Advanced Healing Arts in Hawaii, founded by Katrina Raphaell, a pioneer in the field.

The three collaborative partners of The Craft Collective: Vivienne McOnie, Reneé Gort and Judy Miller.

Judy’s meeting with Vivienne was as serendipitous as her meeting with Reneé.

She had gone out to Stanford several weeks ago with a geologist friend from Cape Town to look for stones when they stopped off at the Stanford Kitchen for lunch. While Vivienne was showing Judy her work, Kali called to explain that she and Daniel would be giving up their space at The Craft Collective as they were too busy at Wolvengat to also run a business in Hermanus.

Judy says back in 2000 she was looking for a place “smaller than Cape Town, close to the ocean and mountains, with a craft market”, when she realised that Hermanus offered all that and more. She had a regular stall at the old Lemm’s Corner Market and later on Market Square, and also opened a small shop at the Eastcliff Village Centre where she sold an exciting range of crystals, semiprecious gemstones, fossils, jewellery and art. When her application for a new lease at Market Square was denied, however, she had to look for new premises – and a ‘to let’ sign outside a shop in Main Road led her to Reneé Gort of Hero Stained Glass.

Renee had more than enough space in this large shop and was looking for collaborative partners. It seemed the perfect solution for Judy, especially when they were joined by Kali Griffin with her hand-painted and printed fabrics and her son, Daniel’s fire pots.

The Craft Collective officially opened its

The Craft Collective is filled with eyecatching stained-glass products and Reneé works from her workshop at the back of the shop. All the glass is imported from the US and, to produce a truly personal work of art, customers are welcome to submit their own designs and Hero will create an individual design incorporating your ideas with their expertise. She also offers classes in stained glass and anyone who is interested in learning this rewarding craft can contact her on 072 604 7051.

Vivienne immediately took up the opportunity to have an outlet in town and her wares are now happily installed at The Craft Collective, including hand-painted table cloths, place mats, ceramics and paintings.

This vibrant shop is an excellent example of how collaboration can lead to practical solutions for business owners while adding to the offering of enjoyable shopping experiences for both locals and visitors in the Hermanus CBD. Find The Craft Collective at 135 Main Road opposite First National Bank.

Reneé’s stained glass, Judy’s crystals, and Vivenne’s arts and crafts cohabitate harmoniously in this inviting shop.

PHOTOS: Heddat Mittner

– Hedda Mittner

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5 September 2018

Save by booking early for Summer Music Colour Run The Summer Music Colour Run series will celebrate its fifth birthday at the end of 2018 when the coastal resort towns of Hermanus, Plettenberg Bay and Mossel Bay host the annual sporting festival during the December holidays.

The annual 5km fun run and family festival will boast its usual complement of three colour stations, which immerse participants in bright colours, as well as two music stations manned by local DJs who will keep participants entertained along the route. The 2018 series will also see three new event experiences unveiled to participants: a glitter start to get proceedings underway; a giant inflatable slide; and a dodgeball arena.

“We’re really excited about this year’s series, not only because it’s our fifth birthday but also because we’ll be showcasing three unique new experiences, which will add to the atmosphere and festivities,” said

T

Bianca le Roux, the owner of Coastline Events which organises the annual Summer Run series. “Over the last five years we’ve grown tremendously and have been blown away by the interest shown by holidaymakers, as well as the manner in which the local communities have embraced the event.”

As an alcohol-free event the Summer Music Colour Run series is aimed at bringing families together to celebrate summer in a fun way during South Africa’s traditional end-of-year holiday season. Although the normal entry fees is R260 per person (apart from children under 10 who can participate for free) this year’s event will be running an early bird special from 4-16 September at a discounted entry fee of R150 per person.

Each entrant will receive a T-shirt, race number, a sachet of colour powder as well as entry to the festival zone, which is where the colour

burst, dodgeball arena and giant inflatable slide will be located. Each entrant will also receive a R150 Travelstart voucher and a R300 Safari Now voucher.

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming both previous and new Summer Music Colour Run participants as we think the new experiences will add something unique to the event,” says le Roux.

“It’s a great day out for the family and a really special way to add some colour to your end-of-year summer holiday.”

The Summer Music Colour Run will take place in Hermanus on 6 December at 16h00 at Hermanus High School.

For more information, visit www.summerrun.co.za/ or send an email to bianca@summerrun.co.za

But what if the market crashes?

here is so much uncertainty in the current investment environment that the question advisors often get is why should we invest now and …what if the market crashes?

What follows is a story about Steve, South Africa’s worst market timer, and like so many other investors it takes Steve a long time to build up enough trust to invest his hard-earned savings.

The uncertainty and emotional unrest that we feel is natural given the unstable environment, but the markets have been through it before. Persistency and appropriate diversification remain your greatest investment allies.

What follows is Steve’s tale of terrible timing of his stock purchases.

Steve lives in South Africa and began his career in 1980 at age 23. His first job paid him a salary of R12 500 per year – around R312 000 in today’s money. Steve was a diligent saver. His plan was to save 10% of his salary every year. This means that his contribution increased at the same rate as his annual salary increase throughout his career.

Steve kept his money in a bank account where it earned interest. He reasoned that he’d put it into the market when it feels like the right time.

Steve’s problem was that he only had the courage to put his money to work in the market after a huge run up. So every time he invested, all of his money went into a combination of three equity funds managed by the large life insurance firms (We’ve used three equity funds with long track

advance. He never wavered on his savings goals and increased the amount he saved over time.

Financial Matters

By Janet Hugo

records: Sanlam, Stanlib (Liberty originally) and Old Mutual, and assumed a fee of 1.00% per annum to the financial planner). He made his first invest-ment (just over R1 000) ten months after he started working as the SA equity market has been running hard in the four years that Steve studied.

From October 1980 the South African Stock Exchange dropped close to 38% in the next two years. As South Africa’s worst market timer Steve basically put his first contribution into his investment savings at the peak of the market right before a crash.

Yet he did have one saving grace.

Once he was in the market, he never disinvested. With the help of his financial planner he held on for dear life because he was too nervous about being wrong on his sell decisions, too.

Remember this decision because it’s a big one.

Steve didn’t feel comfortable about investing again until August 1987 after another huge bull market. After 6 years of saving he had another nearly R15 000 to put to work. Again he put it in at a market peak just before a crash.

This time the market lost more than 40% in less than 6 months (following Black Monday, 19 October 1987, when the Dow Jones Industrial Index lost 23% in a day) right after Steve made his investments. Timing his entry into the market wasn’t on Steve’s side so he continued to keep his money invested as he did before and contributed monthly towards his savings account at the bank.

Sadly for Steve, it was only in 1998 that he had enough courage to move money from his savings account (this time nearly R74 000) into his investment in the JSE. History shows that the SA stock market had a downturn of nearly 40% in just 4 months.

This buy decision left Steve with some more scars but he decided to make one more big purchase with his savings before he retired. The final investment was made in October of 2007 when he invested R134 000 which he had been saving since 1998. He rounded out his string of horrific market timing calls by buying right before what is now known as the Global Financial Crisis (GFC).

After the financial crisis he decided to continue to save his money in the bank (another R220 000) but kept his stock investments in the market until the end of 2016.

Here are the purchase dates, the crashes that followed and the amount invested at each date: Date of Investment October 1980 August 1987 April 1998 October 2007

Subsequent Steve’s Crash Investment 39%

R1 000

43%

R14 800

40%

R73 700

40%

R133 900

While Steve couldn’t time his buys, his saving grace was that he never sold out of the market even once. He didn’t sell after the bear markets of the early eighties, Black Monday in 1987 or the emerging market crisis and technology bust in the late nineties or even the financial crisis of 2007-09.

So how did Steve do?

Even though he only bought at the very top of the market, Steve still ended up a millionaire with R1.7 million. This is a return that beat South African inflation over this period (9.3% per annum), so his savings retained its purchasing power. It sounds almost too good to be true, but here’s the explanation: First of all, Steve was a committed saver and planned his savings in

Second, he allowed his investments to compound through the decades by never selling out of the market over his more than 38 years of investing. He gave himself a really long runway.

He just continued to save and kept his head down.

Having an investment strategy that is well diversified and sticking to it makes the world of difference to the result – Steve could have had well over R4 million from the same savings plan.

Footnote: Obviously, this story was for illustrative purposes and is not a recommendation for a portfolio consisting of 100% in stocks of a single market (like the JSE All Share Index) unless you have an extremely high risk tolerance. A more balanced portfolio in different global markets with a sound rebalancing policy makes much more sense.

If he followed all of the advice of his financial planner and simply rand-cost averaged into the market on a monthly basis with his savings he would have ended up with much more money in the end (over R4 million, more than 5% per annum ahead of inflation).

The additional R2.3 million rand in savings makes the financial planner’s fee of 1% per annum pale in comparison.

But then he wouldn’t be Steve, South Africa’s Worst Market Timer.

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5 September 2018

One for all and all for one: Kleinmond’s Boonzaaier Dynasty every step of the way.

Elaine Davie

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n Sicily they would probably have been known as ‘La Famiglia’ and Schalk Boonzaaier Senior would have been dubbed the Godfather! But that’s where the analogy ends. This close-knit family of entrepreneurs is in fact a prime example of what it means to live the South African dream.

From humble beginnings, relying entirely on hard work, determination and their individual and combined strengths, they are building their own modest, but remarkable family dynasty in the unlikeliest of small towns – Kleinmond.

To start at the beginning. Born and brought up in Kleinmond, the son of a police officer, and later prosecutor, Schalk was a disappointment, at first, to his parents. Whilst still at Overberg High, he was tinkering one day with his father’s Volkswagen Beetle, which had been giving trouble, when the bug suddenly bit.

“There and then, I knew for sure that I wanted to work with cars for the rest of my life,” he remembers. So, after matriculating, ignoring his parents’ ambitious plans for his future, he apprenticed himself to the local garage owner, attending classes at the Cape Town Tech and eventually qualifying as a fully-fledged motor mechanic.

What no one realised at the time was that Schalk also had a natural flair for business.

For a while he rented the workshop from his former employer, and started to practise his trade. However, he soon decided that it didn’t make good business sense to pay someone a high rental when he could start his own business. By that time, as in all good stories, he had fallen in love and in 1982 he and his Tilla were married and leapt into this daunting new venture together.

“I found two pieces of land opposite each other in the bundu, right outside the town’s boundaries and that’s where I started to build a small workshop. Everybody said no one would come all the way out there to have their cars seen to, but I couldn’t afford anything else,” he explains. The new business was launched as ST (Schalk and Tilla) Motors and, as the town expanded, it was eventually incorporated into Kleinmond’s so-called industrial area above the harbour.

Luckily, many of the tannies and ooms who had watched him grow up supported Schalk’s new business and he is quick to acknowledge that without their support, he would not have made it. But he also pays special homage to Tilla who was an active partner

At that time, she was working at Kromco near Grabouw, coming home in the evenings, doing the business’s books and helping Schalk as a handlanger, or helper, if he had an urgent job to finish on a car. As she points out, “Often when people talk about a business that has succeeded, they think it all came easily, but in our case, it certainly didn’t: it cost hard work over a long period of time; in fact, it still does.”

But, as the saying goes: ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ and soon the couple celebrated the arrival of a third member of the team, Schalkie Junior, followed by little Tilanie. Schalk was a loving, but firm father who shared his passion for anything with wheels and made sure his children understood both the business and personal principles of order and tidiness, as well as truthfulness, honour and friendliness, in his dealings with clients.

“

Often when people talk about a business that has succeeded, they think it all came easily, but in our case, it certainly didn’t: it cost hard work over a long period of time; in fact, it still does.

”

To this day, Schalk Junior claims he has ‘customer satisfaction’ branded on his heart. Through the period of the children’s childhood, while her husband was expanding his business into all kinds of new directions, Tilla kept the financial management under control and became the steady backbone of the family.

One of the new enterprises Schalk Snr had embarked on was a separate tyre repair business on the empty stand opposite his garage, with the idea that his son would take it over in due course. But by the time Schalkie

The Boonzaaier family clan of Kleinmond in front of ST Motors where their success story began and now jokingly referred to as ‘Head Office’. From left are Schalk Jnr, owner of Kleinmond Supaquic, Schalk Snr, owner of ST Motors with his wife and partner, Tilla, Tilanie of Coffee @ Supaquick and her husband Marko Pretorius.

matriculated he didn’t know what he wanted to do, other than have fun and get involved in as much water sport as possible. He did inform his father, though, that he had no intention of changing tyres for the rest of his life.

workers have been with him since the beginning), he can afford to go back to having some fun again. He is a qualified commercial helicopter pilot, much in demand with photographers covering major sporting events like the Cape Epic.

Mistake...! His father gave him six months to get the water sports and jolling out of his system and then, if he wanted to carry on with it after that, he could fund himself. “No, I wasn’t going to pay for him to do nothing, he had to take responsibility; he had to learn that if you want money, you have to earn it,” he says.

With that ultimatum ringing in his ears, Schalkie was back after six months and working in the tyre workshop.

His latest venture, is just as exciting: Having completed a lifesaving course a couple of years ago, where he met his wife, Famke, he and a friend have now started the first-ever NSRI branch in Kleinmond and he is the first Station Commander, with 14 young volunteers undergoing training. “Famke teaches swimming at home at the moment, but as soon as our baby (of seven months) is a little older, she will probably also get involved,” he adds enthusiastically.

“You’ve got to give him credit, though”, adds softly-spoken Tilla, “once he started, he put his head down, his natural business sense came to the fore and he’s making a huge success of the business. But still, once he was on his feet, his father insisted he buy the business, not at a give-away price, mind you, but for a fully market-related price.

Now he runs it as a completely independent enterprise – although I still do his books for him.”

Another idea of his was to use an empty space in his building for the creation of a coffee shop to cater for his customers. But who to run it? It would have to be someone who could fit into the family structure and promote his customer-centred ethos.

Well, of course, there was only one answer – little sister, Tilanie! And she would come with an added bonus, her husband Marko Pretorius, who could join him in Supaquick and free him up for all his extra-mural activities.

Schalk Jnr says he owes whatever he has learnt about business to his father. “We sometimes bump heads, I must admit, because he still wants to keep his finger on everything, but we’ll have a huge argument at work and then he’ll say, ‘Okay, so your mother and I are making a braai tonight, do you want to come?’ and then it’s all over.”

Now that his business is paid for and is running smoothly (most of his co-

So the family summoned them from the North-West Province where Tilanie, a lover of the outdoors and animals, horses in particular, since she was a child, was working as a field guide in the Waterberg on Horizon Horseback Farm, taking tourists game-viewing on horseback.

Marko, also a qualified field guide, was working on one of the Rustenburg mines as a safety and security officer.

So before they could think twice, Marko was learning new skills in the tyre workshop and Tilanie and her mother were designing a tasteful and cosy little coffee shop called Coffee @ Supaquick. The only stipulation from Schalk Jnr was that it should serve good coffee (adding to a growing coffee culture in Kleinmond) and that the atmosphere should be warm and welcoming.

That was about 18 months ago, and now, like her brother before her, Tilanie is formally buying the business. It is growing in popularity by the day, relates Tilanie. “When we started, we anticipated selling about 10 cups a day to Supaquick clients, but we’re up to between 50 and 60 cups a day now, and counting.”

In no small measure this can undoubtedly be attributed to the delicious cup cakes, muffins, tarts, quiches and cookies that Tilla bakes for the shop.

“I’m happy to say that even though we’re located in the industrial area, we’re developing a loyal clientele of regulars from even as far away as Pringle and Betty’s Bay,” says Tilanie.

So that’s the Boonzaaiers for you, always innovative, pro-active, entrepreneurial. But where do they go from here? Well, Ma and Pa are going nowhere, not even talking about retiring.

And while the Godfather is around to keep them on the straight and narrow, the younger generation will go on building a future for the grandchildren, no doubt also in the family business.

ST Motors: 028 271 3215 Kleinmond Supaquick: 028 271 5088 Coffee @ Supaquick: 072 303 8221

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5 September 2018

F

21 Days for the Ocean

or the past five years White Shark Projects has hosted a blue initiative called 21 Days for the Ocean. The objective of this campaign is to raise ocean awareness for communities in the Overstrand area.

White Shark Projects will show how some of our daily activities, although seemingly innocent, can have a negative impact on the ocean. They will show us the small changes we can make to our lives that will help make our ocean healthier.

White Shark Projects believes that education is vital in aiding the conservation of our beautiful marine ecosystem.

The event runs for a consecutive 21 days from 1 – 21 September and the theme for this year is ’21 Messages in a Bottle’. The idea behind the 21 days is that research suggests it takes 21 days for a person to break a bad habit. This means that every day of the event, White Shark Projects will set a small challenge for the public to take part in, which they will post on social media. This could be anything from changing your bath products to natural eco-friendly alternatives to saying no to plastic bags at your local supermarket.

However, the biggest part of the 21 Days for the Ocean campaign is the environmental education White Shark Projects will provide for the community. They will be organising fun-filled educational visits to schools and taking children for exciting outings to Cape Town so they can learn more about our fascinating sea creatures at Two Oceans Aquarium. There will also be educational beach walks and rock pooling so that the children can learn about some of our local marine wildlife.

One of the main events during the 21 days will

be the Swop Shop where children from Masakhane in Gansbaai will bring recyclable litter they have collected from the streets of their neighbourhood. The children are rewarded with points which they can then “spend” on goodies such as toys, clothes and stationery.

In addition to all of this, every day White Shark Project’s volunteers will be taking part in a 21minute harbour clean up in Kleinbaai.

White Shark Projects themselves have taken action and made changes to their company to help prevent further damage to the ocean. Last year the company stopped using plastic water bottles on board their cage-diving vessel Shark Team and replaced them with reusable stainless steel bottles.

According to Charmaine Beukes, Managing Director of White Shark projects, the company has saved a phenomenal 12 000 plastic water bottles since last year. This year they have stopped giving lollipops with plastic sticks on board the boat and are even changing the snacks from bags of chips to using a popcorn machine.

White Shark Projects encourages everyone in our community to get involved in the 21 Days for the Ocean event and aid marine conservation. Particularly as the Overstrand area has one of the most unique marine ecosystems in the world and every year thousands of tourists flock to see what is right on our doorstep.

You can get more information on the White Shark Projects website www.whitesharkprojects.co.za or by following them on social media platforms where they will post daily updates on activities and challenges.

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5 September 2018

The joys and challenges of working on the wild side their bodies coped better.”

Elaine Davie

He emphasises that they cannot fix structural damage, like the guy who broke his ribs or the woman who got a pin through her leg this year, but there are both doctors and nurses on 24/7 call and the patient can be medevacked out, if necessary. With a grin he mentions, by the way, that generally, the women are much tougher than the guys!

I

n the rarefied world of extreme cycle events, the annual Nedbank Tour de Tuli is one of a kind. You can have your Tour de France or your Cape Epic; where else would you be able to bash through the African bush with herds of impala, zebra and elephants?

With an added bonus, that you will be making an important contribution to a worthwhile charity.

Of course, that does mean that it will cost you roughly an arm and a leg for the opportunity to suffer extreme pain and discomfort, not to mention physical danger, over the four days of the event.

For the past two years, Hermanus massage therapist, Christian Pinkerton has taken part in the event – not as a rider, but as a member of a 20-strong remedial sports massage team. Although he is not paid a cent for his services, he describes his involvement as a privilege he would not have missed for the world.

“Make no mistake, we work our butts off,” he comments. “Each of us does about 20 massages a day, under very unusual conditions. I mean, can you imagine working from a tent on a river bank with a herd of elephant on the other side of the river keeping a watchful eye on you! And then you’re up at about 03:00 the next morning to move the whole operation to the next camp.”

The Nedbank Tour de Tuli takes place every August in the Tuli Block, which is the point where South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe meet. It follows a different unchartered route through the wilderness every year, starting in Botswana, then on to Zimbabwe and ending at Mapungubwe in South Africa.

Every bit of the infrastructure has to be brought in and unless it is micromanaged to the nth degree, so that it literally runs on oiled wheels, it could be a logistical disaster. This year approximately 500 cyclists took part, some of them professionals in spon-

Relieving the pain in those sore, tired legs at the end of a cycling stage in the Tour de Tuli, sports massage therapist, Christian Pinkerton plies his trade from a tent in the bush. sored teams, but others complete amateurs – desk jockeys, as Christian describes them – who are just there for this unique experience.

Because the entry fee is high (just short of R25 000), the facilities provided are top-notch, including the catering, tented accommodation and support services. Yet most of this is donated free of charge: for example, a fleet of landrovers is put in place by the Landrover Club of South Africa at no cost and the massage therapy services are provided by Balancing Touch, the organisation where Christian and most of the other therapists received their professional training.

But, as Christian emphasises, although they offer their services free, they are able to enjoy all the highend benefits provided by the event organisers. “It’s like a working holiday, really,” he says “and it’s always great to be able to pick up new tips and techniques from your colleagues.”

The money raised is donated to a non-profit organisation called Children in the Wilderness (CITW) which started in Botswana in 2001 and has

since expanded to Namibia, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. By means of initiatives like the establishment of Eco-Clubs at rural schools, an eco-mentoring programme and a children’s residential wilderness camp, it works towards in-spiring children to become conservation champions and protectors of their environment and ultimately, their planet.

In some cases, it works with entire rural villages to improve all aspects of their daily lives through poverty alleviation, improving school infrastructure, the provision of scholarships and feeding schemes, as well as entrepreneurial training.

As the event is a tour, rather than a race, it includes detours by cyclists to some of these deep rural schools, as well as evening talks by relevant experts. On this year’s tour, for example, there was a talk by an astronomer on the night skies, which are so brilliantly visible in wilderness areas. There was also a visit from the Botswana Minister of Tourism, who shared his enthusiasm and plans for the development of

eco-tourism in his country.

From a therapeutic point of view, Christian says the greatest challenge is the non-professional riders, who have usually not prepared sufficiently for the event beforehand. “It’s all very well to ride however many kilometres a day for a couple of weeks, but when you find yourself in extreme conditions like this, the body can’t take it. Some of them simply cave in after the first day.

Others arrive at the camp at the end of the stage and can barely hobble to our tent for a 20-minute massage.

“It’s good to be able to work with the same people throughout the event, because then you get to understand their bodies and work progressively with them to achieve greater balance. But this is not always the case; sometimes we work with different people each afternoon and then it’s mostly a case of stretching and trying to lengthen and loosen the muscles, ease their sore legs. It’s always very gratifying when they come back the next day and say they’ve improved on their time and

As a former ballet dancer, Christian fully appreciates the importance of understanding how the body works and when dealing with a client to do a careful analysis of their problem before treating them. Although he was trained in a wide variety of massage techniques, he finds that about 90% of his work focuses on remedial sports therapy. But when it comes down to it, it’s different strokes for different folks. “Basically,” he says, “every treatment is bespoke, specific to that particular client’s needs at that particular time.

“There are so many people living their lives with pain, whether they are athletes or just ordinary men and women; our sedentary lifestyle puts enormous pressure on our bodies. ‘Move or die’ should be everyone’s motto. My aim is to help people move freely through life without pain. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t all be able to climb a tree, no matter what our age! The fact that most of us can’t is usually due to an imbalance in our bodies of one sort or another.”

Whether it’s at home or in the bush, Christian practises his profession with passion. “I guess I just love what I do,” he says. “Hermanus is a healing town in a chaotic world, you know, and I feel I belong here. When I’ve been in the wilderness on a Tour de Tuli it always brings back perspective and an understanding of who we were really meant to be in the overall scheme of things.”

For more information: www.miraclemassage.co.za; www.evolve-spa.com www.tourdewilderness.com/ nedbank-tour-de-tuli/ www.childreninthewilderness.com

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5 September 2018

Hermanus Meubels – your friendly family furniture business

ermanus Meubels has undergone a mini facelift since the Van Niekerk family took over this well-known furniture and appliance shop in Long Street a year ago. While part of its charm is that it’s situated in a traditional fisherman’s cottage with heritage status, the shop was also a little dark and cramped inside.

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As a family business, they make hard work and dedication look like fun.

“What you give will come back to you,” says Danett with a big smile. “That is why we pride ourselves in honesty, friendliness and good service.”

Hermanus Meubels sells quality furniture, from lounge suites and dining tables to beds, sleeper couches, desks and cupboards, as well as appliances big and small at affordable prices. Here you will find everything for your house or holiday home under one roof, including leading brands of fridges, stoves, washing machines, dishwashers, television sets, music centres, vacuum cleaners, toasters, kettles, air conditioners, fans and heaters.

Now that it’s been brightened and opened up, and the floor of their 450m² showroom rearranged, a most inviting space has been created that entices shoppers to browse and linger.

They also have a new colourful logo and signage, a new Facebook page and an informative website. Which just goes to show what can be achieved when a family works together, with each member bringing their own talents and expertise to the business.

Their passion is customer service and building relationships with their clients. Personal attention and a dedicated after-sales service is what they offer their clients, who return time and time again and also refer family and friends. Free delivery is included in your purchase and they also accept lay-byes.

It is clear that there is a close bond between the Van Niekerks – dad Alex, his wife Mariette, son Christo and daughter-in-law Danett. Alex was the owner of Primwood for 10 years before selling it to Johann Pieterse and says he was ready for a new challenge.

Joined by Christo and Danett, who had relocated to Hermanus from Pretoria with their two young daughters, the family jumped in to reinvent Hermanus Meubels. Christo’s bookkeeping skills and Danett’s marketing skills have been put to good use, while Alex jokes that he is a gebore smous (a born peddler) who can sell anything.

The Van Niekerks’ positive attitude is

inspiring and they remind one of the saying that unity is strength.

Find Hermanus Meubels at 13 Long Street, Hermanus. Contact 028 313 1182 or info@hermanusmeubels.co.za.

Follow them on Facebook or visit www.hermanusmeubels.co.za for details on special offers and promotions.

The Van Niekerk family in front of Hermanus Meubels: Son Christo, daughter-in-law Danett, mom Mariette and dad Alex.

PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

– Hedda Mittner

5 September 2018

HERMANUS GETS GOLD: Five athletes took part in the provincial IFBBSA (International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness of South Africa) competitions over the weekend of 24 – 25 August. André Joubert, Annamarie Barnard and Gerhard Ferreira competed in the Western Province (WP) show and Natasha Byleveld and Donovan van der Merwe took part in the Gauteng East (GE) show. The standard of competition this year was very high but Hermanus’s athletes still managed to place very well, with four out of five being chosen to compete in the nationals. They are Annamarie Barnard (won gold in WP Ladies Physique), André Joubert (won silver in WP men’s Masters Over 40), Gerhard Ferreira (won gold in WP men’s Senior Classic Bodybuilding), Natasha Byleveld (won bronze in GE Ladies Beach Bikini Over 163cm) and Donovan van der Merwe (won bronze in GE men’s Bodybuilding Over 90kg and came 5th in GE men’s Junior Bodybuilding U23). Annamarie, André, Gerhard and Natasha have been selected to go to the South African National Championships from 13 - 16 September. Photo left: From left are Gerhard Ferreira, Annamarie Barnard and André Joubert at the WP show.

Photo right: Natasha Byleveld and her boyfriend, Donovan van der Merwe, who participated in the GE show.

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REACHING FOR THE STARS Eighteen dancers from Marina’s School of Dance and Dance Education Centre entered the ‘Dans in jou Taal’ competition. They were the audience favourite in the Western Cape and were selected to go through to the finals in Pretoria to compete against the other provinces from 31 August to 2 September. They are number 167 out of 170 competitors and we wish them the best of luck! Without the help of Skyloe Construction and Mr André du Preez, the dancers, gathered here on the eve of their departure for Pretoria, would not have been able to raise the money needed to go to the finals. Marina would like to thank Skyloe Construction, all the parents and the public of Hermanus for their assistance.

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

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5 September 2018

A bright future lies in store for the Hermanus Hockey Club, now lying in third position in the M4 section of the Western Province Men's hockey league.

Hermanus Hockey shooting goals this season Hermanus Hockey Club is currently lying third in the M4 section of the Western Province Men's hockey league. After a difficult season in the M3 division last year, the Club has embarked on a rebuilding program which is bearing fruit this year.

the squad this year and they add to the youth already on board from Hermanus High School.

This blend of youngsters bodes well for the future of the Club and already these "young guns" make up over 50% of the team. Together with the more experienced players they will ensure a good future for the Club.

The Milnerton Hockey Club in Cape Town is unbeaten and is the front runner in the M4 league this season. To date, Hermanus have won 10 and lost 4 matches. The team has two matches in hand over those above them in the standings and have aspirations of a top 2 finish come the end of the season.

There is also much excitement with the new lighting on the astro turf hockey field. The field is proving a boon for hockey and the Club now has a home base and an opportunity to practice more often.

Four learners from Curro Hermanus have joined

– Tony O’Hagan

BOXERS GET BICYCLES When Pedals for Peace heard of how well the Overstrand Whale Boxing Club has been doing, they decided to donate their left-over bicycles to the club’s top seven boxers as well as sponsor them each a new helmet, bicycle repair kit, and lock and chain. The boys’ coach, Mzi Damesi, was also surprised with a new bicycle. At the handover in Zwelihle on Monday, Matthew Browne from Proactive Gym made an appearance and offered to help the boys who will be participating in the SA National Boxing Championships on 21 September with fitness training. We wish them all the best and hope they’ll be bringing back more medals! From left are Coach Mzi with Thandile Bosman, Simamkele Damesi, Mabini Kase, Siphamandla Damesi, Matubatsi Sikiti, Akhule Mgoqi and Siyakholwa Nxanti, showing off their new bicycles and kit.

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

Hermanus hosts inaugural Walker Bay 7s Tournament Hermanus will play host to the inaugural Walker Bay 7s sporting festival, which will bring together teams from four sporting codes to the picturesque Western Cape town famed for its natural beauty and status as the world’s premier land-based whale-watching destination.

The Get Savvi Walker Bay 7s will cater to men’s and women’s social and league teams in Rugby Sevens, Netball, Dodgeball and Hockey. The event will be hosted by Hermanus High School on 22 September and will also include a variety of ancillary activities including live music, food and beverages.

“This is a really exciting development for Hermanus as it will put the town on the map as a premier destination for rugby sevens, which is a rapidly growing rugby code worldwide and one in which South Africa has achieved remarkable success,” says organiser Bianca le Roux, the owner of Coastline Events. “However, it’s not just about rugby as the tournament will also cater for netball, dodgeball and hockey as well as a variety of other festivities that will make it a truly family-focused event.”

The Get Savvi Walker Bay 7s was conceived when le Roux, a provincial netball player, found herself sitting next to Jian Henn, a retired rugby player who represented London Welsh, on a flight from Amsterdam. The two got chatting and the topic soon turned to sport, and more specifically the success of the Cape Town 10s tournament, which they believed could be replicated in other towns around the Western Cape. With le Roux’s background in events planning and Henn’s passion for rugby, it wasn’t long before the Get Savvi Walker Bay 7s was born.

The Cape Town 10s, on which the Hermanus event is modelled, started off with 10-man rugby as its flagship sport but soon branched out to become a fully-fledged multi-sport festival with the addition of netball in 2013, beach volleyball in 2016, dodgeball running will be added in 2019). Henn and le Roux have similar ambitions for the Walker Bay 7s, which is affiliated to its sister tour-nament in Cape Town through a partnership with the Old School Group, which operates the Cape Town 10s.

“We really think this event can grow into something special for the entire Overberg region and has the potential to add additional sports as community interest grows,” says Bianca. “It’s a great way to inspire the youth of the Overberg to focus on positive change through sport and community participation.”

The Get Savvi Walker Bay 7s aims to attract at least 400 athletes from around the Western Cape and beyond, who can participate in either the under-18 or open divisions. Entrance fees will be as follows: Rugby 7s: R2 500 for a team of 12 (7 players + 5 reserves) Netball: R2 000 for a team of 10 (7 players + 3 reserves) Hockey: R2 000 for a team of 10 (7 players + 3 reserves) + 2 reserves) The festival will kick off at 14:00 on Friday 21 September with a development clinic at Hermanus High School, facilitated by Stormers rugby player Kobus van Dyk and Stings Netball vice-captain Abeline Olivier.

Teams interested in participating should visit www.walkerbay7s.co.za/ for further details, or email info@walkerbay7s.co.za

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5 September 2018

Golf Club transformed into little Switzerland Greetings again to one and all.

Another month has flown by and we are again gearing up for what we hope will be a busy time here at the Club. As far as I am aware we are the busiest golf club in the Western Cape, and I think probably one of the busiest golf clubs in the country – which does come with its challenges as we have to ensure that our members are catered for, but all in all it’s a great challenge to have and one we appreciate.

Kruger League Last Saturday saw both our league teams in action and I am glad to report that we won both matches.

The Kruger team played here at home in an extremely strong wind. We were monitoring the speed closely but took the decision not to close the course, thus the league had to play. It was a very important match as it was a mustwin to proceed to the semi-finals. The score was 5 – 1 in our favour and for the second year in a row we are through to the next round. Congratulations to the team and best of luck going forward!

Special mentions This week I decided to add a little special mention because our members often do fantastic things that go relatively under the radar.

The first special mention goes to Nicola Streicher, a young lady member of ours who attends Hermanus High

The Putting Pirate Julian Shaw

School. She managed to win the Sportswoman of the Year award on Wednesday at the High School awards dinner. As a junior Nicola plays Boland Senior Golf and is the school golf team captain and also plays Boland tennis. Her grades, I am told, are also exemplary. Well done, Nicola, we at the Club are very proud of you.

My next mention this week goes to Terri Sulley who was a previous lady Captain and this week shot a personal best of 76 gross (nett 61)

around our golf course. I would be very proud of that score! Well done, Terri.

And last but not least there is longtime member Ian Pansegrouw, who this week donated his 263rd pint of blood. Ian, I am amazed you have any left! You really are an example to the rest of us to get off our butts and do the same.

This terrific photograph was taken in the early morning last week by Lawton Roberts after the downpour of hail.

Until next week, have a great one Julz and the crew

Scores at a glance This week the weather did upset our schedule a little but we managed a game on Wednesday.

Men’s Alliance Bogey plus 114 players Winners: Paul Benade, John Metcalf, Johan Koekemoer and Anthony Hooper +18 Runners-up: Reinhard Buhr, Etienne Rossouw, Lance Nel and Faan Pretorius +17 C/I Ball pool pays to +13 Best gross: Mike Frost 73

The Kruger team: from left are Jurie Jan Swart, Desmond Sauls (Captain) Dirk van der Merwe, Jacques Retief and Mike Frost. Missing from the lineup are regular players Tyron Davidowitz, Lieb Louw and Philip Taberer.

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5 September 2018

MY Sport

Generation gymnastics team heading to SA Gym Games

District honours for Hermanus High teachers

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he Generation Acrobatic Gymnastics Club was launched at the beginning of 2018 and is open to all kids aged 6 years and up.

The current competition team participated in the Western Cape Acrobatic Gymnastic Championship on 18 August. The girls, who all started gymnastics this year, performed at their best and all eight gymnasts who entered, received medals and gymnastics honours.

The four Ladies pairs will be heading to Pretoria at the end of September to represent the Western Cape at the 2018 SA Gym Games. The gymnasts are finetuning their routines and hope to improve on their previous performances.

With the added cost of travelling to Pretoria, Generation Schools Hermanus is looking for any sponsors willing to contribute to the trip. Please contact isabelle.carr@generation schools.co.za or 082 747 2224 if you have any queries or would like to be involved in the sponsorship of the team.

The eight gymnasts of the Generation Acrobatic Gymnastics Club with the medals and honours they achieved at the recent WC Acrobatic Gymnastic Championship. From left are Holly Vermaak, Jenna Lees, Maya Jan de Wet, Kym Zimano, Liv Gordon, Lilly Rose Fourie, Isabelle Carr (coach), Summer Thwaits and Kerry Lees.

Three Hermanus High School teachers received the following awards at the Overberg Education District NTA (National Teaching Awards), which recognises excellence in Education. The ceremony was held in Swellendam on Saturday, 25 August. From left are Charlotte Marx who won the Category: Excellence in Teaching Physical Science (FET); Mavis de Villiers who came second in the Category: Excellence in Secondary School Teaching; and Ansie de Kock, the winner in the Category: Excellence in Technology-enhanced Teaching and Learning. Hermanus High School is indeed fortunate to have teachers of this calibre. We wish the two winners well for the next round of this competition, the Western Cape Education Department NTA.