The Village NEWS 7 Nov - 13 Nov 2018

NEWS NEWS

Village

The

7 November 2018

FCJ Independent Newspaper of the Year

Cape Whale Coast

FREE COPY

GREEN RENAISSANCE How to tread lightly

P4

WHATS COOKING New offerings

P 12, 13

GLOBAL CHALLENGE All you need to know

P 21, 23

LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE The lane leading off Harbour Road in Hermanus Old Town attracted many artwalkers to The Courtyard on Friday evening.

See page 14 for more photos of the artwalk.

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

New Overstrand land demands De Waal Steyn

T

he expropriation of the Schulphoek and Paradise Park land were two of the demands raised

by Overstrand Unite in a meeting with the Municipality on Monday afternoon.

The meeting followed what was described by Mayor Dudley Coetzee as a tragic weekend for business in Hermanus after the organisers of the Wines2Whales Mountain Bike Race

decided on Friday night to change the route of the last leg of the race to exclude Hermanus.

tourists, mountain bikers, their support teams and spectators not visiting Hermanus.

Their decision came after residents of Mount Pleasant on Thursday and Friday blocked the R43 with burning tyres and rocks, resulting in huge traffic delays and many residents having to drive via Stanford and Caledon to their homes on the western side of town. According to the Police two people were arrested.

Following the unrest, several meetings were held by community organisations, resulting in an official meeting between the civil society group Overstrand Unite (OU) and the Municipality. According to the OU leaders, they represent all the communities of the Overstrand (Read more on P3).

The weekend saw a dramatic downturn in business with thousands of

They presented a list of 22 demands (See list on P5) to the Municipality with a deadline for feedback at the

close of business on Wednesday, 7 November. “We are serious when we say that we want feedback and resolutions to each and every one of our demands. Many of our demands have been on the table for a long time, but time and again they get wiped aside. We have had enough, and demand immediate action from the Municipality,” said Vanessa Swanepoel, one of the OU leaders.

In his response, Coetzee said he is aware that Western Cape Human Settlements Minister, Bonginkosi Madikizela has made the owners of

Schulphoek an offer to buy back the land. “I, however, do not have more details on what is happening, but I believe that the only fair and equitable way to get the land back at a reasonable price is to expropriate the land and let the courts decide what fair compensation for it will be.”

Madikizela’s office at the time of going to print did not reply to any of the questions sent to him on various issues relating to land and housing in the Overstrand.

Continues on P 3

3

7 November 2018

Paul Dickson, Vanessa Swanepoel and Gcobani Ndzongana (photo left) of Overstrand Unite at Monday’s meeting with the Municipality.

On the right are the Municipal Manager, Coenie Groenewald, Mayor Dudley Coetzee and Brigadier Donovan Heilbron.

Emergency housing made available From P 1 A meeting on Sunday morning between the residents of Paradise Park and Madikizela was also cancelled on short notice. With regards to Paradise Park, Mayor Coetzee said it is private land and that the Minister is in negotiations with the owners with regards to a way forward.

Human Rights Commissioner, Rev Chris Nissen, chaired the meeting in the banqueting hall of the Municipal Auditorium on Monday and expressly said that any feedback on the demands by the community was to be viewed as preliminary, as the Council will have to deliberate on it and engage with both Provincial and National Government and other role players on the issues. An official response from the Municipality will be given to OU on Wednesday afternoon.

The community requested that the most urgent needs of destitute people in Mount Pleasant and Westdene be addressed before the meeting was adjourned. Leaders of Overstrand Unite said that if the Municipality was able to authorise extraordinary expenditure for emergency accommodation for councillors or the Red Ants they should be able to authorise emergency housing for these members of the community.

It was decided at the meeting that emergency housing will, in the meantime, be made available to the residents of Mount Pleasant and Westdene. The details of what form and how many temporary shelters need to be made available still need to be discussed between the Municipality and representatives of OU. Deputy Mayor Elnora Gillion said land has been identified opposite the Provincial Hospital in Westdene for plots with services that can be made available to residents of all areas as soon as possible. “We have to engage with the community on what the exact needs are,” she said.

The Municipal schedule of budgetary devia-

tions in expenditure for September shows that a total of R2 076 900 was paid to the Red Ants and more than R400 000 was spent on accommodation for Councillors who could not return to their homes in Zwelihle after the riots.

OU leader Gcobani Ndzongana, who also leads Zwelihle Renewal, said the Municipality should take the organisation and its members seriously. “We are giving you advice that you avoid at your own peril. We are a united front and we speak on behalf of all the communities when we say enough is enough. This is not a threat, it is a statement.”

Stephen Muller, Director of Infrastructure and Planning, explained that several housing projects are on the go and that more are in the pipeline. “We are, for instance, awaiting approval from the Provincial Government on the Mount Pleasant and Westdene projects. The moment we have that, we can very quickly get the services in place and allocate the plots to those on the housing list. The law is very clear that if developments such as these are not registered as formal housing schemes and approved by Provincial Government, the Municipality cannot make the land available. If we want to make land that we own available for housing without it being a registered scheme, the law stipulates that a tender process must be followed. This is a long and cumbersome process and we are obliged to then award it to the highest bidder.”

All decisions on land and housing need to be considered by Council in conjunction with National and Provincial Government.

In reaction OU member Siyabulela Notwala said it is evident that there is no clear decisionmaking process on land allocation within the Municipality. “We don’t care about processes, we don’t care about policies, we don’t care about laws. These things only come into effect

when it suits the politicians. We need to be practical. We need to come up with solutions,” he said.

OU leader from Mount Pleasant, Paul Dickson, said their demands are simple. “We want land.

The Mayor needs to make a fire under the whatyou-call-it of the Human Settlements Minister and get the process going. That is what we want, as plain and simple as that.”

According to OU, the Overstrand is in a state of emergency in so far as land is concerned and the Municipality must act accordingly.

In its response the Concerned Citizens Forum (CCF) said in a statement the court action for a mandamus order that was previously on the cards will be resumed. “We will do so immediately when the next march or riot starts. We will have the application placed on an urgent basis to be heard immediately,” said the CCF. A mandamus order is a High Court order to a sphere of government to perform, or refrain from performing a particular action, the performance or omission of which is required by law as an obligation.

“We will use this legal course to bolster our mission to get a partial or full tax revolt on rates and taxes as the CCF is convinced that the Municipality and particularly the South African Police Services do not have the will or ability to deal with crime, safety and security.

“The CCF is now fully committed to working towards a tax revolt to allow the broader Overstrand communities to establish and maintain their own legal security force and has the full backing of the Hermanus Business Forum who will do all they can to assist. We understand the challenges in this regard and will make use of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) and other bodies to assist us,” reads the statement.

4

7 November 2018

Green Renaissance - treading lightly on the earth Elaine Davie

O

nce a very long time ago when the earth was a beautiful blue ball revolving through space and human beings had only just become human, they realised that if they were to survive, they would have to understand the laws of nature and learn to live by them.

However, before long, these big-headed creatures with a thirst for knowledge, the ability to solve problems, a strong creative drive and a killer instinct became aware that they could manipulate nature and make it serve them, instead of the other way round. With arrogance and gay abandon, they multiplied like rabbits, domesticated some animals, killed others, sullied the rivers and oceans, mined the earth, grabbed its riches, cut down the trees and spewed chemicals into the air from their factories and vehicles – and of course, constantly fought amongst themselves for a greater share of the bounty.

Eventually, to their surprise, things started going awry in their world; nature, the ultimate force, was hitting back. A few people, here and there, started wondering what they might do to stop the downward spiral, and instead, re-imagine the world as it was meant to be. Soon, a paper-chain of consciousness and healing, weak at first, but growing in strength, began to encircle the world, crafted, amongst others, by artists who portrayed an alternative, gentler way of life, in harmony with nature.

Indeed, four remarkably talented young artists started living that dream, right here in the Overstrand. Their small company, Green Renaissance, focuses on the production of wildlife and environmental documentary films – at least that’s how they make a living – but beyond that, they create what they call their ‘passion projects’ which earn them nothing at all, except deep emotional satisfaction.

The four friends who have been working together for about 10 years now – Michael Raimondo (director), his fiancéé , Justine du Toit (producer), Warren Smart (cameraman) and Jackie Viviers (editor) – have a shared philosophy: to live in harmony with the environment and to offer something with meaning to the world they live in. Their slogan is ‘Sharing Ideas, Inspiring Change’.

As they themselves tried to lead a life of consciousness and meaning, they decided to reach out to a wider audience to share the universal truths that other, sometimes unexpected people, were living. Which was how the passion projects came into being – a series of mini-films that are flighted on their web page, www.greenrenaissance.

Like messages in a bottle they cast these fragile 3 – 5 minute-long films adrift on the digital airwaves for whoever should come upon them and discover their truths. Unbelievably, they now have a support-base of 2.5 million and growing, spread all over the world.

Some of the characters you might meet in these films could include the elderly lady who knits children’s jerseys to give away to strangers on the street; the wood turner who creates beauti-

The Green Renaissance team: Top left to right are Jackie Viviers (editor) and Michael Raimondo (director). Bottom left to right are Warren Smart (cameraman) and Justine du Toit (producer). Above: Warren filming on the Wild Coast.

ful lampshades; the Japanese origami-maker; the woman who collects road kill and produces art works from it; several organic gardeners and small farmers; a Tai Chi practitioner; a marine biologist whose life revolves around a never-ending curiosity about the creatures of the sea; the man who loves goats… and on and on.

It all started about five years ago when Michael and Justine, originally based in Cape Town, decided they needed to ‘walk the walk’ and so, leaving the noise and distractions of the city behind them, they moved to the nature reserve outside of Hermanus, which his family had established 40 years ago. They converted the old stables on the property, creating a small, basic, but comfortable home, surrounded by cats, dogs, geese and a breathtaking view of Walker Bay. Here they live completely off the electricity grid, grow their own vegetables, including granadilla plants which trail across the ceiling of an enclosed patio, dropping fruit on the unwary visitor from time to time. Because they are such a closely-knit team, Warren and Jackie soon followed and, similarly, the latter’s editing suite works entirely off solar-power.

From this base, they travel all over the world shooting environmental subjects like threatened rhinos and elephants being airlifted to safety or sustainable tuna fishing in Indonesia. Since the beginning of June last year they have also produced a mini-film a week, and these passion projects have completely changed the way they think and live.

“It has been the most beautiful journey for us all”, smiles Michael. “Some people spend huge sums of money at the feet of gurus; we meet them every day and it costs us nothing. So far, we have filmed 30 ordinary people leading extraordinary lives with passion, heroism and joy. They have been prepared to invite us in to share their most personal thoughts and feelings about such issues as kindness, death, loneliness, generosity, mindfulness, fear – things everyone in the world can relate to. We are so grateful for this privilege.”

The process is unscripted, a collaboration between the person concerned, Michael and Warren and the shoot takes place in their own environment over the period of a half to a full day. (Michael will have had a chat of perhaps a couple hours with the person beforehand.)

“When we get home”, explains Michael, “we hand over all the footage to Justine and Jackie and they work the magic. Sometimes it turns out completely differently from what we envisaged when we did the shoot, but they picked up something we hadn’t and that makes all the difference. It totally is a team effort.”

Michael believes the brevity of the films is one of their strengths. Viewers generally have a relatively short attention span and the challenge to the team is, therefore, to capture the spirit of the people and their way of life, even their personal histories, in the briefest time frame. Many of the people they film are older. They are less self-conscious, have no need to impress and have garnered the wisdom of a life well-lived.

Although most of those interviewed have been local, they have also travelled to St Helena and recently to the Faroe Islands, off the coast of Denmark, filming a number of residents there. In many ways Island people are unique, many of them isolated from contact with a wider community. Their resourcefulness is called upon daily to live sustainable and meaningful lives.

Despite the fact that they are so short, these films are expensive to make, so they are partially crowd-funded. As Michael remarks, “For as little as the cost of a cup of coffee once a month, it could help us to continue making and dispersing them free of charge.” At the moment 68 followers support the project like this, but they are hoping that within the next year, this might have increased to 1 000 or more. “Other than that, our paid work subsidises our passion projects.”

It is almost impossible to describe the fragile, sensitive beauty of the films, full of humour and pathos. Instead, discover for yourself people you might pass by in the street and not give a second glance – some might be viewed as odd or even weird – but all with their own remarkable stories to tell.

So do yourself a favour and visit the Green Renaissance website; it will be the most uplifting experience you have had for a long time.

Michael Raimondo can be contacted on Michael@greenrenaissance.co.za.

You can find Green Renaissance at www.greenrenaissance.co.za or on Facebook and YouTube.

5

7 November 2018

Municipality needs R3 million for housing

A

t an Overstrand Council meeting on 31 October Mayor Dudley Coetzee reported that significant progress has been made on the provision of housing or stands for the communities of Masakhane, Stanford, Zwelihle and Overhills, but that R3 million of capital expenditure will have to be appropriated in the upcoming capital expenditure adjustment budget to pay for this work.

However, in his speech, Mayor Coetzee also said that the portion of land identified for emergency housing behind the Hermanus swimming pool has been declared unsafe for housing and the Municipality will have to move the informal settlements that have been erected.

According to Law Enforcement, 1 300 informal units have been built on the old building rubble and refuse dumps and behind the burnt-down Hermanus swimming pool, land now known as Marikana, and 800 units on the Schulphoek land and partly on a small portion of municipal land, an area now known as Dubai.

Coetzee confirmed that the process of providing basic services (water, sanitation and refuse removal) on the periphery of these areas had begun and that the Municipality was investigating the availability of suitable land for the settlement of the Marikana families. The criteria on various housing programmes, including emergency housing, will be applied.

In Masakhane, Gansbaai, of the 150 stands that were developed, 54 have now been occupied. In total, about 1 100 names were received from the community, of which 109 beneficiaries were vetted. From this list, 49 declined the offer of a stand, preferring to wait for an opportunity in the IRDP housing project for the area. Other potential beneficiaries are being identified for the remaining stands.

In Stanford, 150 stands were also developed, and 90 beneficiaries were vetted from a list of 110 names received from the Stanford Social Com-

The list of 22 demands Overstrand Unite delivered a letter demanding action on 22 issues to be addressed by the close of business on Wednesday, 7 November.

The demands are: 1.

2.

3.

pact committee. Occupation of the stands begins on 5 November.

In Zwelihle, 150 stands have been developed along Swartdam Road and 103 structures have already been erected on these stands. Only 114 beneficiaries could be vetted from the list provided by Zwelihle Renewal and 100 could be vetted from the first 150 names on the housing demand database.

In Overhills, Kleinmond, a roadmap action plan will be finalised and implemented to resolve the housing issues in this informal area following a meeting held on 22 October.

According to the Mayor, of concern are the 214 structures as of August 2018 that were erected by people that invaded land adjacent to Overhills. Of this number, 16 families are not first-time owners and eviction will be considered, while 8 informal units will be relocated to land within the demarcated boundaries.

Emergency housing and plots will now also be made available to residents in Mount Pleasant and Westdene.

Coetzee said in an interview that the current Waste Transfer Station in Swartdam Road and the adjacent area where Walker Bay Recycling was located will be made available for plots for residents of Zwelihle.

“The transfer station will be moved to the land next to the sewerage works near Schulphoek Road. I have requested that the structures for garden waste be moved first so that garden service companies do not need to travel to Karwyderskraal to dump their waste.”

Visit our Facebook page for more information and video clips of the meeting between the Municipality and Overstrand Unite.

– Reporting by De Waal Steyn and Raphael da Silva

4.

5.

6.

7.

An immediate moratorium on all public land sales and lease agreements.

All housing developments to be halted.

To establish a human settlements committee representative of the Overstrand community to work with the Municipality’s planning department to develop a plan that meets the needs of the community. The moratorium should be in effect until such time as the appointed committee mentioned above is satisfied with the plan.

The Kleinmond Housing Officer must be investigated for giving property with title deeds to the incorrect people.

To put a process in place that will ensure that waste, water and sanitation facilities are installed in all areas within the next month.

A list of all sales of public land made in the last 20 years.

A list of all land currently owned by the Overstrand Municipality, including land that has not yet been transferred from the Overberg District Municipality.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

A list of all land in the Overstrand owned by the Overberg District Municipality.

Title deeds to be given to residents of Peach House.

Skips to be placed at strategic points in Zwelihle and De Kop. Transfer of ownership of hostels to tenants.

For all members of this committee (referring to Overstrand Unite) to have a seat on all Ward Committees in the Overstrand.

For all communications/press releases and adverts sent to media regarding tenders, zoning and housing to be sent to Overstrand Unite.

Municipal Manager to be fired and community to be involved in screening his replacement.

Immediate dissolution of Council.

An explanation of why rates, taxes and electricity have been increased so drastically.

For the IDP to be reviewed as a large section of the community was not given the opportunity to give input.

A high school to be built in Kleinmond.

Address the list of demands of the community of Paradise Park.

Expropriate the Schulphoek land.

Title deeds for Paradise Park by end January 2019.

Hawston land to be made available immediately.

Who is Overstrand Unite?

In a bid to have one group that can present a united face to the Overstrand Municipality in negotiations over access to land and housing, and the provision of services, a number of previously separate civil society organisations have banded together as Overstrand Unite (OU) with an agreed senior leadership team who have been empowered to act as spokespeople.

This new organisation and its leadership team was announced at a meeting between OU and the Municipality on Monday, 5 November, which was chaired by Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Commissioner, Rev Chris Nissen.

The five members of the leadership team are Gcobani Ndzongana, the leader of Zwelihle Renewal, Theron Mqhu, also from Zwelihle Renewal, Paul Dickson and Claire Philander, both from Mount Pleasant, and Vanessa Swanepoel, one of the original founders of Overstrand Unite, which started earlier this year as a separate, civil society group on

Facebook.

At the meeting, Ndzongana said that Overstrand Unite now represents all the civil society organisations from Pearly Beach to Kleinmond, including Gansbaai, Zwelihle, Hermanus, Stanford, Mount Pleasant, Westdene, and Hawston.

Ndzongana also said that their list of demands included the needs of all the groups. “I’m pleading with you. I wish that you don’t undermine this group,” he said when probed by Nissen, who wanted clarity on whether OU also represented communities in Stanford and Gansbaai.

During the meeting, Overstrand Unite made it clear that the Municipality must only deal with them and they expected to receive communication telephonically and via email.

They also expected the Mayor or his designate to sign all documents to acknowledge receipt.

6

7 November 2018

Local businesses need your support

Let’s Talk

THE

NEWS

I run a smallish enterprise in Hermanus and it is with great concern that I take note of the current situation. I’m not judging any of the Hermanus communities as I only know in part and will leave it at that.

But what I have learnt from recent events is that the small business owner is going to pay the price if everyone does not do their bit to ward off this economic abyss.

Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

Rotary Hermanus requests assistance The Rotary Club of Hermanus received notification last week of a large container that is being sent to us from the Rotary Club of Grand Bend in Canada.

are still in use.

This is an unexpected humanitarian donation of goods which we have not budgeted for. But at the same time, we do not want to refuse this consignment on the grounds that we can’t afford the costs.

Rotary Hermanus will have invoices for: port costs, clearing of the container, the inland transport to Hermanus, transport to the local recipients and warehousing for possibly three months. We expect the total to be in the region of R25 000. The goods are expected to arrive in December.

The contents (see list below) have been cleared for humanitarian distribution and they may not be sold by the recipients. We are required to follow up with all the organisations or individuals who receive any of these items to establish that they

Hermanus

The Rotary Club of Hermanus therefore has to, on receipt of all goods, make an inventory and label all items, which are then recorded and have to be checked at 6 months and then after a year, with reports and proof being sent to the Canadian Rotary Club.

As these goods are provided gratis to our communities, we appeal to local businesses to come forward and assist us by covering the estimated costs involved. Some businesses might be in a position to provide lockable, safe storage at no cost. We would ensure publicity for whoever assists us.

The Rotary Club of Hermanus would be most grateful if any business, organisation or individual(s) could give this their urgent attention as we have to revert to the Canadians as soon as possible as to whether we will accept the consignment.

I’d like to leave this thought with the Hermanus community: most businesses keep their doors open even when there is unrest (although we do close when there is danger).

The list of goods that could make a huge difference in the communities of Hermanus.

QUANTITY 392 161 224 10 36 249 8 27 6 120 62 1 1 11

DESCRIPTION Boxes of Books Student Desks Chairs Teacher Desks Tables Sport Mats Book Cases Filing Cabinets Bags of soccer balls Crutches Wheelchairs Piano Bicycle Blackboards

Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact Ann on 083 307 0726 or annwright@telkomsa.net

Ann Wright President of the Rotary Club of Hermanus

Even with fewer staff members, most of us will still be able to serve you and provide you with our products. It is, in essence, a small part of town that is affected by the unrest, yet the whole town comes to a standstill. Don’t stop supporting us – every Rand spent with us

contributes to our survival.

During the last protests it was obvious that people were scared to travel. Whether it was from one side of town to the other or simply around the corner, no one went anywhere. It was only under exceptional circumstances that shops and restaurants closed, and then they spread the information on social media. Just call the establishment you’d like to go to, enquire if they are open and go and support that business. Our town’s economic survival depends on your support.

Oh, and don’t believe everything you hear – between the CPF (Community Police Forum) and The Village NEWS’ reporting, we are always timeously updated.

Life is dynamic – follow its lead!

Irma van Heerden

Down with corkage fees!

Having just returned home after three months overseas, I, as usual, note changes that have taken place during my absence. One that I note with personal interest is the advertising of restaurants who are no longer charging their clients corkage!

I was also pleasantly surprised when we decided to try out a new restaurant in Voëlklip and were told that we were welcome to bring our own wine.

Again, no corkage! Can we expect all our local restaurants to follow suit?

Such a move could be an asset to the promotion of our local wines and generate goodwill towards tourists and locals alike, but I have a strong feeling that not all restaurant owners will feel happy about this?

Avid Hermanus Wine Drinker

Weather forecast for the next week & De Bos Dam level

www.yr.no

Wednesday 7 November

Thursday 8 November

Friday 9 November

Saturday 10 November

Sunday 11 November

Monday 12 November

Tuesday 13 November

12°C / 21°C

17°C / 21°C

17°C / 25°C

19°C / 25°C

20°C / 28°C

20°C / 21°C

19°C / 19°C

Clear

Clear

Clear

Clear

Clear

Partly cloudy

Clear

De Bos Dam Level

66.69%

7

7 November 2018

We love this place, will be back soon

THE

NEWS

We are a Canadian couple, originally from Norway, and have fallen in love with your beautiful country. We first came here in 1974 following a job transfer to Cape Town. In 1977, we were again transferred, this time to Vancouver, Canada.

Time went by. Our children grew up and then, lucky for us, we were again transferred to South Africa in 1997, this time to Durban. Oh joy! We enjoyed ourselves even more. Any chance we had we drove around. Many times back and forth between Durban and Cape Town. In 2000, we were again transferred back to Vancouver.

After this, we have been back many times. We have brought our friends and family, and they have always had a great time here. We have met wonderful people here especially one special person who lets us stay in her home in Hermanus.

There is so much to enjoy in this town – lovely markets, galleries and whales. Excellent restaurants, and not to forget, the wonderful SA wine, which we enjoy tremendously.

Recently, though, we have had some negative impressions driving around Hermanus. We found that the swimming pool and recycling shed had been burnt down. Also heard that the library had suffered the same fate. Shocking. We know there are people with issues, but burning down these very important, popular and needed buildings does not make sense.

For us, Hermanus is a perfect place and we promote South Africa as much as we can. This country has something for everybody. Very friendly and helpful people. We will be back soon.

Karin and Johan Schjelderup

The Team

OPINION Matters

6 Royal Street, Hermanus

028 312 2234

We need to get involved now The meeting on Monday between Overstrand Unite (OU) and the Municipality came as a surprise to many residents of the Overstrand.

The surprising bit is that different civil society groupings have been able to set aside their differences and stand up as a united front to deliver demands on the land issue to the Municipality. As one pundit exclaimed: “There are no permanent enemies in politics.”

But the reverse is also true. There is no such thing as a continuously stable coalition in politics and we can expect that internal differences will put a lot of pressure on Overstrand Unite going forward. It is also true that although Overstrand Unite represents multiple, disparate groups from different areas, they are not fully representative of all the various groupings in the Overstrand.

players to now stand up and be counted by forming part of the discussions with the authorities going forward. The dye has been cast and negotiations have started.

Those who do not join the table now, will forever be left out in the cold.

We have to warn, however, against kneejerk reactions regarding the start of negotiations about the most serious of issues facing our communities. Land and housing, and by definition issues that affect our pockets and future, are emotional matters that need to be confronted rationally and with great care. We do not need to all be on the same side or even like each other to sit around the negotiation table and chart a new, bright future for all.

We call on residents, local, provincial and national governments and civil society to support the negotiation process and help keep our region the wonderful place it is.

It is therefore important for other role

Of special interest to them is the shroud of mystery surrounding the ancient archives known as The Explanation of Everything, which are housed for safekeeping beneath The Duck ’n Fiddle. So let’s go back to the beginning, when The Duck ’n Fiddle was just called The Duck.

The fiddle wasn’t invented until the 15th century and added to the coatof-arms, but The Duck was initially created as a refreshment venue and safe haven against all those wild animals Noah let loose.

Two thousand years ago the descendants of the original proprietor of The Duck migrated to what is now England, hoping to evade the Romans.

Having been brought up in the hospitality business, they wisely established premises on the main drag between London and York, on the edge of Sherwood Forest. This, as it turned out, was fortuitous.

Centuries later The Duck gave refuge to King Arthur and his brother Bob, and with them came 12 knights bearing ancient scrolls and handwritten manuscripts salvaged over millennia. Some went far back, by blokes like Socrates, Moses and Elijah among others, who foretold of future horrors awaiting us, like the Guptas,

A Far Kraai Murray Stewart thevillagemuze@gmail.com

pole-dancing and an Angry Orange from the west.

Anyway, by then The Duck was established and recognised as a trustworthy establishment, so this precious bounty was locked in their vaults for safekeeping and has been constantly updated over the centuries.

Unbeknown to many, these volumes of hidden historical truths – never mind the sacred artifacts like the Holy Grail, Excalibur, and the Arc of the Covenant – were schlepped under cover throughout Europe by the Knights Templar, ending up in Acre, on the coast of Israel. As things turned out, Acre was sacked by the Mamluks in 1291, and the Crusaders were forced to smuggle the treasures across the Med Sea to Portugal.

Nearly two centuries later, while new instruments like the fiddle were invented, new worlds were being explored by the Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese, searching for new territories to plunder, and these priceless artifacts were secretly shipped south for safety round the Cape of Storms by Bartholomew Diaz in 1488. According to what

Anyway, on board ship landing parties were organised, and rowing between the lumps of exploded whales they ferried the treasures ashore. Within a week – and to protect their bounty – they constructed a secure shelter behind the fold of hills above the coastline, establishing the very first Duck ’n Fiddle on the continent.

Records are updated regularly, and it is believed to be the only complete compendium of ancient truths and artifacts still in existence. They are signed by King Arthur’s brother – Bob of the Round Table.

“Whales! Bloody whales everywhere,” wrote Vasco Koekoemoer the ship’s cook, and designated scribe due to Captain Bart being dyslexic and constantly drunk. “It is the September month for the whales to be making the calf,” he carried on in broken Portuguese, “and they blockaged the mouth to the smooth harbour. We have many problems blowing them up.” Fortunately, that was a while back and although still slightly suspicious, the

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

Office Administrator Tania Hamman admin@thevillagenews.co.za

whales have since returned.

Although the exact location is closely guarded, these archives, known internationally as The Explanation of Everything are still housed in the vaults beneath The Duck ’n Fiddle, near the Southern tip of Africa.

remains of the ship’s daily log, the journey down Africa was fraught with danger, especially the landing and off-loading of the treasure.

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

This is the good NEWS – Ed.

The real history behind the Duck ’n Fiddle Film producers from the BBC will be arriving soon to shoot a documentary about the origins of the now worldfamous Duck ’n Fiddle, and requested our assistance with information and accommodation.

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

This is why the BBC is interested.

They claim to have evidence that Arthur’s brother was actually called Steve, hence the investigation and the documentary.

Because the luxury chalets behind The Duck ’n Fiddle have been booked by Angela Merkel and the Rolling Stones at the time, the entire crew will be housed in a shiny new suburb on a hill overlooking the old swimming pools – Marikana. They’ll love it, and the experience could inspire another documentary altogether.

Marketing Manager Kathy Bentley 083 581 7219 kathy@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 14 November. The NEWS can be found at over 300 distribution points on the Cape Whale Coast, from Pringle Bay to Gansbaai. Get your FREE copy from major retail stores such as Spar, Checkers and Pick n Pay, and at restaurants, tasting rooms, galleries and shopping centres. Should you wish to receive a copy, call us on 028 312 2234 or 083 228 7523 or pop into our office at 6 Royal Street, Hermanus.

MEMBER OF

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7 November 2018

Youngsters taking the lead in community service

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n Thursday last week, the Executive Mayor of the Overstrand, Ald Dudley Coetzee hosted the ceremonial inauguration of the 2019 Junior Town Council (JTC).

The newly-elected 2019 Overstrand Junior Town Council (JTC) was inaugurated on Thursday, 1 November – a momentous occasion which marked the 16th anniversary of this council’s existence. Pictured here are the junior councillors in the company of the Overstrand Executive Mayor, Ald Dudley Coetzee, Deputy Mayor Elnora Gillion and Enlighten Education Trust JTC Manager, Unity Mtomile. The new Junior Mayor is Claudia Weich of Northcliff House College (front row, 2nd left) and her Deputy Mayors Daniel Du Toit of Gansbaai Academia (front row, 1st left) and Dominique Geduld of Hawston Secondary (front row 3rd right).

All six High Schools in the Overstrand are represented on the 35-member JTC. Nominated by their schools for their leadership potential, they spend a year sharpening skills like communication, inter-personal relationships, public speaking, team work, planning and problem solving, and most importantly, serving the community of the Overstrand by means of a variety of needs-based projects.

The Junior Town Council is a project of the Overstrand Municipality and is managed by the Enlighten Education Trust. During their year in office they will be given an insight into all the projects run by the Municipality, including fire services, management of the beaches, environmental protection, recreation, and waste management, amongst others. One of the most important principles they will need to understand is that leadership comes with a responsibility to serve others.

A highlight of the year is undoubtedly the weekend camp they attend in

January where they get to know one another and plan their community interventions for the year. Some of them will be conducted as a full council, others will be smaller projects organised by the representatives of each school.

Enlighten’s JTC Manager, Unity Mtomile is excited about the new group, led by Junior Mayor, Claudia Weich (Northcliff House) and Deputy Mayors, Daniel du Toit (Gansbaai Academia) and Dominique Geduld

(Hawston Secondary).

As Unity says, “Each group has its own dynamic and it’s always fascinating to see how the individual members develop during the year. Sometimes, it’s the least likely who grow most, ending the year as absolute stars. But the most rewarding aspect for me is to see how seriously they take their roles as servants of their communities, developing genuine compassion, empathy and understanding of those in need.”

The 2019 Junior Councillors are: Elsari Strauss, Kyle Philander, Cara Janse van Vuuren, Martinique Poole, Misha Horn, Tokyo Seconna and Maia Bellingan from Hermanus High School; Aden Farao, Dominique Geduld (Junior Deputy Mayor), Griffon Damon, Herschelle Burns, Keesha Davids, Mihlali Saula and Edwin Fortuin from Hawston Secondary School; Sinokuhle Zwinye, Zintle Mshede, Nosiviwe Matikinca, Someleze Sithethe, Thabani Mahlangu, Iyamangalisa Cako and

Asonge Ntlali from Qhayiya Secondary School; Levis Lewis, Zainabo Anzurani, Daniel Du Toit (Junior Deputy Mayor), Renaldo Dickson, Martale Jacobs and Lerato Hermanus from Gansbaai Academia; Ravick Black, Lara du Plessis, Claudia Weich (Junior Mayor) and Vera-Marie Viljoen from Northcliff House College; and Lupho Hoyi, Michaela Delany, Zoë Theron and Tiah Stannius from Curro Hermanus.

– Elaine Davie

Spread the love this Christmas season with Bags of Love The 2018 Bag of Love campaign, now in its 11th year, was launched on 1 November, with the Executive Mayor, Ald Dudley Coetzee generously lending his support as patron.

The Bags of Love was initiated by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, a worldwide charity run by Catholic lay people. The Hermanus conference of Saint Vincent de Paul is hoping, with the help of the Overstrand community, to add a bit of Christmas cheer to the poorest of the poor in the community by providing them with a Bag of Love.

The bags will be distributed prior to Christmas across all our needy communities – and the number available for distribution will depend on the generosity of the people of the Overstrand.

The bag contains an assortment of basic food stuffs such as rice, sugar, mealie meal, beans, tea bags, peanut butter, cooking oil and salt. Bern van Niekerk, owner of Eastcliff Spar, has again generously agreed to subsidise the Bags of Love at a special price of R185 each. While doing their shopping, customers can simply request the cashier to add the cost of a Bag of Love and Spar’s personnel will pack the bag on your behalf.

Customers are also welcome to add extra treats to the bags.

Alternatively, individuals or businesses can participate by donating money

The 2018 Bags of Love campaign was launched last week. From left are Des Collins (Society of Saint Vincent de Paul), Bern van Niekerk (Eastcliff Spar), Deputy Mayor Elnora Gillion, Christopher van Niekerk Eastcliff Spar) and Terry McCarthy (Society of Saint Vincent de Paul). directly into the following bank account: SVP-Bags of Love, ABSA Bank, Hermanus Branch, Account number 925 114 2278. All funds donated will be used to make up bags which will be distributed by Saint Vincent de Paul to those in need in the community.

McCarthy, President of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. “The number of bags distributed between Hermanus and Stanford in 2017 exceeded 1 000 and it is the support of these donors that will enable us to achieve a similar number this Christmas. We look forward to your support.”

“Support for the campaign comes from Rotary, the various church communities in Hermanus, Eastcliff Spar and many generous donors in their individual capacities,” says Terry

For more information, contact Terry McCarthy on 083 2558614, Des Collins on 082 8241058 or Bruce Fraser on 083 2703230.

Only the best for Hermanus High CONGRATULATIONS! Hermanus High School is extremely proud to announce that two of the school's teachers were awarded first place at the 2018 WCED Provincial Teachers Awards ceremony on Friday 2 November in Somerset West. Mrs Charlotte Marx (left) won the award for Excellence in Teaching: Physical Science and Mrs Anise de Kock (right) won the award for Excellence in Technology: Enhanced Teaching and Learning. These remarkable achievements highlight the quality of teachers and the high academic standards at Hermanus High School. Both Anise and Charlotte will be attending the National Teachers Awards Ceremony in Johannesburg later this month. We wish them the best of luck and have no doubt they will continue to make the school proud.

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

EXPLORER The Business

Let ChillGuru show you Hermanus Hedda Mittner

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o sooner have they opened The Wine Glass or the three financial wizards behind Hermanus’ classy new wine bar have already moved on to another adventure called ChillGuru, comprising two colourful tour busses that will be fully operational this week. On Friday morning a group of distinguished guests, including yours truly, were invited to join them for a test drive and to comment on the experience.

We hopped onto the bus at Fisherman’s Village, just behind Lemm’s Corner, with all 22 of us fitting comfortably and feeling ridiculously excited to spend 90 minutes out of the office. Our guide on the trip was William Ntebe of the Zwelihle Youth Café (among other things; William just seems to pop up like a Jack-in-the-box wherever something exciting is happening in Hermanus!) who kept up a running commentary about the history, sights and attractions of Hermanus. I noted with interest that the tour not only covers the usual tourist highlights but also gives a comprehensive overview of life in our different local communities.

Starting at the Old Harbour and winding its way down Marine Drive towards the New Harbour, the tour bus then proceeded through Zwelihle, with William offering his passengers some fascinating insights into the everyday life of the township residents. Then it was up Rotary Drive to the vantage point on top of the mountain where we all marvelled at the view we’ve seen often enough but never grow tired of. A few scenic pics and selfies later we were heading back down the mountain and continued through the centre of town to Voëlklip (at least, that was the plan but a rioting group on the R43 necessitated a bit of a detour at this point – a scenario we are becoming all too familiar with) where our last stop on the trip was the ever-glorious Grotto Beach.

Given the current unrest in Hermanus, it is both brave and admirable that the three entrepreneurial owners of The Wine Glass and ChillGuru – Brennan Davis, Jacques le Roux and Mark Kahts – have invested so much in these new enterprises.

A group from the Overstrand Municipality, including the Mayor, Councillors and administrative officials, joined ChillGuru for a sight-seeing tour of Hermanus last week, with William Ntebe (right) as their guide.

The Wine Glass has undoubtedly added a touch of glamour to the Old Town and is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Fronting onto Harbour Road, the premises are chic and spacious, stretching all the way to The Courtyard at the rear, which has been completely transformed.

At The Wine Glass they have succeeded in creating a stylish but welcoming wine tasting 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-en-Aarde, 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 want wine tasting to be a relaxed affair that can be enjoyed by everyone,” says Brennan.

“Guests 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.”

The feedback they have received is overwhelmingly positive and I have no doubt that the ChillGuru will likewise be a hit. I can highly recommend the tour not only to visitors but also locals who have not had the opportunity to get to know their town and all its communities.

It’s an entertaining and informative experience to enjoy with family and friends – and of course, you can always park off at The Wine Glass afterwards to quench your thirst and fill your tummy.

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

Contact 028 312 2553 or visit www.thewineglass.guru.

To book a tour with ChillGuru, call 082 082 0007.

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■ Celebration of Colour: Enlighten Education Trust invites you to celebrate the arts with them at the opening of this exhibition showcasing local learners’ delightful artistic expressions. The visual arts will be accompanied by poems and music, snacks and drinks. The exhibition will run until 10 November and all artwork will be for sale, with the proceeds going to the parents of the children and Enlighten. At Enlighten Education Trust, at 18:00 for 18:30.

■ Hermanus Photographic Society: All are welcome, from the beginner to the advanced photographer, at the monthly meetings held on the first Wednesday of every month. The theme for the November Club competition will be ‘Country Market – Plattelandse Mark’. Get all the details of interesting monthly outings, challenges and workshops at www.hermanus photo.co.za or contact Daniel Reddie at info@hermanusphoto.co.za. In the Hermann Swart Hall, Dutch Reformed Church, Hermanus at 19:00.

Thursday 8 November ■ U3A Open Meeting: All are welcome to attend U3A’s Open Meeting where Prof Lewis D Ashwal of the University of the Witwatersrand will present the 2018 Alex du Toit Memorial Lecture on Wandering continents of the Indian Ocean, sponsored by the Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA). During their research, Prof Ashwal and colleagues located several examples of continental crust beneath the Indian Ocean, which has thrown light on the break-up of the super-continent Gondwana. It has also led to the discovery of a small continent that has been buried under volcanic material for millions of years and once existed where the island of Mauritius is now located. In the Municipal Auditoirum, at 17:30.

■ The secret inside your genes: If you could safeguard your future health, would you? Find out how genetic screening can lead to a truly personalised treatment protocol by attending a talk

by Dr Arien van der Merwe entitled Inflam-maging The Secret inside your Genes. R150 pp. To book, contact 067 1166 111 or info@drarien.co.za. At Arundel Medical Centre, registration at 17:30 and presentation starts at 18:00.

■ Champion’s Dinner: Join the professional women’s golfers participating in The Global Challenge for a fun-filled evening that will include a delicious dinner and a cabaret show by guest performers Janet Marshall and Andrew

Herriot, featuring all-time favourites from Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé. The cost is R150 pp (excl. drinks). RSVP: Averil on 082 444 6594 or averil@theglobalchallenge.co.za. At Ocean Basket Hermanus, from 18:30 – 20:30.

Friday 9 November ■ The Global Challenge Pro-Am: Join the professional women’s golfers and sponsors for 18 holes and watch the inspiring paraplegic golfer, Monique Kalkman in action in the Ambassador’s Challenge while helping to raise funds for the beneficiaries of the #BangTheDrum charity drive. Four Balls are still available at R 4 000 each, including uniforms and VIP entrance to the live Mango Groove concert and dinner. Go to www.theglobalchallenge for all the details. At Hermanus Golf Club, from 08:00.

School, gates open at 17:30 and Mango Groove performance starts at 19:00.

Training Institute (OTI) farm on Camphill Road in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, at 08:00.

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

■ 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.

■ Bhuki Café: Everyone is welcome at Friends of the Library's Bhuki Cafe where a cup of tea or coffee and delicious eats will cost only R20.

Every cup helps to raise funds for new books.

Every Friday from 09:00 – 11:30, at Hermanus Library.

■ Kolwyntjie Teetuin: Enjoy a sweet treat and tea or coffee at a nominal fee, and make new friends at the Onrus Care Centre (Dienssentrum).

At the Onrus Dutch Reformed Church, every Friday between 09:30 and 11:30.

■ The History of Ancient Egypt: This popular DVD series presented by U3A Overberg continues with the topics of Cleopatra’s Family and Cleopatra, The Last Ptolemy, presented by Gert Claassen. In the Catholic Church Hall, at 10:00.

■ Mango Groove Live: The famous 11-piece South African band Mango Groove will be live in concert as the kick-off event to The Global Challenge. There will be plenty of secure parking and food stalls. Tickets at R175 per adult and R100 for children and scholars (5 – 18 years) are available from Hermanus High School, Hermanus Tourism Bureau or online via NuTickets at https://theglobalchallenge .nutickets.co.za/10904. At Hermanus High

www.oakpics.com

Saturday 10 November ■ Pura Soda Race2Stanford Triathlon: Starting at the New Harbour in Hermanus, racers will set off on an ocean swim, endure a gruelling bike leg up the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley to Caledon before riding towards Stanford through the Akkedisberg Pass, and then finish with a 21 km looped run around the heritage village of Stanford.

The cost is R1 950 for an individual entry and R2 350 for a relay team of 3. The event now also includes a family-friendly 7 km fun run on the scenic Wandelpad along the Stanford River and through a game reserve before ending on the Village Green. The entry fees are R80 for adults and R50 for children U18 (late entries on the day will be R100 for adults and R70 for kids), and R1 000 will be awarded to the first male and female who cross the finish line. Visit www.electricink.co.za/race-2-stanford.

The Triathlon starts at the New Harbour at 07:30 and the Fun Run at the Stanford Village Green at 09:30.

■ 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

■ 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.

■ 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.

■ 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.

■ 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.

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■ Elim Wine Festival: Once a year the coolclimate wines of the Elim Wine Ward and surrounds come together to showcase the distinct flavours of this wine-growing region. Participating wineries will include The Berrio, Black Oystercatcher, Giant Periwinkle, Ghost Corner, Land’s End, Strandveld Vineyards, Zoetendal, Sijnn, The Drift, Jean Daneel Wines and Skipskop Wines. Craft breweries Fraser’s Folly, Becker’s Craft Beer and Cederberg Brewery will offer their flagship beers and there will be an array of sumptuous local produce available at the market stalls, with live music from four South African solo artists and bands. Tickets at R140 for adults include a wine glass and free tastings (entry is free for children under 18), available via Webtickets, at participating Pick n Pay stores and at the gate on the day. For more info visit elimwines.co.za or contact Jackie Rabe on 082 376 8498 or jackie@strandveld.co.za.

At Black Oystercatcher Wines, from 10:00.

■ Kindfulness Workshop: Johannes de Villiers will teach you how to use mindful meditation techniques in order to cultivate a life of compassion for others and yourself. R350 pp; bookings are essential. Contact Pauline Leppan on 071 304 6456 or info@yogaheart.co.za. At Yogaheart, 1st Floor, Woolworths Station Square, from 11:00 - 17:00.

■ The Global Challenge: Come and watch the Northern Hemisphere take on the Southern Hemisphere in Round #1 of this global women’s professional golf championship. The format is foursomes and there is no charge for spectators.

Round #2 continues on the Sunday with a Betterball format, followed by the Grande

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the main reasons, as well as the types of interventions necessary? In the Catholic Church Hall, at 10:00.

Finale trophy presentation on the 18th Green, estimated for 14:00. Get all the details at www.theglobalchallenge.co.za. At Hermanus Golf Club, teeing off at 08:00 on Saturday.

Sunday 11 November ■ Sunday under the Oaks: Cycle or hike the 5 km, 10 km, 15 km or 25 km trails at Beloftebos with a day permit of only R40. Or simply relax under the old Oak trees with family and friends while enjoying pizzas, burgers, beer, coffee and other refreshments. By prior arrangement, childminding services will be available for those doing the trails. Contact 072 111 9380 or corneli@beloftebos.co.za for more information or to make your booking. At Beloftebos Wedding Venue on Paardenberg Farm near Stanford, from 07:00.

■ Cole Porter: Sit back and relax while enjoying the lovely, well-known music of Cole Porter, performed by singers from Hermanus with piano, saxophone, clarinet and flute accompaniment. Please bring your own picnic basket with glasses, cutlery and drinks. Tickets at R100 pp available at the Dutch Reformed Church office from Tuesday to Friday between 08:00 – 15:00. Call 028 312 3904. In the Grobbelaar Hall, Marine Drive, Hermanus at 19:00.

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■ Music in the Courtyard: Enjoy summer tunes in The Courtyard with a DJ, oysters and bubbly, wine, craft beer and tapas. For more info or to reserve a table, call 028 312 2553. At The Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Road, every Sunday from 12:00.

■ Car Boot Sale: Pop in after church or on your way to the beach and find bargains galore at OnVerWag’s car boot sale. Book your boot for

only R100 and help OnVerWag to keep your neighbourhood safe. For more info, send an email to mnheks@hotmail.com. On the vacant plot next to Aida in Van Blommestein Street, Onrus, from 10:00.

Monday 12 November ■ The Centenary of the Armistice ending WWI: U3A Overberg presents a DVD by Professor David Reynolds of Christ’s College, Cambridge on the Armistice that was thrashed out in November 1918 after it had become clear that Germany’s military position was hopeless. Arising from this event were political and military consequences that would influence the entire world for at least the next 50 years. Even commentators at the time saw that the terms would lead to further conflict.

Prof Reynolds, who has published 20 books and presented 11 television series for the BBC, has won several prizes for his historical works and is a Fellow of the British Academy. In the Catholic Church Hall, at 10:00.

■ Astrophotography: Join the Hermanus Astronomy Centre for a presentation on Image processing and a discussion on hardware and software compatibility. Contact deonk@telkomsa. net for more information.

At Deon Krige’s house, at 19:00.

Tuesday 13 November ■ Land Transport in South Africa: The third lecture in this U3A course is about Road Safety, presented by Dr Louis Roodt. In 2017, over 14 000 road traffic fatalities occurred in South Africa. What do the statistics tell us in terms of

■ Book Launch: Kwela and Bargain Books SA invite you to the launch of Poacher: Confessions from the abalone underworld by Kimon de Greef and Shuhood Abader. The authors will be in conversation with MC Botha. RSVP to Bargain Books Hermanus at 028 313 0303 or hermanus@bargainbooks.co.za. At Hermanus Library, at 18:00 for 18:30.

Wednesday 14 November ■ SAARP Club Meeting: Join the South African Association of Retired Persons (SAARP) Hermanus Social Club for their monthly meeting. The guest speaker is Leanne Dryburgh of thephotowalkers.com who will do a presentation on Photo walking experiences around the world. For further information contact chairperson Ingrid Green on 028 316 2390 or 082 081 6889. In the Sandbaai Hall, at 09:30.

■ Spying spiders with Dr Vic: You are invited to go on an adventurous spider walk with our local ‘Spiderman’, Dr Vic Hamilton-Attwell. Those who are arachnophiles, even only at a distance, will be intrigued to find out how many spider species are all around us. Dr Vic has been doing surveys of spiders in Fernkloof and elsewhere in the Overstrand, and has found many species, some new to the area and even some that have not previously been recorded in Southern Africa.

This event is weather dependent; contact Anina Lee on 083 242 3295. Venue to be confirmed, at 17:30.

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7 November 2018

Kleinmond Central Café is the place to be

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itting in Kleinmond Central Café is like visiting the home of an old friend – a place where one can just ‘be’. The quirky décor is a fusion of contemporary and vintage elements.

Every chair, every table and every adornment has a story to tell.

This newly-opened café is the brainchild of partners Krige Visser and Erika van Rensburg, who previously owned Wine & Co in Hermanus.

Now based in Kleinmond, they have set out to create an authentic, honest and homely environment. With free WiFi to boot.

Décor aside, the major attraction of Kleinmond Central Café is the food. The menu is an eclectic blend of New York Deli-style sandwiches with a South African twist. The scrambled egg with kaiings, served on toast with apricot jam bears testimony. It was Krige’s grandmother’s favourite dish.

Another South African fusion dish on offer is the soutrib sandwich with cabbage tzatziki. Krige, by his own admission, is a bit of a food geek and also a self-taught winemaker who makes specialised wines in his spare time for the boutique Bot River wine estate, Arcangeli.

“We want to offer our clients a new experience for breakfast,” he says. “While the traditional bacon, eggs and toast has its place, why not try

the Mexican Farm Breakfast, which is a soft tortilla sandwich filled with cheddar and topped with spicy beans and a soft egg.” The menu is creative and deliberately unpretentious. Krige has been preparing all the dishes on the menu for years in his own home. All the bread is freshly-baked on site and gluten free. They even make their own lemonade.

Combine all these ‘ingredients’ and the truthfulness and sincerity of their enterprise shines through.

While Krige is making his magic and assembling signature dishes in the kitchen, Erika is on the door and interacting with the patronage in her relaxed and approachable style. Life partners for 20-odd years, Erika says that they are both doing exactly what they want to do.

“It’s not work, it’s a lifestyle and actually leisure for us,” adds Krige.

A few weeks into running this café, business is brisk. “At no stage whilst we were contemplating this business, did we doubt that it would be a success,” says Erika. Taking up residence in the old premises of Die Blou Bakkie, Kleinmond Central Café is optimally located. With a few alterations such as opening the frontage to accommodate a bar counter and thus allowing the café to spill onto the pavement, the character of this café is certainly inviting.

Mexican Farm Breakfast – A soft tortilla sandwich filled with cheddar and topped with spicy beans and a soft egg.

Your Hosts at Kleinmond Central Café: Erika van Rensburg, Krige Visser and Nosipho Manyenkanu.

“We have created a relaxing and homely ambience catering for the businessperson who is looking for a chilled environment to meet associates and for the Kleinmond local who is looking for something different,” says Erika. “Oh, and of course we have free Wifi to ensure that

Pastrami Sandwich – Cured and smoked free-range beef skirt with pickled cucumber and wholegrain Dijon mustard.

our clients stay in touch with the office if needed.” Find Kleinmond Central Café at 2 Botrivier Road. They are open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 – 15:00. Call 079 521 9343.

- Martin Barnard

Something Different – Sirloin katsu sando Japanesestyle steak sandwich.

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7 November 2018

Enjoy an Authentick abalone experience

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lthough Hermanus is internationally known for its abalone, it is a rare delicacy that is not always easy to come by. But thanks to a new initiative of Aqunion Abalone Farm, diners are now able to enjoy not only abalone dishes but also a unique culinary experience.

Situated in the New Harbour next to Whale Rock Estate, Aqunion, in cooperation with Authentick Travel, has for the first time opened its quant tasting room to the public for lunch and dinner. The small but functional tasting room is situated within the farm, perched on the rocks adjacent to the tanks of maturing abalone, and offering uninterrupted views across the ocean.

According to Piet Kriel, Aqunion Marketing Manager and resident chef, they will offer fresh seafood, including abalone, to groups of more than eight people. “The idea behind the Aqunion experience is to offer clients a taste of fresh seafood and great wine while the waves crash onto the rocks beside them.

“Because we are a small venue we are able to adapt our menu to suit anyone’s taste buds, but abalone will always feature on the menu,” says Piet.

Owner of Authentick Travel, Jurie Steenekamp, says he is excited to be able to offer residents and visitors an experience that combines the natural beauty of our area with the delicious tastes of our ocean. “Not only will you be able to learn all about abalone and have the opportunity to taste it, but the tasting room provides a sensational setting in which to relax

with a glass of wine and truly unwind.”

Standing on the deck of the tasting room overlooking Walker Bay is indeed an awesome experience. Because of its setting the sea at high tide is literally underneath your feet, adding to the feeling of remoteness and tranquillity, especially with the aroma of freshly-prepared mussels wafting from the kitchen and the crisp taste of bubbly on your palate.

On offer during their launch last week was a pork fillet slider canapé with a white truffleinfused glaze, a starter of fresh, braised abalone, salsa, rice and carrots with a tsuyu no moro sauce, a favourite Japanese stock made from bonito (fish), seaweed and mirin (sweet rice wine), and a main dish of Cape Malay mussels in a coconut and pepper curry.

According to Jurie the idea is to offer clients an authentic Hermanus experience, including transfer to and from the farm at less than R400 per person. For bookings call 082 870 8226 or visit http://authentick.travel – De Waal Steyn

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7 November 2018

Ready, set, draw!

The Hermanus First Friday (HFF) Artwalk got off to a slow start on 2 November, with several people unable to get to town because of the sporadic unrest that led to the closure of the R43. This popular monthly event was nevertheless well supported, with the usual festive atmosphere in the centre of town as artwalkers strolled from gallery to gallery, admiring the art on display and mingling with other art lovers.

Anyone who feels they have artistic talent is invited to produce an A5 artwork, on paper, card or board. It could be anything from a small painting to a drawing or sketch, be it a landscape, seascape portrait, abstract or still life, and can be done in any medium, including inks, oils, pastels, watercolours, charcoal or pencil. Once completed, simply drop your artworks off at any of the HFF galleries.

Next month’s HFF Artwalk will take place on 7 December. As happens every year, this December Artwalk takes the form of ‘Night of a thousand Drawings’ in aid of local charities. All the participating galleries will display donated A5 artworks both inside and outside the galleries, which will be available for purchase by the public at R100 each.

Any Hermanus charities wishing to be considered as beneficiaries should drop a letter of application off at any of the galleries or email amzam@polka.co.za. The letter should give a brief description of the charity, its history and objectives.

PHOTOS: Hedda Mittner & Taylum Meyer

Terry Kobus of Originals with Dave and Ann Wright, President of the Rotary Club of Hermanus.

Lize van der Walt next to her artworks in The Art Gallery. Due to the road closure on Friday afternoon, co-owners of the gallery, Jeandré Marinier, Christine Henderson and Erna Dry were unable to get to town for the last Artwalk these four partners would host together. Lize will be opening her own gallery in Voëlklip later this month.

Local artwalkers Michael de Kock with his father, Deon and wife, Fielies relaxing on the stoep of Rossouw Modern.

Ed Bredenkamp of Forty X 40 Gallery with artwalkers Gail Lewis and Jo Carruthers.

Gallery owner Jozua Rossouw and gallery assistant Mario Louskitt at SPACE, in front of striking new works by local artist Hugo Maritz.

Frandie Wiid with Kunskantoor owners and sisters Renzske and Suzaan Scholtz, and Chantel Louskitt of the FynArts Gallery in The Courtyard. Frandie curated the exhibit that Kunskantoor launched on Friday called ‘Cape Art Classics’, featuring works by artists such as Edward Rowarth, Heinrich von Michaelis, George Trevor and Victor Simmons.

Designer Tanya Wheeler with local student and helper Faith Bokolo, a Grade 12 learner at Hermanus High. Tanya launched her beach resort wear called ‘Star Mela by Tanya Wheeler & Co’ during the Artwalk at POST in The Courtyard.

The StART Gallery owners and long-time friends Theresa le Roux (left) and Annette du Toit (right) with Councillor Kari Brice and local Patti Smith.

#THETHIRDSEASON is a bronze, stainless steel, granite and enamel sculpture that forms part of the FynArts Sculpture on the Cliffs exhibition at Gearing’s Point. This artwork, which is a collaboration between Ruhan Janse van Vuuren and Bastiaan van Stenis, is a continuous project that changes with the seasons. The sculpture, created by Ruhan, forms the landscape of the work itself, and is continuously changing as a result of the actions of Bastiaan. The artists were in Hermanus last week to add another layer to this transitional piece which, because of its position, straddles the borders of fine art and street art. “In street art the artists aim to reclaim the spaces of their identity, and the perceived vandalism of the work redefines the notion of ownership and value,” says Ruhan. “As the process of #thethirdseason continues, the meaning will become redefined according to an individual’s experience thereof.”

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

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7 November 2018

Nature’s peculiar phenomenon of shape-shifting

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have a dilemma. I like the clivia flowers in my garden. But so do the snails – for different reasons. I don’t normally eat them. So I vacillate between killing the snails and allowing nature to take its course.

We all know we should really garden with nature – not against it. On a daily basis the media exhort us to buy insecticides and a myriads of other poisons to disinfect our gardens. The result? Sterile gardens without bees, butterflies or those magical little fireflies. The reason why I’m so conflicted about killing slugs and snails is because it’s exactly what firefly larvae like to do. They are voracious predators of those slimy garden “pests”. Not pests to them, but food.

How often do we go out into our gardens at night, without a light? How likely are we to see the glow of a glow worm in the leaf litter? Do we even have leaf litter in our manicured gardens? The fact is that we are so conditioned to “gardening” that we banish nature from our environment and our lives.

Fireflies have been on my mind the last couple of weeks as Whale Coast Conservation took groups of enthusiasts to the Fernkloof Nature Reserve to see the magical “Christmas lights” display of flashing firefly lights after dark. Our local firefly species is a tiny beetle no bigger than a grain of rice. It’s hard to believe that such a tiny body can produce such bright flashes, but of course light is produced in photons, which have the same light energy whatever the source.

But why do they produce flashing lights? It’s all part of the mating ritual.

Females sit around on vegetation while males fly low, flashing their specific light pattern. If a female likes what she sees, she will flash right back. The rest is history.

She will lay her eggs in damp leaf litter, the eggs will hatch into a larva (in the case of moths and butterflies this will

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Environment Proud father Godleck Baleni with his daughter, top performer Inga Mfundisi.

Help Inga reach for her dream

be the caterpillar). The larva eats voraciously until, after a while, it turns into a pupa. Now the most amazing thing happens in the pupa.

The cells that made up the larva “dissolve” into a soup and the contents are reassembled into a completely new form – the adult insect, which, in the case of the firefly, is a beetle. Caterpillars of course become moth or butterfly adults.

Then the life cycle, known as metamorphosis, starts again.

Have you ever wondered why 85% of all insect species undergo metamorphosis? There has to be some evolutionary advantage to being able to shape shift at various stages of life – from adult to egg, to larva, to pupa and back to adult.

Indeed, there are clear advantages.

For one, the larva and the adult don’t compete with each other for food or space as they have different food requirements and very different ecological niches. Most adult fireflies don’t eat much at all, maybe just partake of the spot of pollen or

nectar. On the other hand the larva’s life is devoted to eating.

This is my dilemma with the snails and the clivias: do I allow the snails free rein in case there are ‘glow worm’ larvae to eat them? Or do I take care of the little fiends myself and destroy any chance of having firefly larvae in my garden that will pupate and eventually emerge as fireflies? A catch 22 situation.

Another evolutionary advantage of shape-shifting is that adult insects have only one thing on their mind.

Unlike the larvae that stay put in one place gorging on vegetation, the adults do what adults do – procreate.

Many of them have wings and can thus fly to seek mates or disperse the species. What a neat division of labour – one shape eats, the other shape goes forth and multiplies.

No wonder insects have been around for millions of years – and will be for many more.

- Anina Lee Whale Coast Conservation

Sixteen-year-old Inga Mfundisi, a Grade 10 learner at Hermanus High School, is a young lady who is going places. Not only has Inga been among the Top 10 performers in her grade since Grade 8, she is also a member of both the RCL and Interact Club, while still finding time to participate in athletics and coach chess after school hours and over weekends.

Last year Inga was delighted to be invited on The Academic Achievers Tour to visit prestigious universities such as Oxford in England and Harvard in the USA, but unfortunately she was unable to make the trip due to the prohibitive travel expenses. Now Inga has again been invited to join The Academic Achievers Tour to the UK and Ireland in March 2019 and she is hoping, against all odds, that this time her dream will become a reality.

Time is of the essence, however, as her family has not been able to come up with the initial down payment and she has been granted an extension that will lapse in a week.

The total cost of the tour is around R70 000 and the amount has to be paid in increments over the following months.

Although Inga performs extremely well in all her subjects she particularly enjoys mathematics and

engineer-ing graphics & design. “I love working with numbers,” she says, adding that she would like to study actuarial science after completing her matric.

Chess, however, is her passion, and she has made it her mission to reach out to learners in disadvantaged communities.

By starting her own club, Zwelihle Chess Club, Inga coaches chess to children from as young as six years at Lukhanyo Primary School on Wednesday afternoons and over weekends, when she also coaches learners from Hawston Primary and Secondary Schools and Qhayiya Secondary School.

Inga’s parents, Godleck Baleni and Ruth Mfundisi, could not be more proud of their daughter. “She is poised to make a meaningful contribution to the economy of this nation sooner or later,” says her mom, who is a teacher at Lukhanyo Primary School.

Inga’s family would appreciate any assistance from generous individuals, businesses or institutions to accumulate the necessary funds to make this oncein-a-lifetime trip possible for their daughter. For further information, the Deputy Principal of Hermanus High, Francois Hooneberg can be contacted on 028 312 3760. Inga’s father, Godleck Baleni can be reached on 063 816 1332 and her mother, Ruth Mfundisi on 078 109 8006 or ruthmfundisi1@gmail.com – Hedda Mittner

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7 November 2018

Business is blossoming at Wonderland

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arietjie and Richard Dalbock, coowners of Wonderland Lifestyle Nursery in Sandbaai, have no fear when it comes to launching new business ventures.

Both hailing originally from Klerksdorp, the couple owned a lodge in Mpumalanga before relocating to Hermanus in 2009. They started Wonderland Cafe and Play Park in 2011, with its jumping castles, pirate ships, many climbing frames, train and aviary, and in 2015 bought the existing Superplants nursery, through which one had to walk to get to Wonderland.

“I originally just wanted a coffee shop, but we ended up with everything here!” laughs Marietjie. “Once we had taken over Superplants, we could do anything we wanted to, so we added a skate park and a putt-putt course to Wonderland. In 2016, we started Wonderland Woodyard, selling braaiwood, and in September this year, we started a Cape Town Wonderland Woodyard branch in Brackenfell.”

There seems to be no stopping this enterprising pair and Superplants today has expanded its offerings to way beyond those of a simple nursery. They currently employs 40 staff members, with Marietjie's sister-in-law Nadine de Beer as the company's bookkeeper and Superplants manager. The nursery supervisor is Sizwe Mbali, who has been with Superplants since 2004, under the previous owners, and he has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to plants and fertilisers.

Alongside the thousands of different indoor and outdoor indigenous and exotic plants on sale, the substantial business offers a range of home

ABOVE: Superplants nursery supervisor, Sizwe Mbali, with a range of petunias to brighten up any garden or patio. RIGHT: Marietjie Dalbock (left) and Nadine de Beer, dressed-up in front of Buddy the Tree. décor items, gifts, toys and games, as well as patio and 'beach house' furniture, water features and a variety of ceramic and other braais.

There is even a 'fairy room', which has become popular with little ones who come to marvel at the quirky characters and magical lights.

In October, they began a hydroponics tunnel project alongside the nursery, where they are growing vegetables for use in the cafe, which serves light meals and tea-time treats.

“We're selling three different hydroponics systems and the necessary nutrients, and have an indoor display which we can use to explain the process to customers and give them advice,” Marietjie says. “We just decided one day that we wanted to do our own veggies, the healthy way.”

Including a paintball target shooting zone and a North American Indian-inspired teepee area, Wonderland offers five function venues.

“We can host birthday parties, talks, even weddings, baby showers and stork parties. We sometimes have between two and five functions in one weekend!” enthuses Marietjie.

Over the Christmas period, there will be additional activities for children, such as cupcake decorating and fairy-garden building.

Throughout the year, Marietijie also hosts a variety of workshops, including one on Tjhoko chalk paint.

“Buddy, the talking tree, is also really popular with the children,” she says. “He's the only one in South Africa and we imported him especially from China, with African-inspired kiddies' and

now Christmas stories, which are activated by motion sensors.”

Superplants/Wonderland caters for so many different age groups and interests that one could almost spend an entire day roaming around the premises.

For Marietjie, Hermanus is now home. “We love it here. It's like being on holiday all year round.”

Although with so many lines of work to keep her busy, it's a wonder she ever gets a chance to relax, especially with the busy festive season approaching. By mid-November, she'll be putting up the Christmas display, and even Buddy can expect to get a 'Santa' make-over!

- Sarah Taylor

It’s a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious toy shop!

It’s a small child-sized shop owned by a small, child-sized person with a twinkle in her eye and a smile stretching from ear to ear. All good signs for children just itching to play. The newlyopened Billy Bunting Toys in Harbour Road, Kleinmond is nothing short of a treasure trove for small people.

Without the opportunity to play, children will be stunted, physically, mentally and emotionally. As Emma Louw, the owner of Billy Bunting points out, access to good educational toys is not critical to a child’s overall development, but they do help. They have been especially designed to achieve certain outcomes, whether it be small or large muscle co-ordination, numeracy, literacy, communication, problem-solving and social skills, emotional balance or perhaps, most important of all, stretching the imagination.

Forget the toy chain stores, overflowing with mass-produced products, some of them shoddily made from cheap plastic materials, some with little or no educational value, some positively scary. Of course, there’s good stuff there, too, but it’s difficult for a child or even a parent to find amongst all the rest. Billy Bunting is just stuffed with the most beautiful toys you can imagine. And Emma is there to help select just the right thing for the particular needs of any child from 0-10 years of age.

A graphic artist by training, she has a background in tourism and worked with Down Syndrome children as a volunteer, but the moment the idea of opening a toy shop popped unbidden into her head, she knew this was the right thing for her to do. She is a single mother and her only son will be off to boarding school in Stellenbosch next year, so she decided this was

the time for her to release her inner child.

Much of the stock she has selected is from elegant French toy-maker Djecko, ranging from small dolls to puzzles, stickers and stamps, counting games, structures to build, pushing toys and a variety of unbelievably beautiful crafts. Each item has been created with care and produced from the best, safest, sturdiest materials.

no toy shop would be complete without its share of dolls, including black dolls, and soft toys (I have fallen in love with a very cuddly hedgehog – he will definitely be on my Christmas list). Emma would like to stock more South African-made items, but she is on the look-out for high-quality, hand-made products, like the shwe-shwe dolls she has ordered from a collective in Knysna.

“Look,” she points out, “every one of these craft sets has been designed and signed by a professional artist or illustrator. They are so beautiful! See, these origami sets contain actual origami paper – one of them allows you to fold a whole variety of planes, for instance, and each one even has its own pilot. Oh,” she laughs, “I had such a hard time making the selection for the shop; I wanted everything.”

That’s what the inner child will do to you!

With all these imported toys on the shelves, one would imagine that the prices would be sky-high, but, although not cheap, they are competitive with any good toys available on the general market. If you are a parent or grandparent, put Billy Bunting at the top of your Christmas shopping list, but be sure to give yourself time to browse, and bring along some capacious shopping bags; you will not step out empty-handed. After all, we’re all still children at heart.

Another delightful brand name is Sophie le Giraffe, with beautiful toys for babies, and a large range of beach toys made in Austria, again from the sturdiest of materials. Of course,

Billy Bunting Toys can be found at 14 Harbour Road, Kleinmond. Tel 028 2714481. E-mail: billybuntingtoys@yahoo.com - Elaine Davie

Emma Louw, the owner of Billy Bunting in Kleinmond.

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7 November 2018

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How to manage a low return market

t’s certainly not the time to abandon your investment strategy even though September and October have been tough months. October was a particularly difficult one for South African investors. Equities depreciated by 5.8% in line with the global sell-off.

Industrials dropped by 8.4%, and the Rand weakened by 4.4%.

Over the past year, the overall JSE performance has declined by 8.4%. The best performing unit trust delivered a 10.2% return while the worst performer fell by 22.2%.

These figures sound dramatic but are normal for a portfolio which has a modest risk profile. Portfolio Metrix confirms that over the past 40 years there have been at least 32 occasions when declines exceeded 5% over a 2month rolling period.

Although these negative returns should be expected, they have been exacerbated by the political unrest such as the land grabs which we experienced in Hermanus.

Market returns have also been low over the last 3 years showing only a 2.1% in growth. My main message is that it’s

•

Financial Matters

By Janet Hugo, Director of Sterling Private Wealth and Financial Planner of the Year 2018 always good to question your investment strategy including its time horizon, the degree of diversification and risk. I advise you to stay the course and don’t sell when the market declines.

Why not worry about 3-year returns?

A three-year time horizon is far too short for investors who need capital growth. A thirty-year time horizon is more appropriate.

Secondly, three-year returns are merely a snapshot of the market and an arbitrary and imperfect starting point for sound investment decisions.

Short-term returns are not indicative of a fund managers’ ability to select investments with growth potential well above the inflation rate.

Thirdly, the returns from growth assets are not smooth over shorter-term

periods. Three- year returns can vary significantly from one year to the next.

The numbers to May this year painted a far different story to the recent months! If you fixate on short-term returns and chop and change, you lose the benefit of compound growth from a portfolio based on a long-term strategy.

Finally, these numbers are retrospective and have no bearing on future investment opportunity. We feel better when historic returns are high (even though the market may well be becoming expensive) and anxious when they are low (when in fact there may be great bargains to be bought that could generate excellent returns going forward). Short-term historic returns do not indicate whether securities are trading at more or less than their true value which is the most critical determinant of future returns.

Why bother about short-term returns?

Short-term returns are of some value to assess your strategy and decide whether changes should be made. It’s valuable to consider the following: • The right time horizon for growth assets which is usually far greater than 3 years; • The performance from the various asset classes over time and the investment opportunity in a changing environment; • The degree of diversification and the required adjustments; • The allocation to growth assets including local and offshore equity which has shown to perform best over time; • Switching to cash is not advisable when you consider the tax on interest. It’s also difficult to know when to get back into the market and invest in long-term growth assets;

Lost opportunities. An example would be government bonds, which have offered the opportunity to invest at 3% to 5% above inflation over the past few years but were scorned by many investors because of sentiment.

The right way forward Annualised rolling long-term assessments make for more meaningful valuations. Remember to be realistic and know that there will be some uncomfortably long periods during which three- and five-year returns do not meet requirements. In 2011 and 2012 for example, most South African balanced funds failed to achieve the generally accepted benchmark of inflation plus 5%. Over time, however, the category has delivered. Markets go through periods of lower returns and trying to time them is impossible and act on them inadvisable.

Historic returns are historic – just that They have no bearing on investment opportunities going forward and investors must uphold the principles of enough exposure to growth assets and a well-diversified strategy. These investment principles will be vindicated if applied consistently.

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7 November 2018

What is Genetic Screening?

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afeguard Your Future Health!

Genetic Screening provides the tools we need to safeguard our health and wellbeing, by implementing lifestyle changes. Our reaction to certain foods, medication, diets and stress, differs quite substantially in comparison to that of our friends and family. This is likely due to the differences in our genetic makeup and the inter-action of our genes with the environ-ment. One size does not fit all!

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By Dr Arien van der Merwe language). These variations are called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and they can change the functioning of your body.

Humans are 99.9% the same (in terms of DNA), and the 0.1% difference is responsible for the variations found among us, making us the unique beings we are. Those differences influence a variety of traits such as appearance, behaviour, disease susceptibility or response to certain foods and medications.

SNPs are the DNA sequence variations that make you different from everyone else. Once you have a breakdown of your SNPs, Dr Arien and Anri can interpret the data to tell you which diseases you are likely to get, and how you can manage the risks, by changing your lifestyle and behaviour to prevent these from expressing.

Genetic risk is a susceptibility, a potential and not an inevitability!

With genetic screening tests you can now unlock the secret in your genes and prevent your health risks from manifesting as disease.

Your results reflect your genetic predisposition for specific characteristics, which may affect your tendency to weight gain and your risk for various diseases. Whether this genetic predisposition becomes a reality or not is often influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors. By understanding your genetic makeup, you can alter your lifestyle, such as what you eat and drink, what supplements you take, how you manage stress and mentalemotional components, how you live and how active you are.

to discuss your results and your personalised health plan going forward.

Therefore, knowledge of your genetic profile allows a more efficient approach to your personal health and wellness. The great thing is, you only need to do it once in your life!

Your genes will not change, but their potential expression can!

DNA and the genetic code DNA (found in the chromosomes in the nucleus of all your cells) carries all the genetic information that forms the blueprint for making a living

organism. These instructions are written in a language called the genetic code. It comprises only four ‘genetic letters’: A, C, G and T. Each letter/base represents a chemical molecule: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T). The four bases form ‘genetic words and sentences’ that give the body instructions to function.

What makes us unique are the variations in the genetic code (or

Genetic Screening Tests (DNA testing) We take a simple cheek swab at our practice, and then your DNA is sent to the lab. to be tested. You will receive a comprehensive health and wellness report, along with a precision nutrition, exercise and stress management plan, tailored to your genetic needs, enabling you to manage and develop your lifestyle in a way that will be effective in reducing your health risks.

You get a 60-minute consultation with Dr Arien van der Merwe (Functional, Integrative Medical Doctor, Specialist Holistic Counsellor and Stress Management Consultant)

The following genetic screening tests are available: WELLNESS, DIET, FITNESS and LONGEVITY. Each measures a specific array of genes to provide knowledge and insight into the secret of your genes. We recommend a combination of all four screening tests to provide enough knowledge on your health risk profile for us to assist you in devising your personal health care program to improve your specific health risks.

Dr Arien will help you inter-pret and manage the health risks identified by the screening, focusing on an holistic approach which incorporates epigenetic principals (incl. holistic health coaching and functional tools) to ensure that your genetic predisposition does not necessarily express as future disease.

Increase your energy and vitality, and live a healthier, happier life.

This is preventative medicine at its best!

BOOK NOW: 067 1166 111 info@DrArien.co.za www.DrArien.co.za Ariani Health Solutions • Genetic Screening • Weight Control Clinic • Integrative, Functional Medicine • Holistic Health Counselling • General Health Screening

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7 November 2018

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The unsolved mystery of Degos Disease

o one knows what causes Degos Disease; no one knows how to treat it; accurate diagnosis is difficult; it is a medical condition so rare that no more than 20 known Degos patients are alive in the world today. One of them is UK ‘swallow’, Judith Calder, who, together with her husband, Alan, has spent six months of the year in Hermanus since 2004, seven years after she was first diagnosed with the disease.

Judith’s 20-year-old, to-hell-and-back journey with Degos began innocently enough. An outbreak of red spots with a white centre appeared on her legs and feet, but having recently returned from a holiday, she assumed they were sandfly bites. However, when they started spreading all over her body at an accelerated pace, she decided she should see a dermatologist.

Fortunately for her, she visited Dr Peter Coburn, one of the few doctors in the world who knew anything about Degos.

After taking a biopsy, he confirmed that this was indeed what she had. She and Alan had never heard of the condition and when they looked it up on the internet, they were horrified to learn that there was no cure for it and that death was inevitable – at that stage lifeexpectancy after diagnosis was no more than 18 months!

They subsequently learnt that it affected small to medium-sized blood vessels, the walls of which swelled up, produced a tiny thrombosis and closed off blood flow, forming lesions on the skin, or more seriously, fatally damaging the internal organs. Coburn felt that the best person to treat Judith’s condition was dermatologist Dr Robin RussellJones at St John’s Institute of Dermatology in London. He was able to reassure

leagues, which was to have a remarkable impact on the accumulation of knowledge about the disease.

She had been told that she might be the only Degos patient alive in the world, but she found this difficult to believe, so she started a website, hoping to attract other patients, as well as doctors from related disciplines who might be treating Degos patients. The purpose was to provide a support network for Degos patients and to establish a resource platform for inter-disciplinary discussion of the disease. Judith and Alan also tried to visit as many of the patients as they could in the UK, Europe and the US. Swallows from the UK, Judith Calder and her husband Alan. them that the outcome was not necessarily terminal, but he added that no known treatment regime was guaranteed to slow down or cure the disease.

Years of trial-and-error attempts to find a successful treatment followed, while Judith’s condition steadily deteriorated into a living nightmare. The lesions, now covering her entire body, were coalescing and breaking down to form unbearably painful ulcers. The deep ulcers on her feet were so enormous that skin grafts were considered, but since there was no unaffected skin left on any part of her body, this idea was abandoned.

More than 26 treatment procedures were tried, including chemotherapy and suppression of the immune system, since it was discovered that her CD4 and CD8 accounts were massively elevated. The latter turned out to be the most effective, but most of the treatments had hideous sideeffects. She was in and out of hospital

where she twice picked up superbug MRSA infections. Because her nervous system had been affected, she was in such excruciating pain that morphine no longer worked.

Then two life-changing events occurred. First, she heard of manuka honey, produced in New Zealand, which was said to have amazing antibiotic properties. In desperation, she begged one of the visiting district nurses who changed her dressings, to find some to apply to the wounds. Debridement occurred almost immediately and within two weeks, the wounds were showing encouraging signs of healing altogether.

The second thing that happened was that she heard of a doctor in Berlin who had successfully treated a Degos patient. She and Alan immediately travelled to Germany to see Professor Christos Zouboulis, a Greek dermatologist. Judith formed an alliance with the professor and some of his col-

“The first ever Degos conference was held in Berlin in 2007,” says Judith with pride. “Six Degos patients attended; no doctor had ever seen so many in one place before.” In the meantime, Judith was still struggling with her own condition, but she agreed to allow the doctors to use her as a ‘model’ for teaching purposes. “On one occasion, I was asked by the Royal Society of Medicine to appear at a conference where 200 doctors filed past me and examined my scars and lesions. A cartoonist friend of mine came with me and drew cartoons of each of the doctors’ expressions. It was very funny,” she laughs.

Actually, it wasn’t much fun, but Judith felt she had an obligation to assist the doctors who were struggling so hard to get to the bottom of this disease. It was a triumph for all involved when the Steffens Scleroderma Center in New York State was established, including a department dedicated to the study of Degos, under the direction of rheumatologist, Dr Lee Shapiro. World-wide con-

ferences continued and Judith has recently returned from Washington DC, where she delivered the keynote address at the fifth International conference on the disease.

Much progress has been made in the identification and treatment of Degos Disease over the past 20 years and genetic studies are currently being undertaken by the National Institutes of Health in the US, but Judith acknowledges that there is still much to be done. “We know, for example,” she points out, “that there may be many patients, especially in developing countries, who die undiagnosed; effective medication is far too expensive for most patients, and we still don’t know what causes the disease or what triggers it.

“What I am so excited about, though, is the amazingly dedicated and empathic teams of doctors all around the world who are committing their lives to researching and treating this disease. In Hermanus, too, where the sunshine is so good for my skin, I was lucky to meet dermatologist Dr Johan Brink, probably the only doctor in Africa who knew anything about the disease.

“And then, of course, Alan has been by my side every step of the way, whereas many other marriages have collapsed under the strain. Most of all, though, unbelievably, I am still alive and grateful that, for whatever reason, the disease seems finally to have worked itself out of my system, leaving only the scars to show that it was there at all.”

For more information, visit www.degosdisease.com – Elaine Davie

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7 November 2018

Drop your ecobricks at PnP Hermanus

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ick n Pay Hermanus has thrown its weight behind the fight against single-use plastics. The store now boasts a trolley at the entrance where shoppers and residents can drop off their ecobricks. These bricks will be taken to a collection centre in Cape Town on a weekly basis where they will be distributed and used to build sustainable structures such as benches and to improve the school grounds of 12 schools.

An ecobrick is a 500 ml, 1 litre, 2 litre or 5 litre plastic bottle compacted to capacity with nonrecyclable material. Material to be used includes bread packets, cellophane, cereal packets, chips packets, chocolate wrappers, cling wrap, dog and cat food pellet packets, foil packets, plastic bags and packets, plastic or foil packaging for pills and medication, polystyrene trays and containers, till slips, etc. It is very important that all materials need to be cut up into small pieces and that they should be clean and dry. No sand is to be used.

There should not be any air gaps in the bottle as you are producing a brick substitute. A 500 ml ecobrick should weigh about 200g, a 1 litre ecobrick at least 350g and a 2 litre ecobrick must be at least 500g. The bottles must have their lids on.

These "bricks" are used to build classrooms, bus stops, benches, you name it. Keep in mind that they also save natural resources by substituting for clay bricks. These ecobricks are bone-hard once compacted tightly and are nearly impos-

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sible to break in half. Anton Odendal of BirdLife Overberg tried his hand at creating ecobricks, and these are his observations: “Do not remove the label on the bottle; it is very difficult to get the glue off the bottle and it becomes a very sticky affair as one handles the bottle continuously. Those ‘nipples’ on the bottle need to be compacted until bone-hard before you add layer after layer of plastics and other material.

As part of their ongoing effort to reduce plastic waste, Pick n Pay has started introducing 100% recyclable plastic bags, manufactured from recycled plastic with no added calcium. In addition, an even broader range of reusable bags at affordable prices will be made available to help customers move away from single-use bags. The retailer will also no longer provide plastic straws at checkouts; they will be replaced with paper straws which will only be available at the cold drink kiosks.

“My bottle was compacted really hard at the top, but I could not get to the bottom to remove the air bubbles. Use something thin like a knitting needle to compact the plastic from the side of the bottle downwards and then force the stuff in the middle down with a heavy item like a wooden spoon. Most importantly, one needs to use stuff that one can swivel and bring back to the top without the plastic coming back with it,” says Anton.

In addition, Pick n Pay has introduced recycled PET (RPET) in a range of its own products. The plastic punnets used in the packaging of their fresh fruit and vegetables contain a minimum of 25 % RPET. The use of RPET will be rolled out to more categories, such as the PnP and No Name carbonated soft drink bottles – these will include a minimum of 20% RPET. PnP’s dishwashing liquids and all-purpose cleaners will include a minimum of 25% recycled material.

Candice Martin of PnP Hermanus with Nick Kleynhans of HAWS who dropped off the first ecobricks at the store.

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7 November 2018

#BangTheDrum for

T

he much-anticipated international professional women’s golf tournament, The Global Challenge, is fast approaching and the Hermanus Golf Course is getting ready to host the two teams, one from the Northern Hemisphere and one from the Southern Hemisphere, who will tee up in pursuit of the coveted Ralph Walton trophy.

Team South

What sets The Global Challenge apart is the dedication of the players who participate without receiving any prize money and who, at the same time, use this platform to raise funds for the selected charities – the Full Tummy Fund, Learn to Earn, Just Care and Overstrand Association for Persons with Disabilities – by challenging their fans around the globe to make a pledge to the #BangTheDrum campaign.

For the first time in sporting history, each of the participating teams will include a world-class sportswoman who has overcome the challenges of a physical disability. The players that were selected by captains Nora Angehrn from Switzerland (Team North) and Morgana Robbertse from South Africa (Team South) are Dutch Paralympian tennis gold medallist and now golfer, Monique Kalkman and golf champion amputee, Caroline Larsson from Sweden.

The Global Challenge will kick off with an exciting programme of events for members of the public to meet the players. The Champions Dinner, hosted at Ocean Basket Hermanus on Thursday evening, 8 November, will include a delicious dinner and a cabaret show by Janet Marshall and Andrew Herriot, featuring all-time favourites from Frank Sinatra to Michael Bublé.

Team North

MORGANA ROBBERTZE – CAPTAIN

CAROLINE LARSSON MOHR

NORA ANGEHRN - CAPTAIN

MONIQUE KALKMAN

NOBUHLE DLAMINI

FRANCESCA CUTURI

RACHEL RAASTADT

EMILIE PIQUOT

LEJAN LEWTHWAITE

MONIQUE SMIT

CHARLOTTE AUSTWICK

MARIELL BRUUN

BONITA BREDENHANN

MELISSA EATON

LOUISE LARSSON

CLARA PIETRI

The official opening ceremony on Friday, 9 November at Hermanus High School will be open to the public. Plenty of food stalls and preentertainment by DJ Shark Lady will be on offer before the main event – a live open-air concert by the iconic South African band, Mango Groove, who have composed the new anthem for the event called #BangTheDrum.

The gates open at 17:00 and there will be ample parking. Mango Groove will take to the stage at 19:00.

Round 1 of The Global Challenge will be played on Saturday, 10 November and round 2 on Sunday, 11 November. Both days will see the players tee off at 08:30. Competition on the greens will be fierce but in between there will be more fun and festivities courtesy of Dutchies Restaurant on Grotto Beach, where the public will be able to party with the Pros on Saturday evening, 10 November, starting at 18:00.

For more information, visit www.theglobalchallenge.co.za or contact Janet Marshall on 082 456 8091 or janet@theglobalchallenge.co.za.

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7 November 2018

Overberg rugby stars back in the limelight Gio Aplon, who attended Hawston Secondary School and Leolin Zas, a former learner at Hermanus High School, have made a resurgence in their rugby careers. Aplon has been included in the Springbok squad for the end of the year tour of the United Kingdom and France. Zas was part of the Sharks match day squad in their recent triumph over Western Province in the Currie Cup final.

Gio Aplon, known as the "pocket dynamo", was born in 1982 and grew up in Hawston. He was a surprise selection for the current Springbok squad, having made his last appearance in the ‘green and gold’ in 2012.

"Appels", as he is affectionately known by many fans, was selected for Western Province in 2005, running out 96 times for the streeptruie. He made 84 appearances for the Stormers and was a favourite for the South African sevens team, known as the blitzbokke.

He played 17 tests for the Springboks between 2010 and 2012, before being offered a contract with French Top 14 club, Grenoble in 2014.

Even though he is small in stature at 1.75m (5ft 9ins), his thrilling speed and elusiveness cause much grief for the opposition. He is known for his side steps and is a versatile backline player, comfortable at fullback or on the wing.

He is fearless and subscribes to the slogan of the Hawston Rugby Club, Ons skrik vir niks.

Offside Tony O’Hagan

Twenty-three-year-old Leolin Zas was born in Worcester but moved to Hermanus as a child and attended Hermanus High School. He showed early promise and potential to achieve at a higher level. He was selected for Boland Cavaliers to represent them at the Under 18 Craven Week competition. Standout performances led to his selection for the South African schools team.

speedster is still young and has the potential for higher honours. Zas can fill the centre or wing berth and has the additional ability of being able to kick for goal. This versatility will stand him in good stead in his quest to attain the ultimate prize of a Springbok call-up.

Congratulations to our two homebred lads on their recent achievements!

Hermanus Bowling Club hosted the Guy Krige Memorial mixed trips tournament on Saturday, 3 November. The tournament, sponsored by Guy’s son, Richard Krige, was first held in 2017 in memory of Guy who for many years was a member and treasurer of the club. A total of 102 players took part in the tournament and the winners (pictured above with Richard Krige on the right) were Jerome Thorpe, Alick Bruce-Brand and Anneke Thorpe.

After representing the victorious Western Province Under 19 team, Zas was included in the South African Under 20 World Cup squad in 2015.

He played in all the World Cup matches, earning a bronze medal for a third place finish at the event.

In 2015, Zas made his debut for the Western Province Currie Cup team and the following year ran out for the Stormers in Super Rugby. His exploits with the Stormers earned him a South African A call-up and he played in the series against the English Saxons.

He is currently contracted to the Sharks franchise and injuries have curtailed his appearances but this

Leolin Zas in action on the rugby field.

In second place were Adré Barnard, Theuna Grobler and Etienne Malherbe.

Some rugby pundits believe Aplon's selection, at the age of 36 and in the Springbok "wilderness" for 6 years, is a retrogressive step. These critics favour the nurturing of younger blood drawn from our provincial structures.

Springbok coach, Rassie Erasmus, however, has other ideas and states that he has followed Gio's progress at Grenoble. He believes he is playing great rugby and has the added advantage of familiarity with Northern Hemisphere rugby conditions.

Hopefully, we will witness this progress and he will be given the opportunity to display his skills in a successful comeback to the Springbok fold.

Local hero Gio Aplon has been included in the Springbok squad.

Paul Quin, Elsie McGeoch and Colin Butler came third in the Guy Krige Memorial tournament.

23

7 November 2018

G

The Global Challenge on our doorstep

reetings to you all once more; an exciting week is upon us! Our lead story must be about our international tournament being held at the Hermanus Golf Club this weekend – The Global Challenge, brainchild of local golf professional, Tania Fourie.

Other world-wide golfing team events include the Ryder Cup for the men, which started out as the USA versus Great Britain before it was expanded to the USA versus Europe. This tournament has been run since the 1930s and then, in 1990, the ladies got together and launched their equivalent to the Ryder Cup, the highly successful Solheim Cup, which is run on the same format.

An offshoot to this tournament has been the Presidents Cup which pits America against the rest of the world, minus Europe. Again, this has been super successful and has been hosted in South Africa a couple of times. As with any good recipe, it can be copied and pasted to other groupings or sections of society and this is where The Global Challenge has come in. This weekend will see the second run-ning of the tournament and the format they have chosen is a North verses South team event. So the lady pro’s from the Northern Hemisphere will play

The Putting Pirate Julian Shaw

SATURDAY ALL TOGETHER 27 OCTOBER Betterball Bogey Plus 137 players Winners: East course - Mike Bryant and Cano Hooneberg +11 South course - CP Terblanche and Sarel Ackerman +8 North course - Kowie Ganz and Krige van der Watt +10 10 two clubs at R22 each Ball pool paid to +8 Best gross was George Saureman 71 Winner of the attendance draw sponsored by Sotheby’s (fellow member John Quincey) was Cano Hooneberg.

against lady pro’s from the Southern Hemisphere, and it’s all happening here at our wonderful golf club!

The Global Challenge also showcases inclusivity in the world of women's sport and on the golf course by including a world-class sportswoman with a physical disability in each team. The schedule kicks off on Friday morning with a Pro-am and charity drive for the #BangTheDrum campaign, featuring one of the stars of the ladies’ disabled golf circuit, Monique Kalkman, a fantastic lady who just refuses to let any disability ruin her game.

Monique is a paraplegic and plays from her wheelchair, which has been specially adapted to allow her to stand and play shots! Believe me, she is a wonderful golfer and a true testament to the human spirit; it will be well worth coming to watch her play! The main event starts on Saturday morning and concludes on Sunday. Here’s wishing the very best of luck to all the players and organisers.

Scores at a glance

LADIES’ TUESDAY 30 OCTOBER Medal and Putting 26 ladies Silver division: Winner - Lynne Behagg 72 nett Runner-up - Yvonne Texeira 74 nett Best gross - Lynne Behagg 74 Bronze division: Winner - Annie Spratt 75 nett Runner-up - Ellen Davies 76 nett Best gross - Janet Taylor 97

Paraplegic golfer, Monique Kalkman, will take part in The Global Challenge at Hermanus Golf Course from 9 - 11 November.

MEN’S WEDNESDAY 31 OCTOBER Betterball Stableford 120 players Winners: East course - Mike Frost and Jonathan Caldow 45 points C/I South course - Bob Ferguson and Greg Donald 46 points North course - Andre du Toit snr and Andre du Toit jnr 43 points Ball pool paid to 43 Best gross Tyron Davidowitz 74 2 x two clubs

24

THE

NEWS

7 November 2018

MY Sport NEW YORK, NEW YORK! It was the fulfilment of a dream for Carina van der Merwe (left), sport organiser and marketing manager at Hermanus High School, when she completed the gruelling New York Marathon on Sunday, 4 November.

This event is the biggest marathon in the world, drawing more than 50 000 participants annually from around the globe. “I have been running for more than 30 years,” says Carina, who has taken part in numerous marathons, including the Two Oceans (13 times), the Comrades (3 times) and the Paris Marathon in France. “Unfortunately I’ve been plagued with a back injury for the past three years, but then I decided it’s now or never!”

Carina was accompanied by two friends, Karen de Bruyn, who had taken part in a few marathons with Carina in the past, and Hanli Grant, who ran her first ever marathon in New York. The three women ran an excellent race, with Carina finishing the 42 km marathon in a time of 4:16, Karen in 5:26 and Hanli in 5:59.

WE HAVE LIFT OFF! The Grade 4 Afrikaans and English classes of Hermanus Primary School would like to thank SANSA (South African National Space Agency) for their assistance with the launching of their space crafts. This assignment formed part of the term’s Natural Science and Technology project which the learners embraced with enthusiasm. In front are Dane Prak, Laney Pienaar, Kate Taljaard, Hannah Joubert and Ana Voigt. In the middle row are Clarissa Labuschagne, Caylin du Plessis, U-Kaylin Coert and Sarah Maree, and at the back are Jaylin Charles, Maela Roux, Karlia Schneeberger and Helen Ackermann.

GOLDEN GIRL Local bodybuilder Annemarie Barnard (45) competed in her last show for the year, the Gentle Giant Classic in Boksburg from 26-27 October. She competed in Ladies Physique and faced a tough line-up but once again brought home gold. Annemarie made Hermanus extremely proud earlier this year when she participated in the IFBBSA (International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness of South Africa) and brought home a gold from the provincials in Cape Town, followed by another gold from the nationals in Johannesburg. Apart from winning first place in her category, Annemarie also received R10 000 and was invited to compete in one of the bigger shows next year, the Arnold Classic, which will take place in May. "Bodybuilding has become a way of life and I love the sport! It keeps me focused and disciplined. It gives me such a sense of pride to know that I have achieved something that most women my age would never attempt," says Annemarie when asked why she competes. Overberg's fitness competitors are always known to place among the top in their categories, which shows the level at which our local athletes train. We look forward to their future successes.

PHOTO: SKJ Photography