Franschhoek Tatler - July 2024

The Bag That Builds

Franschhoek Refreshed

all of which are recyclable.

pilot project

The giant letters spelling ‘Franschhoek’ on the slope of Middagkrans got a refresh on 18 May 2024 when members of the Franschhoek Club gave them a fresh coat of paint.

According to the club’s Lourens Hugo they used about 120l of paint – diluted sufficiently to be applied with a manual sprayer. The paint was sponsored by Paul Silberman of PaintSmiths Franschhoek and Fransche Hoek Agricultural Estate. Lourens says much of the improvement in appearance is actually due to the cutting down of overgrown vegetation around the letters. Doing this took an 18-man team of farm hands half a day. The name was originally spelt out against the mountain in 1911 by the Farmers’ Debating Society (abbreviated B.D.V. in Afrikaans) and read FRANSCHE HOEK B.D.V. 1911. When the mountain pass was rebuilt in 1932 the B.D.V. and 1911 were removed and the spelling was updated to contemporary Afrikaans.

from the Union Director of Aviation to spell out the village name on the mountain slope. The municipality informed the Director that it had already been done and undertook to remove the surrounding overgrown shrubbery and repaint the letters as soon as possible.

At the heart of the pilot project is a technology developed by the Center for Regenerative Design & Collaboration (CRDC). The technology allows plastic to be converted into an eco-additive – RESIN8 –that is added to concrete in the manufacturing of structural and other concrete products.

take part in the pilot programme.

After months of inaction, the brothers J.S. and L.H. Hugo of Cabrière painted the letters on their own account. They were keen to do so as they used the trademark ‘Franschhoekpas’ (Franschhoek Pass) for their export fruit. (L.H. Hugo was the great-grandfather of Lourens Hugo who still farms on the family farm.)

In 1937, Franschhoek Municipality received a request

Replacing up to 20% of natural aggregates with RESIN8 in concrete product manufacture has several advantages: It improves the performance characteristics of concrete products, reduces the amount of quarried material used in the concrete and removes plastic waste from the environment. Best of all, all seven types of plastic can be converted into RESIN8 and it doesn’t have to be clean to be used.

The pilot programme will run for three months from 1 January 2023 as part of a larger cleaning and recycling effort that is coordinated by members of the Franschhoek Heritage and Ratepayers Association (FHRPA). Current initiatives include the privatelyfunded clean-up crew that cleans areas that are outside municipal jurisdiction or that need extra cleaning, the installation (and servicing) of refuse bins where they are lacking and monthly community clean-ups.

Since the brothers repainted the letters successive generations of the Hugo family have been involved several times in repainting them.

Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Lourens Hugo

La Petite Colombe Tops at Luxe Restaurant Awards

CRDC SA has a processing plant in Cape Town from where the local leg of a global programme titled ‘The Bag That Builds’ is being rolled out. The programme is named after the distinctive green bags that are used to collect plastics for recycling.  Individuals and companies are rewarded per bag of plastic they collect, making it a simple way for anyone to earn a small income while improving the environment. A collection drive in the Langrug community has already led to the coining of the phrase ‘pick up your money’ to inspire residents to

Irmela Alberts, co-chair of the FHRPA says “We’re excited by both the environmental and economic opportunities this pilot programme presents for the valley. Our challenge now is to find ways to make it sustainable, so that the pilot programme can become a permanent one. We will keep the Franschhoek Valley cleaner, send significantly less rubbish to the landfill and through the involvement of the local schools contribute to creating a mindset where people litter less”

Monument House Guest House played host to the 2024 Luxe Restaurant Awards, an illustrious celebration of South Africa’s finest culinary talent. The event, known for its prestige and star-studded guest list, did not disappoint, bringing together luminaries from across the gastronomic world for an unforgettable evening of recognition and revelry. Best of all, the top honours went to a local establishment!

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For more information or if you have any form of plastic that you want to get rid of feel free to contact Jocelyn at 073 587 6132.

Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

The village’s name is once again clearly visible against Middagkrans after members of the Franschhoek Club repainted it.

La Petite Colombe Tops at Luxe Restaurant Awards

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The awards ceremony was a glittering affair, with culinary icons, media personalities and entrepreneurs gracing the event with their presence. Among the evening’s highlights was the announcement of La Petite Colombe as the Restaurant of the Year. La Petite Colombe has consistently dazzled with its innovative cuisine and impeccable service, making it a deserving recipient of this prestigious accolade.

Callan Austin was honored as Chef of the Year, a testament to his exceptional culinary prowess and dedication to his craft. Austin’s creative vision and commitment to excellence have set a new benchmark in the industry, earning him this well-deserved recognition.

Chad Fourie, founder and chief judge of the Luxe Restaurant Awards, spoke to the significance of such accolades in celebrating and promoting culinary excellence. “The Luxe Restaurant Awards play a crucial role in recognizing the outstanding talent within our vibrant culinary landscape,” said Fourie. “South Africa boasts some of the most innovative and skilled chefs in the world, and these awards not only honor their achievements but also inspire the next generation of culinary artists.”

The night also shone a spotlight on emerging talents and established icons alike, celebrating the diversity and dynamism of South Africa’s culinary

landscape. Guests were treated to a sumptuous array of dishes, reflecting the rich tapestry of flavours that define the nation’s cuisine.

As the evening drew to a close, attendees departed with a renewed sense of inspiration and camaraderie, looking forward to another year of culinary achievements. The 2024 Luxe Restaurant Awards once again affirmed its status as the pinnacle of culinary recognition in South Africa, setting the stage for future gastronomic triumphs.

Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

Elections 2024

The 2024 National and Provincial Government Elections on 29 May generally went off with any serious problems or incidents in the Franschhoek Valley. Voting did start a little late in places but waiting times were generally under two hours – much less than was experienced in other parts of the province. Numerous voters took advantage of the good weather and started queueing at voting stations as early as 05h30.

Empty ballot boxes and special vote envelopes that were found on a rugby field in Groendal did almost create a bit of drama, but the IEC was quick to reassure all involved that no votes were tampered with. The materials in question just weren’t properly disposed of.

The results for the Stellenbosch Municipal area were largely in line with the previous election, although the impact of national voting trends was also felt. The DA increased its share of the vote from 58.14% in 2019 to 61%, while the ANC clung onto second place despite dropping from 27.05% of the

Lines shortened towards evening as many voters took the opportunity to vote early.

vote to 17.22%. The EFF increased their share of the vote from 3.66% in 2019 to 5.08%. This was however not enough to keep them in third place, as they were pipped to that position by the Patriotic Alliance that garnered 5.52% of the vote.

The smaller parties generally lost ground with the ACDP sagging from 3.15% to 1.51%, the VF Plus dropping from 2.86% to 2.10% and GOOD declining from 2.02% to 1.10%. No other parties managed to crack the 1% barrier.

Text & Image: Editorial Desk

Greening Recognition

The SA Greening Industries Council (SAGIC) held its annual National Convention on 5 & 6 June at the Protea Hotel, Stellenbosch, at which the members of the associate bodies, which make up its quorum, were present. GvH Landscapes, which was founded by its two Directors, Richard von Hoesslin (Franschhoek) and Graham von Hoesslin (Plettenberg Bay) were present having submitted to the SA Landscapers’ Institute, SALI, four entries for assessment by the Head Judge, Sbu Dladla.

The awards ceremony is held over two sessions, the afternoon of the second day at which all the initial awards are presented and the evening of the same day at the prestigious gala dinner. At the afternoon session, GvH Landscapes was

awarded a Gold for the maintenance of House Erasmus on Whale Rock Ridge and three Double Golds (Gold award plus a Gold in Water Wise) for Indoor Plantscapes and Landscape Construction with in-house design both for House Erasmus, and Landscape Construction with in-

Country Kids: Nurturing Young Minds Through Play

Country Kids is a community-based pre-school dedicated to providing a nurturing and stimulating environment for children from 18 months to five years old, just before they move to Grade R. The school emphasises learning through play, fostering creativity and encouraging children to explore their world safely and supportively. Recently, Country Kids welcomed Jeannine Fischer as both the new principal and teacher for the Lucky Lion class. Her wealth of experience and commitment to early childhood education mark an exciting new chapter for the playschool.

Jeannine’s journey as an educator began in 1995 in Robertson, teaching Grade 5 and 7 learners before moving to Somerset West Primary. She then spent nearly two decades teaching abroad, with stints in Northern Ireland, Bahrain and Dubai – where she co-managed a pre-school group. In Northern Ireland, she discovered her passion for teaching young children. Upon returning to South Africa, Jeannine secured a temporary maternity post at Bridge House School, teaching Grade 0. This led to a full-time position and she taught there for 3.5 years. Seeking more time with her Grade 11daughter, Jeannine found the perfect opportunity at Country Kids.

As the teacher of the Lucky Lion class, Jeannine prepares children aged 4 to 5 for their transition to primary school, focusing on foundational skills and knowledge to build their confidence. At Country Kids, learning is dynamic and interactive, with the aim to foster curiosity, creativity and a love for learning. Through play, children develop essential skills such as problem-solving, social interaction, and emotional regulation. The school’s holistic approach emphasises emotional, physical and psychological development across all age groups: Ollie Elephant (18-24 months); Giant Giraffe (2-3 years); Happy Hippos (3-4 years); and Lucky Lions (4-5 years). Each class promotes explorative play through activities like baking, building and creating art.

Educators at Country Kids create a supportive and inclusive environment where every child feels valued and loved. They use various teaching methods and activities to cater to different learning styles, ensuring each child can thrive. Jeannine speaks enthusiastically about the variety activities at Country Kids, including fundraising events, learning themes, interactive activities and field trips. This year, the school hosted events like a Valentine’s Day fundraiser, a Colour Run, and a Food Festival.

The playschool operates from 07h45 to 13h00, with aftercare available until 15h00 or 17h00. Each day is filled with activities following a weekly theme, incorporating songs, creative arts, and discussions tailored to the children’s age groups.

house design for House Touhey, all from Plettenberg Bay.

As if that was not enough, the Gala Dinner brought further awards. First the Trophy for “The Best Use of Colour in the Landscape” and then the “Best Water-wise Project” for 2024 was scooped up by GvH Landscapes, both for House Erasmus.

The trophies for the best gardens having been awarded it left only the individual awards for service to the associations. This being SALI’s 40th anniversary, SALI held this announcement at the end of the gala dinner. The focus was on those who had given special service to the organisation in the past and SALI National Chairperson Laurel Cader-Barber decided to award the Chairperson’s Discretionary Award to Richard von Hoesslin.

Text & Image: Supplied

Meals are provided, encouraging healthy eating habits and aligning with the school’s commitment to overall well-being.

Country Kids is more than just a playschool; it is part of the community that welcomes parents, grandparents and others to get involved and share their knowledge and skills. With a Christian ethos the school aims to build a foundation of respect and love among its members. Jeannine’s leadership is expected to further these values. She encourages community involvement, inviting anyone to share their expertise in fun and interactive ways to enhance children’s learning experiences. Her motto, “to teach is to touch a life forever,” reflects her deep commitment to making a lasting impact on her students.

Country Kids Playschool invites prospective parents to schedule a visit to tour the facility, meet the dedicated staff, and experience the nurturing environment first-hand. The playschool is located at 1 Bagatelle Street, next to the Methodist Church For inquiries or to arrange a visit, contact the school at 079 038 5840 or email franschhoekcountrykids@ gmail.com. You can also visit their website: https:// franschhoekcountrykids.co.za/.

Text & Image: Leila Shirley

Franschhoek’s Monument House hosted the 2024 Luxe Restaurant Awards.

Jeannine Fischer

FLTR: Richard von Hoesslin, Kathie von Hoesslin, Sbu Dladla (SALI National Judge) and Graham von Hoesslin with the four gold awards awarded to GvH Landscapes.

BuildIt Franschhoek Celebrates 20 Years

BuildIt Franschhoek, the hub for building and carpentry needs, is celebrating a significant milestone: 20 years of dedicated service to the Franschhoek community. The store, founded in 2003 by Jonathan and Maryse Peach, who relocated from Durban, quickly became a cornerstone of the community’s construction needs. On 4 July 2004, it joined the BuildIt family, allowing autonomy in business decisions while benefiting from Spar group support. Originally located behind Absa Bank, it now thrives at Shop 1 & 2 Franschhoek Centre, Main Road, Franschhoek.

To mark this milestone, BuildIt invites everyone to a two-day celebration on 4 & 5 July. The event will feature 10-15 gazebos showcasing supplier products with special promotions and prize giveaways. Additionally, the annual under-13 soccer tournament, held at Groendal sports field, highlights BuildIt’s commitment to youth development, awarding prizes to participating local schools. Jonathan’s dedication to community upliftment is evident in his trusted team, including long-standing members Rosy and Lizette Davids. Next-door, ‘Peaches and Scream’, a second-hand furniture store, adds to the community fabric. It is managed by Ruth April, who Jonathan discovered through BuildIt’s ‘Jack up your Shack’ competition.

BuildIt offers comprehensive services such as deliveries, key cutting, gas supplies, credit facilities, paint mixing, glass and board cutting, supporting both individual customers and building companies. Their extensive product catalogue includes paints, paint tinting and water proofing material, tiles, building materials, decorative items and safety equipment.

Join BuildIt on 4 &5 July or contact them at (021) 876 4410, mobile (083) 464 1413, or email fbuildit@gmail.com. Trading hours: Mon - Fri 08h00-17h00, Sat 08h00-13h00, and public holidays 08h00-12h00. Here’s to many more years of building dreams and fostering community spirit!

Text & Image: Leila Shirley

&

Heidi offers all regular audiological (hearing) assessment, the supply and repair of all types of mainstream hearing aids, auditory processing assessment and therapy, and tinnitus management.

BuildIt sponsors an annual U13 soccer tournament for local children

Jonathan Peach with Rosy and Lizette Davids

Soul Barrel Brews Best Beer in Africa

When the results of the African Beer Cup were announced there was once again good news for Soul Barrel Brewing. Their Ale of Origin was judged Best Beer in Africa at what is the largest beer competition on the continent and is globally regarded as a mark of quality and excellence in brewing.

and

“Winning with a beer that features local yeast and grain is a major achievement for South African beer. We believe in South African agriculture and this is just the start of what we can accomplish with local ingredients.” The beer is described by the brewery as “an oak-aged, spontaneously fermented sour beer – complex, funky, lively and tart”.

Altogether 16 countries entered the African Beer Cup. The adjudication was a time-intensive and detailed process with all the beers judged by 56 experienced judges from across the globe. All beers

entered in the competition were judged twice – a comprehensive judging style that is unique in the world. The competition included medal categories such as Dark British Beer, International Lager, Spiced Beer, and African Grain Beer. Medal winners included breweries from Ghana, Namibia, eSwatini, Kenya, Botswana and the Seychelles. Although breweries from South Africa dominated, Ghanaian brewers can be especially proud of their achievements, taking home a total of six medals.

Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

blue, white and red in preparation for Bastille celebrations! This month, as the Valley of Dreams is enveloped in its wintry cloak, the festivities don't end with Bastille. We invite you to indulge in an array of winter offers that promise to enchant your senses and warm your soul. We know - it's not like you need any further incentive to explore the renowned culinary prowess and world-class wines of Franschhoek, but with huge savings available for all us locals, less crowds and the usual generous hospitality of Franschhoek - planning a winter getaway here has never been more tempting!

GOOD NEWS STORY

NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Mel Wines

Mel Wines is a quintessential passion story. One born out of a longstanding love of wine and the pursuit of excellence. In 2014 René and Saskia Mellema, after travelling the world, in search of the perfect parcel of land discovered Klein Champagne - one of the oldest farms in Franschhoek, and the optimal starting point to plant vines, keep horses and call home.

Like the horses on the farm, the vines receive meticulous care to encourage each varietal to develop and express its charismatic personality. All grapes are 100% estate-grown, and they are one of the few wineries in the country producing Italian red varietals Nebbiolo and Sangiovese. Ultimately, Mel Wines adopts a disciplined approach to handcraft small-batch single varietal wines that can truly take the reins.

Find out more: www.melwines.co.za

Franschhoek is set to once again dazzle and delight with the annual epicurean extravaganza. Experience yourself in gastronomic delights, exquisite wines, and all things Francophone. Indulge in abundant wine tastings within the Iconic Bastille Marquee, where festivities abound with local-fare food stalls and live entertainment. Alternatively, wander through the lively streets of our village, united in celebration and brimming with an undeniable atmosphere. With something for everyone to enjoy, Bastille Day in Franschhoek promises an unforgettable experience

Find out more: www.franschhoekbastille.co.za

Franschhoek Cap Classique Safari 31 August & 1 September 2024

Marking another milestone for Franschhoek Wine Valley, bubbly lovers and aficionados of all things sparkling come together for this newest venture: the Cap Classique Safari, a weekend which pays tribute to all things Cap Classique wines, perfectly coinciding with the beginning of spring and international Cap Classique day.

As the birthplace of South Africa's Cap Classique wine route, the Franschhoek wine valley holds a special place in the country's winemaking heritage. Proudly encompassing 23 local producers, it’s the country’s largest and most impressive showcase of exceptional sparkling wines, combined with world-class hospitality and picturesque vineyard vistas. The Cap Classique Safari weekend is a new event on the calendar,

Nick Smith, founder

brewmaster at Soul Barrel, reacted:

The Soul Barrel Team celebrates their win at the Simondium-based brewery.

Thoughts From My Kitchen

Chantal Lascaris

Food Diplomacy

The world is a complex place with different cultures, languages, and sometimes confusing customs. But there’s one thing that universally brings people together – food. Imagine using a plate of lasagne as a peace treaty or negotiating global trade deals over tacos. Here’s my guide on using food to unite different cultures.

A Spaghetti Summit

Can you imagine, world leaders gathered around those massive tables, not with papers and pens, but with forks and spoons, ready to dig into a towering mountain of spaghetti? Forget about lengthy speeches and stiff suits; let’s get down to real negotiations over a hearty Italian meal.

Spaghetti is the ultimate unifier. Who can resist twirling those delightful strands around a fork and slurping them up? The resulting tomato-sauce moustaches alone would be enough to break the ice. Sushi for World Peace

Sushi, with its delicate balance of flavours and artistic presentation, is an ideal candidate for international peace talks. Imagine a UN Security Council meeting where the agenda includes a sushi-making workshop. Leaders could bond over the meticulous art of rolling sushi, realizing that patience and precision are key – valuable lessons for diplomacy.

The Ultimate Bring and Braai

Why not host a global bring and braai, where every nation brings its signature dish?

This culinary United Nations would see the French Ambassador flipping gourmet steaks, while the Moroccan delegate brings along some couscous. Our own South African representative would of course cook the ultimate, juicy boerewors. The beauty of a bring and braai is that everyone contributes, and everyone gets to sample a bit of each other’s culture. It would showcase a vibrant array of dishes, reflecting the diverse culinary traditions of its member states.

As the American ambassador hands the Russian diplomat a perfectly charred burger, they might realise that if they can agree on medium-rare, perhaps world peace can also be on the menu.

Here’s my version of a quick spaghetti dish that will definitely keep the peace at home.

Alio Olio is one of my fallback recipes – comfort food when I need it most. When I suggest pasta for dinner, my husband always asks for this dish! It’s quick and easy to make and especially delicious to eat.

Alio Olio

Ingredients (serves 4):

300g – 400g good quality wholewheat spaghetti

¼ – ½ cup olive oil

1.5 cups fresh basil, roughly chopped

¼ red onion, finely chopped

1 – 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

¼ - ½ cup Parmesan shavings

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Cook the pasta until al dente.

Mix the basil leaves, onion and garlic with the pasta.

Pour over the olive oil and stir through, making sure the spaghetti is well coated.

Season generously with salt and pepper.

Serve with Parmesan shavings and some baby basil leaves to garnish.

Serve immediately and slurp away.

Image: EU2017EE Estonian Presidency

Cellar Chat

Mark Tanner

Going like a bat out of hell refers to someone or something travelling at excessive speed.  I’m not sure of the origins of the expression so not sure why it must be a bat or why it comes from hell! I suspect that the bat would refer to a fast zig-zag flying pattern and that during daytime bats nest in deep, dark and scary caves akin to a kind of hell. Anyway, the fact remains that bats carry a somewhat negative image that has not been helped by some species being associated with transmitting Ebola and other diseases. They make lousy pets as well. There is now a strong hint of redemption for these nocturnal predators and it comes from some Aussie vineyards way down under. One winery in Victoria noticed that one end of a row of vines showed less insect invasion than the other. Their dreaded grape-destroying moth was completely absent from the end that was nearer to a source of bats. Australian bats can consume up to 100% of their body mass in insects every night. This fact has found favour in other wine regions too. In England, yet to reach international acclaim for its wines, the Bat Conservation Trust is testing ways to determine what bat species are feeding in their vineyards. I suppose that if they’ve eaten 100% of their body mass they are no longer flying quite so fast!

In an earlier issue, I mentioned the 1967 famous, or infamous, blind tasting which became known as the ‘Judgment of Paris’. This concerned a highly competitive event where France’s Bordeaux was

embarrassingly put into second place when judged against Californian wines. At last month’s London Wine Fair, a return competition was named the ‘Judgment of London’. Honour was restored even if the format was not the same as in 1976. This time around Bordeaux was part of a team of European producers against the rest of the world. European wines came from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria and Germany. They faced a similar number of wines from the USA, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Chile and South Africa. Europe won by a whisker. The convenor of the competition maintained that with the very close results, ‘Great wine can and does come from all corners of the world’. South Africa was there with two category winners; both from lesser-known vineyards and both memorable for their unique understanding of and passion for the winemakers’ art.

The top-scoring white wine came from New Zealand and the red from Bordeaux. Under the heading ‘Textured’ the rest of the world winner was a David & Nadia Chenin Blanc from the Swartland (2019). Under ‘Pinot Noir’ the winning wine was Hannes Storm’s Storm Ridge Pinot Noir from Hemel and Aarde (2019). Both attracted special praise from the panel of 21 tasters which included some of the best palates in Europe. Our two winners represent two regions worthy of visiting. I heartily recommend a drive down the Hemel and Aarde Valley as Hannes Storm is not the only up-and-coming vintner to watch on this route. Similarly, David & Nadia are only one of a cluster of neighbourly vineyards that have a young-at-heart approach to winemaking. Why not go and see where some of our best wines are made and learn the meaning of the word ‘passion’?

Cheers!

Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid offering rose honey to French President Emmanuel Macron in 2017.

Tatler Motoring

MICHELE LUPINI

Ford Puma: Ageing Sweet Like Wine

New to SA, Puma has been around a bit. But that’s a good thing

It may seem new to you, but the Ford Puma has actually been around for a while overseas. Five years, to be precise. But that’s a good thing. Confused? Allow us to explain. A little like good wine, the Puma is ageing gracefully, helped en main by the car industry taking a wrong turn in the time elapsed since this Ford was first launched. Compared to a brand new small SUV, like its many new Chinese rivals, bottom feeder BMWs, Mercedes, Volvos, and even some more premium Volkswagens, a human being can still operate the Puma and its old fashioned systems. You need to be some other, far more advanced being to operate those cars with any level of competency.

So while its age shows in some perhaps Tupperwareish tacky plastic finishes here and there, like the auto shifter that remains me of an old Sierra GLE, the rest of this Ford is pretty darned impressive. The majority of its ‘dated’ tech is far easier and better to use and operate than those impossible to operate ‘current’ rivals.

The Ford Puma is not a hatch. It’s a SUV So, as you’d have worked out by now, the Ford Puma came to South Africa pretty late in its lifecycle. It’s also not just a hatchback as you may

think at first. Clever styling makes it appear slighter than its prominent actual proportions. And oh yes, it’s the car that Ford’s World Rally Championship cars are ‘based’ on.

Our bold grey matter (the colour!) flagship tester had sporty 18-inch machined black alloys. Distinct high mount DRL adaptive LED headlamps and a grille to draw Hypercar comparison set the tone to a sensually surfaced stance. Ford calls its styling vibrant. Some say it’s a bit bulbous. Others contend it looks like an Aston Martin. Gorgeous. Ford also boasts that Puma brings exceptional practicality and advanced tech. That’s no lie. Step aboard over those Puma puddle lights by night to access a most compelling space. This Vignale has splendid patterned black partial leather massaging sculpted sports seats, alloy pedals and a sporty flatbottomed steering wheel.

Old school infotainment a new world plus?

The multifunction tiller frames 24-bit true colour form tech 12.3-inch digital dials. All very blue. Perhaps too blue. But cool blue. All to the sounds of 575-watt10-speaker B&O Surround Sound, under a full-length opening panorama glass roof framed by a sporty black headliner.

Puma’s eight-inch CarPlay and Auto SYNC 3 infotainment touchscreen sits centre stage. As noted up front, this older tech system stands the Puma in great stead in a motoring arena where so many have since wandered astray. While it indeed features pinch and swipe touchscreen control, that’s not the only way to interface with this car.

It has knobs and buttons too. For those of us who remember that we’re just human after all. It also means that Ford won’t have to re-engineer this car to save those stars that Euro NCAP will soon dock from rivals with idiot systems. It has two USBs and a charging pad. It works, but my iPhone took its time to gain juice and got quite hot sitting there.

A BUZZY FATHER’S DAY

As usual, FMM served up a host of fun activities to celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday 16 June, and the weather played its part by providing lots of mid-20s warmth throughout the day. Split into morning and afternoon sessions, a near capacity 779 people visited the museum. The vehicles in each of the four display halls were presented with ‘bonnets up’ where practical for added interest, while throughout the day other vehicles in the collection each did a number of demonstration laps around the quadrangle.

On show in Hall A was a mix of vintage and veteran vehicles including the oldest car in

VISITING FMM

FMM’s opening time are Monday to Friday 10h00 to 17h00 (last admittance 16h00), Saturday and Sunday 10h00 to 16h00 (last admittance 15h00). Visiting the museum is by appointment only and via online booking. Entry fees: R80 adults, R60 pensioners and motor club members (with membership ID), R40 children (ages 3-12). Only

Further back, a hands-free tailgate accesses Puma’s hugely versatile loadadjustable 456 litre boot. It will comfortably gulp up two upright golf bags. And even more extraordinary size loads in a socalled Megabox, with the second row seats folded flat.

Multiple Engine of the Year litre turbo triple

Moving under the bonnet, Ford’s venerable yet still advanced multiple World Engine of the Year 92 kW 70

the FMM collection, a 1903 Ford Model A. Hall B displayed an eclectic mix of cars and the Fourie family had a stall displaying and selling scale model cars, which proved popular with kids and dads alike. Outside of Hall B, ATK Arena provided a simulator stand at which up to three people could race each other in either a Lamborghini, Ferrari or Maserati around historic Grand Prix circuits such as Monza.

Hall C was a colour-fest with four groups of cars painted blue, green, red and yellow. Amongst the cars making up the displays were examples of unique South African models Protea, GSM Dart, GSM Flamingo and Ford Capri Perana. Outside the Hall, a 1930s Ford Model A was available for visitors to climb in and take photos of themselves. Hall D is the ‘performance’ hall and included the exJody Scheckter F1 Tyrrell-Ford 007, the Paarl hillclimb dominating Hennie Mostert Renault Gordini, as well as 20 of FMM’s growing motorcycle collection.

In the middle of the quad, Audi Centre Paarl displayed four of the brand’s latest models and had staff members on hand to show people the vehicles and answer questions. And while all this activity was taking place, a non-stop run of more than 60 cars from FMM’s collection were driven around the quad, providing additional

electronic payments are accepted. The famed FMM Pitstop Deli is open throughout the visiting hours. For booking tickets and any other information as well as signing on for a free monthly newsletter, logon to www.fmm.co.za or phone 021 874 9000 or e-mail fmm@fmm.co.za

Nm litre turbo triple has a sevenspeed dual-clutch automatic turning the front axle. No, it’s not all-wheel drive, but this SUV has five normal, eco, slippery, sport and trail drive modes if you want to take it on the sticky stuff.

A Local Geological Journey with Nick Norman

A shocking majority of SUV owners never wander off the tar anyway. MacPherson strut front and twist-beam rear suspension features sport tuned springs and large-diameter dampers. These sport underpinnings bring confidence-inspiring driving on surfaces where this car will spend the vast majority of its life.

While you may know something of the geological forms seen in the Franschhoek Valley, it is no simple task to piece together these features into a story of the valley’s geological history. Local geologist and published author, Nick Norman, speaks and writes accessibly about the otherwise remote world of rocks. Born in Kwa-Zulu Natal where he completed his M.Sc in Geology, Nick has explored far and wide in search of the stories embedded in rocks. After exploring South American and Southern African geological features, Nick settled in Franschhoek in 1981 where he has since continued to write and explore the world of rocks.

That said, it’s pretty decent off the road. It even had some people comparing it to a Range Rover. One friend recently drove a Puma on a road trip that included a fair amount of dirt driving. Her husband was ready for the complaints. Instead, he got compliments about how solid the Puma is, and how it drives like a big car.

Nick tells the fascinating story of how the Franschhoek Valley has taken on its present form after hundreds of millions of years and is still changing. You may know that the Franschhoek Mountains are formed from sandstone, a kind of sedimentary rock, and form part of the Cape Fold Mountains. Nick emphasises that these mountains, despite forming part of the Cape Fold Mountains, do not owe their current form to the process of folding (the convergence of plate tectonics that heaves vast quantities of the Earth’s material upward, forming mountains). Rather, our Franschhoek Mountains and valley were formed from an extremely slow process of erosion, mainly by water.

Puma has limousine level safety specification

Puma safety includes a lane-keeping alert with departure warning and road edge detection that interferes with the steering. We drove ourselves batty trying to switch that bit off. It’s easy when you know how though. Just tap the end of the right steering stalk. We’d prefer it stayed off, but its’ simple enough to extinguish every time.

There are also comprehensive standard precollision and post-collision braking systems. This flagship even adds an optional Driver Assistance Pack with stop & go adaptive cruise control. It uses radar and a camera to automatically maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead, stop and even get going again.

In accounting for this, Nick takes us back to almost 600 million years ago. He explains that a sedimentation process was underway at this time, followed by folding. Igneous intrusions were being formed (molten rock which pushes its way up from the Earth’s mantle and into sedimentary rock formations). These would form Paarl Rock and the granite rock formations on Montpellier farm (near Bridge House School), exposed to the surface by erosion. The deposition of the sediments would form an impressive basin extending from Clanwilliam to Port Elizabeth and beyond (now removed by Continental Drift).

Don’t forget all the safety regulars from ABS EBA braking to electronic stability control, driver fatigue monitor, blind spot info with cross traffic alert, and even a straight and perpendicular active park assistant. Add hill launch assist, tyre pressure monitoring, auto high beam, and central locking with a Thatcham alarm immobiliser.

Late Puma much better than never

So yes, the Ford Puma did come very late to this market. But while that would usually be something of a disadvantage versus its freshest rivals on the market, this time the converse is true. Most recent car tech is crap. So being old school, the Ford Puma

The folding that would ensue once more, explains Nick, would heave material up to an almost Himalayan scale! This time the erosion of these gigantic mountains would supply sediments extending across the entire Karoo Basin. Millennia of erosive action would give way to a gently undulating plain. At this stage, the supercontinent, Gondwana, would start to break up due to stirrings

all of a sudden has its own, in this case, significant advantages.

So while this car’s natural standard of spec and quality trim surprised, it was its buttons and simplicity that made it a star. And that can only be a good thing in this rapidly evolving and hugely significant motoring segment that’s fast becoming the

Images: Giordano Lupini

Norman with the Wemmershoek Mountains in the background.

Follow the Michele’s daily motoring adventures athttps://theauto.page

in the Earth’s mantle. This movement would shape the landscape anew - new continents, mountains, oceans, coastlines, and rivers. This landscape dictated how the water would flow inland, capturing previous headwaters, and finding its way toward the oceans. In so doing, these active young rivers would carve out new valleys. And this is how the Franschhoek Valley and surrounding mountains came into being.

interest as well as photo opportunities.

One of the most popular annual features of the day’s activities was the rides on the museum’s Merryweather fire engine. A record 162 people took turns for a trip around the L’Ormarins Estate with sirens blaring and bell clanging.

Throughout the day, FMM’s famed Pitstop Deli had its usual culinary delights available and Schwarma Express had a stand in the quad also serving delicious eats and refreshments.

TopSound provided background music and brief commentary was given on the vehicles running the loop.

“I would like to thank everyone who made the day possible, the vendors, staff and, most importantly, our wonderful guests and the dads amongst them,” says FMM Curator Sian Theron. “It was wonderful to have you all spend your day with us at the museum.”

Traces of this history can be identified in the valley. For example, river stones may be observed near Wemmershoek Primary School, which testify to the fact that the Berg River had meandered from one side of the valley to the other, carving out the valley as it went. The geological foundations described have also set the scene for the ecological systems surrounding us. From the sandy nutrient-poor soil, derived from the extremely hard quartzitic sandstone, the world’s most bio-diverse flora has sprung forth: fynbos. Indeed, the harsh conditions have required our indigenous plant life to be resourceful, adaptive, and evolutionarily creative. It follows that the fauna have also had to acclimatise to this harsh terrain. And yet, the valley’s ecology has provided enough organic matter, mixing with the eroded sedimentary rock and granite, to form soil that is fertile enough to produce some of the world’s finest wines and natural produce. And so we find ourselves entwined in the ongoing geological and ecological story of the land in our valley. If this story piqued your interest, Nick’s books can be purchased or ordered from your local book vendor. His publications include Going to Ground, Box of Rocks, Geology Off the Beaten Track, The Extraordinary World of Diamonds, and Geological Journeys. For more information about Nick, you can visit his website: https://www.nicknormanbook.com/.

Text: Leila Shirley | Image: Nick Norman

Nick

Gardening in May

I’ve often mused in the past on how May is one of the most unpredictable months of the year. Every farmer in the winter rainfall area will tell stories of the years they waited for the rain to sow their crops, with the end of May being the ultimate deadline. In dry years the joke is that farmers plant on the 50th of May. This year things seem different. We were blessed with abundant early rains, and winter quickly pushed a short autumn out of the way.

My soil is too waterlogged to work already – a pity because I had big plans to prepare new sections for vegetable planting in spring. I will have to go no-till this season and will experiment with sowing a green manure crop in narrow drills in the soil. Adding some radish and other root crops should loosen the soil enough to make up for the lack of deep cultivation. This green manure sowing must be done before the end of the month to ensure enough biomass to dig into the soil in spring. Finding a decent green manure seed mix in small quantities might be difficult and expensive for the home gardener. I’ve successfully used a mix of my expired vegetable and flower seeds combined with a garden bird seed blend from the pet food section. This gives a good variety of grains and green material. Adding some peas to the mix will trap nitrogen in the soil for the next season.

This darkest time of the year always gets me to reflect on the rhythms of nature and how they ground us in an unstable and tumultuous world. As the uncertainties of expanding wars, climate change, market forces and new diseases force anxiety and panic unto the populace, we have the certainty of the seasons and the movements of the sun, planets and stars to anchor us. 2024 saw the earliest solstice in 228 years, and it will occur earlier for the next 72 years. This phenomenon is not because of any change in the cosmic calendar but points out the limitations in human time calculation and our need to add leap days and minutes to our diaries.

These dark, cold, mid-winter days do not normally inspire the gardener to get outside. It is much cosier to spend stormy days around the fireplace with a good gardening book or magazine than attend to storm damaged trees or greenhouses. Luckily, we also have those secret sunny days in between when we quickly forget how nasty a Cape winter can be. Those are the days I will be focusing my gardening efforts on doing what I can to provide my family with food, function and pleasure. As always, there is plenty to do for the keen gardener.

July is a big pruning month in the food garden. Table grapes and deciduous fruit trees must be pruned by month end. Roses and wine grapes can be left until the second week of August. Pruning your own fruit trees should not be the daunting task it is for many gardeners. Basic principles of renewal, light penetration, airflow and the selection of fruiting sites should apply. A good book or online source will help with the technicalities; for instance, the fact that peaches fruit on 1-year-old wood and plums on older spurs. Make sure you only prune on dry days and treat the plants with a suitable fungicide and wound paste afterwards. Having a chipper on site on pruning days saves plenty of labour carting branches away and provides instant on-site mulch which the freshly pruned trees will love. Add some manure and a microbe blend to the mulch to aid soil health and provide slow feeding to the roots.

You will have to utilize the sunny days between the cold fronts to their best, because May is a busy gardening month, with the rewards only coming much later in the season. Your autumn pruning should be well on its way by now, with only the late flowering shrubs such as Solanum, Tecomaria, Leonotis, Lavender, Plumbago and Hibiscus that still needs to be pruned. Tree surgery to deciduous trees also needs to be done sooner rather than later. Pay attention to overgrown evergreen trees and shrubs by cutting away some of the lower branches and opening the canopy to let in more sunlight. Perennials such as Canna’s, Michaelmas daisies, Japanese anenomes, Salvia and Gaura should all be cut back hard this month. Fertilise and mulch afterwards. Lift Dahlia bulbs if you have clay soil; in well-drained soil most bulbs and tubers can be left in the ground over winter. Fertilise all winter flowering shrubs with a balanced fertilizer.

Not many food crops can be successfully sown now, but seedlings of the cabbage family must be planted out by the end of the month. Try to keep

Your lawnmower can be set slightly lower. This will allow more sunlight to the lower swards of grass and help against diseases. Lawns should be fed with a high potash feed to ensure good root growth through winter. Applying agricultural lime at a rate of 50g per square meter helps keep winter weeds at bay and will help ensure a lush spring lawn.

Rainfall Figures

Measured at

up with your successional beetroot and carrot sowings but know that growth and germination will be slow. Those of us with greenhouses will have enough to do on dreary days. I am going to start all my summer vegetables early this year to make sure my garden is brimming with food by the time summer hits. The winter pruning also provides plenty of material for cuttings to multiply special plants as gifts or fillers for next year’s garden expansions. Summer flowering annuals started early from seed will give you a timeous display when the summer guests arrive while saving you money on nursery seedlings.

The nurseries are stocked with all sorts of winter colour – sweet peas, delphinium, dianthus, foxgloves, Iceland poppies, larkspur, pansies, viola, primula, stocks and lobelia. Patient gardeners can still sow seeds of all of these. The last of the winter and early spring flowering bulbs such as Lachenalia and Watsonia must be planted before the middle of the month. May is probably the best month to establish new Fynbos gardens. Trees planted now will have a chance to establish a decent root system before the summer heat arrives.

In the vegetable garden beetroot, broad beans, cabbage, carrots, celery, Swiss chard, onions, peas and turnips can all be sown now. Winter is also the most successful time of the year to grow salad crops in the Cape; summer is often simply too hot. Sow cover crop on unused beds, even letting weeds grow is better that leaving the soil exposed.

There’s no better place to spend a Cape winter’s day than in the kitchen. It is the time for hearty broths, soups and slow bakes. The kitchen gardener should have a pantry full of preserves to add variety – a diet can become monotonous as it relies on starchy root vegetables and cabbage from the garden to provide substance. A freezer filled with frozen tomatoes, green beans, sweetcorn, pumpkin, marrows and some plump home-grown chickens is something to aspire to. Memories of past successes will hopefully spur me on to achieve the same again. Happy gardening.

In our house cold and rainy autumn days are spent in the kitchen. Soups, broths, stews, and slow roasts are the order of the day. While these are slowly bubbling away on the stove, we will have an abundance of guavas to process into preserves and chutney. I will also be dreaming about next season, and the abundance that I hope for by this time next year. Last year’s lack of planning and timeous action left our pantry quite empty this winter.

Nutrient-Deficient Soil Linked To Micronutrient Deficiencies

A study has shown a significant link between nutrient-deficient soil and micronutrient deficiencies in women and children affecting cognition, immune function, growth and overall health.

The Indian study, published in the journal Nature, analysed data from over 300 000 children, one million women and over 27 million soil tests. It focused on zinc and iron levels and was the first study to examine the relationship between children’s nutritional status and soil mineral availability. Results indicated that low soil zinc availability was associated with reduced height in women and childhood stunting, a condition due to chronic undernutrition leading to impaired brain development and heightened disease risk. Additionally, low soil iron availability was linked to higher rates of anaemia and reduced haemoglobin levels among women and children.

More than two billion people are believed to be micronutrient deficient, negatively impacting learning, motor skills and immune function, with effects lasting into adulthood. Experts suggest this figure is likely underestimated, affecting nearly half the global population.

Micronutrient deficiency, often termed “hidden hunger”, occurs when the body lacks essential vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium and iodine which are crucial for growth and development.

The study underscores that micronutrients in soil play a critical role in the health of billions globally and are essential for plant growth, human nutrition and ecosystem stability, however, many populations face increased risks of mineral deficiencies due to over-farming and modern farming techniques which have resulted in nutrient-depleted soil.

Despite limited data, research shows that at least two-thirds of children and three-quarters of women in sub-Saharan Africa have at least one micronutrient deficiency.

Health expert Vanessa Ascencao emphasizes

that micronutrients, or trace minerals play a crucial role in chemical processes that occur in the body, impacting everything from immunity to mood to athletic performance. She adds that they also support the absorption of vitamins and macrominerals in the body.

“Create healthier habits and eat foods that will nourish the body and increase micronutrient intake like organically grown fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and lean protein,” says Ascencao. “Also consider supplementing with a full-spectrum trace mineral complex to support the body’s requirements for energy, mood, hydration, electrolyte balance and muscle cramps.”

www.natroceutics.com

Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

Kurt Maske

With his advanced life support qualification, an honours degree in emergency medicine and rescue, and police reservist status, Kurt Maske’s credentials are impressive. But beyond these titles lies a humble and caring individual deeply committed to helping those in need.

The Maske family has a long history in Franschhoek; his great-grandfather built what is now Le Franschhoek Hotel, originally known as the Swiss Farm. His parents owned the La Cotte Hotel, which later became the Protea Hotel. Raised by loving parents who supported him in everything he did, which made it a lot easier to pursue a career that he loved. Observing the lack of emergency services in Franschhoek, Kurt often volunteered to help the neighbourhood watch during crises. He started with first aid courses and eventually earned his degree in emergency medicine in Durban.

Being on call 24/7 leaves little room for proper sleep, but he manages on just a few hours— sometimes even minutes—of rest. What motivates him to keep on going is that life is short; there are so many things that one can do in life to grow as a person. Also, the fact that he knows he can make a big difference in someone’s life is very rewarding. Kurt’s dedication to his community is evident in his voluntary work. He encourages Franschhoek’s youth to get involved, saying, “Find out why you want to get involved. If it’s just for money, no one will notice you.” The first steps in life may not bring immediate rewards, but the skills and experiences gained along the way are invaluable.

Since August 2023, Kurt has been working on

yachts as a medic, with a schedule of two months on and four months off. He has organized a local group of first aid responders that he hopes to expand in the coming year, aiming for greater exposure to different situations and improved competence in handling crises.

When not working, Kurt enjoys spending time with his German shepherd, Bacardi, playing golf, going to the shooting range, and visiting the gym. He values quality time with his family, exploring local restaurants and trying new cuisines.

Community members can get involved by joining the local WhatsApp group, which shares trustworthy information about courses, weather, fires, and crime. There is a small fee to join. For more information, message Kurt at the number below.

In case of an emergency, contact:

Kurt Maske: 082 413 3560

Free emergency number: 112

ER24: 084 124

Kurt, we appreciate all the hard work you put into our community. You truly are a local hero!

New IT Training Room

The Franschhoek Valley’s community took another significant stride towards effective digital learning on 7 June as community leaders, local businesses, and NGOs gathered at the Franschhoek Valley Community Sports Centre (FVCSC) for the launch of its new IT training room. Arranged by the Rotary Club of Franschhoek & Drakenstein Valley in partnership with Chatz Connect, Nemisa, and SCORE the initiative aims to bolster digital literacy and connectivity across the community.

The ceremony kicked off promptly at 10h30 with enthusiastic welcomes from organising representatives. Notable among them was Chatz Connect, who donated 20 laptops to the centre. Dr Rosalind Thomas, CEO of SAEx, underscored the global significance of digital education in an interconnected world. David Anderson of the Rotary Club spoke about the objectives of the extended Learning Hub at FVCSC, emphasising collaboration between service clubs, the private sector, NGOs, and the community. Bronwyn Makeen of Chatz Connect followed with a commitment to supporting educational initiatives, alongside insights into the Coding Club by Duke Coulbanis and a presentation from Dr Rosalind Thomas on digital education’s transformative impact and global connectivity.

The event concluded with an interactive session where attendees engaged with Yeboneer and registered for Nemisa courses, demonstrating the practical benefits of the new IT training room. A representative from SCORE expressed optimism about the centre’s role in nurturing local talent and fostering essential digital skills.

For those eager to learn more or participate in FVCSC’s initiatives, contact details are provided for key representatives of the Rotary Club of Franschhoek, Chatz Connect, and SCORE. For further information or to get involved with the initiatives at the Franschhoek Valley Community Sports Centre, please contact David Anderson

Karate Wunder

of the Rotary Club of Franschhoek & Drakenstein Valley at davidinvdv@gmail.com, Bronwyn Makeen from Chatz Connect at bronwyn@chatzconnect. com, or SCORE at ndamane15athi@gmail.com.

Funded by Hope Through Action and operated by SCORE, the Franschhoek Valley Community Sports Centre is poised to become a hub of innovation and learning, marking a significant stride toward a digitally empowered future for the valley.

Text: Leila Shirley | Image: Supplied

FHRPA NEWS

BARRY PHILLIPS

Skytram

On 23rd May, the FHRPA and others were notified that Skytram had applied to the municipality for approval of Consent Uses for Tourist Facilities at the top and bottom stations and other permissions.

The deadline for comment was 24th June extended to 25th July after a request by the FHRPA.

The notice with reports and assessments are on the municipal website. They include those posted on Doug Jeffery’s website in the Environmental Approval public participation process except the Botanical Impact Assessment was omitted. It is not known why.

The Consent Use application included a Wildfire Risk Report. It is not known why this was not included for comment on Doug Jeffery’s website. It is under the Skytram tab on the FHRPA websitewww.fhrpa.co.za - with comments. It describes as a “must have” a road to the top station “to use as both an evacuation route for visitors but also an access route for emergency services and fire services”.

According to the Integrated Fire Management Plan, the Chief Fire Officer for the Cape Winelands also asked for road access. However, “the road was considered [by Skytram] a fatal flaw from an environmental risk perspective”.

In a Survey Monkey poll, 88% of FHRPA members who participated voted against Skytram and 12% voted for it. The FHRPA’s objection letter to the municipality will be posted on its website.

The applications to the municipality for Consent

Hospice News

Colleen Douglas

On Bastille Weekend, 13 & 14 July, Hospice will be in the marquee on the Franschhoek High School rugby field selling delicious freshly-baked Croissants filled with Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese at R50 each. Thank you to the Franschhoek Theatre for hosting our second movie night. Everyone that attended loved seeing Grease again – and singing along! Thank you to all our volunteers who continue to make delicious sandwiches and soup for our patients which we distribute every second week. Your soup and sandwiches are truly appreciated by all who receive them.

Uses and to the Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environment in Pretoria are separate. If you sent comments to Doug Jeffery for or against Environmental Approval for Skytram you can send the same plus any other comments you may wish to make on the Consent Uses application to Spencer Dryer - spencer@dhaa.co.za - at David Hellig & Associates. They are making the application for Skytram to the municipality. Numbers matter. Other news

• The FHRPA is working with FRANCO to help it raise funds and awareness of what it does.

• Help is needed to re-establish the Indigenous Medicinal Garden destroyed in the floods.

• Numerous cases are reported to Pepler’s control room but not opened at SAPS. This affects the number of police officers appointed for Franschhoek so please report all incidents.

• Paul Silbermann’s team (now also sponsored by Glenwood) are cleaning up daily around our village. Saturday clean-ups for parents and children and anyone else will begin again when weather permits.

• The FHRPA is opposing an application to the municipality to rezone the heritage house on the corner of Reservoir and Akademie Street so guest suites can be built in the garden area and used as a hotel.

To stay informed join the FHRPA News WhatsApp group. Send your number to 082 391 5327. To join the FHRPA, send an email to me at barryphillips505@gmail.com

Akademie Street at Franschhoek High School

hello@franschhoektheatre.co.za | C: 067 3144 059 – after 16h00

Cutting the ribbon to the new IT training room

Jayne Wunder has won at yet another karate tournament. In the photo, she is with her proud instructor who also coaches her for karate competitions. Jayne is now focused on competing at the KSI European Karate Championships in Estonia in August 2024.

Franschhoek

Skytram: Hoop dit gebeur nie

Die Skytram projek het soos ‘n emmer koue water op ons voorstoep beland. So ver ek kan onthou is dit een van die mees geheimsinnige projekte wat in ons dorp saggies beplan is. So saggies dat dit ‘n gemeenskap in twee geskeur het... diegene vir en diegene teen die projek.

Hoekom het die groot projek wat miljoene gaan kos so ‘n groot opskudding veroorsaak? Vrae wat krap aan my en ook aan baie ander sluit in:

1. Hoe lank is beplanning gedoen, aangesien die munisipaliteit sedert minstens 2019 reeds bewus is daarvan?

2.Waarom is Franschhoek nie behoorlik ingelig nie?

3. In groot ontwikkelings moet daar ‘n openbare deelname proses wees. Was dit gedoen?

4. Omgewingsimpakstudies en openbare raadplegingsprosesse; was dit in openbare gemeenskapsvergaderings bespreek en hoe is dit gedoen?

5. Hoe belyn die omgewingsregulasies en grondgebruikbeleide asook die spesifieke asseserings met Stellenbosch Munisipaliteit?

6. Middagkrans berg se boonste gedeelte is openbare grond... Sou dit so wees, wie is die eienaar?

Dit is van die vele vra wat gevra was aan die ontwikkellaars en eienaars van die projek in ‘n inligtingsessie te Lords Acre.

Vir my persoonlik krap die volgende: Die 37 werksgeleenthede aan laaggeskoolde werkers! Wat behels so ‘n tipe werkie vir “laag geskooldes”?. Daarna sê die beplanning “ander werkers sal van buite Franschhoek of in SA in gebring word”? Wat sal beteken meer verkeer in en uit ons vallei.

En die 2 % Randwaarde van kaartjieverkope vir die eerste 10 jaar? Hoe gaan dit gemeenskapsontwikkeling in Franschhoek

bevoordeel met die randwaarde wat so laag is en lewenskostes so hoog? Dit terwyl die eienaars met 98 % wegstap?

Was ‘n behoorlike verkeersimpakstudie gedoen met Franschhoek se Hoofstraat wat oor gewone dae en feeste nie eens behoorlik parkering het nie. Met bykans plus minus meer as 3000 besoekers in piektye en in somermaande.

Nog iets wat krap.. die plan sê dat Franschhoek genoeg krag het vir die projek? Met loadshedding en in die algemeen sukkel ons met krag en watertoevoer? Waar en hoe gaan hierdie projek genoeg krag kry?

Watter planne is in plek gesit vir hoër “misdaad “ wat dalk in ons dorp kan opvlam?

Met die vloedskade van September 2023 in gedagte, watter impakstudies is gedoen vir tye wanneer die Franschhoe pas gesluit is soos nou vir herstelwerk? Is daar ‘n alternatiewe roete beplanning?

Is daar ‘n tenderproses vir die gebruik van Mont Rochelle Natuurreservaat gronde (erf 23) aangesien ons verneem dat eienaars ‘n 50 jaar huurkontrak sal kry vir grond grbruik? En wanneer was die tender geadverteer in plaaslike media?

Middagkrans berg met sy unieke plantegroei en sy wildlewe en skoonheid sal nooit weer dieselfde wees as hierdie ontwikkeling goedgekeur gaan word nie. Dit is die mooiste baken tot ons vallei. Hoekom so ‘n mooi natuurskoon en stil dorpsvallei versteur met konstruksieplanne? Hoekom dan nie ons mooi dorp hou soos dit is vir toerisme nie?

Toeriste kom juis na hierdie vallei vir sy lieflike atmosfeer en veilige hawe.

Ek hoop dat hierdie ontwikkeling nooit ‘n werklikheid sal word in ons pragtige vallei nie.

Vriendelike groete, Sylvia Bell

Editor’s Letter

Siegfried Schäfer

Dear Readers

as nothing stands out anymore! There are more than a dozen rules for capitalisation in English. The lack of space prevents me from delving into them, but I’d encourage people to think twice before using capitals.

BRUCE ACKERMAN

Career Guidance Day

18 July at Groendal Secondary School

FRANCO has recognized the need to enable learners to make an informed choice of what careers they might wish to follow after matriculating. This careers guidance day focusing on Grade 9 learners at local schools, can beneficially influence their choice of subjects in their final years of schooling to prepare them to pursue their area of interest. Having a clearer idea of available career choices should help motivate those in grade 9 to continue with their schooling.

This will be the third year FRANCO has organized a range of entities to present to the learners about their activities. They have included inter alia social services, animal care, religion, the sciences, business, policing, hospitality, tour guiding, nature conservation and farming. Information is also provided on tertiary education opportunities and the role which NSFAS and other financial aid

JUANI BEUKES

The new kid on the block...

SHARF welcomes our first “adopted” male and the newest addition to the Pinki’s Team, Nathan Jacobs. With his Animal Welfare Assistant skills, his vibrant energy, excitement, love and devotion to helping animals in need he will definitely add value and bring a next level to the work SHARF does in and around the valley.

Welcome Nathan!

As Nathan joins our team, SHARF is challenged to buy a SHARF ‘Brakkie Bakkie’ (Pooch Pick-up) for Nathan to use to do his job. Of the R80 000 needed to buy the Brakkie Bakkie, we’ve already raised R20 000 from sponsors donating toward this purchase. We invite both locals and non-locals to join hands with us and help us raise the outstanding R60 000. We have a go-fund-me project in this regard or sponsors can use our snapscan or normal banking details below. Please help us get Nathan on the go...

Our banking details

Safe Hands Animal Rescue Franschhoek

First National Bank Paarl

Acc No. 62836203076 | Ref: Brakkiebakkie

institutions play in financing such studies.

In a rapidly changing world of job opportunities, an often uninformed default approach of automatically following in a parent’s vocational footsteps needs to be reconsidered. With unemployment in our country being so high, matching skills to likely future job opportunities is vital to maximize the chances of gainful employment. However, learners need to develop an understanding of where their passion lies – which could be in an area not previously considered by them.

FRANCO appeals to local businesses and other entities who wish to make themselves available to participate in this important day in the lives of our learners.

What would be involved in a presentation is:

• A three-minute speech to explain what career you represent and how to become qualified for it,

• the pros and cons of the career you represent and what impact your career has on the community,

• An A4 page of information regarding your career together with relevant subject choices that we can give to the learners

Interested parties are invited to contact our manager, Tzilka Watson, as soon as possible. She is contactable on 060 374 0353 and via our website: www.francosa.co.za. The deadline for industry representatives is 5 July 2024.

I was recently reminded (via social media) how difficult it is to express oneself in a way that cannot be misunderstood without resorting to monosyllabic words.  I was making a point to somebody that I considered an intelligent person, only to have that person later state on social media that I said something I had never said at all! This not only made me question that individual’s intelligence but also my ability to successfully convey meaning in the English language.

The episode reminded me of a communications course at business school during which, amongst other things, we had to practice the skill of attentive listening. Mostly these days we listen but we fail to hear what the other person is saying. Attentive listening is when we are really paying attention to the other person, shutting down our internal conversations while doing so and internalising what the other person is saying.

If you think it’s easy to do that, the chances are that you’re not doing it right!

As if conveying meaning when speaking and listening attentively isn’t challenging enough, there is also writing clearly and correctly.  Most everyday writing these days is abysmal. Even a shopping list should be grammatically correct!

Here are two of my pet peeves:

Capitals Galore! I’m coming across more and more writing in which it feels like almost every second word is capitalised. Not only is it wrong, but it eludes me what the writers are trying to achieve by using all these capitals. Somebody suggested that it is a form of emphasis but that doesn’t compute for me. If nearly every word is emphasised effectively nothing is emphasised

When to use an apostrophe ‘s’. An apostrophe ‘s’ indicates possession, it is not a plural. Thus it is the 1960s and not the 1960’s, because a decade can’t own anything! TVs is the plural of TV, and doesn’t mean the same as TV’s. (Example: I have two TVs but can only use one as a power surge damaged the living room TV’s power supply.)

Incorrect grammar and punctuation can change the meaning of what is communicated significantly. A rather amusing example is found on the back cover of Lynn Ttuss’ book “Eats, Shoots and Leaves”.

A panda walks into a café. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.

“Why?” asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.

“I’m a panda,” he says at the door. “Look it up.”

The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.

“Panda. Large black and white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.”

Sticking to word fun, some years ago I came across a report about a word competition in which participants were asked to change one letter in a word to change its meaning. The winning word was ‘ignoranus’, derived from ignoramus. It was defined as being a person who is both ignorant and an @hole!

Similarly, I’d like to offer ‘twatterati’, derived from twitterati.  Twatterati are social media users who are also twats, i.e. obnoxious.

If you have examples of such word fun, why not share them with us? Until next month!

DEADLINES - SEPTEMBER 2024 ISSUE

High School Students Showcase Oratory Skills

The Annex of the Huguenot Memorial Museum came alive on 23 May as ten students from Franschhoek High School and Groendal Secondary School gathered for the annual English Speech Contest, endorsed by the Western Cape Provincial Government’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport. Celebrating International Museum Day, the event highlighted the importance of museums in education and research while giving students a valuable opportunity to enhance their research and public speaking skills.

Before the event, students received training from Dr Jeremy Davids to refine their speeches. Teachers also dedicated their time and expertise to prepare the participants: Mrs Heidi Snyders from Groendal Secondary School and Mr Waylen Cicilie from Franschhoek High School. The event represented the culmination of these collective efforts. Programme coordinator and MC, Elizna Davids, welcomed everyone, introduced the adjudicators, and highlighted the significance of the speech contest. Learners addressed topics related to the overarching theme, including “People do not realise the importance of preserving our heritage,” and “Our museums are facing many challenges in current times.” Tyron Boonzaaier, representing the museum’s educational team, introduced each contestant. The participating Grade 10 and 11 speakers were Adrian Fisher, Shandré Boonzaaier, Mbali Kofi, Lerato Safako, Sisipho Nobaza, Tanatswanashe Togara, Vuyokazi Williams, Haylah Mwila, Ursula Beukes and Chloe Voorslag. Parents and community members gathered in support of the speakers.

The contest adjudicators, Adv. Wilfred Moses, Mrs Ingrid Maritz and Miss Monique Dirkse brought diverse perspectives to the assessment process, using clearly defined criteria: content (50%), delivery (30%), and language (20%). While the adjudicators deliberated, guests enjoyed refreshments. Adv Moses, the head adjudicator, praised the contestants’ immense efforts and encouraged them to keep striving for excellence. Every participant received a certificate and a prize in recognition of their efforts.

The top three speakers received prestigious awards, including a trophy to be displayed in their school’s showcase for the year. Third place went to Vuyokazi Williams from Franschhoek High School, second place to Haylah Mwila from Groendal Secondary, and first place to Mbali Kofi from Franschhoek High School. These winners will now advance to the Regional Museums Gala Speech Contest, where they will compete against winners from museums in the Boland and West Coast regions. In closing, the Huguenot Memorial Museum’s Chrisben February thanked all the participants, educators, adjudicators, and sponsors for their support in making the event a success. The event also benefited from the community’s backing and the generosity of sponsors such as Bootleggers, Starbucks, Rose Cottage, Col’Cacchio, Pinz Nez, Wordsworth, Huguenot Fine Chocolates and the Dutch Reformed Church, among others. The annual speech contest provides students with a valuable opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge beyond the school curriculum.

Text & Image: Leila Shirley

Speech contest winners: (FLTR) Third-placed Vuyokazi Williams (Franschhoek High School), first-placed Mbali Kofi (Franschhoek High School) and second-placed Haylah Mwila (Groendal Secondary).

Nathan Jacobs

Implementing Effective Leadership Development

The world of work is changing, rapidly. With more teams made up of diverse people from a wide variety of locations, leadership these days has become less about personal relationships and more about managing across distance and effective organisation. Leaders in this world need skills they had never considered previously, and companies need to train them.

Despite companies spending hundreds of billions of rands in leadership training globally, 63% of millennials feel their leadership were letting them down and only 27% of leaders believe they are equipped to lead hybrid teams. Here’s what you should be thinking about when implementing leadership development in your organisation.

1. Analysis and Assessment

In order to build leadership capacity for the future, the first thing you should do is look at your organisation’s unique values, challenges, and priorities. Are you looking to increase profits, cut costs, improve employee retention or mitigate risks? Remember, your analysis needs to focus not only on what’s happening now, but on the coming changes in your industry and your goals for where you want to be in the future.

Doing this will then allow you to take a closer look at the skills of your leaders as they currently stand and determine which leadership skills are most lacking.

2. Research

The next step is choosing which leadership training organisations to partner with. There is currently no shortage of leadership development resources, speakers and organisations that offer training. The resources you work with should be vetted, relevant, and applicable to learning goals you established in the analysis phase.

In order to ensure you are getting the best possible course you should evaluate the course material and format and research the course instructors. Who is offering this course? Do they have the requisite experience?

When it comes to making a difference, instructors with a strong educational foundation and relevant qualifications will always trump the charismatic author with multiple tattoos and a matric. As your accountants, we are able to help you build a training budget, which can help prioritise training and ensure you get the most impact from your spend.

3. Involve your seniors

You and your senior leaders understand leadership in the context of the company better than most and as such should play a mentorship role in the development of future leaders. Training engagement has been shown to increase dramatically for attendees when it is their leader who is among the teachers, so don’t be afraid to engage your team as an active part of the process.

This will also help you too. By taking part you will also be aware of the course content and can more easily spot teachable moments during the day-today running of the company, reinforce the lessons in their mentorship sessions and better spot those who are implementing the lessons in their own personal development.

4. Inform your employees

Building future leaders is about spotting talent, then using the training to position that talent for future company development. It is no good simply offering

7 Tips to Protecting Your Identity Online

When engaging in online activities, one cannot ignore the inherent risks involved. Whether you’re accessing information, interacting with a company or buying a product or service, your data is being stored and then possibly shared with others. If it gets into the wrong hands, your data can easily be exploited by cybercriminals for anything from identity theft to stealing funds from your bank account.

Vic Esterhuizen, a senior manager at credit bureau

XDS, says that protecting your identity online is crucial in the current digital era. “It’s important to keep in mind that your personal information is just as precious as any tangible property you may own,” he says. “Taking proactive measures to protect your online identity is not only advised; it is also required.”

Here are seven ways you can limit the exposure of your information so that you can deter – and hopefully prevent –cybercriminals from accessing it.

1. Deactivate or delete old email or social media accounts

Even though you may not access that old email address or social media account anymore, your financial or personal information may still be stored within it. If there’s a security breach on one of those sites, your information could be accessed and used against you. For peace of mind, rather deactivate or delete any old accounts you no longer use by going into the account settings and looking for a deactivation or closure option.

2. Regularly review your privacy settings

Privacy and security settings change frequently depending on the platform you’re using. For example, Facebook and Instagram regularly update their platforms with new functionality which can mean new avenues for exploitation. Make sure you’re not giving strangers access to your private information by reviewing your privacy settings on a regular basis and making any necessary adjustments.

3. Disable location tracking

The ability to receive location-based suggestions when you search for local companies is convenient, but this in-built GPS functionality means your whereabouts can be tracked whenever you have your phone with you. Be aware of the apps and services that have access to your location and that this is only enabled when you’re using the service.

4. Update your software regularly

It’s important to maintain the most recent versions of your operating system, web browser, and other software. Software updates frequently come with security patches that fix flaws and guard against well-known exploits. Make sure you have the most recent security patches by enabling automatic updates – or by frequently checking for updates manually.

5. Know the company you’re dealing with

As in the offline world, any company you deal with online and with whom you share your data should be reputable and trustworthy. Vic says it’s important

training without also informing those who are to attend of the reasons for why the training is happening.

Attendees need to understand the future company goals and recognise the skills they will need to perfect if they want to be part of the future leadership of the company. This way you’ll give them the motivation to engage with it as thoroughly as possible. Nothing inspires people quite like seeing the personal benefits.

5. Implement the training

Training should be simple. Whether you choose to do it all in one go, or over time fitted into a general working life, the courses need to be manageable in terms of time and effort. This means you are going to need to consider each individual attendee as well as your company’s operational needs. The easier you make it for everyone to be involved, at the lowest loss to the company, the more the return on investment will be.

6. Feedback, evaluation and impact

Training has no benefit if the lessons of that training are not implemented. It’s important to schedule feedback sessions with attendees to repeatedly follow up on the lessons in the training. Depending on your goals you may even be able to build the training impact into the attendees’ KPIs.

Some training sessions and companies will even incorporate evaluation and feedback into their sessions so you as a leader can analyse who is performing well in the course and who needs added focus. All of this will help you to adjust future training content and goals and ultimately ensure you get the most long-term impact and leadership growth.

to do your due diligence if you’re concerned. “Read privacy declarations, use secure platforms, and make sure that the company in question is transparent about how they control your data and that they take data protection seriously,” he says. This includes aspects like complying with industry data protection standards and adhering to comprehensive security protocols before committing your data to the company in question.

6. Unsubscribe from mailing lists

How many mailing lists are you subscribed to? 10? 20? More? These days, it’s the norm for sites you interact with – whether you’re reading its content or buying its products - to ask you to subscribe to their mailing list. As these lists accumulate over time, the chances that your data can be exposed to criminals increases. Start by unsubscribing from the mailing lists you’re no longer interested in to help you lessen your digital footprint and limit the amount of people who have access to your personal information.

7. Use two-factor authentication These days, many sites and apps are adopting two-factor authentication for increased security. Enabling this adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification step (usually through a text message, email or authenticator app) in addition to your password. You could even be asked to use facial recognition if your mobile device caters for this function. Overall, two-factor authentication makes it significantly harder for cybercriminals to gain access to your accounts even if they do have your password.

The internet has become an integral part of our daily lives – whether we’re using it for banking, shopping, working or socialising. In the process, our personal information is being shared with an everincreasing number of companies, some of which may have questionable ethics when it comes to the security and sharing of this data. At the same time, cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, and their crimes have serious consequences for the lives of everyday people. Your online identity is a valuable asset that deserves protection. “Just as you lock your doors at home, you must take steps to secure your digital presence,” says Vic. “By practicing strong passwords, being cautious with sharing personal information, and staying updated on privacy settings, you can fortify your online identity and enjoy a safer and more secure digital life.”

Text: Editorial Desk

Groot drakenstein Games club

Felecia, could you tell us about the vision behind the Uncorked Music Academy and how it aims to impact the youth of Franschhoek through music education?

It all started when the band ‘Uncorked’ saw an opportunity to put back into the Franschhoek community through music. They looked towards a music programme for the youth. The main purpose of the Uncorked Music Academy (UMA) is to cultivate new skills, strive for personal growth, contribute positively to their community, avoid the challenges of street life, and acquire expertise that can form the foundation for a meaningful career. Rowan, as someone deeply involved in both FR Music Studio and Uncorked Music Academy, how do these two initiatives complement each other, and how do you manage your roles between the two?

We based the principles of FR Music Studio on the fact we want to bring music to our own community. This is where it coincides with Uncorked Music Academy. FR Music Studio has been active since 2019 and the teaching methodology at UMA derives from what we do at FR. We approach UMA with the same passion and commitment. Finding balance between the different institutions we work at can be a challenge, but prioritisation and timing

Poetic Licence

Sometimes it is not easy to know whose voice is speaking in a poem; who the ‘I’ actually is. Not so with this achingly personal poem. The voice here, I suggest, is undoubtedly that of the poet himself.

For many years I have loved the poetry of Stanley Kunitz, a long-lived American poet who was born on 29 July 1905 and died in 2006 two months short of his 101st birthday.

Twice appointed Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the US Library of Congress (in 1974 and 2000), his work oozes a delight in and deep philosophical commitment to the magnificence of all life. Much of his poetry, especially his later poetry, breathes with this joy.

One of his many passions was gardening, and he continued to maintain an acclaimed ocean-side garden at his home in Provincetown, Massachusetts, even late in life. It is there that I imagine him to be in the lovely poem below. Unsurprisingly perhaps, much of Kunitz’s imagery comes from nature, where “under a gunmetal sky” he prepares the garden for an approaching thunderstorm as crickets bravely sing out their passionate “music” as if about to burst with its energy. He is taken back four decades in memory to a time when, “wild with love/ and torn almost in two” with romantic yearning, he was young and filled with youthful hunger.

This “longing for the dance”, this “desire, desire, desire” is something he shares with the garrulous insects in remembering his own ardent, and very

play a big role in managing them effectively.

Felecia, could you share a memorable moment or success story from the first few months of the Uncorked Music Academy that highlights its positive influence on the students and the community?

I was very excited on the day that we did our initial testing. The level of talent was very impressive and we were very surprised about the number of learners that showed good musical abilities. When Uncorked the Band requested a performance item for the fundraiser, we were convinced that we could prepare the learners within the 3 lessons we had before the day of the fundraiser. After the performances, the learners were very excited to do music at UMA.

Rowan, what are some of the unique challenges you’ve faced in establishing and growing the Uncorked Music Academy, and how have you overcome them?

Scheduling, instruments and the large number of learners were big initial challenges. After 6 months we are quite settled into a rhythm with the systems we put in place to help manage everything. We managed to overcome those challenges by working together with the school, learners, parents and the founders.

Felecia, with competitions and performances becoming integral to the academy, how do these experiences enhance the students’ musical development and confidence?

“You’re only as good as your last performance.”

Performances give us goals to work towards. With each performance we try to raise the bar and we challenge the learners. After every performance, the learners came back stronger and more motivated to improve. So far we’ve had 3 performances with big audiences. Through these performances we could identify their strengths and weaknesses and further their development in both aspects.

human, loves. Even in old age it persists. Like him, “like a child again”, we are reminded of what counts in life, of the centrality of love, and of who we truly are.

Touch Me

Summer is late, my heart.

Words plucked out of the air some forty years ago when I was wild with love and torn almost in two scatter like leaves this night of whistling wind and rain. It is my heart that’s late, it is my song that’s flown.

Outdoors all afternoon under a gunmetal sky staking my garden down, I kneeled to the crickets trilling underfoot as if about to burst from their crusty shells; and like a child again marvelled to hear so clear and brave a music pour from such a small machine.

What makes the engine go? Desire, desire, desire.

The longing for the dance stirs in the buried life.

One season only, and it’s done.

So let the battered old willow thrash against the windowpanes and the house timbers creak.

Darling, do you remember the man you married? Touch me, remind me who I am.

Stanley Kunitz

[from The Collected Poems, Norton & Co., 2002]

Learners enjoy being on stage and we try to create a platform as far as we can, but we do have learners for whom being on a stage does not come naturally. Although we do accommodate their different personalities, we also encourage them to play in a group setting and at home.

Felecia and Rowan, looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the future of the Uncorked Music Academy? Are there any upcoming

Book Review

The Near North by Ivan Vladislavic

Publ. Picador. 257 pages

Ivan Vladislavic is one of South Africa’s most versatile writers, the author of several novels and non-fiction works (including the monumental collaboration with photographic great David Goldblatt entitled “Double Exposure.”)

The Franschhoek Literary Festival came up trumps this year with its brilliant mixture of South African fiction and non-fiction writers. One of the special pleasures was listening to Ivan Vladislavic again. His last appearance at the FLF was just after he had published “Portrait with Keys,” a vivid and moving depiction of life in Johannesburg. I will always remember his wry description of the effect of the (then new) installation of a burglar alarm in your house.

“When it is armed, by the touching of keys on a pad, it emits a whine that sends the occupants rushing out, banging the door behind them… Every departure is precipitate, every arrival a scraping in.”

In his new book “The Near North” he continues being the chronicler of life in the Northern suburbs, lamenting the passing of a more civil and relaxed way of life. He does this by focussing on the apparently trivial details of urban street life. For instance, he notices something as insignificant as a nail lying on the pavement and this sets him off on a search for more evidence of nails: broken nails in the tarmac where cats-eyes used to be, a bent nail where a post box once hung, and so on. As someone once said, “He skins your eyes!”

We, in Franschhoek, are still spared the blight of urban decay, but can learn from the author to observe and question the smallest changes to the built environment. No change is insignificant

This new book confirms his position as one of the most acute observers of suburban Joburg life. Or, more specifically, vanishing Joburg suburban life. This is both moving and disturbing because you know that, if the cosmopolitan capital of South Africa continues to decay, inevitably other cities and towns will follow suit.

The evidence he provides is all the more telling because it is so imperceptible. Potholes and broken traffic lights are obvious signs of urban decay. But unsafe parks and broken pavements and chopped down plane trees are more hidden signs of a vanishing culture.

Vladislavic has a keenly observant eye for the telling detail, the object or the gesture that passes most of us by. For example, he draws your attention to the piece of cardboard attached to a tree along Eleventh Avenue Houghton that read, “PAINTUR cal 083…” This makes one more aware of similar messages, stuck on walls, popped into post boxes or tied to garden gates - all indicators of masses of

projects or expansions that you’re particularly excited about?

We hope to be involved with all the schools within the Franschhoek Valley. Recently, we started at The KUSASA Academy. This is very exciting, because it signifies the expansion of the Uncorked Music Academy. We have also been focussed on preparing for the upcoming Bastille Festival, where the learners will be performing.

of

down your guard and your city is lost. The wolves slink out of the woods, the weeds spread. You need the caretaker’s tools at hand: broom, spade and rifle.”

The reader is led by the hand by the author and his partner Minky as they move from cosmopolitan Troyville in the East to more upmarket Riviera Road in Killarney (itself a significant flight) and continue their exploration of the city with new landmarks to guide them.

Any reader with some knowledge of the Northern suburbs will delight in the variety of memories: nostalgic views of Zoo Lake, the decaying Gupta compound in Saxonwold, or Mandela’s empty house in Houghton.

Non-Joburgers will still be delighted by this depiction of a liveable urban life – how to survive in spite of everything.

unemployed craftsmen and workers.

The author quotes the Russian writer Vasily Grossman’s grim view

human culture. “Let

with Felecia and Rowan Ayford, of The Uncorked Music Academy

HARRY OWEN

CHARLOTTE VAN ZYL

PLATTER GUIDES: Lifetime collection of Platter Wine Guides for sale. Every issue from highly sought-after first-ever 1980 edition to 2020 edition. All in excellent condition. R29k. WhatsApp 082 391 5327.

MOBILE MASSAGE THERAPIST: Highly professional mobile massage in and around a 30km radius of Franschhoek. Swedish, Deep Tissue and Sports. Treatments may include a Indian head massage, hands and feet reflexology. Contact Glenda Lee Newman on 062 019 9662 Need a PET/HOUSE-SITTER with good references?

Contact Ronelle @ 073 646 1687

RE-THINKING YOUR GARDEN? For Garden

Consulting call Susan at 072 932 5393

PET / HOUSE SITTING: Tina Stanley. Trusted pet & house sitter in Franschoek, WC. Reliable care for your pets & home, ensuring peace of mind while you’re away. Contact 083 448 4951 for bookings & references.

RE-FIBRE GLASS YOUR POOL in any colour you like. Call RiaPools for a quote: 072 347 5355

ACCOMMODATION REQUIRED for quiet single lady with no pets, +-R5000/R7000pm ASAP Please contact Ronelle 073 646 1687

DOMESTIC / HOUSEKEEPER: My name is Ndazunga Longwe and I am a Malawian lady looking for a job as a domestic worker or housekeeper. I have 9 years of experience, and consider myself to be a hardworking person. Please contact me on 083 597 4657. For references, please contact Melisa at 074 034 0081, Pery at 081 038 2351, or Vanesa at 079 286 9445.

CD COLLECTION FOR SALE: I am selling 225 rock, pop, blues, jazz, and classical CDS accumulated over 40 years. Almost all are in their original cases, and are R25 each. If interested, please contact me on 072 458 8769

WESTERN CAPE HOUSE SITTERS: We have many mature, kind, responsible, animal loving, live-in house sitter members who would love to care for your home and pets. Your furry children may miss you but their environment and routines remain intact which is why we at Western Cape House Sitters will provide a perfect win-win for everyone... Peter Walsingham 082 822 4200 info@westerncapehousesitters.co.za

CHANGING TO A SALT WATER SYSTEM? Let us advise & quote for you! Call RiaPools: 072 347 5355

HOUSEKEEPER / DOMESTIC: My name is Charity Nyirenda and I am a Malawian lady looking for a job as a housekeeper or domestic worker. I am reliable, honest, trustworthy, hardworking, and available any time. Please contact me via WhatsApp or phone call at 081 546 7283.

POOL PUMP PROBLEMS? Noise? We quote and help you out! Call RiaPools: 072 347 5355

STUFF WANTED: All manner of clothing and household items needed for our ‘First Friday of The Month’ jumble sales. Please help us to help the animals of the valley. Please drop off at the SPCA clinic in La Provence Street, Groendal, or phone for us to collect. 021 876 4808 FRESH, ORGANIC FARM PRODUCE: Delivered weekly to Franschhoek, including vegetables and fruit in season, chicken, eggs, cheese, honey, etc. Lists of available produce received on Monday, orders placed on Tuesday for Wednesday delivery. A number of Franschhoekers are already receiving weekly deliveries. To be added to the list contact Sue Norman on 083 321 3442 or suenorman50@outlook.com.

DO YOU STILL HAVE THAT POOL LEAK? Losing water all the time? Let us quote and take care of the problem! Call RiaPools: 072 347 5355

HOUSEKEEPER / DOMESTIC: My name is Funda Mwale and I am 27 years old. I am looking for a job as a housekeeper or domestic worker. My contact number is 069 838 3337.

PROFESSIONAL POOL SERVICE REQUIRED? Keep it local! Get a quote. Call RiaPools: 072 347 5355

Community Events

SPORT

FRANSCHHOEK TENNIS CLUB: Social tennis is played at the club on Fridays, Sundays and Public Holidays from 08h30. For more information contact Nicky. 082 455 6411

PARKRUN: Saturdays at Rickety Bridge Wine Estate. Time: 08h00. Cost: Free. Register at www.parkrun.co.za

CHURCH

SERVICES

METHODIST CHURCH: Sunday service 10h00. Rev Russell Norman. 021 872 3580 or 082 662 4509.

NG KERK: Sondagdienste 09h30. Geen aanddiens. Ds Peet Bester. 021 876 2431. Besoekers welkom.New Apostolic Church: Le Roux Street, Groendal. Sundays 09h00, Wednesdays 19h30. Rector: Charles Leibrandt.

ST GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH: Groot Drakenstein. Sunday Services: Holy Communion and Sunday School 10h00. Revd Wilfred Meyer 084 407 1280. Office - 021 874 4008. willowdale@cybersmart.co.za

SHOFAR CHRISTIAN CHURCH: Services - 09h00 & 18h00 English services at 7 Lambrechts Street. Pastor Richard Wade. 083 225 8529. All welcome!

TRINITY CHURCH: Worship Sundays at 09h30 at L’Ermitage Chapel, with Holy Communion. Weekday service Thursday at 10h30 at Fleur de Lis. Contact Gavin – 083 799 0726.

UNITING REFORMED CHURCH: Sunday service 09h30. Dr Shaun Burrows. 021 876 2632. Visitors welcome.

GENERAL

Alcoholics Anonymous: WED evenings 19:00, Groendal Community Centre, Contact David +27 83 305 5159

Useful Numbers

ACCOUNTANTS

Tax Shop 021 876 2676

ATTORNEYS

Susan Charlesworth 021 876 2592/072 402 9469

Snipelisky & Killian 083 250 0943/021 876 2084

BURGLAR ALARMS

Pepler Alarms 021 876 3308

CLUBS & ASSOCIATIONS

Boland Bridge Club 021 876 3031

Franschhoek Tennis Club 078 278 4843

FHK Heritage & Ratepayers Ass. 083 441 8280

Groot Drakenstein Games Club 021 874 1906

- Craig Mc Naught: Captain 080 845 1014

- Lejean Pieterse, Hiring 082 490 0405 Lions 021 876 3775 Stb Masonic Lodge (Chris) 072 211 9991

Franschhoek Rotary Club 082 891 4613

Franschhoek Probus Club 021 876 3179

ELECTRICAL

Franschhoek Electric 074 313 7829/021 876 3640

Rensburg Electrical 021 876 2120/083 309 2923

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Franschhoek Pharmacy 021 876 2261

Franschhoek Health Club 021 876 3310

Karen Protheroe (Dietician) 082 925 0931

HOUSE & GARDEN

Clock Repairs 028 840 1716

Lighting & Accessories 021 876 3640

Ria Pools (Franschhoek) 021 876 2612/072 347 5355

Sue’s Gardens 083 321 3442

Valley Garden Service 071 591 0342

OPTOMETRIST

Marelise Bester 021 872 3530

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Fhk Physiotherapy Associates 021 876 4234 (office) 074 325 5555 (Bronwen) 076 842 6052 (Maans)

PLUMBERS

Franschhoek Plumbing 021 876 3759

PSYCHOLOGIST

Danielle Smith 082 812 1476

PUBLIC SERVICES

Hospice 021 876 3085

Library 021 808 8406

Post Office 021 876 2342

Welfare (ACVV) 021 876 2670

SPCA 083 745 5344

SHARF 076 327 4939

SCHOOLS

Bridge House School 021 874 8100

Franschhoek High School 021 876 2079

Groendal Primary School 021 876 2448

Groendal Secondary School 021 876 2211

Wes-Eind Primary School 021 876 2360

Dalubuhle

young minds are inspired; where individual care and attention is combined with a distinctive, progressive education and where changemakers are equipped with skills for a world beyond our imagination. Bridge House is a leading independent, co-ed day and boarding school, situated in a beautiful, safe setting in the Franschhoek Valley.

An independent (IEB) Matric examination accepted by universities worldwide

· An excellent academic track record – 100% pass rate to date

· A wide variety of traditional team and individual sports and cultural activities

· Four, spacious, modern boarding houses for students from Grade 6 to 12

· Extensive facilities on 28 hectares of land

Open Day is any day you want it to be.

Contact Gill Malcolm gilmal@bridgehouse.org.za or +27 (0) 874 8100 for a bespoke tour of the school or an online interview with the Head. www.bridgehouse.org.za

Here

Selling property in Franschhoek since 2009 JUDGEMENT

Providing insightful experienced advice to sellers and buyers SERVICE

Consistently applauded for service excellence

CONTACT US TODAY TO DISCUSS ALL YOUR PROPERTY NEEDS

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