the Muse - May 2023

Pinelander

Natalie Macdonald-Spence

Peanut Butter Energy Balls

Heleen Meyer

Local Travel Cape Agulhas National Park

Matthew Redfern and Joseph Gibbon win GOLD at I-Fest2

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

“What’s in a name? That which we call loadshedding, by any other name would appear just as dark”... with apologies to Shakespeare.

It has felt like an early start to winter this past month... just a bit wetter, colder and a bit less light. The pervasive power cuts, to give it another name, have certainly not helped to keep the summer mood alive a little longer. Solar panels on roofs are spreading, which is a move in the right direction and can only help the situation, albeit at a high cost to the those who can afford it. However, the majority of households are still left in the dark, so to speak. It is worth remembering that households installing panels for their own needs will not solve the energy requirements of our many large businesses and heavy industry. A reliable, industrial strength national power supply is still essential to keep a country’s economy going and growing. So, let’s not fool ourselves by thinking that we will be OK if we make a plan for our own houses. It may improve our quality of life, but we cannot survive on our own if the infrastructure and economy around us is slowly starved of the means to operate. We rely heavily on it, and if that goes down, so do we all.

In my opinion, we are unlikely to resuscitate the aging old and ailing new coal fired power stations and they will not come to our rescue. It is more likely a matter of keeping them limping along until more feasible and sustainable alternate energy systems are put in to replace them. How and when that may happen, I do not know, but I really, really hope that our government finally takes the decisive and urgent steps to make it happen, and soon. Failing that, it will have to come down to forward-looking individual provinces, cities or municipalities to invest in their own medium-sized energy generation schemes. That will take a lot of money which will have to come from ratepaying citizen’s pockets, perhaps with some help from central government. As unpalatable as that sounds, it is starting to look like the most likely road out of the dark hole in which we find ourselves. Here’s hoping there is more energy on the way to light our path to the future.

I hope you enjoy this edition.

Max Schutte

Editor and Advertising

Max Schutte

Writer and Photographer

Glynnis Schutte

CONTACT THE MUSE MAGAZINE

c 073 644 1288

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muse@pinelandsdirectory.co.za

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This fairly small bird is found throughout South Africa, mainly on rocky slopes and sparse woodlands. Familiar chats have a diagnostic orange rump especially noticeable in flight. One of the most diagnostic traits is a frequent wing flick (three or four times) as the bird lands. Food mostly consists of insects, but they are also known to eat fruit and seeds. The nest consists of a cup in tree holes, old bird nests, and nest boxes.

The Afrikaans name, Gewone Spekvrete (common fat eater) comes about from their frequency of eating the fat used to grease wheels of ox wagons during the Great Trek.

Featured bird text by John McFarlane, a keen birder residing at Pinewood Village, Pinelands. John has followed his birding passion into most parts of South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. "Being retired makes it easier to get away." he says.

© Copyright reserved. All editorial content and graphics are copyright and may not be copied, republished or re-used without the express permission of The Muse Magazine, which reserves all rights. Parts of this publication may also be subject to separate copyright by other parties.

www.pinelandsdirectory.co.za

Muse Editor Max Schutte

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Wednesday 3 May 2023

HAPPY HOUR SOCIAL GROUP

Meet at the Pinelands library from 9:30am to 11am. The topic will be Sea Shells and Succulents. All welcome. Call Santa at 021 531 2600.

Thursday 4 May 2023

WESTERN CAPE BLOOD SERVICE

Do something remarkable - donate blood at St Stephens Church Main Hall, Central Square, from 3pm until 7:30pm. Remember to eat a balanced meal 3 to 4 hours before donating blood. Confirm times at 021 507 6300.

Thur/Fri/Sat 4/5/6 May 2023

SGGS PRESENTS "TIME WILL TELL" AS PART OF THEIR 175 YEAR CELEBRATION

Written and directed by Mr Emslie and Mrs Reeler at the Geof Burton Hall. Tickets R50 to R80 are available from Quicket.

Thursday/Friday: Show starts at 7pm.

Saturday: One show at 3pm and one at 7pm. See Advert page 4.

Saturday 6 May 2023

PINELANDS METHODIST CHURCH

"HOME GROWN" MARKET

The Market now takes place in the church hall at 2 Union Avenue from 9am to 12:30pm. Open to all with free admission. No charge either for friendly fellowship. Various valuefor-money stalls and plenty of good food available. Call Joan on 082 810 1889.

Saturdays 2023 9am to 1pm

BRIC-A-BRAC SALES FOR KAPS

Keep an eye out for Gloria running the Karoo Animal Protection Society (KAPS) bric-a-brac table at the Pop-Up nursery at Pinelands Club from 9am to 1pm. Donations of dog/ cat food are welcome. These will be taken to KAPS in Barrydale.

Tuesday 9 May 2023

BIRD WALK AT KIRSTENBOSCH BOTANICAL GARDENS

Meet at the information desk at gate 1 for the walk lasting from 8am to 11am. Cape Bird Club organiser is Linda Hibbin. The leader for this walk is Gigi Laidler.

Wednesday 17 May 2023

PAGE TURNERS BOOK CLUB

Join the adult book club from 10am to 11am in the Pinelands Library Committee Room. Special guests, author/editors, Joanne Hichens and Karina Szczurek will chat about their book Fluid which is an anthology of short stories by emerging writers. These stories explore themes around identity, culture and society. RSVP: Verna 021 814 1780 / Lauren 021 814 1777.

Wednesday 31 May 2023

PINELANDS STAMP CIRCLE

Meet at 6:30pm in the Activities Hall at Pinelands Library. Mike Hill will show "British Postal Stationery". Roy Oldfield will display the latest RSA issues. All welcome. Call Martin for details 021 689 5050.

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! email muse@pinelandsdirectory.co.za. Send content for the June 2023 edition by 19 May 2023. R160 ensures placement in the calendar.

GEOF BURTON HALL | R50 - R80 PER TICKET

Pinelands Choir Festival

What better than the late summer Cape weather to sing outdoors! Pinelands North Primary School, under the steady guidance of Music Head, Thomas de Bruin, hosted the Pinelands Choir Festival on 16 March 2023 at which the Pinehurst Senior Choir shared the stage with several other local school choirs. The programme was concluded by a massed item Seasons of Love.

CANNONS CREEK PUPILS SELECTED FOR KSI KARATE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023

Congratulations to six pupils from Cannons Creek Independent School who have been selected for the KSI South Africa South Team that will participate in the KSI Karate World Championships 2023 (10-15 July 2023 at the CTICC in Cape Town).

Right: Maria Stamatiadis (Gr5), Antonios Stamatiadis (Gr5), Richard du Plessis (Gr7), Sophia Stamatiadis (Gr9), Georgie Crede (Gr7) and Khloe Potgieter (Gr7).

ST GEORGE’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL CONTINUES 175TH CELEBRATIONS WITH DRAMA PRODUCTION "TIME WILL TELL"

St George’s Grammar School has thoroughly enjoyed celebrating their 175-year milestone. In March, they hosted their Georgian Fair, which was a resounding success. The young Georgians took to the stage portraying the story of brave St George slaying the dragon. The fun and entertainment ended on a high note with some epic tunes at the Battle of the Bands competition.

The first term ended with an inspiring community project run by a Grade 11 pupil, Ande Melane, founder of the Shared Purpose Foundation. The Grade 11’s hosted 68 Grade 7 pupils from Insthinga Primary School in Gugulethu, sharing different sporting codes, many of which were new to the Insthinga pupils, including hockey, squash, softball, and more. The event also received sponsorship from Comessa Food Services.

While looking back on the 175-year journey and where it all began, the school hosted a celebration service at St George’s Cathedral in April to commemorate their rich history and share in a time of thanksgiving and community.

That’s not all - there’s more…on the 4th to the 6th May the high school presents its theatre production Time Will Tell and what a journey there is in store for you! Follow the three misfits Beans, Brains, and Tank, as they attend a most memorable detention… one that will stand the test of time.

Tickets are available on Quicket (see a QRcode on the advert), or visit the school website on www.sggs.co.za

Pinehurst Senior Choir

UNLOCKING POTENTIAL: HOW A GROWTH MINDSET CAN HELP PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS

By Thaakirah Fritz PNPS Personal Assistant to the Principal and Media/Marketing Intern

At Pinelands North Primary School, we value the importance of a growth mindset in education for our pupils. A growth mindset is a belief that one's abilities and qualities can change and develop through effort and practice. In contrast, a fixed mindset is the belief that one's abilities and qualities are set at a certain level and cannot be altered. By fostering a growth mindset, our pupils are taught to overcome challenges, learn from mistakes, seek out feedback, and improve their academic performance. It has been proven that pupils with a growth mindset are more resilient, motivated, and confident than those who have a fixed mindset.

Considering the school examinations at the end of the second term, a growth mindset can assist our pupils in preparing

effectively, coping with stress, and reaching their personal academic goals. A growth mindset can also promote prosocial (kind and helpful) behaviour, such as empathy and volunteering, amongst our pupils. Some ways to foster a growth mindset at home are:

• Praising your children for their effort, strategies, and progress, rather than their intelligence or talent.

• Encouraging children to view challenges as opportunities to grow and learn.

• Teaching children how the brain works and how it can change with practice.

• Providing children with feedback that is specific, actionable, and supportive.

• Modelling a growth mindset as a parent by sharing your own struggles, and learning new skills. 

CANNONS CREEK 2024 SCHOLARSHIPS ANNOUNCED

Cannons Creek Independent High School is proud to announce the recipients of its Grade 8 scholarships for 2024. Well done to Nehaan Harris and Georgie Crede, who have been awarded the Academic, and Music Scholarships respectively. Both recipients are currently in Grade 7 at Cannons Creek Independent School.

THORNTON R3 200 000

THORNTON R1 350 000

PINELANDS R4 595 000

JOINT MANDATE

NEED IT ALL & MORE - Grandeur from a bygone age, ample space. 2 Reception rooms, 4 beds, 3.5 baths, separate entrance. Multiple options for dual living or passive income, making it ideal for use as a guesthouse or student accommodation.

Web: RXBS-2909 • Abigail Hinchcliffe 084 577 3576

FFC No: 2022387352 • Property Practitioner

RE/MAX Property Associates: 021 531 4477

PINELANDS R4 250 000

SOLE MANDATE

CUTE AS A BUTTON! - Perfect for lock-up-and-go lifestyle. Ideal for first-time buyers or those looking to downsize. Light, bright open-plan living / kitchen area with 2 bedrooms, family bathroom, garden and courtyard in a secure complex.

Web: RXBS-2899 • Abigail Hinchcliffe 084 577 3576

FFC No: 2022387352 • Property Practitioner

RE/MAX Property Associates: 021 531 4477

PINELANDS R1 899 000

JOINT MANDATE

HOUSE WITH 2 SEPARATE ENTRANCES - Large family home with dual living & passive income opportunities, all you need for a busy family. Main house: 2 receptions, 3 beds, 3 baths. Direct access to garage. Two 1 reception / 1 bed apartments.

Web: RXBS-2671 • Abigail Hinchcliffe 084 577 3576

FFC No: 2022387352 • Property Practitioner

RE/MAX Property Associates: 021 531 4477

THORNTON R1 250 000

SOLE MANDATE

FAMILY HOME / DUAL LIVING - NO TRANSFER DUTY!

Double storey 4 bedroom home with 3 bathrooms, guest loo, 3 huge living areas, fitted kitchen, laundry, storage, cottage and outside room & bathroom with separate entrance and parking.

Web: RXBS-2586 • Cindy Sarandis 071 081 4413

FFC No: 2022387356 • Property Practitioner

RE/MAX Property Associates: 021 531 4477

SOLE MANDATE

STARTER HOME - 3 Bed townhouse with open plan living, fitted kitchen and parking bay. Nestled in secure Howard Hamlet and includes communal swimming pools, security and play area for children.

Web: RXBS-2900 • Cindy Sarandis 071 081 4413

FFC No: 2022387356 • Property Practitioner

RE/MAX Property Associates: 021 531 4477

SOLE MANDATE

SECURE 2 BED WITH BACK GARDEN - Secure duplex in gated complex, two upstairs bedrooms & bathroom with o/p living room & fitted kitchen. Private back courtyard, carport for your exclusive use. Communal pool & visitor’s parking. Levies R980pm.

Web: RXBS-2885 • Cindy Sarandis 071 081 4413

FFC No: 2022387356 • Property Practitioner

RE/MAX Property Associates: 021 531 4477

Georgie Crede

Nehaan Harris

The Challenge and Joy of Teaching

by Dave Campbell

As a first year teacher

I started teaching in 1984 in a co-ed school in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. My first classroom was a prefabricated structure with a hole in the floor near the back. Early on in that first term a Grade 9 disappeared from my class and appeared ten minutes later at the door, asking to be let in. As a first year teacher, I was initially bemused, then outraged, then amused. It did not happen again.

Stimulate, love and nurture

The joy and challenge of working with young people remains a central part of my life, even now 40 years later. Although I am seldom in the classroom, my role as a school leader remains focussed through the staff on the teenagers in our care:

• In our management decision making we have to hold the child at the centre, difficult though this may sometimes be. There are times when the decision will be tough on students, but we take it because we have a longer goal in mind:

• A future which continues to be just and equitable, which attempts to hold both the individual and the collective in balance, which sometimes institutes ‘tough love’, and which always seeks to stimulate, love and nurture in equal doses.

A teacher's hard work rewarded

Daily I see my colleagues stretched and energised by their interactions with the

young people in their care. I see the Life Orientation teacher exhausted but satisfied by the intense and powerful conversations in the classroom, the Mathematics teacher overcome with joy at finally watching a struggling student ‘get it’ after an intense one-on-one session, the Visual Arts teacher brimming with pride whilst hanging a student’s work in the corridor after nurturing the taxing process of creativity, the Physical Sciences teacher at their desk after school, tired but satisfied that a sensitive chemistry experiment worked. Gearing complex subjects to a wide variety of personalities and needs

It is difficult to quantify the energy, enthusiasm, passion and resilience needed to teach, and the emotional quotient which is required in order to manage such a complex social and academic environment. In high schools there is a class of new faces at your door every 45 minutes, seven or eight lessons a day, five days a week. Each class has its own unique dynamic. Each individual has their own needs, their own learning styles and preferences. They come to the classroom with their excitement, their boredom, their insecurity, their pain, their confidence, their anger, their happiness, their passion, their dreams. Many come seeking understanding and knowledge; some come simply because they have to be there. Others come seeking

love and affirmation. The teacher must take the subject knowledge, and through voice, gesture, technology and discipline (shot through with healthy doses of patience, passion, firmness, kindness and innovation), enthuse their charges.

The brotherhood of teachers

And then there is the camaraderie that exists on a teaching staff. The knowledge that everyone carries similar challenges and joys unites like very little else. Teachers have to have a sense of humour, they have to be able to laugh at the absurd, at the ridiculous, at the common failures which come with the role. They have to be able to unburden themselves to one another, to share both success and failure in a safe environment, to seek and to offer encouragement to one another. Some of my most powerful memories of staff collegiality centre on professional growth where individuals are prepared to share best practice in a safe and supportive environment, and where there can be vulnerability.

Teachers deserve our support, care and appreciation

As I near the end of my career in schools I am in awe of those who teach in them. The combination of challenge and joy is rarely found in many professions; in teaching it is central to the role. Our teachers deserve our support, care and appreciation for holding this space so beautifully. 

Principal, Pinelands High School

PINEHURST SWIMMING GALAS

Pinehurst swimming has continued to grow from strength to strength in the first term of 2023. There were a number of highlights, including the annual inter-house galas on the 13th and 14th of February, as well as the inter-schools gala in March hosted at Pinehurst. These events create great excitement and school spirit in the Pinehurst community.

At the inter-house gala some exceptional performances led to a total of eight school records being broken by swimmers Lucy Stuart, Caleb Koks, Megan Finegan (x2) and Fay Webb (x4). The Individual Medley trophies were won by Holly Webb and Finley Hodgskiss. The Victrix and Victor Ludorum trophies are awarded to the children who accumulate the most points across all the events that they compete in during the gala. These trophies were awarded to:

• Faye Webb (Junior Girl)

• Declan Hills (Junior Boy)

• Holly Webb (Senior Girl)

• Finley Hodgskiss (Senior Boy)

The winning house on the day were the Olympians. The Trojans House showed the most team spirit and won the spirit trophy. For the annual inter-schools gala Pinehurst selected a team of more than 100 swimmers to participate. Other schools competing were Kirstenhof Primary, Milnerton Primary, Reddam Durbanville and Pinelands North Primary. It was a fantastic event with a very good standard of swimming displayed by all the swimmers. It was a tightly contested gala, with the top 3 schools all being separated by less than 30 points.

Pinehurst is incredibly proud of the effort put in by their swimmers throughout the term.

Mikenna travels to the UK with Tygerberg International Children's Choir

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of our EASTER BUNNY colouring in competition.

ToysRus vouchers of R250 each were awarded to Chloe (5), the winner in her 3 - 5 years old group and Ginger (8) in the 6 - 9 years old group. Congratulations Chloe and Ginger and thank you to everyone that participated.

A Grade 7 Pinehurst learner, Mikenna Erasmus, was accepted as a member of the Tygerberg International Children’s Choir (TCC) a few years ago. This year Mikenna is super excited to be going on an international tour with the TCC to Hull in the UK where they will be taking part in the Hull International Choir Competition between 27 April and 1 May 2023. Not only will they be representing South Africa, but they are also the only choir from Africa who will be participating in this competition. They start their exciting journey on 22 April when they travel to Barnsley, UK. We wish them well!

By Head of Music, Mrs Ina O’Reilly.

Swimming Coach Erin Rae with the Senior Victor and Victrix Ludorum

Swimming Coach Debbie Law with the Junior Victor and Victrix Ludorum

Holly Webb in action

Finley Hodgskiss in action

Joseph Gibbon & Matthew Redfern made Pinelands High School and their country proud by winning gold medals at the International Festival of Engineering Science and Technology in Tunisia (I-FEST2) in March this year. Their research project titled "Comparing and Evaluating different types of Bioplastic Polymers" was also placed in the top ten research projects at I-FEST2 .

Winning GOLD in Tunisia Matthew Redfern

WONDERFUL OUTCOME AT ESKOM EXPO

The journey to their outstanding success began last year when Matthew and Joseph were in Grade 11 at Pinelands High School. Their science project was entered into the Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF) in December 2022 in Gauteng, where they did exceptionally well winning a gold medal and the opportunity to present their work at I-FEST2 in Tunisia this year. At the Eskom Expo they also won the top senior award for Chemistry and Biochemistry. The Technology and Innovation Agency (TIA) awarded the duo funding valued at R260 000 towards their project and a one week boot camp, happening later this year.

PREPARING FOR I-FEST2 IN TUNISIA

Matthew and Joseph worked further on their project through a mentorship programme offered by Eskom including a mentor specialised in this field of research, which is aimed at reducing plastic pollution. Currently plastics are made from synthetic polymers such as those from fossil fuels which are not good for the environment. As Grade 12 learners, Joseph and Matthew consolidated their research into making biodegradable plastics. The three bioplastics made by Matthew and Joseph were from polymers found in nature. Firstly starch (found in wheatflour) and then collagen from gelatin and from fish scales. Afterwards the plastics were tested for use and safety investigating their strength,

flammability, solubility, thermostability and most importantly their biodegradability. The bioplastics made from the gelatin and fish scale polymers were found to do well on all the testing and could possibly be suitable as a replacement for current environment harming plastics.

CONGRATULATIONS ON HAVING YOUR WORK RECOGNISED IN TUNISIA. WHAT WAS IT LIKE?

“When we began working on this project for our school, we had no idea that I-FEST2 existed, but now we've had this once-ina-lifetime opportunity. To us, this shows that if you work hard and give your all for everything you do, it will pay off in ways you can't even imagine right now. The standard of competition was very high at I-FEST2 and there were many exceptional projects. We were blown away by the presentations of the other Top 10 finalists. Some of our favourite projects included a device for finding and rescuing fire-fighters in collapsed structures, and a plastic similar to ours made from shrimp. The participants behind these projects were from Brazil and Mexico respectively."

DID YOU MAKE USEFUL CONTACTS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH AT I-EFST2 IN TUNISIA?

"Definitely! We made many friends from all over the world. We have stayed in contact with some of them after I-FEST2 and have already started talking about visiting them, or for them to visit us here in South Africa.

Meeting people from other countries was meaningful in ways other than just in science! For example our friendship with a student from Ukraine has greatly impacted the way we view geopolitics through hearing his stories about his life within the war. This truly was a life-changing experience! We really hope the friendships we made can last throughout our lives."

Joseph Gibbon

Gold Medalists at I-EFST2 Tunisia: Joseph Gibbon (left); Matthew Redfern (right)

HOW WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE SAME FIELD?

"Work hard! There is no substitute, and give your best, while listening to the advice of your teachers and mentors. We started off this project not knowing about the great opportunities that lay ahead. Our initial goal was to have a project at the Eskom Science Expo. We worked hard on our project and it led to the trip to present our work in Tunisia. Our advice to everyone is to take the opportunities as they come and to put your all into everything you do because you never know where you may end up and the success you could achieve."

DID YOU DO ANY SIGHTSEEING IN TUNISIA?

"I-FEST2 was very well set up and gave us plenty of time to be tourists between the competition events and judging. We were able to go sightseeing and see the beautiful landmarks of Tunisia such as the Amphitheatre of El Jem (a colosseum), the Great Mosque of Kairouan (the biggest mosque in Tunisia), El Borj El Kebir (A fort used to protect Tunisia from sea invasions), and many more. We made sure to try some traditional Tunisian food during our time in the city as well as in our hotel. Tunisians mostly speak fluent Arabic and French with English as their third language, but many of the people we met spoke English quite well. For one of our interviews at the competition we had to have a translator present, which was a unique experience for us."

TELL US ABOUT YOUR HOBBIES AND SPORTS AND HOW YOU BALANCED SCHOOLWORK, EXTRA-MURAL ACTIVITIES AND THE RESEARCH PROJECT?

"I, (Joseph) am a prefect at Pinelands High School and am part of the school musical and school house plays. I play first team hockey, tennis and ultimate frisbee for our school as well as rock climbing as my hobby. I play piano at Pinelands High as well as percussion which I play in the school big band and in the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestras.

I (Matthew) am one of the head prefects

at Pinelands High School and am on the hockey, tennis and debating teams. I play saxophone at school and am part of our big band and jazz combo. I am also in the school musical and am involved in our school house plays.

As we are both very involved at school, and have additional extracurricular duties and activities, it was sometimes quite challenging to find the time to work on our project. Good time management was crucial, and our parents really helped us with that - both in helping us to think through how to manage our tasks, and in their support of us while we were frantically trying to fit things in. We definitely had to sacrifice some sleep and free time! However, the stress was definitely worth it in the end. It also really helped that we have been best friends for over 10 years, and that we’re involved in many of the same activities."

Comment from Nicole Masureik: Science and Innovation Co-ordinator, Pinelands High School Science Fair is one of those activities that isn’t required by CAPS, but over the years we’ve found it invaluable in teaching scientific skills to students. It allows students to both explore aspects of science that are beyond their curriculum (or from the curriculum above their current grade), as well as pushing them out of their comfort zone, which is where true creativity can be found. We have seen students who were not previously considering a career in science change their minds after doing Science Fair. The thinking skills required also help to better prepare students for tertiary study. Those who go on to regional level (Cape Town Expo) all speak of how enjoyable the experience is. Of course, having students go on to win, not just at regional level, but national and international level is fabulous, and we are so proud of our boys. In particular, to have our boys get into the Top 10 in I-FEST2 was incredible. Education at Pinelands High is right at the top of the field, and South Africa is not a backwater, but rather is at the forefront of excellence in science. 

I-FEST² – Tunisia – Africa is the largest international science fair in Africa, with over 1 200 participants and supervisors from approximately 40 countries. The festival is open for all students between the ages of 12 and 24. I-Fest aims to unite scientific groups and organizations under one banner for further improvement of scientific development and thinking.

Above: Amphitheater of El Jem (a colosseum); Above right: Great Mosque of Kairouan (the biggest mosque in Tunisia). Matthew and Joseph with Serofo Hosea Mpaneng, the appointed International Delegation Leader for the trip.

Above: Mahdia Palace Thalasso - accommodation provided by the I-FEST2 committee.

Culture Night at I-FEST2

Restaurant serving traditional Tunisian cuisine

Creating and protecting your wealth

MEET OUR HEALTHCARE

TEAM

Corlene Botha, healthcare director at Crue Invest, has headed up our specialised medical aid and gap cover division for over 13 years. This trio of healthcare experts provides highly personalised advice to open medical scheme members to ensure that they receive full value from their medical aid.

If you’re struggling with your medical aid and need a trusted advisor to help you navigate your healthcare, please contact Corlene and her team!

From left: Danielle Botha, Chantelle Cooke, Corlene Botha

Phone:

Email:

021 530 8500

corlene@crue.co.za or health@crue.co.za

Crue Invest is a professional financial planning practice based in Pinelands, Cape Town, and is one of only 14 practices in South Africa to be awarded the FPI Approved Professional Practice™ accreditation

Crue Invest (Pty) Ltd is an authorised financial services provider regulated by the Financial Services Board, FSP No. 19025.

5 Long Place, Pinelands

Cape Town, 7405

021 530 8500 | info@crue.co.za | www. crue.co.za

By Sue Torr Director Crue Invest

There’s

need to navigate your medical aid alone

There’s no denying that medical aid membership is expensive and with medical inflation it’s likely that your medical aid premiums will consume a bigger proportion of your household spending over time. A portion of your monthly premium is paid by the scheme to the broker on record in the form of commission. The commission is legislated at R118.18 per month (excluding VAT) or up to 3% of contributions (excluding VAT), whichever is the lower.

The need for advice and service

The primary function of your healthcare advisor or broker is to ensure that you are on the most appropriate plan option for your needs and that, as a family, you are receiving full value for the private healthcare you’re paying for. In return for his/her monthly commission, your healthcare advisor should keep in regular contact with you to ensure that you are making optimal use of your medical aid and not incurring out-ofpocket costs unnecessarily.

The medical aid industry is a highly complex one and is notoriously difficult to navigate alone, which is why the Council for Medical Schemes provides for the remuneration of registered medical aid brokers whose role is to provide ongoing advice and service to their clients. With 17 registered open medical schemes to choose from and literally hundreds of options, one of a healthcare advisor’s jobs is to distill the available information, analyse the client’s specific needs, and make recommendations for appropriate healthcare cover.

The role of your healthcare advisor

Your broker should help you re-assess your plan every year (or during the year if circumstances require), should be readily accessible to help you navigate your medical aid and gap cover in the following ways:

• Registering new dependants on your medical aid (for example, on the birth or adoption of a child), or de-registering dependants (such as in the case of death or where a dependant no longer qualifies as such);

• Assisting with submitting medical aid claims and ensuring timeous refunds;

• Helping you to register on the disease

management programmes offered by the scheme such as oncology, asthma or diabetes programmes;

• Advising on the network of hospital and service providers relevant to your plan;

• Providing guidance on how to claim from Prescribed Minimum Benefits;

• Assisting you with registering on the chronic medication programme including advice on medicine formulary;

• Communicating rules and guidelines on how to obtain your medication and/or treatment for your condition;

• Providing medical aid advice if you intend travelling overseas and generating travel insurance certificates for these purposes;

• Communicating proactively regarding any benefit or limit changes made by the medical aid;

• Generating tax certificates for the purposes of SARS e-filing;

• Providing guidance and education of waiting periods, later joiner penalties and any condition-specific waiting periods that you may be faced with;

• Assisting with obtaining hospital preauthorisation for any planned in-hospital procedures;

• Contacting the medical scheme on your behalf to assist with query resolution and/or escalation;

• Providing advice on appropriate gap cover to help fund the shortfall between the amount charged by service providers in hospital and the medical aid tariff;

• Assisting with the submission of gap cover claims;

• Facilitating the payment of any late or overdue contributions;

• Educating the client on any loyalty programmes attached to the medical aid and how best to optimise the benefits;

• Assisting with the replacement of lost or stolen medical aid cards.

As is evident from the above that your medical aid advisor has a pivotal role to play in helping you navigate and manage your healthcare. Further, as one’s personal health and circumstances can change rapidly, the advice and service should be both proactive and ongoing. 

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PINELANDS RATEPAYERS & RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION (PRRA)

Last month we explored the portfolios of Jessica White (Building Plans) and Marilynn McNamara (Recreation and Parks). This month we look at the Social Development portfolio held by Kabelo Mashile Working together with other portfolios and existing groups within Pinelands, Kabelo has been connecting with the community groups such as Renew and Network and understanding their passions and how to link with them. The challenging part of the portfolio is managing and caring for the street people. Early in April, the City had a stakeholder engagement meeting at the City Hall detailing the Street People Program Unit (SPPU) for the Area North Team. Living and sleeping in unprotected areas is always a risk for street people. The aim of the SPPU is to offer and encourage street people to move to one of the safe spaces that the City has created. There is a steady Dignity Campaign offered in these safe spaces:

for example, assistance with access to IDs and grants, access to substance abuse programs, basic hygiene opportunities like hygiene packs, showers and clothing. Work opportunities, particularly with the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), are always made available. The best outcome would be reunification back with family and community, however, this is not always possible. The SPPU has feet on the ground and are always willing to assist. To break the steady influx of street people who may become a nuisance by begging or bin scratching one can harness the help given by the SPPU to assist the homeless in finding a place to stay and a way to feed themselves. If something illegal is being done by a street person, raise a C3 and report at your local police station. Anything that you consider urgent can be reported to any PRRA member, Pinelands Neighbourhood Watch (PNW), and escalated to councillor Riad Davids. Avoid posting on social media and rather follow the official channels. The Social Development portfolio is working towards events that draw the community together. Please contact the PRRA with any ideas that are particularly suited to Pinelands.

How to submit a service report: Submit a service report (C3) to the City of Cape Town to report a fault or to log an issue that needs municipal attention. Go to www.capetown.gov.za/servicerequests or call 0860 103 089. If you would like to escalate a C3 request then contact the CoCT WhatsApp group run by Paul Holdsworth or report directly to Councillor Davids.

Cape Agulhas National Park

Fancy a trip to the Southernmost tip of Africa?

A place to stay which is ideal for visiting the attractions around the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans is the Cape Agulhas National Park. If you are lucky enough to secure a booking for Lagoon House you will be rewarded with a holiday home sporting beautiful ocean views decorated by refreshing sunrises over the sea in the east and stunning sunsets over the sea to the west. The wooden chalets within the reserve are more modern, but Lagoon house has the feel of history taking you back to 1898 when PK Albertyn built a cottage for Mrs Albertyn as a birthday present. Mrs Albertyn named the house Lagoon House because the sheltered bay to the west of the house reminded her of a book she had read called Blue Lagoon. Two more bedrooms en suite were added onto the central 2 bedroomed cottage when the children married. This cottage and the surrounding land was incorporated into Agulhas National Park in 2001. As well as the endless beach walks and good swimming in the sheltered lagoon, there are three marked trails in the park. Close by in L'Agulhas are the tourist attractions of the southernmost tip of Africa including a wonderful 3D map of Africa - an interesting way to explore geography and see where major landmarks are on our great continent. The boardwalks are a welcome addition taking one from the tip of Africa back up the hill to the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse and museum in L'Agulhas. Think twice before you attempt climbing up to the top of the lighthouse - some of the steps are simply ladders ... The lighthouse precinct is currently undergoing renovation and will eventually have a restaurant, exhibition and retail areas.

Struisbaai, just around the corner from L'Agulhas boasts a fishing harbour with resident stingrays that you can see in the clear water from the jetty. The Catch Cook Seafood Restaurant and Seafood Bar at the harbour is a relaxing place to watch the fishermen bringing in their catch.

Southern African rock agama

Lagoon House at Sunset

Walking trail in the park

Modern chalets

L'Agulhas Lighthouse

Meisho Maro No 38 shipwreck 1982

Meeting place of the Atlantic & Indian Oceans

3D map of Africa

Beautiful boardwalks

NATALIE MACDONALD-SPENCE

When Natalie was in high school, she remembers visiting Bisset Boehmke McBlain when they still had a Pinelands branch and expressed the desire to work there one day. As it happens, Natalie ended up doing her articles at the Cape Town branch a few years later.

You may recognise Natalie as the high school waitress from Spur in Howard Centre from nearly 15 years ago, or perhaps the assistant from the old “Barnett’s Pharmacy” that used to operate from Howard Centre. You may also have seen her when she was working for Pinelands-based Lerato’s Hope.

A WONDERFUL CAREER IN LAW

Today, aged 32, Natalie holds many titles. She is a wife to Sean, a mom of three (Daniel, 9, Aleksandr, 2, and Grace, 6 months) a businesswoman and an academic. Whilst studying, Natalie worked multiple parttime jobs to pay for her studies and is now an admitted Attorney, Conveyancer and Notary Public, with Rights of Appearance in the High Court of South Africa. She holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of South Africa, with a Master of Laws in Tax Law from the University of Cape Town. She is also a practising solicitor in England & Wales, after having successfully passed the UK law conversion exams.

RAISING A FAMILY IN PINELANDS

Above all, Natalie Macdonald-Spence is a loyal Pinelander, having grown up in Pinelands. She attended Pinehurst Primary School (the Green school) and Pinelands

High School (class of 2009). She has chosen to keep her roots well-grounded in Pinelands and has kept the Pinelander legacy alive by sending her eldest son to Meerendal and Pinehurst Primary. She currently lives in Pinelands in a heritage thatch home with her family, their dog Lolly and a chicken (Princess Lay-A).

BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY LIFE

"I love hiking with a close group of friends, as well as nature walks. I particularly enjoy history, and novels based on history. In terms of managing my responsibilities, I like to believe that I am very intentional about my time. Time goes quickly, and is very precious and as a result, I try to only do things which I enjoy and which don’t waste time. Family is most important to me, and so I try to ensure that I balance work and family life well. I work hard during working hours, and try my best to ensure I have dedicated daily time with my family, and a weekly family outing. I absolutely love my career, and find the work very satisfying,” says Natalie.

ESTABLISHING A LEGAL PRACTICE

Besides her family, Natalie considers one of her greatest achievements to be her legal practice, Spence Attorneys, Notaries & Conveyancers, which was started in 2019 and currently has offices in Pinelands (Howard Terraces) and Johannesburg. She also runs an online learning company Spence Learning, hosting courses (conveyancing, notarial and law related subjects) for legal professionals since 2020, which has proven to be immensely

successful. She is a mentor to many candidate attorneys in the legal profession, and is currently authoring a book on entering the legal profession for graduates.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN LAW?

Natalie’s advice to anyone considering a career in law, is to work hard in your university years, and to apply for articles of clerkship early, as the candidates are often appointed sometimes 2-3 years in advance. The legal field is constantly progressing, and a career in law does not just mean working at court, it can have so many options, be it as an in-house legal advisor, a legal risk consultant, a family law mediator, an advocate, a deceased estate administrator, the list goes on! She also says that the legal profession caters for all personality types, whether it be extroverts or introverts. You do not have to be a “Harvey Specter” to excel in a career in law! 

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About Spence Attorneys

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Spence Attorneys is a Pinelands-based law firm. We offer a unique solution for clients. We provide a hands-on service, and value working with our clients to deliver excellent, professional and efficient legal service.

Arts Moving

PINELANDS LIBRARY

814 1780

Enjoy FREE ACCESS to books, computers and a variety of other resources by applying for your very own library card. Borrowing Privileges: 20 items for 30 days, which can include five CDs or DVDs. All you will need is your ID or passport, proof of residence and 2 contactable references

Search for available books or renew library materials on our Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC): opac.capetown.gov.za

For access to a wide varity of ebooks & audiobooks, download the Libby app from the playstore or visit libbyapp.com. After installation, search & select Pinelands Library. Select City of Cape Town. Use access code below (2 loans for 14 days, 1 renewal, 3 holds)

Access to over 7 000 newspapers and magazines for free through OPAC via the PressReader App. Use access code below

USERNAME: Library card barcode

PIN: last 6 digits of barcode

By Heleen Meyer

Pinelands resident, foodie and author of Food from the Heart, and Make

five/Maak vyf

Peanut butter energy balls

Makes about 24 balls

Serves 8

25 unsalted almonds, coarsely chopped (or 100 ml sunflower seeds)

2 cups (500 ml) uncooked ordinary oats

150 g pitted dates, coarsely chopped

¼ cup (60 ml) raisins

1 tbsp (15 ml) cocoa powder

1 tsp (5 ml) ground cinnamon

¹� 3 cup (80 ml) peanut butter (with no added salt and sugar)

¹� 3 cup (80 ml) strong Rooibos tea, cooled

1. Blend almonds or sunflower seeds in a food processor until coarsely ground –to about ¼ cup (60 ml) ground almonds or seeds.

2. Add oats and blend until it almost looks like a coarse flour mixture. Add dates, raisins, cocoa powder and cinnamon and blend. Add peanut butter and Rooibos tea and blend until it starts to look like cookie dough.

3. Roll tablespoonfuls of the mixture into balls.

4. Pack into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to a week. Serve three as a portion for a snack.

Flavour bombs

I often get asked if I have a recipe for something healthy, yet tasty to nibble on. The answer? Yes, quite a few ideas and this is one of them. Once you’ve made these peanut butter energy balls, you’ll want to have them in your fridge on a regular basis. The whole family will enjoy these and they’re great for lunch boxes too!

My team and I developed this recipe as part of a project called Cooking from the heart, which aims to show you that healthy eating is not bland or boring. A simple combination of everyday ingredients packed with healthy nutrients, each adding to the texture, flavour and goodness of these bites.

The almonds are packed with healthy fats and the oats add texture and plenty of good fibre. The dates add natural sweetness and have the ability to bind everything together. Peanut butter is the main flavouring and also

contributes to the good fats. Combining peanut butter with cocoa and cinnamon is where the deliciousness happens. Using good quality cocoa is key, so that you can enjoy the benefits of the many antioxidants found in the better-quality cocoa powders. A bit of Rooibos is perfect to turn the ingredients into a rollable mixture. A food processor is ideal for blending everything together. Alternatively use a stick blender. First chop or blend the individual ingredients, like the nuts and oats, to have finer textures and then mix it together. The mixing can be done by hand until a cookie-dough-like mixture forms. If you need the mixture to be softer to blend and roll the balls, just add another tablespoon or two of Rooibos tea, as the dryness of oats and cocoa may differ from one brand to the next. Roll these energy balls in extra cocoa powder for an added chocolatey flavour, if preferred.

Cook the healthy way with Heleen

Are you looking for practical tips on how to cook delicious, wholesome food for your family?

Follow @heleenmeyerfood on social media this month OR subscribe to her YouTube channel (Heleen Meyer Food ) to watch her new series of Afrikaans

videos; Eet.Kook.Leef.Beter! Learn the principles of healthy eating, all about flavourings and seasonings, the best cooking methods and how to reduce your daily salt and sugar intake. Visit www.heleenmeyer.co.za for more tasty recipes

Portrait and food shot: Adel Ferreira

Food image: courtesy of Pharma Dynamics

Sharon Van Rensburg properties