Franschhoek Tatler - February 2019 by Siegfried Schäfer

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Bladsy 3 Nuwe SAPD stasiebevelvoerder

Page 6 Creative Kids’ Space

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FRANSCHHOEK’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AND ADVERTISER SINCE 1994 • FEBRUARY 2019

Franschhoek Matrics Don’t Disappoint! M

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Fltr: Bridge House top students Christa-Mari de Lange and Anaïs Masson, Groendal Secondary top student Simon Moses

Bridge House IEB Matric Results The Matrics of Bridge House School wrote the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) National Senior Certificate exams and the school achieved a 100% pass rate for the 22nd consecutive year. 96% of students achieved Bachelor degree passes. The student with the top average at Bridge House, Christa-Mari de Lange, achieved a place on the IEB’s Commendable Achievements list. She achieved eight distinctions and four of her results are in the top 1% M of IEB results. She got 90% and over for Accounting, Afrikaans, YEconomics, Mathematics, Advanced ProgrammeCMMathematics and Physical Science. Apart from being exceptionally diligent MY academically, Christa-Mari played tennis and hockey for CYthe school. In 2018 she completed the requirements of The President’s Award (Duke of CMY Edinburgh KInternational Award for Young People) and reached the Gold Standard, the highest level of this award. It requires commitment, perseverance and dedication to complete and participants are voluntarily involved in various activities over a minimum period of 12 months. Anaïs Masson did nine subjects, including Advanced Programme Mathematics and Advanced Programme English and achieved eight distinctions with her mark for English in the top 1% of IEB results nationally. Anaïs was the School’s Head Girl,

the Chairman of Interact and at the 2018 Awards Ceremony was awarded two of the top awards, the Fellowship Award and the Founders’ Shield which is awarded to the Grade 12 pupil who personifies the qualities of initiative, independence of spirit and selfmotivation, coupled with the qualities of humanity and selflessness. Anaïs also achieved full colours for Music and was a member of the first netball team. Together with students from the schools in the Franschhoek valley, Anaïs was actively involved in the Bhabhathane Programme’s Franschhoek Student Leaders Forum.

Franschhoek High School National Senior Certificate Results At Franschhoek High School 34 Grade 12 learners wrote the NSC examinations at the end of 2018. The class achieved a 97% pass rate. 70% of the learners achieved admission to the Bachelor degree and all the other successful learners achieved a diploma pass. It is the second year that the school was invited to the Premier ceremony where they received an award for this achievement. The class had also achieved nine distinctions in a variety of subjects. The principal of the school, Mr Cilliers, and his staff say they are indeed proud of the class of 2018 “who ensured that we maintain the high standard in the NSC results. It also poses a challenge to this year’s Grade 12 class to achieve a 100% pass rate.”

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2 | February 2019

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Groendal Sekondêr Nasionale Senior Sertifikaat Uitslae By Groendal Sekondêr het 105 Graad 12 kandidate aan die einde van 2018 matriek geskryf. Ag-en-sewentig van hierdie kandidate het geslaag. Dit verteenwoordig ‘n slaagsyfer van 74.3%. Sewentien matrieks slaag met universiteitstoelating. In vyf van die vakke, Siviele Tegnologie, Verbruikerstudies, Engels Eerste Addisionele Taal, Toerisme en isiXhosa Home Language, het Groendal

Sekondêr ‘n 100% slaagsyfer bereik. Die beste presteerder Simon Moses, is ook bekroon as Sportman van die Jaar. Die skoolhoof, Mnr Kulsen sê, “Ek is bly saam met elke kind wat geslaag het en hul ouers. Graad 12 span die kroon op twaalf jaar se harde werk. Ek haal my hoed af vir sommige leerders se deursettingsvermoë wat ten spyte van hul sosiale en ekonomiese werklikhede ‘n matrieksertifikaat verwerf het. Die wat nie suksesvol was nie moet onthou daar is ‘n tweede kans met die aanvullende eksamen. Ek wens alle matrikulante voorspoed toe met die volgende fase in hulle lewens.” Text: Editorial Desk | Images: Supplied

FHALC Class of 2019 On Monday, 14 January, sponsors, funders, supporters and friends gathered to welcome the Franschhoek Hospitality Academy’s Class of 2019.

Wine Tram’s Ticket Stubs Support Six Charities Franschhoek Wine Tram’s ticket stub charity initiative again made a contribution to six charities that shared in the combined donation of R120 000. On 20 December 2018 owner David Blyth and staff from Franschhoek Wine Tram handed over a total of R100 000 to five of the charities. Representatives from Franschhoek SPCA (animal welfare), ACVV Franschhoek (social work), Watershed Animal Rescue (animal welfare), Kusasa Project (children’s educational charity) and Bok Radio’s Hoop Project (community project) attended the handover at the Franschhoek Wine Tram platform adjacent to Cabrière Street. The handover of R20 000 to Franschhoek Hospice will Franschhoek Wine Tram (FWT) made donations to five charities. Pictured above take place later this month. with FWT owners David and Debbie Blyth (back row centre) are FLTR: De Wet Franschhoek Wine Müller (FWT: Operations Manager), Lilly Konstabel (SPCA), Cathrine Westraad Tram each year invites (FWT: Booking & Sales Manager) and Doug Gurr (Kusasa Project). Kneeling in passengers to deposit their front are Lizette Louw (Bok Radio: Hoop Projek), Stephne Jackson (Watershed ticket stubs in charity boxes Animal Rescue) and Juliana Grobbelaar (ACVV). located at its ticket office. “It is important to us that our passengers deposit their and bringing local and international visitors to own ticket stubs. In doing so we encourage them Franschhoek, it is also important to us to invest in to be mindful of their ability to positively contribute our community,” says Blyth. “Our donation is only to Franschhoek and our surrounding areas and a small token of our appreciation of the hard work they also get to learn more about the benefitting and long hours that go into building and uplifting charities,” says Blyth. A write-up of each charity our community.” accompanies the charity boxes. “In addition to contributing towards employment www.winetram.co.za | 021 300 0338

Cashier Writes Thriller The Franschhoek Hospitality Academy’s Class of 2019 with SA Tourism CEO Siza Ntshone, the academy’s ambassadors, founders, friends and supporters at the start of their academic year.

Michaela Julian, co-founder of the Academy shared the dire situation that the country is faced with in terms of the decreasing number of students passing matric and having the opportunity to study at a university. It is these students that the Academy targets, to train and nurture them, in order to have entry-level work opportunities and the necessary knowledge, skills and mind set to hold on to their jobs. What the Academy is trying to achieve, is a small but necessary step towards skills-based education and breaking the poverty cycle – from Franschhoek for Franschhoek. One stable income can change the life of a whole family. In the Cape Winelands 60% of all people either have no income or live on an income of R50 000 per year or less, which is why the goal of the Academy is to increase employment opportunities for local youth in order to have a lasting impact on their families and futures. Sisa Ntshona, CEO of SA Tourism, flew in from Johannesburg to attend the Welcoming Ceremony and address the guests and students, leaving everyone feeling inspired. SA Tourism, he said, is committed to meaningfully contributing to the government’s objectives of inclusive economic growth, sustainable job creation and transformation of the industry and very importantly focus on historically disadvantaged South Africans benefitting from this sector. Sisa, emphasized that “South Africa is about the people. Without people, our tourism industry would suffer and therefore we need to support projects like this and continue to build the youth

and create future employment opportunities within this industry”. Among the other attendees were: Councillor Frazenburg on behalf of Mayor Gesie van Deventer; Mr Cilliers – Principal of Franschhoek High School; Reinher Behrens – CEO of Franschhoek Wine Valley; Linda Coultard; Academy Ambassadors Matthew Gordon, JP Smith and Margot Janse – who also addressed the class; students from the class of 2018 and parents and guardians. The Academy started its journey in 2018 with a class of 20 students. After 8 months, 16 motivated and passionate students finished the program and are currently employed by local establishments, while two of the students received bursaries to study in Austria for two years. “We stand here today in 2019, having gone from strength to strength, not only in the work that we do and our passion and commitment towards the Academy, but also in numbers. My hope for you, our students, is that you can find that gratitude and perseverance—not just on the good days, like today, but on the hard ones, when you will really need it most. We would like to thank everyone here today for their continued support and especially Terbodore Coffee for sponsoring all the coffees this morning.” said Michaela. The FHALC Team will need to raise R1.3 million to cover the expected costs for 2019. If you would like to find out how you can support them financially or get involved, please visit www.fhalc.co.za. Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

To anyone using Samkelo Jikwana’s check-out lane at PicknPay Franschhoek the pleasant young man helping them might seem much like any cashier. Looks can be deceiving… Samkelo has a love for words and writing. Already in 2007, when he was a pupil at Groendal Secondary School, he won the poetry prize at the very first Franschhoek Literary Festival. It was here that he first met retired media studies professor John van Zyl, who subsequently mentored him. Since then Samkelo has never stopped writing and has completed several novels and dramas. Now his first book – a crime thriller called The Former Gangster – has been published with the assistance of FunDza Writing, an NGO that assists aspiring writers, that Professor van Zyl put him in contact with. The Former Gangster follows the life of Robert Ndlovu, who after serving 10 years for robberies, thefts and assault – all committed during his teenage years, is released on parole. Despite pleas from his mother to steer clear of the gangster life, he again falls in with the Charmers gang. Knowing that he had not been with a woman for 10 years, the gang members set about devising a plan for Robert to rape a virginal girl. Between writing and working one would think that Samkelo doesn’t have much spare time on his hands, but somehow he is also managing to keep up with his second year law studies at UNISA! Talk about determination to succeed… The book is available for purchase at PicknPay Franschhoek. Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

Prof. John van Zyl congratulates Samkelo Jikwana on the first copy of his recently published book The Former Gangster.

Oxford Tie Cricket; Lose ‘Boat Race’ On 9 January the Groot Drakenstein Games Club’s cricket team took on Oxford University’s first eleven on the Pickstone Oval. The ‘Blues’ were on a pre-season tour of the Cape and thrashed their first two opponents. In keeping with tradition the visitors were sent in to bat. Their youthful energy showed and they put on a first wicket partnership of 83 runs, followed by a century from one of their openers. A middle-order collapse and good bowling and fielding from the Groot Drak side restricted the visitors to 227/5 after their 40 overs. Andri le Roux (32/2 from 8), Martin van der Merwe (33/1 from 8) and Danie van der Nest (40/2 from 7) impressed with the ball for Groot Drak. After lunch the home team’s run chase had a shaky start, but was stabilised by Martin van der Merwe (41 from 55) and Craig McNaught (48 from 61). A few more

wickets saw Groot Drak in trouble – but, batting all the way to number 11, it went down with one run required from the last ball of the match. Solid fielding from the Blues resulted in a run out and the game being tied. Feathers ruffled, the visitors challenged the Groot Drak team to a ‘boat race’ to decide the winners for the day. Oars and boats were however nowhere to be seen at this race and instead of strokes it was empty beer cans on heads that counted. In this discipline Groot Drak beat the Blues and were declared the day’s winners, both on and off the pitch. For more information on joining the club or hiring one of SA’s most historic cricket grounds visit: www. grootdrak.co.za. #GrootDrakensteincricket Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

The Oxford Blues salute the Groot Drak flag

February 2019 | 3

Aerial Spraying Safe During early January the Tatler received some enquiries regarding the aerial spraying that was done on orchards in the valley. We contacted the local agricultural society for more information. The crux of the matter is that the product being sprayed is organic and safe. For more information, keep reading! The applications that were taking place in January were part of the deciduous fruit industry’s area-wide action plan to control fruit flies. This plan includes areas such as: Elgin/Grabouw/Villiersdorp/Vyeboom, Hex River Valley (including De Wet & Brandwacht), Ceres, Wolseley, Tulbagh, Orange River, Vredendal/ Trawal and the Langkloof. Applications are usually done during the week, but weather conditions may sometimes mean that the applications have to be done over weekends. A total of 6 applications are to be done between October 2018 and April 2019. Fruit flies are a phytosanitary pest that leads to millions of Rands in direct damage every year and can cause trade restrictions to certain export markets. Production areas close to residential areas are being hit the hardest by fruit flies because of insufficient control measures in these areas. All available methods for control measures are presently being used to fight this pest. The control measures that are being used at present may include the following: • Monitoring of fruit fly numbers with traps containing either a pheromone or a controlled release vapour attractant system. • Sanitation in orchards and vineyards where fruit flies can hatch, hide or find shelter and food to live on. • Regularly applying fruit fly bait in orchards and vineyards. • Releasing sterile male flies on a weekly basis. The product being applied is GF-120 Fruit Fly Bait, which is registered for both ground and aerial applications in South Africa and other countries. All the ingredients are natural and GF-120 is used

Discover the vineyards of Franschhoek... breath-taking breath-taking, Franschhoek... scenery, world-class cuisine, fine wines and a three hundred year history. Two species of fruit fly occur in South Africa: The Mediterranean fruit fly (left) and the Natal fruit fly (right).

internationally as a very low risk product. It is organically certified by OMRI and therefore organic farmers need not worry about it drifting over their land. The main ingredients in GF-120 are a plant protein and sugar formulation, with spinosad as the active ingredient. Spinosad is obtained through a process in which accharopolyspora spinose, which is a natural ground organism, is fermented. When this product is used according to the recommendations, only 0,24g of the active ingredient will be spread over a hectare in scattered droplets. Correctly applied it holds minimal risk for animals, human health, birds and any other organisms (including bees) in the environment, as it will only attract and kill fruit flies. Enquiries about the spraying programme can be directed to Fruit Fly Africa, the industry body tasked with controlling fruit flies, at 021 882 9541.

The Franschhoek Wine Tram hop-on hop-off tour is one of the best ways to discover the true essence of the Franschhoek Valley. Passengers aboard the hop-on hop-off tour will experience a unique and leisurely way to see the Franschhoek Valley as they journey through rolling vineyards in a double-decker tram and open-air tram-bus stopping in at some of South Africa’s oldest and most distinguished wine estates.

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Text: Editorial Desk | Images: Fruit Fly Africa, Picker & Griffiths: Field Guide to the Insects of South Africa Q

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Dit blyk dat Franschhoek polisiestasie opgradeer is, want die nuwe stasiebevelvoerder is ‘n luitenant-kolonel. Die stasiebevelvoerder wat die afgelope maande in die pos waargeneem het, was ‘n kaptein. Kolonel Rossouw is onlangs aangestel en die hoër rang beteken waarskynlik dat daar nou meer personeel aangestel sal word.

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Kolonel Rossouw is al sedert ondernemings skaad. Daar 2009 ‘n stasiebevelvoerder. Sy is terloops versekering dat bevordering en aansoek vir die wanneer iemand inligting pos in Franschhoek volg op aan die polisie verskaf, hulle etlike jare diens in Philadelphia. identiteit vertrouelik sal bly. Hy is al 29 jaar in die poliesie, Wat die informele beskou sy werk in die SAPD behuisingsgebiede in die (Suid Afrikaanse Polisiediens) vallei betref, sê Kolonel as ‘n roeping, hy het al “die hele Rossouw dat hy optimisties is land vol gewerk” en is steeds oor wetstoepassing daar. Die vasberade om ‘n verskil te maak. inwoners is bereid om saam met Hy is gesteld op die polisie te werk, hulle verstaan gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid wat gedoen moet word en help by misdaadvoorkoming en waar hulle kan. glo die gemeenskap is die oë Die grootste uitdagings vir Kolonel Rossouw en ore van die polisie. Kolonel die SAPD in Franschhoek is die Rossouw sê hy sien uit daarna om die mense werklikheid van kontakmisdaad en inbrake, maar van buurtwagte te ontmoet, besprekings te hou Kolonel Rossouw glo dat hy en sy span ook hier ‘n en hopenlik samewerking te bereik. Dis vir hom verskil kan maak. as stasiebevelvoerder belangrik dat blok- en Waarna sien ons stasiebevelvoerder uit? Om straatkomitees noue skakeling met sy kantoor miskien uiteindelik familie tyd te hê, tyd by sy het. As almal wat iets weet dit rapporteer, kan die vrou en twee seuns – en as oud eerste span rugby polisie misdaadkennis insamel en patrone vasstel; vleuel en senter hoop ‘n mens hy kry ook tyd vir sy belangrik in hulle plig van misdaadvoorkoming. geliefde sport. Sommige mense wil blykbaar nie insidente HC Tatler Ad Best Restaurant F.pdf 1 2018/11/15 9:57 AM rapporteer nie, ingeval dit die beeld van hulle Teks: Redaksie | Foto: Verskaf

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4 | February 2019

FRANSCHHOEK VALLEY IN ASSOCIATION WITH “LES VIGNERONS DE FRANSCHHOEK”

Holden Manz Rosé 2018

Le Lude Brut Rosé

A pale copper pink Provençal styled dry rosé based on Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault with a little saignée from the two Cabernets. An explosion of fresh strawberries, lychee, watermelon and black cherries on the nose; beautiful full mouth and a long finish! Rosé all day!! Cellar door price - R100

Ripe cherries, red lollipop and raspberry aromas provide a delicate profile to the wine. These are followed by some hints of grapefruit and wild rose. The palate opens with a voluptuous texture supported by elegant acidity. Initially fresh red berry, wild plum and spice. The length and richness of the palate develops a complexity with raspberry compote and hints blue berries and aniseed. Cellar door price - R290 per bottle

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Franschhoek Kitchen’s Spicy Franschhoek Trout Tartare A fresh fillet of Franschhoek Trout, red and spring onions, green apple all finely chopped combined with homemade harissa paste garnished with yuzu mayo, horseradish cream, burnt croutons and fennel flowers from the Holden Manz gardens!

info@lelude.co.za

Orangerie at Le Lude’s Fig, cream cheese and Parma ham salad Ingredients Honey Vinaigrette: 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; 3 tbsp red wine vinegar; 1 tspn honey; Salt and pepper; 1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil Fig Salad: 500g punnet; Black Mission figs, halved; 200g Parma Ham; 2 tbsp melted unsalted butter; 1 1/2 tbsp sugar; Leaves from 2 sprigs fresh thyme; Pinch salt; Pinch freshly cracked black pepper; 100g baby arugula; 200g fresh goat cheese; 100g thinly sliced celery Directions For the honey vinaigrette: In a small Mason jar or any small jar with a tightly fitting lid, combine the mustard, vinegar, honey, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover the jar and shake it to mix the ingredients up a bit. Add the oil and shake for about 30 seconds to mix it all together. For the fig salad: Preheat the oven to 180’C. Lay the figs out on a baking sheet, cut side up, and drizzle with the melted butter, sprinkle sugar seasoning and thyme leaves

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6 bottles of Holden Manz Rosé and 2 bottles of Le Lude Brut Rosé NV!

over, roast in the oven until the figs are plump and juicy and just slightly softened, about 10 minutes. Allow them to cool to room temperature. When ready to serve, scatter the arugula and lettuce on a long board or a platter and drizzle some of your vinaigrette over the greens (the greens should be lightly dressed, not drenched). Place the roasted figs, cut side up, all over the top of the greens. Add little chunks of goat cheese all around the figs, nestle thin slices of prosciutto around the figs with celery and finally, serve the remaining dressing on the side.

info@lelude.co.za

ANSWER THIS EASY QUESTION! Which university cricket team recently toured in the Cape?

Send your answer to tatlercompetition@gmail.com. Winner will be informed by email before 15 February 2019. Prizes to be collected from Franschhoek Info Office before end February 2019 or be forfeited.

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Hype up the romance with a special menu to celebrate the month of love. R385 pp. Includes welcome drink and 5-course menu (available on our website). info@alleebleue.com

Sun, 3/2: Sunset Picnics: Our popular Chicnics (R690 for 2) and Picnics-on-the-go (R675 for 2) have been given a romantic make-over for the ultimate sharing moment! Includes bottle of wine and chocolate truffles. From: 17h00-20h30. Latest arrival at 18h30.

Live Music Picnic with laid-back local singer Guy Feldman

Picnic information eg Menu’s, costs etc are on our website under “Things to Do” and all Picnic bookings are made directly on our website at the “Book Now” button.

February 2019 | 5

Cellar Chat

DANIELLE SMITH

Mark Tanner

Since starting this column in November 2012 I have, to my knowledge, at least 9 confirmed readers. Such loyalty is more than enough to provide the encouragement necessary to put pen to paper. I met one such reader the other day at one of our top class supermarkets. He said that he was somewhat surprised to see me as this column gave the impression that I spent my time visiting far-flung vineyards around the world. Really? With petrol prices rising so regularly I can hardly afford to drive to Simondium let alone zoom off in cattle class to California. Fact is, during my wine vocation I have been extremely fortunate to have visited many of the world’s wine producing countries, either while selling, tasting or, best of all, as a guest of a country seeking to promote its wines elsewhere. But this time my feet are firmly on the ground with some news from the ‘wine front’. Ever heard of the Eden Wine Route? No? Well, you will soon. With the gradual spread of viticulture creeping eastwards we now find vineyards in places like Plett, and even as far afield as East London, not to mention the two vineyards in KZN. These newcomers stretch right through the heart of the Garden Route with producers such as ‘The Goose’, ‘Herold Wines’, ‘Louis 57’ and yes, one called ‘Garden Route Wines’, just inland from George in the Waboomskraal Valley. We are doubtless familiar with the concentration of producers around Calitzdorp offering fine ports and other excellent wines. But now it is open to adventurists to explore further eastwards. ‘Packwood’, ‘Luka’ and ‘Plettenvale’ lie between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, and just to the east of Plett’ are ‘Bitou’, ‘Lodestone’, ‘Bramen’, ‘Redford Lane’, ‘Newstead’ and ‘Kay & Monty’. These producers are in the main small and boutique but some offer accommodation and cheese platters and are open for tastings at the usual times. There are some fifteen vineyards from ‘Baleia’ at Riversdale to ‘Bramon’ near Joubertina which comprise this new route through the Garden of Eden.

C L I N I C A L P SYC H O LO G I S T BA Hons (Psychology) (RAU) | MA Clinical Psychology (Wits)

Now, have you noticed how Masterchef and other televised programs about the culinary arts never get around to even the slightest mention of wine to complement their offerings? Just for fun here are a few difficult pairings to ponder. Egg dishes clash with most wines and spoil good ones. Being mostly a breakfast meal one tends to avoid alcohol, but, for scrambled eggs with smoked salmon a high-end sparkler goes well, as would a quality matured Chardonnay. Ice-cream’s cold numbs the taste buds preventing any appreciation of wine. Ice-cream and chocolate are often regarded as the two most difficult to pair, but try a good MCC (Champagne). To be honest, Champers goes pretty well with anything provided you select accordingly. Peanuts destroy wine’s flavours. Period. Pickled herrings (rollmops) are just about impossible, so go for a beer or a Genever. Kippers require a nice cup of tea, but if you don’t mind a ‘Scotch’ for breakfast… Curry asks for an aromatic white such as Gewurtztraminer, Viognier, or a Grüner Veltliner, it should be almost as good as beer. A dessert such as Crème Brûlée would require a sweet wine like a barrel-fermented Sautern or Barsac, so here we might call for a Noble Late Harvest. Crème Caramel would be overpowered by these wines so try a sweeter Riesling from Paul Cluver or a Semillon Late Harvest from Thelema. At the end of the day, when in doubt, go for a bubbly. She will enjoy it!

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6 | February 2019

Creative Kids’ Space In Huguenot Square there’s a space for kids to be creative and where adults wish they were kids again! Mish Mash Kids provides an environment that fosters creativity through inspired craft activities for children of all ages. The brainchild of the owner, Lily Blomkamp, Mish Mash Kids offers a range of stimulating and fun art and craft activities. Kids (with parents in tow!) are welcome to drop by at any time to make one of the open studio items, or register on the website for more in-depth workshops and even camps. Drop-in open studio activities include decorating a set of 5 nesting dolls, creating a shadow box world for farm or sea animals to live in and decorating a money box for saving in style. (Visit their website for more activities. Prices start at R200 and include an hour of studio time and all the necessary supplies to complete the project.) Planning your next children’s birthday party? Mish Mash Kids can accommodate up to 10 children for a fun afternoon in the studio, or they can organise interactive and engaging craft activities at your home or chosen location for larger groups. Lily also imports a range of delightful children’s craft kits, art books, curiosities and toys from leading brands such as Meri Meri, Seedling and Jelly Cat that make perfect gifts for children and grandchildren. What are you waiting for? Get ready, set, craft! Mish Mash Kids is open from 10h00 to 17h00 daily. You’ll find them in Huguenot Square (opposite Woolworths). Contact Lily Blomkamp at 083 345 0557, or visit them online at www. mishmashkids.com, or @mishmashcreative on Instagram. Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

Mish Mash Kids offers loads of fun, stimulating craft activities for kids

DESIGN

S P E C I A L I T Y J E W E L L E RY A N D D I A M O N D S WITH EXTRA CREAM DAISY RINGS IMAGINED, DESIGNED AND HANDCRAFTED IN FRANSCHHOEK

PENCHANT DESIGN CC 62 HUGUENOT STREET, FRANSCHHOEK +27 21 876 3094 info@penchantdesign.com www.penchantdesign.com www.facebook.com/penchantdesign instagram: penchant_design

February 2019 | 7

SA Top 100 Wines 3 Franschhoek Wines Included The 2019 classification of SA’s Top 100 wines was released early in January. The Top 100 wines are those with the best track records involving numerous vintages in over 30 local and international forums for the assessment of wine quality and interest value over the past 10 years. Two Franschhoek stalwarts in the classification once again made the list. Chamonix Estate made the list with both its Chardonnay Reserve and Pinot Noir Reserve, while La Motte’s Pierneef Syrah Viognier also made the list again. Chris and Andrea Mullineux – who locally are in partnership with Analjit Singh in Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines – also saw one of their Swartland wines, the Mullineux Straw Wine, make the list. To be eligible for the classification, updated annually since 2004, wines must have earned good to excellent reviews from one or more of the top

panels of judges for at least three vintages during the 10-year period under review. The critics include experts appointed for the Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), the International Wine Challenge (UK) and IWSC (UK), Platter’s SA Wine Guide (5 Stars and Highly Recommended), the Six Nations Wine Challenge (AU), the Trophy Wine Show (SA), the Veritas Awards (SA) and the Michelangelo awards (SA) – to mention just some of the panels. The full list can be found at www.topwinesa.com Text: Editorial Desk | Images: Respective wineries

CAP

CLASSIQUE

R E S TA U R A N T

TASTINGS: CANAPES & SALES Mon-Sun 10:00 - 18:00 LUNCH Tues-Sun 12:00 - 15:00 DINNER (from 4th Jan) Fri-Sat 18:30 - 20:30 Le Lude Cellar 021 100 3465 Orangerie Restaurant 021 100 3464 Lambrechts Road Franschhoek info@lelude.co.za · www.lelude.co.za

8 | February 2019

The Hoek’s Chess Master “My brother taught me chess when I was 11 years old,” Darlington Mlandeli tells me as I enjoy a mid-afternoon cappuccino at The Hoek Espresso Bar. “My primary school, in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe, didn’t offer chess though, so I spoke to the headmaster and he got hold of three boards for the school. I’ve been playing ever since.” Ever-smiling Darlington is being modest though and it takes a bit of coaxing before he shares his proudest chess moment with me. As a high schooler he played the top-ranked player in the world in his age group to a draw in a tournament in Gweru. Economic realities though often meant that there was often no money to travel to many of the tournaments to accumulate up ranking points. Darlington, like many Zimbabweans, came to South Africa because of the calamitous economic situation in Zimbabwe towards the end of the Mugabe regime. A job opportunity in Polokwane didn’t pan out, so he headed south to Franschhoek, where his sisters had already established themselves. Their mother later joined them too. After working as a security guard at Mont Rochelle Hotel & Vineyards he took a job at the African Art Gallery and then, in 2014, joined the team at The Hoek and trained as a barista with

Deluxe Coffeeworks. Something many local caffeine addicts are very grateful for! Darlington soon started teaching chess in Groendal and mentored some players at Bridge House School too – although he had to give this up as he didn’t have transport available. He soon met Barry Phillips, who had been running a chess club at Dalubuhle Primary School for some time, and started assisting him. Now he’s getting ready to take over the running of the chess club. “Why do you do it?” I ask him. “I love the game,” he says, “besides, the kids need something to keep them out of trouble and chess teaches them valuable skills like planning ahead, strategic thinking and patience. These things not only help them in life generally, but also in their school work – particularly maths and accounting.” I certainly can’t argue with that… Check mate!

Darlington Mlandeli is ready for his first opponent

Text & Image: Editorial Desk

Lasting Loyalty

When one talks to Gert and Louis about their time at La Petite Dauphine, they mention the highlights of what they have done and presented, but they automatically steer the conversation towards their loyal and dependable staff. Their appreciation and relief are quite evident as they name the employees who have walked the road with them and they emphasize how valuable dependability and competence are at an establishment like theirs. Soon after taking over the property fifteen years ago, the guys realised that the guests to whom they offered accommodation in the renovated and new buildings would need breakfast and probably lunch. Establishing Café BonBon was the obvious answer, but they would have to find staff. Louis was pondering the issue one day when he drove to the village and noticed a few ladies waiting for transport near the monument. He stopped for a chat and asked

about cooking skills. As luck would have it, Lena said she indeed had the desired skills and Louis offered her a job on the spot. She is still there today with a reputation that includes a colourful personality and very good kitchen skills. The other long-service employees are Valencia who is as reliable as ever, Kholiswa – who is known as a quiet work-horse with few words, Maggie – who is easy going with the pleasant sort of demeanour that is ideal for serving customers, Peter – the wizard of breads and cakes and Veronica – wellknown by customers and loved by all. As they remember the past and look at the year ahead, Gert and Louis again mention the people they employ, “Staff like this makes it all worth it. We look forward to sharing the future with these hard-working folk.” Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

E SALE C N A R A E L ARE C DINNERW 3rd February 2019 2nd and tel 021 876 4304 24 dirkie uys street franschhoek

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February 2019 | 9

Pay It Forward With a Blood Donation Pay it forward in 2019 by making regular blood donations. Committing to four donations during the year could save up to 12 lives – every unit of whole blood is separated into three lifesaving parts; red cell, platelets and plasma. “Thank you to all our blood donors for their support during 2018 and specifically during the festive season, we managed to receive 12 727 blood donations over this time. This resulted in 38 181 lives saved”, says Michelle Vermeulen, spokesperson for the Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS). “This year our goal is to reach 160 000 blood donations, in order to do this, we need your support,” says Vermeulen. Blood donation only takes 30 minutes of your time every 56 days. It requires you to be between the ages of 16 and 65, weigh over 50kg, be in good general health and lead a safe sexual lifestyle. It does not cause you any bodily harm – only 475ml of blood is taken, and this is replaced within 24 hours.

Vermeulen advises donors to eat a substantial meal within the three to four hours before visiting a clinic and to increase their fluid intake before, during and after donation. Donors are advised not to over exert themselves after donating. Blood stock updates and interesting facts about donation can be found on Facebook (@TheWCBS), Twitter (@The_WCBS) and Instagram (@thewcbs). Download the WCBS app, which is available for iOS and Android devices. It will show you the nearest clinic as well the current blood stock levels in real time. www.wcbs.org.za | 021 507 6300 Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Pixabay

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10 | February 2019

Tatler Motoring MICHELE LUPINI

FIRST DRIVE: New Subaru Forester CROSSOVER CRESCENDO We have long been Subaru fans – not only of the testosterone-rich WRC-bred STis, but also the rest of the range, all of which benefit from that special Subaru magic of boxerengined Subaru symmetrical all-wheel drive to set them fully apart from just about anything else on the road. Generation V The Forester is one of those special Subarus and now, 21 years down the road, the fifth-generation is here and it’s the most spacious and most refined to date. Boasting improved EyeSight driver assist technology and latest X-Mode with Deep Mud capability for the first time, it is built on the latest Subaru Global Platform to offer best space, offroad capability, advanced safety and features in a Forester yet.

Premium Forester models come standard with that latest EyeSight tech that has now earned itself a US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick for twelve years on the trot, along with a highest possible ‘Superior’ rating for front crash prevention. Forester now comes standard with seven airbags including advanced front, front seat side, pelvis and torso bags, side curtain and driver’s knee airbags. Symmetrical AWD tradition Powered by Subaru’s latest 115kW 196Nm 2-litre boxer four engine, the latest Forester’s horizontallyopposed direct petrol injection mill is 80% new and brings enhanced responsiveness. All models are now paired with Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT and Forester is as ever, equipped with Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive with active torque vectoring. You will recall, we noted that the first Forester enjoyed the advantage of an exceptional low centre of gravity and that has not changed either. See, that boxer-four mill is not only half the height of a conventional engine, but it also allows that symmetrical all-wheel drive with its viscous coupling centre differential to be mounted as low as possible in the chassis to ensure unbeatable dynamics, stability and control, just in case you thought that this superb drivetrain was just another gimmick. It’s actually a very real advantage… The new one also delivers major improvements in ride, handling and occupant comfort, while a stiffer architecture brings better steering precision, ride

comfort and even boot space advantages, over and above its obvious occupant safety plusses. X Mode ability The premium model New Forester is also the first Subaru to benefit from new two-mode X-Mode offroad throttle control, leaving the driver only to steer in difficult snow, deep mud or sand conditions. X Mode monitors wheel-slip on all four wheels and should one or more begin to slip, the system applies the brakes to the affected wheel to see drive transferred to the opposite side of the car. Subaru’s driver-selectable Intelligent SI-Drive powertrain performance management system is another Forester novelty now enhanced to allow the driver to tailor the vehicle’s throttle characteristics between smooth and economical ‘Intelligent’ or responsive and tuneful ‘Sport’ driving. A World Car of the Year 2019 candidate, new Forester has already enjoyed praise and recognition from media across the globe, winning the Japanese 2018 Good Design Award that recognises how Forester has evolved from what was once a Subaru weakness to now deliver the highest interior quality, an advantage now considered a real brand strong point. Fully stacked Of course, new Forester packs in everything the modern crossover owner expects and a hell of a lot more. Underpinned by that undeniable Subaru

boxer symmetrical all-wheel drive advantage that delivers balanced and peerless handling and road holding, new Forester enjoys latest generations of all those significant Subaru highlights from Lineartronic to X Mode to EyeSight. I’d say Subaru’s high hopes for the newcomer are well founded – there is little road noise and Forester is quiet on the cruise thanks to good powertrain and outside noise isolation. It rides impressively thanks to damping – that also trades comfort and handling off very well, while that low centre of gravity brings a certain wieldiness and security at the helm. Steering is accurate and the brake pedal responsive to see Forester to a stop straight and quick, while X-Mode will dig you out of some serious off-road challenges without the need for all-terrain tyres. So, while this all-new Forester’s onroad refinement is still masterly, it also has off-road credibility to make most soft-roader rivals cry. Available in South Africa by the time you read this, the new Subaru Forester not only boasts a quite impeccable pedigree, but it is also the best of its breed yet. Don’t overlook this one if looking for a proper little crossover – there is no question that it belongs at or near the top of your short list… Find more of Michele Lupini and his team’s effort in Auto Bakkie Race! magazine in village bookshelves and online at www.autobakkierace.co.za

February 2019 | 11

Want a Second-Hand Car But Short On Cash? You may be considering buying a second-hand car this year. But with the economy as it is and the cost of living rising, you need to look into car financing options. But where to start? “Traditionally, South Africans have leaned towards bank financing when buying a vehicle, but there are a more options that can be explored,” says Jakkie Olivier, CEO of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI). Leasing, for example, has gained popularity over recent years. Almost a third of consumers in the US are leasing their vehicles. The concept is relatively new in South Africa. “It certainly has advantages for South Africans in light of rising interest rates, fuel hikes and a shaky Rand, but whichever finance option you go for, make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into from the start,” he says. He explains that the main difference between a lease and an instalment agreement is that in a lease agreement the buyer will not own the vehicle at the end of the term, but can renegotiate the contract to take ownership for the residual value. Lease contracts are also for shorter terms. “Generally, buying a car, paying it off and then keeping it for many years, remains the least expensive way to go because despite the fact that vehicles depreciate over time, they do retain some value that you can apply towards buying another car. If you lease a vehicle, you only drive it for a fixed period and your monthly payments go towards paying for the depreciation in the vehicle, not ownership. Lease agreements also come with restrictions on how many kilometres you can do during the lease period.” How do you decide which option is better? Olivier encourages prospective buyers to do their homework first; research the options and always be aware of the fine print. “Bank finance can be costly as a large chunk of the monthly instalment goes towards interest payments. Banks also want to know that you have a spotless credit history and that you can afford the monthly payments on a vehicle.” He adds that it’s a mistake to base your affordability on the repayment only. Research has shown that in certain market conditions, the actual monthly instalment of an entry-level vehicle accounts for less than 50% of the total cost of ownership. Fuel, maintenance and insurance costs also need to be budgeted for before deciding to go ahead with the purchase of a vehicle. “There are a number of value-added products which can be built into the monthly instalment, but be careful of falling for all the trappings without a clear understanding of how much these will inflate your instalment.” “Now more than ever, a vehicle purchase should be thoroughly-researched and properly thought out. Always keep the practical use you want out of the vehicle in mind and consider your average mileage and the increasing cost of petrol,” he says. Olivier highly recommends finding an independent accredited workshop or dealership to inspect the vehicle before a purchase or financing goes ahead. “You need to make sure that the value assigned to the vehicle is correct. A

qualified mechanic will be able to fully evaluate the condition of the parts, body of the vehicle and so on.” “Make sure that your purchase and financing option is the right one for you by buying with your head and not with your heart. A car is a big investment so don’t make emotional decisions,” he concludes. Mark Dommisse, National Chairperson, the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA), a constituent association of the RMI, says, “Buying a car is one of the biggest purchases one is likely to make, second only to property. Whether a consumer is considering a first car or simply replacing a vehicle, taking any shortcuts when planning their buying journey could result in significant problems for the buyer.” Many car buyers make the mistake of assuming that the only cost associated with financing a car is the car repayment itself, so when they work out their budget and say they have R5000 to spend they assume they can rush out and buy a car with a repayment of R5000 per month. It is vital that people understand that buying a car is not just about the monthly repayment on the car itself. “Our advice is that whatever your budget works out to be, you should allow for half of it to be spent on the monthly repayment, and then put aside the other half to cover additional expenses such as fuel, maintenance and insurance,” Dommisse says. Wesbank’s top five financing DOs and DON’Ts for prospective vehicle buyers Do... • Draw up a budget to establish affordability. • Leave enough spare cash in your budget to absorb rising costs such as fuel and interest rates. • Take the time to read and understand your finance contract. • Contact the bank if you are in a situation where you cannot meet your financial commitments. • Make sure you always have comprehensive insurance on your financed vehicle. Don’ts... • Overextend your budget. • Provide the bank with false information about affordability. • Cancel insurance when you are in a financial bind. • Rely on a large balloon payment to make your instalments more affordable. • Forget to include all costs in your mobility budget: petrol, insurance, and maintenance. Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Pixabay

FRANSCHHOEK

SPURS SOCCER TRIALS 9-10 FEBRUARY 2019 Franschhoek Community Fields 9h00-12h00 Ages Under 9-15 • Boys & Girls Players to be dressed in football attire (NB shinnies) and bring along a copy of their birth certificate

12 | February 2019

Hospice News

To the students of Franschhoek High School for our children’s Santa shoe boxes – thank you so much! They loved receiving these boxes, filled with so many thoughtful items.

COLLEEN DOUGLAS

Please come and support the following events: 1 February 2019: Uncorked Hop at the NG Kerk Hall,

The patients of Franschhoek Hospice would like to thank the staff and volunteers of Hospice for their beautifully decorated Christmas boxes, packed with delicious eats which they received in December 2018. Thank you to Pat for decorating the boxes and to the following for catering: Barbara, Carol, Liz, Margot, Helen, Lyn, Elizabeth, Nadia, Goederust, Marie Louise, Ann, Yvonne, Marelize, Pearl, Kathy, Paddy and Pam. Thank you also to John for his assistance with the boxes.

last minute tickets will be available at the door. 13 February 2019: Volunteers Tea/Coffee Morning at Hospice House, 10h00, Guest Speaker to be confirmed. 17 February 2019: Remembrance Service at the NG Kerk, Dirkie Uys Street, 09h00 for 09h30. 17 February 2019: The Bubble and CODA Africa at the Monument, purchase your wristband at Hospice or on the day. Platters of snacks for the Bubble/CODA Africa picnic can be purchased through Good Food & Co at R150 or R130. Place Vendome Lifestyle Centre. Contact Emmarentia or Joey on 021 876 3556 to place your order. We have credit card facilities. 9 March 2019: Book Sale, in front of the Municipality, 09h00 until 14h00.

Probus Club

of Probus Clubs, which offer retirees the facility to manage successfully the transition from high pressure executive, professional and other vocational activity to a calmer way of life. This is achieved through these features of membership:

MARK TANNER

Tiana from Hospice and Robert from Franschhoek High School ready to deliver the Santa shoe boxes to Hospice’s child patients.

(Fire) Fighting Talk This is the first of a series of monthly articles aimed at informing the community on matters pertaining to fire safety. As we are in the middle of the “fire season” I thought it appropriate to start by introducing the organisation responsible for the prevention and mitigation of vegetation fires, the WFPA. What is the Winelands Fire Protection Association

The WFPA is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO) and is managed by Dale Nortje as one of the

(WFPA)? Fire Protection Associations are formed and

two permanently employed staff members, the other

governed under the National Veld and Forest Fire

being the administrator. The rest of the team consists

Act (Act 101 of 1996), as voluntary associations of

of volunteers – including both landowners and private

landowners who wish to cooperate for the purpose of

individuals – who assist with achieving the objectives

predicting, preventing, managing and extinguishing

of the WFPA, including assisting at fire incidents,

vegetation fires.

liaison between the community and fire services

The WFPA was registered in November 2014, amalgamating several individual fire protection

and implementation of fire prevention strategies to mention a few functions.

associations into one organisation, these included

The WFPA and its members has multiple partners

the ones in Stellenbosch, Tulbagh-Wolseley, Ceres-

in the ongoing project of fire management, including

Witzenberg, Rooiberg, Warm and Koue Bokkeveld to

municipal and district fire services, CapeNature,

name a few.

registered conservancies and neighbouring fire

The WFPA is subdivided into nine fire management

protection associations.

units which incorporate the entire area of the Cape

Please feel free to contact me at 083 457 4065 for

Winelands District Municipality, amounting to almost

further information pertaining to the WFPA or visit:

2 300 000 ha. Franschhoek is part of the Stellenbosch

www.winelandsfpa.co.za

Fire Management Unit that consists of the following wards: Franschhoek, Simonsberg, Bottelary, Spier, Blaauwklippen, Helderberg and Jonkershoek.

Please report all smoke and fire to the Cape Winelands District Municipality’s control centre at 021 887 4446. Ashley Bauer

• Opportunities to extend compatible social contacts

Our Speaker on 4 February will be Wendy Green. Wendy has recently been involved in meetings with the Parliamentary SubCommittee on the Integrated Resource Plan – essentially the electricity plan for the country – involving issues such as Independent Power Producers and NUMSA’s concerns about possible job losses. With more load shedding on the horizon this is a talk not to be missed.

and maintain an interest in the topical issues of the day. • Nurturing positive attitudes to ageing through group recreation and the sharing of information on issues of concern to Senior Citizens. • Support in grief and illness. • Speakers at monthly luncheons who provide a fresh mental challenge and stimulation. • We are a-political and non-sectarian • We are mindful of the fact that costs are an important consideration. Membership fees, therefore, are kept to a minimum; while monthly luncheon costs vary. • Probus is not a Service/Fund Raising organization. For more information please contact Mark Tanner on

What is probus all about? In South Africa there is a rapidly growing number

082 773 9217.

Franschhoek Wine Valley News REINHER BEHRENS

With the start of 2019 a distant memory by now we trust you’ve settled in comfortably into the New Year. During the festive season the tourism office was abuzz with tourists – both local and international – reaffirming that Franschhoek continues to remain a popular travel destination.

spectacular again, and this year we welcome back Franschhoek Open Gardens (26 & 27 October). Our numerous art galleries in and around the valley will be pulling out all the stops during Art Franschhoek (commencing 26 October), and then we celebrate the end of another bumper year with one of SA’s premier social calendar events – the Franschhoek Cap Classique & Champagne Festival (30 November & 1 December). For more info and where to book visit our website.

As you know Franschhoek has become synonymous

The sell-out Franschhoek Mystery Weekends are back

with hosting world-class festivals and events, and

in July, August and September, which is perfect for the

we remind you to save the date for this year’s line-

quieter winter months, for both members and visitors.

up. Discover the vignerons’ choices for summer at

Our vignerons and restaurant members will once

Franschhoek Summer Wines (2 February). Book

again be participating in the annual Winter Sculpture

enthusiasts can look forward to the Franschhoek

Fair, which takes place over the weekend of 11 and 12

Literary Festival (17 – 19 May), while in July we celebrate

May at the Nirox Foundation Sculpture Park in the

our French heritage with the Franschhoek Bastille

Cradle of Humankind, and has grown in popularity

Festival (13 & 14 July). September celebrates all things

since its inception.

new and the Franschhoek Uncorked Festival (14 & 15

Please pop into our offices in Huguenot Street if you

September) is the perfect excuse to stock up on new

have any queries, or for more information on what’s

release wines (and other gems) from our vignerons.

happening in and around the valley visit our website at

After

www.franschhoek.org.za.

much-needed

rains

the

valley

looking

40 Young Magicians Graduate Forty aspirant young magicians, from across the Franschhoek schooling district, graduated from a six week Juggling and Cards Skills course presented by the world-renowned College of Magic, at a ceremony held at the Wes-Eind Primary School on Friday, 23 November 2018! The Juggling and Cards Skills Course, a six-week

Dyantyi, a renowned South African magic champion

training programme, which ran from Tuesday 16

and international performer, is also the programme

October to Tuesday 20 November 2018, forms part

coordinator and is incredibly proud of the new

of the College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical

Franschhoek graduates: “It’s amazing to see the

arts organisation’s Rural Community Project. The

remarkable transformation in the students over such a

roll-out of the Franschhoek course was co-funded

short period of time. From barely being able to address

and coordinated by Bhabhathane, a partnership of

each other at the start of the course to their confident

interdependent schools promoting lifelong learning

performances in front of their families, teachers and

and wellness in its community.

guests at the graduation, it’s inspiring to see the

The eager students, from Bridge House Preparatory;

impact this course has had on their lives.”

School;

The College of Magic, now in its 38th year of teaching

Groendal Primary; Kusasa Project; Wemmershoek

the magic theatrical performing arts and its allied arts

Primary and Wes-Eind Primary, were led on their

(including juggling, puppetry, mime and clowning),

first journey into the world of card magic by course

with a social and life- skills component to children

instructors Olwethu Dyantyi, Khanyi Nyakatya and

and adults, is a non-profit organisation, based in Cape

Asiphe Mnqika, who also helped them defy gravity

Town, and the only one of its kind in the world.

Dalubuhle

Primary;

Franschhoek

High

Abracadabra! Franschhoek is now home to 40 trained young magicians from across the school district as these youngsters have completed their six week College of Magic Juggling and Card Skills course!

Emmalene Ravell, the Bhabhathane Programme

with its specific focus on student development and

The course is aimed at empowering the youth and

Assistant, is thrilled with the partnership between the

empowerment was a natural fit for our organisation.

helping them realise their dreams by providing them with

two organisations and their impact on the community:

The transformation within our students, the confidence

employable skills through teaching them the art of magic.

“Collaborating on the Juggling and Cards Skills course,

they now have and the sheer wonder magic has

with his juggling feats.

brought to their lives have been astonishing to see.” www.collegeofmagic.com | www.bhabhathane.org.za Text: Editorial Desk | Image: College of Magic

February 2019 | 13

Editor’s Letter Siegfried Schäfer Dear Readers,

states to introduce “right to repair” legislation.”

(thus reducing purchasing power even more by

area rather than in the suburbs, and an urban

(In SA a right to repair – R2R – campaign has

increasing health-related expenses.)

model that is sustainable, greener, convenient,

been active in the automotive after sales service

It is no surprise that increasing numbers of local

sector for a couple of years and have been scoring

authorities in the US are now beginning to limit

successes against car manufacturers that try to

the number of dollar stores in their jurisdiction

make it unreasonably difficult for independent

and/or where they may operate.

and designed to support citizens throughout their parenting process.” There have been other benefits too, besides the demographic impacts. Car use in the city centre

The third article, ‘What Happens to Kid Culture

has dropped by 77%, CO2 emissions by 66% and

Those of you who have been reading my editor’s

The second article that caught my eye was titled

When You Close the Streets to Cars’, reported on

crime has declined to a new low of 27 incidents

letters and occasional rants for some time will

‘Dollar Store Backlash’. This article looked at the

the effects of a pedestrianisation policy followed

per 1000 inhabitants in 2017. A remarkable 80%

know that I have an interest in the trends and

rise of the so-called ‘dollar store’ in economically

in the Spanish city of Pontevedra.

of kids between the age of 6 and 12 walk to school

forces that shape towns and villages.

depressed areas in the US, although it’s easy to

Against the backdrop of ever-declining birth

A recent email newsletter I received contained

transpose the dynamics at work to parts of SA.

rates the Pontevedra city authorities have been

Interestingly cars aren’t technically banned from

three articles that caught my eye. At first glance

It really challenges readers to think about the

restricting traffic, eliminating physical barriers and

the city centre. Authorities realised that 60% of

they seem to deal with unrelated issues, but when

intersection of retail, demographics and health.

workshops to service their vehicles.)

alone in the morning!

generally redesigning the city from the sight line

cars in the city centre were circulating looking for

you start thinking about them in a big picture way

“It has become an increasingly common story:

of a child for the past 19 years. Doing so, authorities

parking. By taking away almost all parking in the

they all actually deal with aspects of sustainability.

A dollar store opens up in an economically

believe, helps the city address everybody’s needs,

city centre and replacing it with parking areas on

The first article dealt with Repair Cafés. The

depressed area with scarce healthy and affordable

especially the disadvantaged. “Where there are

the outskirts of the town centre cars no longer

idea originated in Amsterdam and there are now

food options, sometimes with the help of local tax

children, there are healthy adults,” they say.

circulate in the town centre because drivers know

more than 1500 Repair Cafés around the globe.

incentives. It advertises hard-to-beat low prices,

The proof is in the demographics. Since the

According to their website “Repair Cafés are

but it offers little in terms of fresh produce and

policy was implemented in 2000, the population

Early fears from businesses that pedestrianisation

free meeting places and are all about repairing

nutritious items—further trapping residents in a

of kids aged 0 to 14 increased by 8 percent in

will lead to fewer customers proved unfounded

things (together). In the place where a Repair

cycle of poverty and ill-health.”

they won’t find any parking there!

Pontevedra, compared to 3.2 percent in Galicia’s

Café is located, you’ll find tools and materials to

Research by the Institute of Local Self Reliance

capital Santiago de Compostela and 2.4 percent

pedestrianised areas. The fighting talk now comes

help you make any repairs you need. On clothes,

(ILSR), a non-profit supporting local economies,

in Vigo, the region’s economic hub. “Here you

from areas that haven’t been pedestrianised yet

furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, crockery,

concluded that “While dollar stores sometimes fill

don’t have to hold your child’s hand all the time.

and feel excluded.

appliances, toys, et cetera. You’ll also find expert

a need in cash-strapped communities, growing

In any other city that would only happen inside a

volunteers, with repair skills in all kinds of fields.”

evidence suggests these stores are not merely a by-

mall,” said one parent.

today’s

consumption-driven

society

vast

quantities of things are thrown away that only need minor repairs. “The trouble is, lots of people have forgotten that they can repair things themselves or they no longer know how.”

product of economic distress. They’re a cause of it.” A few of the reasons researchers base their conclusions on are: • Dollar stores tend to create fewer jobs than independent groceries – 9 vs 14,

people

further

flocked

improve

the

family-friendly

work-family

balance,

authorities are keeping schools in the city centre

According to the University of Santiago de

and maternity and pediatric services have been

Compostella Pontevedra’s policy has been more

moved from a big hospital outside town to a

successful at addressing Spain’s aging population

smaller facility in the pedestrian area. Cultural

problem than national schemes such as once-off

activities for kids are also catered for in the town

payments for births. “If we want to end Spain’s

centre.

At Repair Cafés people are getting involved

• When compared by weight many dollar store

aging drama, we must look for parenting policies,

“It is like building a nest,” said a Pontevedra

with their possessions again. “Valuable practical

products are actually more expensive than they

measures that help parents raise their kids,

councillor. “If you put some fluff and twigs on a

are at traditional retailers,

starting with urban planning,” said a researcher.

branch, a bird will soon make it its home.”

knowledge is getting passed on. Things are being used for longer and don’t have to be thrown away.

• The undercutting of margins is often just

“The city council has implemented a very

There you have it, three diverse examples of

This reduces the volume of raw materials and

enough for local retailers to not be able to stay

successful strategy, promoting attractive and

policies aimed at different types of sustainability.

in business, and

affordable residential developments in the urban

energy needed to make new products.” Repair Café regulars say that these days it’s more difficult to repair products. The reasons include

healthy foods – if at all.

the use of more computerized technology and

Over a longer time frame dollar stores therefore

manufacturers using parts and techniques that make

can have a negative impact on employment

it difficult or impossible to disassemble an item.

levels, deprive the local community of healthy

“Other companies make it difficult to buy replacement

parts

discourage

Until next month!

• Dollar stores offer a smaller range of fresh,

food options (or force people to travel further for

third-party

these, thus further reducing purchasing power

and self-repairs – practices, known as planned

by increasing the percentage of income spent

obsolescence, that have spurred at least 18 US

on travel) and lead to ill health in the community

DEADLINES - MARCH 2019 ISSUE Bookings - 14 January 2019

Artwork - 15 January 2019

Editorial - 14 January 2019

14 | February 2019

Board Meeting Attendance: New Post(Net)man A Critical Director’s Responsibility

There’s a friendly new face in charge at PostNet Franschhoek. Johan Geers took over the business on 1 December 2018.

Recent news reports relating to the withdrawal of a non-executive director up for reelection due to his non-attendance at meetings for four years by Purple, a JSE-listed company, highlight one critical area of a director’s responsibility: the necessity to attend board meetings. Parmi Natesan, CEO Elect of the Institute of Directors in Southern Africa (IoDSA) says that King IV recommends that attendance at board meetings is an important responsibility for directors. “King IV is clear that members of the governing body should attend meetings in order to fulfill their responsibility to discharge their duties effectively,” she says. “Non-executive directors need to prepare for, attend and participate in meetings in order to make a genuine contribution.” The need to attend meetings forms part of the recommended practices for achieving Principle 1 of King IV: The governing body should lead ethically and effectively. Attendance of directors at meetings is also thus one of the items that should be disclosed. “It is important to note that boards take decisions collectively, so the process of debate that leads up to the decision also needs to be a collective effort. It is not simply a matter of providing input in between meetings, although that’s part of it,” she says. “It is in the process of constructive challenge and debate that ideas and decisions come to light. A good board is more than the sum of its parts, and this alchemy begins with directors interacting with each other at meetings.” Attendance at meetings of the board should also be taken into account when assessing the performance of a director who is up for re-election. In light of this, nomination committees should carefully consider whether the director up for reelection has attended meetings, has been wellprepared for the meetings, was able to engage fruitfully at meetings, and has added value to the board and the organization as a whole. Directors can only make a positive contribution at meetings if they are present and well-prepared, she says. “Of course, in today’s digital world that

attendance need not necessarily be physical – directors in other parts of the world can still be present electronically. Dialling in is always an option but, even better, video-conferencing offers an increasingly good platform for personal interaction,” she adds. “A good resolution for 2019 is for directors to pledge to attend board meetings and make their contribution really count.” Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Pixabay

Johan grew up in the Northern Cape – Douglas, near the confluence of the Orange and Vaal Rivers, to be more precise. Most of his school career was spent at boarding school in Kimberley. After school he joined his father on the cattle and irrigation farm, but soon decided he’d rather be his own boss and opened a copy and typing shop in Douglas – Crazy Fingers. Four successful years later he felt the call of wider horizons beckoning, sold his shop to his sister, packed his Rottweiler and Spaniel in the car and headed for the Cape. Once there he bought PostNet Parow and in the process became one of the youngest PostNet owners in SA. By 2010 he needed a new challenge and decided to pursue psychology studies – something he had long wanted to do. Fortunately for Johan his husband, David, was able to step in and manage PostNet’s new owner, Johan Geers the shop while Johan studied. Johan obtained a Bachelor’s degree in again and he jumped at the opportunity to buy Psychology, Anthropology and Ethics from the PostNet Franschhoek, where he looks forward to University of the Western Cape in 2013. He followed the challenge of growing the business and meeting this up with further psychology studies through the needs of its clientele. the Cornerstone Institute including a Bachelor of Johan is an ardent environmentalist and cares Arts Honours in Psychology. To top his academic deeply for his community. “It feeds my soul to credentials he also obtained a B Psych degree help others,” he says. It’s therefore no surprise that in Psychometry from Stellenbosch University. In he has already found a way to use his psychology between his studies he somehow found the time background to the benefit of the local community. for two internships and passed his two board He will be assisting the Franschhoek Hospitality exams to become a Registered Counsellor and Academy & Learning Centre by teaching their life Psychometrist. skills course and looking after the mental health of In 2016 Johan sold PostNet Parow and in the their students. same year David bought PostNet N1 City. With his studies behind him it was time to get start working Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

Authentically South African – the table is set at Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards

Culinary tourists and foodies are now invited to take their place at the Leopard’s Leap South African Table! Around this table, those interested in culinary culture can share an authentic South African meal, enjoy Cape wine and join the conversation on the origin and development of the local gastronomy. South Africa is a melting-pot of cultures, all of which influence food traditions and styles of cooking.The passionate Chef Pieter de Jager introduces guests to the diversity of South African cuisine and explains the rich culinary history and shares the tales behind the food he serves. Guests are also introduced to the versatile collection of Leopard’s Leap wines and their unique South African attributes. The South African Table at Leopard’s Leap brings together old and new friends for a relaxed mid-week luncheon of authentic South African cuisine and conversations on food and wine a highlight on any Franschhoek itinerary.

Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 12:00 – 13:00 Cost per person: R295 Reservations can be made in advance at reservations@leopardsleap.co.za or +27 (0)21 876 8002 #SharingSAFoodandWine

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February 2019 | 15

Business Leadership TONY FROST

Important thoughts for 2019 It is good early in a new year to think about what the year will hold for us and what we can do to make a positive contribution in and for the society and country we’re part of. This must be central to our thinking as we face 2019. Politicians would have us believe that they are in charge. This is not true. We entrust our votes to them to act with integrity and ethically to uphold the Constitution which we approved and to ensure the implementation and compliance with the laws that we enabled them to enact. It is up to us to hold them accountable. We have another opportunity to do so in the year ahead. It is an election year, it is our time. Of course they will make all sorts of promises which they either will not be able to fulfil; or have no intention of carrying out once elected. Therefore we must use our votes and our influence judiciously and with purpose to ensure they get our message, which is a much more important message than their message! Some good arguments will probably be proffered to suggest that 2018 was an annus horrribilis. Believe them if you will. Did lousy things happen in 2018? Of course! But 2018 was not all horrible. Indeed there are many signs of positive change

happening in our country and beyond. Think of how the Saudis were not allowed to get away with the murder of famous journalist, Jamal Kashoggi, notwithstanding denials by the Saudi authorities and their apologist Donald Trump; think about the increasing focus on criminal behaviour in our own country as evidenced by the Zondo Commission, the Nugent Commission and others; think about how active civil society has been in South Africa and beyond during the past year; notice the positive changes in our governing party and in countries close to us; and much more. There is indeed much to be hopeful about. Apart from actively exercising our democratic and civil rights during the year ahead, what should we be doing to ensure that our focus is positive and healthy? There is much evidence to suggest that if we really pay attention to what we think about we can positively impact our own lives and those around us. This is as good for the individual as it is for organisations, communities and even countries. South Africa is in need of just this. We have become experts at being victim spectators instead positive contributing players on the field of history. A thought written some 3000 years ago, which is just as fresh and germane today as it was then: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones”. (Proverbs 17:22) It would be good to keep this idea in mind as you ponder your approach to the year ahead. So here are some thoughts to ponder for 2019: 1. Develop your vision of your ideal future This must not be about the acquisition of material possessions. These, at very best, will provide you with only very temporary and fragile ‘happiness’ and

Plan Your Investments Today to Ensure Your Desired Lifestyle Tomorrow According to Lourens Coetzee of Marriott Asset Management, maintaining your lifestyle in later years should be the core objective of your investment plan. However, to achieve this objective, you are often required to adjust your lifestyle today so that you are not forced to do so in the future. Employees generally contribute to compulsory pension or provident funds through their employers. More often than not employees know only their market value and have no idea how much income their savings will give them when they retire. According to Coetzee, it is critical to know what income will be generated from your accumulated savings when you are no longer working. “Further to this, income must be converted into a present day equivalent, as the purchasing power of income is affected by inflation over time. By considering the future level of income in today’s terms, you can gauge whether it will be sufficient to sustain your desired lifestyle,” he said. “Should this not be the case, you will need to make additional voluntary contributions into either a retirement annuity or discretionary product such as a unit trust.” Coetzee says that one of the most tax efficient means of saving outside of an employer pension fund is through a retirement annuity. Not only is the income earned exempt from all forms of tax, but the contributions made are tax deductible, subject to certain limits. “While the income earned from these savings is fully taxable when being drawn in later years, the benefits of tax-free capital accumulation from the re-investment of income, coupled with a likely lower marginal tax rate on retirement, makes this a highly tax efficient savings vehicle,” he said. Contributions to a retirement annuity are flexible, and it is therefore possible to contribute monthly or to invest an annual lump sum before the tax year end in February. Consequently, it is well suited to self-employed individuals or commission earners who do not belong to a company pension or provident fund or have a variable monthly income. “It is vital to understand that when you are investing in retirement annuities and pension funds, you are investing for income,” said Coetzee. “The income you earn from these investments will fund your lifestyle in the future. This income, therefore, should be reliable and predictable, which will help you to plan with more certainty.” But how does an investor ensure their investments produce this dependable income? According to Coetzee, there are local and international companies that will continue to produce both reliable and growing income regardless of global slowdowns, exchange rate volatility and varying interest rates. “By including these companies in your retirement annuity, you

Lourens Coetzee

can determine how much income you will earn from those investments in the future. Informed decisions can then be made as to whether you are saving enough,” he said. Coetzee also stresses that chasing the best performing unit trust and superior returns do not necessarily help you to achieve your objectives as this brings more volatility and less reliability to your outcome. “This could not only leave you with an income gap in the future, but also cause much financial anxiety along the way,” he said. Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

satisfaction. It was Buddha who said: “Happiness is not a destination; happiness is in the journey”. We should be focussing most of our energy on making a difference wherever we are and whatever it is that we do. We have the capacity to sow and nurture the seeds of hope in all that we come in contact with. Imagine the power of good that would do our country and the world if everyone was imbued with this spirit. Make this spirit your spirit as you envision the future you would like for yourself and your family! 2. Develop a ‘can do’ attitude Do not waste the potential that rests within you. All of us are capable of much more than we may believe. Indeed our most limiting factor is our own imagination. Free yourself up to be the very best that you can be. Imagine the stars as your limit and then go for them! 3. Focus on and seek out the positive Arguably the most debilitating thing in humans is a defeatist, negative attitude. Do not fall prey to this terrible sickness. Believe that nothing is impossible with a strong belief in the future and your ability to make a difference. People will recognise this and join your cause. 4. Balance your understanding of current events If your only source of current events is the media it would not be unfair to recognise why you begin to lose hope in the future. The media thrives on bad news and goes out of its way to seek it out and publicise it. Good news is more difficult to find, but much more satisfying to absorb and share. One senior journalist once told me when I asked him to publicise a good news event: “Sorry we don’t do good news; only sensation!” You need to balance

your sources and your own interpretation of what you see and hear. There is not only bad news in the world! 5. Take control of your own thinking If you don’t control what you think about and focus your thinking on what is important to you, your thinking will inevitably be programmed by what you hear and see in the media and your peers. Be independent and decide what you are going to think about and, as importantly, how you are going to exercise your brain to ensure that your outlook is positive and you remain focussed on the important things in life. 6. Be kind and gentle with yourself Many of us are excessively and unnecessarily hard on ourselves. This often means that we do not even attempt things for fear of failure. Success is not like instant coffee. All the most important inventions have had many failures precede them. Success is a mixture of belief, creativity, determination, a clear focus and implacable persistence. It all starts with nurturing yourself to believe in your own amazing capabilities. 7. Become a player of the positive Roll all of these thoughts into one. Do not allow yourself to slip into being a whinging spectator. Make sure that you are playing actively on the playing field of life and that this world will be a better place as a result of your active and positive participation. Finally, we all only walk this way once, so have fun during the walk; make new friends; treasure the old ones; and be grateful for all that you have!

tony@siroccostrategy.com

Western Cape Tourism Recovers, but Drought Impact Is Evident Tourism operators in the Western Cape have reported a generally good December season, with many local tourism offices and attractions seeing increased numbers, although the drought did have an impact. Minister of Economic Opportunities, Beverley Schäfer said: “Tourism is a key sector in the Western Cape, responsible for creating over 300 000 direct and indirect jobs. 2018 was a difficult year as a result of the drought and the tight economic situation South African consumers found themselves in. Our focus is now on reminding tourists of everything this province offers in order for us to get this sector growing and thriving again.” Schäfer said while she was pleased to see that additional resources had been allocated at passport control over the festive period, the lack of clarity regarding Visa regulations needed to be urgently addressed. “There is mass confusion at the moment because a travel advisory issued by the Department of Home Affairs contradicts the relaxed Visa regulations regarding traveling with minor children, which were issued last year. Tourism is a major cornerstone of the economy and we cannot afford for this kind of confusion to happen. Home Affairs must act immediately to ensure that the Visa regulations which were gazetted are enacted, and that all staff on the ground and airlines receive clear communication thereof.” Feedback from tourism offices and attractions for the December period includes: • Franschhoek reported a slower start to the season but said activity picked up drastically from Christmas to early January. Accommodation establishments were 90% full. • In Stellenbosch, guest houses reported being fully booked. • Vredenburg’s tourism office received more visitors than in December 2018, with international visitors mostly coming from Germany, the UK

and the Netherlands. Gansbaai reported being very busy over the Christmas and New Year weekends. Sporting events like the Lomond Triathlon and Danger Point half marathon were also well supported. 5 700 people went shark cage diving and 1260 went whale watching at Kleinbaai. The African Penguin and Seabird sanctuary also recorded 2900 visitors. In Knysna walk-in statistics at the tourism office were down, however, accommodation was fully booked over the peak period and many popular tourism activities were also fully booked. Tourism staff report that the town was much busier in December 2018, compared with the previous year, which they attribute to the Knysna fires in June 2017. The Karoo, which is still experiencing extreme drought conditions, reported that numbers of visitors at accommodation establishments and restaurants had declined. In Cape Town, Table Mountain reported a five percent increase in visitor numbers compared to 2017 while almost 25 000 people visited the Zeitz MOCCA. The V&A Waterfront recorded a slight decline in overall visitor numbers, which they attribute to fewer international visitors coming to Cape Town as a result of the water crisis. This was however largely offset by local visitors. Wesgro CEO, Tim Harris added: “It is clear that we still have a lot more to do to recover from the drought. The “Nowhere Does It Better” Campaign, which is a collaboration between the private and public sector, will help place Cape Town and the Western Cape back onto travellers’ consideration list, by showcasing the diversity and depth of experiences on offer. The reality is that there is nowhere else in the world that can make this offer, and we are going to make that clear in our key source markets.” Text: Editorial Desk

Susan Charlesworth ATTORNEY NOTARY CONVEYANCER

Areas of practice:

Estate and succession planning | Commercial Law Administration of estates, trusts & curatorships Engineering & Construction Law Antenuptial contracts | Conveyancing The Franschhoek Cellar Offices, Main Road, Franschhoek, 7690 Tel: +27 (0)21 876 2592 Fax: +27 (0)21 863 1495 Email: susancharlesworth.law@telkomsa.net Also at 342 Val De Vie, Paarl www.susancharlesworth.co.za

WE HAVE MOVED!

16 | February 2019

Gardening in February NATIE FERREIRA

It’s harvest time! All over town the roads are sticky from spilled grape juice. Tractors, bakkies, trucks and some often unroadworthy modes of transport are groaning under their loads of grapes, plums and peaches. Even in the home garden February is a month of absolute abundance. Don’t let the heat put you off – this a month of great gardening joy and activity. Watering is obviously important this time of year. Unfortunately there is no blanket recipe for optimal irrigation. I have always advocated irregular deep watering, but have found that it is often not the most effective way. While we have mostly clay soil here on the farm the top few centimetres dries out within hours. This often leaves the plants wilted and stressed in the late afternoon. A finger test still shows moisture deeper down, but this is not where most root hairs are situated. Even with a thick layer of mulch the plants still stress. It is as if the dry mulch on top sucks moisture out of the plants. To combat this, I have now started to cut my deep watering (10 – 15mm) down to once or twice per week – this stimulates deep root growth. I then water for short cycles daily – depending on the

weather even twice daily. This tends to cool down the plants and keeps them healthy and actively growing. The important thing is to experiment – find what works best in your own garden and in your own soil. Despite good winter rains we are still in a water crisis – I don’t foresee the water restrictions ever being removed completely – and rightly so. Most towns still enforce an irrigation system ban – you will have to be creative in how you achieve optimal watering for your garden. Your vegetable garden should be filling your pantry with the most amazing array of veggies and fruit. It is fig season – one of the great joys of late summer. Not many fruits come close to a sun-warmed ripe fig straight from the tree. I might try my hand at making ripe fig jam this year. Fresh ideas for using summer squash are always welcome – I swear I can hear mine grow! Beans should be picked regularly – almost daily. The same goes for cucumbers, courgettes, brinjals and tomatoes. Process as soon as you have enough for a batch – one of the secrets to good preserves is fresh produce. Pick up spoiled fruit regularly – the last thing you want is to provide a breeding ground for fruit fly and codling moth. I hate spraying against pests, even with organic sprays, but this year we seem to have a major problem with fruit and pumpkin fly. We use GF120 – a “safe” organically-certified bait – on a weekly basis, but still find fruit that are stung. We can only hope that the experiments with releasing sterile male fruit flies will have the desired effect. Other pests that might be a problem are various beetles eating away at your berries, beans and roses. These are easily removed by hand and drowned in paraffin or squashed underfoot. If you find aphids you have done something wrong – probable added too much nitrogen to the soil. February is not really a planting month, but it is a great month for preparing your seed beds for autumn sowing. All bare areas should be mulched with a thick layer of compost – fresh manure is not a good idea in summer. Weeding will keep you busy, but weeds are still better than bare soil. Try to prevent weeds from going to seed though. I have started to embrace weeds and see

them as adding organic matter to the soil. I have a pull and drop approach – leaving the pulled weeds on the surface of the bed roots and all. This serves as decent mulch and will slowly add back nutrients to the soil. Most weeds are deep rooted and mine precious minerals from deep within the soil. The February irony is that the kitchen is the last place you want to be in the heat, but it is the month with the biggest glut of vegetables and

fruits that needs preserving. With time such a scarce commodity I focus most of my energy on items we use regularly. Like pasta sauce. All excess tomatoes, even the cherry ones, simply go into large pots with salt and basil and get cooked down to a thick sauce. A quick blitz before bottling ensures the right texture for pizzas and pastas. Excess cucumbers can go into gazpacho – a refreshing lunch on a hot day.

Plant of the Month www.lifeisagarden.co.za

New Guinea Impatiens New Guinea Impatiens are part of the genus “impatiens”. It will come as no surprise to most that it is Latin for “impatient”. The impatiently explosive discharge of seeds at the onset of the right season or when touched by passersby is what inspired their genus name but also gave rise to another common name, touch-me-not. New Guinea Impatiens were first collected in 1884 by Lt. Hawker in Papua, New Guinea, explaining the species name, Impatiens hawkeri. Contrary to the feeling their name might impress on your subconscious, there is not much patience required with New Guinea Impatiens. They are readily available, in abundance, never mind an avid painter’s palette of colour options for you to start enjoying almost instantly. Whether you’re looking to cool down a hot spot in the garden with some pastel shades or warm up a shady area with some vibrant reds and oranges, you’ll find something to suit your taste and needs. As with most things in life, too much or too little of anything is not always a good thing, and your New Guinea Impatiens adopt that approach when it comes to how much sunshine they like to receive. Ideally they would like to be chosen to fill the gaps in your garden that get both sun and shade. They’ll grow in full sun but tend to crouch

away from the constant onslaught of direct rays making it a small compact bush. Planting them in deeply shady areas will have exactly the opposite effect seeing them stretching out in search of the sun and they often produce very few flowers. From garden beds to hanging baskets, window boxes and pots to edging or bordering beds and fillers between shrubs or under trees, these lovelies are at home filling pretty much any gap you’ve got for them. Plant your New Guinea Impatiens in well composted and well-draining soil. Unlike many other annuals, they don’t need the additional maintenance of deadheading but feel free to cut them back after each flush of flowers to encourage more blooms and strengthen the structure of the plant into a sturdier bush. If you’re feeling impatient for some colour in your beds this summer then head into your local garden centre and saturate your senses with the sheer variety of New Guinea Impatiens on display.

mm/year

Rainfall Figures Measured at La Cotte/Nerina Street

2008 1217mm

2009 978mm

2013 1471mm

2014 1033mm

mm/month

2017

FRANSCHHOEK’S SPECIALIST PAINT SHOP

All paints ordered from us are delivered by this classic!

Pop in and meet our team

hamilton’s

ENVIROLITE 021 876 2082

SHOWROOM: Unit 80C Village Artisan, Cabrière Street, Franschhoek franschhoek@paintsmiths.co.za

January February March April May June July August September October November December

2010 740mm 2015 661mm

2011 2012 830mm 1079mm 2016 754mm

2017 501mm

Dam Levels

2018

MONTH

ACCUMULATIVE

MONTH

ACCUMULATIVE

28 1 11 19 17 136 58 87 25 55 54 10

28 29 40 59 76 212 270 357 382 437 491 501

4 22 23 84 109 227 108 104 113 12 18 43

4 26 49 133 242 469 577 681 794 806 824 867

As at 14 January 2019 Steenbras Upper

70.9%

Steenbras Lower

64.2%

Wemmershoek

74.5%

Voelvlei

80.5%

Theewaterskloof

48.7%

Berg River Dam

87.1%

Total Storage

63.1%

Total Storage this time last year

28.8%

February 2019 | 17

Book Review

CHARLOTTE VAN ZYL

met Jan de Necker, boer en bye eienaar Word bye in Franschhoek meestal aangehou vir bestuiwing of heuning produksie? Plaaslike bye boere voorsien in 60% van die Franschhoek landbou bestuiwingsbehoeftes, die res word ingebring van ander gebiede. Slegs sommige van die plaaslike bye boere is heuningboere. Is alle bye in SA dieselfde soort? Die Capenesis lyn strek van die Weskus naby Vrededal tot aan die kus in die Oos-Kaap. Die bye wat Noord van hierdie lyn voorkom is die Scutellata bye en Suid van die lyn is Capensis bye. Daar is ‘n streek langs die lyn waar kruisings voorkom, maar die verskillende tipes mag volgens regulasie nie oor die lyn verskuif word nie. Vir watter boorde word die bye benodig en watter tyd van die jaar? Hoofsaaklik pruime en dan enkele appel- en peerboorde in Augustus en September. Word bye nie benadeel deur die onlangse bespuiting van die boorde met helikopters nie? Nee, bye word nie benadeel nie. Die spuitmiddel, GL120, is so ontwerp dat bye nie daardeur aangetrek word nie. Dit lok vrugtevlieë. Dis nie ‘n aankleefmiddel nie, wel ‘n maagmiddel; insekte moet dit inneem. Voed die bye in die winter op bloekombome en is dit volhoubaar? Bloekom is ‘n baie goeie voedselbron vir heuning produksie. Bloekombome blom in Januarie/ Februarie, na bestuiwing. Bye voed deur die jaar op fynbos en natuurlik in al die huistuine. Bye vlieg tot 10km om voedsel te kry. Dis destyds gesê Amerikaanse vuilbroedsiekte is beperk tot die Capensis lyn. Wat is die situasie tans? ABS word baie goed bestuur volgens aangewese

praktyke en is onder beheer. Wat is die grootste bedreiging vir plaaslike bye? Uitwissing as gevolg van verlies aan voedselbronne, soos bloekom wat uitgekap word, fynbos wat te dikwels brand en vandale wat korwe breek of vernietig. Wat moet mense doen as hulle iewers ‘n wilde bynes teekom? Los dit eerder uit, maar as dit ‘n risiko vir mense is, vra iemand om dit te kom haal. ‘n Berig oor heuning wat met suiker water gemeng word het opspraak verwek. Hoekom gebeur dit en is dit algemeen plaaslik? Dit gebeur wel. Dit blyk vir finansiële redes te wees. Daar is beslis plaaslike produsente wat uitstekende produkte lewer. Ek is nie bewus van een van hulle wat heuning met suikerwater meng nie. Wat is SABIO en wat doen hulle? Is daar ander organisasies wat met bye te doen het? SABIO is die nasionale liggaam wat bye verwante sake hanteer; die Departement van Landbou is verantwoordelik vir die wetgewing; die Weskaapse Bye Vereeniging hanteer sake op plaaslike vlak.

Educated: A Memoir By Tara Westover. Publ: Hutchinson. 385 pages. The America that Donald Trump is “Making Great Again” seems so bizarre, so unbelievably self-serving and corrupt, that some insight into the sort of people that sustain it is to be welcomed. Tara Westover’s memoir helps lift the curtain a little. She hails from a Mormon enclave in Idaho which represents almost in caricature, the ultra-religious, paranoid, badlyeducated voting stock that constitutes the vast red Republican rural spaces. Yet, this 32-year-old Ph.D. graduate from both Cambridge and Harvard managed to extract herself from this wasteland of violence through sheer will power and some indefinable brain power. She coolly describes the ideological mania that surrounds her, managing not to succumb to it or be destroyed by it. As an example she describes how her father prepared for the millennium by sinking huge reservoirs of fuel and buying an enormous anti-tank gun to fend off the Anti-Christ that was sure to arrive. When nothing like that happened, he sank down in front of the TV to watch a rerun of “The Honeymooners.” It would be funny if it were not so grotesque. As a young girl Tara is forced by her father to assist in his maniacal profession of gathering scrap iron, cutting up car wrecks, tearing down steel structures. It is as if he wishes to destroy the industrial age that created modern America. In addition, Tara assists her mother who is an herbalist and self-taught midwife as she performs medical practices that would not have been out of place in 18th century society. She scorns antibiotics and any modern medication, echoing her husband’s anti-modernism. This is particularly ironic since this family suffers from

the most appalling self-inflicted physical trauma in the absence of any notion of an Industrial Safety Act. The litany of obstacles that Tara encounters includes the violence of her elder brother, obviously inherited from his father. He nearly throttles her to death and inflicts continuous pain on his wife. All the while Tara, in good Mormon tradition, does not receive any schooling. She teaches herself to read from the Bible, goes to a church choir and discovers she has a fine voice. But her chance to star in a local musical is predictably frustrated by her father. In spite of this, she improbably passes her entrance examinations and is admitted to Brigham Young University. As an indication of her lack of general knowledge she does not know what the words “The Holocaust” mean. Implacably ambitious (and in spite of a severe lack of money), she wins a scholarship to Cambridge and then to Harvard, where she earns a Ph. D. All of this sounds too good to be true, but every stage in her intellectual development is interrupted by the irresistible call of Buck’s Peak, the hulking, snow-bound mountain that towers over the farm where she was brought up. Every visit brings trauma and danger, yet she persists in returning. This is indeed, a heroic tale of survival and success. Westover’s cool tone washes over her achievements and her tribulations. She is neither self-congratulatory nor masochistic. She emerges as a high-achieving, balanced woman who has by sheer force of will managed to rid herself of the worst parts of her lunatic legacy.

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WHAT MEN WANT 22 February 2019 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

CAPTAIN MARVEL 8 March 2019

021 872 0714/5

NEW STREET PAARL

18 | February 2019

Smalls

FOR SALE Antique Door

STUFF WANTED: All manner of clothing

included a light dinner & tea/coffee.

A number of Franschhoekers are already

and household items needed for our ‘First

Meetings held as Villa Visaggio outside

receiving weekly deliveries. To be added

Friday of The Month’ jumble sales. Please

Paarl. Contact Len van der Walt – 082 579

to the list contact Sue Norman on 083 321

help us to help the animals of the valley.

2994. Booking essential.

3442 or suesgardens@telkomsa.net.

Lovely rustic Burmese teak door from old Franschhoek farm. Probably mid to late 18th century. Handmade nails and hinges. R6000.

Please drop of at the clinic in La Provence Street, Groendal, or phone for us to collect. 021 876 4808

SERVICE

JOB WANTED I am looking for a job as

REQUIRED? Keep it local! Get a quote. Call

a driver (code 10) restaurant/business/

RiaPools: 072 347 5355

garden/maintenance/housekeeping.

PROFESSIONAL

POOL

POOL PUMP PROBLEMS?

Noise? We

your house, shop or office. I can run errands

quote and help you out! Call RiaPools: 072

or drive you around. Available afternoons,

347 5355

CHANGING TO A SALT WATER SYSTEM?

References available. Contact Cassie 078 816 6613 or 083 359 1109 LOOKING FOR JOB as a gardener. 3 years’

evenings or weekends. 083 270 9555.

Let us advise & quote for you! Call RiaPools:

am a 29 year old church going Malawian.

ASSISTANCE OFFERED: I am a caring, friendly older woman who can assist you in

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND SHORT

experience in landscape and gardening.

TERM LETTING service and hosting. Frans

Also have knowledge of carpentry and

081 858 2966 Bill 076 598 4099

joinery plus painting. Reference available. Contact Bright on 083 640 8399

072 347 5355 RE-THINKING DO YOU STILL HAVE THAT POOL LEAK? Loosing water all the time? Let us quote

YOUR

GARDEN?

For

Garden Consulting call Susan at 072

Dawie 082 468 1802 2018 20 | September LOOKING FOR JOB as a gardener or

072 347 5355

house cleaner, or anything, I am willing RE-FIBRE GLASS YOUR POOL in any colour you like. Call RiaPools for a quote:

CORNER BATH – PVC (1.35m sides) Used but in good condition. R360 Contact

932 5393

and take care of the problem! Call RiaPools:

to learn. I am Malawian. Please contact

Smalls

DRIVING JOB I am looking for a Code

in housekeeping and gardening. Contact

ANEX SINGLE BED FLATLET in Cabrière PET SITTER/HOUSESITTER/ CARETAKER.

Street available for long term let from 1st

I am a responsible, mature woman who

February 2019. Off street parking – partially

adores animals. I can also supervise

furnished with kitchenette (fridge-freezer,

domestic staff, pool/garden maintenance,

washing machine, gas hob and electric

car care etc. You can trust me with your

oven) Suitable for single professional.

precious pets and belongings. Franschhoek

R6000 per month plus electricity and gas.

only. Contact Sue 083 270 9555.

Email: michaelmcnaught0@gmail.com

Chris Kalua on 078 827 4170 STUFF WANTED: All manner of clothing DILIGENT SOUTH AFRICANforDOMESTIC and household items needed our ‘First WORKER AVAILABLE work Friday of The Month’ jumbletosales. Pleasein

Franschhoek for 2 to 3 days a week (Tuesday, help us to help the animals of the valley. Wednesday and Thursday) Highly efficient Please drop of at the clinic in La Provence and dependable. References available. Call Street, Groendal, or082 phone us to collect. Heather Cross on 924 for 5383

PRODUCE:

ANTIQUE FURNITURE ITEMS FOR SALE,

Paarl Communicators, part of Agora

Delivered weekly to Franschhoek, including

International, assists in the development

vegetables and fruit in season, chicken,

of public speaking, communication and

eggs, cheese, honey, etc. Lists of available

leadership skills. Once-off joining fee

produce

all in excellent condition: Card table; Linen ASSISTANCE OFFERED: I am a caring, press; Display cabinet; -2 x feeder chairs; friendly older woman who can assist you in Chest of drawers. For viewing contact your house, shop or office. I can run247 errands Kathie von Hoesslin on 072 8178

LEADERSHIP:

of R200, then R65 per meeting, which

FRESH,

ORGANIC

received

FARM

Monday,

orders

placed on Tuesday for Wednesday delivery.

Noise? We

vegetables and fruit in season, chicken, eggs,

quote and help you out! Call RiaPools:

cheese, honey, etc. Lists of available produce

POOL PUMP PROBLEMS?

072 347 5355

A C A Dreceived E MonYMonday,

M O R E P L AY

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND SHORT

orders placed on

Tuesday delivery. A number M O for R Wednesday E FUN of Franschhoekers are already receiving

deliveries. To be added to the list We offer a varietyweekly of programmes contact Sue Norman on 083 321 3442 or for all ages andsuesgardens@telkomsa.net. levels of play. RE-THINKING GARDEN? For Garden TennisYOUR & Fitness Programme, Tea & Coffee Tennis, JOB My name is Joseph Consulting call Clinics Susan at 072& 932Camps, 5393 Tours &WANTED: Tournaments TERM LETTING service and hosting. Frans 081 858 2966 Bill 076 598 4099

021 876 4808 SPEAKING

Bounce Tennis

Smalls R30. Text only, maximum of 30 words Leave, with payment, at Franschhoek Pharmacy before 15th of preceding month

10 driving job, 3 years’ experience. Valid driving licence. I have other experience

Thapson Nyika on 073 926 9779.

072 347 5355

PUBLIC

Contact 021 876 3460 or info@franschhoektatler.co.za

or(Franschhoek drive you around. Available afternoons, Village). evenings or weekends. 083 270 9555.

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

Ulanda, I am a 32 year old

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married

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pm – negotiable on long term lease. Unfurnished. Call 082 990 6067.

072 347 5355

DO YOU STILL HAVE THAT POOL LEAK?

PAARL

TOASTMASTERS

–

PUBLIC

Loosing water all the time? Let us quote

SPEAKING: Would you like to boost your

and take care of the problem! Call RiaPools:

confidence

072 347 5355

speaking in public? If so, Toastmasters

and

competence

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when

is the only proven, cost effective route RE-FIBRE GLASS YOUR POOL in any

towards becoming a better speaker. To

colour you like. Call RiaPools for a quote:

find out how Toastmasters can help with

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your personal development, newcomers are welcome to join the Paarl Toastmasters

PET SITTER/HOUSESITTER/ CARETAKER.

Club monthly event, starting at 19h00 at

I am a responsible, mature woman who

Simonsvlei Winery, just off the old Paarl

adores animals. I can also supervise

Road (R101) on Thursday, 27 September

domestic staff, pool/garden maintenance,

2018. The event fee, which includes wine

car care etc. You can trust me with your

and light refreshments is R50, but this

precious pets and belongings. Franschhoek

is waived for first time visitors. For more

only. Contact Sue 083 270 9555.

information contact Lynette Bester on 082 418 4748 (lynette@simonsvlei.co.za)

PROFESSIONAL

POOL

SERVICE

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

FRESH,

ORGANIC

FARM

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RUBBLE & REFUSE REMOVAL DELIVERIES LIGHT DOMESTIC MOVES PORTABLE LOOS CLEANING of businesses and other premises

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February 2019 | 19 October 2018 | 19

C: 071 990 9219 â&#x20AC;˘ C: 082 390 8191 ocwcarpentry@gmail.com â&#x20AC;˘ PO Box 5, Groot Drakenstein, 7690

Member of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa

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Tel: 021 876 3759 Cell: 073 007 6001 or Cell: 082 875 6014

+27 (0)21 876 3640 Unit A, Fabriek Nationale No 1, 9 Fabriek street, Franschhoek 7690 herman@franschhoekelectric.co.za www.franschhoekelectric.co.za

Copyright: All rights reserved, reproduction in whole or part prohibited. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the editor. Publication of editorial or advertising matter does not imply endorsement or warranty in respect of goods or services therin described. 074 313 7829

20 | February 2019

Cryptic Crossword

Jyotish Vedic Astrology ROBERT RITTEL

Aries, 21 March – 19 April: Mars is in its own sign and in a potentially good aspect from Jupiter in Sagittarius. It is just like the cream with the cake. Observe big opportunities and let them reveal themselves. Hastiness or fear of taking responsibilities are the underlying maladies. When your heart is perturbed it upsets the whole universe. Taurus, 20 April – 20 May: Venus – the morning and evening star – wanders into Capricorn – an earthy element – with Saturn here as well. The wisdom of Saturn in this effect speaks to how to express life, as one has to understand it by oneself. We are all equal in truth, but not in fact. What appears to be the truth, is only a worldly distortion of objective truth. Gemini, 21 May – 20 June: Mercury in Aquarius challenges the intellect by its cleverness in questionable dealings; usually this leads to psychic tendencies being very alert. The vitality in this effect is to discharge the individual creative responsibilities. It is the optimist who takes the initiative; the pessimist will follow. Cancer, 21 June – 22 July: Shining in reflected glory and holding someone higher, mightier or more respected is the compassion revealed in this sign. As long as love and affection are bestowed there will be great sincerity. If not sustained, it is just as if the life-force had been drained from that person. Real admiration needs to come through true respect. Leo, 23 July – 22 August: This month is challenging for Leo’s. The Sun in opposition will make him face intense circumstances. Any selfish temperament and excessively libidinous acts would be clearly overwritten drama. Leo’s like to be on the top of the mountain. Remember Shakespeare’s dramas; content is rich and rich is good. Virgo, 23 August – 22 September: The refinement

in process is the vice of all art. Humanity is divine limitation, where divinity is human perfection. The Aquarian Mercury influence is the selfless link that wants to manifest as tolerance and forgiveness – that love which heals the wounds of the heart. In the month of Aquarius the air signs are naturally more aloof. Nothing can take away the joy of those who believe and have the right understanding. To make the universe tangible, one must dismiss the self. Then as long one is a riddle to others, one will be a puzzle to the self. Scorpio, 23 October – 21 November: The Mars energy so prominent at this time will bring the secret desires and attachments to a boiling point. Pretence is the impetus hidden behind every impulse, which can bring out the worst and best in you. Because you have it your way, remember that a charming personality is as precious as gold and delicious as perfume. Sagittarius, 22 November – 21 December: Jupiter – the remover of all obstacles – is here this year and provides optimism and growth in many ways. Jupiter in another esoteric belief is Ganesha the ultimate teacher, providing pure truth that not every person can see. By the time that person can see the divine truth, no more teaching is needed. Capricorn, 22 December – 19 January: There is a saying that every Capricorn person is on a pilgrimage at least once in their life. Understand that speaking wisdom is much easier than living it. The creation is not only the nature of God, but also his art. To come closer to the creator one must look in the hidden aspects of God’s own creation. Aquarius, 20 January – 18 February: In the month of the water bearer, there is chance for the Aquarian to provide the world with a spiritual discharge of a charity which is an expansion of the universal heart. Compassion will surrender to this beauty willingly, but to aloof power very unwillingly. Pisces, 19 February - 20 March: Confinement, sacrifice and inspirations are the key words to describe a Piscean character. The danger here is that one gives way to faults by being passive towards them. The more you make of your gifts, the less the value of something that is priceless becomes.

Across 1 Cup — runner holds it during service (9) 6 Hit — almost hit back (4) 8 Voices raised in terrible argument, referee initially knocked over by players (8) 9 Capital idea to start with, after one’s broken record (6) 10 In opposite directions, lacquered metalware taken (6) 11 Big college that is accommodating unknown number (4-4) 12 See 19 15 Jumper in equestrian sport with narrow margin of victory (4,4) 16 Glassy expression’s first seen in very upset suitor (8) 19,12 Electrical device — more foolish instrument of punishment (6,6) 21 Southern frontiersman, big chap (8) 22 Feed unlimited dill, in herbaceous plant (6) 24 Car from Providence somewhere in Italy (6) 25 Hunter, head in plaster bloodied on a rock (8) 26 Sponge cakes right for composer (4)

Useful Numbers ACCOUNTANTS Tax Shop

021 876 2676

ATTORNEYS

Franschhoek High School

021 876 2079

Groendal Primary School

021 876 2448

Groendal Secondary School

021 876 2211

Susan Charlesworth

021 876 2592/072 402 9469

Wes-Eind Primary School

021 876 2360

Snipelisky & Killian

083 250 0943/021 876 2084

Dalubuhle Primary School

021 876 3957

BURGLAR ALARMS

STORAGE

Pepler Alarms

021 876 3308

CLUBS & ASSOCIATIONS

Franschhoek Storage

021 876 2174

TOURIST INFORMATION & SERVICES

Boland Bridge Club

Info Office

021 876 3603

Franschhoek Tennis Club

078 278 4843

021 876 3031

Winelands Experience

021 876 4042

Franschhoek Trust & RPA

021 876 3460

Huguenot Memorial Museum

021 876 2532

Grt. Drak Games Club

021 874 1906

TRANSPORT GOODS

Lions

021 876 3775

Gerald Fourie

Stellenbosch Masonic Lodge (Chris)

072 211 9991

VETERINARY

021 876 2940/082 821 5234

Franschhoek Rotary Club

082 773 9217

Franschhoek Animal Clinic (plus surgery)

Franschhoek Probus Club

021 876 3179

Emergencies/Weekends

ELECTRICAL

021 876 2504

021 863 3187 or 082 8089 100

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Franschhoek Electric

082 823 7119/021 876 3640

Stellenbosch Fire Dept. (Buildings on fire)

Rensburg Electrical

021 876 2120/083 309 2923

Cape Winelands Distr.Muni. (Bush & veld fires)

021 887 4446

021 886 9244

EXCAVATIONS Andrew Schmidt Burger Excavations

021 876 4431/082 972 5755 072 3408518

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Police Eskom

021 808 8888

10111/021 876 8061 086 003 7566

Omnipage Farm Watch

021 852 3318

Franschhoek Pharmacy

021 876 2261

Plaaswag

021 876 2346

Franschhoek Health Club

021 876 3310

N1, N2 & R300 Emergency number:

021 946 1646

HOUSE & GARDEN

DENTISTS

Clock Repairs

028 840 1716

Dr Schalk du Plessis

021 876 3070

Lighting & Accessories

021 876 3640

Dr Rob Hammer

021 876 2634

Ria Pools (Franschhoek) Sue’s Gardens

021 876 2612/072 347 5355 083 321 3442

INTERNET ACCESS

DOCTORS Dr Karin Eksteen Dr Shelley Hellig

021 876 4622 021 871 1063

Franschhoek Photolab

021 876 3921

Dr Alexander Heywood

021 876 2474

PostNet

021 876 3025

Dr Hannes Van der Merwe

021 876 2304

Dr Nicolas Els

021 876 2561

OPTOMETRIST Marelise Bester

021 872 3530

PHYSIOTHERAPY Claire Horn Franschhoek Plumbing

AUDIOLOGIST Audiologist Tracy-Ann Morris

021 876 4234/082 582 1029

PLUMBERS

Solutions

27 Most happening to see border in Italian city that’s not closed (9 Down 1 King spoiling absurd plan (5) 2 Sailor finds companion on piece of land (7) 3 See 23 4 Gun crime at a higher level getting criticism initially (5-2) 5 English books inclined to be involved (9) 6 Red skirts — rip oﬀ skirting (7) 7 Compound of zinc’s the cure in the end for German intellect (9) 13 Variety in a wine list a growing concern for heavy drinkers, perhaps? (9) 14 Evidence hack, say, was there to fnd clue — nothing concerning promotion in it (9) 17 See 22 18 Greek song others performed around piano (7) 20 With drunken glee I’m glugging absinthe to begin with — how far gone? (7) 22,17 Scanning text quickly, Twitter covering fear of urinals? (5,7) 23,3 Ride straight on up the creek (5,5)

Medicare EMR 021 876 3759

PUBLIC SERVICES

084 264 0000

EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE 074 363 7744/021 876 4316

MUNICIPALITY (Ward 1) Councillor Frazenburg (DA)

021 808 8490

Hospice

021 876 3085

(Ward 2) Councillor Petersen (DA)

082 404 5055

Library

074 686 2364

021 808 8406

(Ward 3) Councillor Manuel (DA)

Post Office

021 876 2342

(Ward 4) Councillor Johnson (DA)

021 808 8019

Welfare (ACVV)

021 876 2670

Municipality (Office Hours)

021 808 8700

SPCA

021 876 4808

Municipality (afternoon only)

021 808 8890

Municipality 24hr Service

021 808 8700

SCHOOLS Bridge House School

021 874 8100

February 2019 | 21

Stable Interest Rate Good News, Says Seeff Following the November rate hike, the Seeff Property Group has welcomed the decision to keep the interest rate unchanged. “We need stability so that we can get on with rebuilding confidence and the economy”, said Samuel Seeff, chairman of the group. This follows the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decision to retain the repo rate at 6,75% (base home loan rate at 10.25%). Seeff said that this is a “year of great expectation” and the decision to retain the rate is the right one. Although inflation is a concern, it is weighted by the reasonably stable rand, declining fuel price, and Moody’s keeping the sovereign credit rating and outlook stable with a gradual strengthening of institutions and increasing transparency. “While we look forward to a much improved year, the reality remains a sluggish economy and we therefore simply cannot afford any further shocks for the economy”, he continued. According to Seeff stability and a return to confidence is now vital. He adds further that the general sense is that once the May election is out of the way and delivers a positive mandate for President Ramaphosa, and barring any further shocks, the economy and property market could start improving more meaningfully by mid-year. In the meantime, it remains business as usual for the “have to buy and have to sell” residential sector in the price band from R1m-R1.5m to around R3m depending on the area. These buyers and sellers need to transact for various reasons, and buoyed by the fairly benign interest rate, this sector will continue ticking over despite sentiment. Here, wellpriced properties can still sell within a reasonable timeframe, he says. Given that the fundamentals in the property market will remain weak during the first half of the year with subdued demand, longer sales cycles and flat price growth, sellers – especially in the higher price categories – will need to make their price attractive to catch the attention of buyers who have a lot more to choose from. That said, there are always neighbourhood and regional variations and it’s best to work with a local area expert who understands the dynamics of your local market. “While we expect the market to

Operating in the Franschhoek Valley Community Sport Centre, Franschhoek. In partnership with Hope through Action and Score.

FRANSCHHOEKHOSPITALITYACADEMY.CO.ZA

improve, there are no guarantees, so take care not to hold back on accepting a good offer, especially if you are looking to buy right now,” Seeff concluded. www.seeff.com Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Seeff

22 | February 2019

February 2019 | 23

YOUR LUXURY PROPERTY SPECIALISTS

Winelands DELIGHTFUL VILLAGE CHARMER Perfectly situated in a secure gated estate, this lovely home is well maintained and has high ceilings designed around practical village living. Comprising 3 bedrooms (main bed en suite), 2nd bathroom with bath, well-planned living room, wood-burning Morso fireplace, dining and kitchen area. Separate scullery. Pantry cupboard. Outdoor storeroom. Single garage with automated access and carport. Verandas overlook contained garden with views over the northern and southern Franschhoek mountains. Beautiful lock-up-and-go, entry level home and or work from home opportunity.

For Sale R3.5M Approx House Size 153 sqm Rates & Taxes R1300 Levies Approx. R620 pm View harcourtswinelands.co.za/WWS Contact Melina Visser 082 419 9928 | Adell Ferreira 083 964 1155

SIMPLY STYLISH & UNIQUE Designed by well-known Cape architect, Simon McCullagh, this contemporary, elegant home is designed along the concept of a series of interlinked barns. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Open airâ&#x20AC;? rooms and terraces flow right out of the internal living spaces leading the eye to stunning mountain and vineyard vistas. Generous master bedroom with large shower room & luxury bath area. Two guest rooms both en suite are housed in another barn, each with their own outdoor shower. Beautiful gazebo at the end of an ozone friendly swimming pool with electrically operated pool cover and vast veranda pergolas make outdoor living an absolute experience. 5 Bed, 6 Bathrooms, double garage.

For Sale R13.9M Erf Size 1734 sqm View harcourtswinelands.co.za/WWS9765 Contact Melina Visser 082 419 9928 | Adell Ferreira 083 964 1155

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Franschhoek BOUTIQUE WINE FARM

R40 000 000 + VAT

VACANT LAND AT ENTRANCE TO VILLAGE

R4 000 000 + VAT

Within walking distance of the charming Franschhoek Village is this stunningly beautiful 4ha Lifestyle Property. It simply has it all, a large comfortable owner’s house with all the upmarket finishes one would expect in a property of this calibre. It comprises 4 bedrooms all en suite, fully fitted kitchen with the living areas open up via French Doors onto the private gardens, pool and sweeping views over the dam and surrounding mountains. The house is completely private from the 1920 Cape Colonial Style Guesthouse, which accommodates 24 guests in the well-appointed suites and offers additional accommodation in a further 3 two bedroom cottages. The Breakfast Room, Kitchen and Office/Reception are all situated conveniently close by for the guests. There is also a 2 bedroom manager’s cottage.There are 3 paddocks, pool, and tennis court the vines comprising 0.8ha Cabernet and 0.75ha Merlot complete this perfect picture. The dwellings are supplied with pure water from a mountain spring as is the dam and there is a borehole on the property.

Very seldom does an opportunity arise to purchase 2 separate subdivisions at the entrance to the village between the main road and Wine Tram route. This vacant land lends itself for redevelopment as a tourist destination/restaurant/ shops or a beautiful home with stunning views. The options are endless… The Sub-divisions are available individually or as one lotIn close proximity to well-known farms in the valley such as Grande Provence the position is truly prime.This is deﬁnitely an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed, for further information and a viewing please contact me for an appointmentApproximately 1.2 Ha in size. The Price is exclusive of VAT

Janice Hicks 072 991 6272 / 0218764968 · www.rawson.co.za/stellenbosch

LARGE FAMILY HOME ON CORNER STAND

R4 990 000

BRAND NEW 3 BEDROOM HOME

R4 950 000

This generous sized 1960’s family home is offered for sale –comprising 4 large bedrooms, a full bathroom and guest toilet. Thekitchen is fully ﬁtted with separate scullery. The lounge leads onto an enclosed entertainment/Braai area with a small sun room/study.There is an easy option to convert two of the bedrooms to ensuite and have the third guest bedroom served by the family bathroom. The househas beautiful mountain views and a double garage. Great renovation project in excellent position.

With views in every direction and priced to sell this is a great family home. The entrance hall leads to a double volume open plan living area with feature tiles. 2 Bedrooms ensuite both have doors leading to the outside. The double garage has a door opening to the entrance hall. The designer kitchen has a fashionable charcoal grey colour scheme, with seperate scullery which is plumbed for a dishwasher. The outside door leads into a small courtyard and then into the garage where the laundry is housed. The double volume living/dining room has windows and doors all around and leads out to the entertainment area and pool. Incredible views are to be had from every angle of this room. The main bedroom has a dressing room with built-in cupboards and full en-suite bathroom, with spectacular views. Double doors lead out to the pool area. This estate was placed in the top 10 Estates in the country in 2017, and with state of the art security and beautiful fynbos it also offers walking trails for residents. Please contact me for a viewing. ERF SIZE: 450m2 HOUSE SIZE: 283m2 LEVY: R5615.00

Janice Hicks 072 991 6272 / 0218764968 · www.rawson.co.za/stellenbosch

Would you like to rent your property? Contact our rental department, we have the tenants! Kate Hicks 079 068 130 · kate.hicks@rawson.co.za · www.rawson.co.za/stellenbosch

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26 | February 2019

F RA N S C H H O E K FRANSCHHOEK Office: 021 876 2100 | winelandsint@pamgolding.co.za | pamgolding.com/franschhoek

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Franschhoek | R6.5 million Beds 4 | Baths 3 | Garages 1 (tandem) This immaculate, short-term rental income generating property is perfectly positioned on a quiet corner plot and offers open plan lounge dining, a spacious master suite with private lounge. Heated indoor swimming pool and wonderful entertainment spaces. Jeanine Allen 082 410 6837 | Doug Gurr 072 610 7208

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Franschhoek | R2.695 million

Franschhoek | R1.8 million

Beds 2 | Baths 2 | Parking 1 First floor apartment in a brilliantly positioned new development in the heart of Franschhoek. The perfect lock-up-and-go, in close proximity to Franschhoek’s many tourist attractions. Private sale.

Approx 440m ² Secure your spectacular view with this plot positioned where no other homes can be built in front of it. Offering excellent estate security, unsurpassed views and a sought-after opportunity to design and build your dream home, a unique opportunity not to be missed.

Jeanine Allen 082 410 6837 | Doug Gurr 072 610 7208

Shelly Schoeman 083 301 8833

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Franschhoek | R3.3 million

Franschhoek | R3.65 million

Beds 2 | Baths 2 | Parking 1 Stunning income producing apartment located at L’Ermitage, with open plan living dining and kitchen leading onto undercover patio for entertaining. Beautifully furnished and sold fully furnished to move straight in.

Approx total size 1524m These two stunning plots, available at R3.65 million each, presents a rare opportunity to create your dream home in Franschhoek. Situated outside of an estate, on a newly approved stand located in a wonderful elevated position in the village.

Jeanine Allen 082 410 6837 | Doug Gurr 072 610 7208

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28 | February 2019

Local expertise, national presence and international audience

FRANSCHHOEK

R11 250 000

LARGE CENTRAL VICTORIAN STYLE HOME Retaining lots of character features including high ceilings and wooden floors this five bedroom residential property on a 1,600m2 plot is centrally located and well worth viewing. Tom Clode 079 955 3114 Terry-Lee George 082 650 9194

FRANSCHHOEK

PRICE ON APPLICATION

ONE OF THE FINEST HOMES IN FRANSCHHOEK Spectacularly located on the Fransche Hoek Estate with glorious views of the valley from its prime position. Includes a large four bedroom main house, three bedroom cottage, two bedroom apartment, wine cellar, gym and Franschhoek’s only squash court! Extremely high spec décor and finishes including oak floors and extra height aluminium windows and doors. A magnificent property. Tom Clode 079 955 3114 | Terry-Lee George 082 650 9194

FRANSCHHOEK

R6 950 000

THREE BEDROOM FRANSCHE HOEK ESTATE On sole mandate. Stunning classic, contemporary home set amongst vineyards. Large open plan living areas and three bedrooms en-suite. Tom Clode 079 955 3114 Terry-Lee George 082 650 9194

FRANSCHHOEK

R 28 750 000

HISTORIC CABRIERE STREET World-class property, in Cabriere Street, benefiting from uninterrupted mountain views. Generous living including farm-style kitchen, double lounge with fireplaces, large dining area with folding doors out to a private garden and 11m pool alongside a cosy outdoor lounge with fireplace. Five large bedrooms en-suite plus private upstairs apartment. A truly one-of-a kind home with the best address in Franschhoek. Tom Clode 079 955 3114 | Terry-Lee George 082 650 9194

Head Office Franschhoek Office 29 Autumn Rivonia, 7690 23 Huguenot Street,Street, Franschhoek, JHB, 2191 +27 (0)21 876 3322 +27 (0)11 234 6545 franschhoek@fineandcountry.com support.sa@fineandcountry.com

Park Lane Office 119/121 Park Lane, London, W1 +44 (0)207 079 1515 admin@fineandcountry.com

FRANSCHHOEK

R 19 950 000

IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN – FRANSCHE HOEK ESTATE A truly distinctive 4 bedroom home, with no expense spared in build quality and finishes, characterised by generous living areas inside and out.Year-round comfort whether you are fireside, poolside or relaxing on the covered terrace. Tom Clode 079 955 3114 Terry-Lee George 082 650 9194

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