14 October 2020
Published every Wednesday by CXpress 2006 (Pty) Ltd - PO Box 1449, Plettenberg Bay 6600 - 6 Park Lane, Plettenberg Bay - Tel: 044 533 1004 - Fax: 044 533 0852 Email: editor@cxpress.co.za / advertising@cxpress.co.za Web page: www.cxpress.co.za Printed by Group Editors
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Photo: Katherine Thirlwell
POP goes the Nyala Residents of Qolweni nii a and nd n db bordering orrde o deriing gB Bitou itou it un neighbourhoods eiigh e ghbo bour uh ho oo od ds h ha have ave ve h had ad tto ad o en e endu endure ndu dure es several ever ev ever eral al d al days ays of ay of c confl onfl on flic ic ict ct on on ttheir he eir ir doorstep as a select contingent of rioters clashed with Public Order Police (POP) and other law-enforcement units throughout the weekend. Once again, the protest action resulted from unhappiness over housing and services not rendered - find out more on page 3. The inset shows Plett Primary Grade 1 student Ruchin Hartnick, 7, who chatted to some of the officers during a top-up stop at Engen on Saturday, including Zenodiun Jean-Pierre Abrahams from George (pictured), who kindly showed him around one of the battle-scarred armoured personnel carriers, known as a ‘Nyala’. Ruchin’s mom Megan says he dreams of becoming a policeman “to protect us, especially from the riots”.
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CXPRESS
NEWS & VIEWS
14 October 2020
Knysna event applications, sport facilities and halls now open ALLS and sporting facilities within the greater Knysna area are once again open to the public, following a closure of more than six months due to the national coronavirus lockdown. Acting municipal manager Dr Louis Scheepers made it clear that the use of these facilities would be subject to strict adherence to the full regulations stipulated by Alert Level 1 of the Disaster Management Act. “We must remain vigilant and keep to these protocols to reduce the likelihood of a second wave of infections in our area.” These regulations state that every person attending a gathering must wear a mask and maintain a distance of at least 1.5m from each other. All health protocols must be adhered to, including any additional measures as issued by the municipality. Venues may only be filled to 50% capacity and closed venues
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may not exceed 250 people, and no more than 500 may attend outdoors events. These regulations are applicable to both sporting activities and other occasions. Event managers must still apply for the relevant permits and adhere to the Events bylaw, as well as all regulations stipulated under Alert Level 1. Sporting activities by recognised sporting bodies, including development programmes, practices and professional and non-professional matches are allowed under specific circumstances. Only essential personnel, the number of players, match officials, support staff and medical crew are allowed at venues; no spectators or international events are allowed. “When booking a facility, applicants must show that they have a non-contact infrared scanner, sanitiser, masks and personal protective equipment
available,” said Scheepers. “It is also compulsory that a register is kept that captures the necessary details of all persons entering the facility, and to archive such records for a minimum of six months.” This information includes attendants’ full names, residential address, contact details and recorded body temperature. No person with an elevated temperature or Covid-19 symptoms may enter. Sports bodies must assume full responsibility for the safety of members, staff, and athletes in terms of containing the coronavirus, and are to ensure that all members adhere to each of the regulations. “With the exception of the tennis courts, Loerie Park remains closed as it still houses a number of homeless persons,” Scheepers said. “We, however, invite residents to make use of the halls, sports fields and tennis
courts that are available to you. “I think many of us could do with getting more active again, and releasing some feel-good hormones through exercise. But please do so responsibly and be vigilant in containing the spread of this virus.” Proof of payment for any facility must be provided before anyone will be given access to any facility. To book community halls and sports venues within greater Knysna, contact: •Khayalethu and Chris Hani Halls: Spindiwe Dala on 061 482 8003 • Hornlee Civic Hall: Sandra Fredericks on 044 302 6241 • Sedgefield Town Hall and Smutsville Hall: Alfonso de Kock on 084 547 4030 • Rheenendal Hall: Felicity Frans on 044 302 6536 • Loerie Park/Hornlee Clubhouses: Desmond van Rooyen on 044 302 6211 and Nicole Nelson on 060 998 7104.
Last chance to bid for cameo part in locally-shot ‘Ikhapara Hop’
FILM FUN WITH PLETT TOURISM AND ‘OOM KOOS’: Pictured from left are film finance boffin Marius Murths, legendary cinematographer Koos Roets with partner Eunice Visser, Bitou Economic Development manager Lesley Jacobs, and penman par excellence Wandisile Sebezo; at right, flick fan Ella van Huyssteen rubs shoulders with to the leading lady of locally-produced films such as ‘Vrou soek Boer’ and ‘French Toast’ Lika Berning, right, who is also the founder and co-director of iKasi Media
INDY Wilson-Trollip of Plett Tourism thanks the lively crowd who joined her team at Emily Moon to meet Pawpaw vir my Darling director Koos Roets and to enjoy a screening of the film. “It was a really fun evening and, as promised, an op-
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portunity was offered to bid for a cameo part in the movie Ikhapara Hop, to be shot in Plettenberg Bay from October 15 onwards,” says Cindy. Go to www.plettitsafeeling. com/auction/ for your chance to clinch that cameo part in this local production!
Further dates to diarise • Don’t miss Neil Diamond & Friends Tribute at Mel’s Place on October 17 from 6:30pm. This intimate show will take you down a solitary road and guarantees an evening of superb music featuring Neil Diamond, Johnny Cash, Bruce
Springsteen, Don Williams, Cat Stevens, and Dire Straits. • The next Fun Quiz takes place on October 23 at Plett Bowling Club. Enter teams of six max at R100pp. Call 072 890 6238 or email bar ryricketts48@hotmail.com to reserve your seat.
NEWS & VIEWS
14 October 2020
CXPRESS
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Minister claims Bitou continues to mislead public on housing-project facts N Monday - after five days of the Plettenberg Bay N2 being closed for traffic due to rioting by disgruntled residents - Western Cape Human Settlements minister Tertuis Simmers released a statement to express his department’s dissatisfaction with the manner in which the town’s leadership shared facts on housing with constituents. “I am perturbed by Bitou Municipality’s persistence to mislead and, quite frankly, lie to its residents,” said Simmers. Relating to the Qolweni Housing Project, he quoted a municipal statement of October 10: “The tender process was completed but the preferred company could not be confirmed until the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements approved an additional amount on the budget allocated.” This followed, according to Simmers, after a September 23 statement announc-
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ing that the tender process to appoint a contractor was in its final stages. “It is only for the Western Cape department of Human Settlements to give the go ahead in terms of the budget,” claimed Bitou at the time. “The facts in this matter are that Bitou Municipality is responsible for the implementation of this project,” said Simmers, adding that the municipality sought advice from his department per email correspondence on September 18. An internal departmental meeting was convened and on September 23, after due consideration, his department confirmed in writing to Bitou that the budget for the project was in line with the evaluation report submitted. “We have continuously reiterated our commitment to fund this project, which still stands and is in line with the evaluation report submitted. This is truer now - particularly since during our Garden Route District visit in
June, we made it clear that as of 2020, we’ve had a budget cut of over R300-million. “This means we are in no position to waste any time or funds on projects, especially ones such as this [Bitou’s] that should already be up and running,” he said. Simmers urged all stakeholders, including municipalities, to do everything in their power to accelerate the process and not hinder it, as this resulted in further delaying the improvement of living conditions for vulnerable beneficiaries. “Bitou Municipality is fully aware that no additional funds are available, and they had to ensure their tender processes did not lose sight of this,” Simmers said, before urging the community to refrain from destroying public infrastructure, as this would negatively impact service delivery and economic activity. “Now that the facts have been tabled, I trust there will be no further attempts to derail this process, as
Bus passenger busted at Tsitsikamma Tollgate
CONFISCATED: Mandrax and Tik with a street value of R570K
ONCERTED efforts to eradicate drug trafficking at major entry points into the Western Cape again yielded positive results when drugs with an estimated street value of R570,000 were confiscated at the Tsit-
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sikamma Tollgate on October 9 around 3:20am. Members attached to the Eden Cluster Visible Policing and Tsitsikamma K9 units were strategically deployed at a roadblock along the N2 when they stopped
a passenger bus en route to Cape Town. Upon searching the vehicle they found a suspicious suitcase in the luggage compartment, which was positively linked to a passenger that apparently boarded the bus in Port Elizabeth. A further search resulted in the discovery of 3,955 Mandrax tablets and two plastic bags containing Tik, with an estimated street value of R310,000. A 31-year-old woman was arrested on a charge of dealing in drugs. It is believed the drugs were destined for distribution in Cape Town.
we’ve had unnecessary delays in the implementation of this project. “The Human Settlements portfolio is a concurrent function, and prolific intergovernmental relations between province and lo-
cal authorities are vital so our people can optimally benefit. Seeking to deflect, as is the case here, works against this principle,” concluded Simmers. • As this edition was published on October 14, the
N2 remained open. Bitou Municipality had not responded to a request for comment on this issue. Minister Simmers’s office advised that a meeting was scheduled with Bitou residents on October 15.
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CXPRESS
INTERVAL
14 October 2020
The ups and downs of marriage… wards the pastor and whispered: “I thought we had a deal?” The pastor pressed the R200 note back into his hand and whispered in return: “She made me a much better offer.”
THE COUNTERED PROPOSAL During his wedding rehearsal, the groom approached his pastor with an unusual offer. “I’ll give you R200 if you’ll change the wedding vows and leave out the ‘love, honour, obey, and forsake all others’ part.” He pressed a R200 note in the pastor’s hand and walked away with a satisfied smile. On the day of the wedding, the groom was feeling pleased when the pastor got to the part where the vows were exchanged. The pastor looked him in the eye and asked: “Will you promise to bow before her, obey whatever command she gives, fulfil her every wish, serve her breakfast each morning, and swear before God that you’ll not look at another woman as long as you both shall live?” The groom gulped and looked astonished, but he finally said “Yes” in a tiny voice. He then leaned in to-
PLAYING THE HARMONICA A newly-married sailor was informed by the navy that he was going to be stationed a long way from home on a remote island in the Pacific for a year. A few weeks after he got there the sailor began to miss his new wife, so he wrote her a letter. “My love,” he wrote, “we are going to be apart for a very long time. Already I’m starting to miss you and there’s really not much to do here in the evenings.
“Besides that, we’re constantly surrounded by young attractive native girls. Do you think if I had a hobby of some kind I would not be tempted?” His wife sent him back a harmonica suggesting: “Why don’t you learn to play this?”
Eventually, the sailor’s tour of duty came to an end and he rushed back to his wife. “Darling” he said, “I can’t wait for a repeat of our wedding night!” “But first,” his wife replied,” let’s see you play that harmonica.”
People think ‘icy’ is the easiest word to spell... Come to think of it, I see why.
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ent book Testam 14 Old (7) (5) 16 Fiddle (5)
s? — narcotic
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B R A ND O U E MO R S E L K T I S I R E R S R I H A E MO B P U E MP H A S A E L R E A L L Y U S O P I E T Y
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ON THE SOAPBOX
14 October 2020
Letters to the Editor
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
Open letter regarding the misuse of Piesang Valley community centre premises Plett resident MIKE DE KLERK copied CXPRESS on this email to Bitou Municipality, saying that the matter had first been raised with the relevant department in March this year - “and in fact, not only has it not been resolved, but it just gets worse by the day”
TRUCKING AND TRAINING: A delivery truck used the parking area adjacent to Piesang Valley community hall as overnight stop last week, while a driving instruction operation seems to be allowed to continue its operations with impunity
From the photos above you will notice the following: on October 8, apart from the driving school continuing with its illegal activity, a delivery truck from Anton le Roux Vervoer was sent to the community hall parking lot by Plett Agri, as they were not prepared to accept the delivery due to late arrival. This was confirmed by the driver. I took several photos to show that this truck used the premises as an overnight stop, which the community centre is definitely not zoned for, or have the
required facilities to accommodate this activity. On the morning of October 8, the regular buses from Oakhill School in Knysna arrived to collect the kids, which they have done for the past 15 years without any problem. However, the driver of the truck decided to move his truck while the children were being dropped off by their parents. We will not even discuss the risk that this activity created. Later on the same morning, the driving school was still continuing their activity as per the photo
included at right. Bitou Municipality has a responsibility to ensure that the property is used for the purpose it is zoned for. If residents allowed their properties to be used for a purpose that it is not zoned for, the municipality should take action immediately. The municipality, just as any private property owner, has a responsibility to ensure that its properties adhere to the zoning restrictions. If this matter is not properly addressed, we may as well allow any
company to operate their business from the community centre premises. I appreciate it that you have allocated an area at the testing grounds for the driving school guys. They should not be allowed to continue ignoring the municipality’s instruction. They are in fact breaking the law. (Previous correspondence on this subject, spanning several months and including other ward councillors as recipients, can be perused by interested parties. Email editor@cxpress. co.za - Eds.)
Let’s get Rae Gilbert’s rose garden back to full bloom
NOW AND THEN: These photos of the rose garden demonstrate the great need for support to enable Rae Gilbert and her team to restore Bosky Dell to its former glory
In response to Plett Tourism’s recent appeal to save our world-renowned rose garden, Bosky Dell, the caring members of Horsie’s Book Club have accepted the challenge! Rae Gilbert, who is part of the club, has supported many charity fundraising events throughout the years. Many of us have
experienced her beautiful venue during Plett Open Garden Days, as well as attending a variety of charitable evenings. It only follows that we want to support Rae now. Since the Covid-19 lockdown, Rae has been unable to maintain her beautiful rose garden. Thanks to Plett Tour-
ism’s appeal, she has been able to start clearing, pruning, and fertilising the rose beds. This year, in lieu of our annual Secret Santa gifts, Horsie’s Book Club will be contributing towards the fund and would like to challenge all local book clubs to do the same. Donations can be
made to: Plett Tourism, FNB account number 62520118854 (branch code 250655), reference Bosky Dell and your email address. Monique Dokter obo Horsie’s Book Club, Plett (Turn to page 7 of the October 7 edition at www. cxpress.co.za for additional information. - Eds.)
Intake of new officers questioned, and dubious parker captured
Plett resident ‘Dashcam Diaries’ shared these images with CXPRESS on Monday October 5 and Friday the 9th respectively, and wrote: “Could this be our seasonal recruiting day for a new batch of trainee law enforcement cum revenue collecting officers? What happened to the previous year’s intake? Perhaps this time around, they could be trained to avoid the need for five officers to write out a single parking ticket, or to always operate in groups of four to five on the beach front. One can but hope…” [The enquiry on intake was sent to Bitou Municipality for a response, which we hope to feature in a near-future edition.] The image at right of a vehicle parked outside the doctor’s rooms in Robberg Road “does not even deserve a comment” according to the author.
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CXPRESS
14 October 2020
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CONTACT NUMBERS OF THE PLETTENBERG BAY POLICING AREAS: SECTOR MANAGERS
Sector 1: CBD, Poortjies, Dunes, Town areas W/O Taylor: 079 894 1645 Sector 2: New Horizon, Bossiesgif, Qolweni, Wittedrift - W/O James: 079 894 1643 Sector 3: Natures Valley, The Grags, Keurbooms area, Covie Sgt De Vos: 082 820 7889 Sector 4: Rural Safety - farms W/O Van Pletzen: 082 411 2738
COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTRE
Plettenberg Bay 044 501 1900 / 044 501 1907 / 044 501 1908 / 044 501 1909/10 Vispol Commander: Lt Col Solomon: 044 501 1939 / 082 778 7310 Detective Commander Plettenberg Bay: Lt Col Cebekhulu: 044 501 1946 / 082 778 6713 COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTRE
Kwanokuthula 044 533 2145 Detectives: 044 533 3121 Administration: 044 501 2900 Switchboard: 044 501 4200 Policing areas: Kranshoek, Harkerville, Piesang Valley
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Plett Animal Welfare Service
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