21 August 2019

21 August 2019

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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Living on the edge…

One of Plett’s most recent octogenarians decided to celebrate this milestone birthday by jumping off Bloukrans Bridge. Pictured here with feisty Mike SlaterJones as he is being hoisted back up after his longevityinducing leap is Xolani Qakamfana of the able Face Adrenalin crew, impressively in charge of smoothly and safely operating the world’s highest bungy for the past 21 years. Turn to page 2 for the full story.

Photo: Face Adrenalin

Botched hijacking shocks - pp3 Noksie no new kid on the block - pp4 Hockey extravaganza in Plett - p12

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

21 August 2019

Third time lucky for Mike Slater-Jones with entire family on hand for his 80th birthday bungy

TURNING 80 IN STYLE: This series of Face Adrenalin shots show Mike arriving per zipline, being prepped for the jump by the awesome operators in charge of the world’s highest bungy off Bloukrans Bridge, and the moment everyone’s been waiting for - Mike spreads his wings and flies!

HEN Mike Slater-Jones turned 80 on July 31, he decided that he’d rather jump off the world’s highest bungy bridge than “sit in a chair at home�.

Such a keen sense of adventure has this Plett resident of the past 17 years, that he also bungy-jumped off Bloukrans Bridge to celebrate his 60th and 70th birthdays. So it was nearly like meeting up with old buddies when Mike rendezvoused once more with the Face Adrenalin crew for jump number three in so many decades.

Explains daughter Sandy du Plessis: “Dad waited for my brother, Richard, his partner Maria and their three children - who live in Cape Town and could only make it to Plett during the Women’s Day long weekend - so

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we could all be there to watch him jump and to celebrate together.�

And what a celebration it was, not least thanks to the generous Face Adrenalin crew who sponsored Mike’s zipline and jump as apt 80th birthday present. Also coming to the party was Melvilles SuperSpar, who surprised the Slater-Jones clan with a birthday cake. “My dad has been frequenting Plett since 1966, when he first visited his friend, Don Ribbans - who still lives here with his wife, Heather,� says Sandy, adding that as a family, they have been visiting Plett since the 1970s. “Dad and my mom, Rene, have been living here since February 2002, and started their B&B Panoramic Blue in 2006 - which is still going strong.� The establishment is

being managed by Sandy, Mike, and his son-in-law, Jean du Plessis - the Afrikaans teacher at Greenwood Bay College.

So counting Mike’s two Du Plessis grandkids and the three Capetonians who came to Plett for the breath-taking affair, it was a happily crowded commotion indeed when Mike took the plunge with all his near-dear ones on hand to witness this feat. “He says he wants to jump again at 90, and then at 100, if he makes it that far!� chuckles Sandy, who invites readers to check out her dad’s jump live on YouTube (type in ‘Mike Slater-Jones Bloukrans Bungy’).

Visit www.faceadrenalin.com for additional information, and see more images of Mike’s 80th birthday ‘party’ at www.cxpress.co.za.

Photos: Richard Slater-Jones

SCENES ON THE BRIDGE: Mike is the picture of courage preceding the jump, but not so much granddaughter Ona, daughter Sandy, or wife Rene‌

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NEWS & VIEWS

21 August 2019

CXPRESS

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Attempted hijacking and new modus operandi revealed as criminals close in on Plett A close call for a local motorist and strange incidents in the night have left local crime fighters concerned - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports ISA Nagel of Plett Watch said there had been at least three concerning incidents in Plett over the past week and therefore urged residents to be vigilant. According to her, one of these incidents happened on Wednesday August 14. “Early in the morning a woman had a nasty surprise when she stopped at the Robberg and Airport Road intersection,â€? Nagel said.

She explained that three suspects jumped out of a nearby vehicle and surrounded the local woman’s

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car. They attempted to open the vehicle’s doors. “Fortunately her doors were locked and she drove off hastily. She reported the matter to police along with a description of the suspect’s vehicle.�

Nagel further said that on August 12, a resident was woken up by a sound on their roof. “They called out their security company who inspected the premises and found all in order.�

She added that when they woke up the next morning, they contacted some-

one to inspect the roof and found a lemon on the roof. “The roof is too high for anything to have fallen off a tree onto it, so it had to have been thrown.�

Nagel said this might be a tactic by criminals to ascertain if the property was occupied or not. “Upon hearing the noise, the owner immediately switched on lights which would have alerted a potential thief that the home was occupied.�

She added that a domestic worker recently informed

her employer that burglars had started using this ploy to mark potential targets. “They watch to see if it (the object) gets removed.

If not, they know that the house does not have a worker servicing it or that the homeowner is away. They then target the property.�

Nagel urged residents to react to any noise on their properties by switching lights on immediately and then to contact their security company. “The lights will deter criminals from carrying out their nefarious deeds if they know you are aware of their presence.�

She also urged residents to be aware of any objects on their properties that seem out of place.

Nagel further said motorists should ensure that their

vehicle’s doors are locked after entering and that their valuables are out of sight. “Never stop too close to the vehicle in front of you - leave an escape route to prevent being blocked in by a vehicle behind you.�

She advised that if a gun is pointed at you, you should put your hands in the air and give in to the suspect’s demands. “Do not make sudden movements or reach for anything, as this could cost you your life.�

PLETTENBERG BAY

Bitou MM’s appointment declared ‘unlawful’, but DA wants Lobese’s head, too HE Labour Court of SA last week found that the appointment of Bitou’s municipal manager, Lonwabo Ngoqo, was unlawful - this after Western Cape Local Government MEC Anton Bredell challenged the appointment, done in February, through legal channels.

Bredell went the legal route after Bitou Council took a decision to appoint Ngoqo earlier this year - despite having been dismissed by the same municipality in 2012 after disciplinary proceedings found him guilty of financial misconduct.

It is alleged that Ngoqo’s recent appointment also came with a settlement agreement of more than R780,000. “We never want to go to court against another sphere of government, but sadly there are times when we have no other option left. In the Western Cape, the rule of law and our continued commitment to good governance and improved service delivery requires of us to be intolerant of unlawful decisions that places at risk the ability of a municipality to do its job. So we took the matter to court and we are

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very happy about the outcome,� Bredell said.

The court found that the decisions taken by Bitou Council was unlawful and ordered that the settlement agreement entered into between the municipality and Ngoqo be set aside, while ordering that Ngoqo’s appointment as municipal manager be set aside as well. “A cost order was also made against the council.

We want to urge our municipalities to remember who they are representing. These are communities who are putting trust in their leaders and rely on their leaders to place community interests first,� said Bredell.

In the meantime, the DA in the province welcomed the court’s findings.

Bitou constituency head Cathy Labuschagne said they were, however, disappointed that the court did not hold mayor Peter Lobese personally liable for his part in making the appointment. “It is an irresponsible decision that the people of Bitou will have to pay for,� she said.

She explained that the appointment resulted in a cost order against the municipal-

ity which meant that money meant for the people of Bitou would instead be spent on legal fees. “It is alarming that despite being fully aware of the disciplinary proceedings against Ngoqo, which would make his appointment as municipal manager illegal, the mayor still proceeded to appoint him. “These actions by the mayor and the ANC councillors indicate that they do not carry the best interests of Bitou at heart and are not interested in good governance.�

Labuschagne also said the party believed public servants, who make “reckless decisions� which result in illegal actions, should be held financially responsible for the legal costs that transpire. “We cannot allow taxpayers to carry the costs for public representatives who do not respect the rule of law.�

The acting director of corporate services and strategic manager in the office of the municipal manager, Gerrie Groenewald, said they were currently studying the judgment and would comment on it in due course.

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

21 August 2019

This lady may well be our best shot at transforming the local tourism industry WANDISILE SEBEZO explains why a long-serving local leader like ‘Sis Noksie’ may well be the most appropriate person to head Plett Tourism LETT’S tourism agency has been facing some serious opposition relating to its legitimacy, particularly from Bitou Municipality. It has seen budget cuts, festival cancelations and the like, but more recently the resignation of board chairman and CEO Peter Wallington.

For the record, Wallington’s resignation is unfortunate - as a town dependent on tourism, we’ve lost a true visionary who had the genuine interest of Plett at heart. Wallington has done a lot in helping develop a great number of small businesses, especially from previously disadvantaged areas.

While Plett Tourism is currently in a crisis situation, it presents us with an opportunity to start anew. I propose just one of the many solutions that can be applied immediately to stabilise the situation and potentially amend relations with Bitou going forward.

There is no other way of saying it: the board is too white, and this is unacceptable on so many levels. We need black voices finding an expression in there, not

just as employees or beneficiaries, but in decision making positions.

South Africa is a beautiful country, so it’s no surprise that it has become one of the most popular tourist destinations since the advent of democracy in 1994 when it re-joined the international arena.

However, 25 years since the first democratic vote, it’s rather embarrassing that in a town boasting pristine beaches and good weather all year round, we have yet to es-

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tablish a black leader to head its tourism agency.

No doubt there is a great pool of candidates who can rise to the occasion, but one in particular is up to the task, one who has been in the belly of the beast since inception.

Nokuzola Kholwaphi, affectionately known as ‘Sis Noksie’, is currently the only black leader serving on the tourism board. Who better to take the ropes from Peter Wallington than someone who has worked alongside him, and shares the vision of achieving what Wallington always called ‘One Plett’?

“I fully support Noksie - she has made a valuable contribution over the last five years and is ideally

placed to take Plett Tourism forward into its next phase of development,” Wallington said.

When certain people inside Bitou Municipality wanted to make tourism a municipal competency, I argued against such a move, and said that instead of insourcing Plett Tourism, rather change its mandate towards a more developmental agenda, with a focus on promoting township tourism and assisting even more small businesses.

The Plett Tourism AGM on August 28 presents such an opportunity; transform the make-up of the board, and develop a strategy to benefit everyone, even a small Tshisa Nyama somewhere in Qolweni.

New Horizons and Qolweni leadership irons out housing issues with provincial housing head Ludumo Tede

NOKSIE IN A NUTSHELL: A teacher by profession (12 years), Nokuzola Kholwaphi has served on the Plett Tourism board for the past five years, chaired the Bitou Water and Sanitation Forum, is MD of Edu-Plett, a board member of Simunye Community Centre, and a businesswoman (timber harvesting, construction, catering and Jabulani Farm)

La Luna

ESTERN Cape Human Settlements minister Tertius Simmers is now certain that there will never again be protests by Plettenberg Bay communities over his department’s provision of services.

These were the minister’s words after he had met with the leadership of Qolweni and New Horizon on Friday, to discuss the future of housing developments for both these Bitou communities.

The minister and his department lived up to the promise to revisit the affected Bitou communities on August 11. During a previous meeting with the leadership of these communities, the minister mentioned a 50-50 sharing of the Ebenezer land between beneficiaries from Qolweni and New Horizons.

This left New Horizons residents, especially the backyard dwellers, discontent as they regarded the department’s solution to their housing problems as “unacceptable and unfair,” according to New Horizons community leader Claude Terblanche, who said the community was taken aback by the announcement that they would have to share the Ebenezer land with

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Qolweni RDP beneficiaries.

He said the land was earmarked only for New Horizons, which had been side-lined in the housing development projects in Bitou, with only 62 houses from which backyard dwellers had benefited in 15 years, while other communities, like KwaNokuthula, were still being developed.

This resulted in last week’s followup meeting, after the department had a chance to relook the 50-50 land share solution.

“Our sentiments didn’t fall on deaf ears,” said Terblanche, since they learnt that New Horizons residents would be the major beneficiaries.

“The minister told us that the land will be shared, but New Horizons will benefit more. At this stage, we are still not certain as to how much of the land we’re going to get. The minister also informed us that the housing development project of 1,450 units will commence April 2020,” explained Terblanche.

According to the minister, going forward, the community leaders from both affected communities will now liaise directly with his office to prevent the spreading of erroneous information - something which he decried during his first encounter with these leaders last month.

Who is Tertius Simmers?

Tertius Simmers is housing MEC in premier Alan Winde’s provincial cabinet, following the DA’s election victory in this year’s national and provincial elections. Simmers said that during his first month in office he had covered more than 8,000km in the province, visiting various Human Settlements project sites and engaging with a vast cross-section of stakeholders during this period. During his visit to municipalities including Bitou, Breede Valley, Cape Agulhas, Drakenstein, George and Knysna, Simmers heard complaints from residents that they were still on the waiting list after 20 years, while government homes were being sold and let. - Photo: Aisha Abdool Karim Daily Maverick

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NEWS & VIEWS

21 August 2019

CXPRESS

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Alleged Sedgefield fraudster Marianne Roux back in the dock tomorrow Talia Day

HE case of Marianne Roux - the alleged scammer who defrauded 14+ people out of over R70,000 - starts in Thembalethu Magistrate’s Court on Thursday August 22, after her bail application was denied last month [read the report on page 3 of the July 3 edition at www.cxpress.co.za].

During that hearing on July 11, Roux’s family sat anxiously in anticipation, and she held her daughter’s hand while waiting for her case to be called.

Magistrate Malaudsi was presiding, with Mr Vlok standing for the defence and Mrs Padiyachi arming the prosecution.

Constable Lindinkosi Yoko, the lead detective on the case, was called as the only witness and gave details of the single case currently open against Roux in the George District.

Multiple other cases have been opened throughout South Africa, including that of Estelle Ciaglia in Bellville for an amount of R4,000, Alta van Zyl in Potchefstroom (R3,800), Nadia Edwards in Polokwane (R7,000), Elizabeth Parreira

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in Lephalale (R4,950), and Amanda Britz in Kempton Park (R6,000).

In light of these cases, Roux was arrested on Friday June 21.

“People never got the accommodation they were promised, and when confronted about it, Roux promised to pay back the money. But she never did,” Yoko stated.

Roux has appeared in Knysna Magistrate’s Court on previous occasions for theft and fraud, but in each instance the case was struck off the roll for reasons unknown. She got off with a pardon and no criminal record.

During last month’s bail hearing, Roux sat in the dock with her head in her hands, wiping away the occasional tear.

It was established that she was not a flight risk, as her passport had expired in 2010, and that she had no ties outside of Sedgefield and George.

Her daughter is currently being looked after by her mother, who does not work, but the mother’s boyfriend is allegedly providing for them.

In the witness stand, Roux was advised that she did

not have to answer questions pertaining to her case.

She declined to respond except for information such as her contact details.

Roux then claimed that her husband, Ronald Roux, had run away on the night of her arrest, and had not been seen since.

However, CXPRESS has interviewed witnesses who claimed to have seen him in Sedgefield, especially at a new gambling venue where he was allegedly spotted on consecutive days.

He allegedly borrowed money from people, ostensibly to visit her in the Oudtshoorn holding cells, “but instead he used it to gamble,” according to one of the witnesses.

Detective Yoko has also had contact with the husband in the form of text messages and meetings with Roux during which the husband was present.

The prosecution asked: “You have a propensity to commit fraud, and you have clearly committed fraud around the country - what do you have to say about this?”

Roux declined to answer.

When Roux’s defence took to the floor, it was all idioms and metaphors.

Spaza shopkeeper critical after shooting in Flenters, robbers still at large Ludumo Tede N immigrant Knysna shop owner says that his employee is now being treated at Tygerberg Hospital in the Cape - this after an armed robbery at a spaza shop in Flenters, near White Location, on Tuesday August 13.

The shop owner, Ethiopian national Ma’mush Haptum, 24, says he rushed to his shop following the devastating news of a shooting incident. He found the shopkeeper lying in a pool of blood and personally rushed him to Knysna Provincial Hospital.

“When I got to the shop I found my guy lying down,

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bleeding. I couldn’t wait for the ambulance. We used one of our homeboys’ vehicles to rush him to hospital. He was immediately taken to the emergency room,” says Haptum.

According to Knysna SAPS, at around 8pm four men walked into the spaza shop, took an undisclosed amount of money and fled.

In the process of fleeing the scene, one of them shot at the shopkeeper.

The 18-year-old shopkeeper sustained injuries in his arm and head and remains in a critical condition. A case of attempted murder and robbery has

The only pharmacy in Main Street

been opened. By going to print the robbers were still at large, and the police investigation continues.

Haptum says his employee was alone during the time of the incident and it was not busy - to the robbers’ advantage. According to eyewitnesses, the robbers could not be identified as they were all wearing balaclavas.

The community is joining forces in efforts to find the robbers. Knysna SAPS is calling on anyone with information that could assist in arresting the culprits to contact investigating officer Vusumzi Xokozela on 044 302 6652.

Vlok said that a forest was being planted around Roux even before she had been convicted. He made a strong argument to prove that she was no flight risk.

Malaudsi, in conclusion, said his main concern was the manner in which the offences were committed: “You did not stop, and I do believe you will continue to commit offences.

“You have done this to people who are very far away, you do not even know

them. I agree with the state that it will be a risk to grant you bail. Your application is denied.”

Roux held her head in her hands as she listened to the verdict; black streaks of mascara ran down her cheeks as she was led back to the holding cells. Her family declined to comment.

When her case starts tomorrow, Roux is expected to change her plea from not guilty to guilty, according to Sedgefield Info

Centre owner Jurgens van der Walt, who has been instrumental in getting Roux charged, and is in contact with her.

Victims of her scams are waiting with bated breath for the case to unfold. “She must sit. She is a born liar,” said Ciaglia when told that Roux may change her plea.

• Ronald Roux was arrested on August 18 in Kroonstad for allegedly stealing an external hard drive and selling it at Cash Crusaders.

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

21 August 2019

Rheenendal initiative to help reach potential now in full swing HE Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&R SETA) recently stepped up to sponsor a rural project that afforded 200 unemployed and 25 employed Rheenendal residents participating in a working retail learnership programme.

The Hands Up for Reaching Potential (HURP) initiative was designed specifically for the Rheenendal community with primary objectives of alleviating poverty, creating job opportunities, and empowering individuals to write their own stories while giving hope and a sense of personal achievement.

Explains Retail Excellence managing director Charlene Wenhold: “This is not only a learnership programme, since our overall goal is to ensure sustainability in the community by providing a platform for individuals to become self-sustainable and create their own future.

“Project managers and administrators, facilitators, assessor and moderators will be coached and mentored throughout the year by the HURP team to ensure capacity is built within the community and to sustain the project after the pilot phase.”

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She says that learners are currently completing a work readiness module to ensure they look and act their best in their new working environment. Simultaneously, an orientation session held on August 14 at Knysna Golf Club prepped employers on what to expect.

“We are indebted to local retailers who have committed to host our learners for the duration of the year Greeffs, Woolworths, Food Lovers Market, 34 Degrees South, Build-it, Metelerkamps, Eye-Love, SuperSpar, KwikSpar, Fashion World, Memories, Cape Union Mart, Old Khaki, Vodashop, and Coastal Hire.”

Wenhold advises that there

will be an official launch on August 30 at Rheenendal Primary School where W&R SETA senior management, Knysna Municipality officials, and the employers will wish learners the best of success.

The official learnership programme kicks off during the first week of September and Wenhold encourages all local businesses to “get in the game with us and offer workplace experience to our learners, giving them the opportunity to put into practice what they will be learning in theory”.

Call Lizette Olivier on 082 375 3606 or email char lene@retailexcellence.co.za for additional information on this great initiative.

EXCELLENT TEAM EFFORT: Standing from left are Sally (Food Lovers Market), Lizette (Positics), Vumile (W&R SETA), Bridgette (KwikSpar), Sue (SuperSpar), Adele (Vodacom), Craig (Woolworths), Leon (SuperSpar) and Charlene (Retail Excellence), with Elizabeth (34 Degrees South), Riaan (Cape Union Mart), Moyenene (Old Khaki) and Marilize (Woolworths) seated in front

Sasol Foundation bursary applications for 2020: just 10 days left to apply F you are a high-achieving learner from a lowerincome household, Sasol invites you to apply for an all-inclusive bursary to study for an undergraduate degree at a South African university or university of technology.

You have until Saturday August 31 to apply to study towards a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) degree in the 2020 academic year. Learners currently in Grade 12 must use their final Grade 11 results to apply.

The bursary is also open to qualifying children of Sasol employees and Sasol Khanyisa/Inzalo shareholders, as well as applicants from Sasol fence-line communities, who can apply for bursaries to study for STEM and non-STEM (nursing, accounting, eco-

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nomics) degrees.

A learner must be a South African citizen and meet the minimum university requirements at a South African public university or university of technology for 2020. The Sasol Foundation will only select learners from homes with a combined annual household income of under R600,000.

“The Sasol Foundation aims to help people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to harness their full potential,” said Sasol Foundation programme manager Dr Bulelwa Keke.

“It gives me hope for our great nation when I meet these ambitious young people who show such talent and who are working so hard to create a brighter future for themselves.”

Since inception, the Sasol Foundation has provided bursaries to more than 1,500 young people, mostly from township and rural areas, among them many women.

The bursaries are comprehensive, going beyond financial support to ensure bursars are successful and ready for the expectations of a modern workplace: • 100% of academic costs; • Psychosocial support; • A bursar development programme; • Possible absorption into Sasol (STEM candidates); • Access to Sasol, including the call centre.

Harness your potential and apply now before applications close at the end of the month. Log onto www.sasolbursaries.com/ welcome or call 0860 106 235 to find out more.

NEWS & VIEWS

21 August 2019

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CXPRESS

Plett Animal Welfare teams up with dotsure.co.za to present yet another night of glorious music Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

TERRIFIC TRIO: From left are Albert Combrink, Thomas de Bruyn, and Graham du Plessis who will join forces on September 7 to woo music aficionados at Ouland Royale

HE team at PAWS (Plett Animal Welfare Service) last week happily announced that their fourth Glorious Music Concert will take place on Saturday September 7.

Says organiser and PAWS stalwart Marsja HallGreen: “The talented and popular Trio de Musique from Cape Town can’t wait to return to Plett to delight us with a new repertoire of marvellous music.”

Plett audiences have come to expect an exceptional evening at Ouland Royale - the perfect venue for this annual musical event. This time, renowned flautist Thomas de Bruyn and his equally celebrated colleague, pianist Albert Combrink, will be joined by new Trio member Graham du Plessis.

Graham completed his BMus (Hons) at the Uni-

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versity of Birmingham and then studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where he obtained his MMus, specialising in the cello.

After his studies, Graham enjoyed playing chamber music throughout Europe, giving recitals in the UK, Switzerland and Sweden.

He collaborated extensively with British orchestras such as the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, before returning to South Africa in 2017 after a lengthy absence.

He now performs regularly with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and lectures cello at the University of Cape Town.

All three members of The Trio de Musique are highly qualified professional musicians who

perform as soloists and members of various orchestras and ensembles, playing at concerts, festivals, recitals and corporate events.

In Plett, they will perform a selection of works guaranteed to delight everyone - timeless classics, beautiful melodies from stage and screen, some modern works and a bit of jazz thrown in.

And no Glorious Music gig is complete without a Piazzolla tango!

“We at PAWS were delighted when dotsure. co.za agreed to sponsor this year’s Trio de Musique performance at Ouland Royale. Much more than a pet insurance provider, dotsure. co.za personnel are on a mission to be leaders in the promotion of animal wellbeing,” says Marsja.

While focussed on combating abuse, they also ensure that abandoned or mistreated pets find unconditional love and forever homes. This year alone, they have raised and donated over R540,000 to animal welfare.

Marsja adds: “We could not ask for a better partner, as dotsure.co.za is also very active in animal welfare along the Garden Route. We are most grateful to them for making the concert possible and look forward to continuing our relationship in future.”

As always, Glorious Music guests will enjoy a ClemenGold Gin cocktail on arrival, this mandarin-flavoured delight now being closely associated with the event. Wilja Reitz has promised more of her superb canapes, so no-one will go hungry.

A raffle for a great prize and lucky draws will add to the entertainment.

This not-to-be-missed concert is a highlight on the Plett musical calendar. All previous concerts were sold out in a flash, so don’t delay in booking your seats. Cocktails will be served from 6:30 and the concert starts at 7:30pm.

Contact Marsja on 044 533 4578 or 073 645 9476 or at marsjahg@netactive. co.za to reserve your spot.

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Notice Board • The ‘What the Bag?’ campaign against singleuse plastic bags, started

by Knysna local Sahara Thagunna, 17, is branching out to launch some exciting new ventures to tackle plastic waste in a broader perspective.

Want to hear all about her new projects and be a proactive part of the movement for planetary regeneration? Then join Sahara

on Saturday August 31 at 2pm at The Node, Oaks on Main, Knysna. Your RSVP is essential, so visit www.sourcesahara.wix iste.com/whatthebag for this purpose.

• Diarise September 7 for the next Fun Quiz Night, when this popular biannual event will raise funds for Leolin Peterson, 13, from New Horizons, who has been

selected to travel to Tokyo to represent South Africa in Trampolining at an international gymnastics competition.

It is hoped that the Quiz will help Leolin’s mom Helen to raise the bulk of the R30,000 she needs for her travel and kit costs.

You can help by entering a team in to this Fun Quiz, or you may wish to make a donation.

The action starts at Plett Bowling Club in Challenge Drive at 6pm for 6:30pm on Saturday September 7.

The cost of R600 per team (maximum of six members) includes a light supper and there are great prizes to be won. To book or donate, contact Barry Ricketts at barry ricketts48@hotmail.com or on 072 890 6238.

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CXPRESS

INTERVAL

21 August 2019

Being married is not for sissies • I love being married. It’s so great to find one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. - Rita Rudner • My brother is gay and my parents don’t care, as long as he marries a doctor. - Elayne Boosler • A man in love is incomplete until he is married. Then he’s finished.

- Zsa Zsa Gabor • If you can stay in love for more than two years, you’re on something. Fran Lebowitz • What a kid I got, I told him about the birds and the bees and he told me about the butcher and my wife. - Rodney Dangerfield • Just booked a table for Valentine’s Day for me and the wife. Bound to end in tears though - she sucks at snooker. - Anonymous • Women marry men hoping they will change.

Men marry women hoping they will not. So each is inevitably disappointed. - Albert Einstein • Marriage is like a deck of cards. In the beginning all you need is two hearts and a diamond. By the end you’ll wish you had a club and a spade. - Anonymous • My wife gets all the money I make. I just get an apple and clean clothes every morning. Ray Romano • My wife isn’t talking to me because apparently I ruined her birthday. Not sure how I did that... I didn’t even know it was her birthday! - Anonymous

• Marriage… it’s not a word, it’s a sentence. Rodney Dangerfield • Eighty percent of married men cheat in America. The rest cheat in Europe. - Jackie Mason • Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence. Second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience.

- Oscar Wilde • Nobody teaches volcanoes to erupt, tsunamis to arise, hurricanes to sway around, and no one is taught how to choose a wife… natural disasters just happen. - Anonymous • I haven’t spoken to my wife in years. I didn’t want to interrupt her. Rodney Dangerfield • Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow Internet service to see who they really are. - Will Ferrell • My husband told me I am one of the eight wonders of the world. I warned him not to let me catch him with any of the other seven. - Anonymous • Never go to bed mad.

Stay up and fight. - Phyllis Diller • A good wife always forgives her husband when she’s wrong. - Rodney Dangerfield • My significant other and I were discussing mistakes we have made in our relationship. I suggested she should embrace her mistakes. She then hugged me. - Anonymous

How to use a chainsaw farmer walks into a hardware store and asks for a chainsaw that can cut down six trees in one hour.

The salesman recommends the top of the line model. The farmer is suitably impressed, and buys it.

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The next day he brings it back, complaining that it would only cut down one tree and it took all day!

The salesman takes the chainsaw, starts it up to see what’s wrong. Then the farmer asks: “What is that noise?”

Things that always tell the truth: small children... drunks... yoga pants!

Those were the days...

When Dad goes shopping Y father was completely lost in the kitchen and never ate unless someone prepared a meal for him.

When Mom was ill, however, he volunteered to go to the supermarket for her. She sent him off with a carefully numbered list

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of seven items.

Dad returned, proud of himself, and proceeded to unpack the grocery bags.

He had one bag of sugar, two dozen eggs, three hams, four boxes of detergent, five boxes of crackers, six eggplants, and seven green peppers.

Suicidal twin kills sister by mistake!

PROMOTION

21 August 2019

CXPRESS

PLETTENBERG BAY

GRAND OPENING 29 AUGUST 2019

Experience a new WORLD OF SHOPPING New look. New style.

It’s everything you’d expect from Pick n Pay. And more.

Market Square, Beacon Way, Plettenberg Bay Trading hours: Monday - Friday: 08:00 - 19:00 Saturday: 08:00 - 18:00 Sunday and Public Holidays: 08:00 - 18:00

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Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

21 August 2019

CLASSIFIEDS

ON THE SOAPBOX

21 August 2019

Letters to the Editor

Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600

Elusive flamingos finally captured I kept missing the flamingos where they had previously been spotted in Plett. But then, last Saturday, Alan and I took the kayak out, sliding noiselessly across a lagoon of glass in the warm winter sunshine.

And voila! There they were - not the whole flock, but just two adult Greater flamingos and a

teenager, as well as three juvenile Lesser flamingos. (These photos show the Greater flamingos.)

I’m taking a chance that you may want to publish any of the attached photos, as the flamingos’ return seems to be top of the town’s current bird news.

Enjoy the wonderful winter weather!

Corinne Fernley, Plett

HOW GREAT THOU ART: Three Greater flamingos - two adults and a teenager - enjoy the balmy weekend weather in Keurbooms lagoon - Photos: Corinne Fernley

IN TIME FOR TEA AT THE BI? The lovely couple would not be out of place among the grandest of guests at Plett’s iconic Beacon Island hotel

You can make a difference for differently-abled folk It is with heartfelt gratitude that we now see the term ‘disabled’ disappear and ‘differently-abled’ becoming the buzz-word.

It has taken months of hard work and cooperation from all those who have assisted and advertised our Differently-abled Awareness Campaign to make it what it was meant to be: an exercise in raising awareness. After all, when you take away the DIS in disable, you get ABLE! I refer, among others, to the article ‘Now you can be a link in this lovely chain reaction of local

support’ [turn to page 6 of the August 14 edition at www.cxpress.co.za].

The Differently-abled Campaign has made a difference in so many lives by simply creating awareness. Bear in mind: it could happen to you within seconds, so accessibility is crucial.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us this past year, and please contact us at ritav@ global.co.za should you believe that you can also make a difference.

Rita and Mike Hardaker, Plett

Resolution on Knysna increases should be rescinded In my capacity as an ACDP councillor, I recall that at the last council meeting Knysna’s municipal manager motivated the Scarce Skills allowances by stating that when interviewing prospective directors, he needed a 20% leeway, as Knysna’s directors’ salaries were not competitive with other municipalities.

At no stage was it made clear that the municipal manager and current directors would then be taking such increases and backdating them!

When I became aware of this, I began a motivation for the rescission

of the previous council approval. I was then advised that the DA had already done so. My justification will be included in the discussion on the controversial item in the next council meeting.

Knysna Municipality’s salary and benefits were approximately 30% of the total budget and these are to rise with the recent organogram, which increased staffing at the municipality.

The next council meeting is on Thursday August 22 and I expect the motion of increases to be rescinded.

Ian Uys, Knysna

More dust and diesel and shattered vehicle windscreen woes…

The letter from Herb Bovey refers [read ‘Has anyone else suffered damage caused by speeding timber trucks?’ on page 11 of the July 17 edition at www.cxpress.co.za] - is it possible you could connect us?

We have been having endless problems with the timber trucks rattling and roaring down our gravel road, and chewing up the road when they return with their heavy loads.

We have written to the various companies that we could track down.

[Western Cape premier] Alan Winde has visited; there has been articles on the matter in CXPRESS. But we are getting absolutely nowhere.

Besides the trucks kicking up stones that crack windscreens, there

are safety and dust issues. Our workers, our animals, and ourselves choke daily in the dust, and you cannot hang out washing, let alone breathe on some days.

The road was supposed to be tarred in 2017, along with Plett’s Airport Road. But apparently the funds disappeared.

Kelly, by email (The road Mr Bovey wrote about is the R340 that connects Plett with Kruisvallei on the way to Uniondale. Readers who are experiencing the same suffocating and vehicle damaging nightmare are invited to share their experiences with CXPRESS by emailing editor@ cxpress.co.za - and who knows, with enough voices, the provincial roads powers may stop turning a blind eye. - Eds.)

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SPORT & ADVENTURE

21 August 2019

Plett Primary hockey day lures thousands of players and fans

UNBEATABLE: The U10 girls team with coaches Denise de Jongh, left, and Joan Spencer, at right in the back row

OCKEY teams from 15 schools last Saturday descended on hosts Plett Primary to play a total of 288 matches, overseen by 150 coaches, involving 1,200 young players on 14 pristine fields, making for a most memorable day of sports and family fun.

A majority of the visiting schools - Denneoord, Erica Girls, George Prep, Knysna Primary, George Suid, Holy Cross, Glenwood House, Riverwood, Pacaltsdorp Sedgefield, Oakhill, and Van Reede - brought along A and B teams across the full spectrum of primaryschool aged teams, with Milkwood, St Dominic’s Priory and Westering sending only U13 teams.

Of course, most players were accompanied by family and friends, so cars and busses with registration plates from Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn and George vied for space with the CXfleet spilling over from the PPS parking area to additional space adjacent to the school’s new section of

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Storms River

TIN HOUSE Self-catering accommodation

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THREE OF THE EIGHT AMIGOS: Some members of the U10 boys team

manicured fields.

Kudos are due to many individuals and companies, not least of which top hockey coach and teacher Kate Linder for liaising with all visiting schools to set the tournament in motion, and deputy principal Ivor White and his grounds team for ensuring all fields were in tip-top shape.

A small army of parents and learners joined teachers and SGB stalwart Mimi van Huyssteen to ensure that stalls were manned and the hundreds of hockey fans in attendance at any time from the cool tournament start at 8am to its early-afternoon conclusion could grab a hot coffee, cool drinks and an array of home-made savoury and sweet treats.

At the day’s end, Mimi’s teams tallied the sale of 1,600 pancakes, 734 cups of coffee, 300 hamburgers, 400 boerie rolls, and 400 packets of steaming hot chips!

She thanks Pick n Pay Plett for sponsoring water, Roost for the use of its coffee trailer, Dagbreek for

eggs used in the pancakes, and Checkers for contributing to the coaches’ catering.

But how did it go on the field? In the junior stakes, Plett Primary’s U10A girls and boys teams did exceptionally well.

The young ladies annihilated Holy Cross 3-0, Glenwood 5-0, George Suid (5-0) and Knysna (4-0), while the boys drew one-all against Oakhill but pretty much bulldozed Holy Cross (7-0), George Suid (2-0), and Knysna Primary (5-0).

The senior teams’ games made for riveting viewing, the hosting U13 boys and girls teams showing cohesion and excellent sportsmanship, with the boys’ league game against Van Reede ending in a very welldeserved 2-0 victory.

All other U13A games - against Glenwood, Millwood, Sedgefield and St Dominica Priory and Westering respectively - ended in draws for the U13A boys and girls teams both.

Visit www.cxpress.co.za for more images of the day.

SCHOOLS’ C OMPETITION

The U13A boys in action against Van Reede, with coach Brendan Proctor keeping a close eye Some of the U13 boys and their siblings hang out in-between games

Young and old had a fabulous time at Saturday’s Plett Primary hockey extravaganza

Mimi van Huyssteen, at left, and some of the many folk who ensured no tum remained hungry

ENTER NOW AND CELEBRATE SUNFLOWER DAY ON 20 SEPTEMBER 2019 REGISTER AT www.sunflowerfund.org/sunflowerday New TOPES design go on sale in August Got questions? Contact us schools@sunflowerfund.org or 021 701 0661 0800 12 10 82 | www.sunflowerfund.org.za

Some of the visiting teams included Sedgefield Primary and neighbours Greenwood Bay College