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23 September 2020
Knysna becomes battlefield for a day The riots that again erupted around the N2 at Hornlee on Sunday September 20 followed the demolition of dwellings by Knysna Municipality, which local community groups regard as an illegal action. During the course of the day’s conflict, opportunistic criminals used the chaotic situation to loot businesses in the vicinity, most notably the Lamco General Store, which was pillaged completely in the process. Read more about the two sides of this story on page 3. We wish our readers a Braai Day brimming with delicious eats and excellent events to celebrate our unique South African heritage on September 24.
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CXPRESS
23 September 2020
OBITUARY
Rose may have gone but she will never be forgotten
ROSE GOODWIN: 29 May 1956 - 13 September 2020
FTER a valiant fight against cancer, Rose Goodwin passed away two Sundays ago with her loved ones by her side, and to the great chagrin of the many people who held her dear in her hometown of Plettenberg Bay and beyond. Rose lived life to the full for her family, her friends, and her
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beloved animals. She will be missed by all those whose lives she had touched and her memory will live on forever. Gone but never forgotten, Rose is survived by her husband Richard, son Simon, and soon to be daughter in law, Lily. A private function to celebrate her life was held on September 20.
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NEWS & VIEWS
NEWS & VIEWS
23 September 2020
CXPRESS
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‘We will not negotiate with criminals’ - Knysna mayor N Sunday afternoon, Knysna Municipality declared that Hornlee was “under siege by lawless, criminal protesters” and, according to mayor Elrick van Aswegen, the municipality would not tolerate
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this abhorrent behaviour. “One cannot call the current situation in Hornlee ‘protest action’, as it is blatantly destructive, violent, and criminal,” he said. “This municipality is now drawing a line in the sand
and will take all steps necessary through available channels to ensure that the situation is brought under control and the perpetrators held responsible for their detestable actions.” Contracted by the mu-
Knysna United blames Municipality for riots
UP IN ARMS: Community members clashed with an army of battle-ready Red Ants - Photo: supplied
Ludumo Tede
NYSNA United accused the municipality for causing the chaotic protest actions around the N2 at Hornlee on Sunday. Following the violence that continued throughout most of the day and night, the community organisation released a statement blaming the municipality for the anarchy that resulted in the closure of the na-
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tional road. After the demolition by the Red Ants of shacks built on vacant land, enraged community members took to the streets - only to find themselves in a warzone with rubber bullets flying in all directions. In the statement, Knysna United terms the razing of homes “illegal”, as there was no court order authorising the demolition. “The Western Cape High
Court made a ruling that no municipality should break down illegal structures without a court order for that specific structure. Knysna Municipality decided that they are above this… and we are going to lay charges against the municipality.” Despite mayor Elrick van Aswegen’s defence of the demolitions [see report on this page], community leaders said they would not back down.
nicipality, the Red Ants removed illegal structures in Hornlee on the morning of September 20. The mayor confirmed that no legitimate homes were removed and no residents were removed from their homes. “The buildings were illegal structures that were illegitimately constructed on land not owned by the illegal dwellers,” said Van Aswegen. Members of the community responded by destroying property, plundering
businesses and, once again, blocking traffic on the N2 highway. One Red Ants officer was shot, but escaped serious injury thanks to a bullet proof vest. “The situation has degenerated into chaos due to instigators simply looking for an excuse to indulge in destruction, theft and general lawlessness,” he continued. “I condemn this kind of irresponsible behaviour. We will not stand for this any longer.”
Maintaining the peace, arresting suspects, and prosecuting them are the domain of the SAPS and legal agencies, leaving the municipality scant room to act against protestors. “However, we will assist and support these agencies in every way to ensure this type of hooliganism does not spiral out of control. “We will not negotiate with criminals, and will endeavour to ensure they are punished for their actions.”
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CXPRESS
NEWS & VIEWS
23 September 2020
No judgement yet in Bitou municipal manager court case Bill Nel
URING February 2019, Bitou DA councillors forwarded an affidavit [a copy of which is in the possession of CXPRESS] to Local Government minister Anton Bredell, alerting him about mayor Peter Lobese’s intention of illegally reappointing previously dismissed municipal manager, Lonwabo Ngoqo. The upshot was that the minister took Ngoqo’s ap-
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pointment and settlement payment to court. When the court found in favour of Bredell, Bitou Municipality appealed. While awaiting the appeal outcome, Lobese retained Ngoqo in his position; this was challenged by the minister when asking the court for an order to execute the finding while the appeal was pending, by instructing Ngoqo’s immediate removal from office. This application did not succeed.
All the court challenges by the municipality were of course paid for with Plett ratepayers’ money, and Lobese and co are threatening to take the matter to the Constitutional Court if they lose this appeal, which seems the likely outcome after last week’s proceedings. Judgement was reserved but may possibly be given within a week from the time of writing (September 16). The judge gave a particularly hard time to the
municipality’s lawyers and to Ngoqo’s advocate, seemingly regarding their arguments as rather futile. • PR councillor for the DA in Bitou, Bill Nel on Monday confirmed that
no judgement date had yet been set. “Both the state attorney and I received word that Bitou is preparing to take the matter to the Constitutional Court, which indi-
cates that they are expecting to lose their appeal.” No outcome had been announced by going to print, but CXPRESS will endeavour to keep readers updated in this regard.
Assistance needed in search for missing Knysna resident Lauren van Rooyen N September 17, Lauren van Rooyen was reported missing as she had not been seen in her hometown for the preceding fortnight. According to notifications by the SAPS and Knysna Community Police Forum (CPF), she was known to frequent the CBD, Waterfront and Nelson Street areas. “Lauren van Rooyen was dressed in a mustard denim dress and white sandals at the time of her disappearance,” said Southern Cape police spokesperson sergeant Chris Spies. “There has been no trace of the missing person, and the search is ongoing.”
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LET’S BRING LAUREN HOME: Last seen in Knysna at the beginning of September, there has been no lead as to the current whereabouts of missing local Lauren ‘Curly’ van Rooyen
Last seen in Knysna on September 2, the 37-yearold Van Rooyen is of medium weight and average height, and was known as ‘Curly’ to her friends. Reports that she may have been spotted in the Cape Town suburb of Kuilsriver have yielded no results. Police are urging anyone who may assist with information on her whereabouts, or provide details that could secure her safe return, to contact the investigating officer at the Knysna Detective Branch, warrant officer James Visagie, on 073 335 0827 or Cheryl Britz of Knysna CPF on 082 574 9657.
George police probes murder of young woman EORGE SAPS opened a murder docket following the discovery of the half-naked body of a young woman in the early hours of September 17. Says SAPS spokesman captain Malcolm Pojie: “At about 2am on Thursday morning, members on patrol accosted two suspicious men along Nelson Mandela Boulevard near Buco. These men were found in possession of possible stolen property.
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“While being processed, they reported to the members that they had passed a body of a woman - presumably dead - that was lying close to the railway line. “Upon further investigation, they discovered the half-naked body of the woman lying on her stomach next to the railway track with her hands tied behind her back. She wore pink ski tights with a white t-shirt and had long pleated hair coloured blond.”
He added the possibility that she had been raped and strangled formed part of the murder investigation. * On Tuesday morning, Pojie advised that the deceased had been identified by her family as Chane Manuel, 23, of Parkdene. “We urge the community to contact W/O Jerome Malan on 044 803 4715 or 065 912 2850, in case they have information that could assist us in arresting those responsible for her death.”
Bitou Covid-19 tracing team declared top notch T has been six months since health workers across the land found themselves in new territory when the first Covid-19 case hit SA. Staff from the small sub-district of Bitou were not exempt from this challenge. Plett Town Clinic operational manager Sr Andelene Williams performed the town’s very first swab on March 20. “Early in 2020, Knysna Provincial Hospital’s management team asked us to start training all our staff and to allocate swab areas, form swab teams, create a new daily flow of patients, and familiarise ourselves with Covid-19. “As this was new to all of us, we studied the NICD protocols. So when the Covid-19 wave hit us, we were ready for it,” said Dr Anel Scholtz, who heads up Bitou’s contact tracing team. Comprising volunteers as well as NGO and health staff, this group put in many hours in preparation. Admittedly the first stretch was tough but they aimed to
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WE SALUTE YOU: From left are, at back, Sr Yvonne Samuels, Plett style icon Jamie Swartz, Nolunthu Makhonza and dietician Marié Uys, with occupational therapist Nicole McDonald and Dr Anel Scholtz in front
end each day complete: all results checked, all patients and contacts called, and all paperwork done. “No one was too busy or tired to lend an ear or give advice. This is not a one-man show; it can never be done on your own - teamwork is key,” said Dr Scholtz, adding that everyone at the Town Clinic’s Covid-19 office was in good spirits every day. Meeting many new people through company screenings and positive cases brought all team members - six clinic workers and the psychologists who worked from home - closer together. “Initially it was over-
whelming, but we survived every day and ended it with a smile because the support we had from the management team in Knysna was and still is amazing. “Amid the fun and laughter in the office, there was also the rude awakening of how many local residents are unemployed and live in overcrowded households. It inspired us to continue our focus on educating and counselling our people daily,’ said Dr Scholtz. W-Cape Health spokesman for the Garden Route, Nadia Ferreira expressed the province’s appreciation for the efforts of all staff.
BUSINESS
23 September 2020
CXPRESS
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Interest rate decision welcomed as first-time property buyers’ market booms HE South African Reserve Bank decision last week to retain the repo rate at 3.5% (home loan base rate at 7%) is welcome news, says Seeff Property Group chairman Samuel Seeff. Unlike the rest of the economy, the residential property sector has reaped the benefits of the aggressive rate cuts resulting in a first-time property buyer’s boom. The R5-million to R8-million market has also been buoyant, he says. There has been a mini coastal boom in areas targeted by semigration buyers, from Cape Town to Hermanus and Plettenberg Bay to the KZN North Coast. Those who are not moving permanently are setting up second homes where they can spend extended periods, the remote working trend being a major driver. The improved affordability and pent-up demand following the hard lockdown has boosted June to August sales to pre-Covid levels in many areas - some to the highest levels in years. This has resulted in a surprising uptick in prices,
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SEIZE THE DAY: Samuel Seeff urges buyers to take advantage of the lowest interest rate in more than five decades
with FNB reporting 2.8% year on year growth for August, from 1.8% in July. Properties are currently selling at some of the fastest rates in recent times, being within 11 weeks on average compared to 14 weeks in the second quarter. While the rates decision was expected following five aggressive rate cuts, Seeff says the significantly worse GDP data of a 51% y/y
contraction in the second quarter and weaker outlook for the year leaves room for SARB to provide a rate cut at the next meeting. This will be a vital stimulus to reignite the economy which, save for the residential property market, has not seen any major impact from the rate cuts. Looking ahead, Seeff cautions that we are in uncertain times. Although there has been a number of high value property sales, the luxury and investment sectors remain muted despite the good stock and relatively competitive pricing. These buyers are anxious to first see a return of confidence, decisive action on corruption - including arrests - and economic policy aimed at growth rather than debt accumulation. In the meantime, buyers are able to take advantage of the lowest interest rate in over five decades. The positive activity in the market paves the way for more movement and new stock to come onto the market. Developers may also consider coming back if this is sustained, he concludes.
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CXPRESS
INTERVAL
23 September 2020
Bad luck pirate WO pirates, Morty and Sol, meet in a bar. Sol has a patch over one eye, a hook for a hand, and a wooden peg leg. “Ye gads, matey,” says Morty. “What happened to ya?” Sol says: “Me pirate ship was attacked and a lucky shot lopped off me leg. So now I got me a wooden peg.” “And yer hand?” asks Morty.
“When me ship sank, a shark bit me hand off. So now I got me a hook.” “Ok, but what’s with the eye patch?” “I was standin’ on a dock, and the biggest seagull I ever saw pooped right in me eye.” “But ya don’t go blind from no seagull poop,” says Morty. “That’s true,” says Sol. “But it was me first day with the hook.”
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Dave, a scientist, walks into a pharmacy and says: “Give me some prepared tablets of acetylsalicylic acid.” “Do you perhaps mean aspirin?” asks the pharmacist. Dave slaps his forehead. “That’s it! I can never remember the name.”
Converting a bear priest, a minister, and a rabbi want to see who’s best at his job. So they each go into the woods, find a bear, and attempt to convert it. Later they get together, and the priest begins: “When I found the bear, I read to him from the Catechism and sprinkled him with holy water. Next week is his First Communion.”
“I found a bear by the stream,” says the minister, “and preached God’s holy word. The bear was so mesmerised that he let me baptise him.” They both look down at the rabbi, who is lying on a gurney in a body cast. “Looking back,” the rabbi says, “perhaps I should not have started with the circumcision.”
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ON THE SOAPBOX
23 September 2020
Letters to the Editor
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
Fairview Racecourse and Clicks attacks could open flood gates to anarchy Last week’s attack on horses at Fairview Racecourse in Port Elizabeth is barbaric, sickening, and simply beyond belief. Sadly, for the perpetrators of such acts, any sympathy that people may have had for their cause is now lost. To make matters worse, the national authority’s approach - and particularly the inept handling of
the EFF attack on Clicks stores by the police force - has set the tone for general disorder to break out. From all accounts the EFF had a free hand to destroy and damage whatever they liked, from breaking shop windows to overturning shelves and intimidating customers. Clicks then exacerbated the situation by bending the knee to the EFF and
offering a number of concessions, thus handing the moral high ground to these so-called freedom fighters. So it would appear that any group, whether disgruntled workers or a political cluster, can damage whatever they like and generally cause mayhem without incurring the slightest of negative consequences. Who is next on the list for
invasion with impunity? These episodes are reminiscent of the behaviour of the Brownshirts in Nazi Germany and the infamous Fifth Brigade in Zimbabwe back in 1987. Our authorities need to act quickly and decisively to put a stop to this rising anarchy, otherwise the future of South Africa looks ominous to say the least. Kevin Meineke, Plett
To pay or not to pay for disposal of garden refuse… I thought I should share the following bit of advice with CXPRESS readers based in Plettenberg Bay: Recently, workers at the gate of the garden dumping site on the N2 have told me that ALL
Sparkling waters contrast with elegant silhouettes Plettenberg Bay resident Martin Hurwitz shared this haunting photograph of flamingos on the lagoon, saying he tried to capture “a different view of our visitors”. Your attempt was attained with aplomb, Mr Hurwitz.
cars were now expected to pay for the privilege of ridding themselves of garden refuse, and that a lady had been appointed at the weighbridge to collect the money. Well, we went to the municipal offices that
very morning and were told this was not the case. Apparently they have a list at the site of who should pay and who not, and private people are not expected to fork out for this purpose. PS: Subsequently, my
better half went to dump and was told it was still free for private individuals to dispose of their garden refuse. I suspect the guy at the gate was hoping I had cash on me! Gobsmacked Gardener, Plett
CXPRESS
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23 September 2020
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