30 September 2020 by CXpress

30 September 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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Rescuers show their mettle

Rendezvous with Mr Roets - p2

Electricity fees explained - p4

Bridge trumps lockdown - p7

Photo: Berend Maarsingh - NSRI Knysna

The Heritage Day long weekend started off with sunny skies that lured water babies and adventurers to beaches and inland bodies of water all along the Garden Route. Knysna NSRI Station 12 crew members are pictured here in the process of taming new rescue craft Katharine - read the back story at www.cxpress.co.za and turn to page 3 for a report on Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tragedy at Storms River.

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

30 September 2020

Pizza, ‘Pawpaw’, and 15 minutes of fame in the offing at Emily Moon tomorrow night EGENDARY film director Koos Roets will be on hand to introduce the screening of his award-winning film ‘n Pawpaw vir my Darling at Emily Moon River Lodge on Thursday October 1 - the offering including this popular establishment’s delectable pizzas for all guests, and an opportunity to engage with the director. Of equal importance is that the evening will serve as fundraising and celebratory event for a new film being produced in Plett, where Roets will be on a location scout for his next film entitled Ikhapara Hop - a human drama based in Kranshoek. A pivotal part of the film will be the traditional riel (Ikhapara) and modern hip hop dance genres as crucial cultural symbols. They will also form the backdrop against which the story of tragedy, reconciliation, and triumph plays out. Local impresario and producer Marius Murths has been at the forefront of the initiative and the drive to raise funds for the short film, which will serve as a pilot to raise finance for a full-length feature. Bitou Municipality and Plett Tourism are in full support of the project and have pledged a grant in aid.

KEEP IT SIMPLE… that is Koos Roets’s advice for first-time writers and filmmakers who would like to share their stories - learn more when this screen veteran regales his Plett audience at Emily Moon River Lodge

Throughout his career which started in 1962, Koos Roets has been involved in more than 150 productions as director of photography, director, scriptwriter or producer and his name has featured 35 times among the nominees of various awards of which he’s won a total of 33. The hilarious ‘n Pawpaw vir my Darling (2015) touches on every South African foible and funny bone that could be tickled by only-in-our-country neighbourhood stories. And an informal

chat with its director around the James Room kaggel is an opportunity not to be missed. Tables at Emily Moon’s James Room are available for two, four or eight guests on October 1 from 5-9pm. Tickets at R200 per person include a welcome drink (cash bar), pizza to order, the film and a gesellige evening with Koos Roets. Visit pletttourism.com to secure your seat. This is your moment… If you have ever longed for that 15 minutes of fame, per-

haps now is your chance: Plett Tourism will auction off an opportunity for you to appear in the film Ikhapara Hop! Bidding will start at the Emily Moon evening, and the highest offer will be taken forward to an online platform as opening bid. Bidding will only be open for a week, and all proceeds will go directly to the production budget of Ikhapara Hop. And you, as the highest bidder, alongside many movie luminaries, will be immortalised on the silver screen.

NEWS & VIEWS

30 September 2020

CXPRESS

Province cautions Bitou against being ‘economical with truth’ on housing

There has been finger-pointing between Bitou Municipality and the Western Cape Human Settlements department over a housing project underway in Qolweni, following protest action by disgruntled Plettenberg Bay residents last week - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports HE riots led to the national road at Qolweni near the CBD being closed after protesters burnt tyres on the road and pelted passing vehicles with rocks throughout Tuesday night September 22 and during Wednesday morning.

The unrest finally ended following a meeting between Bitou deputy mayor Sandiso Gcabayi and Qolweni residents on Wednesday afternoon. “These protests were largely due to the housing development in Ward 3.

The members of the community raised a concern that they are not informed about the progress of this project. “They were not happy that the project seems to happen at a very slow pace,” municipal spokesman Andile Namntu said.

During the meeting with the residents, Gcabayi gave a full update on the progress of the project and indicated that the tender process to appoint a contractor was in its final stages. “It is only for the Western Cape provincial department of Human Settlements to give the go-ahead in terms of budget.” However, WC departmental spokesman Marcellino Martin said that this was not the case. “The statement by Bitou

Municipality, that they are waiting on the provincial department of Human Settlements to give the go ahead in terms of budget for this project, is false. “We can categorically state that on September 18, we received email correspondence from Bitou Municipality where advice was sought. An internal departmental meeting was convened and on September 23, after due consideration, we replied via email to the municipality.

“It is also critical to note that it is the local authority’s responsibility to regularly keep its residents informed with facts, and to never be economical with the truth,” Martin said. Bitou is set to provide further feedback to the community this week. Garden Route Media • As this edition went to print, the N2 had just been reopened after yet another night of riots that necessitated closure of the highway near Qolweni.

Body of river guide recovered from Storms River URING the early evening of Saturday September 26, duty crew members of NSRI Plett were among those who responded to assist the police at Storms River Mouth after nine paddlers - two river guides and seven guests - had been reported overdue after setting off downriver on rafts. Explained NSRI Oyster Bay station commander Lodewyk van Rensburg: “On arrival on the scene, eight of the nine paddlers had arrived at the rendezvous location. They described how one of the two river guides had fallen into the water further upriver. “He was reportedly re-

STRONG SWIMMER: Bramwell loved water and was very familiar with the Storms River area, according to his father Henry Walter Damons. He spoke to CXPRESS while en route to Port Elizabeth, where he hoped that a post-mortem would shed some light on the shock death of his eldest son during a river-guiding session on Saturday. Bramwell is also survived by two sisters, Sherlaine Juries en LeeAnn Botha, brother Aden Cunningham, and his eightyear-old daughter Tamlyn.

covered by the group who performed bystander CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts for an extended period of time, but sadly the guide could not be revived.”

An operation to recover the body of the man, identified as 31-year-old Bramwell Damons from Storms River Village, was arranged and took place from first light on Sunday morning.

“Our duty crew assisted the SAPS, a police dive unit, SANParks rangers and Eastern Cape Government Health Forensic Pathology Services (GHFPS) to recover the body, which was then taken into the care of GHFPS. The police has opened an inquest docket,” said Van Rensburg. The NSRI conveyed its condolences to the Damons family, and SANParks spokesman for this section of Garden Route National Park, Nandi Mgwadlamba, said: “We are saddened by the incident. It is heart-breaking to lose a guide who worked for one of our top concessionaires in the park.”

REMAINS RETRIEVED: Sea Rescue and police diving crews were part of the search and retrieval outfits involved after river guide Bramwell Damons tragically died during a paddle down Storms River over the weekend - Photo: NSRI

Row, row, row your roof…

Bitou’s new fleet of vehicles to enhance service delivery Mayor Peter Lobese, pictured at centre, believes that the new fleet of vehicles acquired by Bitou Municipality will make a positive impact on service delivery to all residents of the greater Plettenberg Bay. During the unveiling of the fleet earlier this month, Lobese said that old and broken vehicles hampered the delivery of essential services, thus the move to acquire the new equipment. The municipality had already received the first consignment of the fleet in August, reporting at the time that it was acquired on a three-year lease worth R15-million. These vehicles and plant machinery will be utilised by Bitou’s Integrated Waste, Water and Sanitation, and Roads departments. Finance Portfolio chairman Mphakamisi Mbali concurred with the mayor and added it was money well spent, because it strengthened a critical need in the municipality. Municipal manager Lonwabo Ngoqo also welcomed the equipment, saying it would go a long way in the municipality’s ongoing quest to deliver excellent services.

A Knysna man was assisted after he swam to retrieve the roof of his day-cruiser, which was reportedly blown off the boat while on the lagoon last Friday. Said NSRI Knysna station commander Jerome Simonis: “At 5:01pm our duty crew were activated following eye-witness reports of an unidentified object afloat on Knysna Lagoon and drifting towards The Heads. The object was described as possibly being the wing of an aeroplane, or the upturned hull of a boat, adrift in strong westerly winds. We launched our sea rescue jet-rib Katharine and, on arrival on the scene, found a local man who had swum out to what was identified as the roof of his day-cruiser boat. He was taken on board and a towline established to prevent the roof from drifting further out to sea. The rescue craft Jaytee IV was then used to tow the roof to shore, where it was secured next to our sea rescue station.” It appears the crew on board the day-cruiser alerted the owner that its roof had blown away and was drifting towards The Heads. He had arrived on the shore and swam out to the roof to attach a towline, but his attempt to return to shore was thwarted by strong winds blowing the large roof further out towards The Heads.

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

30 September 2020

Super staff display their proud heritage On Heritage Day, September 24, staff members of SuperSpar at Mellville’s Corner in Plettenberg Bay commemorated the occasion by wearing traditional dress. At left from left at back are Ziyanda Gxokonyeka, Bongiwe Diko, Nonkosi Gungulu, Janique Meswatie, Megan Matroos, Ruelle Preissex, Pamella Kondlo, Welile Mbali and Nandipha Mtshoko, with Michael Mgcuwe, Sandra McCallum, Ncumisa Tonisi, and Brendy Soyisile in front. At right are, from left, Zimkhita Sawule, Vuyokazi Kaleni, and Devia Cola. - Timothy Twidle

Do you know how much you pay for electricity, and how it is charged? Dave Gyngell

OTH Knysna and Bitou municipalities have a ‘basic charge’ depending on how much power is requested (e.g. 30, 40, 60 amps) irrespective of whether the electricity is

used or not. Electrical energy - which is different to power - is sold by the kilowatt-hour or unit, using the Inclining Block Tariff (IBT) method: the more one uses, the higher the cost per unit. The municipal accounts

of consumers who are not on prepaid meters will show the number of units used in each IBT block. For example, a consumer using 630 units in the month will be charged as per Table 1. Account consumers’ IBT starts on the date of the last

Table 1

Table 2

meter reading, whereas prepaid consumers’ accounts start at the beginning of every month. In Bitou, if R600 electricity is bought at the beginning of the month one obtains 50 Block 1 units for R58.56. This leaves R541.44 (of the R600) for Block 2, giving 300 units at a cost of R456.47 so still leaves R84.97 (of the R600) for 39 units in Block 3. A total of 389 units is thus received for your R600. If a further R500 electricity is bought during this same month one will obtain 211 units (to bring the total units purchased in Block 3 to 600), and 13 units in Block 4. Total number of units bought will be 613. If further units are

bought in this month, they will charged at R2.64 per unit, so R100 will buy you 38 units. Table 2 illustrates this explanation. In Knysna, prepaid consumers must contend with the basic charge, which is calculated on a daily basis and varies according to the power supply provided, e.g. for a 30-amp 1-phase power supply, the charge is R2.85 per day. Thus, if R600 electricity is purchased and the previous purchase was 10 days earlier, then R28.50 (10 x R2.85) will be the basic charge, leaving R571.50 available to buy additional electricity units. This can have significant cost implications when, for example, a consumer did not buy any electricity for a whole year: the basic cost will be R1,040.25 (viz. 365 x R2.85) before any units are received. Table 3 indicates the basic

charges for electricity, pertaining to the municipality providing the infrastructure and maintaining its network. The above refers to normal residential electricity supplies. Indigent residents in Bitou receive a 30-amp power supply, and a 20amp supply in Knysna. These are calculated by prepaid meters with no basic charge, and they receive 50 free units per month (paid by the government). There are other tariffs that apply to commercial and bulk users. In future articles, these aspects will be highlighted, as will energy saving measures. • Dave Gyngell has served as Electrical Engineering manager in both Bitou and Knysna for a period of four years (last secondment ended in February 2019) and as a result he has a firm understanding of electrical costs charged.

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Playing trump games CIENTISTS recently did a study on the effects the right side and left side of a brain had on counting. They first took out the left half of a man’s brain and asked him to count to 10. He said: “2, 4, 6, 8, 10.” They put the left half back in and removed the right half, asking the man to count to 10 again. He said: “1, 3, 5, 7, 9.” Finally, they decided to just go for it and removed the whole brain. They asked the man to count to 10 one more time. He replied: “Look. I’m

great at counting to 10, ok? I love numbers and I have the best numbers. No one has better numbers than I do. My 4th grade math teacher - and let me tell you, she was the best and smartest math teacher in the country at the time - my 4th grade math teacher said to me that I am the best counter she’s ever seen. The best. So if you want me to count to 10, let me tell you I can count to 10, alright. That’s no problem. I will do it. I will. And I will do it better than anyone has ever done it before, ok?”

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• FUTURISTIC - There’s no other reason why it looks the way it does. • REDESIGNED - All the previous flaws are fixed. We hope. • DIRECT SALES ONLY - The factory had a big argument with the distributor. • YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT - We finally got one to work. • BREAKTHROUGH We finally figured out a use for it. • MAINTENANCE FREE - Impossible to fix. • SOLID-STATE - Heavy as anything! • MEETS ALL STANDARDS - Ours, not yours. • HIGH RELIABILITY - We made it work long enough to ship it. 3

Sjoe, ek is nou moeg geswem

Ek gaan so bietjie hier op die walrus

The coat snatcher man is on trial for stealing an overcoat. The judge gets straight to the point: “Did you steal this man’s overcoat?” he demands. “No sir,” the defendant replies with a grin. “I was just playing a joke on him.” “And where did you take

the coat?” asks the judge. “I removed it from the coat rack in the restaurant and carried it home with me.” “Guilty!” snaps the judge. “Guilty! Guilty of what?” asks the defendant. “Guilty of carrying a joke too far!” says the judge.

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C U O S HON E S O I L P U T Y O P E OY D I S A T U R A T E

U P K I O E T R U E T P A L P O S Y N

Why does my wife always wait until I’m at the opposite end of the house before asking me to “Merm frner mernferr brnerfer”?

INTERVAL

30 September 2020

L D I D B I ME V L E P L R E S E D I ON S N H GO T

ON THE SOAPBOX

30 September 2020

Letters to the Editor

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

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

Heavy traffic in residential Plett questioned I wonder if some kind soul can put me out of my misery. Has anyone noticed the huge increase of superlarge trucks proceeding along Robberg Road late at night? The noise factor in a residential area is one

thing, but surely of more concern is the fact that this particular road surface was never designed to take these loads. On top of this, there is supposed to be a curfew á la COVID! Curiosity killed the cat, but I’ll take

my chances… Pensive John, Plett (Your query has been sent to Bitou Traffic for a response, John, but in anticipation of our local authority’s feedback we can but surmise that ongoing riots on the N2 at Plett’s

westerly entrance have regularly necessitated the diversion of all traffic, super-large trucks included, along the airport road, in order to avert damage to vehicles and drivers travelling along the N2 during the riots. - Eds.)

Sparrowhawk captured in its southernmost surrounds Derek Frielinghaus of Plett shared these photos of a male sparrowhawk spotted through the bedroom window of his Pendeen Crescent home on September 9. “It’s called a little sparrowhawk (Accipiter minullus) as opposed to other family members, including black and red-legged sparrowhawks,” he explained. According to Wikipedia, this lovely specimen captured by Derek’s camera occurs in eastern and southern sub-Saharan Africa, from Ethiopia to the Democratic Republic of Congo and northern Angola, and south as far as SA’s Western Cape Province. A species of Afrotropical bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, the little sparrowhawk can often be found in patches of woodland and scrub, and typically along river valleys, while drier climes provide habitats such as fynbos and grassland, as well as suburban gardens.

Local bridge players go online to trump lockdown limitations Despite having been locked down (and locked out of our clubhouse) for the last few months, Plett Bridge Club has been operating at close to full strength. In fact, our numbers were swelled by Knysna bridge players. We have been grateful that Bridge Base Online (BBO) enabled us to continue playing this amazing game. Because we did not have a BBO hosting licence, initially we could not play duplicate bridge. Instead, John Gibson arranged for us to play teams competitions on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Paula Grobbelaar and Vanessa Hickey took care

of entries and all the red tape that goes along with running competitions. We now have a licence and hope to start playing pairs in October on Wednesday afternoons, while teams will still be catered for on both afternoons. Our bridge committee has worked exceptionally hard to make a success of this venture, and we have all had to become more technologically savvy. We have continued our league matches against Knysna and George, while a growing number of players have been participating in interclub competitions. Knysna and George entered a team in the Med-

win interprovincial competition and a Plett team competed in the Berkowitz Interprovincial, where we did ourselves proud. In October, both Plett and Knysna teams will participate in the SAWBA Interprovincials. We have even occasionally entered teams into competitions against clubs in other countries! Since we did not have hosting rights, we were not charged for playing in these competitions. Instead, because we were concerned that we would not be able to hold our annual charity day bridge drive, we asked everyone to donate their usual playing fees towards this

year’s chosen charity. We also held our online bridge drive at a much-reduced fee. People opened their hearts and wallets and we are thrilled that we have been able to donate R45,000 to the Kids of Kurland programme. It is unfortunate that some of our regular players have been unable to participate in our competitions as they do not have an internet connection or the equipment required. We look forward to returning to normal play once it is safe to do so. Dianne Klette, Plett (Readers interested to get involved can email Dianne at diklette@gmail.com for details. - Eds.)

P MC

CXPRESS

30 September 2020

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