The Village NEWS 9 Jan - 15 Jan 2019

9 JANUARY 2019

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#BettysBayFire

The devastating fire that has been raging out of control near Betty’s Bay since New Year’s Day has still not been brought fully under control and more than 7 500 ha of fynbos have been destroyed. The communities of Betty’s Bay and Pringle Bay are demanding tough action against the man accused of starting the fire after settting off a flare at midnight. Shelton April of Mooiuitsig appeared in the Caledon Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon. He is facing one count of contravening the National Environmental Management Act and the court heard that two more charges could be brought against him. The matter has been postponed until next Monday for the Director of Public Prosecutions to finalise issues regarding his bail proceedings and for a complete charge sheet to be drawn up. He will remain in police custody. The discharge of fireworks and flares has been banned in the Overstrand for the past two years. Read more on P 5.

PHOTO: Justin Sullivan, Sullivan Photography

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9 January 2019

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Muted but successful season for Overstrand Writer De Waal Steyn

T

he bells jingled, the stockings were filled and another rotation of earth around the sun was celebrated with joy and happiness as the Cape Whale Coast successfully hosted thousands of visitors for the summer holidays.

Although the peak holiday season started later than normal this year, mainly due to the shorter school holidays, accommodation establishments, restaurants, wine farms and other businesses all reported brisk trade during the last few weeks.

Restaurants: “I was pleasantly surprised by the season, even though trade during the first three weeks of December was extremely slow. By the 20th we were filled to capacity daily and the trend continued straight through to the first week in January,” said Rayno Rabie of Betty Blue in the CBD. His sentiments were echoed by Rick Oosthuizen of Tapas above the Old Harbour. “After what can be described as a challenging year, we were delighted by the number of visitors to our restaurant. Although it was quieter than normal and we did not have the usual rush of younger people, especially students, early in December, we can still say we had a good season. In total, trade is down by about 10%, but one must consider that last year we had a good season and the year before was one of the best the town had ever seen. In the current economic climate, we are happy,” said Rick.

Rudolf van der Berg of Burgundy says the restaurant had its best day ever on 31 December. “It was extremely hard work, but it was an amazing day in terms of trade. I have to thank my staff for putting in the effort and making not only that day, but the whole season a success. We are in the fortunate position that the restaurant is an iconic venue and throughout the holidays there were queues of people waiting to be seated.”

New products on offer such as De Vette Mossel at Prawn Flats, The Wine Glass, together with their Chill Guru sightseeing bus, Hemel-en-Aarde Brewery, the splash water park at

Benguela Cove, summer carnival rides in Kleinmond and the Jolly Rooster Fynbos Distillery in Stanford helped to increase the variety on offer for visitors, and reported good trade.

Events and activities: Cape Whale Coast Tourism Manager Frieda Lloyd said overall the season was successful. “The shorter school holidays did have an impact, but the weather was perfect for beachgoers and all the activities and events were well attended.

“There was no shortage of events and activities and the increased number of Christmas Markets in the region were all well supported. Rotary’s Carols by Candlelight filled Hermanus Old Harbour to capacity, Hermanus First Fridays Artwalk raised a record amount for local charities, Stanford-based activities and events were well attended with the three music concerts at Stanford Hills almost sold out.

“Gansbaai ended the year on a high note with an exceptional Danger Point Half Marathon on 31 December.

Athletes stayed over in bigger numbers than before and similarly the Penguin March and Lomond Triathlon raised the stakes and indicated that visitors are keen to stay active while on holiday. There was also a definite upturn in requests for hiking routes.”

In Kleinmond the beaches were full of cheerful sunseekers and the Boonzaaier’s annual Christmas lights in 15th Avenue were a definite highlight for visitors and locals. The 'Hot Summer of Touch' touch rugby series sported 47 teams and not even the bad weather could dampen the spirit.

Accommodation: Hermanus Tourism received enquiries for accommodation throughout December, with mostly families looking for last-minute lodgings. Gansbaai and Hangklip-Kleinmond’s tourism offices echoed this trend.

As has been the case the last few years, self-catering accommodation was most popular, with B&Bs and guest houses also reporting high occupancy rates. More expensive

accommodation options and hotels were not fully booked but did report vacancy levels of less than 10%.

"We need to make every effort to ensure that the coming year is a successful one for tourism, our communities and our economy" Wine and wineries: Paul du Toit celebrated his 20th December at Hermanus Wine Village and was pleasantly surprised, with a season that started earlier than expected in the first week of the month.

This iconic business with its extensive selection of South African wines welcomed more international visitors than the previous season.

“Clients attributed their reason for visiting us to the power of word-ofmouth marketing and they came looking for our unique selection of wines and the gin and brandy tastings that their friends spoke of. There was a 50% split between foreign visitors driving through for the day and those staying over.

“It certainly helps that the Wine Village is open seven days a week, with extended hours ensuring that customers don’t arrive at a closed door,” said Paul.

Similarly, Creation Wines prepared for the influx by opening four sittings to wine enthusiasts. They were also open throughout the week and extended their trading hours during the season to 19:00.

Hermanuspietersfontein reported a better season than last year with an increased number of visitors from the Free State and Mpumalanga, as

opposed to drawing visitors mainly from Gauteng as in the past. Wine tastings were free during December which was a definite drawcard in an industry that has moved towards charging for tastings.

Both police and Fidelity ADT confirmed that Fernkloof was targeted, with an increase in both attempted and committed burglaries in the area.

An upsurge in burglaries in the CBD was also reported.

Benguela Cove was busy, with many options for those arriving at this new Hermanus cellar. Most other wineries experienced quieter trading with the usual rush limited to a few days only.

An unintended consequence of the establishment of the informal settlements of Marikana and Dubai in the suburb of Zwelihle has been a spike in serious crime during the holiday period, according to SAPS. Although no official statistics may be released at this time for the second half of December, two murders, one attempted murder, two rapes and two assaults with intent to do grievous bodily harm were recorded.

Retail: Andrea van Rensburg of the Whale Coast Mall said there was good foot traffic during the peak season, with especially the opening of Food Lover’s Market adding to the shopping experience.

“Although people tended to spend less than previously, they still took time out to pamper themselves and go out for lunch or dinner. The Whale Coast Theatre was especially busy and restaurant owners said they were satisfied,” said Andrea.

Wayne Castle of PnP said they had a bumper season and trade was higher than last year. “We are very happy, and we will continue to build on the good work of the past year. We are confident that the CBD will continue to offer a good mix of businesses for locals and visitors.”

Crime and traffic: As happens every season, there was a spike in crime in all areas of the Overberg, said security officials.

Police confirmed that there has been an increase in burglaries and theft across Hermanus. However, SAPS points out that at least 25% of the burglaries and theft reported were opportunistic, a result of holiday makers leaving doors and windows open or forgetting to put away bicycles in the evenings, for example, or leaving valuables in cars.

These trends were confirmed by Fidelity ADT, who said that during the December period they had 20 reported break-ins, which is normal for the month, but that general theft increased to 20 reported cases against a norm of 10 to 11 cases a month.

According to Xen Titus, Superintendent: Traffic Services, most road users abided by the law this year. “We had a busy, but thankfully uneventful season. The awareness campaigns to warn drivers against drunk driving and the roadblocks we held, were successful. There was only one fatality on our roads early in December and 14 accidents.

“We operated 88 checkpoints where the drivers of 1 407 unlicensed vehicles were fined, together with 217 drivers who did not have licenses.

The highest traffic count was on 27 December between 12:00 and 13:00 when 1 573 cars entered Hermanus.”

According to Frieda, this year will see a longer summer school holiday of almost seven weeks at the end of this year. "We can only hope that the downward trend in petrol prices will continue to bring more people to our area and have them stay longer.

“Nationally and locally the start of the New Year offers us an opportunity to move forward positively. For the Cape Whale Coast the season is not over.

We look forward to focussing on our regional market and the international visitors who will be returning shortly, as they do every year towards the end of January.

"We need to make every effort to ensure that the coming year is a successful one for tourism, our communities and our economy,” said Frieda.

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9 January 2019

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From dream to reality: leading from the front Writer & Photographer Elaine Davie

F

ire-fighters are Grant Cohen’s heroes and if he had the courage, he says he would be up there with them fighting the fires in the mountains above Betty’s Bay. Grant is the Overstrand Ward 9 Councillor, based in Kleinmond. In fact, many members of his community would describe him as a man with fire in the belly for transforming Kleinmond into a winning town.

And he’s not just a dreamer either; he’s out there getting his hands dirty in every aspect of Kleinmond’s lived reality.

“If I haven’t been on patrol with members of the Neighbourhood Watch, or been on a camp with some of our local kids, or spent a day in a wheelchair, how can I truly know what it feels like, or understand what the triumphs or challenges are for the people involved,” he comments.

“Most of the barriers we build between ourselves are based on fear and misperceptions; I want to break them down. Together, we can build the economy of this town, turning it into a tourist destination in its own right, whilst at the same time preserving the very special, laid-back, friendly vibe which has attracted holiday-makers for decades. We can’t afford to have people sitting on the sidelines as spectators anymore; we need every single citizen to get involved, sharing their time and expertise to turn this dream into a real success story.”

But who is this young man who arrived unannounced in Kleinmond seven years ago for a holiday and stayed for good? Originally from Durbanville, he was a laatlammetjie with two older sisters, the product of both Jewish and Italian Catholic ancestry. English is his mother tongue, but he is fluent in Afrikaans and has a love of languages. In fact, despite his punishing work load, Grant is currently teaching himself Italian and Portuguese online and is in the process of setting up an isiXhosa course for himself and other Kleinmond

residents early in 2019.

After living in London for a couple of years, he came back to this country and worked in Johannesburg as a copywriter before taking the life-changing decision to settle in Kleinmond. Although he had always been interested in politics, he had never visualised himself as an active politician. Then he joined the DA and became its Overstrand Youth Leader.

The more he associated with the young people and experienced their difficult circumstances, the more he realised that he wanted to make a far greater contribution not only to their welfare, but to that of the wider community as well.

Very reluctantly, he was persuaded to consider making himself available for nomination as a ward councillor for the 2016 Local Government elections. “The applications had to be in by midnight on a certain date,” he remembers. “I was still dithering when someone from the DA selection committee called me at 11 that night and conducted an interview over the phone. After a lengthy short-listing process, to my amazement, I was selected as the DA’s candidate for Ward 9.”

On being voted into office, Grant immediately threw himself body, mind and soul into his new job. Not only was he determined to demonstrate his own commitment to the welfare of the community, but he persuaded his mother, his one sister and her daughter to also relocate to the town (his sister is currently Chairperson of Kleinmond Animal Welfare – KAWS).

The past two years have been a roller-coaster ride for this ball of fire.

Comments on his facebook page indicate how impressed people of all communities in the town are with his achievements and his caring attitude.

He goes out of his way to engage as many individuals and organisations as he can; he wants them to know that he is always available to deal with any issue they may have; he wants them to offer constructive

suggestions for improvements to the town and he wants them to get personally involved.

With so many balls in the air, it’s amazing that Grant is able to keep his eye on all of them simultaneously.

The secret is probably that the multitude of initiatives have one theme in common: the economic growth of the town through a focused tourism policy.

As Grant is quick to point out, the area has been gifted with so much natural beauty that all that’s needed is to highlight its unique identity and expand the opportunities the environment offers. Adventure tourism is very much in the ascendancy and with Kleinmond’s location in the Kogelberg Biosphere, there are endless possibilities to be explored, even the potential to establish a training school for adventure tour guides.

"If I haven’t been on patrol with members of the Neighbourhood Watch, or been on a camp with some of our local kids, or spent a day in a wheelchair, how can I truly know what it feels like" A major priority is the development of the beach and lagoon area, using this as a starting point for the general beautification and revitalisation of the business hub and Main Road, including the introduction of several wheelchair-friendly facilities. The Municipal Planning Department is

already preparing a feasibility report which will be presented to the public of Kleinmond for discussion.

Grant emphasises that no action will take place without the buy-in of the town’s residents. There is another aspect of tourism enhancement that he’s passionate about. “We don’t have a single site to honour the fisher folk and other early pioneers of our area; we must find a creative way of marking the contribution they made to the establishment of this town.”

Behind this drive for development is, of course, the demand for job opportunities, especially for young people. This, in turn implies the need for appropriate training. The lack of a local high school in the town is still top of the agenda and discussions with the Education Department are ongoing, but Grant himself feels that a school of skills would be even more valuable.

In the meantime, after protracted discussions with the West Coast Tvet College, they have agreed to place a number of Kleinmond learners from Grade 9 upwards in the boarding facilities at their five campuses. Grant himself collected applications from youngsters in the area and is extremely excited that between 30 and 50 of them are likely to be enrolled for a variety of really useful courses this year. “I want them to dream again and never to give up on their dreams,” he says. “Old and young, we all have so much to offer; each one of us has a valuable contribution to make.”

It’s easy to be captivated by Grant’s wide-ranging plans for the future of

Kleinmond.

From the erection of crime-prevention cameras, to hooking the whole town up to the waterborne sewerage grid, to sorting out problems with refuse collection, the establishment of a new cemetery and the integration of all the sporting activities in the town, nothing is too small or insignificant for Grant’s attention. Overriding everything is his desire to unite all sectors of the community around a common purpose.

He has enormous appreciation for his ward committee, which is becoming increasingly representative of the entire community and works very hard to bring as many residents as possible into full and active participation in decision-making and voluntary service. “At first they only came to public meetings if they were angry about something, now they come to provide constructive input,” he says.

“This is an incredibly close-knit community; when I see how they rally round to provide support in an emergency, like the recent fires, I am filled with admiration. It’s the ordinary, simple things that give me so much encouragement – a positive comment on my facebook page, seeing the children of all our communities playing together – these are what re-ignites the fire. I want to see Kleinmond become a pace-setter for all the communities of the Overstrand. We’ve only just begun; watch this space.”

Grant Cohen can be contacted on 072 436 9068 or e-mail grantcohen25@gmail.com Facebook: @grantkleinmond

9 January 2019

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Devastating fire still burning out of control in places Writer De Waal Steyn

W

e were standing on our stoep welcoming in the new year when suddenly a red flare pierced the darkness. We all watched with bated breath as it floated down into the fynbos. It was as if we and all our neighbours were holding our collective breaths, when suddenly bright orange and red flames sprang up,” relates Betty’s Bay resident and founder of the Betty’s Bay Community Group, Elke Pittersberger.

“After my heart sank into my shoes, we all jumped into action and started liaising with the fire brigade to assist in trying to douse the rapidly-spreading fire. From the start, residents and visitors jumped in to assist where they could and, ever since, the firefighting efforts have become a community project,” says Elke.

As the various firefighting units from the Overstrand Municipality, the Greater Overstrand Fire Protection Association and other volunteer firefighting organisations hurried to the scene, community members jumped into action and started collecting donations of food, water and energy drinks for the men and woman fighting the blaze in the scorching heat.

PHOTO: Justin Sullivan, Sullivan Photography

Firefighters at the Joint Operations Centre in Betty's Bay (below) working on an incident action plan to prevent the spread of the blaze to the plantations in the Steenbras catchment area. More than 100 firefighters have been deployed since before dawn on New Year's Day.

“The Crassula Hall in town quickly turned into a hive of activity as tons of donations arrived and groups of residents started delivering aid to the firefighters while others jumped in and started preparing meals. It was wonderful to see such community spirit. When there was not enough space in the kitchen to prepare meals, people sat out in the hall on the floor peeling vegetables. Some people spent countless hours in their own kitchens helping to prepare enough meals for the more than 100 firefighters and other volunteers. No task was too small for these volunteers, even the simple task of keeping the toilets clean was done regularly,” says Elke.

According to Fire Chief Lester Smith, two structures were damaged and one fire truck was destroyed after it got stuck in the soft soil of a fire break that had been dug by a digger loader. “The firefighters were battling the blaze high up in the mountain and the wind suddenly changed direction, spreading excessive heat along the ground. The tyres of the truck caught fire and there was very little we could do to save the vehicle.”

the Steenbras catchment area and successfully halted it from spreading further into the Kogel Bay Basin.

Clarence Drive, however, remained closed and it is expected to remain closed for a few days more.

“Further good news is that the fire burned around the City of Cape Town Biodiversity Unit's offices and homes. The top of the fire has, however, crested into another part of the Steenbras catchment area and is still burning actively. All efforts are concentrated on preventing it from spreading along the top of the mountain ranges towards the plantations (Steenbras) and the Theewaterskloof Agricultural areas.

PHOTO: Justin Sullivan, Sullivan Photography

Teams of firefighters above Betty's Bay did well to contain the line in Disa Kloof but the back end of this fire line is still burning, and teams will be moved up to try and suppress it.

It has been reported that a Pringle Bay resident and mother of one of the firefighters died during the fire.

An inquest case was registered, and a post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death. At least three other people were injured.

By Tuesday, 8 January parts of the fire were still raging out of control.

According to a press release from the Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association, the overnight crews reported that Cape Town City Fire prevented the spread of the fire into

“The fire line at the Harold Porter Botanical Garden northwards into the western sector of the Kogelberg Nature Reserve is still uncontained,” according to the press release.

“An incident action plan has been drafted for critical operations in anticipation of Thursday's wind change and the possible spread of the fire into the opposite direction,” according to the FPA.

PHOTO: Supplied

Although fynbos is a fire-adapted vegetation, the ideal frequency for fires in the Kogelberg Nature Reserve is 17 years. Much of the fynbos that has burnt thus far is between 8 and

12 years old. The area where the fire is still burning is part of the strategic water source area and provides water for the Cape Metropole. Intense fires can decrease the rate of infiltration into the ground resulting in less runoff into the dams in the area.

A total of 120 fire fighters from Overstrand Municipality, Overberg District Municipality, FPA, Working on Fire, NCC Environmental Services, Volunteer Wildfire Services, CapeNature and City of Cape Town Fire Services are fighting the blaze. They are supported by the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, South African Police Service, Law Enforcement, Traffic Services, Wilderness Search and Rescue Western Cape and Western Cape Government Disaster Management Centre. There are 14 fire- fighting vehicles on the scene and 3 helicopters are being used.

Fire fighters in the Overberg have been on call non-stop since 25 December when a fire started in Karwyderskraal that destroyed close on 1 000 ha of fynbos.

Any donations can be dropped off at the Kleinmond Fire and Rescue offices on the corner of Buitekant and Voortrekker Streets or at Hermanus Fire and Rescue at 14 Mussel Street.

At the time of going to print it was uncertain whether the fire would be contained before the expected changes in the wind direction on Thursday.

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9 January 2019

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LET’S TALK

Healthy and robust debate are crucial for democracy. The Village NEWS firmly believes in freedom of the press as well as the right of individuals to freely express themselves, as long as they don’t infringe upon the rights of others. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors therefore do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Village NEWS. Enjoy our paper. - The Editorial Team

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The scourge of those bright blue, plastic trolleys

Betty's Bay salmon farm a risk for ecosystem

The day before Christmas I was sitting on a packed Kammabaai beach, contemplating my navel, trigonometry and life in Hermanus – as one does this time of the year.

Hermanus now catching up with world trends, albeit with a twist. In Hermanus the transport boon is in the form of free and abundant plastic shopping trolleys for load carrying.

It was wonderful to see all the visitors having fun in the sun. Right in front of me a young mother was fawning over her precocious toddler as the young lad dismantled his dirty nappy in the shallows. She laughingly skipped into the waves to pursue the stained doek, thoughtfully rinsing its contents to feed the blue-flagged mussels on Bird Rock.

The grateful beneficiaries include the whole community, but especially the homeless and jobless. Indigent bergies transport all their – and other people's – household contents from one public ablution spot to the next; the ubiquitous car washers transport their heavy water buckets from a freshly broken public irrigation source to the visitor parking areas; and all sorts of delivery staff, recyclers and food suppliers jump on the wagon, so to speak. I have seen kids and bricks and firewood being pushed around.

As a marine biologist and a full-time resident of Betty's Bay, I am concerned about the proposed landbased Atlantic salmon farm in our town. I have worked in two posts as an aquaculture project manager both in the UK and Ecuador, South America. I speak from direct experience.

The German family to my left must have been assembling materials for an abstract art project, as they were picking cigarette butts from the sand around their picnic blanket. They were celebrating a fruitful day out, quickly filling a plastic water bottle they found lying nearby.

Meanwhile a family pet in a reindeer collar, a free-range Labrador suppressing loud strains of adorable township brak, playfully deposited a steaming surprise adjacent to a piece of kelp at the high water mark.

A dangerously large man lowered his beer and stumbled over to cleverly kick a light dusting of sand over the fresh pile. This did not dampen the enthusiasm of the blowflies, but certainly conspired to heighten the fun of discovery for everyone else.

People are so thoughtful and caring!

Yet, despite these compelling distractions, my mind was on weightier matters. Every major world city now offers free and convenient clean-transport amenities to its citizens, from bicycles to electric scooters. These can be collected and deposited anywhere in a city.

But in Africa we devise African solutions. It is therefore great to see

As in first world cities, these vehicles can conveniently be grabbed anywhere and then simply dumped anywhere after use. A quick drive through the CBD will reveal these large vehicles handily displayed on Lemm's Corner and the surrounding museum areas, on pavements and in alleys, on the cliff path, and pushed into verges and gardens along all the main roads.

Specimens can be grabbed at tourist attractions as far away as Grotto Beach and the New Harbour, Hoy's Koppie and Fick's Pool. The pavement at the favourite hitch-hiker's spot (naturally just below the no-hitchhiking signs beyond The Marine circle in the main road) is by evening lined with trolleys awaiting new pushers.

Behind them, proudly displayed between the cannons, a bright blue and grey trolley forever imprinted itself on their memento of Hermanus. Good times! Perhaps the photo-bombing trolley can be pointed out to family back home as an ancient South African ammunition carrier? The trolley was still there when I cycled past the next morning, brightly advertising the retailer's brand and their dedication to public service.

It used to be that retailers selfishly intended shopping trolleys to be utilised exclusively by their customers to transport their goods in-store and out to their vehicle in the parking lot. With this new, liberal approach trolley-pushers are apparently encouraged to leave the premises, even to push on home and thereby saving the environment. Whatever costs are involved, the retailers admirably sacrifice their bottom line for the convenience of the great unwashed.

It appears that all the retailers are in on the action, but the store manager of the outlet that provides the blue and grey trolleys is by far the winner.

His, or her, key performance indicators surely include powerful incentives to set these trolleys free. The sprinkling of black and other trolleys do not even make single digits...

The question I pose is, therefore, whether this brand and its local manager receive the full recognition due to them? Or is this perhaps a public-private partnership encouraged by the Overstrand Municipality?

These bright blue obstacles – together with the pedestrians forced into the road – serve as very effective traffic calming measures. Everyone wins!

Whatever the case, nothing provides a splash of colour like a bright blue, plastic trolley lying on its side in the fynbos - which mainly flowers in winter anyway.

I recently watched a Dutch family posing for a lunch-time picture of themselves above the Old Harbour.

Viva!

MT Wessels, Eastcliff

The proposed farm is an RAS system, i.e. a Recirculating Aquaculture System. This is a high-density fish farming technique. It is claimed that it is a 'closed' system technique. This is not true as ocean water is used in the first place and there is a certain percentage of outfall which eventually re-enters the sea.

The principle threat is that disease and other pathogens, as well as antibiotic chemicals, will enter the wild ecosystem (a designated Marine Protected Area) causing a negative impact on the native species. We should be concerned about the spread of exotic viruses, such as piscine reovirus (PRV), ISA virus, and salmon alphavirus, for example, all pathogens that the industry is riddled with.

This impact cannot be accurately quantified or identified until it is too late, but must be considered a dangerous risk. Atlantic Salmon are alien to South African waters. The emphasis on mitigating ecosystem impact by the proposed project has almost entirely been focused on the native fynbos vegetation and, significantly, not on the effects on the marine system.

The two partners of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be commissioned are both highly trained terrestrial botanists but I can find little to zero experience that they have within the marine ecosystem.

In the bigger picture, who is there to control a breach anyway? Overt abalone poaching, a crime, is rife in

WEEKLY WEATHER & DE BOS DAM LEVELS

Betty's Bay. Who will test water quality reaching the ocean for pathogens?

Who will monitor wild outbreaks of disease? Who is qualified to do so?

Who will care? How can impact even be quantified? What is the timeframe of impact? How could blame be laid?

RAS systems by their nature require highly trained and dedicated staff to run the operation. This level of qualified staff, I believe, is not available in the local communities, precisely because there is no such farm to date. I question where the staff will come from. I question who exactly is the instigator behind the proposed salmon farm and who exactly is West Coast Salmon? What is his experience? What is his past track record in aquaculture? Who are on the board of directors? Who is funding this project? This needs to be investigated.

How do we measure the impact of increased commercial trucks on the main road? Has the eyesore impact been considered as we look out to sea on 'the most scenic drive in the world'? What about the fish offal waste from the plant? How will this be addressed? Will there be a fish factory smell affecting residents?

Things could go wrong with one simple breach of protocol within the farm. It doesn't take much and when it does happen, Betty's Bay and the surrounding coastline suffers impact.

You cannot undo that mistake.

I say that our area is too valuable to be put at risk, local employment opportunities are minimal, and permission should not be considered.

I see no reason why we should be the guinea pigs for a private entrepreneurial venture at our collective cost.

Pete Oxford The application for an EIA has subsequently been withdrawn. – Ed

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De Bos Dam 57.7%

WEEKLY TIDE TABLES High Low High Low

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Tides sourced by www.magicseaweed. com

9 January 2019

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www.thevillagenews.co.za

OPINION MATTERS Our little bit of good does make a difference "Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." – Desmond Tutu If the past week is any indication of the rest of 2019, then the Overberg is, at least metaphorically, going to overwhelm the world!

From every corner of our community, people of all faiths, colours and persuasions have come forward to do

A Far Kraai

their little bit of good while a devastating fire rages in the Betty’s Bay area.

Some have prepared meals, others have donated money, food, drinks and medical supplies. Some have even cleaned toilets. Accommodation has been provided for free. Many have put their own personal safety at risk working in teams high in the mountains.

Even those whose job it is to protect us have gone over and above the call of duty. No task has been too small. All of them are true heroes.

Collectively, all these little bits of good have overshadowed the single action of a foolhardy individual who, despite all the warnings, decided on New Year’s Eve to discharge a flare, setting off what will no doubt go down in history as one of the worst fires in our region. Already, well over 7 500 hectares of fynbos have been destroyed as the fire rages across three municipalities. One person has already died, and others have been injured.

No monetary figure will ever be high

enough to put a price on this destruction.

As our lives unfurl over the next weeks and months, let us not just remember and reflect upon the little bits of good that this disaster has unleashed in our community. No, to do so would be another tragedy. Let us rather be better than that. Instead, let us promise ourselves that this is just the beginning. Let us make a pact with ourselves that we will build upon the actions of those who have so selflessly given of themselves so far this year.

Let’s overwhelm the world!

This is the good NEWS - Ed

As we discussed last month, New Year’s Resolutions are a load of bollocks. Drunken promises of self-improvement are boldly blurted out to anyone within earshot, but they’re seldom kept, never mind remembered. Especially things like losing all that weight after the TV bingefest we recommended for the Xmas holidays.

Well, we hope you enjoyed it, but now it’s time to accept the inevitable – load shedding.

Paunchy guys cultivating holiday stubble on their jowls like a George Clooney five o'clock shadow aren’t camouflaging their double chins at all – nobody’s fooled. And gals, what about that third buttock that snuck up behind you, but won’t squeeze back into your bloomers with the regular two? Well, relax. Help is at hand with our scientifically proven weight-loss routine, which addresses food habits while fine-tuning both body and mind.

To get the ball rolling, purge your stomach of any solids. A few mugs of warm laxative each morning will ensure you also flush those interleading pipes of any old leftovers.

Recommended ‘opening medicines’ include Evacu-Lax, Kleen-as-a-Whistle or Tops4Bottoms. Next: stop snacking between meals! Then gradually work towards cutting out the meals altogether.

This’ll take a day or two, but output without input soon leaves empty, and because cellulite can’t flourish on nothing, it’ll go the way of the dodo and honest politicians.

To avoid dehydration, drink plenty of fluids. Except beer. The oxygenated bubbles in beer congregate in the hairpin bends of your derms where they fester and ferment. This generates excessive gas, which can be awkward in lifts or in church, (flatulata embarritus). In severe cases we suggest Flatu-lite, Happy-Flat or Gone with the Wind from your chemist.

Secondly, any doctor will tell you (even the smokers), that exercise is vital, so apart from starving the cellulite of fuel, muscle toning will firm up those unmentionable wobbly

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bits. Here’s where our easy-to-follow schedule kicks in, but rigorous exercise must be approached gradually.

Rome wasn’t burnt in a day. We don’t want any torn hamstrings or dislocated hips thank you, so we’ll start with warm-ups – for the body and the soul.

Step 1: Remove all restrictive items like corsets, neck braces, dentures, latex rubber suits or wedding rings.

Lie flat on the floor with a pillow under your head and arms outstretched. Soft music (like Chariots of Fire) will help as you close your eyes and picture yourself running at dawn (in slow-mo), shoulder-to-shoulder with those finely-chiseled athletes on that deserted beach. Breathe deeply and allow your imagination to drift off into a relaxing sleep for an hour or two till you feel refreshed. This is the first step – mental conditioning – and should be repeated every morning for a week.

Step 2: This is a doddle if you’ve mastered step one. Still lying on your back, clench your buns and stick out your tongue as far as it’ll go towards the ceiling, and hold. Repeat a few times till exhausted, then relax back into step one. This is week two, done

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Hedda Mittner Content Editor hedda@thevillagenews.co.za Raphael da Silva Online Editor raphael@thevillagenews.co.za Kathy Mulock-Bentley Marketing Manager kathy@thevillagenews.co.za Elaine Davie Journalist & Sub-editor elaine@thevillagenews.co.za Taylum Meyer Photojournalist & Line Editor taylum@thevillagenews.co.za

Tania Hamman Office Admin admin@thevillagenews.co.za Nickey Jackson Graphic Designer nickey@thevillagenews.co.za

and dusted.

Week three is Step 3, and this is where the fun starts, but easy does it – we’re not ready for any of Jane Fonda’s hysterical gymnastics just yet. In position two (you’ll have to put your cigarette down for this one), retract your tongue, unclench the buns and wiggle your toes while clicking your fingers to, for example, the Macarena on your stereo. Sing-a-longs are encouraged. This helps circulate the blood back into your extremities.

Tingles, hey?

Step 4: Week 4 requires standing up.

This can cause dizziness and nausea, so lean back against the wall for support. Then, stick one leg straight out in front of you, gradually lifting till horizontal. In your own time, slowly continue raising the leg till your toes touch the wall directly above your head. Now with your other leg…

Oops! Sorry! It seems we’ve run out of space. Steps 5 to 9 will have to wait.

But at least you can get started, so let

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De Waal Steyn Publishing Editor dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za

Charé van der Walt Marketing Representative chare@thevillagenews.co.za

New Year: Gross Encounters of the Purge Kind By Murray Stewart (old photo)

GET IN TOUCH

Visit us on www.thevillagenews.co.za for more stories.

Jessica Pote Graphic Designer jessica@thevillagenews.co.za Leijla Steyn Social Media leijla@thevillagenews.co.za Mitch Scholtz Social Media mitch@thevillagenews.co.za

GET YOUR COPY Printed: 028 312 2234 Digital: issuu.com/dwaal The Village NEWS is published weekly and the next edition will be available on 16 January 2019. The NEWS can be found at over 300 distribution points on the Cape Whale Coast from Pringle Bay to Gansbaai.

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9 January 2019

www.thevillagenews.co.za

OPINION MATTERS On My Mind

Of breaking and building

TRENDING TOPICS #bettysbayfire

#

Hashtags trending on social media. Make sure to hashtag your photos so that we can help to share the good NEWS!

Writer Elaine Davie During 2018 all sectors of the Overstrand community were subjected to their share of breaking and burning and general mayhem – which not only destroyed buildings, businesses and jobs, but also trust in one another. These events received full coverage in The Village NEWS. However, as significantly, our pages were filled with inspiring stories of organisations, initiatives and individuals throwing the full force of their energy and enthusiasm into creative ways of serving the neediest amongst us and building a shared future for all the people of this region.

These ranged from the cultivation of community-based organic vegetable gardens, to the development of mini business enterprises; providing opportunities for the arts to flourish and the environment to be protected, and improving the standard of education in order to give our young people the best possible chance of forging a productive future for themselves. The latest of these has been the bold and exciting Hermanus Varsity project, to offer local school-leavers the opportunity for skills training and advanced

knowledge acquisition without leaving their homes.

Of course, we understand that when we are dissatisfied, breaking down is so much quicker and easier than building up, with the short-term satisfaction of hurting someone you consider your enemy and at the same time, assuaging your anger and pain, if only for the moment. As a spin-off it offers us our 15 minutes of fame in the social, electronic and print media. But in the long-term, violence feeds on violence and leads nowhere, except perhaps to all-out war, with the indiscriminate decimation of all protagonists, as well as infrastructure, the economy and both the good and the bad in society.

Unfortunately, much as we would like to change history and turn the clock back several centuries to achieve a different outcome, the past is what it is and no amount of finger pointing and name calling will change it. Our history is littered with heroes and scoundrels on all sides. Being born with a white skin, doesn’t automatically make one either the devil

incarnate or a paragon of virtue and the same is true of those born with a black skin. Undoubtedly, past injustices must be addressed, including the inequities surrounding property ownership, but lawless land grabs based on real or imagined historic dispossession are unsustainable and offer no guarantee of future prosperity.

Nothing is ever just black or white either. Within the lifetimes of many of us, the cruelty and destruction engineered by demagogues like Hitler and Stalin have ripped countries apart, as did Idi Amin’s reign of terror and the Rwandan genocide. On the other hand, like it or not, in this country we have been thrown together by history – black South Africans and white South Africans and everyone in between – and since we cannot rewrite the past, and for the overwhelming majority of us, wholesale slaughter is not an option, the only route left is to rebuild a future together, on an equal footing.

We’re stuck with one another and when all is said and done, we have far

more in common than not. Our lives are indivisibly intertwined and our languages incorporate borrowings from one another’s vocabulary; we share a love of the country, sport and the arts and, thankfully, most of us can laugh at ourselves.

So, being white myself, I plead with my black brothers and sisters not to drive us into the sea (remember Nongqawuse and the chaos she caused). At the same time, I appeal to my white brethren not to remain locked into an unjust and unproductive past which, incidentally, deprived them of years of rich interaction with our countrymen and women.

Our region is filled with good people of every shade and class. We all aspire to a time when our children and grandchildren can live decent lives together as one nation. There is exciting potential for growth and development in our area and there are many of us with valuable skills and resources to offer. While cheque-book philanthropy may have its place, by far the most satisfying outcome is achieved working side by side with

our fellow citizens and sharing the joy when a plan comes together.

Of course, that takes time, creative energy, commitment, tolerance and patience, but the long-term rewards are guaranteed. And the good news is that as this spirit of co-operation takes root, the less likely we are to be held to ransom by extremists of all persuasions.

As 2019 stretches before us with all its opportunities, uncertainties and fears, perhaps we can make a collective resolution to build our town together, making sure that everyone’s basic needs are met, and breaking down nothing but the psychological walls and fences that divide us.

Without denying our painful past, let us stand in solidarity, mutual respect and a shared concern for the fragile place in which we live. But most important of all, let us protect and support all the children of our region who deserve a future untrammelled by the inhumanity of poverty and ancient, unproductive animosities.

Local resident, Di Rattle of the Hermanus Brewing Company, sent The Village NEWS this photo of an unusual sand sculpture depicting wild animals that she’d seen on Voëlklip beach on Friday. No one knows who the artist was, or when the sculpture was made. Even more mysteriously, a second sand sculpture was discovered on Sunday, also on Voëlklip Beach, this time depicting a mother figure surrounded by babies and children, a sea turtle and a unicorn. The sculpture had already been partially damaged. It is still unclear who the mystery sand artist is. If anyone out there knows, let us know!

Surviving Grade 8 Writer Aimee De Vynck, Hermanus High Sshool Phew! That’s Grade 8 done and dusted. Here’s what I learnt during my Grade 8 year, and my advice to new high schoolers on how to have a great year.

The beginning Grade 8 began with orientation.

Different people experience this differently. Our orientation was more fun and lightweight, but I’ve heard that at some schools learners have experienced more hardcore things, especially in the olden days. Honestly, it’s all a big joke for the Matrics and

the best way to try and have a good time is to just laugh it off and have fun!

After orientation, your classes will begin. Now I don’t know about you, but it suddenly felt like our workload from previous years doubled. But even though academics and hard work are important, don’t only worry about that. Make sure that you enjoy your Grade 8 year and make many new friends. Don’t forget: when you grow older you won’t remember the work you did or how well you did.

You will remember the good times and all your friends.

Dealing with disappointment Grade 8 is full of ups and downs.

From marks dropping to losing friends, you need to know how to deal with disappointment.

Use your failures as building blocks.

Every time you fail at something, learn from the mistake and use the failure as an opportunity to grow. You are only in Grade 8, so don’t take your defeat to heart. Move on and grow stronger.

Making new friends High school is a new beginning so reach out, meet new people and expand your group. Build up the confidence to talk to someone and invite someone to sit with you. New year, new you!

What I’d do differently • Not compare or compete with others – It made my self-esteem go down a ton. Any mark that I was proud of, I automatically shut down as not being good enough when compared to others.

• Less phone time – My phone was the main reason I went to bed late, studied less and put off homework.

• Do yourself a favour and turn it off for a bit.

• Read more – This is a great replacement for my phone that would have helped grow my knowledge.

• Try and read every evening, even if it’s only for 15 minutes.

• Procrastination – I couldn’t just sit down and focus and this was the reason why I went to bed late and crammed work. Put away what’s distracting you and buckle down.

My main advice • Work hard, but still find time to enjoy your year.

• Do not procrastinate. Get it done.

• Go to sleep earlier to stay focused.

• Have a supportive group of friends.

• Focus on yourself; competing brings you down.

• Stop caring about what people think.

• Listen in class.

• Get involved in as much as you can. There is so much going on at a school like Hermanus High and there is something for every interest.

Conclusion High school is tough, but so are you.

So, be yourself as no one likes a fake.

And remember, work hard, play hard.

THE VILLAGE

EXPLORER FOOD | ART | WINE | NATURE

Sijnn Wines: A river runs through it

PHOTOS: Sijnn.co.za

Writer Tweet Gainsborough-Waring

S

ijnn Wine Estate sits atop a plateau carved out by the slowflowing Breede River as it winds past the small Overberg town of Malgas to the Indian Ocean.

This pioneering estate in the middle of nowhere can be reached via the N2 and the Malgas / Cape Infanta turn-off just before Swellendam, but getting there if you take the back roads is half the fun and, depending on the direction from which you come, may include crossing the Breede River on the country’s oldest surviving hand-drawn river pont.

We started out from Hermanus and turned onto a dirt road just before Bredasdorp. This route to Malgas took us a leisurely two hours, through rolling wheat fields, past iconic wind mills and lazy sheep, with the occasional horse or donkey standing to attention on the edge of a dam.

The warm welcome, delicious food and excellent wine that awaited us at Sijnn were indeed worth the drive.

Sijnn (pronounced “sane”), the name given to the river by the Khoisan, is the realisation of a dream for winemaker David Trafford and his wife Rita, who visited the area in 2000.

They were immediately blown away by the unique climate and terroir, and its potential for winegrowing.

But why Malgas, an area with poor soils and minimal rainfall? Well, that’s exactly what makes a great wine – when the vine battles to grow, a deep root system is encouraged, and the low yield gives rise to intense, complex wines of

great individual character that are a true expression of the land.

2000 – the same year that Sijnn was founded.

The terroir, with its sandstone boulders and steep cliffs reminded David of the Douro wine region in Portugal and the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation in the Southern Rhone Valley. No newcomer to the South African wine industry, David’s family has owned the Mont Fleur farm near Stellenbosch since 1976.

In the early eighties a small vineyard was established on the high altitude slopes, from which a limited number of experimental red wines were produced, for the consumption of family and friends.

Faced with the challenges of climate change, David had been looking for a location suitable for the cultivation of the tougher Mediterranean cultivars such as Syrah, Mourvedre, Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, Grenache and Tempranillo, along with Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne and Verdelho for his white blend. To be sure that he had found what he was looking for at Sijnn, more than 200 soil profile holes were dug on a 50m grid in the most promising areas and experts called in to assist with analysing and understanding the soils.

Only when the quota restrictions were lifted in 1991, could the winery be registered – as De Trafford – and new vineyards be planted. By this time David had qualified as an architect, a career he pursued for several years before trading it for winemaking in 1994.

David describes the geology of the rolling mountains as comprising Bokkeveld shale with sporadic relics of younger river terraces – mainly sandstone boulders and pebbles.

However, it is the shale in various stages of weathering, together with varying layers of alluvial deposits that gave rise to the complex and diverse terroir which is ideal for grapes that produce concentrated and elegant wines.

With Rita, a qualified chef and budding artist by his side, he set out to become a top-quality wine producer.

Starting with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, David also added Syrah, a red blend, and Chenin Blanc to the highly-acclaimed De Trafford range.

He has been a member of the prestigious Cape Winemakers’ Guild since

The vineyards are situated 15 km from the sea and bathed by a warm maritime climate, moderated by southerly winds off the ocean in the late morning just about every day, es-

pecially in summer. Rainfall averages 350mm per annum spread throughout the year, although 2018 saw only 190mm. Maximum temperatures seldom exceed 30°C. Conditions like this favour low yields which are ideally suited to natural, hands-on practices.

It comes as no surprise that David and his team practise minimal intervention in both the vineyards and the winemaking process, allowing the elements of the land to fully infuse the wine.

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9 January 2019 | WINE

www.thevillagenews.co.za

2018 Pinot Noir Celebration Taking into account the growing interest in South African Pinot Noir and the exciting increase in visitor numbers to one of South Africa’s most beautiful wine regions, the Hemel-en-Aarde, it is not surprising to see Pinot Noir from this region taking flight around the globe. This year’s theme for the prestigious annual Pinot celebration is aptly ‘On the Wings of Pinot Noir’ – a true reflection of the quality Pinot Noir wines produced in this cool-climate South African wine region.

T

he cool-climate Hemel-enAarde is world-renowned for Pinot Noir of great purity and finesse and every year the producers join forces to celebrate their passion for this highly revered cultivar. The sixth Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir Celebration, sponsored by Standard Bank Wealth & Investment and taking place on 25 & 26 January 2019, is a must for all Pinot lovers!

Continued from Page 9 Assistant winemaker Charla Haasbroek enthusiastically explained to us some of the tricks of the trade when it came to handling vineyard hazards like birds (attracted to the yummy grapes). She said the flocks generally approach the vineyard from the side and in order to maintain harmony between farmer and bird, the first three rows on the outside of the vineyards are considered sacrificial. The remaining rows are covered with netting.

Irrigation is kept to a minimum, with water being pumped up from the river twice a year for this purpose.

Pruning, suckering, tipping, picking and sorting are all done by hand.

No pesticides are used and fungi-

cide sprays are kept to a minimum, resulting in near organic, sustainable viticulture.

In the winemaking process no yeasts are added. It is left up to the indigenous yeasts to increase the complexity and individuality of the wines.

Minimal sulphur is used and there are no filtrations or additions other than bentonite fining to the white. French oak barrels are used for fermentation and maturation.

In 2015 the winery received an Integrated Production of Wine certification. This certification was promulgated in South Africa in 1998 and complies with international wine industry environmental sustainability criteria.

Perched on the hilltop, overlooking the river, is the tasting venue with a Bedouin-style tent where visitors can enjoy both a wine tasting and a meal. The wines are predominantly blends, Charla explained, as they benefit from all the elements the terroir has to offer. The core range includes Sijnn Red Blend, Sijnn White and Sijnn Saignee. Recently a few single cultivar wines have been bottled and these include Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Touriga Nacional.

Check the website (sijnn.co.za) for opening times which may vary in and out of season. Get in touch with the Sijnn Team on 021 880 1398 or via email at info@sijnn.co.za.

Participating Hemel-en-Aarde wineries include Ataraxia, Bosman Family Vineyards, Bouchard Finlayson, Creation, Domaine des Dieux, Hamilton Russell Vineyards, La Vierge, Newton Johnson, Restless River, Storm Wines, Sumaridge and Whalehaven.

This year South African wine legend Jan ‘Boland’ Coetzee and wine fundi Roland Peens will be the guest speakers. Apart from tasting the glorious Pinot Noir wines from the 12 Hemel-en-Aarde wineries in flights of appellation, guests will be treated to delectably paired dishes created by celeb chefs Pete GoffWood, Franck Dangereux, Nic van Wyk and George Jardine, and a new addition to the programme in the form of a very cool wine auction.

The two-day celebration, starting on Friday 25 January at 10:30, will include vineyard safaris followed by a gourmet lunch hosted at Nidderdale Farm. For the first time guests will be treated to older vintage Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Hemel-en-Aarde dating as far back as 2004.

PHOTO: Tweet Gainsborough-Waring

As the weekend continues guests will be hosted at individual participating wineries on the Saturday between 10:00 and 12:30 to pair and compare international Pinot Noirs. The formal tasting from 13:30 to 16:00 will also be hosted in the

magical setting of Nidderdale at the foot of the impressive Babylonstoren peak. Here guests will be welcomed back to enjoy drinks and farm-style canapés followed by the tutored formal tasting from 13:30 to 16:00.

Wine impresario and Burgundy aficionado Remington Norman will open the formal tasting, titled ‘Taking Flight’. This tasting promises to be an interactive experience with the winemakers presenting their own wines, moderated by Roland Peens, and will no doubt elicit lively discussion.

Other highlights will be the celebrity chefs’ dinner on Saturday evening titled ‘Set the Senses Soaring’, including a Hemel-en-Aarde Wine Bar and the grand finale being homemade gelato paired with Pinot Noir from the famous Don Gelato.

The exciting 2019 weekend programme is filled with surprises, offering guests the opportunity to explore and learn more about Pinot Noir, while enjoying and celebrating the exceptional wine, food and people of the Hemel-enAarde wine region.

Contact event manager, Bernice Zietsman on 084 498 0779 or info@ hemelenaardewines.com or visit www.hemelenaardewines.com for more information.

Tickets can be booked at pinotnoircelebration.co.za Two options are available: Full Weekend Ticket @ R2 995 per person – An immersive Pinot Noir experience Celebrity Chef Gala Dinner with Hemel-en-Aarde Wine Bar @ R795 per person – Experience the grand finale

The Village Art Gallery ‘The Village’ Hemel-en-Aarde Sandbaai Intersection Tel: 028 316 4587 Cell: 072 236 4087 roberfam@vodamail.co.za www.villageartgallery.co.za

9 January 2019 | ART

www.thevillagenews.co.za www.thevillagenews.co.za

Artwalking into the New Year

FynArts coordinator Chantel Louskitt (left) and FynArts director Mary Faure (right) with acclaimed ceramic artist Hennie Meyer in front of one of his artworks currently on display at the FynArts Gallery in The Courtyard off Harbour Road. This work forms part of a group exhibition entitled Table Scapes, curated by Wilma Cruise, who is also one of the exhibiting artists along with Ann Marais, Clementina van der Walt, Hennie Meyer and Wiebke von Bismarck. This exhibition will run until 14 January and is well worth a visit. It will be followed by an exhibition of botanical works by local artist Margaret de Villiers, who has won multiple gold medals at the annual Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) London Botanical Art Show, where she competed against some of the world’s best botanical artists. This not-to-be-missed exhibition will open on Saturday, 19 January.

Writer Hedda Mittner

T

he first Hermanus First Fridays (HFF) Artwalk of the New Year on 4 January attracted throngs of people to the Old Town. The ‘masquerade’ theme saw many donning colourful masks as they strolled from gallery to gallery to admire the diverse selection of art and fine craft on display.

Amid the tangible holiday atmosphere, Artwalkers were cheerful and upbeat about the New Year ahead, exchanging good wishes and cheers along the way.

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Several shops, restaurants and bars now also stay open later during the monthly HFF Artwalk, creating a festive atmosphere in town that is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

With the aim of making art more accessible to the general public, this successful initiative has become a highlight on the social and cultural calendar of Hermanus.

Be sure not to miss the next HFF Artwalk on Friday, 1 February from 17:00 – 20:00.

ABOVE: The Courtyard off Harbour Road was a hive of activity on Friday evening, where a concentration of art galleries and The Wine Glass drew large numbers of Artwalkers. In the centre of The Courtyard is a sculpture by Louis Chanu that lights up in the dark and attracted a lot of attention.

PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

LEFT: The owners of The StART Gallery in The Courtyard, Annette du Toit and Theresa le Roux, welcomed Artwalkers in bright orange masks.

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

ABOVE: Jozua Rossouw relaxing on the stoep of his gallery, Rossouw Modern in Harbour Road.

PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

ABOVE: Ronél Heunis, Renette Opperman, Jacques van Zyl and Ruben Loevendie at the Forty x 40 Gallery.

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

BELOW: Local artist, art teacher and co-owner of The Art Gallery in Royal Lane off High Street, Jeandre Marinier (middle) with regular Artwalkers Russel and Mathias Witte-Riding.

PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

WHAT’S ON

OVERBERG www.thevillagenews.co.za/whatson Die Markie Where local and international foodies and wine lovers meet. You’ll find real plates and real cutlery; real cups and real glasses; a real hangout for real people.

Hermanuspietersfontein wine cellar | 09:00 – 13:00

GOT AN EVENT? Send us an email to event@thevillagenews.co.za or send us a WhatsApp to 074 125 5854.

FREE for community & non-profit organisations R 100 for everyone else R 150 to include a photo

Rewind Enjoy Soul Café’s resident band as they perform all your favourite hits from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, every Friday. Dancing is compulsory. Call 028 313 2137 to book.

Soul Café | from 19:00

Market in the Garden Hunt for treasures at this peaceful market set among the shady trees of a beautiful garden.

St Peter’s Church | 09:00 – 13:00

Wednesday

OAK Concert Gustavo Romero, Professor of Piano at the University of North Texas, returns to Hermanus once more to play the following programme: Domenico Scarlatti – 6 Sonatas; Franz Schubert – Sonata in B-flat major, D. 960; Modest Mussorgsky – Pictures at an Exhibition. Tickets at R150 for adults and R60 for scholars are available from the Hermanus Tourism office on 028 312 2629.

Municipal Auditorium | 15:30

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Fresh Food Market Shop weekly for your fresh microgreens, organic veggies, fruit and herbs, as well as home-processed and baked goodies. Contact Lani on 082 679 7819 or visit www.afdaksrivier.co.za.

Café Tango & Afdaksrivier Nursery | 09:30 – 12:30

Thursday

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HERMANUS Wednesday

Music under Milkwood Join Whale Coast Conservation for their first eco-adventure of the new year, which will take the form of an educational walk through the magical Milkwood forest at Piet se Bos near Grotto Beach. The highlight will be a display of fairy lights in the forest and there will even be some fairies and angels for the little ones to discover. Gather on the lawns behind Dutchies Restaurant from 19:30 and bring your own picnic to enjoy while waiting for the sun to set and the walk to start at 20:00. Booking is essential at R120 for adults and R60 for children, with all proceeds going towards environmental education.

Contact Anina at anina.wcc@gmail. com or 083 242 3295.

Piet se Bos | 19:30

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Summer Nights Market Hermanus Country Market hosts their last night market of the season.

Bring friends and family to enjoy an evening under the stars with delicious food, local wine, craft beer and artisanal coffee.

Next to Hermanus Cricket Field | 17:00 – 21:00

Thursday

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Pensioner’s Special @ The Singing Cook Pensioners are treated to a special lunch with an added treat: the cook will sing for them as he brings out their meal. Only R135 per pensioner.

Book by calling 082 896 5106 or 028 316 4567.

The Singing Cook Restaurant @ Rivendell Wine Estate | 12:00 Takura Terry @ Bosman Wines Popular local musician Takura Terry will be performing with Tawanda who adds a raw and unique sound with wood percussion instruments.

Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine as the sun sets and you soak up the beautiful views from the tasting room.

De Bos Farm, Karwyderskraal Rd, Hemel-en-Aarde | 17:00 – 20:00

Friday

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Benguela Cove Italian Fridays Indulge in a generous slice of gourmet pizza and a carafe of wine for only R110 pp, every Friday, while watching the sun set over the Bot River lagoon.

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate | 15:00 – 20:00

Friday

Saturday

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Hermanus parkrun Meet for the weekly 5 km walk or run, come rain or shine. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome.

Camphill Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley | 08:00 Hermanus Country Market A favourite among the locals. Young, old, two-legged and four-legged family members are all welcome. You’ll find live music, wholesome goodies, home-made crafts, local produce, beers, wine and coffee.

Next to Hermanus Cricket Field | 09:00 – 13:00

Newton Johnson Collaboration Dinner Join chef Rickey Broekhoven and UK guest chef Ben Prior for a four-course dinner paired with Newton Johnson wines. Booking is essential at R600pp.

Contact therestaurant@newtonjohnson.com or 021 200 2148.

Newton Johnson | 19:00

Sunday

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Music in the Courtyard Enjoy Summer Tunes in The Courtyard while feasting on oysters and bubbly, local wines, craft beer and tapas-style plates. Call 028 312 2553.

The Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Road | from 12:00

Summer Sunset Concert International saxophonist, Andrew Young and his band will be delivering a memorable evening of gentle jazzy blues in the Courtyard at Benguela Cove. Tickets are R220 pp, available from Computicket. Enjoy a pre-dinner at the restaurant, Moody Lagoon from 15:30 – 17:30 or grab a bite to eat during the interval of the concert from the food trucks. After the concert the restaurant will re-open for a late dinner serving an a la carte menu. To reserve your table at Moody Lagoon contact 087 357 0637 or dine@benguelacove.co.za.

Benguela Cove Lagoon Estate | 17:30

18

Critical Mass Bike Ride Everyone, young and old, is invited to join this social bike ride to celebrate cycling as a healthy and safe mode of transport. For more info contact Carel Kushke on 074 849 5936. Meet at the Whale Garden.

Market Square | 19:00 A Night with Mr Browne Join Tony Browne and the Rewind Band for a performance of all the Ed Sheeran greats. Call 028 313 2137 to book.

Soul Café | 20:00

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9 January 2019 | FOOD

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A trip down memory lane to Willem’s Steakhouse The first steakhouse in Hermanus owes its existence to the business acumen and drive for which the du Plooy family were famous in the middle years of the 20th century, writes DR ROBIN LEE of the Hermanus History Society, who has delved into the past of our town’s restaurants and tearooms.

T

he intrepid Magiel and Sarie du Plooy opened several businesses in the town.

They took over the premises previously occupied by Rainsford’s General Dealer and opened a store in their own name. It was located where Pick n Pay is now. The du Plooys’ daughter, Maureen married Willem Botha, and the couple continued in the business tradition.

The involvement of the du Plooy and Botha families in restaurants and tearooms in Hermanus was explained to me by Jeanne-Marie Botha, daughter of Willem and Maureen Botha, whose first venture was a restaurant in the Long Street Arcade, near where The Eatery is now. It was called Nibblers’ Nook.

In 1971 Magiel du Plooy, Jeanne-Marie's grandfather acquired a long-established building that had originally been the first grocery shop in Voëlklip, known as Ham se Winkel. It was located at 110 Tenth Street, Voëlklip. The Bothas initially continued with the grocery shop, but soon decided to convert the premises to a modern steakhouse, the first in the Hermanus area. They named it the Baron of Beef, but residents and holiday-goers referred to it simply as “Willem’s Steakhouse”.

In Hermanus in the 1970s, there were still ‘holiday seasons’ – that is, defined periods of the year when visitors came into the town in sufficient numbers to make it profitable for businesses to remain open to customers. These periods were the months of December and January, the Easter holidays and a long weekend in October. The steakhouse was open for lunch and dinner daily during these periods. At other times, the number of visitors was small, and the steakhouse was open in the evening on three days a week only.

The steakhouse was a successful business. Willem had a ‘secret’ steak marinade and prepared the meat and did all the grilling. Maureen (and later Lydia Geldenhuys) managed the front of house. The grill area was visible to all customers. When the family discovered that their daughter was allergic to seafood, the restau-

rant was divided into two separate sections – seafood and meat.

However, in 1976 Willem Botha suffered an illness from which he only recovered slowly and which affects him to this day. Even so, the business went on. Jeanne-Marie comments: We used the restaurant for family reunions and birthday party get-togethers when not open for the public. We had many happy times there. On Saturday afternoons my father would fetch me and Erica Cooke (my best friend and daughter of police captain Kevan Cooke), and we would go to the restaurant while everyone was prepping for the evening service. (They gave) us a huge bowl of chips and mushroom sauce to keep us busy.

Erica and I both remember it till this day…

In 1982 the Bothas sold the business to Heinie Rosenstrauch, who made a great success of it, trading as Heinie’s Steakhouse. Corrie Smit (neé du Plooy) told me: “From 1982 to 1986 the restaurant was open three nights a week for eleven months of the year and six nights a week in the summer season and queues stretched around the block. No reservations!”

The late historian S J du Toit described Rosenstrauch’s Steakhouse as: A meeting place with a marvellous atmosphere. Heinie had steaks and spare ribs as his speciality… He could at any time have 50 steaks on the grill and know just what each one of his clients ate and how they liked it.

The steakhouse never the same after Heinie Rosenstrauch. It passed through several owners and then became a second-hand shop for materials of all sorts. The old building became a ruin and a fire hazard. More recently the site was bought by Markus Jooste.

He demolished the remains of the restaurant, but renovated the Voëlklip Post Office which was on the same plot. He also fenced the property and ensured that it was maintained. It is not clear what will happen to the site, which now forms part of Jooste’s assets and may be involved in the Steinhoff investigation.

ABOVE: An early photograph of the building in 10th Street, Voëlklip that originally housed Hermanus’ first grocery shop, known as ‘Ham se Winkel’. BELOW: Magiel and Sarie du Plooy with their daughters, Corrie and Maureen, and an unknown person.

RIGHT: Willem Botha, who married Maureen du Plooy, with his daughters, Jeanne-Marie and Sariana in 1980.

BELOW: Ham se Winkel and the Voëlklip Post Office in the 1970s when Magiel du Plooy purchased the property. His son-in-law, Willem Botha converted the premises into the first steakhouse in Hermanus. He named it the ‘Baron of Beef’, but residents and holiday-goers referred to it simply as ‘Willem’s Steakhouse’.

14

9 January 2019 | NATURE

www.thevillagenews.co.za

Public urged to join MUSIC UNDER THE coastal cleanups

Who eats whom Writer Dr Anina Lee

I

’m kicking off this week’s column with a quote

by Stripes the Eco-Cat* when he realised that magnificent cats like leopards survive by eating other beautiful and cute animals: “I know it happens, but I don’t want to be there when it does.”

eaten by spiders, which in turn are eaten by birds, which are eaten by snakes, which are eaten by eagles and so on. There is a whole network of who eats whom, called the food web. Nature cannot exist without it.

This truth about the food web in nature came home recently in a rather distressing manner.

Whale Coast Conservation has regularly over the past year monitored the presence of chameleons that were relocated to the Hermanus Golf Course from areas that were threatened by development. The monitoring happens after dark because the chameleons climb up vegetation at night to sleep – away from predators – where they are more easily spotted by torchlight.

In a natural food web there is a balance between the various eaters and eaten. When we destroy habitats we also destroy predators that are vitally important in keeping the number of prey animals in balance. When predators decrease, the surviving prey species' numbers increase dramatically, resulting in a 'plague'. Balance is essential in nature.

On one such occasion a baby chameleon was found sleeping on the end of a grass stalk. But he was not alone. A large rain spider had him in its sights and was stalking the little fellow. What to do? Does one interfere and save the cute chameleon from the nasty spider? Of course not.

It’s nature – predators eat prey – that’s what they do. It’s all part of the food web.

We all love bees, right? Bees (and other insects) perform a vital ecological function in pollinating flowers, many of which produce edible fruit essential for human survival. But they too are prey for predators such as spiders that lie in wait, superbly camouflaged in the pollen-rich flowers, to snatch the unsuspecting bee when it alights.

This, too, is an illustration of the complex food web in natural eco-systems.

MIL

Joint Whale Coast Conservation for a wa the magical forest at Piet se Bos by torch ending with music, lights, and an encou Thursday 17 January 2019 19:30 - 21:00 (weather dependent - alternative day Fr Adults R120, children R60 All proceeds go to environmental educa To book: WhatsApp Anina on 083 242 32 or email anina.wcc@gmail.com

These food webs can be extremely complex and not always understood by humans. Our interference in nature by transforming habitats into agricultural land, draining wetlands, building roads and urban developments can have unintended consequences for our own survival. We mess with nature at our own peril. *Stripes the Eco-Cat is a fictional creation by Whale Coast Conservation. He is used as an education tool for teaching children about nature. Stripes has to learn about “the eco-thing” (because cats are not generally very eco-friendly) and he tells stories for children about his adventures in nature and what he has learned. He has his own Facebook page.

Jacques van Niekerk from Walker Bay Recycling and Antonio da Silva-Swart from the Coastal Cleanup Conservation Trust led Saturday's clean-up at Poole's Bay. Writer & Photographer Taylum Meyer Walker Bay Recycling and the Coastal Cleanup Conservation Trust (CCCT) held their first clean-up of the year at Poole’s Bay on Saturday 5 January. A small yet eager group of volunteers set off early on the hot and humid morning from the make-shift path below the high water mark near Roman’s Rock.

Plants use inorganic matter and the energy of the sun to make food for grazers like antelope, sheep and cattle – which are eaten by carnivores such as leopards and humans. Flowering plants make pollen that’s collected by bees, which are

The cliff path does not continue on this stretch of the Hermanus coastline and walkers are forced to continue along the R43 for roughly 1 km before rejoining the cliff path. Reconnecting this section, which is currently a restricted area for the exclusive use of 13 properties with rights that extend to the high-water mark, is the mission of the Cliff Path Action Group, chaired by Jobré Stassen.

The make-shift path along the coast at Poole’s Bay has been marked with blue whale tails to help walkers find their way, but navigating your way down the path is not easy, and it’s nigh impossible to get back up, making this stretch of coastline suitable only for the fit and more adventurous hikers.

A crab spider (Misumena vatia) lies in wait to snatch its prey, an unsuspecting bee.

“It can be quite difficult to get down to

Poole’s Bay, which is one of the Overberg’s 24 hotspots for pollution build-up,” said Antonio da Silva from CCCT. In the 800m that the volunteers walked on Saturday, a total of eight full bags of litter were collected which included items like bottle caps, straws, plastic piping, fishing line, string, wrappers, etc. The volunteers were led by Jacques van Niekerk from Walker Bay Recycling and Antonio da Silva from CCCT. The ‘Big Ocean Clean-Up of Hermanus’ will take place on Saturday 26 January at Hermanus Old Harbour. This major clean-up operation will be a collaboration between CCCT, The Shark Company, the South African Shark Conservancy, Walker Bay Recycling, Plastics SA, Checkers Hermanus, Walkerbay Adventures and other role players joining hands to make the event a success.

It will also serve to create awareness of the importance of cleaning our coastline of marine debris.

Contact Antonio on 072 462 4271 or Megan Dryburgh at The Shark Company on 064 017 5250 for more information on this event.

MUSIC UNDER THE MILKWOODS Joint Whale Coast Conservation for a walk through the magical forest at Piet se Bos by torch light ending with music, lights, and an encounter with fairies and angels.

Thursday 17 January 2019 19:30 - 21:00 (weather dependent - alternative day Friday 18 January) Adults R120, children R60 All proceeds go to environmental education To book: WhatsApp Anina on 083 242 3295 or email anina.wcc@gmail.com

16

9 January 2019

www.thevillagenews.co.za

More Bachelor’s passes for 2018 matrics

T

he first week in January is usually a time of nervous anticipation for the Overstrand’s matric learners as they await the announcement of their results along with the rest of the country. While the national pass rate of 78.2% was announced by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga during a live broadcast of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results in Johannesburg on Thursday evening, local schools made their results available on Friday morning.

In total, 790 843 pupils wrote the 2018 exams, made up of full-time and part-time candidates.

The number of candidates qualifying for admission to Bachelor studies was 172 043 (compared to 153 610 in 2017), which represented 33.6% of the total number of candidates.

Provincially, it was Gauteng that came out as top performer, with a pass rate of 87.9%, followed by Free State (87.5%), Western Cape (81.5%) and North West (81.1%).

Provincial Education MEC Debbie Schafer said although the Western Cape has seen a slight drop in the pass rate compared to last year’s 84.4%, the WCED is pleased with the quality of the passes and the increase in the Bachelor’s pass rate.

While the Overberg took top honours last year as the best-performing district out of the eight school districts in the Western Cape, it only

managed to achieve third place this year, with a pass rate of 82.4%.

Of the 21 high schools in the Overberg district, only two had a 100% pass rate, one of which is Northcliff House College in Hermanus and the other Olyfkrans College in Swellendam. With only one learner having failed to pass, Hermanus High School follows with a 99.4% pass rate.

The other top-performing schools in the Overberg are Overberg High (98.9%), Bredasdorp High (97.9%), De Villiers Graaff High (97.6%) and Swellendam High (97.1%).

Hermanus High School was pleased to announce on Friday that their 2018 Matric candidates achieved a 99.4% pass rate. More importantly 80.6% of the candidates (141 out of 175) achieved a Bachelor’s pass (university exemption). Principal Greg Hassenkamp said this is up 3.6% on last year’s results and a clear indication of the quality education offered by the school.

Nineteen candidates achieved A-aggregates. These candidates are Yzané Oelofsen (94.33%), Maria Louw (93%), Simoné du Randt (92%), Yanna Stergianos (91.2%), Anette van Wyk (89.2%), Inge Kuchar (87.8%), Janeke Viljoen (85.3%), Donné van Schoor (84.8%), Grace Page (83.7%), Jude Victor (83.3%), Jana Bergh (82.5%), David Steere (82.5%), Wilmarie Coetzee (81.8%), Chanté Okkers (81.7%), Eva Cunningham (81.3%), Mariëtte Nel (81.3%), Tayla Gordon (80.7%), Zulene van Niekerk (80.7%) and Kate van Zyl (80.3%).

Gansbaai Academia achieved a pass rate of 86%. Of the 93 learners who wrote the 2018 NSC exam, 80 passed and 36 achieved a Bachelor’s pass. Principal Tommy Wilson said he was particularly proud of this Bachelor’s pass rate of 38.7% which had increased from 19.2% the previous year. The total number of subject distinctions was 24. Congratulations to Zikhona Nthlala, the only learner in the school to achieve an A-aggregate (81%).

Hawston Secondary’s pass rate was down to 65.9% from the previous year, when the pass rate was 78.9%. Of the 129 matrics that wrote the 2018 NSC examination, 85 passed and 23 achieved a Bachelor’s pass. Acting Principal Norman Philander said the results were disappointing. He put them down to the protest action, which disrupted bus transport for learners from Mt Pleasant, as well as internal instability at the school. He is hoping that the appointments of a permanent principal, deputy principal and two department heads will be made soon.

However, Philander was encouraged by the fact that the number of Bachelor’s passes had increased from 11.6% in 2017 to 17.8% in 2018.

The school’s top performer was Delmain Janua-

rie who achieved an aggregate of 68%.

Qhayiya Secondary School’s pass rate was 73%, also down from last year’s pass rate of 83.5%. Circuit Manager of the Overberg Education District, Wendy Colyn, said this drop could be attributed to the prolonged incidents of unrest during the year, with the matrics losing up to five weeks of work, in addition to suffering from the disruption and trauma. Of the 122 learners who wrote the 2018 NSC examination, 89 passed and 35 earned a Bachelor’s pass.

What is encouraging is that the 28.7% of Bachelor’s passes shows an increase from 21.2% the previous year.

The Executive Head of Curro Hermanus, JD Vermeulen congratulated the school’s 2018 matric class and all their dedicated educators who assisted them through the years to achieve outstanding results. He was proud to announce that Curro Hermanus achieved a 100% pass rate for the fourth year running, since their first matric class graduated in 2015.

A total of 40 learners wrote the 2018 Independent Examination Board (IEB) final exams, as opposed to only 21 matrics the previous year.

This year also saw an increase in the number of Bachelor’s passes, up from 77% to 88%. The six candidates who achieved an A-aggregate are Gabriel Stratford (85%), Christoff Jordaan (84%), Kirsten Larney (83.7%), Jessica Donnelly (82.1%), Babette Grobler (80.3%) and Keagan Ferreira (80.1%). The school boasts a total of 62 subject distinctions.

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A joyous day for Hermanus High There was great excitement at Hermanus High School on Friday morning, 4 January when the matrics of 2018 gathered nervously, with friends, parents and other family members in tow, to receive their results. With only one learner in the school having failed to pass matric, there were many happy smiles and even a few tears of joy and relief as the learners were congratulated on their performance. Girl power ruled when the A-candidates were announced and 18 out of the 19 top achievers turned out to be girls. Principal Greg Hassenkamp said the school was extremely proud of the class of 2018 and that this year’s results were the best achieved in the last four years.

ABOVE: Dux learner Yzané Oelofsen celebrates with her friends, Donné van Schoor and Inge Kuchar. All three girls attained an A-aggregate.

PHOTO: Hedda Mittner BELOW: Rineez Ali, writing on the board one last time!

PHOTO: Nanette Ras ABOVE: Hermanus High School boasts 19 A-candidates among their matric class of 2018.

At the back, from left, are Grace Page (83.7%), David Steere (82.5%) and Maria Louw (93%); in the second row from the back Anette van Wyk (89.2%), Zulene van Niekerk (80.7%), Simoné du Randt (92%) and Mariëtte Nel (81.3%); third row Donné van Schoor (84.8%), Jana Bergh (82.5%), Wilmarie Coetzee (81.8%) and Inge Kuchar (87.8%); second row Jude Victor (83.3%), Chanté Okkers (81.7%) and Eva Cunningham (81.3%); and in front Yanna Stergianos (91.2%) and Dux learner, Yzané Oelofsen (94.33%). Absent were Janeke Viljoen (85.3%), Tayla Gordon (80.7%), and Kate van Zyl (80.3%). PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

ABOVE: Tanya Stergianos was at the school on Friday morning to support her daughter, Yanna and her friends Frances van Wyk and Chanté Okkers as they waited to receive their matric results.

PHOTO: Taylum Meyer BELOW: These five friends were over the moon with their results.

From left are Bijornique Abrahams, Shezelle van der Vyver, Milleney Julies, Linique Aplon and Gaylann Swartz.

PHOTO: Nanette Ras

ABOVE: Hackenzie Muchanyara, Walter Lytham Rudolph and Jayden Arendse said they were “chuffed” with their results. All three received Bachelor passes and will be studying this year – Hackenzie at UWC and Walter and Jayden through Unisa.

PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

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ABOVE: Head Matric Teacher Katherine Liefeldt with Northcliff House College’s matric class of 2018 shortly after they received their results on Friday. At the back are Jarrid Africa, Cynthia Kariuki, Sarah Johnson and Wentzel La Grange, and in front are Monique Barkley and Cathrine Nel.

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18

9 January 2019

www.thevillagenews.co.za

MY WELLNESS

Neutrality, Struggle and Finding Direction

and pretty soon we have a full-blown crisis on our hands… or so we think.

When we look deeper into the prevailing experience, we discover it’s there for a reason. At the time we believe the cause to be outside ourselves. And then we immediately set about trying to change our world or improve someone else’s attitude.

We forget that we have first to affect some change within.

Writer Dr Martin Fisher

I

n Hermanus, 2018 will be remembered as a year of huge change.

No one has been immune to the effects of what has happened here.

During the past weeks I have had many conversations with many different people. None of them was neutral. I have come to understand that most people I spoke with, really believe that life happens to them.

Many folk were angry. They just shook their heads and said they have been dropped into circumstances they did not ask for and now they have to make the best it. I realised that perhaps there are thousands who survive this way.

Others said they were dealing with their situation as best they could.

They had no plans and were just taking what was coming towards them.

Most people said they were simply reacting from within to what they believed was being triggered by circumstances outside of their control.

Blame was apportioned to different groupings, organisations and communities. No one was neutral.

It’s difficult to be neutral when we are struggling or we see people in need.

At some time or another we have all struggled and we have all had adversaries. There are very few persons

Feelings of hostility or helplessness point to something inside us that it’s time to release. The feeling itself points to who we would like to be and what we can do. To gain some sense of direction we need to become more objective and almost take on the role of the observer. Taking hold of your innate courage, you can ask the following three questions.

on this earth who have not at some time in their history been conquered, exploited, suppressed or colonised.

The historic pathway we travelled to the present state of human consciousness is littered with violence, injustices and genocide.

Struggle is not new. It did not suddenly show its face in South Africa during the past 250 years. It has been part of that progressive, upward pathway engaged in by all of humanity. Yes, our progress beyond those moments of struggle is slow, but it nevertheless shows great leaps of positive change.

What happened in South Africa is not unique, and we must quit seeing

ourselves as victims or perpetrators.

Our profound task is to take responsibility for who we are and what we are becoming. Playing the ‘blame game’ introduces levels of mistrust that mindless racism and factionalism feed on. None of us can afford to join this game.

Neutrality remains a difficult place to get to when we feel threatened.

Anxiety and fear are not the experience of the few. Each one of us will face anxiety at different times and at varying depths. And then our anxiety introduces other difficult moods, such as anger, irritation, helplessness and also sadness and even depression. Then, as we feed our anxiety with a sense of victimisation, it grows

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1. Can I change positively what is happening in this moment?

If your answer to this first question is, “Yes!” then move on and do so – now! If the answer is “No!” then go to question two, asking yourself: 2. Can I live with this situation as it is?

If your answer to the second question is, “Yes!” then get on and do so. If the answer is “No!” then move on to question three.

3. Can I walk away from this situation with peace and dignity?

If your answer to this question is, “Yes!” then get on and do so. If the answer is “No!” then you have to go back to the first question and ask...

Openly asking these questions from an observer’s point of view is a powerful tool that guides us towards

"neutrality" and a release of inner resistance. Resistance ties you to the past while neutrality opens up the present and future. Feelings of anger and despair are signals that we are holding onto past irritation that is getting in the way of moving forward.

Face the situation with courage and you will find you are able to step into acceptance.

When you experience neutrality you see things from a new perspective, without judgment or opposition.

New possibilities arise. When you stop trying to control what you don’t need to control, you free up energy to do what you are here to do now.

When neutrality pervades our inner landscape, obstacles take on a new dimension. Inspiration arises allowing us to take on the challenge we face in a new way.

The future is now. It is what we think, do and say now that will change that future. When we view the future with yesterday’s eyes, we see little that is positive, less that is worthy of our attention, and nothing to indicate our human potential.

Each person reading this is unique, each one of you has the capacity to become responsible for what you do with this knowledge. You can, in this moment, freely choose to turn it into an experience of liberation.

Dr Martin Fisher runs Haven’s Healing Centre in Fisherhaven, offering therapies that include Integrated Energy Therapy, Biographic Coaching, Healing Meditation, Kinesiology and Reflexology. He can be contacted on 076 029 7587 or martin@whalemail.co.za

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9 January 2019

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Different modes of exercise: Finding your niche Writer & Photographer Tweet Gainsborough-Waring

W

ith its scenic location between the mountains and the sea, Hermanus lends itself to active pursuits. Indoors or outdoors, there is something for everybody.

The ‘90s saw the rise of the amateur athlete – you joined a club, got a licence, raced and collected a medal followed by lengthy dissection of your time and injuries.

The new millennium has seen a virtual explosion in the different types of workout available, from those like Cross Fit and Boot Camp (based on military training regimes) which leave you glad to be alive on completion, to those that leave you feeling uplifted, relaxed and invigorated.

In between the hard-core and the more relaxing techniques you’ll find classes like Step and Zumba set to music to bring an element of fun to these sometimes challenging workouts.

YOGA Yoga, too, offers different styles.

Pauline Leppan, a classical Iyengar yoga teacher says people gravitate to styles that suit their personalities. Her studio, Yogaheart in Hermanus offers various options, including: • Vinyasa: Synchronised movement and breathing to flow from one position (asana) to another, incorporating vigorous movement and creativity, so a sound basic knowledge of yoga will help you through the 75 minutes of this class.

• Pranayama and restorative yoga is for those who feel life is running away with them. It takes you through 60 minutes of breathing techniques, relaxing asanas and meditation designed to restore calmness.

• Iyengar, the classical form of yoga focuses on precision and correct body alignment in the asanas, using props where necessary to achieve

ABOVE: Jennifer Dunn demonstrates how equipment is used in gyrotonics to rotate and mobilise the spine.

LEFT: Pauline Leppan (back) demonstrates how props are used to ensure body alignment in Iyengar yoga.

the perfect form. If you are new to yoga try the basic class first as at the intermediate level the asanas are more challenging and held for longer (classes are 60 – 75 minutes).

INTEGRATED MOVEMENT A fairly recent addition to the Hermanus health and fitness menu is the Integrated Movement Studio of Jennifer Dunn in Eastcliff.

Jennifer comes from a biokinetic background and has a passion for movement. She offers five different exercise forms – Pilates, Neuromuscular Integrated Action (NIA), Body sensing, Gyrotonics and Gyrokinesis.

The latter two, as their names sug-

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gest, are based on twisting. Gentle twisting movements help increase mobility in your spine, which in turn enhances body awareness, improving balance and suppleness. This enables your movements to flow, whether it be simply walking or clambering over rocks with a fishing rod.

• Gyrokinesis has been designed to stimulate blood flow in and around the joints to promote healing. The movements are flowing, precise and held only for a few seconds. It can be done standing or seated on a chair.

Although gentle it requires concentration and an awareness of what you are doing.

• Gyrotonics uses equipment to

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facilitate spinal mobilisation, and is better suited to the rehabilitation of injuries.

• Body sensing is slow stretching with pauses in between the stretches.

The movements work on nurturing the nervous system so that the body calms down. Moves are not held but enough time is allowed for the participant to become aware of what is going on in the body’s connective system.

• If you want a more fun session then the Neuromuscular Integrated Action group (NIA) may appeal to you. Here you relax and move to music, concentrating on the patterns that form through the dance. It can help alleviate stress and anxiety, pro-

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ducing a sense of calm energy.

For optimum results wear comfortable clothing and commit to at least two sessions a week, in order to consolidate what was learnt in the previous session.

• Pilates is about the pelvis and core.

It is great for relieving back pain and improving your overall posture and strength. By adding movement Jennifer has brought her own touch to the Pilates sessions.

With so many choices it’s hard not to find your niche. Pauline Leppan can be contacted on 071 304 6456 and Jennifer Dunn on 084 367 0255.

20

9 January 2019

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Property market shines despite tough conditions

Paul Kruger of Seeff Hermanus says that the number of cash transactions has declined considerably. “In the past 95% of our sales between R2,5 million and R3 million were cash transactions. Last year most of those transactions were done via bonds.

Writer De Waal Steyn The Hermanus property market is still alive and kicking after a busy summer season, the estate agencies in town report.

value for money, great infrastructure and a growing economy and that is why many people elect to move here permanently,” he says.

“This has been the busiest December we have ever had, and it seems it is not letting up,” says Deon Esterhuizen of Aida Properties Onrus. “We had a record number of enquiries during the month and several sales were concluded, with quite a few more in the pipeline. What has changed, however, is that there are fewer cash sales, and more local buyers. This can be attributed to locals making lifestyle changes and either upsizing or downsizing their properties.”

Cornel Janse van Vuuren of RealNet Hermanus agrees that locals selling and buying property in Hermanus is a new and growing trend. “It is the first time that we have seen something like this and it is a good indicator of the economic viability of the town.

Although there is some uncertainty among buyers regarding political stability in the country, both buyers and sellers are positive about Hermanus and enjoy living here.

Deon adds that fewer people are buying holiday houses. “That market has shrunk as it is a huge investment and people are cautious with their money. The Overstrand still offers

"We are also very positive about the first quarter of the year in terms of sales even though we had a quieter season than normal. There were a lot of people looking at houses, but few were serious buyers.

tial residents all the amenities of a big city but with a small-town character and charm. Most of the sales we concluded were in the R2 million to R3 million bracket,” says Dean.

“It is, however, important that we as an industry explain to sellers that the same prices that were attained three years ago are not attainable now.

Many properties are still overpriced.

As a matter of fact, in the R2 million to R3 million price range there are properties available from Voëlklip to Vermont, so buyers are spoilt for choice. If sellers are serious about selling their property, they must be realistic about the price,” says Cornel.

Dean Meijer of Chas Everitt Whale Coast reports that the group had a busy season and the market appears to have normalised after the low point it reached in August and September last year. “The unrest had a definite impact on the market, but most buyers we met with are still very optimistic about Hermanus and the Overstrand. We are still a sought-after destination and the area offers poten-

“It is also interesting to note that the average age of buyers last year was 45 years, while the average age of sellers was 57 years. This might be the effect of more locals upsizing their houses, while older people are looking to downsize before retirement.”

Paul says the average selling price was R2,4 million while the median price ranged between R1,5 million and R1,8 million.

Stephen de Stadler says, while they had a lower number of enquiries in December than in previous years, there has been an uptick in interest in the new year. “The property market in South Africa has experienced a decline in expected sales volumes over the last year. Hermanus as an area has mirrored the national trend, but with local socio-political issues gaining a high level of exposure, both nationally and internationally, this has helped

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to dampen the market even more than expected.

“Expectations as to selling prices need to be tempered in the current buyers’ market, and real capital growth should not be expected over the last year – always remembering that most people buy and sell in the same market conditions, so what you lose on the swings you will ultimately gain on the roundabout,” says Stephen.

Jana Smith of Harcourts Hermanus reports that they had an exceptionally busy season in terms of enquiries.

“But while there was an abundance of people looking at properties, fewer than normal were actually buying.

We sold several properties in the R3 million price range and were fortunate enough to conclude one deal in excess of R5 million.

“I believe this year will be a watershed for the real estate industry in Hermanus. It is not an easy market to operate in and Hermanus has an over-supply of estate agents. It is very expensive to keep an agency running and only those agents that are truly committed to their trade and offer both buyers and sellers the best service possible will remain in the market. We are certain that we will be able to meet the new demands that are placed on us,” says Jana.

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21

Pig farmers taken to task by authorities Writer & Photographer Raphael da Silva

F

ollowing a visit by the NSPCA (National Council of SPCAs in South Africa) and an offer by a commercial farmer to buy all the healthy animals, pig farmers from Hawston and Zwelihle this week have to either comply with warnings or face potential legal action. They also have the option of selling all or part of their stock at an agreed negotiated price, with an Overberg sanctuary offering to take the remaining sick or injured animals into care.

These are the choices facing the 17 farmers one month after The Village NEWS first published a story about the inhumane conditions in which the animals were being kept on municipal land in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.

At the same time, while the NSPCA is clearly holding the farmers accountable for the welfare of their pigs, the role that the municipality has played is increasingly being put under the spotlight by animal welfare organisations.

“Some serious questions need to be asked of the municipality. Why is it that after nearly two years, this ‘temporary’ pig farm still exists? Why are they still on land that is inappropriate for pig farming? Complaints were directed to the municipality about the state of the pigs on numerous occasions, yet nothing was done until volunteers got involved after a serious public outcry. Why did they not act immediately?" asks Alda du Plooy, an animal rights activist.

A report on the terrible conditions was first published in March 2017. A media report at the time quoted Municipal Manager Coenie Groenewald as saying: “The aforesaid place of safety where the pigs are housed is municipal land, but we are indemnified by the owners of the pigs of any responsibility.” The municipality said that they would be giving notice to the farmers to vacate the property within a reasonable period of time.

If they did not comply, legal steps would be taken.

In September 2018, the conditions were once again brought to the attention of the municipality, specifically the Department of Local Economic Development (LED). Again, action was promised by the municipality but nothing was done.

In mid-December, after receiving a call from a concerned resident, The Village NEWS went to visit the piggery project located on Overstrand Municipality property in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The site was supposed to be used for the temporary housing of 70 pigs from Zwelihle and Hawston, but nearly two years later was still operating, with the majority of the approximately 200 animals suffering due to a lack of food, water, shade, dry ground and, in some cases, adequate space.

After the conditions at the site became known last month, several members of the public immediately volunteered to assist the animals by providing food, water and bales of hay. A local vet who was alerted to their plight went to the site to treat the animals. Many of them were sick or had injuries, and a number of pigs have since died. The vet has written a report with a recommendation for the NSPCA, which is legally empowered by Parliament to take action.

Michele Pickover, Director at the EMS Foundation bluntly says, “Pigs have sophisticated cognitive abilities. Even more so than dogs or three-year-old human children. They are social and playful, protective of their young and form strong bonds with other pigs.

They are clean animals. It is therefore shocking that the Overstrand Municipality is actively facilitating severe cruelty and is clearly responsible for promoting the brutal persecution of these pigs.

ready tyrannised pigs as a supposed way of assisting other marginalised beings. There are definitely more humane ways to create sustainable livelihoods.”

The key purpose of the EMS Foundation is to alleviate and end suffering, raise public awareness and lobby and empower, provide dignity and promote the rights and interests of vulnerable groups, particularly children, the elderly and wild animals.

Questions are also being asked about the financial viability of raising pigs at this location, given the farmers’ reliance on emergency food aid. Their commitment is also being examined since, with the exception of one or two, most are part-time farmers and either employed by the municipality itself or by other companies. Some also have their own, in some cases very successful, businesses.

A meeting has been organised for 9 January 2019 with the farmers, Overstrand Municipality, NSPCA and animal welfare organisations.

To read more about the outcome of the meeting, follow us online at www.thevillgenews.co.za Visit us on www.thevillagenews.co.za for more stories.

“We need a kinder, more just society for all animals – human and nonhuman – if we are serious about addressing societal violence and environmental degradation. We fail to understand why the municipality instead chooses to heap misery on al-

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Conditions at the piggery were brought to the attention of the public in early December (below). The plight of the neglected pigs improved significantly after volunteers intervened and ensured that the pigs were provided with adequate water, food and straw. One of the sows (top photo) gave birth to 12 piglets just after Christmas.

22

9 January 2019

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MY PET Help welfares to aid animals The number of lost pets in the Overstrand usually increases over the festive season, especially dogs that become frightened and run off when fireworks are discharged. Several dogs and cats that were picked up during the holidays have already been fetched by their grateful owners, but there are still a few young dogs (see below) at the Hermanus Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) pound that are waiting for their owners to claim them.

Please help find Mack!

Mack went missing from the Plankhuis cottage in Hoek van Die Berg Private Nature Reserve on Saturday, 29 December at around 23:00. He is a young, male, golden Collie cross with distinctive markings on his nose.

Mack’s owner, Licia Dewing, is based in Cape Town and often visits the area. She’d only had Mack since October last year, when she adopted the stray dog. Licia says Mack, who is scared of cats, was startled by one and ran off into the night.

Female, Crossbreed ± Two-three years old Found in Mt Pleasant on 29 December

Male, Crossbreed ± Four years old Found on the R43 in Voëlklip on 29 December

Female, Pitbull ± Two-three years old Found on Hibiscus St. in Mt Pleasant on 31 December

Male, Husky ± Three years old Found on the R43 at Hawston on 24 December

The Kleinmond Animal Welfare Society (KAWS) and Gansbaai Animal Welfare (BARC) also saw an increase in the number of lost and surrendered pets during the festive season, which results in an increased need for food and care. These shelters tend to struggle at the start of the new year.

To help them through this stressful time, please feel free to make a donation to the shelter of your choice.

Hermanus Animal Welfare Society Standard Bank Acc: 082 263 310 Branch code: 050312 Reference: Donation

Kleinmond Animal Welfare Society FNB Acc: 626 896 36458 Branch Code: 250655 Reference: Donation

BARC Trust (Gansbaai) Nedbank Cheque Acc: 149 810 3006 Branch Code: 198765 Reference: Donation

“He fled into the darkness and up a 4 X 4 road to the centre of the reserve which has many sandy routes leading into all corners of the reserve. We lost our voices calling out for him into the total darkness.”

Mack is micro-chipped but not collared. Licia thinks he might be skittish and is more than likely hiding out somewhere and avoiding people. He is very gentle and playful in nature and will be best lured out with food.

“Since that evening there have been search parties at dawn and dusk throughout the area and extending into Hawston, Vermont,

Onrus and Sandbaai communities,” she says. “The loss of Mack has been a catalyst in bringing animal-loving people from all communities in the Overstrand together. We have been deeply moved and very grateful for the generosity of strangers who have volunteered time and effort in helping us find Mack.”

Licia has started a WhatsApp group ‘Macks Team’ for locals who are working in conjunction with Philip Page, the animal behaviourist from Fisherhaven to help bring back Mack.

Anyone who has news about Mack’s whereabouts can call Philip on 071 257 6579. A cash reward is offered for his safe return.

9 January 2019

www.thevillagenews.co.za

23

MY SPORT World sports records that may never be broken By Tony O'Hagan

W

hile sporting records are often smashed as quickly as they have been achieved, there are a few interesting ones that are destined to be around for quite a while – and even some that are unlikely to ever be broken.

The longest tennis match at Wimbledon This match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut took place in the first round of the Wimbledon Men's Singles in 2010, lasting 11 hours 5 minutes. Isner won 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68.

This also represents the most games played in a single encounter.

A tiebreaker at 12-all in the final set is now on the cards, so this record will stand forever. Isner also has the distinction of participating in the second longest match after an epic semi-final loss in 2018 to South African, Kevin Anderson, in a match lasting 6 hours 36 minutes.

The Isner-Mahut match at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships began at 18:13 (British Summer Time) on Tuesday, 22 June 2010 on Court 18. At 21:07, due to fading light, play was suspended before the start of the fifth set. After resuming on Wednesday, 23 June, at 14:05, the record for longest match was broken at 17:45. The light faded again, and so play was suspended at 21:09, with the final set tied at 59 games all. Play resumed at 15:40 pm on Thursday, 24 June, and Isner won at 16:47, the final set having lasted 8 hours, 11 minutes.

In total, Isner and Mahut played a total of 183 games. The final set alone was longer than the previous longest match. Both players broke numerous Wimbledon and tennis records, including each serving over 100 aces, with the match being referred to as "the endless match". Provided the new tiebreak rule remains in place, the Isner-Mahut match will remain the longest match in Wimbledon tournament history.

The highest batting average in cricket Australian master batsman, Sir Donald Bradman achieved a test batting average of 99.94 in 52 matches and 80 innings between 1928 and 1948. This record has stood for 70 years and is

unlikely to be surpassed when the next highest average achieved is 61.87 by Australian, Adam Voges.

After Voges the order is Australian, Steve Smith (61.37), followed by South African, Graeme Pollock (60.97). Current Indian master batsman, Virat Kohli has an average of 54.39. Maybe the bowlers of the modern era are bowling quicker and have also introduced innovations like "reverse swing" or the "doosra". However, the record is so superior to anyone else's that it is likely to remain at the top of the standings.

The most PGA Tour wins in a row In golf today, competition is fierce. That makes winning two or three tournaments consecutively some feat. Golfers like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods dominated the game for extended periods but Byron Nelson had an astonishing year in 1945. He won 18 tournaments, 11 of them in a row. Tiger follows with 7, which in itself is incredible. Woods quotes Nelson's year as "One of the greatest years in the history of sport".

The highest Olympic medal count Swimmer Michael Phelps won 23 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze medals between 2004 and 2016.

Phelps, known as the "flying fish" or "Baltimore bullet" is well ahead in the medal count, with the Russian gymnast, Larisa Latyrina winning 18 medals in the years 1956 - 1964. Other notables on the list include Mark Spitz with 11 medals, Carl Lewis with 10 medals and Usain Bolt with 8 medals. The modern-day focus on specialised events will make it difficult for Phelps to be overtaken.

The most centuries in test and ODI cricket Indian maestro, Sachin Tendulkar scored 51 test centuries and 49 ODI hundreds in 664 matches between 1989 and 2013. Following Tendulkar, with number of centuries for both tests and ODI’s in brackets, are: Ricky Ponting (71), Kumar Sangakkara (63) and Jacques Kallis (62). The highest scorer among the current crop of players is Virat Kohli who, with a total of 63 centuries may have the best chance of challenging Tendulkar, but is still 37 centuries short. Known as the "Little Master", Tendulkar was selected

for India at the age of 16 and is the only player to have scored over 30 000 runs in tests and ODI cricket with a total of 34 357 runs. Of those currently playing International cricket, Virat Kohli has scored a total of 18 208 runs.

Highest career points in the National Hockey League The National Hockey League is the premier ice hockey league in the world and comprises 24 teams from the United States and 7 from Canada. Wayne Gretzky is hailed as “The Great One" which is accurate considering that he has 66 records in the NHL. His career points score of 2 857 is nearly 1 000 points ahead of second-placed Mark Messier. Wayne Gretzky is a Canadian citizen and compiled his many NHL records in a 20-year career dating from 1979 to 1999.

Other world records that may never be broken: Jack Nicklaus' 18 PGA Golf Majors Tiger Woods raced to 14 Major wins but personal issues and an injured back needing numerous surgeries have curtailed his attack on the record. Tiger is back and competing well again but the elusive mark may be a bridge too far.

Joe Di Maggio’s 56-game hit streak Playing for the New York Yankees back in 1941, Di Maggio made history by getting at least one base hit in 56 consecutive games. The record has barely been troubled, with Pete Rose coming closest with 44 consecutive games in 1978.

ABOVE: John Isner and Nicolas Mahut needed three days to decide the winner of their first-round match at Wimbledon in 2010. BELOW: Indian cricket maestro, Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 51 test centuries and 49 ODI hundreds.

PHOTOS: Getty Images

24

9 January 2019

www.thevillagenews.co.za

MY SPORT DO YOU HAVE SPORT NEWS? Send the information and images to taylum@thevillagenews.co.za and we will gladly consider it for publication. Whether it be competition results, a friendly rivalry, a funny anecdote, a once-off feat or a major tournament, we look forward to hearing from you!

Dance Education Centre offically opens in Hermanus

The Hermanus Bowling Club will be hosting the 92nd Personal Trust Ayala Mens' Fours tournament on 17 and 18 January 2019. Edmund de Ayala, founder of the Ayala Champagne Company in France sponsored the first tournament at the Riviera Club in Voëlklip in 1927. The tournament has been continuously played since then, having moved to the club's present premises in 1936. Thirty two visiting teams plus four local teams will vie for the winner’s trophy in this, the club’s premier event. Visiting teams from as far as the West Coast, Cape Town and George and Oudtshoorn were invited. There is a long waiting list for new entries as the participants return for this event year after year. One such loyal stalwart is Walter Oosthuizen (above) from the Durbanville Bowling Club who will be participating in his 30th consecutive tournament – an amazing achievement. Personal Trust sponsors the event with substantial cash prizes going to the winners and the runners up. The standard of bowls is always excellent and the winning team must be in top form for six matches over the two days.

Play starts at 09:00 each morning and spectators are very welcome to come and watch some high-calibre bowls.

Marina’s Dance School in Hermanus has come a long way since 1994 when founder teacher Marina Rautenbach embarked on her mission to have Dance Studies accepted as a matric subject in schools. Not only will her dancers, such as the Grade 8 & 9 dancers above, now be able to do just that, but the dance school was finally able to take occupation of their new world-class dance studio at the Hermanus Sports Club in December. Now known as the Dance Education Centre, it offers dance studies, both nationally and internationally registered, in various genres that include ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, jazz and hip-hop. This realisation of Marina’s dance dream is largely due to the continued efforts of her husband, Pieter Rautenbach, who took over in 2010. A lease agreement was signed with the new Hermanus Sports Club in 2013 but the building and infrastructure was the responsibility of the Dance Education Centre.

Several individuals and entities such as the Department of Human Resources contributed both financially and by sponsoring materials and equipment. Without their contributions and support this ambitious project would not have come to fruition, which is why a hand-painted ‘sponsor tree’ now adorns the foyer of the Dance Education Centre to acknowledge and thank all the sponsors and parents.

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