The Village NEWS 7 Aug - 14 Aug 2019 by The Village NEWS

Kleinmond Lagoon breaches

7 AUGUST 2019

Your guide to the Kalfiefees

Culinary meander Elgin & Bot River

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Dyer Island Cruises has been enjoying encounters with Humpback Whales around the island near Pearly Beach over the past few weeks. This breaching Humpback Whale was one of three seen on 22 July. Dyer Island Cruises, based in Kleinbaai, has also reported sightings of Southern Right Whale mating groups that are starting to visit our shores. PHOTO: Jax Bath, Dyer Island Cruises

Clarification on baboon issue Writer De Waal Steyn

fter more than 18 months of wrangling over who is responsible for the management of baboons in the Overstrand, the municipality last week received a mandate from the provincial government stating that it is the municipality’s obligation to manage these animals. According to Ward 3 councillor, Kari Brice, the mandate was received after “relentless negotiations between mayor Dudley Coetzee and the provincial government. At last we succeeded in securing the approval from Anton Bredell, MEC of Environmental Affairs

“The mandate must now be ratified by the Western Cape cabinet, but in terms of this agreement the Overstrand Municipality may implement measures to curb the contentious baboon problem. As you are well aware, it has been an extremely frustrating journey for all concerned,” Brice said.

Department is totally aware of the urgency regarding the implementation of this project, but it will take a few weeks for contracts and training to be consolidated. I am truly overjoyed by this announcement as I too, have worked tirelessly in searching and pleading for potential solutions and funding, only to be thwarted by policies.”

This follows the implementation of a virtual fence in 2017 aimed at keeping baboons out of Voëlklip. But due to a lack of funding the project ground to a halt after an initial three-week blitz by Human Wildlife Solutions (HWS), the manufacturers of the virtual fence, that kept the Fernkloof troop out of the affected suburbs for more than 90% of the time.

According to her, an amount of R2 million has been budgeted by the municipality and this will be used for baboon control measures throughout the Overstrand. “Our Environmental

The management of baboons has become a contentious issue after continued incursions by baboons in suburbs across Hermanus have left residents at their wits’ end.

The virtual fence is made up of a sophisticated radio transmitter system that relays the movements of a troop to a cellular phone. If a troop moves too close to a residential area an alert

and Development Planning.

is sent out and baboon monitors deploy sound boxes that emit sounds of predators roaring, animals dying and other frightening sound effects, including bear bangers that make a loud banging noise. The baboons are tracked via collars attached to the troop leaders. The sounds create a “landscape of fear” for the baboons and they are hesitant to move into an area with which they have come to associate the sounds. Continues on P 3

7 August 2019

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The only game in town: when estuary meets ocean

PHOTO: Elaine Davie

Writer Elaine Davie

he news ran like wildfire through the town: “No… really?” “Yes… after four years – to the day! Imagine!” And the people came in droves – mothers, fathers, children, dogs, cats, pet snakes, all making their way in haste to the Kleinmond lagoon to see it break through to the ocean. There was an air of anticipation, of mass celebration in the air. Children, unbelievably, rushed from the icy air into the icier water (“Children just don’t seem to feel the cold, do they?”). It seemed like the end of a long, hard drought. And, in a way, it was. According to Pierre de Villiers, CapeNature’s Co-ordinator of the Western Cape Estuaries Programme, the opening of the mouth depends on fresh water inflow, which, in turn depends on rainfall. The mouth has not opened during the last four years due to the drought that the Western Cape experienced over this period. Under normal circumstances, it would open more frequently, he says. Interestingly, the other, larger mouth of the Bot River estuary, at Meer-en-See, does not open naturally. “It needs to be opened by grader from time to time and this forms part of the mouth and estuary management plan. Legally-binding documents need to be approved before this can take place and these provide guidelines for the management of the system,” he adds. Certain adverse circumstances militate against artificially opening either this mouth, or more specifically, the Kleinmond mouth during periods when this does not occur naturally. “Opening the mouth results in large volumes of water rushing out of the estuary,” Pierre explains. “This scours out sand and mud which is taken out to sea, providing an important source of sand and nutrients

Locals gathered in amazement to witness the breaching of the Kleinmond estuary last week, for the first time in four years. PHOTO: Trisa Hugo

for the ocean and its species. “However, if the mouth is artificially opened at a low water level, the impact will not be as great as it should be and much less nutrient-rich mud or sand will reach the sea. In addition, if the optimum amount of scouring does not occur, the mouth will close quickly, and without follow-up rains and fresh water, it will end up a very small shallow system.” The interaction between the sea and the fresh water systems which originate in river catchment areas in the mountains has been developing since the beginning of time, he points out. “Estuaries form the interphase between fresh water and salt water. Special species have evolved to

survive within these changing ecosystems. Most of them require some connection to the ocean to complete their life cycle. In fact, some estuarine fish species, like Steenbras and Kob breed at sea and then the young pass back into the estuaries to develop and grow.” An inflow of salty sea water also has the effect of killing off some of the reeds which, during long static periods tend to develop into dense clumps near the mouth. However, when the estuary has been closed off for a long time, evaporation of the fresh water may also result in an increase in dissolved salts in the estuary, which will have the same effect. Those Kleinmonders who rushed like lemmings

to the sea when news of the breakthrough began spreading through town and who got there first remarked on the stench which occurred as the estuary water began to carve a channel to the sea. This, says Pierre, is because of the build-up of sand and mud in the estuary. The deeper one goes, the less oxygen penetration there is and anaerobic processes take place. As the mud begins to pass into the sea, the smell is released. The short-lived smell notwithstanding, the people of Kleinmond continue to flock to the newly-created mouth with cameras clicking, to celebrate this miracle of nature which has been playing itself out for millennia and, beating all the man-made odds thrown in its path, continues to do so right on their doorsteps.

Concern over budget allocation for baboons From P 1 After the virtual fence was set up, it was announced that according to legal counsel the municipality has no powers to undertake baboon control. “We must adhere to legislation and we can only act on and expend funds on functions which are assigned to it by the Constitution and legislation,” it said. Mayor Coetzee said on Monday that the mandate now allows the municipality to spend money on the management of baboons.

“Although there are still several issues that need to be addressed, I have asked that all the necessary processes run concurrently to allow us to start implementing control measures as soon as possible. These measures not only include keeping baboons out of the suburbs but also ensuring that residents abide by the rules with regard to using baboon-proof bins and following the correct procedures with regards to refuse management,” he said. According to Coetzee, re-installing the virtual fence above Voëlklip and Eastcliff as well as the

appointment and training of monitors will start as soon as possible. “In the other areas of the Overstrand we will have to look at what solutions are available and start implementing them. If we find that virtual fences will also work in these areas, we will go through the necessary procedures to do so.” The Hermanus Baboon Action Group (HBAG) said in response, it is concerned that there is no clear implementation timeline yet. “There is a risk that the community will be disappointed should there be further delays. Although the mayor and

his team have formed a ‘Baboon Management Joint Task Team’, no public participation has been facilitated. Despite our appeals to be included in the task team, all our efforts to engage have been ignored. “A suggestion for a workshop with the affected communities has been ignored several times,” said Pat Redford, HBAG spokesperson. She also said the group is concerned that the budget allocation will not cover the costs of proper monitoring efforts.

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Don’t let WASPs sting your mobile air time Writer Raphael da Silva

f you feel that you have an unusually high phone bill or that your airtime disappears as quickly as you load it, then maybe you are being charged for premium WASP (Wireless Applications Service Providers) services that you didn’t ask for or perhaps inadvertently subscribed to. This was the experience of Hermanus resident, Clare Wise de Wet, who, after visiting and sending various emails to her mobile provider, is being credited with airtime to the value of R1 110 “as a once-off gesture of goodwill for the WASP charges” according to an email she received from Vodacom. “I could not work out why I was going through about R500 airtime a month when I rarely make phone calls. When I went into the Vodacom shop to enquire about changing to a post-paid contract, as clearly something was amiss with the pre-paid service, the sales assistant sent an SMS to 31050, typed in STOP ALL, and sent it” said Clare in a Facebook posting on The Village NEWS All Over Overberg. “To my horror, a text message came back stating that I'd been unsubscribed from 'BeFit' and, the next day, another text came in for 'QZtech'. The worst part was being told that I had "accidentally" subscribed to these things, which I absolutely did not, and then being made to feel like an idiot when I insisted there was no way I would do this,” said Clare in the posting.

Unsubscribe or block WASPs on your mobile phone Cell C Cell C requires users to complete a double-opt-in process to subscribe to a WASP service and allows users to manage subscriptions via a USSD menu. Customers can dial *133*1# to access the Content Services menu and manage any subscriptions active on their number. Users can also block their number from being subscribed to any WASP services.

Unlike applications that one can download as an icon to a mobile phone from iTunes or Google Play either free, or at a one-time or monthly charge, WASPs, also known as premium content providers, are internet-based applications and services that typically charge a daily fee. In Clare’s particular case, she was being billed R7 a day each for ‘BeFit’ and ‘QZtech’. Later, she found out that Vodacom was also charging her a daily fee for Vlive, a platform that provides content, picture messaging, games, polyphonic ringtones, 3D Java games and video messaging. Vlive was not cancelled when an SMS was sent to 31050. Instead, a Vodacom customer service representative needed to block this service.

WASPs are big business for the mobile industry. Vodacom, for example, charges a WASP a connection fee of R8 334.00 (excluding VAT), a monthly access fee of R1 320.00 (excluding VAT) and then shares a portion of the revenue they receive from the daily charges.

Vodacom Vodacom features a double-opt-in process for WASP services on its network, and customers can unsubscribe to all content services by SMSing “Stop

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Telkom Telkom customers are required to complete a double-opt-in process to be charged by a WASP service. Block all WASP subscriptions by enabling a setting in the Telkom app: 1. Log into the Telkom app and navigate to My Products > Manage > Protect Your Mobile Number, and set it to “On”. 2. To manage premium content subscriptions, navigate to My Products > Subscriptions > Content Services. Alternatively, dial 180 and follow the prompts. If you are unable to unsubscribe from WASP premium services, visit a shop of your mobile provider. If your mobile operator is unable or unwilling to assist you, contact the Wireless Application Service Providers’ Association (WASPA) on info@waspa.org.za or fill out a complaint form at waspa.org.za/lodgea-complaint/ SOURCE: WASPA

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All” to 31050. If you are subscribed to WASP services, you should receive a response indicating that your request to unsubscribe has been received. You should then receive messages confirming that you have been unsubscribed. Alternatively, dial *117# and choose “Unsubscribe”. It is also possible to block all future WASP subscriptions by dialling customer care (135).

MTN MTN requires users to complete a double-opt-in process when subscribing to a WASP service. There are four separate USSD strings to manage premium content subscriptions. Each one needs to be accessed for a user to check if they are subscribed to a WASP: Dial: *136*5#, *464*970#, *156*12# and *123#. MTN users can also block premium-rated services, such as a WASP, by following these steps – Dial *136*5#: 1. Select Option 2 (Content Services), 2. Select Option 2 (Manage Premium Rated Services), Select Option 2 (PRS Charges), Select Option 1 (Block PRS Charges).

Examples of WASPs include ringtones, mobile wallpapers, horoscopes, jokes, mobile downloads such as games, interactive voice prompts, news and traffic updates and receiving location information such as the address of the nearest restaurant or police station.

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7 August 2019

Electricity meter system explained

any residents have asked what the difference is between credit and pre-paid electricity meters. The Overstrand Municipality provided this useful guide.

The table below compares the increases of the two sets of tariffs:

Every month the municipality sends out a consolidated monthly municipal statement (account) to consumers, inclusive of all relevant charges for services that might be applicable to a particular property.

Credit Meter sliding scale for units purchased: Block 1: 0 - 350 kWh – 12% Prepaid Meter sliding scale for units purchased: Block 1: 0 - 350 kWh – 12% Credit Meter sliding scale for units purchased:

A basic charge for electricity forms part of the electricity tariff structure because the costs, such as overheads and fixed costs, in rendering the service must be recouped. The basic charge also includes the capital costs for replacement of electricity infrastructure.

Block 2: 351 - 600 kWh – 12.6% Prepaid Meter sliding scale for units purchased: Block 2: 351 - 600 kWh – 12.6% Credit Meter sliding scale for units purchased:

In addition, an infrastructure levy was implemented a number of years ago to repay a once-off loan by the municipality for the upgrading of the electricity network infrastructure.

Block 3: > 600 kWh – 12.7% Prepaid Meter sliding scale for units purchased: Block 3: > 600 kWh – 12.7%

The Overstrand is largely a holiday destination with a substantial number of holiday homes and a large number of vacant erven. Taking into consideration that the basic charge is applicable on vacant erven as well, if it is considered too high, the alternative will be to lower the basic charge and to increase the price per unit consumed. In this instance especially, the permanent residents, will have to pay much more for their electricity consumption.

Conventional credit meter vs Pre-paid meter:

Residents should also keep in mind that, based on its tariff structure, the municipality must budget for adequate revenue to enable it to sustain its electricity service provision to the community. The costing of this service includes, for example, a once-off payment to be made to Eskom within the next 12 months to the amount of R10 million. This will be for increased capacity allocation by Eskom to the Gansbaai municipal area to ensure that the municipality will be able to meet the demand. The amount payable is determined by Eskom and is not negotiable. It is unreasonable to expect that the municipality should recover the R10 million from residents of Gansbaai area only.

The table below sets out the comparison between conventional credit meters and prepaid electricity meters. As can be seen, pre-paid tariffs are indeed cheaper, due to the fact that no meter readings need to be taken by the municipality and the payment is received immediately. Payment for electricity consumed on a credit meter (with slightly more expensive tariffs) is received approximately 60 days later, only after the meter has been read and after the account has been prepared and sent to the user, with a further number of days of leniency added up to the due date on the 20th of the following month. Sliding scales are applicable in both instances. Credit Meter Block 1: 0 - 350 kWh Pre-paid Meter

This same principle is applied in determining the cost of electricity services to all residents of the Overstrand.

Block 1: 0 - 350 kWh Difference: R39.52

The interest and repayment of loans already taken up, or that will be taken up in future, with regards to capital projects for a particular area during a particular budget year, is likewise recovered from all residents.

Credit Meter Block 2: 351 - 600 kWh

Block 2: 351 - 600 kWh Difference: R31.33 Credit Meter

The community needs to be aware of the fact that an infrastructure network to the tune of R523.4 million (R1 billion before depreciation), must be maintained by means of pro-active maintenance to prevent power cuts. Replacement and/or refurbishments and expansions are critical in ensuring that the network does not fall into disrepair.

Over and above the basic charge, sliding scale tariff sets (for credit and prepaid meters) were approved by the National Energy Regulator (NERSA), for the purchase of electricity units. The basic charge increase, as from 1 July 2019, as approved by NERSA is 15%, whilst the usage increased with a lesser percentage, as indicated below.

Block 3: > 600 kWh

AR T CHAIR IN SOL ID OAK NGUNI SK IN R O UND MIRR OR SIDE TABL E S B ANG L A VA SE

Tariff R1.3668

Total R478.38

Tariff R2.1731

Total R543.28

R2.0478

R511.95

Tariff R2.6701

Total R267.01

R2.5666

R256.66

Pre-paid Meter Block 3: > 600 kWh Difference: R10.35

* Important: The following comparison is done with 600kWh units consumed/purchased per month. The basic usage charge for both meters is R385.64. To view electricity tariffs for businesses, go to www.overstrand.gov. za; click on the tab for Strategic Documents then Budget, go to Annexure C (Rates and Tariffs).

D E F I N I N G

Art

Total R517.90

Pre-paid Meter

The above-mentioned serves as an example to show that the rendering of an electricity service to our community does not entail paying Eskom for units and calculating the profit that could possibly be added to this tariff, to enrich the municipality. The total operational costs in rendering the service must be taken into consideration.

Only technically qualified and competent municipal staff can work on the electricity network.

Tariff R1.4797

F R OM

R6 700 R2 950 R1 600 R9 95 R4 4 0

0 2 8 0 5 0 0 5 8 9 | w w w.w o o d e nway s . c o . z a

7 August 2019

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FROM THE EDITOR Stop supporting this new sport With the World Cup cricket and rugby tournaments taking place in the same year, South Africans have a lot to cheer for despite our teams sometimes literally dropping the ball at crucial times.

the crucial gatekeeping role played by traditional media outlets has fallen into disrepair. With it has come a new type of information: unfiltered opinion delivered directly to a growing audience without scrutiny or favour for facts.

But along with all this excitement it seems as if a new sporting code is taking hold in the Overstrand and unwittingly many residents are supporting it. This new sport can be called Jumping to Conclusions (JtC).

The rallying call of the social media opinionistas has become ‘fake news’ and ‘compromised journalism’. And while these phrases carry with them a modicum of truth, it has led to a situation where instead of robust debate the messenger has become the sole victim and the solution, to

With the advent of social media,

start our own group or page. In turn, the public has become the victim of unfettered drivel spewed forth by ill-informed crusaders wanting to have their voices heard. The trouble is that these opinions are rarely informed by fact or, most importantly, offer both sides of the story. Take any issue in the Overstrand and you will most probably find several pages and groups dedicated to either supporting or opposing it. Most often these groups will be

based on someone’s jumping to a conclusion based on an unconfirmed fact. And never the twain shall meet. For us to take informed decisions we have to start questioning the ‘facts’ that are so easily flashed across our screens and start scrutinising the sources of this information. Also, look at the other side of the story and make up your own mind. It’s just safer than JtC. This is the good NEWS – Ed

The Dilemma of a Bridge Too Far to Swallow

A Far Kraai

By Murray Stewart thevillagemuze@gmail.com

Di Lemmer, a regular e-mailer to the Duck ’n Fiddle’s Consumers Against Corruption (CAC) inbox, had the elves scratching each other’s heads for answers to some very perplexing queries.

greedy retailers. Let’s check the facts. By buying three identical bottles of shampoo (or anything for that matter) they can only charge for two, which means that under normal circumstances we’re paying a third too much for everything. And they’re still making a profit! Why not just charge 33.3% less for stuff in the first place? Skandaal! We’ll have the elves look into it. “Another scam,” she continues, “is this unpronounceable miracle cream for wrinkles.”

Di is captain of the Somerset West Underwater Bridge Society (SWUBS), and the team had nominated her to compile a list of complaints and questions that CAC might be able to address. Some queries or observations may seem outlandish, but it would be churlish not to include them. She also asked to remain anonymous.

Now, I’ve seen this ad on TV, and it has me flummoxed as well. It’s apparently aimed at ‘concealing’ facial wrinkles in ladies who reach a certain age when wrinkles/crow’s feet/laughter lines make them look older than they’d like.

“Dear Mr. Fiddle,” she wrote, “Some people I know – who don’t play bridge or even swim – have raised similar questions concerning various retail/pharmaceutical outlets’ outlandish claims. The first one is about this ‘buy three items – get the cheapest one free’ scam.”

From what I gathered, it’s not done the traditional way, which is to poly-filler the cracks and smear base make-up and rouge all over as camouflage. No. This cream can apparently un-crack the cracks by pushing/raising the bottom of the cracks up towards the surrounding facial surface. Sounds great. Botox in a tube – and without the needle.

Well, Ms Anonymous, this is what CAC does – root out misinformation and

It begs the question though – if you apply too much, do the cracks carry on rising and become ridges? This would require the poly-filler routine again, which kind of defeats the object. We’ll contact the manufacturers and let the SWUBS ladies know. Ms Anon carried on. “My bridge partner, Pansy Visser (she also asks to remain anonymous), claims the promises made on TV by a pharmaceutical company to cure her athlete’s foot didn’t bear fruit – only jam.” According to the ad, they reckon that 11% of everyone you come across has varying degrees of toejam. They’re like toe truffles, with their own ecosystem flourishing beneath the nails and burrowing into the quicks. Yuk! I would suggest that Pansy do like the other 89% of people all over the world, which is to pee regularly on her feet, and only wear Crocs. (Not while peeing, obviously). “Some of our friends,” she continued, “told us that due to the increase in more ‘personal/intimate’ issues, the Duck ’n Fiddle has recently established a separate counselling department – like a Dear Abby or Agony Aunt facility. This is great news, because

I’m unqualified to address some of the questions. Here, for example, is what Bevis Crumb, our pool cleaner asked me to forward to you.” “Dear Mr. Fiddle,” he wrote. “A couple of women moved into the flat opposite me. One is a strapping middle-aged athletics coach and the other is a fashion designer in her early twenties. These two women go everywhere together, and I’ve never seen any men entering or leaving their flat. Do you think they could be Lebanese?” Another intrepid bridge player – claims Ms Anon – is in a quandary: “I have a philandering fiancé I cannot trust. He cheats so much, I’m not even sure the baby I’m carrying is his.” Well, Ms Anonymous, I appreciate your predicament. Some problems should be addressed by highly-trained professionals, and the elves are only too happy to help everyone – especially the pensioner battling to open a new banking account. Apparently, when asked to create a secret password with eight characters he chose Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. We can help him.

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LET’S TALK

Healthy and robust debate is 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. Letters may be shortened and/or edited for clarity and style. Send your letters to letters@thevillagenews.co.za

Thank you to caring people of the Overberg On 5 June, my wife, Joy and I were on our way to our home in Hermanus and looking forward to attending the FynArts Festival, especially the Friday night concert conducted by Richard Cock. At about 16:00, driving in misty conditions up Sir Lowry’s Pass, we had reasonable visibility until we rounded the bend at the top of the pass and drove into the thickest mist we had ever encountered – cats eyes not visible nor white lines. Not daring to stop, I tried to keep to my line, not daring to veer right, and hoping if it came to that, to glance off a barrier. However, there was no barrier and we slowly descended into a deep rocky ditch and bounced into the far wall of the ditch. Our airbags popped and almost immediately a lady’s voice said: “Mr Stewart, you have had an accident. Are you OK?” We seemed okay and would only discover the bruises etc. later. Evidently, when the airbags popped, BMW in Europe were alerted and the voice continued to say: “The police and the tow truck are on their way. Do you need an ambulance?” In no time, an ER Ambulance was beside us and offered to take us to hospital – not needed, but comforting.

We were still in the car, with Joy below me and me on the high driver’s side. After about 15 minutes I managed to open the window and was pulled out feet first by the hero in this story, an extraordinary Samaritan, Marius de Necker. He then managed to pull Joy out from down below me and suggested we get into his double cab, out of the freezing cold. He was so caring and asked where we were heading. When we told him we were going to Hermanus he said: ”I live in Sandbaai. I will take you home.” Our car was fully loaded with golf clubs, carts, suitcases, foodstuffs etc. He insisted we remain in the warmth of his car and proceeded to offload our whole load into his double cab. We learnt that he had earlier gotten rid of two suspicious characters who had appeared from nowhere and were eyeing the contents of our open boot. The police were kind and helpful and the tow truck men were happy to proceed once we had confirmed we were insured. They took our car to Grabouw. Marius de Necker, having loaded all our baggage, took off and told us that he had been travelling behind us and

could not see his car’s bonnet in front of him. Luckily he saw us in the ditch and stopped. He took us right to our door and proceeded to offload all our luggage into our home. He was off in no time. Joy and I just looked at each other and tried to collect our thoughts and digest all that we’d just experienced. Uppermost in our minds was the kindness of Marius. If there was ever a ‘Samaritan of The Year’ award in the Overberg, he would be our nomination. Thank you, Marius we look forward to having a meal together some time. A last tribute goes to our Ward 3 Councillor, Kari Brice, a neighbour of ours who had been alerted by one of our daughters of our accident. Kari appeared and insisted on taking me to Hermanus Hospital to have a gouge in my hand treated – and then waited for me to get home despite all the pressures of her council work. Thank you, Kari. Warmest regards to all you Overbergers, Dave and Joy Stewart

Mayoral Award 2019 Residents across the Overstrand are reminded to put forward nominations for the 2019 Overstrand Municipality’s Mayoral Awards. These awards are designed to recognise and honour the significant contribution that individuals, groups or organisations have made in their community and who have demonstrated a positive ‘can do’ attitude. The annual award ceremony, hosted by Overstrand Executive Mayor Dudley Coetzee, will be taking place on Thursday, 3 October 2019

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7 August 2019

in Hermanus. Attendance will be by invitation only. To nominate an individual or organisation for any of the categories, you will need to fill in a nomination form and submit it no later than 16 August 2019. Please note, winners of the past five years will not be taken into consideration. Catergories Category 1: Achievers of Excellence Category 2: Woman of the Year Category 3: Environmental Conservation Category 4: Entrepreneurial

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Achievements Category 5: Tourism Development Category 6: Junior Achiever (21 years and under)

By Raphael da Silva

logical way of looking at the issue.

Recent road accidents along various stretches of the R43 and R44 in the Overstrand have once again shone the spotlight on speed limits in the Overberg district. The fact that one of these accidents involved the near-death of a friend has made this issue even more personal.

I suggest that if a similar analysis was done here in the Overberg, the conclusions would be the same: that saving lives is better for the economy. In 2012, the Organisation for Economic and Cultural Development worked out a mean value of human life in South Africa, for adults of R12.1 million and R24.2 million for children.

Our country’s abysmal road accident statistics are clear. According to the World Health Organisation, South Africa has one of the world’s poorest road safety records, with ± 31.9 fatalities/100 000 people in 2010. For African countries, the average fatality rate is ± 24.1 fatalities/100 000 people, while globally, the average is ± 18 fatalities/100 000 people. In South Africa, approximately 1 million road accidents are reported per year. Last year, the French government, despite the opposition of 86% of rural residents, reduced the speed limit from 90 km/h to 80 km/h on single-carriageway rural roads that lack a central strip of land between the opposing lanes – the type of roads mostly found in the Overberg. What was the reason for this unpopular reduction? Quite simply, economics. The French weighed up the costs and benefits and found that the sums came out in favour of a lower limit.

The nomination forms are available at the Mayor’s office in Magnolia Street, Hermanus or can be requested from Doret Taljaard (028 313 8058).

In other words, using a value of human life figure of Euro 3 million, the French worked out that the 300 – 400 lives that would be saved from the speed reduction were more important for the economic growth of the country than if they had died.

All completed, well-motivated nominations can be forwarded to dtaljaard@overstrand.gov.za (not larger than 2MB) or handed in at the Mayor’s office in Hermanus before 16 August.

YOUR OPINION Reducing speed limits will boost the economy

Such cost-benefit analyses may seem cold-hearted, but balanced against many drivers’ “need for speed”, it is a

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But apart from such a clinical approach, plenty of studies have been done on the economic and lifestyle benefits of reducing speed limits that should be of particular interest to Overberg residents. These include: • An increase in the number of cyclists on the road. • Reduced air pollution. • Reduced fuel consumption. • Reduced noise pollution. • Increased property values. • Higher spending on retail and services. This is not an argument for uniform speed limits across all roads. Research shows that speed limits should be determined by the road conditions and that increasing speed limits in urban areas or on national roads can also be beneficial. Rather, the argument is that reduced speed limits, especially on single-lane roads and in rural towns, would be beneficial economically. In the Overstrand, Facebook opinion polls are clearly split down the middle, with 50% either for or against reducing speed limits on the R43. Perhaps now is the time, given the economic doldrums the country is in, to depersonalise the arguments around speed limits and rather focus on the economic benefits that reduced speed limits can bring to rural economies.

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7 August 2019

www.thevillagenews.co.za

Fynbos: Famine in Paradise FOLLOW US ONLINE

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Having an event? Then post it to the What’s On section of The Village NEWS website. It’s FREE and EASY TO USE. www.thevillagenews.co.za/ whatson/ With over 15 000 unique monthly visitors, The Village NEWS will put a spotlight on your event.

Writer Dr Anina Lee

eaders probably don’t need to be told that fynbos is one of the most biodiverse types of plant life on earth. Our own tiny Fernkloof Nature reserve is only 1 800 hectares, yet is home to more species of plants than the entire United Kingdom. In the words of world-renowned botanist and conservation scientist, Prof Richard Cowling: “At first glance, it appears incongruous – a botanical wonderland in an area where essential nutrients are very scarce; where summer drought dries out the topsoil for months; where recurring fires raze all in their path; …where howling winds pummel ceaselessly for days; …and where the amount of plant material produced is only marginally greater than in some deserts. These are definitely not the features that most people associate with paradise.”

All events posted on What’s On are then shared to The Village NEWS - What’s On Overberg Facebook page. www.facebook.com/groups/ tvnwhatsonoverberg/

But fynbos plants flourish in these conditions. They have unique “adaptations against adversity” which have evolved over millions of years. One of the major adaptations is to the very infertile soils in which fynbos grows. To quote Prof Cowling, there is indeed “famine in paradise”. All plants need a basic cocktail of mineral nutrients. But fynbos soil is especially poor in phosphorus, as well as nitrogen, sulphur, calcium, potassium and others. Fynbos soils are so nutrient-poor because most of them are derived from quartzites and sandstones of the Table Mountain and Witteberg groups which are themselves poor in minerals. Moreover, they give rise to sandy soils from which minerals can easily “wash out”.

Adapting to adversity The question is how have fynbos plants evolved over the eons to thrive with so little in the way of nourishment? Given enough time, organisms can adapt to just about anything. The major adaptation that we all know about is to fire. A fire burns the vegetation to ash, which contains all the minerals that the plants have managed to scrounge from the poor soil. The ash in turn fertilises new plant growth. But if the minerals are so difficult for the plants to find in the first place, how do they do it? They do what we would regard as very sensible – they form alliances with other organisms. Let’s have a look at some of these successful alliances, called symbiotic relationships. Living together Many fynbos plants have symbiotic relationships with fungi or bacteria. Bacteria in the soil stimulate many proteas to produce dense clusters of rootlets, called proteoid roots. These dense roots improve the uptake of poorly soluble ions, especially phosphorus, iron and manganese. These dense, sponge-like protea roots have another vital function – they soak up rainwater and release it slowly back into the environment. Bacteria also stimulate the production of nodules (small gall-like outgrowths) on the roots of legumes (plants of the Fabaceae or pea family). The bacteria that live in the nodules have a special enzyme that is able to “fix” atmospheric nitrogen, turning it into an organic form that both the bacteria and the host plant can use. The benefits work both ways – the plant gets usable nitrogen and the bacteria get sugars that the plant makes by photosynthesis. Plant-bacterial symbiosis is a win-win strategy. Plants you may know in the pea family include Psoralea pinnata (Fonteinbos) and Podalyria calyptrata (Keurtjie).

Much of the soil is also acidic; it has lots of hydrogen ions and these positive ions displace the positively-charged ions of some essential minerals that cling to the sand particles, which makes it easier for them to leach out in water.

Fungi also have symbiotic relationships with plant roots forming mycorrhizae, meaning “fungus-roots”. The fungi in this relationship absorb phosphorus and other nutrients from the soil and exchange them for sugars and shelter from the plant. The “roots” of a mycorrhizal plant are a tangle of delicate fibres – some are roots and some are fungal hyphae –

Mystropetalon thomii

Harveys capensis

clutching masses of soil particles. Over 75% of fynbos plants form some kind of mycorrhizal association, sometimes to the extent of the plant losing all roots of its own. Erica species are particularly dependent on this symbiotic relationship with fungi. This is why it can be very difficult to grow fynbos species in soils that don’t provide these benefits. The idea that fynbos can be “rescued” from infrastructure development sites and replanted elsewhere is simply a fallacy. Carnivores Some fynbos plants have evolved to be more independent and catch insect prey, rich in proteins and other nutrients they need. Think of the sundews that trap insects on their sticky leaves, then fold the leaf and secrete digestive enzymes, allowing the plant to absorb the nutritious “soup”. My firm favourite is a specialised sundew found in Fernkloof called Roridula gorgonias. Roridula catches the insect prey, but doesn’t “eat” it. Instead, a little beetle that lives on the plant (and nowhere else) consumes the prey, digests it and defecates on the plant, so providing the plant with its fertilizer. This is a truly remarkable case of symbiosis. Both the plant and the beetle get their reward. Parasites Then we have the case of the plants that are just plain greedy, take what food they need and give nothing in return. These are the parasites of nature. They grow on the roots of host plants and extract nutrients from them, offering nothing in exchange except the fact that they don’t actually kill their host. It would not be in their interest to do so, and millions of years of co-evolution have allowed them to strike this balance. Because the parasites don’t need to make their own food, they can dispense with the need for leaves and photosynthesis. But they do need to make seeds to propagate, so they often produce spectacular flowers to attract pollinators. Examples of these parasites include the “Aardroos” (Mystropetalon thomii) and “Inkblom” (Harveys capensis). It occurs to me that plants are not that different from people.

What’ On Overberg Your guide to what is happening across the Overberg

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EXPLORER ARTS | FOOD & WINE | EVENTS

THE HOME OF FINE BOOKS 028 313 0834

A long weekend of Kalfiefees events

he Hermanus Times Kalfiefees, which traditionally takes place over the Women’s Day long weekend, is back for the 19th time with an excellent programme of acclaimed theatre productions, music performances, book discussions, children’s entertainment and an art exhibition from 8 – 11 August. The main venues for the Kalfiefees events are the De Wet Hall in Onrus, the Sandbaai Hall and the Municipal Auditorium in Hermanus. Tickets are available from Computicket and at the Festival Office next to the De Wet Hall in Onrus. Tickets can also be purchased in cash at the door, provided that particular show has not been sold out. Tickets can also be booked online at www.kalfiefees-hermanus.co.za. The festival hub will be at a new venue this year, the Hemel-en-Aarde Brewery in Hemel-en-Aarde Village, which is conveniently situated at the Sandbaai intersection, halfway between Onrus and Hermanus. Here festivalgoers will be able to find refuge when the weather is inhospitable and there will be more than enough to eat and drink between shows. Live music by local performers will add to the festive ambience and on Saturday, Whale Coast FM will be broadcasting live from the brewery. Although the Kalfiefees is primarily an Afrikaans festival, there will be more than enough for English-speaking folk to enjoy. After all, music speaks a universal language and this year’s festival offers several not-tobe-missed performances. Enjoy!

KALFIEFEES PROGRAMME 8 – 11 AUGUST 2019 WEDNESDAY 7 AUGUST 17:00 OPENING OF KALFIEFEES ART EXHIBITION Venue: Municipal Auditorium Open daily: 8 – 7 Aug

THURSDAY 8 AUGUST 20:00 GALA EVENING WITH ‘DRIE VAN DIE BESTES’ (MUSIC) Mathys Roets, Kevin Leo en Danie Niehaus, accompanied by Matthys Maree Venue: Sandbaai Hall Tickets: R150 - 80 min.

FRIDAY 9 AUGUST 09:30 for 10:00 GESPREK MET THEO VORSTER ‘Suid-Afrika 202: Klem op die grootste veranderlikes en scenario’s daarna’. Venue: Municipal Auditorium Tickets: R130 - 120 min. 10:00 ‘HANSIE EN GRIETJIE’ (CHILDREN’S THEATRE) Venue: De Wet Hall, Onrus Tickets: R60 - 50 min. 10:00 ‘VROUEDAGVIERING’ (WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION) WITH KEVIN LEO ‘Op reis met Musiek, Kos en Humor’ (Travels with Music, Food and Humour) Venue: Hemel-en-Aarde Brewery Tickets: R190 - 120 min. 13:00 ‘MENSE EN HULLE DINGE’ (LUNCH HOUR CONCERT) With Emile Minnie and Louise van Zyl Venue: De Wet Hall, Onrus Tickets: R100 - 60 min. (no U12)

14:00 GALAXY CONCERT (YOUTH PRODUCTION) Venue: Municipal Auditorium Tickets: R80 - 60 min. (U10 & Over 70 free) 14:00 BOOK DISCUSSION With Celeste Loriston about her latest youth book, JYNX Venue: Woodenways, Hemel-enAarde Village Tickets: Free - 60 min. 16:00 ‘LAG VAN DIE HUIL’ With Mathys Roets and Dana Snyman (music & words) Venue: Sandbaai Hall Tickets: R120 - 75 min. 18:00 ‘HUISHOU’ (DRAMA) 4 FIËSTA NOMINATIONS With Cintaine Schutte and Nadia Valvekens (best actress at Aardklop) Venue: De Wet Hall, Onrus Tickets: R130 - 80 min. (no U16) 20:00 AMANDA STRYDOM IN CONCERT (MUSIC) Accompanied by Coenraad Rall Venue: Sandbaai Hall Tickets: R150 - 90 min. 20:00 ‘DIE VOORDELE VAN EIERWIT’ (COMEDY-DRAMA) With Margit Meyer-Rödenbeck and Marion Holm Venue: Municipal Auditorium Tickets: R150 - 80 min (no U10)

SATURDAY 10 AUGUST 10:00 ‘HUISHOU’ (DRAMA) 4 FIËSTA NOMINATIONS With Cintaine Schutte and Nadia

Valvekens (best actress at Aardklop) Venue: De Wet Hall, Onrus Tickets: R130 - 80 min. (no U16)

With Geon Nel and Wilken Calitz Venue: De Wet Hall, Onrus Tickets: R120 - 70 min.

10:00 ‘DIE VOORDELE VAN EIERWIT’ (COMEDY-DRAMA) Venue: Municipal Auditorium Tickets: R150 - 80 min (no U10)

17:00 ‘DONKIE’ (DRAMA-COMEDY) Venue: Sandbaai Hall Tickets: R130 - 60 min.

10:00 BOOK DISCUSSION WITH DANA SNYMAN ‘Hoe skryf mens vir Suid-Afrikaners?’ Venue: Woodenways, Hemel-enAarde Village Tickets: Free - 60 min. 11:30 BOOK DISCUSSION With Irma Joubert, in conversation with Jan-Jan Joubert Venue: Woodenways, Hemel-enAarde Village Tickets: Free - 60 min. 12:00 ‘HANSIE EN GRIETJIE’ Venue: De Wet Hall, Onrus Tickets: R60 - 50 min. 13:00 ‘KLIPPE WAT VAL’ (DRAMA) With Wilhelm van der Walt (Best Actor at Fiësta 2019), Dean John Smith (Best Supporting Actor) and Gideon Lombard (music) Venue: Sandbaai Hall Tickets: R130 - 85 min (no U16) 14:00 ‘SÊ GROETE VIR MA’ (DRAMA-COMEDY) With Hannes van Wyk Venue: Municipal Auditorium Tickets: R120 - 60 min. 15:00 LIEGBEK / LIES OF THE MIND (MUSIC AND MAGIC)

18:00 STORM IN AN F-CUP BRAVADES (MUSICAL COMEDY) With Michelle Botha Venue: De Wet Hall Tickets: R120 - 70 min. (no U16) 18:00 ‘VAN KOOS TOT COUNTRY’ (MUSIC) With Wynand and Chereé Strydom Venue: Municipal Auditorium Tickets: R130 - 70 min. 20:00 THEUNS JORDAAN (MUSIC) Venue: Sandbaai Hall Tickets: R150 - 90 min.

SUNDAY 11 AUGUST 10:00 ‘DIE ROAD TRIP’ (COMEDY) With Waldemar Schultz and Brendon Daniels Venue: Municipal Auditorium Tickets: R130 - 70 min. (no U12) 10:00 SIMPLY BLUE With the Bishops College a capella choir Venue: De Wet Hall Tickets: R50 at the door 15:00 STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY CHOIR Conducted by André van der Merwe Venue: Dutch Reformed Church, Onrus Tickets: R140 - 60 min.

10 | FOOD

7 August 2019

What’s cooking over the long weekend Writer Hedda Mittner

he Kalfiefees long weekend has traditionally been a kuier weekend, when friends and family get together to enjoy the various theatre productions, music performances and other cultural events on the programme and, in between shows, spend time together over a glass of wine or beer and a plate of fabulous food. This is the 15th year that the Kalfiefees is hosted in our neck of the woods, bringing with it much-needed entertainment and a festive atmosphere to lift the spirits of locals and visitors alike during the worst of the winter season. It is also tradition for the Kalfiefees to have a kuiertent but unfortunately this has not always proven to be very practical, and I remember more than one festival when an untimely winter storm caused the marquee to collapse. This year there will be no need to fret about the weather, however, as the new Kalfiefees kuierplek is the Hemel-en-Aarde Brewery, where live entertainment and plenty of food and drink will be on offer. If there is one thing our region has no shortage of, it’s reputable restaurants where festivalgoers will be able to find not only great winter specials and acclaimed local wines and craft beers, but also a warm refuge from the inhospitable weather. Starting in Hemel-en-Aarde Village, just across from the Brewery, there is EAT Restaurant, where new owner JF van der Westhuizen of

Kokkedoor fame and his team keep the fires stoked while the kitchen turns out hearty and affordable fare. JF’s blackboard specials vary according to the availability of fresh produce but usually include hearty comfort food such as waterblommetjie bredie, oxtail or lamb shank. EAT is now also open for breakfast daily (closed on Mondays) and offers a delicious Sunday buffet lunch at the unbeatable price of R145 pp (R165 inclusive of a glass of wine). EAT is open Tuesday to Saturday from 08:00 – 21:00 and on Sunday from 08:00 – 15:00. Call 028 316 2348 to book. Also in Hemel-en-Aarde Village is The Class Room Restaurant which, apart from hosting functions and events, offers a daily winter special comprising a main plus dessert for around R100. They are also open for Sunday lunch, with a choice between two three-course menus, one for R190 pp and the other R225. On Friday 9 August (Women’s Day), The Class Room will host Harry Campbell, the father of ‘Die Campbells’, who will perform a tribute to the ‘60s. This cost of this live show, along with a two-course menu, is R200 pp. Make your reservation on 028 316 3582 or 082 359 5608. Before heading into town, you might want to take a drive down the Sandbaai Main Road to the laid-back VB’s Restaurant, located a mere stone’s throw from the beach. Known for their friendly service, great burgers and pizzas, VB’s has been warming the hearts and tummies of its loyal customers with its Winter Blues Buster – R99 for any pizza! And we’re not talking your run-of-the-mill, franchise-chain pizza here; VB’s pizzas from their wood-fired oven are imaginative yet authentic – and dangerously delicious. On Women’s Day VB’s will be open from 12:00

and offer a complimentary wine tasting by Seven Springs with any meal ordered. Call 028 316 3427. In Hermanus, one of the most popular spots for visitors is the waterfront, especially on sunny days when you can soak up the views across Walker Bay and maybe even spot a breaching whale. Here you’ll find the Wooden Barrel, a cheerful bistro where you can either sit inside or outside on the piazza. In addition to their extensive menu, the Wooden Barrel regularly offers specials (often paired with a glass of wine

or beer) and have been treating diners to daily specials this winter at only R69.90. Their latest addition is a brand-new kiosk, where those in a hurry can get anything from coffees, smoothies and milkshakes to toasties, burgers, sausage rolls, fish cakes, calamari wraps, and fish and chips. Wooden Barrel is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 7 days a week. Contact 028 312 4377. Remaining on the waterfront, just a little further down Marine Drive, you’ll find Hermanus’s grand old lady, The Marine Hotel, which has

Open for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Tuesday - Saturday: 08:00 to 21:00 Sunday: 08:00 to 15:00 Sunday lunch buffet Tel: 028 316 2348 Section 3 - 6 Hemel-en-Aarde Village Sandbaai

NEW Blackboard MENU AUGUST SPECIALS 2-course Lunch/Dinner special @R150

LUNCH: Tue-Fri: 11:00 - 15:00 DINNER: Wed-Fri: 18:00 - 21:00

12 Aberdeen Street, Hermanus | 028 312 4681 Private Garden Courtyard & Cosy Fireplace

FREE glass of wine with any meal

Bookings essential | Fully licensed

Beef & Mushroom Pie cauliflower puree and vegetable garden

FOOD | 11

7 August 2019 been a landmark for more than a century. During the chilly winter months, The Marine serves up various tempting offerings that make this the ideal venue for cosying up with family or friends. In fact, a visit to Hermanus would not be complete without a visit to The Marine. Their winter treats include a Breakfast Special at R145 pp, a weekly curry special at R170 pp, Friday Fish & Chips at R120 and a Sunday Roast with all the trimmings at R170 pp. On Women’s Day, The Marine will host a Pink High Tea at R180 pp that will include an exclusive gift, wine from Sumaridge, and an array of delectable bite-size morsels, dainty sandwiches and oven-fresh scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Guaranteed to make you feel like a princess! Contact The Marine on 028 313 1000 to make a booking. The Eatery is a delightful establishment that has been popular among the locals of Hermanus for many years. Tucked away in Long Street Arcade just off Long Street in the Old Town, it offers wholesome, unpretentious cuisine and innovative daily blackboard specials, along with a selection of quality local wines. Their breakfasts, coffees and freshly-baked cakes are exceptionally good and they also stock home-made meals to take home. The Eatery is only open during the day, from 07:00 – 16:00, Monday to Saturday. Call 028 313 2970. Not far from The Eatery, in Aberdeen Street, you’ll find another local favourite, The Barefoot Cook. With an attractive art gallery at the front of the restaurant and a delightful courtyard at the back, this cosy restaurant is housed in a traditional Hermanus fisherman’s cottage, one of the few that have escaped the developers’ bulldozers. A blazing fireplace greets diners as they enter, creating a warm, charming and intimate atmosphere. The cuisine prepared by the owner-chef is excellent, with a touch of European sophistication.

The menu is written up on blackboards and changes weekly according to the seasonal availability of produce. For the month of August, an additional winter special has been added that comprises two courses, with a free glass of wine, for R150 pp. Booking is essential on 028 312 4681.

BOSCHRIVIER TASTING ROOM

028 008 5031

17km from Stanford R326 We cater for wine tastings, birthdays and functions for up to 60 people OPEN: Mon-Sat 08:00 to 17:00 Sunday: 1 Sept 10:00 to 15:00

Just up the road from the iconic Voëlklip Beach is the Walker Bay Grill, a classy establishment where the focus is on steak, seafood and pizza, complimented by a fine wine list. Here, too, you will find great winter specials such as a lamb rack served with sautéed potatoes and vegetables at R195 pp or a mouthwatering seafood platter for two at R350 pp. When the weather is good, the verandah is an idyllic spot for sundowners. An exclusive shuttle service to and from the restaurant means you can indulge as much as you like, knowing that you’ll be returned home safely. Contact 028 314 1637 or 072 488 9499 to make a reservation. About half an hour’s drive from Hermanus lies the quaint village of Stanford. This region boasts several fine restaurants and wine estates that are well worth a visit. If you take the R326 turn-off at the entrance to Stanford, you’ll wind your way to Boschrivier Wines, located on two farms that lie at the foot of the Klein River Mountain range. Remhoogte farm hosts the vineyards from which Boschrivier wines are produced and a manor house turned into a wine house/coffee shop that is open to the public for wine tasting. Light snacks and beverages can also be enjoyed on the large covered deck while the little ones play in the kiddie’s play area on the sprawling lawn. The venue is ideal for functions and special celebrations, seating up to 60 people. The Boschkloof farm also offers three different accommodation units for guests who want to experience the tranquility of country living. Contact 028 008 5031.

VB’s will be open from 12:00 for Women’s day Receive a complimentary wine tasting with any meal bought VB’s Restaurant 282 Piet Retief Crescent, Sandbaai Contact: 028 316 3427 | info@vanderboltcc.co.za Trading hours: Tue - Fri 16:00 - 22:00 | Sat 12:00 - 22:00 | Sun 12:00 - 17:00

Meet the friendly team from The Eatery! Under new management: Miriam & Ernst with new manageress Ingrid.

4 Long Street, Hermanus 028 313 2970

Come and enjoy our wholesome food!

9 August 2019

Join us on Women’s Day for Pink High Tea with SUMARIDGE WINES in celebration of the courage and strength of women. Tickets cost R 180 per person, includes a Molton Brown gift to the value of R 600. Book at bit.ly/TMWomensDay2019Quicket

#mymarinehermanus

028 313 1000 | bookings@themarine.co.za themarinehotel.co.za

WOMEN’S DAY PINK TEA

Restaurant and Function Venue

14:00 | R200 per person

Hemel & Aarde Village Hermanus

Live Entertainment for the whole family by the Father of Die Campbells, Harry Campbell. With a Tribute to the 60's, Rock & Roll Revival and many more! Bookings: 028 316 3582 or 082 359 5608 The Village Centre, Sandbaai

Menu Main: Chicken Cordon Bleu Creamed Herbed Potatoes, Mushroom Sauce & Greek Salad Dessert: Fruit Pavlova

WHAT’S ON

OVERBERG Wednesday

www.thevillagenews.co.za/whatson run (or walk) where it’s only you against the clock. The whole family is welcome. Grab a post-run coffee in the Red Disa restaurant with fellow parkrunners. Harold Porter Botanical Garden | 08:00

Kalfiefees Art Exhibition The Kalfiefees Art Exhibition provides local artists of the Overstrand with an opportunity to bring their talent to the attention of the public. Everyone is welcome to attend the opening of the exhibition, which runs until Sunday 11 August at 13:00. For more information, contact 084 506 7427 or lalica777@gmail.com Municipal Auditorium Banquet Hall | 17:00

Civvio Vine to Valley Trail Run Ignite your passion for the great outdoors and discover your inner trail runner. This month’s V2V Trail Run Series will be hosted by Spookfontein Wines in Hemel-en-Aarde, offering a scenic 5 km route among the estate’s vineyards. The cost is R120 for adults, R70 for kids 10 – 18 years, and free for kids U10. Your entry includes a medal for your madness and a free wine tasting, recovery massage and Travelstart voucher. There are also loads of prizes up for grabs. Tickets are available at www.quicket.co.za Spookfontein Wine Estate | 09:00

Meditation Class Have you ever wanted to learn to meditate? Join Dr Arien for a free class where you’ll learn how to relax and unwind your busy mind, for only a few minutes every day, to the benefit of both body and mind. For more information or to book, contact 067 116 6111. 26 Whale Rock Estate, Hermanus | 17:30 Book Launch Jonathan Amid will be in conversation with local author Ruan Kemp about his explosive debut novel, Gedeeltelik Bewolk. The book is written in Afrikaans and published by Tafelberg. Copies will be for sale at the launch. Please RSVP to: rsvp@nb.co.za Hemel-en-Aarde Brewery | 17:30 for 18:00

Market in the Garden Hunt for treasures at this peaceful market set among the shady trees of a beautiful garden. St Peter’s Church, Main Road, Hermanus | 09:00 – 13:00 tion. For the full programme, go to www.kalfiefees-hermanus.co.za. Tickets are available from Computicket. Various venues | Thursday 8 – Sunday 11 August

Friday

Hermanus Photographic Society Visitors are welcome to join the society’s meetings on the first Wednesday of every month. For more information, contact Elizma Fourie on info@hermanusphoto.co.za or 082 499 5116. Hermann Swart Hall, Dutch Reformed Church | 19:00

Thursday

BodySensing Join Nicholas for a series of healing-through-movement sessions that will show you how to unwind, restore sleep, release pain and find freedom within. Bookings are essential on 082 437 9776. BodyMind Studio, Sandbaai | 08:00 – 09:15 Kalfiefees The annual Hermanus Times Kalfiefees kicks off with a gala evening featuring ‘Drie van die Bestes’ – Mathys Roets, Kevin Leo and Danie Niehaus, accompanied by Matthys Maree. This gala performance in the Sandbaai Hall at 20:00 on Thursday evening will be followed by three days of top-notch entertainment including music, drama, comedy, book discussions, children’s entertainment and a special Women’s Day celebra-

Elgin Winter Festival Celebrate Winter, Wine & Words at the first ever #ElginWinterFestival, taking place over the Women’s Day long weekend from Friday to Sunday in the scenic Elgin valley. Escape the cold and come and experience everything we love most about winter: fireplaces, red wine, books, worldclass entertainment and delicious comfort food. Highlights will include the Elgin Winter Wine Festival on the Friday from 18:00 – 21:00 at the Elgin Railway Market, where the folk-rock duo, Bottomless Coffee, will also be performing live on the Saturday from 18:30. And that’s not all – the valley will be sizzling with a wide variety of winter-warming events, activities and experiences all weekend, from the highly-anticipated Literary CrimeFest and exclusive wine masterclasses to the parkrun and mountain biking, riv-

MANUFACTURERS OF SIMULATED STONE PRODUCTS

HERMANUS

er barging, pony rides and outrides, indulgent complimentary gifts for ladies and so much more! Visit www. winesofelgin.co.za/elgin-winter-festival/ for the full itinerary. Book online at Quicket. Elgin Valley | from Friday 08:00 – Sunday 17:00 Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington U3A Overberg presents a new series of six lectures that will explore the careers, personalities and military strategies of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France, and Sir Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington. Both were born in the year 1796 and their military careers climaxed at the historic Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

LIVE MUSIC

Ofﬁcial Kuierplek for the Kalﬁefees with live music all weekend. Whalecoast FM will be broadcasting on Saturday from 09:00 to 21:00 followed by the rugby. 028 316 4626 | info@hermanus.beer www.hermanus.beer/

Napoleon spent his final years in exile on St Helena whereas Wellington became Prime Minister of Britain. The first lecture is entitled The Life of Napoleon Part 1. Catholic Church Hall | 10:00 Wine Down Friday Join Hermanus’s trendiest wine bar for their 2-for-1 special every Friday afternoon. Buy a glass of any of their lifestyle wines, beers or bubblies (MCC), or a tapas dish of dates and bacon, and get the second one free. A great way to wind down your week and ease into the weekend! The Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Rd | 16:00 - 18:00 Rewind Join Backstage Café & Grill (previously Soul Café) every Friday night and relax to the tunes of their resident band, Rewind, as they perform all your favourite hits from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. R50 pp. Call 028 313 2137 to book. Backstage Café & Grill, 181 Main Road, Hermanus | 20:00

Saturday

Hermanus parkrun Meet for the weekly 5 km timed walk or run, come rain or shine. Run for your own enjoyment at your own pace. The route is dog friendly and children are most welcome. Camphill Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley | 08:00 Betty’s Bay parkrun Join this free weekly 5 km timed

Hermanus Country Market A favourite among the locals. Young, old, two-legged and four-legged family members are all welcome. You’ll find wholesome goodies, homemade crafts, local produce, beers and wine, speciality foods, coffee and live music. Next to Hermanus Cricket Field | 09:00 – 13:00

Die Markie Looking for koek? Vetkoek, pannekoek, soet koekies, sout koekies, lewer koekies? A peaceful place to while away Saturday mornings, glass of wine in hand, with Woefie lying at your feet? Olives, freshly shucked oysters and other nibbles made by real people? Served on real porcelain, using real cutlery, sipping wine from a real wine glass? Then you’ll want to hotfoot it across to Die Markie at Hermanuspietersfontein. Here safe parking is a doddle and life is easy. Hermanuspietersfontein Wine Cellar | 09:00 – 13:00 Stanford Saturday Morning Market Come and sample the artisanal delights on display, from home-made sheep and goats’ cheeses to cured meats, farm-fresh vegetables and deli delights to tantalise your taste buds! Stanford Hotel Stoep | 09:00 – 12:00

Cobbles

Cladding

Coping

Pavers

Landscaping

Tiles

“For animals that are overworked, underfed and cruelly treated, For all wistful creatures in captivity, that beat their wings against bars, For any that are hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry, For all that must be put to death... And for those who deal with them we ask a heart of compassion, Gentle hands and kindly words...” – Albert Schweitzer THANK YOU, HERMANUS ANIMAL WELFARE FOR CARING FOR 50 YEARS

THE VILLAGE

N WS www.thevillagenews.co.za

Hermanus Animal Welfare Society celebrates an exceptional milestone I

t is with great pride and gratitude that the Hermanus Animal Welfare Society, widely known as HAWS, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

From its very humble beginnings when it was founded in 1969 by Violet Laurenson, to date, HAWS has had an interesting and checkered history. Initially, a group of wonderful ladies led by Violet, cared for the needy animals in their own homes, funding the costs from their own pockets. However, the demand grew and it became essential to secure separate premises. In 1983, the first HAWS buildings were con structed in the industrial area, and sick animals had to be transported to the nearest veterinary clinic in Caledon for treatment. The vet subsequently visited Hermanus once a week until

1992, when he moved his clinic to the HAWS premises. He left in 2012. Some interesting tidbits from a 1972 HAWS report show that the cost of treating the animals of underprivileged owners was R25 per month, and the cost of boarding an animal was 25c per day. How things have changed! In 2012, while waiting to appoint a new vet, HAWS set up a mobile clinic service and staff visited the townships to examine animals and give advice on general pet care. Very sick animals were taken back to the kennels for treatment. Also in 2012, the renovation of the previous vet’s building on HAWS’ premises commenced, with the aim of providing HAWS with its own clinic. Funds were raised by the ‘Wall of Fame’ initiative, which was generously supported by the public. In 2018, after being selected as the runner-up charity of the Lighthouse to Lighthouse Ladies Walk, the clinic was finally completed under the dedicated guidance of current HAWS Chairperson, Pam Quinn. It is indeed

a building to be proud of, run very efficiently by the new vet, Dr Nicole Havenga. This has enabled HAWS to increase their Community Veterinary Clinic clients from around 100 patients a month to over 200 – and this number continues to rise. HAWS also has an educational arm overseen by Vice-Chairperson, Marlene Deneeghere, where children from the local communities are taught the basics of pet care and health. The Education Centre opened in 2015. In addition, HAWS has very effective sterilisation projects which are carried out regularly with the help of local vets, to control the proliferation of stray and unwanted animals. On their own account, during the course of a year, HAWS will sterilise around 700+ animals, vaccinate more than a 1000 and feed hundreds of needy animals every month (excluding their own). They provide leashes for approximately 300 dogs a year and have fenced or gated yards for over 20 animals. Continues on P 2

50 years of dedication and care From P 1

keep their head above water!

Due to the fact that HAWS now employs its own vet and vet nurse, they are able to offer support and care for emergency, trauma and disease-related cases, in addition to their usual, basic animal healthcare and sterilisation drives. HAWS responds to hundreds of animal-related medical situations, and they often get called to assist with agricultural animals, including rescuing and relocating horses, pigs, cows and birds (geese, ducks and chickens). They were recently called out to help catch a pack of dogs that were attacking a farmer’s calves in Karwyderskraal.

At any one time HAWS has approximately 46 cats and 50 dogs (including puppies) in the kennels, and their clinic treats, on average, 250 animals per month. No animal in need is turned away. More importantly, HAWS is very pleased to have succeeded in achieving the adoption of over 150 cats and dogs this year.

In 1985 the HAWS charity shop moved to Mitchell Street and in 2018 it was given a much-needed face-lift, making it the attractive and cheerful place it is today. It remains one of HAWS’ major income providers. HAWS relies solely on fundraising and donations to carry out its invaluable work in aid of needy animals in our communities, and is always extremely grateful for the help offered by all their dedicated volunteers, donors and supporters, as well as for the wonderful assistance received from the local veterinary clinics. HAWS is always in need of ‘more hands on deck’ to walk their dogs and cuddle their cats, as well as financial support in the form of donations. It remains a constant battle to

Through their partnership with the local Law Enforcement units, HAWS has assisted in setting up the animal-handling protocols, the legal documentation for animal-related matters, and education in humane animal handling, including the best practices of officials. To achieve this, they operate on the basis of zero tolerance for abuse, neglect and cruelty, and zero tolerance for all backyard, hobby or accidental breeding, while supporting and nurturing concerned human owners through community outreach programmes. These programmes have been initiated at every school within the Greater Hermanus Area, with an average group size of 15 students per grade, per month. HAWS staff members take some of the animals with them to the schools, where they discuss the basic care and treatment of animals. The children are allowed to interact with the animals in the classroom, fol-

Happy 50th Anniversary HAWS We are proud to be associated with a successful venture, especially one with such noble goals and incredible achievements. The HAWS Shop Volunteers

lowed by visits to HAWS, where they are given small chores to do within the shelter environment. In the spirit of community support, HAWS also offers their young clients who have attended the outreach programme, but who lack parental guidance and support in caring for their animals, a “work to earn” programme.

Hermanus Animal Welfare Society 4 Steenbras Street, Hermanus Industria TEL: 028 312 1281 HAWS Charity Shop 18 Mitchell Street, Hermanus TEL: 028 312 1800 Fundraising No: 08 800134000 4 NPO No: 002950 NPO PBO No: 18/11/13/3705 HAWS Banking details: Standard Bank Hermanus Animal Welfare Society Account No. 082 263 310 Branch Code 05 03 12 Reference: YOUR NAME followed by 50th

This entails giving the children, who are called Young HAWS Heroes, the opportunity to earn their animals’ care and upkeep (vaccinations, sterilisation, leashes, blankets, kennels, food, etc.) by “working” for HAWS after school and on weekends. This also teaches them about the responsibility of pet ownership and encourages those who would one day like to work with animals, to follow their dreams. As the human population in the Her-

The Cat Volunteer Group

HAWS relies on the generosity and support of individuals, businesses and organisations to enable them to care for sick, lost and destitute animals, and to continue serving and educating the less privileged and their animals. HAWS gives life and love to the most loyal of friends and above all, HAWS speaks for those who have no voice. In achieving this, they live up to the epithet of "kindness and compassion in everything". HAWS is managed by a dedicated committee, whose members give freely of their time, money and expertise to deal with everything from staff issues, maintenance, overseeing the care of the kennel animals, animal rescue, publicity and fundraising. The committee is also very grateful to their hard-working staff members who run the clinic and kennels so well. Please help HAWS to grow from strength to strength, and to continue helping those who cannot help themselves. As Mahatma Gandhi said: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals.”

Happy 50th BEE Day!

CCgratulates HAWS ON SERVING OUR COMMUNITY FOR

50YEARS Gabi, Trudi, Irene, Beth Laura, Rhe, Jenny, Nicole Rebecca & Marlene.

Congratulations H.A.W.S On Your 50th Birthday And Thank You For The Difference That You Make!

HAWS speaks for those who have no voice, living up to the epithet of "kindness and compassion in everything".

manus and Overberg area increases, so too do our domestic animal populations increase. The costs of the services that HAWS provides, also increase year on year, making their financial targets more and more difficult to achieve.

Monday - Saturday: 09h00-17h00 Sunday and Public Holidays: 09h00-15h00 Nadia Vorster 072 325 6360

A fast, fabulous, fun quiz game by Barry Hilton!

. See Your Health Differently

Hemel & Aarde Village Call 082 928 1965

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R100 ea

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Thank you to each kind heart that adopts Thank you to every loving home that fosters Thank you to every single volunteer that shares a hug

KIA Hermanus Unit 3, Uitkyk Hermanus 028 313 1722

Together courage and trust is restored to those who need it most And there is hope for those left behindâ&#x20AC;Ś Thanks to the incredible work of HAWS.

Best wishes on another 50 years!

028 316 3988 winevillage@hermanus.co.za www.winevillage.co.za

Happy 50th Birthday HAWS! Tel: 028 312 3065 | Onrus: 028 316 2753 14 Dirkie Uys Street, Hermanus Unit 4A, Trading Post, Onrus hermanusvet@telkomsa.net

wishes our friends at Hermanus Animal Welfare Society

a Happy 50th anniversary We look forward to many more years of saving pets' lives together www.ebervet.com

In continuance of Mandela Day, we will be doing 5 spays for welfare qualifying animals in support of HAWS every working day of the next week. That's 25 free spays - please phone to book.

4 O S KA RS C A FE & B A K ER Y

Congratulations

Coffee. Breakfast. Lunch

HERMANUS ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY

Happy 50th birthday to HAWS SHOP 7 CARRIAGES CENTER HIGH STREET HERMANUS 066 174 8263 Parking Lot of Woolworths

We would like to thank you for all you do for our furry friends. Happy Birthday! 064 501 5524 Shop 8, Station Square Mall, Hermanus www.body20.co.za | hermanusgody20.co.za

Happy 50th birthday to HAWS & best wishes for the year ahead. Keep up the great work!

RUNNING RABBIT Café Happy Birthday HAWS, and may there be many more. Shop 7, Eastcliff Village 251 Main Road Hermanus 028 312 1515

Thank you for all the pet education you have given our children at Just Care. We wish you a Happy Birthday and many more years of the wonderful work you do for our best friends. From the Just Care team and Gilly Tebbutt

OVERBERG

LIGHTING Happy 50th Birthday HAWS, may you grow from strength to strength

028 312 1802

Cell: 083 701 3760 adam@rocprojects.biz

3 Kort Street, Hermanus Industria 028 312 3810

Happy birthday HAWS! Thank you for 50 years of loving care!

Congratulations HAWS!

Hermanus Pharmacies/Clinics Emergency after hours tel: 028 312 4039

Hermanus Pharmacy/Clinic 145 Main Road, Hermanus Tel: 028 312 4039

Alex Grant Pharmacy/Clinic

We wish to congratulate HAWS on reaching this massive milestone.

Gateway Centre, Hermanus Tel: 028 312 4847

Happy 50th HAWS Thank you for CARING!

�ongratula�ons� HAWS!

From Dr Arien van der Merwe aka ‘Kruiedokter van Hermanus’ Arundel Medical Rooms, Westcliff 067 116 6111 info@DrArien.co.za www.DrArien.co.za

Having done this through thin and thinner times, deserves massive applause!

Locked out? We're there! 24 hour service Mon - Fri: 08h30 - 16h30 Sat: 08h30 - 12h00 Morne 082 856 0208 028 312 2617

Wishing HAWS a happy birthday!

the natural science of healing

• Wine • Accommodation • Flowers

028 341 0841 | www.stanfordhills.co.za

Happy birthday to HAWS!

Happy 50th birthday, HAWS!

Congratulations, HAWS!

Gateway Centre, Hermanus 028 312 4439

Happy 50th HAWS!

Thank you for supporting our community!

028 316 4626 info@hermanus.beer www.hermanus.beer

Congratulations HAWS!

John Saunders@John's Jukebox Radio Show

Happy Birthday HAWS!

Congratulations HAWS!

HIK ABALONE FARM

Congratulations to HAWS on their 50th birthday!

Emma 0795957499 edainton1985@gmail.com Based in Sandbaai

Happy 50th HAWS! 23 Mimosa St, Hermanus 028 312 4544

Congratulations!

133 MAIN ROAD HERMAN US

067 168 2517 HEART | HOME COMMUNITY

Hermanus Garden Club

Veels geluk, HAWS! Dankie vir die waardevolle werk wat julle doen

028 316 1414 | Onrus Handelspos

Congratulations HAWS! 24 Long Street, Hermanus 028 313 1550

20B Long Street, HERMANUS

Computerized engraving (laser & conventional) on jewellery, metal, wood, glass, plastic, etc.

Congratulations HAWS! Leslie Terblanche

Tel: 028 313 1516

Happy 50th Anniversary!

Cell: 083 448 2478

JUDY’S CRYSTAL CORNER CRYSTALS, GEMSTONES, JEWELLERY, FOSSILS & SHELLS

082 740 7279 | 135 Main Road (Opp FNB) www.judyscrystalcorner.co.za

PICTURE FRAMING

L.E.S. Engravers

Happy 50th birthday!

ONRUS APTEEK

FRAMES 4 AFRICA

Happy 50th birthday, HAWS! In Memory of Donnae Quinn Who loved her cats with a passion and kindly tolerated her mother’s dogs

Congratulations on 50 years of wonderful work and good luck with the next 50

Happy 50th HAWS!

your ﬁrst step in healthcare

From the Tuesday Bridge Club Lynn, Sanet, Danny and Pam

Exemplary! Keep up the good work!

Congratulations to HAWS on their 50th Anniversary Jennifer Dunn Hermanus House of Pilates Eastcliff

Meet the caring people of HAWS H

AWS is managed by a dedicated committee, whose members give freely of their time, money and expertise to deal with everything from staff issues, maintenance, overseeing the care of the kennel animals, animal rescue, publicity and fundraising. The committee is also very grateful to their hard-working staff members who run the clinic and kennels so well.

Realising the importance of pet education, Marlene was instrumental in starting the 4Paws Pet Education Programme in 2014 and the opening of the Haws Education Centre in 2015. “I started fostering kittens in 2013 and it is so rewarding to give these kittens a loving start in life. The satisfaction of finding them forever homes is priceless.”

Veterinarian Nicole Havenga, who hails from Cape Town, joined HAWS in January 2019 to run the Community Vet Clinic. This dynamic young woman obtained her Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree at the University of Pretoria in 2017 and did her year’s community service at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Kroonstad last year. She is passionate about animals and especially about animal welfare, and wants to make a difference in the lives of these animals. HAWS is most fortunate to have her!

René Dewar – Portfolio: Fundraising, Charity Shop and Dog Coordinator René was co-opted onto the committee at the end of September 2017 to take over the fundraising portfolio. She says she inherited her love for animals from her father, who was always rescuing animals and bringing them home. After settling in Hermanus in 2014, she noticed some feral cats and kittens at the harbour and decided to capture them and have them spayed. “In doing so, I met the most wonderful people in this town,” she says.

HAWS COMMITTEE: From left are Maaike Heger, René Dewar, Pam Quinn, Caroline Davis, Marlene Deneeghere, Irene Saunders, Gabi Brummer and Cheryl Richardson. (Absent when the photo was taken: Alastair Lyle and Janette van den Broek) PHOTO: Supplied

THE HAWS COMMITTEE Pamela Quinn – Portfolio: Chairperson Pamela has been a businesswoman most of her life and, after retiring, moved to Hermanus six years ago. A passionate animal lover, Pamela says she had time on her hands and felt that a good way of helping animals in need was to contact the local animal welfare society. Her initial involvement with HAWS was as a volunteer, walking their dogs. She enjoyed this interaction so much that soon she was spending virtually every morning with the dogs at HAWS. Her visits were never complete without a short time also being spent pampering the cats in the cattery. When Pam was approached about becoming a committee member, she readily agreed and five years ago she took on the portfolio of Secretary. In 2016, due to a reshuffle of the committee, she became Vice Chairperson and then took on the challenge of Chairperson in February 2018. “It has been a great privilege working with the management committee of HAWS,” she says. “These wonderful men and women dedicate so much to HAWS and I am proud to be associated with them.” Marlene Deneeghere – Portfolio: Vice-Chairperson and Education Marlene’s boundless energy, efficiency and dedication is testament to her corporate background. After her retirement she moved from Johannesburg to Hermanus in 2012. She soon became one of what she describes as “the most wonderful, committed and passionate HAWS Cat Volunteer Ladies” in 2013 and has been serving on the committee since 2014. “It was love at first sight when I met all the cats in their lovely home at HAWS. “Relaxing on the sofas, with cats giving you unconditional love is the best medicine for the heart and soul,” she says.

“I have bottle-fed orphaned kittens for a number of years. One of my hobbies is photography, so I take photos of the dogs for adoption purposes. I love all animals and hope to make a difference in the quality of their lives by raising funds to care for their wellbeing, educating the community on how to treat them with kindness and respect, and helping the abandoned to find good, loving homes.”

HAWS COMMUNITY VET CLINIC STAFF: In front, from left are Graham van Balla, Dr Nicole Havenga (Veterinarian & Clinic Manager) and Wildre Filander. At the back are Clement Chalimba, Lindie Meyer and Shepherd Mapfumo. PHOTOS: René Dewar

Cheryl Richardson – Portfolio: Secretary “I grew up on a farm surrounded by animals and have always loved them in any shape or size – probably more than people, as animals are always honest and loving,” says Cheryl. Her family always had a holiday home in Hermanus and she has been coming here since she was born. “My husband and I bought our first house here in 1982 and we have been living in Hermanus permanently since we moved from Cape Town some 13 years ago.” Cheryl adores her three dogs and says her greatest wish is that all the animals in HAWS’ care could find loving homes. As a keen golfer, Cheryl first became involved with HAWS when she took over the organisation and running of their charity golf day four years ago. “We quadrupled the previous year’s profit and the next year I was asked to come onto the HAWS committee as Secretary / PRO,” says Cheryl. “Having served on numerous sporting and cultural committees in my life, this was a natural step for me. This year will be my fourth golf day and I do hope to make a record profit for our 50th birthday!”

HAWS KENNEL STAFF: From left are Takesure Razah, Amanda Havenga, Peter Hansen (Kennel Manager) and Sam Gege. (Absent when the photo was taken: Chester Khuzane)

Caroline Davis – Portfolio: Dog Volunteer Coordinator Caroline has been involved with HAWS since 2010. In her position as dog volunteer coordinator, she manages the people who volunteer

The story of Hope

HAWS CHARITY SHOP STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS: In the back row, from left, are Sylvana Duran (volunteer), Sandra Corbett (Shop Manager), Progress Mhonda (shop assistant), Sue Taylor and Ann Brindley (volunteers). Seated in front are Patty Kelly and Carol Meyer (volunteers). to spend some time with the dogs by walking, grooming or just playing with them and giving them some much-needed TLC. “I have loved animals my whole life and find it really rewarding when we get a neglected or abused dog and then see it going off to a new forever home as a completely rehabilitated dog.” Caroline says HAWS is not, as many would expect, a sad place. The dogs are not kept in small kennels day in and day out. “We have a dog run where each pack gets a turn to run around and socialise every day. The dogs have their own "bedrooms" to sleep in at night, with a wooden pallet and blanket to sleep on. They are also taken out by volunteer walkers for anything between 10 minutes and an hour, depending on the walker, and they enjoy these outings that get them out of the confines of the HAWS facility. Come in and volunteer to walk our dogs – I can assure you it will lift your spirits!” Irene Saunders – Portfolio: Cat Volunteer Coordinator, Membership and Newsletter Irene, who hails from the UK, says she has always been a cat lover and that strays often gravitate to her, looking for help, whether here or in the UK. “Some sick, some healthy – I would always take them in,” she says. Irene moved to Hermanus in 2005 and after visiting the HAWS kennels, she signed up as a volunteer in January 2007 to walk and play with the dogs. In 2009 she joined the new cat volunteer group and served on the HAWS committee from 2011 – 2013. Irene moved back to the UK in 2014 but returned in late 2016 and was asked to rejoin the committee in 2017. “And here I still am,” she says, “serving our wonderful animals, especially the cats. Would you believe that both the cats I have now, separately turned up in my Hermanus garden, one in 2008 and the other in 2013. Both travelled to the UK with me and back again to South Africa.”

Maaike Heger – Portfolio: Marketing Maaike focuses on marketing and fundraising. She only recently joined the HAWS committee and says she is thrilled to be part of a wonderful team of dedicated animal lovers. “I have spent time as a cat volunteer before; nowadays also taking my young children to the cattery. It's amazing to see how they connect with the animals, and how much love they receive in return. We would obviously like to adopt all of them, but since we can't, this is our way of contributing to their wellbeing, until they find their forever homes,” she says. Gabi Brummer – Portfolio: Human Resources After moving to Hermanus in 2005, Gabi joined HAWS as a cat volunteer in 2006. She has served on the committee since 2010, holding various portfolios. She is currently responsible for Human Resources, administration and also assists with cat matters. “The cats are my passion and my three feline house mates, Babushka, Toby and Chico, all come from HAWS,” says Gabi. Janette van den Broek – Portfolio: Online Sales Janette serves on the HAWS committee in loving memory of her beloved dog, Bongi, who passed away. She manages the sale of all the bigger or more valuable items that are donated to HAWS. These are generally items that are too bulky to fit into the shop or can fetch a better price online. Alistair Lyle – Portfolio: Treasurer Alistair has been the treasurer of HAWS for six years. His job is to oversee the financial affairs of HAWS and prepare an annual budget, as well as annual financial statements for their auditors. He keeps track of expenses and income statements in relation to the budget and ensures that the welfare’s funds are properly managed and invested. We at HAWS could not wish for a more committed team. Thank you for all your hard work!

Congratulations HAWS on your 50th Anniversary!

Hope is an adorable patient that was brought to the HAWS Clinic a few weeks ago by a loving member of the community after she’d noticed that Hope was severely neglected by her owners. Every day for a few weeks, the individual who rescued Hope would drive past the yard where she was kept, on her way to drop off her workers. It broke her heart to see how this poor dog was lying on the hard ground, exposed to the cold and rain and progressively becoming thinner and thinner. Eventually, the Good Samaritan approached Hope’s owner and suggested that she take over responsibility for the dog, with the intention of rehoming her. Fortunately, she succeeded in convincing the owner to relinquish Hope and successfully freed her from that yard! When Hope was brought to the HAWS Clinic,

she was malnourished, mangy and very thin – but all the while a sweet and loving doggy. A thorough examination revealed that she was harbouring tick bite fever! However, that didn’t quash the tenacious nature of Hope, and she proceeded to wolf down her food in the following days as she started on her road to recovery. Hope has made a full recovery and is now back to a good body weight. Her coat is improving and she is bouncy and full of energy. Throughout this whole ordeal, Hope has always remained a gentle, sweet-natured doggy. We honestly can’t thank our warm-hearted Good Samaritan enough for rescuing this precious girl. Hope will always serve as a reminder that no matter how grave the situation for our fellow four-legged friends may be, there will always be Hope! – Dr Nicole Havenga HAWS has its own Mobile Clinic, which goes to Zwelihle every Wednesday afternoon and Hawston on a Thursday afternoon. This forms part of their initiative to educate the community about the proper care and treatment of animals and the importance of vaccinations and sterilisations. An encouraging sign that their education programmes among the youth are working, is that during their Spayathons, it is mostly children who bring in their pets to be spayed. Those who don’t have money to buy pet food are also given the opportunity to earn it by doing chores at HAWS after school and on weekends. This teaches these young HAWS Heroes about the responsibility of pet ownership.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAWS ! Thank you for a decade of fantastic service by the organization and special applause for the contribution made by the volunteers, the people that really care. Your efforts to care for, house, ﬁnd homes and all the other services you provide for the needy animals are very much appreciated.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK !

HAWS Special 50th Birthday events HAWS AT THE COUNTRY MARKET HAWS will have a stall at the popular Hermanus Country Market next to the cricket field on the following Saturdays to promote their 50th birthday celebrations: • 7 September • 28 September • 5 October • 26 October For more information, contact Marlene Deneeghere on 082 901 8643 or René Dewar on 082 225 5789. HAWS GOLF DAY 18 OCTOBER The 5th Charity Golf Day in aid of HAWS will be held on Friday 18 October at the Hermanus Golf Club. As this event forms part of HAWS’ 50th birthday celebrations, it seems appropriate that this will be their fifth Golf Day. The HAWS Golf Day has grown in strength and popularity since it was first held five years ago, and it is now one of the most-anticipated charity golf days on the Hermanus calendar. The format of the day is a fun 4-ball alliance, and HAWS is hoping that they can again rely on the enthusiastic support and generosity of the local businesses and people of Hermanus to ensure they have super prizes and lots of sponsorship for the holes on the day. The event is run and organised by Cheryl Richardson, and anyone interested in book-

ing a 4-ball (officially handicapped golfers only please!), sponsoring a hole, or providing prizes can contact her on 082 551 8330 or tamee@iafrica.com. She is hoping to make this a great 50th Birthday celebration golf day, so join in the fun and support this worthy cause! HAWS OPEN DAY 9 NOVEMBER Everyone is invited to the HAWS Open Day, where the public can come and have a look at all the work they do. A large ‘50’ will be drawn in the courtyard, which members of the public will be asked to fill with pet food. HAWS would like to challenge all businesses and schools in the region to start collecting food for the Open Day. And because this is a birthday celebration, there will of course be tea/coffee and cake! For enquiries, contact Marlene Deneeghere on 082 901 8643.

Please come and walk our dogs!

Congratulations Thank you for the wonderful work that you do!

Woofing HAWS a woofingly happy birthday! From the Dog Volunteer Walkers When I look into the eyes of an animal, I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I feel a soul.

Gansbaai Farmers Market Specialising in organic, homemade and homegrown products such as fresh farm produce, oven-fresh bakes and pastries, local wines and craft beers, and indigenous plants and herbs. No plastic or polystyrene packaging; only eco-friendly wood, paper, glass and earthenware used to display goods. For enquiries, contact 028 384 1439 or doulene@gansbaaitourism.co.za Kapokblom Street, opposite Gansbaai Tourism | 09:00 – 14:00

rock band. Smokie is a rock ‘n roll survivor that had at least 13 Top 20 hits in the ‘70s and has sold more than 20 million records worldwide. Their greatest hit, Living next door to Alice, sold more than 10 million copies. Tickets are R120 pp. To book, contact 028 313 2137. Backstage Café & Grill, 181 Main Rd, Hermanus | 20:00

Monday

On Tap at the Tip Beer Festival Expect more than 40 craft beers and ciders, from 15 breweries in the Agulhas region, plus some pretty awesome beers brewed just for the festival. Also added to the mix for 2019 is a craft gin from Black Mountain Gin. Favourites to look out for include Fraser’s Folly, Cederberg Brewery, Birkenhead Brewery, Everson’s Cider, Cluver & Jack Cider, Old Potters, and many more. There will also be live music from Warongx and DJ Paul Fletcher to add to the festive atmosphere at this beautiful venue close to the tip of Africa. The cost is R150 pp (free for U18s), available online at www.webtickets.co.za. Visit www.frasersfolly.co.za for all the details. Black Oystercatcher Wine Farm near Elim | from 10:00 Grape Expectations Enjoy The Wine Glass’s ‘Sumptuous Saturdays’ with Luddite Wines. Arrive to welcoming drinks and canapés, followed by a talk and tasting presented by winemaker Niels Verburg. R395 pp includes three courses with wine, plus dessert. Early reservation is essential as the event is limited to 40 tickets. Contact foh@thewineglass. guru or 082 082 0007. The Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Rd, Hermanus | 18:30 ALICE - A Tribute to Smokie Gareth James and his band return to Hermanus to salute this legendary

Reise met Pierneef U3A Overberg resumes its Afrikaans lecture series with a presentation by the artist, Carl Becker, entitled Reise met Pierneef. Carl Becker graduated cum laude with a BA in Fine Arts from Rhodes University and cum laude in Masters in Fine Arts. He has taken part in numerous group shows over the years and has had seven solo exhibitions since 1991. In 2011 he exhibited From Lion’s Head to Meiringspoort: The Cape Pierneef sites at the Everard Read Gallery in Cape Town. Catholic Church Hall | 10:00 Duplicate Bridge All who enjoy playing bridge are welcome to join in, every Monday. For more information, contact Riekie Louw on 028 314 0662. Fernkloof Hall | 13:00 Mindful Mondays Join Nicholas and Ferdi, holistic health coaches who awaken inspiration from within, for a mindfulness-based movement and meditation session. For more information, contact 082 437 9776. BodyMind Studio, Sandbaai | 18:00

BirdLife Overberg Monthly Meeting The guest speaker is Richard Masson, who will talk about birding in neighbouring countries –Zimbabwe,

Namibia and Eswatini (Swaziland). In the past 18 months Richard visited all three countries, birding in the Harare area and Eastern Highlands in Zim; non-desert areas in Namibia, including Windhoek, Spitzkoppe, Erongo, Etosha, Okavango, Mahango, and the Caprivi; and Mlilwane, Royal Hlane and Malalotha Parks in Swaziland. Catering at R110 pp and R30 pp for those attending the talk only. Remember to bring your own drinks and glasses. RSVP: Helé at birding@ southernartceramics.com or sms at 073 456 0393. Community Hall at Mollergren Park, Hermanus | 18:30 for 19:00 Astrophotography Join the Hermanus Astronomy Centre (HAC) for a presentation on image processing and a discussion of hardware and software compatibility. For more information, contact deonk@ telkomsa.net. Deon Krige’s house | 19:00

Tuesday

Those who have booked will receive confirmation a few days before the scheduled adventure. Venue TBA | 10:30 L2L Presentation Evening The Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse ladies extend a warm invitation to local residents and businesses to become involved and join them for this important evening when the shortlisted charities will each give a presentation to motivate why they should be the charity of choice for the 2020 L2L Ladies Charity Walk. All attendees will then have the opportunity to cast their votes. Those ladies who would like to take part in next year’s walk will also have a chance to add their names to a preferencial list. RSVP: elna.devilliers@telkomsa.net United Church Hall | 18:00

Thursday

The chemistry of carbon U3A Overberg’s series of lectures on carbon, one of the most important elements in our world, continues with a presentation by Mike Brownlee entitled The chemistry of food digestion. This lecture will focus on how the human body navigates chemically complex food sources in order to derive relatively simple building blocks. These are used to tailor the carbohydrates, proteins and fats the body needs to function. Catholic Church Hall | 10:00

Wednesday

Mushroom Forage After the good rains in May, there was a flush of mushrooms in June, and Whale Coast Conservation is hoping there will be more in August, although the weather is unpredictable and it remains to be seen. If you are also an optimist and are interested in foraging and cooking mushrooms, please make a provisional booking by contacting anina.wcc@gmail.com.

Friday

Joburg Ballet Special Performance At this bonus performance, the audience will have the rare opportunity of meeting the dancers, still in costume, after the show, while enjoying a glass of wine and snacks. See Thursday 15 August for more details on the programme. Tickets at R230–R300 pp can be purchased online at www. webtickets.co.za or at the Hermanus Tourism Bureau (Tel: 028 312 2629). Dutch Reformed Church, Onrus | 19:30

Saturday

Joburg Ballet Matinee Performance See Thursday 15 August for more details. Tickets at R180 – R250 pp can be purchased online at www.webtickets. co.za or at the Hermanus Tourism Bureau (Tel: 028 312 2629). Dutch Reformed Church, Onrus | 15:00

SAARP Social Club Meeting The Hermanus Social Club of SAARP (South African Association of Retired Persons) will host guest speaker, Rev Edwin Arrison who will talk about the plans for the new Hermanus Varsity and the progress that has been made so far. For enquiries, contact Sheila Craul on 072 324 7894. Sandbaai Hall | 10:00

Hermanus Tourism Bureau (Tel: 028 312 2629). Dutch Reformed Church, Onrus | 18:30

Joburg Ballet Gala Evening A rare chance to see ballet at its best! The Joburg Ballet Company is back in Hermanus with four performances, starting with a Master Repertoire Class on Wednesday 14 August. The Gala Performance on Thursday evening will be followed by another Special Performance on Friday 16 August. The programme will include highlights from ballet classics such as The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, as well as exciting neo-classical pieces. Entitled ‘Dance to Enhance our Children’s Lives’, this performance is a fundraiser for the Just Care Aftercare Centre. Tickets are R300 – R350 pp and can be purchased online at www.webtickets.co.za or at the

Sunday

Eastern Extravaganza with Cat Simoni Spice up your Sunday with a smoking-hot selection of saucy songs by Cat Simoni and a delectable curry buffet to warm the winter right out of you! The buffet will include Mutton Curry, Chicken Biryani, Brinjal & Feta Curry Potjie, Yellow Dahl (lentil curry) and a selection of Eastern Sambals, Basmati Rice and Roti. The cost is R250 pp. For enquiries and bookings, contact 028 284 9809 or 079 504 3593 or email daphne@ecologylifestyle.co.za. Ecology Lifestyle Farm, R43 | 12:00

14 | FOOD

7 August 2019

Meander your way from Elgin to Hermanus Writer De Waal Steyn

lgin is often the place you travel through on your way to somewhere else. But hidden in plain sight are some of the region’s best restaurants, wine farms and authentic farmstalls where you can taste freshly squeezed apple juice or cider and extend your wine collection with some truly remarkable wines. Nestled in the lush green valleys embraced by the Hottentots Holland Mountains, the name Elgin has over the years become synonymous with apples, as 60% of the national crop is produced there. But Elgin is also becoming one of South Africa's most unique and successful wine regions, with the coolest climate of any region in the country. As with the lifestyle in this area, the grapes ripen slowly, resulting in fruity and sprightly wine, with sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and shiraz doing particularly well. So, next time you drive trough Elgin, turn your trip into a meander and savour the sights, sounds and tastes of this unique area. Here are some of the highlights you dare not miss. On your way from Cape Town, your first stop should be The Orchard Farmstall at Grabouw, the gateway to the Overberg, situated just off the N2. Stop and celebrate this iconic farmstall’s 5th anniversary under new ownership, with daily specials and fresh and tasty fare. Everyone's taste is catered for here. The shelves are lined with local honey, homemade jams

and preserves, including orange marmalade, passion fruit jam, pear and ginger preserve, pineapple jam, apricot jam, strawberry jam and quince jelly. There are local and imported teas on sale, any number of local arts, crafts and bespoke gifts. There is an array of the usual – chips, sweets, cold drinks – that we've come to expect from farmstalls.

Elgin

Orchard is the perfect stop for families, with a lovely playground and jumping castle for little ones to play on and the grassy surrounds of the farmstall make a good spot to sit and picnic if you're so inclined. Fresh drinking water and a large sprawling green lawn are available for pets. Just past Bot River on the N2, put your flicker on and make the turn into the Gabriëlskloof Estate where on cold wintery days you can join them by the fireside (or bathe in sunshine overlooking the mirror ponds) for a memorable wine tasting experience. The estate range consists of four wines (the chenin blanc is currently sold out) and a tasting costs R60 pp, while the small production Landscape Series is made up of five wines that can be tasted at a cost of just R150 pp. The cost of both tastings is refundable on purchase. Ingrained in the Overberg culture is an authentic generosity dispensed informally, which has long been at the centre of The Restaurant at Gabriëlskloof’s philosophy, along with a focus on seasonal produce. This country-style hotspot occupies a wing of the celebrated hilltop winery and has views of the surrounding valley and a large fireplace that's fired up on cold days. When the weather's fair, it's the courtyard stoep that draws families for slow-

cooked, shared meals, served with authentic platteland passion and a generous hand. A hop, skip and a jump from the N2 turn-off takes you to Wildekrans Boutique Wine Estate. A picturesque 1 000 ha estate tucked away in the beautiful Bot River Valley amongst fields of indigenous renosterbos, Wildekrans is known for its award-winning wines, olive oils and dining experience. Wildekrans also offers luxury self-catering accommodation, and many outdoor activities for nature lovers and biking and hiking enthusiasts. The focus of this estate lies very much in creating a fully home-grown product and warm family hospitality for everything from their wines, to hosted events and functions – or even a simple weekend away with friends or family. From concept to execution, Forage restaurant

Honingklip Farm R43, Hermanus Road, Botrivier 082 735 9868 Opening Times: Tuesdays to Sundays & Public Holidays 10h00 to 18h00.

Tel: 028 284 9865 Join us for a pre (or post) winter lunch tasting www.gabrielskloof.co.za

R43 Hermanus Road Bot River 028 284 9149 082 829 8747

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

at Wildekrans delivers a fine-dining experience. Nothing is half-baked. Each dish reflects the region’s diverse history and its produce – mostly foraged by the Forage team. The restaurant offers great decor, a cosy fireplace and welcoming staff who are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, adding to a truly exceptional experience. While the fresh farm flavours of Wildekrans still delight your taste buds, pop around the corner to Bakenshoogte where Johan and Wilma Punt and their sons Gilbert and Hendri nurture 1 200 olive trees on their 5.5 ha farm. The oils made from Frantoio, Leccino and Coratina (with a touch of Favolosa and Nocellara) are intense and well-known for their fresh, green, grassy aroma and peppery taste. The groves produce around 20 tons of olives which are pressed within 24 hours of being

FOOD | 15

7 August 2019 handpicked. The oils are blended to Bakenshoogte’s special recipe with the love and respect these trees from Biblical times deserve. The oil is bottled on the premises in elegant 375 ml glass bottles and 1 and 5 litre tin cans. Oil can also be purchased by filling your own container on the farm. Stocked up on wine and olive oil, the next taste adventure awaits you just down the R43 towards Hermanus at The Cheese Stall. Yes, it’s a cheese stall; one may even say, The Cheese Stall, and it stocks around 35 different kinds of cheese to prove it. But the shelves and refrigerators in the spanking new shop groan with a dizzying range of locally-made and -grown jams, olives, nuts, dried fruit, bottled fruit and veggies, fresh eggs, boerewors, beautifully-woven baskets and so much more. Owners Willem and Wilma Botha source their produce from small farmers mostly within a radius of 250 – 300 km from the shop, but some as far away as the Eastern Cape. So, from the creamiest of cream cheeses, the mozzarellas, fetas, bries and camemberts, to the harder and more mature cheeses, you’ll be sure to find them there. So if you haven’t had the pleasure of an oldtime shopping experience where all the high quality produce is as fresh as can be, and where Willem and Wilma have all the time in the world to get to know you and your needs, The Cheese Stall at Melunah is a must. It’s much more than just cheese. Taking a sho't left on the R43, another taste

adventure awaits you at Ecology Lifestyle Farm. A stone’s throw away from PaardenKloof Estate, Ecology offers you the opportunity to soak up the sun and sounds of farm life while tasting all the different wine ranges produced by PaardenKloof. Ecology offers an incredible venue with a kitchen to match – sit down with the family or celebrate a momentous occasion, all while enjoying local, authentic cuisine. Locally sourced and locally made is their motto when it comes to the boutique farm shop, while the nursery’s focus is specifically on Protea and fynbos plants. For the children there is a beautiful play area and farmyard animals to keep them entertained. Tame and well-mannered (most of the time), the four-legged friends are feathered and furry and can’t wait to meet you during your visit.

Set against the mountain you can relax on the stoep overlooking a secure child-friendly play area. Oh, and pets are more than welcome. Naturally fermented, unfiltered and unpasteurised, the Honingklip brews will delight and surprise you. While enjoying one of a selection of light meals, ranging from a snack plate to fresh mussels and open sandwiches, start off your tasting with Saison, a light refreshing beer, with a touch of wheat, a moderately spicy aroma, light fruity flavour and a dry finish. Saison is designed for people who aren't beer drinkers (yet) and those who want a light beer to drink all day.

All PaardenKloof ‘s exclusive wines are available at cellar door prices from the wine shop at Ecology Lifestyle Farm. Follow this with Wit, a zesty Belgian wheat beer, made with barley, wheat and oats, flavoured Just a little further along the way on the R43 with coriander, chamomile and lemon zest and towards Hermanus (if you pass, the Kleinmond continue your tasting journey with a Blonde turn-off, you know you have gone too far and (no, not that kind!). need to turn back) a tasting experience with a difference awaits you at Honingklip Brewery. This Blond is brewed with 100% locally produced malt and barley hops, offering a more Before leaving your car, make some space flavoursome replacement for lagers. between the wine, olive oil, cheese and other goodies in your boot because you will Now, brace yourself for Honingklip’s take on want to take some of these Belgian-inspired India Pale Ale, brewed with local and Belgian beers home with you. malts, local and German hops, and Belgian

yeast, delivering a complex, intensely flavoured IPA, without being too bitter. And to top it all, there are still the Stout, Dubbel and Trippel to follow before you tingle your beer buds with the Honingklip Special – where the brewer’s creativity runs wild. It is available while the keg still has something in it and it probably contains some alcohol. And if that is not enough, Honingklip Farm also has a 4x4 route and mountain bike trails and regular dog walks in aid of animal charity.

WINE & DINE

CALL TO BOOK. OPEN 24HRS Affordable transport door to door.

0846 885 885

16 | EVENTS

7 August 2019

Special Women’s Day treats

he upcoming Women’s Day long weekend offers plenty of options for those who want to spoil that special woman, or women, in their lives. There will also be festive ‘ladies only’ events that offer the perfect opportunity for a group of female friends or family members to get together and celebrate this annual national holiday. Women’s Day only comes around once a year, so make sure you don’t miss out! FRIDAY 9 AUGUST Women’s Day Vineyard Walk Celebrate Women’s Day with a fun 5 km walk through picturesque vineyards on the edge of the Bot River Lagoon, with four delightful tasting stops along the way. Juices and entertainment available for kids. There will be a lucky draw at the end of the walk with great prizes to be won. Booking at R150 pp (includes a novelty glass) is essential. Contact 087 357 0637 or info@benguelacove.co.za Benguela Cove Tasting Room | Registration 08:00, Walk starts 09:00 Women’s Day High Pink Tea The Marine will be hosting a very special Pink High Tea in celebration of the courage, strength and accomplishments of women, with guest speaker Carmen Titus from the Mount Pleasant Womens Action Group. The delicious high tea, comprising a feast of traditional and contemporary eats, will kick off with a welcoming flute of Sumaridge MCC and each guest will receive a luxury beauty gift from internationally-renowned brand, Molton Brown to the value of R600! Book your ticket at R180 pp online at www.quicket.co.za or call 028 313 1000. The Marine Hotel | 14:00 Harry Campbell Live Celebrate Women’s Day with a lunch and live show by Harry Campbell, the father of ‘Die Campbells’. This talented and versatile entertainer will present a rock ‘n roll revival show with music from the sixties, including the hits that were made famous by Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, CCR, Buddy Holly, Abba, Sha Na Na, the Monkeys, Rolling Stones, Everly Brothers and many more. Tickets at R200 pp

include a delicious two-course meal. To book, contact 028 316 3582 or 082 359 5608. The Class Room Restaurant, Hemel-enAarde Village | 14:00 Women’s Day Dinner in the Barn In honour of National Women's Day and as part of the Elgin Winter Festival celebrations hosted by Experience Elgin, Old Mac Daddy is hosting a festive dinner. Select from one of three set menus, with Elgin Ridge wines available to order and live entertainment provided by talented local musician, Gerhard. The cost of the three-course meal is R340 pp and booking is essential. Reserve your spot with the Barn on 021 844 8900 or at thebarn@ oldmacdaddy.co.za. Old Mac Daddy, 112 Valley Road, Grabouw | 18:00 – 22:00 SATURDAY 10 AUGUST Lomond Rosé Party Call up the ladies in your life and join Lomond Wine Estate for a unique celebration of women next to the scenic dam among the vineyards! Several women from the community will be guest speakers, sharing their inspirational success stories. There will also be live entertainment by Anza and fun games for all. Dress code: Your prettiest pink & white party outfit! Tickets at R150 pp include all the entertainment, snacks and a welcoming drink. Book at www.webtickets.co.za or call 082 908 0099. Lomond Wine Estate | 14:00 Celebrating Women Join God Shift Era for a ladies-only celebration that will include live entertainment, wine, juice and canapés in beautiful surroundings. Each lady will also receive a goodie bag. Funds raised will go towards the Women of Wonder Project, which assists women who are struggling in various ways, such as supplying mothers with baby starter packs, hosting educational talks about women’s health issues, etc. All you have to do is make a donation of R100 online or R120 at the event. To pay online, go to the ‘Celebrating Women’ event page on Facebook and click on ‘Tickets’. Fernkloof Nature Reserve | 15:00 – 17:00

We are open during the Kalefees long weekend Thur 8 & Fri 9 Aug: 11:00 – 20:00 (Join us for cheese & wine from 18:00) Sat 10 & Sun 11 Aug: 11:00 – 15:00 Lize Smit

12 Aberdeen St, Hermanus 076 155 9015 | www.lize-art.com

Astoria Village, Shop 20 Hermanus CBD NEIL DU TOIT MAIN ROAD ST PETER’S CHURCH

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Handbags Laptop Bags Belts Wallets Shoes Tote Bags Leather Care and more...! We’ll be at the Hermanus Country Market on 10 August Cnr Fairways Ave & Jose Burman Drive

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7 August 2019

Local author wins poetry competition L ocal resident, Jaco Fouché (picture right), who is no stranger when it comes to literary prizes, recently added another award to his collection when he won the English language category of the AVBOB Poetry Competition with his poem entitled A feeling like leaving harbour. Over 29 000 poems in all 11 official South African languages were submitted.

A feeling like leaving harbour by Jaco Fouché How wretched are the gloom and chill in the harbour, the tired stretch of water in the docks where the black tide gleams and dully pushes, slowly carrying leaflets on salvation to the piers – lost scholar’s work sticking to stone. Here discarded clothing washes up on shore, figures sit mute in the doorways. Mind the cold stowaways, the exhausted stevedores, the helpless women, the defeated men, the sleepless children – life’s lost and waiting. There are remnants of a fire, the ashes cold and wet and a piece of burnt wood is a relic to the careworn.

The launch of the annual AVBOB Poetry Competition in August 2017 was aimed at providing ordinary South Africans with a poetry portal to express their common experiences of birth and death, of loss and love. The phenomenal growth of this competition, in all 11 mother tongues, confirms the power of poetry to heal and uplift, and affirms the fact that lines on a page can alter lives.

Then, at the end of the furthest pier remote engines throb and hum, lights come on, a thousand inviting squares. The lost and waiting stir; the disabused are led to the gangway, and the soft voice of the faithful sounds.

And lives were indeed altered when the AVBOB Poetry Prize winners of the second competition were announced at a gala evening held on 25 July. Each of the 11 first-place winners of the AVBOB Poetry Prize received a R10 000 cash prize and a R2 500 book voucher, sponsored by AVBOB. They embraced the competition for a variety of reasons, and crafted poems that comfort, provoke and challenge us all.

How slowly this night passes while you’re fearful of forgetting what was young, happy, strong. Come with me, come with me then. Come out of that dark night, huddle here in the light, sit with me awhile, we will sing the things of the heart as beloved from beloved part.

In Jaco’s case, the sudden death of a friend in 2017 inspired him to enter the competition, as a way to articulate and unpack his feelings of loss. Jaco is a clerk and retail salesman by day but has worn many hats, including those of computer programmer, barman and copywriter. He now lives in Hermanus with his wife, and freelances, writing short stories, reviews, novels and young adult fiction.

Jaco Fouché, winner of the English language category of the AVBOB Poetry Competition. Jaco has been honing his poetic craft since his early school days, and while prose is his passion, poetry has always informed his work. He has won several prizes for novels in Afrikaans, including the Eugène Marais Prize in 1997.

Presently, ropes are untied. Engines groan. The hull moves from the stone. The ship crosses the gleaming docks, passes the urgent light tower’s blink on the protective harbour wall, and shudders at the first shove from the open, pounding sea.

Knowledge inspires confidence A successful property transaction starts with the right agent by your side. If you would like to experience the skill and expertise of our area specialists, please get in touch. Pam Golding Hermanus 028 312 1110 | hermanus@pamgolding.co.za pamgolding.co.za /hermanus

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MY WELLNESS Youthful Living

7 August 2019 Dr Arien van der Merwe is a medical doctor specialising in natural medicine, herbal remedies, stress management and holistic health counselling. Address: Arundel Medical Rooms, c/o Church & Arundel St, Hermanus. Website: www.DrArien.co.za

Winter Weight Wobbles

By Dr Arien van der Merwe

eight wobbles are a sign of the season for the genetically compromised ones among us! We intuitively feel the urge to be warm and protected, hence the cravings for comfort food, hot drinks and other survival tools that build fat as protection against the cold. If we happen to be in a snowstorm, the built-in pantry of fat will protect us and provide fuel to endure the cold. This is an ancient human survival response. However, the chances of ending up in a blizzard for days are extremely slim, and we end the winter with additional muffin tops and comfort padding in places we neither want, nor need them! The accumulated fat also puts our health at risk, which is why now is the time to melt the fat away before it becomes a permanent fixture! And with summer fast approaching, there will be no more hiding away behind layers of clothing. Losing weight, especially fat weight, is not only about a better-looking body, but more importantly, about managing the health risks that can pose a serious threat to your health and wellbeing. Lifestyle changes that include healthier eating habits; regular, moderate, enjoyable physical activity; and losing as little as 5% – 10% body fat, have shown phenomenal health benefits – much more effective than any medication can ever be. Losing fat weight can prevent and even reverse existing diabetes; lower blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels; and improve sleep apnoea and other sleep problems — along with helping you feel better about yourself, and increasing your energy levels. In fact, 90% of diabetes, 80% of heart disease and 60% of cancers are preventable with healthier lifestyles and maintaining normal body weight. “We have seen a consistent pattern in our weight loss studies: when patients lose 5% – 10% of their body weight, they lower blood pressure, reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol, improve glucose tolerance (insulin resistance), and in general, lower the risk for cardiovascular disease,” according to Catherine Champagne,

a researcher with Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Doctors consistently report that they successfully take patients off blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medications after the patients have lost as little as 5 kg of fat. Losing even a little weight can be especially beneficial for people who store their excess weight around their abdomen (apple shape), rather than their hips (pear shape). Fat stored around the waist and in the liver, is more metabolically active, which makes it a high-risk trigger for heart disease, but fortunately it is also easier to lose. Ways to prevent winter weight wobbles • Snack on a handful of healthy nuts (almonds are lowest in kilojoules) once or twice a day if you feel peckish. It tastes good, will fill you up and is a healthier option than the sweet stuff.

•

Make your own healthy, wholesome vegetable soup for a warm meal (make enough to last a few days). To make it easier, you can buy freshly-cut vegetables, and a barley, bean and lentil soup mix. To curb winter appetite and sweet cravings, use a herbal appetite suppressant with the herbs Hoodia gordonii and Garcinia cambogia. Hoodia has been used by ancient hunters like the San, for generations, to curb their appetite on long hunting trips. Legitimate hot chocolate: Dissolve 1 – 2 teaspoons pure cocoa powder in hot water,

top up with hot milk (cow, almond or coconut milk), add one teaspoon of raw honey (with healing properties and some healthy sweetness) or xylitol/stevia to taste.

•

Prepare a hot toddy to prevent winter weight gain, while supporting your immune system to prevent winter infections, and for symptom support for fever, colds, sinus drip and sore muscles: add a pinch or a teaspoon each of dry or fresh cinnamon, turmeric and ginger to a small glass, adding hot water (or warm coconut milk) and enjoy, adding a little raw honey or xylitol/stevia to taste.

•

Kickstart your day with a metabolismboosting drink: hot water, with apple cider vinegar, fresh ginger and the juice of half a lemon. Food cravings are often a confused body signal for more water.

•

Carb swop: instead of using a normal pizza base, use a cauliflower wrap and enjoy your guilt-free pizza! You can either buy it, or even better, make it yourself.

•

Too cold to exercise? Put on your favourite song and move to the music in the comfort of your own home. If it’s too cold to start, first warm your clothes in the tumble dryer.

•

Daily deep relaxation practice to unblock and release all the hidden cell memories that cause the stress of ‘cold’ emotions (e.g. guilt and negative self-talk) that retain the fat as a holding pattern.

Important medical screening tests are recommended for men and women with 8 – 10 kg or

more excess fat weight and/or fat accumulation around the waist area (men >102cm, women >88cm) to assess whether you have metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, or other health risks. These iclude: • Fasting blood glucose • Fasting insulin • Waist circumference (WHR) • Body fat percentage and fat weight • Body mass index (BMI) • Blood pressure • Lipid profile incl. total, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides • HbA1C when glucose has been elevated for a longer period • Genetic screening to assess how your genes predict potential future disease and which eating program will work best for you • C-reactive protein to assess inflammation risk Our passion is health education and to help others reach their health goals. For many of us this means losing fat weight to reduce inflammation and to decrease health risks associated with chronic lifestyle diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, depression and more. Come and visit us for a comprehensive health screening and to learn the skills, tips and techniques required to lose fat and keep it off. To support you, we have a 3-month special in celebration of women, and our first anniversary of the Weight Control Clinic in Hermanus. Our many success stories will inspire you!

Dr Arien van der Merwe & Anri van Rooyen: Partners in Weight Control Clinic • • • •

Research Based, Medically Supervised Fat Loss Safe, Natural, Highly Effective Nutraceuticals & Fat Burners to boost your metabolism & encourage long term fat loss. No Hormones. No Stimulants! Focus on decreasing health risks for lifestyle diseases (incl. diabesity, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, etc.) Ongoing support, motivation & advice, to ensure you stay on track, reach your goals

MAKE THE SMART CHOICE! SUMMER BODIES ARE MADE IN WINTER “It takes 4 weeks for you to see your body changing. It takes 8 weeks for your friends and family to notice and 12 weeks for the rest of the world.” It takes 8-12 weeks to adopt a lifestyle change and see results. To celebrate Women’s Month and our 1 Year Anniversary in Hermanus we are offering a 3 month special package. T’s & C’s Apply

Address: Arundel Medical Rooms, 1st Floor, c/o Church & Arundel St (opposite Mediclinic), Westcliff, Hermanus. All enquiries and appointments: Please call 0671166111 / Hermanus@DrArien.co.za Website: www.DrArien.co.za

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7 August 2019

Let your light shine for L2L T

he committee of the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Ladies Walk extends a warm invitation to local residents and business owners to attend the L2L charities’ presentation meeting on 14 August. At the meeting, the shortlisted charities for the 2020 L2L Ladies Walk will each give a presentation to motivate why they deserve to be the charity of choice. “These organisations all need support and the community could make a significant difference in their lives by getting involved,” says L2L committee member, Lindi Prinsloo. After the presentations, all attendees will then have the opportunity to cast their vote. The short-listed charities are: • The Butterfly Foundation • Overstrand Hospice

• • • • • •

Child Welfare Hermanus Learn to Earn Flower Valley ECD SOFCA Kleinmond Child & Youth Care Centre Kids can! Kleinmond

The online registration date for the 2020 L2L Ladies Walk is 19 August. All ladies attending the presentation evening who would like to participate in next year’s event will have the opportunity to add their names to a list that will receive preference for registration. “This event has become so popular that not all entrants can be accepted, but we’ll do our best to accommodate the names on this list,” says Lindi. The 2019 L2L Ladies Walk raised a record amount of over R677 677 to buy a bus for Camphill School, the main charity. The run-

ner-up charities, Overstrand Association for Persons with Disabilities (OAPD) and Overberg Wheelchair Association (OWA), each received R50 000. At the presentation evening, all three charities will give feedback on the progress of their projects. An overview of the L2L Ladies Walk will also be given by Lindi Prinsloo.

Spar stores, Spar Western Cape supplies the ladies with branded tog bags, shirts, peaks, water flasks and other necessities such as water, sunblock, lip-ice and tissues.

The L2L committee thanks each and every one of their sponsors for their valuable contribution to this year’s charity walk. “Our organisation would not be the success that it is if we did not have the continued support of our local community,” says Lindi.

Next year’s charity walk will take place from 12 – 15 March. The annual, all-female, 4-day walk of 100 km along the shoreline from Cape Agulhas to Danger Point is now in its 15th year. It has become an iconic event within the Overberg community and every year the ladies raise the bar in their fundraising efforts.

L2L is very grateful to have their main sponsor, Spar Western Cape, on board again for the 2020 Ladies Walk. In addition to most of the food items that are sponsored by our local

The L2L presentation evening will be held on Wednesday 14 August at 18:00 in the United Church Hall. RSVP: elna.devilliers@ telkomsa.net – Hedda Mittner

1st Floor, Arundel Medical Place C/o Church and Arundel Street, Hermanus olivia@hermanushearing.co.za

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Local duo tackles property market Y

These are the words of father and son duo, Reon and Jaco van der Merwe who, after a three-year absence, opened four Greeff Properties offices in Hermanus on 1 August. The offices are situated in the CBD, Voëlklip, Sandbaai and Onrus.

Landlords who are able to establish a good working relationship with their tenants will have a much easier time when it comes to organising any repairs necessary and retaining those tenants or showing the property to prospective new tenants, says Gerhard Kotzé, MD of the RealNet estate agency group.

As the previous owners of Seeff Hermanus, Reon and Jaco are no strangers to our town or the real estate industry.

And this applies whether you manage your rental property yourself or through a managing agent, he says, so here are the five top tips for becoming the landlord that tenants love to rent from:

“After we sold the Seeff franchise, we focused our attention on property developments, mainly in Paarl and Caledon. But we missed Hermanus so much, we just had to return,” says Reon, who has been in the real estate industry for close on 35 years, 13 of which have been in conjunction with his son, Jaco. “Apart from the fact that the development industry is in a serious slump, Jaco and I felt that we could add value to the Hermanus real estate scene as both seasoned property developers and real estate agents, and that is why we have returned,” he says. “In this venture we are supported by 20 staff members, five of whom have NQF5 qualifications, one of the highest property qualifications in South Africa.” Reon says they feel positive about the Hermanus property market. “In 2013 the real estate market in town was worth R700 million; by 2017 it had grown to R2,4 billion. Since then the market has contracted to R1,7 billion. If you compare us with the Atlantic Seaboard in Cape Town, our market contracted by 27%, while that market contracted by almost 50%. So, the Hermanus market is still sizeable and offers great value for money. We believe we will be able to add value to both sellers and buyers.

Jaco (left) and dad, Reon van der Merwe outside one of their new offices in Main Road Hermanus. we will also aim to give back to the community. We have a long history of involvement in sport sponsorships, and residents will soon notice some of the other community projects we aim to be involved with,” says Reon. According to Jaco, Greeff Properties will also offer letting, commercial property and business brokering services. “There are some exciting development possibilities in the region that we are involved with, so watch this space,” says Jaco. Greeff Properties is aligned with the international real estate group Christie’s and will focus on the marketing of local properties above the R10 million mark. – De Waal Steyn

“But apart from running a profitable business,

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Be transparent and honest Everyone expects honesty when it comes to dealing with tenants’ deposits and rental payments, but you and/or your agent should also be transparent when answering prospective tenants’ questions about things like noisy neighbours, traffic in the area and cell phone coverage. Make your tenants feel welcome It’s worth having a meal or a gift delivered to your tenants on the day they move in and taking the time to provide them with some useful information about their new area. A list of facilities in their new area will be most welcome. Once they know where the nearest shop, bank, gym, bus stop and school are, they will feel much more at home and be able to imagine themselves settling down in your property for a long time.

or night for every little thing, but you don’t want them to feel cut off either. “So, when they move in, give them the right number to call during business hours, and better still, an email address where they can reach you or your agent. This will have the added advantage of helping to keep a written record of all communications with your tenant for future reference,” he says. Be quick to respond As a landlord you no doubt expect your tenant to be prompt when it comes to paying the rent, so you and/or your agent need to extend the same courtesy to your tenant when it comes to dealing with their concerns about urgent repairs, noise or security issues. “Of course, they should only call you or your agent during business hours unless it is a real emergency, but when they do, the matter should be dealt with as fast as possible. And if an outside contractor is required to fix any sort of damage, you need to monitor progress to see that the work is completed properly and on time,” says Kotzé. Be a bit flexible While it may be written into the lease that rent is due by no later than noon on the first of every month, your tenant should be able to approach you for a little leeway in the event of an emergency. No one is suggesting that you tolerate repetitive late payment, but good tenants who usually pay on time and in full will appreciate some kindness when they have a genuine problem – and are most likely to return the favour when it comes to renewing their lease or accepting a rent increase.

Provide clear lines of communication You obviously don’t want your tenants calling you or your agent at all hours of the day

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Ensure your tenants are happy Renting is the smart financial choice for many consumers, but a ‘difficult’ landlord can easily make it feel like the wrong choice, and cause tenants to leave as soon as they possibly can.

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7 August 2019

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7 August 2019

MY HOME

Property info – trust your source or find another By Stephen de Stadler Managing Director Fine & Country Hermanus, Arabella and Kleinmond

he CEO of Fine & Country Sub-Saharan Africa, Linda Erasmus, recently made the following statement which makes so much sense that I would like to repeat it here. “Homeowners, wishing to sell or let their properties normally engage with sales consultants employed by Estate Agencies with the sole purpose of getting information and guidance, giving them [the homeowners], if nothing else, some food for thought when selling or renting their property assets”. That food for thought should thus be coming from a credible and reliable source. Sales consultants, through the estate agencies for which they work, have access to all manner of information regarding your home, the immediate area in which you live, the

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suburb, the town and the municipality. This is normally used to provide a marketing price range for the home. The range is important, because a home that is priced way outside the median is unlikely to sell – unless it is truly unique to that particular area. Being unique is not on its own enough, however, as most buyers consider their resale options even at the time of initial acquisition. The above notwithstanding, the most important question a sales consultant should ask a prospective client at the start is, “Why do you wish to sell?” The buying or selling of a home is a momentous event in any person’s life, but is not the only option available to anyone who needs to vacate their home for some reason. Letting the property may in some cases be a better option. Where someone is selling a home to achieve a different lifestyle, but that lifestyle may not be achievable in terms of the price at which they are likely to sell their current home, the best advice is “Don’t sell your home at this time!”

There is no magic rule or set of circumstances when it comes to giving advice, but the gathering and analysis of information, and importantly, comprehending its implications, is what distinguishes the stronger from the weaker sales consultants and agencies. This need for information should apply not only to the seller’s own property but also to the area in which the seller may wish to buy. Technology plays a huge part in the process of buying and selling homes in modern times. From the websites and portals that advertise the homes, to service providers of the necessary statistical data and the programmes used by the transferring attorneys, nothing is achievable without the support structure provided by backup administrative teams who assist the sales consultants. Negotiating the sale for the mutual benefit of buyer and seller is but the start of the process towards finalising the transaction. Sellers and buyers are entitled to understand and should

ask for a description of the process that will be followed to ensure final registration of the property. It is normally in the interests of all the parties involved in the transaction, i.e. the seller, the buyer and the estate agency, to ensure that transfer takes place as quickly and as seamlessly as possible. Transferring attorneys will have to be appointed; electrical, gas, beetle and plumbing certifications will have to be undertaken, and while everyone hopes that there will be no hitches, it is unlikely that there will not be some form of “snagging” along the way. Take advice from the people who have made this their career. Credible sources will recommend service providers that they have worked with before and who have provided good service. If you feel you cannot trust the source of the information, then the best possible advice is that you

find yourself a new source. The message for sales consultants at the same time is to acknowledge the importance of providing accurate information so as to build trust throughout the selling and buying process. Guiding a seller or a buyer while using inaccurate information may lead the client (albeit unintentionally) down the wrong route. Even the most professional sales consultants will occasionally not have the answer to a question, but the correct response will always be, “I don’t know, but I am going to try and find out and come back to you.” The real estate market is starting to recover. We can feel it in the level of enquiries we are getting. It’s still very much a buyer’s market, but sellers and buyers, please make sure that you trust your source of information.

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Putting Pirate

7 August 2019

Whales, juniors and a 61-year-old champ!

By Julian Shaw

reetings as another week has flown by. Last week’s weather was varied to say the least! A couple of magnificent days, a couple of cloudy damp days and a couple of downright miserable days – stormy, windy and rainy! The Corporate Cup Here at the Hermanus Golf Course we hosted the Corporate Cup on Thursday, with 120 guys playing in terrible weather – gusts of 65 km/h, rain going sideways and bitterly cold temperatures! I take my hat off to them; every one finished and headed straight to the bar! I actually had a call from Handicaps Network Africa the next day to ask if I was aware that there was a score deviation from that day – they are now trying to collect statistics ready for the new world handicap system. When I asked if they had checked on the weather conditions, they just laughed! I will have more on the new system later in August, when we have a training course with GolfRSA, so we’ll find out all the details and let everyone know. Welcome back to the whales There is something magical about these majestic creatures, and I am so glad to report that I

ABOVE: At last Sunday’s Kosie Pieters Junior Tournament, George Botha (fourth from right) continued to dominate, with his younger brother Chris far right) snapping at his heels! have seen my first whale of the year – whilst out walking last week the familiar spout of water was clearly visible! Kosie Pieters juniors Last Sunday we held our monthly junior tournament. It is so great to see these youngsters cracking the ball down the fairway, and this month we thank Patty Smith for her very kind sponsorship, which the kids really appreciated.

HIGH FIVE TO OUR PUTTING PIRATE! Congratulations to our ‘Putting Pirate’, Julian Shaw, who last week received the Western Cape Club Professional of the Year Award – for the second time! “To have won this award twice is an honour and a privilege that I hold close to my heart,” says Julian, who has extensive experience in all aspects of the golfing industry over a period of 27 years. He played on the professional circuit for six years, managed and owned pro shops and was the Golf Director at Dainfern Country Club (Johannesburg) before relocating to Hermanus. He is currently the Director of Golf at Hermanus Golf Club, where he has worked for the past 14 years, owning and running both the golf shop and a fleet of golf carts. More big news is that Julian has just been appointed as the new Director of Golf and Golf Operations at Erinvale, effective from 1 November. But more about that next week!

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7 August 2019

Overberg Art Eisteddfod

he Overberg Eisteddfod is an annual event where students in the Overberg area are assessed in music, art, singing, dancing, speaking and writing. This year, the senior art section of the Eisteddfod was coordinated by Elenoré Wilson, a teacher at Hermanus High School, and held on Friday 2 August in the school hall. Learners from seven high schools participated, namely Grabouw High School, Hermanus High School, Overberg High School, Bredasdorp High School, Generation Schools Hermanus, Curro Independent School Hermanus and the Rural Arts Network (an NPO based in Elgin that aims to uplift children’s lives through the arts). Learners who took part were asked to bring along one or more artworks for assessment. These pieces could be anything from pencil sketches, paintings, textile art and photographs, to graphic design. The students also had an hour and a half on the day to draw a still life for assessment and then another hour and a half to use mixed

media to create something with the theme ‘Underwater’. All of these artworks were judged on skill and talent by the two adjudicators for the day, Gillian Hahn and Laura Sleggenhausen. The learners received a certificate for each of their artworks: a green certificate for a grade of 69% and under, silver for 70 – 79%, gold for 80 – 89% and cum laude for 90% or more. The top-performing student from each grade was chosen and awarded a medal. The best two students overall received a trophy. The winners of the trophies this year were Shanelle Prins from Curro Hermanus and Chantelle Williams from Hermanus High. The level of art was very impressive and quite a number of students received cum laude or gold for their artworks.

Sponsored vehicle for Hermanus High Ford Hermanus has generously sponsored a new Ford Figo sedan for Hermanus High School. Wikus and Adré Niemand, owners of Ford/Nissan Hermanus, visited the high school on Friday 2 August to deliver the car and to officially hand over the keys to the principal, Greg Hassenkamp. Ford Hermanus has been involved with the high school for four years and also sponsored the rugby kit for all the teams earlier this year. The Figo will be made available to the school’s staff and will be used for trips where larger vehicles are not required. “We are extremely grateful for Ford’s support over the past few years,” says Greg. “They have gone above and beyond to help the school.” Wikus from Ford also stated that Ford/Nissan Hermanus has some exciting and ‘illuminating’ news that they will share with the public in the upcoming weeks.

At the OAK (Overstrand Arts/Kunste) Prestige Concert that will be held on 27 August in the Municipal Auditorium, the top students of the Overberg Eisteddfod will again showcase their talents. – Taylum Meyer

LEFT: This painting by Jenna Jansen van Vuuren (Hermanus High School) called 'Asem' received a Cum Laude (above 90%). ABOVE: Jenna during the still life drawing assessment.

Greg Hassenkamp (left), principal of Hermanus High School, accepts the keys to a new Ford Figo from Ford Hermanus owners Wikus and Adré Niemand, and Sales Manager Ryno Steyn. PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

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Mixed media artwork by Milia Botha which focuses on the elements. Milia is a grade 12 at Curro Hermanus and received Cum Laude for this piece.

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7 August 2019

MY SCHOOL

Curro Sports Festival

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Curro Hermanus hosted their annual friendly sports festival for primary schools on Saturday 3 August on the school grounds. Many outside and local schools such as Mount Pleasant Primary, Generation Schools Hermanus, Gansbaai Primary, Kleinmond Primary, Waldorf and Okkie Smuts attended the festival. The schools played against one another in rugby, hockey, netball and chess. All of the games were friendly matches and there was no overall winning team. These friendly sports games are a perfect time for teams to practice their skills, sportsmanship and to have fun with their classmates. The school’s tuck shop was open and there was also lots of delicious coffee and food to keep the parents warm. A good day was had by all! – Taylum Meyer

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Hermanus High vs Strand sports day The Hermanus High School first team hockey boys continued their winning streak last week at a sports day against Strand on 3 August. The boys also beat DF Malan in last week’s sports day. The first team hockey girls, netball girls and rugby boys unfortunately lost their games, although they came very close. Many of the younger teams either won or drew their matches, lifting the Hermies’ spirit. The U14A teams did exceptionally well: the hockey boys won by an incredible six goals, the rugby boys won their match 29-0 and the netball girls won their match 25-9. There was once again an incredible level of sportsmanship as the schools backed their teams. The anticipated Interschools against Overberg High School takes place in Caledon on Friday 9 August. We’ll see if the first rugby team will be able to take their winning title back this year. Good luck to all our teams! PHOTOS: Lynette van Tonder

Waldorf Primary (left) and Kleinmond Primary face off in an intense chess game.

Curro Durbanville plays against Generation Schools Hermanus in an U11 hockey game. As Generation Hermanus was short on players, children from Curro Hermanus offered to fill the empty spots.

An U9 rugby player from Gansbaai Primary tries to take down an U9 player from Sunningdale Primary.

Players from Gansbaai Primary (right) and Mt Pleasant Primary both go for the ball in the U12 game.

PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer

Kiah Saaiman from the Hermanus High School hockey first team passes the ball to a teammate. The game was very challenging and the girls unfortunately lost 1-0 in an extremely close game.

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The Village NEWS 7 Aug - 14 Aug 2019

Articles inside

Meander your way from Elgin to Hermanus

Fynbos: Famine in Paradise

Don’t let WASPs sting your mobile airtime

The only game in town: when estuary meets ocean

Clarification on baboon issue