June 2025
Montreux Jazz Festival Comes to Town!
Franschhoek is set to make history as the first African and the fourth international destination to host the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival. Since its inception in 1967, the festival has been a cultural cornerstone in the global music industry. Held in the picturesque town of Montreux Switzerland, the festival is celebrated for its diverse musical line-up spanning jazz, blues, pop, and rock. Now, it will bring its renowned expertise and unparalleled access to toptier artists to the Franschhoek Valley. Details for this landmark event will be finalised in late 2025, paving the way for its highly anticipated debut from 27-29 March 2026.
“We are delighted to see this dream come to life. Hosting the Festival in Franschhoek offers a unique opportunity to bridge cultural divides and create meaningful connections between emerging South African artists and the world’s top international artists and music industry leaders. My hope is for MJF Franschhoek to stand as a beacon of excellence in hospitality and a vibrant celebration of musical talent, united by the power of music,” says Mark Goedvolk, Founder of MJF Franschhoek.
for their 2026 line-up. This announcement brings significant benefits to the region’s tourism industry, drawing international attention, creating local job opportunities, and delivering a remarkable celebration of the arts.
The Montreux Jazz Festival is renowned for its rich history and stunning venue on the shores of Lake Geneva, attracting nearly 250,000 music lovers each year. Its legacy includes iconic performances by music legends such as Prince, B.B. King, Johnny Cash, and Stevie Wonder, among many others. For almost 60 years, this legendary event has brought its unparalleled ambience and line-up to cities around the globe, from Miami, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro. Now, Franschhoek proudly joins this prestigious list, marking a monumental moment as the festival's firstever African venue celebrating the synergy and unique blend of stunning natural landscapes and warm hospitality between Montreux and Franschhoek.
“We are thrilled to have Franschhoek chosen to host this iconic festival,” says Ruth McCourt, CEO of Franschhoek Wine Valley. “This marks a monumental milestone not only for the valley but for the entire continent, as we continue to shine on the global cultural stage.”
Following an inspiring first visit to South Africa in January, during which the festival planning committee explored and scouted venues in Franschhoek, Montreux Jazz Festival organizers have confirmed the valley as the ideal location
In addition, organizers have confirmed that the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation (MJAF) - a recognised non-profit dedicated to discovering and supporting emerging artists through talentdevelopment programmes and fostering musical exchange - will extend its impact to Franschhoek’s own Uncorked Music Academy at Franschhoek High School. This partnership reinforces the festival’s commitment to education and cultural enrichment in the region.
Franschhoek Tourism welcomes proposals from interested partners across various categories, from headline sponsors to media collaborators. Those interested in partnership opportunities are encouraged to contact Franschhoek Tourism CEO, Ruth McCourt. Additional details about this landmark event will be shared in due course. For further event information, please contact billy@matriarch.co.za
As preparations unfold, Franschhoek is set to solidify its reputation as a premier destination for global events, eagerly anticipating the arrival of this iconic festival on African soil for the very first time. Beyond hosting a world-class event, this milestone marks a significant step in elevating the global profile of African arts, paving the way for future success stories and cultural collaborations to follow. For comment and partnership queries, please contact Franschhoek Tourism - ceo@franschhoek.org.za
Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Trish Heywood
Counting Cars Instead of Sheep!
Nineteen Franschhoek residents, working in pairs in two hour shifts, counted cars and other vehicles passing Sotheby’s from 07h00 to 17h00 on Tuesday and Wednesday, 29 & 30 April. Said one, “I’ll be counting cars instead of sheep tonight! It certainly kept me awake.” With one for each direction counting the almost constant stream of motorcycles, Tuk-Tuks, cars, bakkies, minibuses, large buses, tri-axle, multi-axle and double trailer heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), they had to be very wide awake!
This was a follow-up to an April 2023 count to provide a basis for comparison and current data to see whether Huguenot Street has capacity for the number of HGVs that will pass through the village when the pass is fully reopened and additional traffic generated by any future developments.
The overall increase between April 2023 and 2025 was 4% but the figure is skewed as the 2025 count was between two public holidays, Easter was early, and the pass was not open to all HGVs. Breaking down the overall figure, there was an increase in passenger cars over the two days of 6.5% (7330 to 7804) and a 31% (941 to 1233) increase in minibuses. This includes taxis and other minibuses such as those carrying tourists. The number of large buses was almost the same. With a 15m length limit on the pass, the total of the tri- and multi-axle HGVs (many over 15m) dropped from 639 to 547. Double trailers (all over 15m) dropped from 234 to 182. When the pass is reopened to all traffic, the number of HGVs is expected to increase significantly.
municipality and province and representatives of the Villiersdorp fruit farmers and truck owners to find a compromise to mitigate the adverse impact of HGVs passing through our village and in relation to any developments that will increase the numbers.
La Motte RFC Snubs
WPRFU in Court
La Motte RFC scored a legal victory over the Western Province Rugby Football Union in the Cape High Court on 6 May 2025. The case revolved around La Motte’s right to affiliate with the Boland Rugby Union.
La Motte RFC applied in 2024 to leave the WPRFU and play its rugby as part of the Boland Rugby Union – like other nearby clubs. This was denied by the WPRFU, who also refused to hand over the club’s digital records to BRU, without which the club couldn’t play in the BRU’s competitions.
After much wrangling with WPRFU and BRU, La Motte RFC turned to the courts for relief; which it has now been granted.
In its court papers, La Motte RFC accused the WPRFU of ‘exerting behind-the-scenes pressure’ on the BRU to block their participation in its league and of a ‘blatantly unlawful abuse of power’.
Justice Francis ruled that the BRU must comply with its decision – at its 2024 AGM – to allow La Motte RFC to join its league and ordered the WPRFU not to ‘unlawfully interfere’ in the affairs of La Motte RFC.
This means the club will henceforth compete in the BRU’s Community Shield competition.
La Motte RFC Chairman, Dennis Boonzaaier was quoted by rugby365.com as saying: “We are looking forward to playing with, and against, our neighbouring teams, Wemmershoek and Dennegeur, who are already competing in BRU competitions. We feel vindicated by the court’s decision and deeply relieved that justice has prevailed. “The fighting should stop now, and community sports should be prioritised.”
No costs order was made.
Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Facebook
The number of motor cycles increased from 127 to 178. This was partly accounted for by a horde of scrambler bikes and Checkers and Woolies delivery bikes.
Both counts are snapshots. For a picture over a year, there will be a traffic count on the third Wednesday and Thursday every second month. With this data representations can be made to the
Many grateful thanks to Alison King (who did two 07h00 shifts), Leon Freislich, Moira Barham, Shelley and Chris Fawcett, Liz King, Brenda du Toit, Peter Ellis, Richard von Hoesslin, Lily and Seppy Pick, John and Charlotte van Zyl, Janice and Simon Atkinson, Debbie Deakin, Caroline Crowther, Saskia Blaisse and Irma Borrias for counting cars instead of sheep.
If you can help with the next count on 17 & 18 June or any other count, send a WhatsApp to Pat Jacobs on 073 535 0007 or email to patjacobs01@ gmail.com or to Barry Phillips on 083 441 8280 or email to barryphillips505@gmail.com
Text & Image: Barry Phillips
Street Security Initiative Suspends Operations
Following a strong Season 3 of operations, ensuring the main road and surrounding areas are kept clear of undesirable elements; the Franschhoek Street Security Initiative is to suspend guarding operations at the end of June due to a lack of funding. This means there will be no guarding patrols from July onwards until we can attract more funding.
We would like to thank all those individuals and businesses who have been contributing to this initiative since it started. Unfortunately a number of businesses and individuals who have promised to contribute have not paid which has necessitated the suspension of operations. It is planned to start fund raising for Season Four in August which should allow the guarding operations to re-start in October in time for the arrival of overseas visitors.
Should you wish to make the R3,500 donation our banking details are: Franschhoek Security Initiative, account number 63112167085, FNB Bank 250655 Paarl Mall, FIRNZAJJ and send POP with your name and address as reference to fhoekpatrol@gmail.com. Section 18(a) donation certificates can be issued on request.
Text: Editorial Desk
‘South African Champion.’ Made
in Franschhoek!
Franschhoek local and Tatler motoring correspondent Michele Lupini has just completed a huge undertaking with the release of his new book, ‘South African Champion’. The 125year story of Single Seater, Specials, Formula 1 and Grand Prix Racing in Southern Africa, ‘South African Champion’ is now available online.
“’South African Champion’ not only tracks an incredible history, but it also tells a truly epic story,” renowned motoring and motorsport publisher and author Lupini explains. “Much of it was long forgotten, but ‘South African Champion’ recalls it all in a full and representative timeline of Single Seater, Specials and Formula 1 racing in Southern Africa.”
The luxury quality, limited edition publication is a 304-page 30-by-33 centimetre coffee table book comprising 50 intensive parts in eight chapters to cover the entire, captivating story. The book also includes a significant amount of data, all the results, championship logs and much other relevant information.
Hundreds of photographs from the various eras are used to illustrate the splendid history covered in ‘South African Champion’. Many of the images used were never published before, while several are now colourised. New artworks depict many of the halcyon moments covered too.
Exclusively available online via www. southafricanchampion.com and priced at R3,350 including VAT, delivery is free within the borders of the Republic of South Africa. Michele will deliver the book in person to anyone who orders a copy in Franschhoek.
Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied
Members of the La Motte RFC outside the Cape High Court
Michele Lupini with a copy of his new publication – ‘South African Champion’.
FLTR (standing) Barry Phillips, Brenda du Toit, Seppy Pick, Lily Lofty-Eaton, Pat Jacobs, Richard von Hoesslin. Seated: Simon and Janice Atkinson.
When did you settle in Franschhoek with your family?
I was born in Franschhoek and we are still living here. My husband’s family came to the valley in 1945 and started the Swiss Farm Excelsior hotel. In 1984, the Swiss Farm was sold and they moved to the village. They then worked at the other hotel, La Cotte Inn, and ran the restaurant, Lanternhof. In 1994, we sold the hotel and moved the wine and cheese shop to where the Lanternhof restaurant was.
What attracted you to offer French cheeses at La Cotte Inn Wine Sales?
My business, Fromage de France, is a purveyor of fine cheese. I’ve always loved cheese. It is a unique living food. Cheese is a humble product and complements wine very well.
Which are your favourite French cheeses?
Vacherin Mont D’Or (from the Mont d’or Mountain, Franche-Comte & Vallee De Joux)
Comte (from the Franche-Comte region)
Tete De Moine (from Switzerland – Jura Side)
Epoisse (from Burgundy) Reblochon (from the Savoy region)
Describe these cheeses and which wine would you would pair them with?
Vacherin Mont D’Or: Pair with a full-bodied Chardonnay or medium-bodied Pinot Noir. This is a seasonal cheese made from milk produced during the cows’ summer grazing period. The cheese is wrapped with a spruce bark band from Normandy spruce trees. The bark aromas penetrate the cheese giving it a unique taste.
Comté: Pair with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Red Grenache. Comté can be bought in different
stages of maturity. The more mature this cow`s milk cheese is the more flavour it has. At 16 months, the delicate, complex fruit flavours are most evident. Comte at 24 months is bolder and richer and salt crystals start to form.
Tete De Moine (the head of a monk): Pair with Riesling, Chenin Blanc or Chardonnay. This semihard cheese comes from an alpine monastery in Switzerland. The only way to cut this cheese is with a girolle, which shapes the cheese slices into curls.
Epoisse Pair with Pinot Noir. It is a pungent, soft cheese made from cow’s milk. Washed with Marc Du Bourgogne and coloured with Annatto (the same that they use in lipstick). This cheese needs serious ripening if you want to eat it at its best.
Reblochon: Pair with Pinot Noir, Cinsault and Chardonnay: This flat, round cheese is sold whole or as a half round. It is lightly pressed and washed repeatedly. Its rind is orange/yellow, coated in white mould. The supple, even creamy interior has a pleasant, earthy taste, faintly reminiscent of hazelnuts. This cheese usually matures in three to four weeks at a temperature below 16C.
Share the most exciting and delicious cheese cuisine you have ever experienced.
Too many to mention! However, if you would like to cook with a French cheese, then Tartiflette is one of the best winter dishes.
‘Tartiflette’ is a traditional French dish from the Savoy region and is often made with local Reblochon cheese. The name derives from the Arpitan word ‘Tartifa’ which means potato. This is a very rich and hearty dish during the winter months, and is often served at ski resorts.
Ingredients:
Reblochon
Potato (Floury Variety)
Red Onion (Finely Chopped)
Smoked Bacon (Roughly Chopped)
Extra Virgin Oil
White Wine
Fresh Full Cream Milk
Method:
Preheat the oven to 200 C. Boil the potatoes in salted water until fork tender 10-15 minutes. Drain and let cool. In the meantime, peel and finely chop the onions and garlic. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat and sauté the bacon and onions for 3 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 2
more minutes. Deglaze with white wine and cook for approximately 2 minutes.
Peel and slice cooked, cooled potatoes. Add half of the potatoes to a baking dish. Season with salt and pepper and top with half of the bacon-onion mixture. Layer over half the sliced reblochon and repeat the process with the remaining ingredients. Cover with milk and bake at 200C for about 20-30 minutes until the top is golden brown. Allow to rest for 10 minutes and serve with a green salad.
Which community projects are you involved with?
I am committed to various Franschhoek Lions Club projects. These include raising money for a new ECG heart monitor, eye screening projects, soup kitchens, senior citizen projects and a children’s home in Tulbagh.
How has the world of fine and French cheeses enriched your life?
It teaches one to be humble, like the product that you work with. A construction worker can enjoy the same cheese at his place of work as clients enjoying theirs in a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Hamiltons
with Lodine Maske of Fromage de France & La Cotte Inn Wine Sales
Double Milestone for GlenWood
GlenWood Vineyards recently celebrated a double milestone: 40 years of farming and 25 years of wine production.
In 1984, GlenWood owner, Alastair Wood, made an offer to purchase 53ha of undeveloped farmland in a small valley 8 kms from the quiet agricultural town of Franschhoek. Without a farming background, and still being in the management consulting industry, Alastair immediately engaged with the experts and recruited a youthful “DP” Burger, recently out of Elsenburg, to partner with him to realize his dreams.
The winemaking journey began with the decision to plant Semillon (the traditional Franschhoek cultivar), Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Merlot. Rootstocks were carefully sourced to suit the varying soil types. A commitment to conserving nature has always remained top of mind for Alastair, DP and their teams, which earned them the WWF Conservation Champion Award in 2024.
Once the vineyards were established, the focus for the next 30 years was on selling grapes to local wineries, while starting GlenWood’s wine production adventure, initially with small amounts of Semillon and Chardonnay produced for them by another winery. In 2002 they established their own 150-ton cellar.
Getting to grips with the downstream functions in the wine industry, including understanding customer preferences, marketing and wine awards, selling wine, appointing local and international agents, management of wine stock, and so on, proved to be an integral part of getting the brand to market.
They soon recognized that, as a boutique winery, they could not easily compete with larger wineries on their terms, so needed to focus on a specific cultivar, which turned out to be Chardonnay with GlenWood ultimately becoming known as “Home of Chardonnay, Franschhhoek”.
In 2018 the brand expanded with the addition of
a restaurant to boost the farm’s profitability. This strategy worked well, not only did it bring ‘feet to the farm’, but visitors were exposed to their wines as well as the breath taking surroundings.
With the onset of Covid and the reduction in international guests, they were once again grappling with how to attract visitors to the farm and finding a gap in the Franschhoek restaurant portfolio. The answer was sushi, which is not only a popular cuisine, but also pairs superbly with GlenWood’s Chardonnays. They recruited a top sushi chef and in 2021 their highly regarded sushi restaurant was opened to the public.
Over the last 40 years and in response to changes in economic conditions, GlenWood has evolved from being 53 ha of undeveloped land, to a farm with a diversified offering in an area of truly outstanding natural beauty.
Would Alastair do it all over again? There is no doubt that he would, provided that he has a property as beautiful as GlenWood and that he has the same team to develop it with him.
Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied
WINE
As the crisp winter air rolls into our valley, Franschhoek is ready to embrace the season with its special recipe: warmth, exceptional food, and no shortage of fine red wines.
MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL COMING TO FRANSCHHOEK
WHERE WE’VE BEEN
Indaba 2025
Franschhoek
Franschhoek’s Mystery Weekends promise a seamless, surprise-filled escape in the heart of the Winelands – and the good news is, there’s still space available! Whether you're a returning fan or a curious first-timer, these curated weekends take the guesswork out of planning, offering a perfectly packaged getaway filled with unexpected delights, local charm, and indulgent
GlenWood owner, Alastair Wood, and cellar master, DP Burger, toast the farms recent double milestone.
Hotel du Vin’s GM Now a Shareholder
Celeste Klem, General Manager of Hotel du Vin – Franschhoek, recently became a shareholder in the hotel. This development marks a new chapter for the hotel and reinforces its commitment to providing exceptional experiences to visitors.
Celeste, who also serves as General Manager, has been an integral part of the hotel’s success. Her passion for the property, understanding of the hospitality industry and dedication to delivering unparalleled guest service have been instrumental in establishing the hotel as a premier destination.
"I am incredibly excited and proud to take on this new role at Hotel du Vin Franschhoek," says Celeste. "This hotel is a very special place, and I am committed to working alongside the team to build upon its rich history and ensure that it remains a cherished destination for guests from around the world."
Robert Joergensen, director and co-owner of Hotel du Vin Franschhoek says: “Under Celeste's leadership, Hotel du Vin Franschhoek has received the Haute Grandeur 2024 Award for The Best Historical Hotel in Africa and Celeste has been awarded the General Manager of the Year 2024 South Africa. These recognitions are a testament to her vision and the team's dedication to preserving the hotel's unique character while offering modern luxuries and impeccable service. Our new partnership signifies a strong commitment to the future of Hotel du Vin - Franschhoek and Celeste's expanded role will ensure the hotel continues to thrive as a leading wine tourism destination, offering unforgettable experiences and showcasing the best of Franschhoek's beauty and hospitality”.
Celeste is a seasoned hospitality professional with more than 20 years of hotel management experience. During her career, she has worked at some of Cape Town's most iconic hotels, where she has honed her expertise in all aspects of the industry.
As General Manager, her approach is as strategic as it is passionate, always with her sights set on elevating service standards. Whether she’s
leading the team through high season or mentoring future hospitality stars, she brings a fearless energy and relentless drive.
Hotel du Vin - Franschhoek is a wine-themed 4-star boutique hotel in the heart of Franschhoek.
Housed in a beautifully restored Victorian building from 1904, the hotel offers a unique blend of history and modern comfort. Guests can enjoy elegant rooms and suites, an award-winning restaurant featuring one of the highest-awarded wine cellars in Africa, a charming courtyard, and a sparkling swimming pool. It is an ideal place to relax, unwind, and experience the beauty of the Franschhoek Wine Valley.
www.hotelduvin.co.za | 021 300 6761
Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied
The Story in the Red Suitcase
The Franschhoek Valley often mesmerises visitors and while it remains a holiday destination for some, others decide to put down roots in this piece of heaven. This is what the Prowses decided in 1993, after an idyllic week-end amongst the vineyards, olive groves and Franschhoek attractions. It was dancer Juliet Prowse, known for her dynamic stage presence and fabulous legs, who agreed with her brother and sister-in-law that Franschhoek’s beauty was unparalleled. Since buying on Uitkyk St, the property has remained largely unchanged apart from the renovation of two labourer’s cottages, which the Prowses temporarily used when they moved down from Gauteng. Part of the move was a little red suitcase, patiently waiting to be unpacked. It was moved a few more times before finding its eventual resting place in Val de Vie where Juliet’s niece started wading through the 300 articles about her famous aunt’s triumphs on stage and screen.
The niece, also Juliet Prowse, embarked on writing a biography about her aunt called Juliet Prowse: Born to Dance which launched recently. The journey traces how the South African teenager left for London in 1954 to try “make it” in the entertainment industry with her disappointments and determination along
Baking the Rainy Days Away
When the wind howls down our mountains and the rain streaks our kitchen windows, there’s no better way to spend a grey afternoon than with the scent of something delicious rising in the oven.
Winter in Franschhoek is not for the faint of heart or the carb-averse. Because let’s face it, June here is the season of slow living, wood-burning fires, full-bodied reds and … baking.
More than just sustenance, winter baking is a ritual — measuring, stirring and waiting all become meditative acts. It’s about slowing down, keeping warm and creating a little comfort during the stormy season. Whether you’re avoiding muddy walks in the vineyards or simply looking for an excuse to warm up the kitchen, the Cape Malay banana bread is the answer.
To make baking more enjoyable and your home feel warmer and more welcoming during the winter months, try these effective tricks.
Cosy Baking Tricks
Warm your ingredients to room temperature
Cold butter or eggs straight from the fridge can affect your baking. Let them sit out a bit — it helps batters mix better and bakes turn out fluffier.
• Toast your spices. Gently heat whole or ground spices in a dry pan for a minute before baking. It wakes up the oils and brings out a deeper, more comforting aroma.
• Use citrus zest for brightness. A little naartjie, orange or lemon zest in winter bakes adds a lovely freshness that cuts through heavier flavours.
• Double up on vanilla or spice. In winter, our senses are dulled. A little extra vanilla, cinnamon or cardamom can bring your baking to life and fill the kitchen with an inviting smell.
• Keep an “emergency crumble” mix in the freezer. Store a bag of ready-to-go oat crumble topping - just add fruit and bake for a no-fuss dessert on cold nights.
Cape Malay Banana bread
If banana bread was the lockdown cliché, consider this its chic Franschhoek cousin — subtly
the way. Working incredibly hard, a fortuitous encounter with Hermes Pan, Fred Astaire’s choreographer, led to her first Hollywood movie Can-Can with Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine. But unhappy with 20th Century Fox, Juliet broke out of her seven-year contract, created her own company and became one the
highest paid dancers of her era on a $1 million Las Vegas contract in the mid-1970s. Juliet won Female Entertainer of the Year in Las Vegas four times in the era of Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand
spiced, a little fancy and still wonderfully forgiving. Plus, it makes your home smell like a wintry hug. This banana bread borrows from the Cape’s spice heritage, with warming notes of cinnamon, cardamom and clove. It’s a lovely way to use up ripe bananas and makes for a not-too-sweet treat with afternoon tea or morning coffee.
Ingredients
3 ripe bananas, mashed
2 large eggs
100 ml vegetable oil or melted butter
¾ cup brown sugar or sugar substitute
1 tsp vanilla extract
200 g all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground cardamom
¼ tsp ground cloves
Pinch of salt
¾ cup chopped pecans
Method: Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan 160°C). Grease and line a loaf tin. In a large bowl, combine the bananas, eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Gently fold the dry mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring just until combined. Pour into the tin and smooth the top. Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool slightly before slicing. It’s lovely on its own, or toasted with butter the next day.
and Shirley MacLaine.
The book not only charts her professional journey, but also her crazy romances along the way. From her romance and subsequent engagement to Frank Sinatra, to a fling with Elvis Presley in G.I. Blues, which the media loved due to the love triangle. Juliet eventually married and had a son with John McCook of The Bold and the Beautiful. The biography is personal. Told by Juliet’s niece it includes family anecdotes and with the discovery of a box of 640 letters largely written by the dancer to her mother (the author’s grandmother) it displays an honesty of Juliet’s journey through life. Unfortunately, Juliet only visited Franschhoek one more time as she died of pancreatic cancer in 1996, but annually her niece picks olives from the Uitkyk St trees and pickles them in her father’s style deeming them “the best olives in the world!”
Juliet Prowse: Born to Dance is available at Exclusive Books, Takealot and Readers Warehouse
www.julietprowse.com
Text & Image | Juliet E Prowse
Celeste Klem
Juliet Prowse at the launch of ‘Born to Dance’ in Johannesburg
Mazda Thinks Big with CX-60 Takumi. Pulls it off Too
Straight-six Mazda SUV matches, undercuts trad rivals
We’ve waited a while for this one. To be frank, the Mazda CX-60 3.3D AWD Takumi did not disappoint. A luxury Mazda bigger than any you’ve ever seen, but is it up to its very well established market rivals?
At 4.7 m long, 1.9 m wide and 1.7 m tall, it runs on a 2.9 m wheelbase, it’s a big car. It compares handsomely with the 4.9 m long 2 m wide 1.7 m tall BMW X5 that rides on a similar 2.9 m wheelbase. Yes. That big. But the really big news in this flagship CX-60 sits under the bonnet. It’s a 187 kW 550 Nm 3.3-litre straight six turbodiesel. It also has a 48V mild hybrid startergenerator collar sitting in the bell housing between it and its 8-speed automatic transmission. Which goes on to drive all four wheels.
As mentioned, Takumi has some big dragons to slay and some hefty rivals to stand up to. So how does it shape up? Well, looking at the vital statistics, this 187 kW CX-60 3.3 accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, sips 7.9 litres of diesel per hundred kilometres and costs R1.085-million. Gulp! For a Mazda?
But hang on a second. Its closest price rival in
this neck of the woods is the Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI Elegance. It produces 190 kW runs to 100 in 6.5 seconds, sips 7.8 litres per hundred and costs R1.4 million. Yip, thee hundred grand more. Another couple of hundred grand up the market, the four-cylinder Volvo XC90 B5 AWD makes 183 kW, stops the clock at 7.7 seconds to 100 km/h and sips 8 l/100 km.
Takumi shapes up to the best shockingly well If those dots have not yet aligned for you, consider that the R1.8M entry BMW X5 xDrive30d makes 219 kW, runs to 100 in 6.1 seconds and uses 7.8 l/100 km. And your starter pack GLE 300 d costs R1.9 million to roll out of the Mercedes-Benz dealership, produces 213 kW to match the Mazda’s 6.9 second hundred run, and use 6.8 l/100km.
Looked at like that, your million-buck Mazda is quite the bargain, isn’t it? In fact its closest price rivals are actually top of the line bakkies. Point is, the Mazda lacks for very little. If anything. Except price. Said to balance technology and simplicity to offer a perfect balance between beauty, performance, and functionality, the Mazda CX60 also celebrates a century of being among motoring’s most iconic brands.
There is more than enough room for all passengers and 570 litres of easily accessible cavernous luggage to boot. That power-opening trunk ups to as much as 1,726 litres. Designed to make the driver feel instantly at home, your CX-60 will recognise you and automatically adjust your seat. And the rest of the car to car to your own preset preferences.
Takumi cabin is a splendid space
It’s a splendid space too. Those chairs don’t just look good, they cosset your body in special orthopaedic ways. You’re treated to top-end Bose 12-speaker sound with Mazda noise reduction harmonic acoustics to all but eliminate any unwanted noise. CX-60’s car-to-human interface is subtle. But big where it matters with large font displays that even some old goats this car appeals to most, will still see, read and understand. All laid out in typical, sensible Mazda style too. It has three digital displays. The normal, sports, towing and off-road
Father’s Day Programme
Father’s Day at FMM has traditionally been a fun day for the whole family and this year will be no exception. This year taking place on June 17, as usual many of the museum’s cars will be displayed with ‘bonnets up’ and there will be nonstop driving parades around the quadrangle with both cars and motorcycles. Once more, a vintage
FMM’S TYRRELL AT SIMOLA
The annual Simola Hillclimb took place in the Garden Route town of Knysna on May 1-4 and FMM was again present to do demo runs with one of the museum’s superb collection of performance cars. This year the FMM team comprising Curator Sian Theron, Workshop Manager Lorenzo Farella and technicians Wenstley Wicomb and Donnie Tarentaal took the ex-Scheckter 1974 Tyrrell-Ford 007-1 Formula One car to the weekend event. Unfortunately, wet and occasionally rainy conditions dampened the Classic Car Friday proceedings and for safety reasons the organisers cancelled the Tyrrell’s lunchtime demo run. But the team was able to thrill the fans by starting and revving the car’s engine, making plenty of nostalgic V8 noise. Being located close to the start line, the FMM pit was continually buzzing with people viewing the car and taking photos. Charles Arton claimed his second Classic Conqueror title driving his 1979 March 79A Formula Atlantic single-seater. The Saturday/Sunday King of the Hill challenge was dedicated to Pieter Joubert, who sadly passed away following an accident during Sunday’s opening run. While Pieter’s brothers Charl and Dawie withdrew from the event, they insisted that it continued in his honour. And following an attendance pleasing run up the hill on the Saturday, FMM’s Lorenzo Farella repeated his demo run in the museum’s ex-Scheckter 1974
12-inch dials, and an excellent heads-up display. Add latest generation 12.3-inch USB and wireless Mazda Connect CarPlay and Auto infotainment. Unlike other clown interfaces designed only for Martians to operate, mere humans will quickly become acquainted with these real Mazda buttons and knobs. You remember where they are and operate it all with ease.
This Mazda also offers a vast menu of onboard safety and systems. Its super-tough shell is backed by ABS, EBD, brake assist, hill descent and smart city brake support. There’s a see-through view 360-degree camera, dynamic stability traction control, emergency stop signalling and early lighting DRL LED headlamps. Plus i-Activsense driver assistance radar cruise control with lanekeeping, blind spot and rear cross traffic alert. Takumi straight-six turbodiesel is so creamy On the road, we loved that straight six engine. It sounds creamy and delivers brilliantly on that to match or better its toughest rivals. Ride is taut, perhaps a bit too much so. We had one or two of its more expensive rivals on test alongside the CX-60 and if there’s one area where it can make up ground is in suspension refinement. That extends to a rather wooden steering feel. Not bad in its own right but lacking against those albeit far more expensive traditional rivals.
The penny really drops when you go back and consider those figures up top, again. Especially the price. It’s a hell of a bargain. Million bucks and all. But the CX-60 represents a quantum shift for Mazda. This big diesel-electric straight-
six may lack a little in some dynamic places over its traditional rivals. But then it costs a fraction of the price of those cars to own and drive. So there really isn’t a comparison.
We have always appreciated Mazda’s fantastic small cars. There’s a quality about them that the rest seem to miss. Now it’s taken all that and thrust it upmarket. In splendid style and at a fraction of the price of rivals it matches shockingly well versus what you get. Yip. This splendid century old brand really seems to be onto something big.
Images & Testing: Giordano Lupini
car will be available for visitors to climb in and take photos of themselves. Always one of the most popular annual features of the day’s activities are the visitor rides on the museum’s Merryweather fire engine. Other attractions are currently being finalised. FMM’s Deli will be in full swing along with other food and beverage stands, and wine sales will also be available. There will be two time slots for the event: 10h0012h00 and 13h00-15h00, with a maximum of 500 attendees per slot. Booking is essential – no walk-ins
Tyrrell-Ford 007-1 Formula 1 car to the appreciation of everyone present. . In the Modified Saloon Car category, Pieter Zeelie emerged the victor in his Toyota MR2 Super GT. The Single Seater and Sports Car category was won byByron Mitchell in his Reynard Formula VW, while Clint Weston took the Standard Production Vehicle category in a hybrid-powered MercedesAMG GT63 SE E Performance.
RAT-A-TAT-A-TAT
Two-strokes provide one of motoring’s most distinctive sounds, and wherever a DKW appears it naturally draws smiley attention. Start the engine, and with the requisite fanfare of an oily two-stroke puff of smoke, the two-cylinder engine pings into life and immediately settles into a distinctive and melodious ‘rat-a-tat-a-tat’ idle that sets it apart from all other internal combustion machinery.
DKW’s F series of ‘people’s cars’ began to emerge in 1931. The F – for Front – series were the first volume production European cars to feature front-wheel drive and created a pre-war boom in popularity for the marque. The body plate under the centrallyhinged bonnet reveals that FMM’s F5 is an F5700 and it is registered as a 1938 model, so one of the last of the series to be built.
Turn the key and depress the floor-mounted starter button and that oh-socharismatic motor comes alive. The DKW’s gearshift is easy to operate from the get-go, a short reach from the rim of the threespoke steering wheel.
JUNE NEWS
The car pulls away with ease and the engine note fizzes and pops as revs rise en route to top gear being selected, at which point the mechanical noise becomes subdued and the car becomes an autobahn cruiser. By 1934, DKW sales placed the company as Germany’s second biggest motor manufacturer, and by 1938 accounted for more than 16% of the market.
The F series DKWs offered a simple and affordable mode of transport for the masses that also managed to be a pleasure to drive. ‘Rat-a-tat-a-tat…’ FMM’s 1938 DKW Cabriolet is currently part of the Summer Day Cruising display in Hall B.
VISITING FMM
FMM’s opening times are Monday to Friday 10h00 to 17h00 (last admittance 16h00), Saturday and Sunday 10h00 to 16h00 (last admittance 15h00). Visiting the museum is by appointment only and via online booking. Entry fees: R90 adults, R70 pensioners and motor club members (with membership ID), R50 children (ages 3-12). Only electronic payments are accepted.
The famed FMM Pitstop Deli is open throughout the visiting hours, offering refreshments, sandwiches, snacks and light meals. There are also counters offering exciting estate products and souvenirs. A selection of wines produced by Anthonij Rupert Wyne is also available For booking tickets and any other information as well as signing on for a free monthly newsletter, logon to www.fmm.co.za or phone 021 874 9000 or e-mail fmm@fmm.co.za
As I am writing this month’s column, a magnificent autumn is being briefly interrupted by only the third cold front of the season. Whilst the weather is great for tourism, our grain farmers are left with tough choices of when to plant, with time running out fast. Hopefully, the bit of rain we’ve had would have been enough to get their seed in the ground. Gardeners also love the sunny weather; let’s get you busy out there.
June takes us into winter, but there are still a few routine garden tasks to get out of the way. Hydrangeas and late-flowering shrubs must be pruned. Take cuttings of special plants. Clippings can be chopped and spread as mulch or composted. The last of your spring-flowering bulbs must be planted, and meadow mixes sown. Do preventative pruning on deciduous trees. Get some agricultural lime onto the lawn if you haven’t done that last month. A phosphorus-rich fertiliser like 2:3:2 will aid root growth. Good compost or composted chicken manure is also a great addition to the soil, spread a decent layer around shrubs and trees. Leave the roses alone, though, we want to force them into a rest period.
Your food garden will also be calling you. Citrus trees need a nitrogen-rich fertiliser after harvest; chicken manure works well. Also, give them a light pruning. Mulch all fruit trees with a thick layer of manure or compost. Carrots, beetroot, lettuce, peas, broad beans, radish, leeks and chard can still be sown, but don’t wait too long with this - next month will be too cold. Watch out for slugs and caterpillars on newly transplanted seedlings. Feed transplants with chicken manure or slow-releasing pellets. Deciduous fruit trees must also be pruned this month. I follow a conservative, intuitive approach guided by the previous season’s results. A good book on pruning or a few online videos can show you the basics to do it yourself, but this is where gardeners often beckon for professional help.
I prefer the start of winter for the establishment of new garden areas. The soil is not too waterlogged to work yet, but soft enough to dig big plant holes. Soil health equals garden health, and winter is a great time to improve the soil while establishing new plantings. I like to use plenty of fresh kraal manure with a high straw component. This not only provides nutrients to plants but also feeds the microbial life in the soil while improving the structure. Add lime if your soil is acidic. Also, add plenty of bonemeal and mix in a commercial chicken manure pellet. Stake newly planted trees immediately and water well, even if the soil is wet. If you run out of inspiration, you can find fresh ideas by visiting a local botanical garden. Kirstenbosch is a feast for the eyes this time of year. Take plenty of pictures and notes on which indigenous shrubs are flourishing and flowering. Look for new groundcover ideas, think about a functional or aromatic garden and visit the nursery for some seeds or seedlings or a good book. Guavas have become a favourite in my kitchen this autumn. We pick them as they ripen and boil them in a light syrup of 1 part sugar to 2 parts water for 15 minutes. This makes the most amazing sweet treat or dessert when served with a bit of whipped cream or evaporated milk.
Happy gardening!
Ansche’s People
Dorothy van Zyl
– The lady behind the bell
It’s a rare privilege these days to live in a town where the church bell still rings out before a wedding, funeral or Sunday service. In Franschhoek, that sound carries more than just a tradition. And at the centre of this quiet ritual stands Dorothy van Zyl, the cheerful face who welcomes visitors to the Dutch Reformed Church and, now and then, makes it sound its dignified chime.
Dorothy has been doing this for nearly six years now, faithfully taking her turn every second week to open the doors for curious tourists and to share the beauty of the church with them. But the path that brought her here was far from simple. Born in Cape Town as the second youngest of ten siblings, Dorothy remembers a full house but admits she didn’t know the older ones very well. Her father worked at a nearby wood factory, and her mother undertook various roles, from working in a biscuit factory to a chip factory. “We learned to get by with what we had,” Dorothy says. It was her sister Wina, her faithful mentor, who helped her get her first job doing admin at a land surveyor’s office after she finished school in Tygerberg. Back then she earned a salary of R85 a month. She met her husband in 1969. He was from Namibia and worked around the corner from her family home. They married in 1971 and soon started a family, welcoming four daughters in quick succession. “Regte orrelpypies,” she chuckles. As her husband’s career took them from Montagu to Bothaville and finally to Malmesbury, Dorothy adapted, doing casual work during the holidays and eventually settling into a 14-year role at the local library. Looking back, she recalls that although they didn't have much, she always tried to find creative ways to keep her daughters busy and make it fun for them to be home.
In 2018, after 35 years in Malmesbury, her husband passed away from motor neuron disease. With her
FRANCO Benefits from Car Club Generosity
FRANCO was the sole beneficiary of the Mercedes Benz club of South Africa’s recent AGM held in Franschhoek. Various Mercedes related memorabilia were made available by club members and a lively auction ensued, conducted by a FRANCO supporter who enthusiastically volunteered for the job, Nick Sadleir from Steadfast Africa – Luxury Travel Experiences. In order to inform those bidding for the auctioned items about FRANCO, the club had proposed we produce a video setting out our aims and community activities. We complied and produced a video which was shown at the gathering. It can also be used in our future promotional activities. A picture, and in this case moving pictures, can often ‘speak louder than words’! It provides a
youngest daughter already living in Franschhoek, Dorothy decided to relocate and start fresh. One of the first things they did upon arriving in 2019 was to find the Dutch Reformed Church. It quickly became more than just a landmark—it became her anchor.
Community found her fast. She befriended a young boy, Karabo, who lived in her building and regularly invited him over for drawing and games.
Her warm, social nature led to friendships with neighbours and a place in a local Bible study group. Not long after, someone at the church reached out to ask if she would be willing to help count money and perhaps welcome visitors. The answer was easy, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Today, Dorothy doesn’t just ring the bell, she’s also known for her kindness, her painted rocks, her hand-knitted beanies (often gifted to workers in town) and her signature flower tucked into her hair.
“Franschhoek has shown me that it’s not just a tourist town,” she reflects. “There’s a strong local community here. People care for each other.”
Dorothy draws inspiration from an Irish proverb, stitched onto fabric by one of her daughters after a trip abroad: "May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, and the rains fall soft upon your fields."
The Dutch Reformed Church is open for visitors from 10h00 to 15h00 daily. And if you’re lucky enough to be welcomed by a lady with a warm smile and a flower in her hair, then you’ve met Dorothy Van Zyl.
comprehensive review of the range of areas we sponsor and assist with; and we will soon publish it on our website www.francosa.co.za
The amount raised at the auction was in excess of R60 000, for which we are extremely grateful to the Mercedes club members, Nick and all those who were involved in this successful event, impeccably organised by Mr Zillen Venter, who is the Chairman of the Mercedes Benz Club.
Our monthly tribute to someone who has been particularly helpful to FRANCO is to Pastor Ryno Els of the local Dutch Reform church, who was appointed last year. Pastor Ryno’s participation and his initiatives on the FRANCO Board are noteworthy and his love for this community is very apparent in the many areas he participates in. We are grateful to him for devoting time to our cause, replacing his longstanding predecessor on our board. Pastor Ryno is particularly keen on being involved with local young people in the community and he participates with vigour and enthusiasm in all his many activities, be they church related or not.
For those seeking more information on FRANCO or wish to contribute in some way, please contact Tzilka Watson on 060 3740353.
At our last meeting Pieter Naudé of Wordsworth Franschhoek delivered a consummate discussion on ‘Life of Pi’, shedding new light on hitherto unexplored dimensions of this remarkable novel. One's comprehension of the narrative's spiritual message is greatly enriched by an appreciation of the deliberate characterisation and judicious incorporation of religious themes throughout the story. Yann Martel's mastery of literary exploration is strikingly evident in this work. Pieter will be missed by our reading circle. We wish him success in his new position in Cape Town. Ons vogende boekbespreking is op 12 Junie, waar René de Reuck ‘Gebeente’ van Etienne van Heerden sal bepreek. Met 'n onverwagte trein kom Magistraat Imker Goedeman aan op Gebeente,'nkleindorpieopdieVergeteGrootpad noord van Sutherland. Die omgewing is geruk deur 'n opspraakwekkende plaasmoord, maar 'n nog komplekser saak moet ondersoek word – die diefstalvandiemelkweg.
Franschhoek Hospice is very excited to announce that we now have a full clinical team. We welcome Sr Elna van der Merwe and Coleen Williams our social aux worker who joined us in May. We wish them many years of happiness with Franschhoek Hospice.
Colleen Williams
Colleen says her goal is to be a guiding light and a source of comfort for those experiencing “some of the toughest moments in their lives.”
Her journey in hospice care began early in her life, as she witnessed first-hand the profound impact that compassionate support can have on individuals and their families during challenging times. “This deeprooted passion for providing care has motivated me to pursue a career in the social profession, where I have always envisioned myself making a meaningful difference in hospice settings.”
Colleen’s professional background includes 12 years’ experience in the field of child protection services and working with special needs children.
She says: “My predecessors at Franschhoek Hospice laid a strong and commendable foundation, and I recognize the immense responsibility I carry in continuing their important work. I am dedicated to upholding the high standards they established while bringing my unique perspective to the support we provide.”
“I am fully committed to serving our community with empathy, respect, and integrity,” she continues.” My aim is to ensure that every individual I work with feels valued and supported, and I will strive to do so while wearing a smile. Together, we can foster a caring environment for all who need it.”
Sr Elna van der Merwe
Sr Elna’s nursing journey started in 1978 with a few months working in the children’s ward of HF Verwoerd Hospital. It proved too much for a 19-year-old and her career took a detour into public relations.
After meeting her husband and moving to Bloemfontein she found that the call of nursing was stronger than ever. In 1996, she qualified as a professional nurse practitioner. Her first position was working as a nurse in the children’s cancer unit of Unitas Hospital. This was not an easy
first job as caring for children living with a lifethreatening illness confronted her again. It was here that she was exposed to palliative care and found herself drawn to the field by a strong sense of compassion and a desire to make a profound difference in the lives of patients and their families. Life had other plans and in 1997 Elna’s son was born and two years later her daughter. Elna was privileged to be a stay-at-home mom. Despite having two young energetic children, she also worked as a locum nurse in occupational health. When her children began school, a position became available at Centurion Hospice. Here she was part of the start-up team of the hospice palliative care programmes, which included a homebased-care programme, an inpatient unit and a daycare facility for children living with HIV. During this time specialized palliative care training in pain management, emotional resilience and end-of-life care built on her general nursing background. “Over time,” she says “I developed a nuanced understanding of how to balance medical interventions with the dignity and preferences of my patients.”
From Centurion, Elna and her family moved to Kathu in the Northern Cape where Elna returned to occupational health nursing.
A very special driveway conversation led them to visit Franschhoek earlier this year. This led to the big move to the Western Cape and a return to palliative nursing.
Elna concludes: “My journey as a palliative care nurse was marked by moments of profound connection and fulfilment. Witnessing the resilience of patients, the courage of families, and the impact of compassionate care inspires me to continue advocating for improvements in this vital area of healthcare. It is a career that challenges the heart yet enriches the soul, leaving an indelible mark on both caregivers and the lives we are privileged to touch.”
Man’s Best Friend
One rarely meets a registered Golden Retriever therapist. His therapy of warm cuddles and affectionate nudges comes naturally to this handsome dog. His dreamy eyes, smiling face and blonde, silky mane can seduce even the most hardened heart. It is impossible not to fall for Benji’s charm.
His owner and mother, Kate Sanders, started her property management business ‘Silver Lining Property Management’ in 2019. After many years in the corporate world, Kate sensed she needed to find something more meaningful and a deeper purpose. Then, last year, she saw a Golden Retriever on TikTok calling on children in hospitals in the USA. This spark ignited her interest in “making a difference in people’s lives”.
With the passing of her beloved father, John Hicks, of the ‘The Armchair Explorer’ bookshop, she was deeply touched by the wonderful much-needed care and palliative assistance her dad received from Colleen Douglas and her outstanding team at Franschhoek Hospice. Kate recognized how important it is to improve the quality of life for people facing life-limiting conditions. The comfort, professional and emotional support made a lasting impression on their family.
Kate has been riding horses since the age of three and has always had a special affinity for old people and animals. She relates that “The term ‘human-animal bond’ was officially coined by Leo K. Bustad, the veterinary physiologist and dean of veterinary medicine of Washington State University. Studies have demonstrated that humans and dogs release oxytocin while spending quality time together.”
When Kate contacted Pets As Therapy SA (PAT), chairperson Roenel Swart immediately started a stringent and formal assessment of Kate and Benji. The dog’s behaviour is evaluated for gentleness, responsiveness to commands and agreeableness toward people. Thorough training is given to ensure standards are upheld.
The interaction with the elderly, often ill residents is carefully managed. Benji has already made
a remarkable impact at Fleur de Lis with even a previously withdrawn and declining resident sitting upright to welcome Benji! Fleur de Lis is an accredited PAT facility. PAT is a community-based, voluntary outreach N.P.O. organisation that coordinates animal-assisted activities in a range of settings.
PAT organises for animal guardians and their animal companions (mainly dogs) to visit people in hospices, retirement homes, frail care facilities, special needs schools, residential centres and various other venues. PAT visits bring company, support, comfort, pleasure, stress relief and stimulation to those living either permanently or temporarily in these and other establishments. Their motto is ‘Enriching lives through animal companionship’.
info@pat.org.za
Text: René de Reuck | Image: Kate Sanders
Colleen Williams & Sr Elna van der Merwe
Kathy Slazus en Pieter Naudé
Kate Sanders and her Golden Retriever, Benji
Letters
Response to Skytram I
Dear Editor
If you repeat a statement often enough, enough people will come to believe it to be true even if it isn't.
Skytram’s second advertorial in the May Tatler is again written on the basis that Skytram is inevitable, and all that remains is sorting out a few minor details, such as how to get community support. It implies that it is not a question of whether, but only of how.
There is nothing inevitable about Skytram. A year later, the responses from so many of us to the thousand or more pages of the Basic Assessment Report remain unanswered.
Skytram’s silence is deafening!!
At the end of the advertorial’s first paragraph it claims Skytram “can become a world-class attraction that enhances the region’s appeal while preserving its heritage and biodiversity.” Really? Will great steel cables hauling thousands of passengers a day in glass capsules through the pristine mountain air to an enormous viewing platform perched on massive steel supports at the top of Middagkrans preserve the region’s heritage and biodiversity? Come on: this surely is ‘overtourism’ at its worst. By now, the Graaffs probably believe what they – or their highly paid PR scribes – write: should we?
Nick Norman
Groendal, Mooiwater, Langrug, Bosbou, security estate residents, and all who live in the Franschhoek Valley)
Although a co-chair of the FHRPA, this is a personal response to Skytram’s unsigned advertorial in May’s Tatler. Whoever wrote it doesn’t understand Franschhoek.
I’ve lived here for 23 years. Many of you have lived here for much, much longer. Most Groendallers were, or are descendants of those who, in living memory, were once part of a diverse and vibrant community in the village, and were forcibly expropriated from their homes and businesses.
Having been actively involved in the community since I arrived, I believe I have a much better understanding of Franschhoek than whoever wrote Skytram’s advertorial.
He (or she) acknowledges Franschhoek’s hard earned and well deserved “reputation as a luxury destination” but doesn’t understand that Skytram is incompatible with this. High-end visitors don’t go to mass tourism destinations. With Skytram there will be fewer and fewer of them. Staff to guest ratios in our 5-star hotels, up-market guest houses and fine dining restaurants will go down and down. Soon there will be fewer jobs. New investment in job creating high end projects will dry up.
The advertorial quotes Alan Winde as saying,
“every 30 new visitors to a location creates one new job”. Really? With 3000 Skytram passengers a day projected in season, does that mean 100 jobs a day will be created in Franschhoek? Of course not. That’s absurd.
It then claims that “During construction, the local economy [will] see a R190m boost, sustaining 726 jobs, including 159 direct positions”. In Franschhoek? I don’t think so. What is “the local economy”? Is it Franschhoek, the Municipality, Cape Winelands, the Western Cape? It doesn’t say. It then says Skytram will “sustain 67 direct employment opportunities” when operating. This is interesting. Skytram’s socio-economic impact assessment published in February last year said there would be only 37. Where did the extra 30 jobs suddenly come from? Is this just a thumbsuck? Whether it’s 37 or 67, how many will be for Franschhoek, skilled, semi-skilled or seasonal? They don’t say. After 6 years of planning, why can’t they now say?
Franschhoek is thriving as it is—growing through high-end, sustainable tourism and responsible investment. Let it continue building on that success with projects that align with our unique identity and heritage and help create non-seasonal jobs.
Let’s protect our valley—its people, its jobs, and its future.
Say no to Skytram.
Barry Phillips
Wine Tram Festival of Lights Handover
Editor’s Letter
Siegfried Schäfer
Dear Readers, I love watching quiz shows on TV. What continuously strikes me is how little knowledge of geography most people have. It is almost always the question category that everybody seems to wish doesn’t come up or that can somehow be avoided.
I’m the opposite. I’ll take geography any day over pretty much anything else. Actually, I can’t think of anything I’d choose over geography! History would be a close second though. These two interests intersect nicely with my love of maps, whether old or new. Just hand me an old map and you won’t hear a word from me for hours!
Recently, a friend sent me a photo of a section of a circa 1886 surveyor’s map showing the Franschhoek Valley and surrounding area. It is fascinating. The more I look at it, the more I notice things that I either didn’t know or want to find out more about. Here is a sampling of just some of the questions the map has already raised in my mind.
The mountain we generally refer to as Matoppie is shown as Midden Berg – meaning ‘middle mountain’ in Dutch. For comparative purposes, I turned to a modern map (1997), and sure enough there it was: Middelberg. At the peak, in much smaller text, was the name Matoppie. So it turns out many (most?) of us in the valley have been referring to the mountain by the name of its highest peak without knowing it!
Another friend of mine, with similar interests, had previously pointed out that Matoppie is a tree – ‘Boscia alibtrunca’ or the Shepherd’s Tree – which doesn’t naturally occur in our part of the country. He hadn’t been able to locate any
on Middelberg, so it raises the question of why the peak is called Matoppie? Did somebody at some time plant a Matoppie tree up there? If so, when? And why? Could its remains still be there? Mystery number one.
On the other side of Robertsvlei Rd, the small mountain known as Dassenberg is shown but without a name. Dassenberg farm (roughly where Leeu Estates is now) is shown on its eastern flank, while most of the top of the mountain is shown as a property called Draaiberg. A 1977 map shows the mountain as Dassenberg. Did it always carry the name Dassenberg, or was it once called Draaiberg? Mystery number two.
Over the pass on the Villiersdorp side, 18 small plots of land caught my eye. A quick look online showed it to be where the farm Amandelrivier is now. Amandelrivier however has 2 diagrams, so why were there so many small ones in two neat rows? Mystery number three.
Also interesting to note on the old map is that there were three roads leading into the upper part of the valley. More or less where the presentday La Motte intersection is the road forked into three. The modern R45 approximately follows the route of the most easterly tyne of the fork. The westernmost one is what we know as the Robertsvlei Road. The middle one runs through the farms on the western bank of the Franschhoek River. The present-day Dassenberg Road is a section of this road, which has lost its connection to La Motte and now meets the R45 via the La Provence Rd.
Another question that popped into my mind is why so few farm buildings are shown? Modern survey maps show all buildings on farms. Why are there so few indicated on this map and why are those particular ones shown?
I could go on but let’s just say that I’ll spend many pleasurable hours studying this particular map and the historical and geographical questions it raises. Until next month!
with a proven
record of improving
The Franschhoek Wine Tram recently handed over the proceeds of its Christmastime ‘Festival of Lights’ to the beneficiaries. FRANCO and The Kusasa Project each received R20 000 this year. Franschhoek Wine Tram owners, David & Debbie Blyth say that as Christmas is a time to share with family, they selected ‘Festival of Lights’ beneficiaries
track
the lives of less fortunate children in the Franschhoek Valley. In the accompanying photo are FLTR: Mandla Bula and Tzilka Watson (FRANCO), David & Debbie Blyth (Wine Tram Owners) and Doug Gurr (The Kusasa Project).
Response to Skytram II
Dear Franschhoekers (meaning village,
Financial Matters
CELIA MCGUINNESS
Mind The Tax Gap! Here’s How…
“In 2025/26, SARS will focus on addressing the tax gap to improve revenue collection.” (National Treasury Budget Review)
With additional funding from National Treasury, SARS will now be better positioned than ever to collect the estimated R800 billion in unpaid taxes which SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has identified as a better alternative than a VAT hike to balance the South African Budget.
Much of the estimated R800 billion in unpaid taxes consists of the so-called “tax gap” – the difference between how much tax is legally due to SARS and the amount that is actually paid on time.
SARS has reported the following:
• Just over R400 billion in undisputed uncollected debt
business maintain complete compliance and react immediately and correctly should your tax affairs become the subject of SARS’ scrutiny. Maintaining compliance starts with:
• Being registered for all applicable tax types within the stipulated time frames
• Making accurate declarations
• Filing returns and other required documentation on time
• Paying the correct amount of tax on time
• Promptly responding to SARS communications
• Paying penalties and interest for noncompliance, such as late submissions or under-declared income.
Tax Shop can help you to comply with your specific tax obligations with up-to-date tax expertise and best practices.
We promptly and professionally respond to communications from SARS, such as notices of demand for unfiled returns, requests for information, or notifications of penalties levied.
• Over R100 billion in debt currently under dispute
• More than 54 million outstanding returns dating back several years
• 156,000 South Africans with substantial economic activity who are not registered taxpayers, or are not filing their tax returns.
The remainder of the R800 billion unpaid taxes is made up by “aggressive tax planning” such as base erosion, transfer pricing, and other means of tax evasion, as well as unpaid excise duties, unpaid VAT, and illicit trade flows.
Kieswetter said R2 billion of the additional R2.5 billion that SARS will receive for 2025/26 will be used for “a massive debt recovery programme”, while R500 million will be used to modernise SARS’ systems.
Given SARS’ enhanced capabilities and focus on collecting outstanding debt, Tax Shop’s tax expertise will be crucial in ensuring you and your
We take immediate and correct action following demands for outstanding tax debts.
Taxpayers have ten business days after receiving a Final Demand to either pay, arrange deferral of payment or make a payment arrangement, file a suspension of payment with an objection, or enter into a compromise agreement.
What’s more, our expertise and experience enable us to monitor that SARS is following the correct legal procedures. This ensures that your taxpayer rights are protected and preventing illegal collection measures such as unauthorised SARS withdrawals from bank accounts.
SARS says it will be relentless in its efforts to collect the billions of rands in uncollected taxes, and that it is ready to act against those who wilfully and defiantly ignore their legal tax obligations.
Similarly, we will be relentless in ensuring you maintain complete tax compliance in all your affairs. And we are ready to take the proper and timely action when SARS’ spotlight shines on your tax affairs.
When does a property defect justify cancellation of the sale agreement?
Imagine sealing the deal on your dream property, only to wake up at 3 a.m. beset by sudden doubts. You may have a strong urge to back out – but tread very carefully here. Trying to cancel the sale without sound legal grounds could be a big and costly mistake.
A recent High Court case provides the perfect example.
Our buyer put in an R135m offer for a luxury three-storey house in Sandhurst. The cancellation clause in his offer document read (emphasis added): “The Purchaser at his own expense will conduct an inspection of the home within (14) fourteen days of acceptance of the offer. Should there be structural defects or defects that are unacceptable to the Purchaser then the Purchaser can at his discretion elect to cancel this agreement.”
The seller accepted the offer with that cancellation clause – deal done. But then, eight days later, the buyer tried to escape the sale with this email from his attorney: “Unfortunately after conducting due diligence, the purchaser hereby elects to cancel the agreement… Good luck with the sale.” The buyer’s remorse in this case turned out to be monetary – he had, he said, overpaid for the property. He then put in a new offer for R100m.
The seller denied that the buyer had any right to cancel the sale agreement, and off they went to the High Court. The buyer said that he had “unfettered discretion” to decide whether or not there were defects, and he refused to give the seller any details of them. Only in his court papers did he provide more information, claiming to have noticed cracks on the walls during an inspection. The rest of his “concerns” related to his personal preferences for the house – wanting new paving, widening the
driveway, remodelling the kitchen, installing an elevator and the like.
The Court had no hesitation in holding that the buyer had not been entitled to withdraw from the sale “based on any minor ‘imperfection’ in the property, because it does not fulfil his personal needs – at his sole discretion and without proof.”
He had failed, as required by law, to exercise his discretion reasonably and to prove the existence of a defect objectively (i.e., based on facts, not personal belief) rather than subjectively (i.e., based on the buyer’s personal opinions or interpretations). His subjective interpretation was irrelevant.
The bottom line: The seller had rightly rejected the buyer’s cancellation, and the buyer remains bound to the sale. To rub salt into his wounds he must now also pay costs on a punitive attorney and client scale.
What then is a “defect”? Per the Court, the ordinary meaning of a defect is (emphasis supplied): “an ‘abnormal quality or attribute’ of the property sold that ‘destroys or substantially impairs’ its ‘utility or effectiveness’ for the purpose for which it is generally used or unfit for the special purpose for which it was intended to be used by the purchaser.”
Personal preferences like elevators and revamped kitchens don’t count, and a wall crack justifying an R35m price reduction can’t be superficial!
Some final thoughts for property buyers:
• Don’t rush (or be rushed) into buying anything.
• Check the building thoroughly for any potential problems and consider commissioning an independent home inspection to look for any defects that might not be immediately obvious (damp for example). If you are worried about anything in particular, bring in the experts.
• Do not sign an offer without asking an attorney to review it for you first!
Wilma Cruise
Everard Read Gally Franschhoek
I first encountered Wilma Cruise at the Standard Bank Art Festival in Grahamstown thirty-five years ago. She was positioned as a major festival artist in a large, cavernous hall. Wilma was busy sculpting and shaping her clay figures. On the cold July morning, back then, I sat entranced and mesmerized by the power and profundity of her work. Wilma Cruise is truly a prophetic voice. This reminded me of my mother driving along farm roads, pointing out ‘die stomme diere’, which has been embedded in my memory.
In the artist’s statement for the Woordfees 2023 exhibition titled ‘The Animal - What a Word!’ Cruise says “I explore the ‘question of the animal’ in the context of language. How we speak about them and how we speak to them. The animals’ lack of (human) language, therefore, human reason, traditionally has made them lesser. I question whether the animals’ lack of words is a fault as traditionally supposed. The lack of language is only perceived to be a deprivation from a human, anthropocentric, logos-dependent perspective.”
What is it about childhood that often seems so magical? What does it mean to stay young?
When I spend time with Lia, our two-year-old granddaughter, I feel blessed to be readmitted to a world of utter playfulness and wonder. And it seems I’m not alone. Here are three other poets’ reflections on how such imaginative worlds – childlike, yes, but not childish – seem to them, and maybe too on what we sometimes miss as adults. The first, a touch sad, perhaps, but quirky and creative, is by award-winning American poet
Kimiko Hahn:
In Childhood things don't die or remain damaged
Exit Wounds. A story of Love, Loss and Occasional Wars
Peter Godwin.
Publ. Picador Africa. 274 pages
When a bullet hits a body the wound at first appears to be quite small and relatively harmless. However, where the bullet leaves the body, the “exit wound” can be appallingly large and often fatal. Peter Godwin draws a parallel between this actual physical exit wound and the emotional and psychic wound that occurs when individuals exit their country of birth.
The case in point is that of his mother who exits Zimbabwe after being a doctor (the only doctor) in a rural hospital for many years. In fact, she spent most of her adult life in colonial Rhodesia with all the ambiguities of being both a colonist and a dedicated care-giver. She then spends the rest of her life in London and finally in frail care herself – suffering from the loss of her profession and, ironically, all the turmoil and pain associated with living in an African country that was undergoing its own painful transition to independence.
The author writes affectionately about the changes that take place in his mother’s personality. She suddenly changes her accent
What if it is not?
Prof. Elizabeth Gunter of the Visual Arts Dept, Stellenbosch University, informs that “Cruise’s menagerie of animals, human and non-human, turn their eyes away, refusing the viewing audience their mute gaze. They speak not a single word but draw us in with a stubborn silence, not with speech. Their stance is one of unwavering reserves. Do they thwart us? Is this a bold scorn that refuses any remit, a clear rebuke? Or is this a shy and docile withdrawal, one of quiet resignation and submission? We cannot know with any certainty because most often there are no mouths, no arms; the focus elsewhere, perhaps inward. The artist has rid her creatures of those limbs and features necessary for verbal or gestural communication. The figures seem as bemused as much as they bewilder, and then in ways quite inarticulable in human language, their revealed bodies now so fragile and childlike, their place on Earth so precarious. Their stance is one of simultaneous rejection and withdrawal, and regardless of our indifference or disdain, their bearing remains profoundly resolute. We can never know or see the end of our pilfering nor the limits of their bereavement.”
Wilma Cruise was born in Johannesburg in 1945 and creates fired clay human and animal figures. Her exhibitions are often accompanied by large format drawings on paper. She has also completed
but return: stumps grow back hands, a head reconnects to a neck, a whole corpse rises blushing and newly elastic. Later this vision is not True: the grandmother remains dead not hibernating in a wolf's belly. Or the blue parakeet does not return from the little grave in the fern garden though one may wake in the morning thinking mother's call is the bird. Or maybe the bird is with grandmother inside light. Or grandmother was the bird and is now the dog gnawing on the chair leg. Where do the gone things go when the child is old enough to walk herself to school, her playmates already pumping so high the swing hiccups?
Kimiko Hahn
The second poem, by South African academic
from flat colonial to English aristocratic. Not just a little bit, but a parody of accentuated vowels. He and his sister start calling her “Her Grace”.
His relation to his mother is complicated. There is great love and affection, but he finds it difficult to exonerate her for being too dedicated to her job, while neglecting the family. For example, when he was a war correspondent covering the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya, he was struck down by a dreadful infection. He was at death’s door, but she could not find the time to fly to Kenya to be with him. That memory is hard to forgive. In spite of this, she remains an important part of his life, wherever in the world he finds himself. It is obvious that Peter Godwin and his remaining sister (the older sister was killed in a terrorist attack) are also suffering from their own forms of exit wounds, as they too leave Zimbabwe. Godwin’s own wound is made worse as he moves to New York and starts a new life in a different cultural environment. Though an experienced traveller, as war correspondent and travel writer, he is alienated and lost in the Land of Plenty. He does not easily become an American citizen.
Interestingly, a regular columnist in the Financial Times Weekend, Janan Ganesh, writes positively about being “A Citizen of Nowhere.” He is content to owe no allegiance to any one culture, and is able to engage with aspects of other cultures while overall rejecting them. It is possible to be a content cosmopolitan, he says.
several series of print editions. Cruise has held over twenty solo exhibitions, curated others, and completed several public works, including the National Monument to the Women of South Africa at the Union Buildings, Pretoria, and the Memorial to the Slaves in Cape Town. Her work is represented in corporate and private collections throughout the country. She has participated in the Havana Biennale, the Florence Biennale, and the 7th Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale in Seoul, Korea.
Themes explored in Cruise’s work include the interface between humans and animals, with particular emphasis on communication. In her doctoral thesis in 2017, ‘Thinking with Animals: An explanation of the animal turn through art making and metaphor’, she delves into conditions of muteness – silent, internal battles in the search for meaning that crosses the species divide. Her most recent exhibition, ‘Where are we going?’ was held at the Everard Read Gallery in Franschhoek. She returns to the subject of migration, first investigated in her 2020 solo exhibition ‘1984: Fight or Flight’ at Everard Read in Cape Town. Geographic dislocation and its consequent suffering are pervasive throughout history. The magnitude of the migration is made blatant through the size of the sculpted armada of packed boats. We are so painfully reminded of the thousands migrating to escape war, find better
and poet Sioux McKenna, borrows phrases from other works to emphasise how exciting it can be, as year follows year, to live at least some of our time within the uncritical, untrammelled joy of childhood. “A little fun keeps you young,” she insists, and she’s right:
Keeping Young
Here’s wishing you a year
Of noticing a kind of white moth, I don’t know what kind, May your soul grow deep like the rivers,
May it be a year of singing, For all which isn't singing is mere talking and all talking's talking to oneself.
May it be a year of laughing, There’s always laughter and good wine, A little fun keeps you young; A little laughter keeps you bright.
May your apes yawn and adore their fleas in the sun, Un-prisoned by stone walls or iron bars.
May you wander, lonely, disturbed but by the bird,
However, this is not possible for the Godwin family. The “Love and Loss” part of the book’s title becomes apparent when Godwin’s talented and ambitious wife is appointed the head of BBC America and their marriage falls apart. His account of being a father to two young boys in New York is as moving as his more factual reports of his life as a war correspondent. The final part of the book tells the story of the final days of his mother. It is both outrageously
Who bit an angle-worm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw.
Sioux McKenna
Finally, a quite perfect little poem by the Hungarian poet János Pilinszky (1921-1981) who, having lived through the horrors of World War 2 and then under the repressive constraints of the Cold War, defined poetry for him as “the pulse of life”.
Although he was not yet sixty when he died in Budapest, he captures flawlessly – at least for me – the exquisite relationship that can hold between old age and childhood.
On the Back of a Photograph Hunched I make my way, uncertainly. The other hand is only three years old. An eighty-year-old hand and a three-year-old. We hold each other. We hold each other tight. JánosPilinszky (tr.PeterJay)
Isn’t this wonderful? Long may we all “hold each other tight” within the circle of such innocence.
funny and, at the same time, terribly moving. He and his sister watch over their mother in the End of Life ward in the hospital and experience the array of dementing old people that occupy the neighbouring beds. “Her Grace” is at her best in these final moments. This is a beautifully written book. The exit wounds are very real, but Godwin’s light touch renders the serious content both touching and enjoyable.
living conditions, and a place to live in peace. Her work can be viewed at the Everard Read Franschhoek Gallery and sculpture-garden annex at Everard Read Leeu Estates. fgallery@everard.co.za
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UNITING REFORMED CHURCH: Sunday service 09h30. Dr Shaun Burrows. 021 876 2632. Visitors welcome.
SHOFAR CHRISTIAN CHURCH: Services - 09h00 & 18h00 English services at 7 Lambrechts Street. Pastor Richard Wade. 083 225 8529. All welcome!
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HOUSEKEEPER, ETC. I’m Tanisha Patuma Ngungaa Malawian lady. I’m looking for a job as a housekeeper, babysitter or other domestic work. You’ll be happy if I work for you as I’m a hard worker. My number is 067 990 5137. For a reference call Liezel 074 416 9579.
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JOB WANTED: I’m Moffat Mphanda, a 25-year-old Malawian guy. I’m looking for a job as a housekeeper, handyman, gardener, domestic works. I have 5 years’ experience and am a hard worker. I will be happy if you consider me. Contact me: 071 915 2024 – Whatsapp or 067 267 1815 – Cell. References: 083 279 7960 (Myles), 079 778 2528
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GARDENER/DOMESTIC: My name is Isaac Phiri. I’m a Malawian looking for a job doing gardening or domestic work. I have 5 years’ experience. I will be happy if you take me to work for you. My number is 073 768 1226. Reference: Beverley Markgraaf 060 5080 288. (Domaine des Anges)
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Visitors welcome. GENERAL Alcoholics Anonymous: WED evenings 19:00, Groendal Community Centre, Contact David +27 83 305 5159
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UNITING REFORMED CHURCH: Sunday service 09h30. Dr Shaun Burrows. 021 876 2632. Visitors welcome.
Alcoholics Anonymous: WED evenings 19:00, Groendal Community Centre, Contact David +27 83 305 5159
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Alcoholics Anonymous: WED evenings 19:00, Groendal Community Centre, Contact David +27 83 305 5159
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ATTORNEYS Susan Charlesworth 021 876 2592/072 402 9469
Tax Shop 021 876 2676
AUDIOLOGISTS Heidi Allan 021 876 4622
ATTORNEYS Susan Charlesworth 021 876 2592/072 402
POKER / RUMMY: Retired international travel executive, new to Franschhoek, would like to join a local weekly or monthly poker group or play gin rummy. 084 345 9027
RE-THINKING YOUR GARDEN? For Garden
Consulting call Susan at 072 932 5393
PLATTER GUIDES: Lifetime collection of Platter Wine Guides for sale. Every issue from highly sought-after first-ever 1980 edition to 2020 edition. All in excellent condition. R29k. WhatsApp 082 391 5327. SERVICES OFFERED: I’m Theo de Koker (formerly of Cathmar). I offer the following services: 1. DSTV installation, 2. Surround sound installation, 3. Electric Fence service, 4. CCTV installation, 5. Laptop repairs, 7. Programming of remotes. Contact me at: 082 822 7349 Need a PET/HOUSE-SITTER with good references? Contact Ronelle @ 073 646 1687
RE-THINKING YOUR GARDEN? For Garden Consulting call Susan at 072 932 5393
PET / HOUSE SITTING: Tina Stanley. Trusted pet & house sitter in Franschoek, WC. Reliable care for your pets & home, ensuring peace of mind while you’re away. Contact 083 448 4951 for bookings & references.
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PET / HOUSE SITTING: Tina Stanley. Trusted pet & house sitter in Franschoek, WC. Reliable care for your pets & home, ensuring peace of mind while you’re away. Contact 083 448 4951 for bookings & references.
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STUFF WANTED: All manner of clothing and household items needed for our ‘First Friday of The Month’ jumble sales. Please help us to help the animals of the valley. Please drop off at the SPCA clinic in La Provence Street, Groendal, or phone for us to collect. 021 876 4808
GARDENER/DOMESTIC: My name is Isaac Phiri. I’m a Malawian looking for a job doing gardening or domestic work. I have 5 years’ experience. I will be happy if you take me to work for you. My number is 073 768 1226. Reference: Beverley Markgraaf 060 5080 288. (Domaine des Anges)
STUFF WANTED: All manner of clothing and household items needed for our ‘First Friday of The Month’ jumble sales. Please help us to help the animals of the valley. Please drop off at the SPCA clinic in La Provence Street, Groendal, or phone for us to collect. 021 876 4808
FRESH, ORGANIC FARM PRODUCE: Delivered weekly to Franschhoek, including vegetables and fruit in season, chicken, eggs, cheese, honey, etc. Lists of available produce received on Monday, orders placed on Tuesday for Wednesday delivery. A number of Franschhoekers are already receiving weekly deliveries. To be added to the list contact Sue Norman on 083 321 3442 or suenorman50@outlook.com.
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FRESH, ORGANIC FARM PRODUCE: Delivered weekly to Franschhoek, including vegetables and fruit in season, chicken, eggs, cheese, honey, etc. Lists of available produce received on Monday, orders placed on Tuesday for Wednesday delivery. A number of Franschhoekers are already receiving weekly deliveries. To be added to the list contact Sue Norman on 083 321 3442 or suenorman50@outlook.com.
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FRANSCHHOEK TENNIS CLUB: Social tennis is played at the club on Fridays, Sunda, and Public Holidays from 08h30. For more information contact Nicky. 082 455 6411
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PROFESSIONAL POOL SERVICE REQUIRED? Keep it local! Get a quote. Call RiaPools: 072 347 5355 HOUSE/PET SITTER: I have worked with animals for over 20 years. I need to bring my 16-year-old dog with me. He sleeps all day and is not a barker. Fees are reasonable and references are available. Internet access essential. For further details call Rentia 072 324 3882.
PARKRUN: Saturdays at Rickety Bridge Wine Estate. Time: 08h00. Cost Free. Register at www.parkrun.co.za
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FRANSCHHOEK TENNIS CLUB: Social tennis is played at the club on Fridays, Sundays and Public Holidays from 08h30. For more information contact Nicky. 082 455 6411 PARKRUN: Saturdays at Rickety Bridge Wine Estate. Time: 08h00. Cost: Free. Register at www.parkrun.co.za
METHODIST CHURCH: Sunday service 10h00. Rev Russell Norman. 021 872 3580 or 082 662 4509. NG KERK Sondagdienste 09h30. Geen aanddiens. Dr. Ryno Els 083 610 1641. Besoekers welkom.New Apostolic Church: Le Roux Street, Groendal. Sunda, 09h00, Wednesdays 19h30. Rector: Charles Leibrandt.
FRANSCHHOEK TENNIS CLUB: Social tennis is played at the club on Fridays, Sundays and Public Holidays from 08h30. For more information contact Nicky. 082 455 6411 PARKRUN: Saturdays at Rickety Bridge Wine Estate. Time: 08h00. Cost: Free. Register at www.parkrun.co.za
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ST GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH: Groot Drakenstein. Sunday Services: Holy Communion and Sunday School 10h00. Rev Wilfred Meyer 084 407 1280. Office - 021 874 4008. willowdale@cybersmartco.za
METHODIST CHURCH: Sunday service 10h00. Rev Russell Norman. 021 872 3580 or 082 662 4509. NG KERK: Sondagdienste 09h30. Geen aanddiens. Dr. Ryno Els 083 610 1641. Besoekers welkom.New Apostolic Church: Le Roux Street, Groendal. Sundays 09h00, Wednesdays 19h30. Rector: Charles Leibrandt. ST GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH: Groot Drakenstein. Sunday Services: Holy Communion and Sunday School 10h00. Revd Wilfred Meyer 084 407 1280. Office - 021 874 4008. willowdale@cybersmart.co.za
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SHOFAR CHRISTIAN CHURCH: Services - 09h00 & 18h00 English services at 7 Lambrechts Street. Pastor Richard Wade. 083 225 8529. All welcome! UNITING REFORMED CHURCH: Sunday service 09h30. Dr Shaun Burrow. 021 876 2632.
METHODIST CHURCH: Sunday service 10h00. Rev Russell Norman. 021 872 3580 or 082 662 4509. NG KERK: Sondagdienste 09h30. Geen aanddiens. Dr. Ryno Els 083 610 1641. Besoekers welkom.New Apostolic Church: Le Roux Street, Groendal. Sundays 09h00, Wednesdays 19h30. Rector: Charles Leibrandt. ST GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH: Groot Drakenstein. Sunday Services: Holy Communion and Sunday School 10h00. Revd Wilfred Meyer 084 407 1280. Office - 021 874 4008. willowdale@cybersmart.co.za
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Shop 1, 22 Huguenot St, Franschhoek, 7690
Hours: Mon-Friday 9am – 6pm | Weekends 9am – 5pm
Phone: 021 863 5505
Exclusive Sole Mandate; This exceptional heritage property, is just a short walk from Franschhoek’s restaurants, shops, and galleries. Originally built in 1857, the home has been sensitively restored to preserve its period charm while incorporating modern finishes. Features include oak wood floors, sash windows, and high ceilings, creating an elegant, timeless atmosphere.
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stunning mountain views and ancient oak trees.
Additional highlights include exclusive parking for 6 vehicles (4 garaged), a large solar system with power backup, and many high-end features. The property is part of the Riverside Oaks sectional scheme, which consists of three homes.
Tom Clode 079 955 3114
Terry-Lee George 082 650 9194
R27 900 000 + VAT
TWO RIVERS FARM ESTATE
Exclusive Sole Mandate. This ±34-hectare vacant land lies within the prestigious Two Rivers Farm Estate in Franschhoek.It’s one of the last undeveloped properties in this sought-after location. Perfect for a bespoke lifestyle farm or country retreat. Surrounded by indigenous fynbos and 360-degree mountain views, including Simonsberg.
Enjoy total privacy within a secure estate of just 15 farms. A well-managed property owners' association ensures long-term value. Water resources are ample, with 17,608 kL potable and 44,400 kL irrigation water annually. Water is sourced from Wemmershoek Dam and Bergriver Irrigation Committee. Ideal for agricultural or landscape development.
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Tom Clode 079 955 3114
Terry-Lee George 082 650 9194
R29 500 000 plus VAT
