Visible Community Security Works
Fondly known as ‘The Red Caps,’ the Franschhoek Foot Patrol steps into its fourth year of operation. The entirely community-funded initiative aims to provide a consistent, main road presence, deterring petty crime and fostering a sense of order and re-assurance.
And it’s working. In a recent village survey, 94% of respondees said that the Foot Patrol has helped to improve Main Rd security significantly.
The formula for success begins with fundraising from local businesses and residents. The volunteer team then contract trained guards from security provider ‘Dogs and All’, position Red Cap guards at strategic points on Main Road and activate them through the Pepler Alarms Control room.
Beyond overwhelming support and encouragement, two themes emerged from survey feedback. Not only do villagers want patrols to extend beyond Main Rd to adjacent streets, they also want to recognise and support business contributors.
To meet village requests the organising team are looking to increase the number of contributors by 30% from 190 to 250 and will provide business contributors with window stickers to show their support.
To donate or would for more information please email the team at fhoekpatrol@gmail.com.
Skytram Lease Bid Deferred
An agenda item for the meeting of the Mayoral Executive Committee (Mayco) on 22nd July was Franschhoek Cableway Company’s application made in January 2025 for a lease for the top station for Skytram of an area of 1.3475 ha of Middagkrans owned by the Municipality.
The length of the lease is not specified in the application attached to the agenda but it notes that “the Department” (presumed to be a provincial department) suggests that a 30 year lease should be considered “due to the capital investment”. The agenda further notes that assuming the value of the lease area to be more than R10 million there must be a public participation process before any lease is granted.
The Director of Infrastructure said they had “raised comments from a traffic and roads perspective which have not been addressed by the Applicant yet”. He went on to say “We thus feel that the Lease Application is premature since the applicant does not have the rights to operate
Skytram yet”. It was also noted that applications still need to be made to allow a “private type of water provision to a very large number of people” from boreholes on Haute Cabriere, and “details of a cable car transporting 5 to 22 tons [of sewage] per day down the mountain and disposal into the sewer system without preventing overload still needs to be provided.”
In his comments, the Director of Planning and Economic Development said “To approve such a lease before finalising the development rights acquisition process would be pre-empting the decisions that has to be taken.” He concluded his comments saying, “the application should not be considered at this stage.”
Continuedonp2...
Text: Graeme Oliver – Fundraising Volunteer Image: Supplied
‘The Red Caps’ are always ready to assist – with a smile!
Lifesaving Equipment for First Responders
The Franschhoek First Responders are a dedicated group of volunteer paramedics and medical professionals who respond to a wide range of emergencies at any time of day or night. This can include car accidents, cardiac arrests, traumatic injuries and more. They often operate in challenging terrain, from mountainous hiking trails to the streets of the village and the informal settlement Langrug and in most cases they arrive before an ambulance due to the lack of a full-time local ambulance base. This vital service is provided voluntarily and at no cost to patients or their families.
The Lions Club of Franschhoek spearheaded a fundraising campaign, successfully raising the amount needed for a state-of-the-art Zoll X-Series Advanced Monitor. This device, along with all its necessary accessories, is now in service, marking a major step forward in local emergency care.
“This was an ambitious fundraising goal and our community stepped up in an inspiring way. They bought raffle tickets, made generous donations and helped us spread the word,” a club spokesperson said.
The Zoll X-Series Advanced Monitor allows the Franschhoek First Responders to track critical patient data in real time, perform advanced cardiac monitoring and provide lifesaving interventions. The new equipment ensures responders can make rapid, informed clinical decisions that directly impact patient survival and recovery.
The Lions Club of Franschhoek and the First Responders extend their heartfelt thanks to every individual, family, and business that contributed to this project. “The campaign reflects the incredible strength and spirit of the Franschhoek community. We would also like to thank Zoll International for their support and assistance in making this possible.”
While this achievement is a huge milestone, the work of the Franschhoek First Responders is ongoing and relies heavily on continued community support. Their services including fuel, medical supplies and equipment maintenance is entirely funded through donations.
Seeff Franschhoek is also a proud supporter of this initiative.
For those who wish to follow the responders’ work or want to support future projects, information can be found on their Instagram (@franschhoek_first_responders) or Facebook (Franschhoek First Responders).
Anyone interested in volunteering, donating, or supporting future projects can contact: kurtmaske1@gmail.com.
Text: Dina Boshoff | Image: Supplied
Skytram Lease Bid Deferred
...Continuedfromp1
At the Council subsequent meeting on 30th July, it was resolved “that Council is not currently in a position to make any decisions on the application
as the application is premature; and that the item be brought back to Council after the outcome of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report is received, for further consideration.”
Text: Barry Phillips
FHS Boomplantdag
8
September 2025
Twee vieringe het op 8 September 2025 gelyk plaasgevind by die Franschhoek Hoërskool. Enersyds was dit Nasionale Boomplant Week, maar die skool het ook die geleentheid gebruik om ‘n ou tradisie te laat herleef.
Op 16 Oktober 1950, met die viering van die skool se 100ste bestaansjaar, het die oudste oudleerling, Mej. Sannie Hauman – toe reeds 85 jaar oud –saam met die jongste leerder, die vyfjarige Johan Conradie, ‘n kastaiingboom geplant.
Op 8 September, met die skool se 175ste bestaansjaarvieringe net om die draai, het latere generasies leerders in hulle voetspore gevolg.
Die 95-jarige Mnr. Sextus le Roux, tans FHS se oudste oud-leerling, het ‘n wildepruimboom geplant saam met Sinildo Macenda en Miché Boonzaaier, die skool se jongste leerders.
Die skoolhoof, Mnr. Jaco Haasbroek, het verrigtinge geopen deur die eregaste te verwelkom. Hulle was: Mnr Sextus le Roux, Mev Brieta Roux (oudste oud-onderwyser/-es), Mnr Jan Lötter en Mev Marieta Malherbe. ‘n Handjievol plaaslike oudleerlinge en ‘n paar klasgroepe was ook teenwoordig.
Mnr Nico Demas, voorsitter van die beheerliggaam, het sy dank uitgespreek teenoor vorige generasies leerders vir hul betrokkenheid by die skool en huidige leerders gewaarsku om weg te bly van sy werkplek. Hy werk vir die Dept. Korrektiewe Dienste!
Die geleentheidsameroeper, Juffrou Phyl-Mari Heyneke, het hierdie pragtige sentiment met die teenwoordiges gedeel: “Mag elke Franschhoek Hoërskool-leerder onthou: jou wortels lê diep in hierdie sandgrond. Hier leer jy droogtes en vloede trotseer, jy word gesnoei, gewater en gevoed. Hier word jy gevorm om ‘n boom te word wat vrugte dra, koelte bied, en skuiling verskaf – maar bowenal, om altyd hoër te groei.”
Die skool se amptelike 175-jarige vieringe het op 26 en 27 September plaasgevind.
Teks & Foto: Redaksie
New Community Centre and Mosque for Groendal
Islamic Relief South Africa (IRSA) has acquired a former church in Groendal to transform it into an ‘integrated development community centre’ and mosque.
The building, at the corner of Skool and Boonzaaier Streets, was formerly a church and, as such, is already zoned for religious use.
According to IRSA, “The broader vision for the IDCC is to be a beacon of hope, dignity, and empowerment for underserved families in Groendal and its
surrounding areas.” Services offered at the centre will include: youth empowerment programmes, skills development and vocational training, health and psycho-social support services, and awareness and community safety campaigns.
IRSA continues to say that planning is underway
and is guided by “ongoing engagements with community stakeholders and the local municipality.
These discussions have been instrumental in shaping a shared and responsive vision for the centre—one grounded in the lived experiences, needs, and aspirations of the very people it seeks to serve.”
The project has faced controversy and challenges.
Some individuals, not affiliated with IRSA, have falsely claimed to represent the organisation and have
solicited donations for the project. IRSA has clearly stated it has “not appointed any individuals or groups to collect funds on our behalf for this project.”
In addition, certain community members have accused the former church’s pastor of personally keeping the proceeds from the building’s sale. The pastor has denied these allegations.
Text: Editorial Desk
Mnr. Sextus le Roux, tans FHS se oudste oud-leerling, het ‘n wildepruimboom geplant saam met Sinildo Macenda en Miché Boonzaaier, die skool se jongste leerders.
SA Trails Network to Include Berg River Dam Trails
The SA Trails Network NPC is set to expand the network of trails it develops and maintains by including the Berg River Dam Trails. Work on the expansion project is scheduled to start in 2026.
The WEF award-winning NPC was formed in 2022 to develop and maintain interconnected recreational trail networks across the Western Cape, thus supporting conservation, job creation and tourism growth. Since its inception the NPC has connected and developed over 600kms of trails particularly around Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl. These include the Imperial Winelands Trails, Idas Valley Community Trails and The GOAT at Devonbosch. The NPC has also maintained routes in four Cape Nature reserves.
The inclusion of the 488ha conservation area around the Berg River Dam in the trails network is designed to “position the Berg River Dam as a flagship tourism and conservation destination within the Cape Winelands.”
Sixty six kilometres of multi-use trails (hiking, trail running, MTB & horse riding) will be created or improved as part of the project. Trail infrastructure such as signage, trailheads, rest points and accessibility upgrades will also be undertaken, while the trail design will prioritise water conservation awareness and biodiversity education.
Alien vegetation clearing and ecological rehabilitation work will also be undertaken. Longterm ecological monitoring of the area will be undertaken under Cape Nature’s oversight.
SA Trails Network expects that 8-15 direct, full-time jobs in trail management will be created through the project. In addition, more than 50 seasonal jobs and significantly more indirect jobs (guides, hospitality, transport, retail, etc.) will also be created.
According to the NPC, a Berg River Dam Community Working Group will be formed to ensure local benefit sharing, youth mentorship, outdoor skills training and ongoing community capacity building.
The new and upgraded trails are expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2026. The NPC anticipates a 40–50% increase in visitation within 12 months of the launch. Benefits to the tourism and events sector will include:
The ARC Ultra, an annual flagship multi-sport endurance event, Partnerships with wine tourism and hospitality operators, and Integration with the broader Cape Winelands adventure tourism circuit.
In conclusion, SA Trails Network says: “The Berg River Dam Trails Expansion & Maintenance Programme is not only an investment in world-class trail infrastructure, but also a model for regenerative tourism. By aligning conservation outcomes with local job creation, youth mentorship, and inclusive
governance, this initiative sets a new benchmark for sustainable development in the Cape Winelands.”
Note: The Berg River Dam Project has now been rebranded as the ‘ARC of Franschhoek’ with the aim of becoming “a premier tourist and conservation hub in South Africa.”
Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied
Berg River Dam Trail
Next Generation Takes Over
The second generation of Von Arnims took the reins at Haute Cabrière in August 2025 when Tanja von Arnim, the daughter of founders Achim and Hildegard von Arnim, assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of the winery. The elder Von Arnims stated: “This moment honours our commitment to building a bright and beautiful future for Haute Cabrière.”
Tanja joined Haute Cabrière four years ago, leading the winery’s marketing and hospitality operations. Her career has taken her from Tuscany to launching and shaping the Delaire Graff Estate brand over 12 years as Marketing & PR Manager.
“My time abroad sharpened my skills and broadened my horizons, but my heart has always been in South Africa, and that is what brought me home,” Tanja says. “My journey with Haute Cabrière has felt so natural, bringing everything I’ve learned into building something deeply personal for myself, my family, our team, and – of course – our village,
guests and customers.”
Tanja’s appointment is a milestone for the SA wine industry, which is still male dominated. With her team, Tanja will continue to develop and build Haute Cabrière with the Von Arnim’s signature innovative spirit, alongside her brother, and Wine Director, Takuan von Arnim.
“The beauty of Haute Cabrière is that it grows with us,” he shares. “We’re more focussed than ever on quality, innovation, and sharing the spirit of our French Corner.”
Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied
As we swap winter coats for sunglasses and onger lighter days Franschhoek steps into its full spring stride - burst ng with co our creat vity and plenty of reasons to raise a glass!
Al those with a passion for pol shed chrome and class c lines mark your ca endars the first weekend of October kicks off in high gear with the return of the
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Travels on a Plate
There’s something magical about eating far from home. The food itself might be simple – just chicken, vegetables, a scattering of herbs – but it’s transformed by the dust of the road, the view out the window, the stories you’ve collected that day.
I’ve just returned from travelling the west coast of Namibia, a trip that felt both vast and intimate. Vast because Namibia is a country of open skies and endless horizons. Intimate because, out there, you are so aware of every small detail: the crunch of sand underfoot, the distant cry of a jackal, the scent of the ocean carried inland by the wind. It’s not an easy place to eat if you measure food by convenience – the lodges are often in the middle of nowhere, reached by long stretches of gravel road. And yet, in one such lodge, I sat down to a
meal that felt as sophisticated as anything you’d find in a city restaurant. Lanterns glowed softly, casting warm pools of light, and chilled glasses of rosé caught the last rays of the sun. Around our table, there was the low murmur of relaxed banter between friends – the kind of conversation that drifts easily after a long day of exploring. On my plate: the most perfectly cooked chicken.
Perhaps it was the combination of exhaustion from the day’s drive, the orange-pink sunset that turned the desert into a living painting, or the quiet pride with which the food was served – but it was unforgettable. Tender meat, golden skin, and flavours that felt rooted in the landscape. This wasn’t just dinner; it was a reminder that food is part of the journey.
What struck me most was how that meal turned a remote lodge into a gathering place. Out there,
Established in Cape Town since 2009, African Wildlife Artist Suzanne Elizabeth opens her new gallery in the heart of Franschhoek.
authentic, hand-painted artwork
La Petite Galerie, Huguenot Street, Franschhoek
Suzanne Elizabeth Tel: +27 82 515 4131
Samantha Louise Tel: +27 71 236 3571 theartgallerycapetown@gmail.com
miles from anywhere, a table becomes more than just somewhere to eat – it becomes a point of connection. The laughter, the shared passing of dishes, the clink of glasses – it all stitched the day together and made the wildness of the desert feel, just for a moment, like home.
When I got home, I wanted to hold on to that feeling. That’s what cooking can do: it lets you bottle up an experience and pour it back out into everyday life. So, I recreated that dish in my own kitchen – a chicken recipe inspired by Namibia. Here’s how I did it: I started with bone-in chicken pieces, seared until the skin turned crisp and brown. Into the pan went onions, garlic, and a handful of spices that reminded me of the desert: cumin, coriander, paprika. A splash of white wine (or chicken stock if you prefer), and everything simmered gently until the meat was falling-offthe-bone tender. I finished it with a little lemon yoghurt and a scattering of fresh herbs – not traditionally Namibian, but it brightened the dish. When I sat down to eat, I closed my eyes for a moment. I could almost hear the distant roar of the Atlantic, feel the warm air on my skin, and taste that chilled rosé once more. That’s the power of food: it transports us. Travelling and eating are inseparable for me. The flavours you discover on the road stay with you long after you’ve unpacked your bags. They become part of your story, part of your kitchen. And if you’re lucky, they remind you that every meal – no matter where you are – can be a small adventure.
La Petite Galerie, situated on Huguenot Street, tells the story behind the artwork, as the stunning wildlife photography which has been the inspiration behind the paintings is now beautifully presented and available for sale both in store and online.
Why
AMG
E53 Is A Few Buttons Short Of Brilliant
This Mercedes-AMG E 53 makes 450 Race Start kilowatts and 750 maximum system Newtonmeters by blending its 330 kW 3-litre turbo straight-six engine with a high-power density 120 kW 480 Nm permanently excited internal rotor E-synchronous motor. A reprogrammed higher 1.5 bar boost pressure twin-scroll exhaust gas turbocharger also gains an additional front and wheel arch cooler for better, more spontaneous throttle response.
The electric motor-generator integrated into the AMG Speedshift TCT 9G transmission is fed by its 400 volt 28.6 kWh traction battery sitting beneath the boot floor. While E 53 boasts up to 120 kW recuperation on the go, available via various single pedal modes, there’s also an 11 kW AC charger on board. A 60 kW DC home fast charger will boost from 10 to 80% in just 20 minutes. Electric-only range is about 100 kilometres.
AMG promises that E 53 will accelerate from rest to 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. It’s actually quicker. The Auto Test did the trick in 3.6 seconds. Which means this car kicks the 2018 6-litre turbo V12 BMW M760 Li out of the top 20 quickest cars Auto has ever tested. Something that guy with the Turbo S in the Winelands now knows full well, up close and personal!
E53 has clear supercar cred
So, while it may not be the top E class, this second-division 53 certainly has clear supercar credentials. Benz also tells us that top speed is electronically limited to 280 km/h and that E 53 will reach up to 140 km/h on electric power only. It’s not just about straight line speed, however. Packing fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive, E 53 reverts to steel spring suspension. The electronically controlled locking rear differential is also complemented by rear wheel steering to vary the aft toe angle from 0.7 degree parallel to 2.5 degree opposite, depending
on the cornering situation.
A significantly tauter shell and stiffer elastokinemetics to mount its independent control arms to the axle support ensure greater tracking and camber stability. Reprogrammed ESP further enhances confident driving experience, while E 53 also benefits newly developed and tuned AMG Ride Control adaptive damping suspension. So it rides, handles and hides its heft well.
Balances electric slick, AMG aggro Sporty two-valve adjustable damping brings a fine balance between silent pure electric driving and a sporty AMG character in three comfort, sport and sport-plus modes. The regular comfort, sport, sport-plus, smooth and individual AMG Dynamic Select programmes furthermore gain hybrid-specific electric and battery hold modes.
The Mercedes-AMG E 53 is also a treat to behold. Its lit, vertically slatted AMG-specific grille, A-wing AMG apron, aggressive grille vents with vertical fins and 22 mm wider front fenders to accommodate wider axle track width and the neat wheel arch cooler vents, set it apart. Add an AMG boot spoiler tab and rear apron punctuated by a diffuser and twin double round tailpipes.
AMG skirt panels enhance the sides where this car’ metallic aquamarine hue is also marvellously offset by chrome rimmed black 21 inch forged alloy wheels framing red brake callipers. This Dynamic kitted unit gets electromechanically boosted four-piston fixed single-piston floating callipers grabbing internally ventilated 390 x 36 mm front and 360 x 26 mm rear rotors.
E 53 elephants in the room
Stepping aboard, the cockpit could have been so harmonious. Its red contrast topstitched power
Artico microcut leather microfibre AMG sports seats complement quality mood lit grey open-
NEW DISPLAYS IN PLACE
Spring is here and looking forward to the busy summer season, FMM has made changes to the displays to attract both new and previous visitors to the museum. Hall A retains its Vintage & Veteran theme but now with vehicles placed in chronological order. A pair of horse-drawn carriages from the 18th and 19th centuries sets the theme in motion before a pair of late-19th century tricycles precedes the oldest car in the FMM collection, a 1903 Ford Model A. Then a variety of models leads visitors up to a 1926 Austin 7 Top Hat. Hall B primarily shows anniversary models, the introduction year of which ending in ***5. The range begins with a Buick Master Six celebrating its centenary, and ends with a third-generation Ford Country Station that first appeared 70 years ago. Also on view are seven uniquely South African cars including a Caracal, of which four were built and only two survived.
Hall C has a British theme and includes examples of Aston Martin, Austin-Healey, Bentley, Bristol, Ford, Ineos, Jaguar, MG, Mini, Morgan, Rolls-Royce
pore ash wood with all the AMG logos. This one’s AMG Dynamic Plus package even wraps the performance steering wheel in Nappa leather.
But this is where two elephants step into the room. One is easy to eliminate. Just don’t tick the MBUX Superscreen option box when ordering yours. Overpriced, heedless and unnecessary in its own right, it seems the team that invented that hideous screen has never even met the guys who designed and developed this E Class.
Not sure why the passenger needs their own screen on the dash when their smartphone will do the trick far better, but this particular Superscreen application looks terrible. The driver instrumentation that should be part of it, seems a hatchet job. And then the whole panel sits way too low in the car. Causing unnecessary issues with legroom for the driver and passenger. Rather spend the money on a race horse. Or a dirt bike. Otherwise, E53 is absolutely incredible
The other elephant pertains to Mercedes’ insistence on eliminating buttons and knobs from its cabins. So whatever you need to do, be that turn the audio up or the climate down, it needs two or three stabs at the screen to even bring the required menu up. Something you cannot even begin to do if the wrong screen, like the camera view happens to be up.
It’d be half-OK of the steering wheel buttons worked. But those idiot sliders don’t. Mercedes reckons the typical AMG E 53 owner is likely a discerning and affluent late-Boomer. My generation. Spawned in post-War glee. So I demonstrated this knobless car to some of my affluent late-Boomer
type pals. The exact target market. To a man and woman, they all hated its buttonfree ways. Which is why, we suppose, that VW, Hyundai and others already fled buttonless cabins like the plague.
So sure. It’s a few buttons short if absolute brilliance. And make sure you do not get the Superscreen. But for the rest, the Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4Matic is an absolutely incredible motorcar. So much so that it makes us wonder why they even bother with the E 63.
OCTOBER NEWS
FMM AT FRANSCHHOEK CLASSIC CAR FESTIVAL
The Franschhoek Classic Car Festival returns for the weekend of the 4th and 5th October. On the Saturday, the festival will be based at the Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek with a display of 40 of the finest, along with a ‘once in a lifetime’ Formula One 75-year tribute display. Other celebrations include a Ford Perana tribute along with MG and BMW anniversary displays.
and Talbot. Finally, Hall D is all about Power, Speed and Rarities. Included in the line-up are performance cars from Audi, Dodge and Honda alongside some BMW, Peugeot and Renault race cars and a trio of single-seater racers, plus a quintet of Alfa Romeos. The ex-Madiba BMW 750Li Security Edition, Aston Martin DB2/4 Touring Spyder, Austro-Daimler Bergmeister, Bugatti Type 23, Ford Mustero, Mazda Cosmo Sport 100S and an ex-presidential Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet make up the rarities.
Sunday sees the festival moving to the Franschhoek Motor Museum where guests can view the museum’s exhibits alongside a tribute to all the F1 World Champions through the decades, including South Africa’s own 1979 winner, Jody Scheckter. There will also be an anniversary brand showcase featuring 50 years of the BMW 3 Series.
Please note that all tickets for the festival are ONLY available via www.fccf.co.za.
There are day tickets and weekend passes available, the latter valid for Saturday at the
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.
Monument and Sunday at the museum.
Ticket Prices: Saturday general admission R200, Sunday general admission R250 and Weekend Pass R400.
The museum will be open as per usual on Saturday the 4th at normal museum rates –tickets through www.fmm.co.za. On Sunday entry tickets are available only via www.fccf.co.za and festival rates will apply. Please note that tickets are LIMITED for both days of the festival.
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
October is indeed the fairest month of all. No month screams the arrival of a new season like the 10th month of the year. The suddenness of the morning is announced with a symphony of birdsong that has a tinge of spring urgency to it. The first rays of the sun turn everything into gold for a moment, and then there is a burst of colour as a myriad of flowering annuals, shrubs and trees shout out their presence to pollinators and human eyes. Animals are showing off their young, or frantically rushing to get their breeding sites ready. It is the season of growth, multiplication and prosperity.
The home gardener is having an amazing Spring in the Cape. Early winter rains have filled our dams and lifted the water table, but without the flooding that we’ve become accustomed to. The rain has however disappeared, and we are starting to sense the urgency of rain for the grain farmers in the Overberg and parts of the Swartland. I’m praying that by the time of publication, we would have had the follow up rain some farmers need now, so that we can all enjoy the marvel of spring together. The warmer weather has brought a growth spurt that will have the gardener busy this month. Our summer wind is lurking; protecting new growth should be on the top of your mind. Stake trees and shrubs, and train climbers tightly. Take a close look at your large trees to spot diseased or broken branches. Get an arboriculturist in if the task is overwhelming. Your lawn should be coming together. If not, an application of calcitic lime and chicken manure followed by a light dressing of sand will do the magic. Winter flowering shrubs must be pruned and Spring flowering ones dressed with a high-potassium fertiliser. We often see Camelias drop their blooms for lack of this important nutrient. Roses will be aflush with new growth that is not only attractive to humans, but also to all sorts of insects and diseases. Preventative spraying against mildew is recommended. Keep a close eye for aphids and mites and treat immediately. A garlic and canola oil spray works well early in the season, but you
will have to look at a pyrethrum-based spray once the insect pressure increases. My clivias are looking fantastic this year and we managed to keep the amaryllis borer away with regular applications of Dipel, a biological insecticide. Your entire garden can do with a foliar feed; any fish or compost-based blend is good and will act as an insurance policy against micro and macro nutrient deficiencies. Keep an eye on the weather report and wait for some rain to apply a chicken manure fertiliser throughout the garden. Most of my time will be spent in the veggie garden. Almost everything can be sown or transplanted in October. I try to grow most veggies from seed, but always get impatient in October and buy some seedlings from a nursery to get a headstart. The reward when you pick that first tomato early in December outweighs the cost. Tomatoes and peppers need warm conditions to germinate and we typically need to provide this artificially by means of a cold frame or heated greenhouse. Cucumbers, pumpkins, melons, squashes, sweetcorn, green- and runner beans, and okra can all be sown directly. The yearround root crops do well now, and you can still sow some assorted lettuce seeds. The last of your cabbage family and onion seedlings should be transplanted by now. Pick strawberries regularly and try to get the ripening fruit off the ground by means of straw mulch or even plastic sheeting. Fruit trees and vineyards will need regular spraying from now on. Berry shoots must be tied up before they become too wild. Harvest lemons and limes regularly before they fall on the ground. Thinning of stone fruits lead to larger fruit. Mulch around your fruit trees and feed regularly with a balanced fertiliser. Fruit fly and False Codling Moth are big problems in the Western Cape. We as home gardeners should be more responsible in controlling these pests. Practice good orchard hygiene and put out traps to catch these nasties. Our kitchen garden is looking quite dreadful now and except for some spinach and pea shoots there is not much to look forward too. The peas are late, and my broad beans all rotted. At least there is the prospect of a Christmas lunch pushing in the greenhouse to hang onto as we are forced to buy what has become very expensive vegetables from the shops.
Happy gardening
Beauty Bar Salon For All Your Beauty Treatments
Nestled on a quiet Franschhoek street, Beauty Bar Salon has long been a cherished destination for women seeking to express their personal style through stunning nails. Over the past year, we have added beauty treatments and more!
Exciting News: Introducing Our Hair Salon!
In line with our mission to provide comprehensive beauty solutions, we are thrilled to announce the addition of a brand-new hair salon to the Beauty Bar premises. This allows us to offer a full spectrum of hair care and styling services; from trendy cuts and vibrant colour treatments to elegant updos perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re preparing for a special event or simply want a fresh new look, our expert stylists will help you shine.
Meet the Women Behind Beauty Bar in Franschhoek
The owners of the Beauty Bar – Whitney, Lynn & Bicara’s commitment to empowering women extends beyond our services to the passionate women who make up our talented team.
Our staff are not just beauty professionals –they are ambassadors of confidence, creativity, and empowerment. Known for our friendly atmosphere and top-notch services, the salon
has become a sanctuary for women looking to enhance their natural beauty and feel empowered. Our team of skilled beauticians, hairstylists and nail technicians are all women dedicated to helping clients feel and look their best. They are: hair stylists Charlene & Faieza and beauty & nail technicians Whitney, Jade, Micarla, Jade & Thobile. Let up pamper you!
Whether you’re a local resident or visiting our beautiful valley, make sure to stop by Beauty Bar for an unforgettable beauty experience.
Our team is passionate about helping you look and feel your best. Come and discover why we are the trusted beauty destination for women who want to radiate confidence and elegance.
Book your next beauty treatment with us…
Open: Tuesday to Saturday
Ansche’s People
ANSCHE LÖTTER
Eddie Wilson: A Life Framed in Art and Passion
Step into the Foto Artist Studio in Franschhoek, and you’ll quickly realize that Eddie Wilson has lived a life as full and colourful as the photographs that line his walls. At 75, his studio’s slogan still shines through: “Where a photo becomes a work of art.”
Born in Worcester, Eddie grew up in Vanderbijlpark after his father secured a job at ISCOR. Even as a schoolboy, his love for art and photography was evident - whether sketching for local newspapers or experimenting with film development under his mother’s bed. That passion would become a golden thread throughout his life.
After matriculating, Eddie joined the Air Force with dreams of becoming a fighter pilot. After failing the eye exam, he found another path: becoming a qualified Air Photographer. For eight years, he served his country by capturing aerial images that revealed details invisible to the naked eye. The discipline, precision and creativity required during those years shaped not only his career but also his outlook on life.
Later, Eddie worked as a technician at ISCOR for 9 years and eventually accepted a position at his church headquarters, combining his technical skills with his love of photography and music. A natural leader, he also directed the choir and emphasized that photography, like music, is an art form. “You have to be able to see the picture before taking the photo,” he explains.
Family has always been at the centre of Eddie’s story. With his wife and their three children they journeyed through Pretoria, Kimberley, and eventually back to the Western Cape. In 2009, Eddie and his wife settled in Franschhoek - a dream fulfilled for Eddie, who always longed to return to the mountains and vineyards.
Opening Foto Artist Studio in the village was the next natural step. From weddings, portraits, scenic landscapes, ID photos and pack shots, Eddie’s work reflects both technical skill and artistic soul. His images have even appeared on well-known TV programmes such as ‘Ontbytsake’ and ‘Met ’n huppel in die stap’, where he has also shared his life story, inspiring others to keep pursuing their
passions, no matter their age.
Life has not been without challenges. Eddie lost his father to colon cancer at just 11 years old and later faced his own diagnosis in his thirties. With resilience and faith, he overcame it, using art and photography as therapy and motivation. His very first painting was of a little house in Franschhoek - perhaps a quiet promise of where life would eventually bring him.
Among the countless photographs he has taken, one stands out: the Tugela Waterfall, the highest in Africa and now recognized as the second tallest in the world. He has returned to the site more than ten times, always inspired by its grandeur and symbolism - a reminder of nature’s beauty and strength.
Today, Eddie continues to live with purpose. His studio, now based at Treasure House on Bordeaux Street, is not only a place of business but also a space of inspiration. Organized to the finest detail, his work reflects his professionalism, passion, and pride. “Photography keeps me healthy, keeps me stimulated, and helps me live life to the fullest,” he says with a smile.
In Franschhoek, where vineyards meet mountains, Eddie Wilson has found both home and canvas. He is definitely an inspiration and someone who learned to see beauty everywhere.
Visit Eddie Wilson at Foto Artist Studio, Treasure House, 3 Bordeaux Street, Franschhoek, or online at www.fotoartistsstudio.com. Contact: 082 394 4423.
Ons het die fenominale Dr Amanda Marais aan die stuur gehad in September om die riller ‘Gebooie’ deur Rudi van Rensburg met ons te bespreek. Amanda het ook verwys na ‘n vorige boek van van Rensburg, ‘Merk’. Wat ‘n belewenis! Oktober is besig met Irma Venter wat ‘Al wat tel’ op 4 Oktober in die Franschhoek Teater sal bespreek en Elkarien Fourie wat ‘Draaie, Swaaie en Afdraaipaaie’ op 23 Oktober bespreek, waarin haar verhaal ook opgeneem is. Besoekers: R50 - verversings insluit. Kom gerus. Hester Strümpfer 084 900 9060
Business Women Wellness Breakfast
On Thursday, 18 September 2025, the South African Council for Business Women (SACBW) hosted a Women’s Wellness Breakfast at Hotel du Vin Franschhoek.
The SACBW, a Christian NPO founded in 1988, is a Women Empowerment Council with a mission to shape the future by learning from the past and building on the values that drive our existence.
The SACBW Cape Winelands Branch gathered for a morning of insightful discussions covering topics such as business and personal finance, mental health, creating healthy working environments and the essentials of labour compliance.
A highlight of the event was the exciting announcement that Celeste Klem, General Manager of Hotel du Vin Franschhoek and Café du Vin, has been awarded the Cape Winelands Branch Entrepreneur of the Year 2025. Celeste will go on to represent the Cape Winelands as a finalist at the National Gala Awards next month.
Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied
Children of the Valley
Children of the Valley is a fully-registered not-for-profit organisation designed to provide learning resources to support teachers in meeting development needs of preschool children in Langrug.
It supports 6 schools and 110 children with hands-on support from local business partners, most notably La Residence, Gem Shuttles and Langrug Soup Kitchen.
As part of early childhood development, which has been recognised nationally as the most important educational initiative, CoV organises outings to nearby facilities such as the Franschhoek Theatre where the children are able to enjoy fun films. Many thanks to Siegfried Schäfer the partners for their support.
If you want to get involved in this great initiative, CoV is looking for volunteers to work with the children in art classes, physical education and learning support.
For more information, please have a look at the
A message from FRANCO’s ChairpersonRaffaella Goedvolk (FRANCO Annual Report 2024-25)
The geopolitical upheavals in 2024 and 2025 - marked by shifting leadership dynamics and devastating, long-lasting wars - have left deep scars on global economies. The ripple effects have been felt acutely, nowhere more so than in regions like South Africa, where economic fragility and social inequality have deepened more than ever. Rising unemployment, food insecurity, and a rise in criminal activities have intensified the struggles of our already vulnerable communities, with the Valley of Franschhoek certainly not being spared.
In our region, the inequality gap has become more visible and alarmingly entrenched, especially in our Valley, where traditionally it’s always been more prominent than elsewhere. Operating in the “third sector” is certainly the most direct and effective way to witness daily how systemic decline translates into real suffering for the most vulnerable; and it is becoming more and more challenging to keep positive and optimistic on a day-to-day basis while doing the work we do. I wish to extend my profound gratitude to our family of donors and supporters, many of whom donate anonymously. Your ongoing commitment to funding FRANCO and our programmes is not only the backbone of our operations – it has become absolutely essential. In complete sincerity, I can say that you are playing a vital role in a country where non-profit organizations are increasingly stepping in to carry out responsibilities historically managed by governmental institutions, as the burden becomes too heavy.
So, this year I wish to take a moment to celebrate you – and the vital role you play in empowering our operational team to extend a helping hand. Not only to the unemployed and vulnerable, but increasingly so to those hard-working individuals who, despite their efforts, are continually denied access to the basic opportunities they deserve in today’s world. Too many of our Valley residents and neighbours are struggling to live decent, dignified lives that should be within reach, so, please believe me when I say: your support is changing lives. You are making a difference in the most direct and
Every year, Franschhoek Hospice gifts Christmas Boxes to our patients. This year we’d like to put together 50 boxes.
We are once again asking our regular supporters and the wider community to assist us by donating any of the following items that will go into the boxes.
• Non-perishable foods – rice, soup, mealie meal, jungle oats, beans, chakalaka, pilchards, corned beef, macaroni, spaghetti, etc.
• Toothpaste & toothbrushes
• Dark coloured facecloths
• Deodorant – male /female
• Bars of soap
Lux, Protex or Dettol soap • Aqueous cream, body lotion
Prep cream
website (www.childrenofthevalley.com) and if you can help, please call Melissa on 071 870 2057.
meaningful way, and for that, this community is –and always will be – profoundly grateful. Because of you, motivated students are thriving at local universities – with one now studying overseas – enabling dreams once out of reach. The unemployed find casual work and renewed dignity, while vulnerable families receive monthly grocery vouchers to put food on their tables. Street children now sleep under safe roofs guided by caring mentors, and over 600 learners go to school with proper school shoes. A gifted young musician has joined the National Youth Jazz Band, beginning his dream career, and another young saxophonist showcased his talent in the UK. Local women are building financial independence by selling second-hand clothes and attending mental wellness workshops. Free legal advice is now accessible. Over 100 kids participate in free karate classes weekly, and local sports clubs can widen their scope by offering much-needed extracurricular healthy recreation. Mentoring programmes are transforming misunderstood boys into more manageable learners. Environmental and emergency programmes assist the Municipality in keeping our valley clean and safe. Schools and ECDs benefit from educational support while receiving stationery, edupacks, sanitary pads and extra meals to help attendance and pass rates. Art and culture clubs can expand their activity range - like field trips and choir competitions – broadening our local children’s horizons and minds beyond our mountains and shacks!
These are not just stories. These are lives – forever changed by your compassion and care.
Many of you choose to give anonymously, making it difficult to express our appreciation throughout the year. While I encourage you to share emails or other contact details with us, let this Annual Report stand as our humble testimony to the work your generosity makes possible – and as a tribute to your compassion and altruism.
As we approach our official 20th anniversary –marking two decades since FRANCO was formally registered in 2006, though our Founder Ron Whytock began the journey in 2005 – we reflect on the thousands of hands we’ve held along the way. Each success story has brightened our days and deepened our pride in calling FRANCO not just our work, but our purpose.
Follow us on www.francosa.co.za and please reach out to Tzilka our manager for more details on our 20th Anniversary event at the beginning of 2026 on francofranschhoek@gmail.com or 060 3740353.
Fun theatre outing!
Dr Amanda Marais (links) en Dorothy van Zyl
Celeste Kem (centre), Cape Winelands Branch Entrepreneur of the Year 2025, with representatives of the South African Council for Business Women.
Editor’s Letter
Siegfried Schäfer
Dear Readers
Those of you who have read a few of my missives will know that I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about people not taking responsibility for what goes on around them. We all know somebody who always insists that it is somebody else’s problem.
I recently had an exchange with somebody (who shall remain nameless) that went something like this...
“There’s a hole in the sidewalk near my house. I walk my dog there regularly, and it has been there for months.”
Letters
La Luc Development Caveat Emptor
During April 2024 the Tatler published our letter about the potential consequences of what we regard as the omission of critical information from the online brochure for the “Lions Rest “Estate which was relaunched last year by new developers Staytus Collection as La Luc. In that letter concerns were raised, and the developer was invited to point out to all concerned were, according to him, we misunderstood the factual position or, alternatively, what he intends to do to correct what we regard as the wrong impression created by the marketing material. To date he has not done so.
The completed development may only be used as a Housing Development Scheme for Retired Persons as contemplated in Act 65 of 1988. (herein referred to as “The Act”). This condition of approval was imposed to ensure that a reduced volume of traffic will be generated by the development of a Retirement Village. Residents do not need to drive during peak traffic hours and are not required to undertake school runs which would contribute to a greater traffic impact.” The traffic impact studies conducted over ten years ago was on the basis that it would be a
“Have you reported it to the municipality?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“It’s their sidewalk, they should know about it.”
“Would you like them to raise your rates to employ a crew of sidewalk inspectors?”
“Of course not!”
“So why don’t you just report it yourself?”
“It’s their sidewalk...”
At this point, it was clear that I would not get anywhere with this individual, so I changed the topic.
“The Bokke played well on Saturday, didn’t they?”
What I was thinking, though, was more along the lines of, “I hope the sewer main in front of your house gets blocked.”
Two perennial problems faced by municipalities countrywide that also relate to a failure of individuals and communities to take responsibility for their environment are illegal
Retirement Village. If the proposed house types at La Luc are family or group occupied, based on the trip generation factor applied in traffic impact studies to “other residential developments” as mentioned by Minister Bredell in his approval, the traffic volume generated is estimated to increase by more than 3 times than that of a Retirement Village; thereby creating untenable traffic volumes.
Section 7 of The Act deals with the “Limitation of occupation of land to which a housing interest relates”. It clearly and unambiguously dictates that no person other than a “retired person” (defined as a person aged 50 years or older) or the spouse of the “retired person” may occupy a unit in such a retirement village, except with the written consent of all the holders of housing interests in the housing development scheme concerned. Rather than stating this limitation to occupation the La Luc developer erroneously avers that only one of the occupants of units in the Estate must be 50 years or older.
We strongly recommend that anyone considering buying an interest in this development with the intention of accommodating anyone younger than 50 years old, other than a younger spouse, should obtain independent legal advice before committing
Youth Step Up to Clean the Stiebeuel River
More than 20 youths, who are residents of Langrug and Mooiwater, have launched a voluntary initiative to tackle the alarming volume of solid waste that accumulates along the banks and is released into the Stiebeuel River. The initiative is being led by two young people, Vizicelo Hlangane and Sibongokuhle Siyengo. It is not often that we see grassroots initiative and leadership addressing the problem of tons of solid waste that flow into the Stiebeuel River. It is these kinds of actions that breathe new hope.
Over the past 5 years, researchers from the University of Cape Town’s Water Hub, a research and innovation centre situated alongside the Stiebeuel River, have studied the effects of poor sanitation in the nearby settlement and the discharge of greywater on the river. The contamination contains elevated levels of nutrients, bacteria, pathogens, microplastics, drugs and pharmaceuticals. The river is highly degraded, leaving residents with an eyesore and an unhealthy environment.
It reached a point where the municipality is unable to address the problem without further support and collective action is the only way to stem the impact. Over the last couple of weeks, this group of young people have collected hundreds of bags of waste from the river. They have had some support from Green Spot Recycling, which bought some of the waste and was able to give the volunteers some money in return, and the Municipal Waste Management Service was able to collect the remaining portion of waste from the river corridor.
The group has yet to establish an identity and structure, but their vision is to turn a polluted river corridor into a cleaner, healthier environment for residents and visitors alike. Community members say the initiative deserves full support, as it not only protects local water resources but also builds pride and responsibility among the youth.
One of the team members asked why tourists don’t want to visit our settlements. That begs an answer. Cleaning rivers, managing solid waste and improving sanitation services will make some
dumping and blocked stormwater drains. Sometimes it’s even part of the same problem –illegal dumping into stormwater drains.
Last week, I even received a press release from the Institute of Municipal Engineers of SA highlighting the stormwater drain issue. You’d be shocked at what people throw into stormwater drains. Lifting a manhole cover –assuming it hasn’t been stolen, of course – is a mind-bending experience. You’d expect to find some leaves and sand in there, but most likely the majority of what you’ll find is litter and very often large stones, building rubble and even dead animals!
The press release politely stated: “This is not just a technical or engineering issue. It’s a community
one. When residents abuse stormwater drains as dump sites, the whole community suffers the consequences.”
You might say that “I don’t dump things into stormwater drains, so what does this have to do with me?” Simple. If you are not reporting these actions (and things like holes in sidewalks) you are part of the problem and not part of the solution, regardless of how you want to rationalise your inaction.
Anyway, it’s time for my dog’s afternoon walk, and I saw a car parked next to a stormwater drain down the block around lunchtime. I bet there are fast food wrappers to be fished out before they get swept into the nearby stream. Grrr… Until next month!
inroads into answering this question. Grassroots action can make a visible difference, and the group hopes their work will inspire others to join in caring for the river and find further support for their initiative.
In the interim, drastic measures are also needed. For instance, the City of Cape Town is rolling out new, robust litter interceptors that are making a difference. While these are relatively costly and need regular servicing, they can reduce the bulk of solid waste flowing into the rivers and coastal environment. If it were implemented in Franschhoek and funds can be found to maintain the inceptor, it would capture the volume of waste that flows down the Stiebeuel River and into the Franschhoek River. International visitors regularly comment on litter in these rivers. You can’t mix tourism in Franschhoek with polluted rivers. Over the past two years, the Water Hub, with support from the Western Cape Government, has rewilded the lower section of the Stiebeuel River. It was overgrown by weeds fed by river water that has elevated nutrient loading. It has taken less than two years to see the benefits of planting a river corridor with indigenous species. The improved habitat has helped support aquatic species, among others, dragonflies and caddisflies, in this section of the river. This is another sign of hope where small interventions and collective actions are making an impact.
Text: Professor Kevin Winter, Director of UCT’s Water Hub and in association with the youth initiative
themselves to the purchase of a unit. They may otherwise eventually discover that they are unable to obtain the required written consent to accommodate persons younger than 50 years. Such occupation is by law not be permitted, as it would cause an unsustainable increase in traffic volumes that will materially and adversely affect the safety of both motorists and pedestrians (particularly young school children) using Dirkie Uys Street, De Villiers Street and the surrounding road network. CAVEAT EMPTOR.
The existing traffic conditions in Dirkie Uys Street are already a matter of grave concern. Even if certain road improvements were made,
Anton Kilian Practice Information
Dear Friends and Clients, Please be informed that I still practice as Snipelisky & Kilian Attorneys/Conveyancers/Notaries. Also be advised that my new address is 162 Burgundy Boulevard, Onverwacht Wine Estate, Wellington. Email: antonkill@snklaw.co.za Cell No: 0832500943
the increase in traffic that will be caused by the la Luc development, as advertised, will materially and adversely affect the traffic situation. Dirkie Uys Street is barely passable for the existing traffic and is already challenged by the width and safety constraints presented by Dirkie Uys St as it passes the Wes Eind primary school and the historic houses north of De Villiers St.
We invite the developer, should he believe that we misunderstand the factual position, to point out to all concerned where we are going wrong. Concerned Local Residents and the Principal of Wes Einde School
I have scaled down my practice and now only concentrate on:
• Wills
• Administration of Deceased Estates
• Conveyancing
• Ante Nuptial Contracts (ANC)
• Notarizing and Apostils
I still consult in Franschhoek on Tuesdays by appointment. I still keep Title Deeds, Wills and Power of Attorneys, free of charge in safe keeping. Thank you for your loyal support.
Anton Kilian
Financial Matters
CELIA MCGUINNESS
Accounting Myths that are Burying Your Business
“People with limited understanding of business think that it’s all about making profits. But those who actually run businesses know that it’s all about managing cash flows.” (Cedric Chin, entrepreneur and management training consultant)
Most business owners aren’t careless with money. They obsess over profit margins and expenses, and carefully analyse their bank balances. Over time, however, many people fall for accounting myths that sound like common sense. These can make you feel more profitable than you are, hide looming cash problems, or cause you to delay decisions until it’s too late.
Busting these myths won’t only sharpen your numbers – it might unlock the growth that’s been out of reach for too long.
“Depreciation is just a paper loss”
Depreciation is often described as being a “noncash” expense, which leads some to think it’s not a
Excuses, Excuses: Why People Don’t Make Wills, And Why You Must
“All that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity.” (William Shakespeare, in Hamlet)
Master’s Office records suggest that less than a third of us leave behind a will when we die. That’s astonishing, given the fact that death is one of the few absolute certainties in our lives.
Why do so many of us put our families at risk like this? It’s easy to find excuses for doing nothing about a will, with surveys conducted both locally and overseas suggesting that people’s failure to act is normally rooted in one or more of these common excuses: “I don’t have time to do it” Many a serial procrastinator has taken comfort in Oscar Wilde’s “I never put off till tomorrow what I can
real cost. But depreciation is very real. It reflects the wear and tear on your assets, equipment, vehicles, and even your office fittings. (Buildings tend to be an exception to this rule.) Like it or not, that slow erosion of value is going to affect your business eventually.
Ignoring depreciation can leave you thinking you’re operating at higher margins than you really are. This, in turn, can lead to decisions (like expanding your business or cutting prices) that the business may actually not be in a position to make. It’s therefore essential to treat depreciation as part of your real cost base, because sooner or later, you’ll need to replace what’s wearing out.
“Profit equals cash”
Because this one feels so intuitive, it can trip up even the most astute entrepreneurs. Your business is profitable, so there should be money in the bank. The thing is, profit is an accounting measure while cash is what you actually have on hand. And the two often travel on different timelines.
Unpaid invoices, stock that hasn’t moved, loan repayments … these can all put pressure on your cash position, even when your income statement says you’re in the clear. Profit without cash flow can land you in hot water fast. It’s often the reason otherwise “profitable” businesses go under. Don’t get caught only watching your bottom line.
do the day after,” but when it comes to our family’s wellbeing, there are no excuses. Not only do we all die, but none of us can be certain that we’ll still be around tomorrow. Let’s all make the time, now.
“I don’t know how to draft a will”
No legal knowledge required. All you need to know is what you have in the way of assets, and who you want to inherit – we’ll do the rest.
“I don’t have enough assets to justify a will”
It really doesn’t matter what assets you have. Even if all you have for now is a bank account and a pension fund, you should still be in control of who they will go to. Besides, in time your estate will grow. Everyone needs a will!
“I’m too young”
No, you aren’t. At 18 you may not be as likely to die tomorrow, or next week, or next year, as when you’re 80 (although road fatalities peak at 25–44).
“If there’s money in the account, we’re doing fine”
That moment of checking the bank balance and breathing a sigh of relief? We all do it. But a healthy balance today doesn’t mean all your bills are paid, or that your tax obligations aren’t just around the corner.
Your bank balance is a snapshot. It says nothing about what’s coming in, what’s going out, and what’s already spoken for. Operating without a cash flow forecast is like driving with your eyes locked on the rear-view mirror.
“Tax is something to worry about at year-end” By the time year-end rolls around, your tax position has already been shaped by a hundred small decisions. Wait until then, and there’s not much you can do about it, except write the cheque.
Tax planning is an all-year activity. There are dozens of factors that will affect your liability –from choosing the right structure, to timing your asset purchases, handling employee salaries and paying out dividends. A little foresight early in the year can save you a massive headache in February.
“Accountants are just for compliance”
We aren’t just here to file returns and send invoices for you. We can help you read the story your numbers are telling. That includes where you’re leaking cash, how sustainable your margins are, and what your break-even point really looks like.
But death has a nasty habit of knocking on doors unexpectedly – at any age.
“I don’t like thinking about death”
No one does. But ignoring its inevitability puts our loved ones at risk, and we owe it to them to grasp the nettle. Now.
“The family dynamics scare me”
If you have concerns over the possibility of inheritance disputes and family fallouts, we’ll help you find the best ways of addressing them to avoid disappointment and conflict after you’re gone. The worst thing you can do now is nothing at all.
“It’ll cost too much”
No, it won’t. The legal costs of a Will are nominal in relation to the wasted costs of an unplanned deceased estate.
“My spouse holds my power of attorney and can deal with my estate without a will” Incorrect. On your death the power of attorney lapses and only your appointed executor can handle your estate.
“There’s no point, my family will get
“Growth always means more sales” Growth feels good: bigger orders, more customers, faster turnover. But unless that growth is well managed, it can be lethal. More sales can mean more expenses, more staff, more stock, and more space. If your margins are thin, or if customers are slow to pay, rapid growth can tie up all your cash in working capital and leave you with nothing to operate on. Before chasing sales targets, it’s worth asking, can we afford to grow? And is this growth profitable?
“We can always fix the books later”
When you’re flat out running a business, bookkeeping often takes a back seat. But bad books make for bad decisions. They hide problems, delay action, and lead to missed opportunities. Clear, current numbers are the foundation of everything from pricing and hiring to raising capital. Without them, you’re guessing. And guessing can be an expensive habit.
The final word
Don’t feel embarrassed if you’ve been taken in by some of these myths. They’re common, they sound plausible, and they’re often repeated. But they also limit your options, distort your view, and slow your progress. Accounting is not about ticking boxes. Done right, it’s about clarity. And with clarity come better decisions and better growth.
everything anyway”
If you die “intestate” (without a will), your family is indeed likely to get everything one way or another. But probably not in the proportions you want – for example, a will is essential if you want your spouse to get everything you have. Die without a will and your spouse gets only a “child’s share.” You also forfeit your right to choose an executor you can rely on to handle your deceased estate, a guardian and a trust for your children, a tax-efficient estate planning structure … the list goes on.
“My family will sort it all out just fine”
Well, maybe they will but it’s much more likely they won’t. At the very least, they will face much greater delay, complication and red tape without a will. Why put that burden on them just when they are at their most vulnerable? Rather leave them a properly-drafted will, with full details of your estate.
We’ll help you structure a will and estate plan that honour your last wishes and provide proper protection for your loved ones.
Credit to LawDotNews
ENJOY A COOL, COMFORTABLE SUMMER WITH GRANNY GOOSE
Drift off in light layers designed for airy nights and laid-back luxury.
Touch, feel, and experience the difference of meticulously crafted sleep essentials made from the highest quality materials that are exceptionally breathable and luxurious.
The lightest, airiest bedding you will ever experience.
3 Essentials for cool summer sleep:
1. Pure Cotton Sheets - Smooth, crisp, and breathable sheets that feel as good as they look.
2. Bed Linen - Luxurious duvet covers crafted from quality natural materials in timeless designs.
3. Four Seasons Duvet - Seasonal lightweight & breathable down duvets for cool sleep comfort.
Step into the Granny Goose Sleeplab in Franschhoek: a space for calm, comfort, and the kind of luxury that makes staying in feel like a treat.
Visit us for expert advice and experience our products fi rst-hand.
Shop 1, 22 Huguenot St, Franschhoek, 7690
Hours: Mon-Friday 9am – 6pm Weekends 9am – 5pm
Phone: 021 863 5505
Granny Goose is available in Granny Goose stores, @home stores and online www.athome.co.za/brand/granny-goose
WE KNOW YOU CARE, WE KNOW YOU WANT TO HELP TO CHILDREN WHO BEG ON FRANSCHHOEK STREETS DO NOT GIVE MONEY OR DIRECT SUPPORT BUT PLEASE...
No matter how well-meaning, direct support keeps our children on the street: Giving money or support of any kind directly to children on the street might seem harmless, or helpful, to members of the public, tourists, and businesses. The truth is that it means keeping them out of school, on the streets, and locked in the hands of those exploiting them.
Unfortunately, once a child settles onto the street and allows the street to become their survival paradigm, they become locked into street life and resistant to change
The money they get from begging: No program, organization, centre, or school can compete for the child's attention when they can earn over R50 a day in our smaller provincial towns, never mind the odd foreign currency equivalent of R200. This money is not used for food or schooling needs but goes directly into substance abuse, or is handed over to support their guardians' substance abuse.
Food from restaurants and locals: Many restaurants, small businesses, and individuals feel sorry for the children, so give them food and even small jobs for money. This helps sustain the children on the street, validating their impression that life on the streets is better and
keeping them out of school and out of the programs set up to look after them.
Public support: Many well-meaning members of the public give the children shoes, clothes, and food items. Most of this is sold or traded and is used not only to sustain them on the street, and pay for drugs but also to encourage them to remain on the street. Many people want to help but often don’t know how to give responsibly. By donating to the FRANCO StreetKids Centre, you can make a significant impact on our children’s future. We offer daily hot meals, tutoring, mentoring, hygiene facilities, trauma counseling, sports, karate, yoga, and skills programs. Most importantly, we provide LOVE and RESPECT for their innocence.
There is so much wrong with the world at present that it’s difficult to know where to begin to try to make sense of it. Or even if making sense of it is possible. Blood, rage, hatred, despair, war –where is the sanity? How did we get here? What went wrong? Where is the life that should surely give everything meaning?
It is at such times that I find myself turning, as so often, to the wisdom of poetry. And, as usual, the words find me.
Leafing idly through my copy of the 2004 anthology Being Alive (Bloodaxe Books, ed: Neil Astley), I came across two short poems on the same page that seem to fit.
American poet Jane Hirshfield, who recently gave a wonderful online reading at the excellent South African site called The Red Wheelbarrow Poetry Collective, is always worth hearing. Here is one of her poems I found on page 73 of the anthology: Not-Yet
Morning of buttered toast; of coffee, sweetened, with milk.
Out the window, snow-spruces step from their cobwebs. Flurry of chickadees, feeding then gone. A single cardinal stipples an empty branch –one maple leaf lifted back.
I turn my blessings like photographs into the light; over my shoulder the god of Not-Yet looks on:
Not-yet-dead, not-yet-lost, not-yet-taken. Not-yet-shattered, not-yet-sectioned, not-yet-strewn.
Ample litany, sparing nothing I hate or love, not-yet-silenced, not-yet-fractured, not-yet-
Not-yet-not.
I move my ear a little closer to that humming figure, I ask him only to stay.
Jane Hirshfield from Lives of the Heart (HarperCollins, 1997)
What Hirshfield calls her “blessings”, the great Polish poet Czesław Miłosz refers to as ‘Gift’:
Gift A day so happy.
Fog lifted early, I worked in the garden. Hummingbirds were stopping over honeysuckle flowers. There was no thing on earth I wanted to possess. I knew no one worth my envying him. Whatever evil I had suffered, I forgot. To think that once I was the same man did not embarrass me.
In my body I felt no pain. When straightening up, I saw the blue sea and sails.
Czesław Miłosz from New & Collected Poems 1931-2001 (Penguin Books, 2001)
For me it has always been the simplest, most natural things – “the blue sea and sails” – that raise my spirits, that help me through the hardest of times. Recognizing that even when things go wrong with the world there is still so much to value, to love, and that “the god of Not-Yet” still smiles, is what keeps me going. I truly wish the same for everyone.
Tending
Mess of thin cobwebs in the top corner of the bathroom window, one yellow spider a long-legged sac patrolling the bounds;
rain that tends down with this soft hiss, a veil, its silken signature of earth-parchment a blessing, temptation, wilderness;
or snores that broach sleep, dream, shared breath of dog and man. Alive. All so present, so rich. And when it fades at last, so ended,
the gentle shared movements of our living, constrained, ferocious, here. Everything so long continuing and yet, quite soon, so gone.
Harry Owen from Small Stones for Bromley (Lapwing Publications, 2014)
We All Live Here, by Jojo Moyes
Publ. Michael Joseph. 439 Pages.
“Do you read Jojo Moyes???” my friend asked when she spied the book lying on my table. This question, and the raised eyebrows that accompanied it, made me wonder (again) about novels and the people who read them. And the fact that we are made to feel apologetic and slightly stupid when we are enjoying novels that can’t be described as Literature.
Jojo Moyes’ work is often labelled “chick lit” by casual observers, but that’s a simplification. Her novels, including ‘We All Live Here’, share some surface similarities with chick lit — they focus on women, relationships, and life’s ups and downs, and they are accessible and entertaining. However, Moyes’ characters feel real and multi-dimensional, which puts them a cut above conventional chic lit.
Incidentally, chick lit emerged in the mid-1990s with Fielding’s ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ and Bushnell’s ‘Sex and the City’. Moyes’ books usually have more emotional depth, complex characters, and serious themes (grief, loss, family dynamics, moral dilemmas) than typical “frothy” chick lit. They straddle a line between upmarket women’s fiction and mainstream contemporary fiction, appealing to readers who enjoy both readability and substance.
As a “serious” reviewer, I found Jojo Moyes’ ‘We All Live Here’ far more rewarding than I expected. Beneath the accessible prose and warm humour lies a sharp, observant understanding of human behaviour, relationships, and the
small absurdities of modern life. Moyes captures her characters with intelligence and empathy, revealing truths about love, loss, and family that many “serious” novels overlook.
In ‘We All Live Here’, Lila is desperately trying to keep her household (and her life) from falling apart, while her teenagers plot mini-rebellions and her youngest asks the questions no parent wants to hear. Friends, lovers, the reappearance of an estranged father and the demands of a thoroughly despised ex add to the chaos, sparking awkward dinners, misfired confessions, and domestic disasters.
For discerning readers, ‘We All Live Here’ is not a guilty pleasure but a quietly subversive delight. It demonstrates that humour, insight, and emotional depth can coexist with readability, and that even the most serious reader can appreciate intelligence delivered with a smile.
Her characters are recognisable and utterly authentic: their flaws, frustrations, and small triumphs feel true to life, and their warmth and intelligence make them impossible not to care about. ‘We All Live Here’ proves that a serious reader can enjoy humour, insight, and emotional depth without compromise.
Books like this remind us why we read: they open windows onto lives both familiar and new and celebrate the shared delight of imagination. Authors create worlds, readers bring them to life, and together we honour the enduring magic of a story well told.
Unit 89C Village Artisan Cabriere Street, Franschhoek
YOU
No matter how well-meaning, direct support keeps our children on the street: Giving money or support of any kind directly to children on the street might seem harmless, or helpful, to members of the public, tourists, and businesses. The truth is that it means keeping them out of school, on the streets, and locked in the hands of those exploiting them.
Unfortunately, once a child settles onto the street and allows the street to become their survival paradigm, they become locked into street life and resistant to change
The money they get from begging: No program, organization, centre, or school can compete for the child's attention when they can earn over R50 a day in our smaller provincial towns, never mind the odd foreign currency equivalent of R200. This money is not used for food or schooling needs but goes directly into substance abuse, or is handed over to support their guardians' substance abuse.
Food from restaurants and locals: Many restaurants, small businesses, and individuals feel sorry for the children, so give them food and even small jobs for money. This helps sustain the children on the street, validating their impression that life on the streets is better and
keeping them out of school and out of the programs set up to look after them.
Public support: Many well-meaning members of the public give the children shoes, clothes, and food items. Most of this is sold or traded and is used not only to sustain them on the street, and pay for drugs but also to encourage them to remain on the street. Many people want to help but often don’t know how to give responsibly. By donating to the FRANCO StreetKids Centre, you can make a significant impact on our children’s future. We offer daily hot meals, tutoring, mentoring, hygiene facilities, trauma counseling, sports, karate, yoga, and skills programs. Most importantly, we provide LOVE and RESPECT for their innocence.
FRANSCHHOEK’S SPECIALIST PAINT SHOP
We stock a full range of Midas, environmentally friendly paints (water and oil based) and Earthcote specialised, textured trowel-on and brushon products for wall and floor surfaces (300 colours to choose from) and a full range of paint brushes, rollers and accessories
We also stock waterproofing products, Weatherprufe and Eco Rubber, Rolls of torch-on (3mm & 4mm) and various sizes of waterproofing membrane. Plascon water and oil-based paints.
We also stock a full range of Woodoc 'food for wood' in various colours and a full range of Duram products, including Duram Roof paints in various colours and Duram Showfloor Polyurethane floor paint, also in assorted colours. We can also supply twin pack epoxy paints for specialised applications.
All textures and colours are on show in our showroom. Pop in and have a coffee with us, whilst leisurely selecting your paints and colours. For FREE technical advice, paint specifications and quotations contact Paul 082 567 6162
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