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KOUGA EXPRESS | THURSDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2016
Spring facelift for municipal garden KOUGA Municipality has gone indigenous to celebrate the arrival of Spring. The garden at the municipality’s Jeffreys Bay headquarters received a facelift last week Wednesday and now boasts an array of endemic plants such as spekboom, clivias, dietes, euphorbias and succulents. Executive Mayor Elza van Lingen said the make-over reflected the changes taking place in the region under its new leadership. “We promised residents we would clean up the municipal administration, as well as our towns. What better place to start than the municipality’s headquarters, which suffered under the culture of neglect for too long,” she said. She said security lighting in the municpal garden had also been replaced with low-energy lights. “Ultimately, it’s all about sustainability and building a Kouga of which we can all be proud.” She said the decision to go indigenous could not have come at a better time.
“South Africa is a water-scarce country. An indigenous garden is one way to save this precious resource. Since indigenous plants require less water, it will also help us to ensure that our headquarters look well-kept regardless of whatever conditions global warming might send our way,” she said. She said future plans included the creation of an aloe and medicinal garden at the municipality in recognition of the Kouga area’s rich biodiversity and heritage. The yukkas will also be replaced with indigenous trees. The Mayor thanked the Supertubes Surfing Foundation for assisting the municipality with their expertise and making plants from their indigenous nursery available for the project. “It’s been incredible to see the eagerness with which residents, business and community organisations have been coming forward to offer their assistance and expertise. “We have amazing people here in Kouga and the new leadership looks forward to taking hands with each one of them to give this region the care it deserves,” she said.
Unusual heat sparks fires ONE house burnt down, another was damaged and some 62 hectares of field were destroyed when hot and windy conditions sparked numerous fires across the Kouga region on Wednesday, August 31. Preliminary reports suggest that the houses, both with thatch roofs, caught alight when a field fire burning along the R102 at Jeffreys Bay jumped the road due to the wind changing direction. The first house was destroyed, but fire-fighters were able to save the second house, with only roof and water damage reported. No-one was injured. “It is devastating to lose one’s home and belongings. Our thoughts and prayers are with
you. We trust that all you have lost will be restored to you, said Kouga Executive Mayor Elza van Lingen. On the same day a fire west of the R330 left Humansdorp without power for about four hours and damaged fencing and grazing. Other fires near Mzingisi Primary in KwaNomzamo, Bo-Blok Graslaagte and near the N2/Hankey road were extinguished, with only damage to field and bush. Fires at PPC (Loerie), Rooidraai (Hankey) and Maiden Hair (Jeffreys Bay) were also contained and extinguished to prevent them from spreading. A fire also broke out at Kwagga but was brought under control by the property owner.
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We do FULL DIAGNOSTIC TEST not just a basic SCREENING TEST • Correct diagnosis of reason for the hearing loss
Giving the municipal garden at Jeffreys Bay a Spring Day makeover are (front) Michael Kleinbooi, Lennox Vuster, (back) Tiaan Hoeben, Zack Davidson and Alison Kühl. PHOTO:SUPPLIED
Penguins oil-free; rehabilitation continues THE 92 oil-smeared African penguins - including 61 penguin chicks - are all squeaky clean, and are currently being rehabilitated. The penguins were admitted to the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), following the recent oil spill in Algoa Bay. The exact cause of the oil spill is still to be confirmed by authorities investigating the matter. The oiled penguins, along with 61 penguin chicks, were rescued from St Croix Island in a collaborative rescue operation by the Marine Rangers from the Addo Elephant National Park – South African National Parks (SANParks), the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and SANCCOB. They were transported to SANCCOB’s seabird centre in Cape St Francis and to the South African Marine Rehabilitation Centre (SAMREC) in Port Elizabeth. SANCCOB’s team of staff and volunteers washed the first penguins on August 21, and the last one on August 25. The entire washing and rinsing process of each bird can take up to two hours. They are then placed in drying pens under infra-red heat lamps that assist in speeding up the drying process. The washed birds will continue to be cared for by the team at its centre in Cape St Francis, until they are ready for release. Juanita Raath, SANCCOB’s Rehabilitation Coordinator in the Eastern Cape, said, “We are very happy with the progress made so far and that all the birds are now clean. However, the rehabilitation process is far from finished, as we still need to make sure that each bird regains its natural waterproofing, picks up sufficient
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Contact JP Naude @ Policlinic Jeffreys Bay on Central reservations 041 360 6640 OR 083 6455 166 Our PE branch: Optimed,545 Cape Road
Cash also welcome X1RP86DR-KG110816
) ’n Spesiale dankie van SANCCOB vrywilliger Trumie Malan: Hierdie is ’n dankiesê brief aan die mense in ons kontrei wat so vinnig reageer het op ons vraag na handdoeke en koerante tydens die onlangse pikkewyn/ seevoël olieramp. Dit was ’n lekker verrassing om te sien hoe vinnig en entoesiasties mense reageer het. Gedurende die rehabilitasie-proses word baie handdoeke daagliks gebruik en ons wasmasjien kon die volume nie hanteer nie. Ons het vier plaaslike wasserye gekontak en hulle het binne ’n paar dae 17 swartsakke, gelykstaande aan 120kg, handdoeke gewas, gedroog en netjies verpak. Ons het groot waardering vir hulle tyd en die manier waarop hulle dit hanteer het. Die wasserye is: Zola aen Alicistene van Our Laundry in St. Francisbaai, Kobus en Janice van Easiwash in Jeffreysaai (hulle het pas verkoop), Elmarie en Meisie van Wishy Washy in Jeffreysbaai, en Liezel en haar span van Cornerstone in Jeffreysbaai.
Steve Hofmeyr sing by Patensie
• Correct treatment of hearing loss: may have to refer to ENT Specialist first
The above is not possible with a basic screening test
weight, regains its hydration and passes all our medical and veterinary checks, before being able to go back into the wild.” Currently, SANCCOB has sufficient staff and volunteers to assist in the rehabilitation of these endangered seabirds and thanks the public for generously donating towels and newspapers needed at the centre. Thanks to the public, SANCCOB has sufficient supplies of these items but encourages supporters to visit the Wish List page on their website (http://sanccob.co.za/involved/#wishlist) for additional items needed at the centre.
• TRANSPORT • SAND • STONE • RUBBLE REMOVAL • TLB WORK • PLOT CLEANING Lourens v Heerden 079 386 4221 pljvanheerden@gmail.com Gavin Weyers 071 491 6957 gavin.weyers@gmail.com LOOTSPARK CRESCENT JEFFREYS BAY X1RNTUMH-KG040816
Steve Hofmeyr tree op 17 September om 19:00 by Patensie Sitrus ten bate die Laerskool Gamtoosvallei op. Die deure open om 18:00. Smaaklike kos sal te koop wees en ’n kontantkroeg sal beskikbaar wees. Kaartjies kos R150 per persoon en R100 vir jonger as 13. Vir kaartjies skakel 042 283 0246 of epos admin@lsgamtoos.co.za. FOTO:VERSKAF