The Newspaper - December Edition 2014

THE NEWSPAPER

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December 2014

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JAM-PACKED SUMMER AWAITS WESTERN CAPE

RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH Page 7

We Love Summer Birthday 2014 - Blue Rock Waterski - Photo Credit: We Are Chronicle

HEALTHY BEVERAGES Page 11

Summer is here - Cape Town and the Western Cape is gearing up to entertain visitors and locals with a jam-packed events calendar including many new and unique experiences.

This season is looking like it will be busier than ever, including a number of exciting events throughout summer, from adventures to sporting occasions, open air entertainment, food & craft markets, wine festivals, music concerts, and even visiting the beautiful Blue Flag Beaches in the Western Cape, not to mention eating-out at famous seaside restaurants while having a sundowner.

The Western Cape is world-renowned for its iconic must-do activities, such as visiting the spectacular Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, Cape Point, Kirstenbosch’s Tree Canopy Walkway even treating yourself to a Wine-tasting experience in the Cape Winelands, and many more. For updated events information visit our website.

The Newspaper wishes you a well-deserved festive season!

All hands on deck for festive season The busy festive season is upon us and the City of Cape Town has prepared its Festive Season Readiness Plan to ensure that they are equipped and prepared to deal with all emergencies and the increased number of people expected on roads.

The plan cuts across a number of departments and focus areas include emergency response, policing, ensuring safety at public amenities such as beaches, road safety, cleansing, enforcement of by-laws, and substance abuse.

Cape Town has established a reputation as a top festive season destination, with increased visitors and internal movement of residents for leisure purposes and events.

HERITAGE Page 12

The City’s plan is designed to manage these increases while ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all concerned, especially on priority days like the Day of Goodwill, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The City will make the following services available over the festive season:1 430 Metro Police, Law Enforcement and traffic officers, 900 firefighters available for any major incidents, 240 firefighters on shift at any given time, an additional 120 seasonal firefighters, 250 lifeguards available a rotational basis and 1 864 temporary staff members to enhance the City’s cleansing services capacity.

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TOURS Page 13

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THE NEWS

THE NEWSPAPER

All hands on deck for Festive Season (Continue from page 1) While Safety and Security will be the main implementing directorate of the Festive Season Readiness Plan, various other directorates will have specific focuses and sustain their services over the festive period.

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The City now has a quality and safe public transport service, with MyCiTi extending all along the Atlantic Seaboard, and they would like to encourage more people to use the service which will assist in easing traffic congestion tremendously. There will be a general extension of operating hours for MyCiTi buses over the busy shopping period along the Century City and V&A Waterfront routes.

Cape Gate, Eikestad, Durbanville, Paarl, Plattekloof, Plumstead, Somerset Mall, Sandown, Sunningdale, Somerset West, Strand, Swellendam, Worcester, Malmesbury, George, Oudtshoorn

City Health will continue its routine monitoring functions, with an increased focus on the monitoring of drinking and recreational water, foodstuffs, accommodation and entertainment premises, and public ablution facilities.

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The Community Services Directorate will ensure that the Blue Flag beaches are kept in a pristine condition, and will prioritize the safety of beachgoers. The City has once again entered into a partnership with Lifesaving Western Province, who will deploy 250 lifeguards in addition to their volunteer services at all popular beaches.

It is believed that the Festive Season Readiness Plan will promote a safe, clean and enjoyable experience for all visitors and residents during the festive season.

Where to get help over the festive season: Photo Credit - Russel Smith

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City Welcomes Small Scale Electricity Contract The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg, recently visited Constantia to view the latest photovoltaic (PV) rooftop to power a private residence.

South Africa’s electricity generation is notoriously environmentally unfriendly, as it relies to a great extent on the burning of coal. For every 1 kilowatt hour of grid electricity consumed, about 1 kg of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.

Home owners Leigh De Decker and Mark Beloch signed the City’s new small-scale embedded electricity generation (SSEG) contract, allowing them to feed extra electricity generated by their solar panels back into the City’s electricity grid, and receive an offset against their monthly electricity account.

Through photovoltaic panels, De Decker and Beloch produce some of the electricity needed to meet their own consumption demands. It is envisaged that this will become the trend, and that in time many SSEG installations will be connected to the City’s grid.

The primary ways they are doing this include using electricity more efficiently and using electricity generated from renewable sources such as the sun and wind.

This project is in line with the City’s commitment to creating a sustainable city and also maintain its position of being at the forefront of green initiatives.

Cape Town, along with all cities throughout the world, has to contend with the negative consequences of climate change.

Tel: 011 - 484 - 3612/8 Fax: 011 - 484 -3619

Consumers who wish to feed SSEG electricity into the municipal electricity grid need to have a bi-directional advanced meter infrastructure credit meter installed by the City at their own cost and tak their electricity supply at the appropriate SSEG tariff.

Guidelines and application requirements can be found on the City’s website.

Interested parties are encouraged to contact the City for further information.

For Information visit green.electricity@capetown.gov.za or power@capetown.gov.za

Photo - Left to Right Mark Beloch, Leigh De Decker, Cllr Ernest Sonnenberg and Brian Jones

Celebrate @ Wine Village – Hermanus It’s summer, it’s the festive season, it’s Christmas and it will soon be New Year!

Wine Village in Hermanus is celebrating 10 years of Wine excellence with the sensational Wine Celebration, 20 different wines on tasting every day throughout the season.

The Wine Village is known for its vast selection of premium South African wines and during the Wine Celebration more than 80 wines from 15 different cellars will be available for tasting.

These include: Antonij Rupert Wines: Protea Range, Cederberg Private Cellar, Diemersdal Estate, Saronsberg, Tulbagh Winery, Muratie Wine Estate, Stellenzicht Vineyards, Du Preez Estate, D'Aria Winery, Zorgvliet Wines, Jean Engelbrecht Portfolio, Donkiesbaai, Rust & Vrede Estate and Guardian Peak Wines.

This taste treat is geared for the entire family with all kinds of delicious flavours to explore, from olives to lemon curd and home made jams.

The Wine Village offers a variety of excellent gifts. With a grand selection of South African olive oils alongside infused vinegar, mustard glaze, caper berries, Egyptian Dukkah as well as homemade jams, salad dressings, fruit preserves and biscotti.

Also available for tasting are premium South African potstill brandy, gin, whisky, port, muscadel, craft beer and grappa.

Create lasting memories by celebrating with one of the Top 10 MCC or Sparkling wine listed in South Africa, stocked and chilled at the Wine Village.

Come and enjoy the selection of Craft beer from more than 15 private brewers and broaden your taste horizon.

The Hermanus Hemel en Aarde Valley is the Pinot Noir paradise, with four of the top Pinot Noir seating in South Africa to prove it. All Hemel en Aarde wines are available from the Wine Village at cellar door prices.

The friendly, knowledgeable personnel are more than happy to assist with your selection, make recommendations and help with gift selection.

The Hemel en Aarde Village is a splendid destination as there are three wineries, five restaurants, three art and ceramic studios, a farm stall, health centre, cycle shop, nursery, interior décor shop and children’s play area.

Visit the Saturday morning market in the courtyard for fresh, organic veggies and seasonal specialities. There is also plenty of free, safe parking.

Join us this festive season for a fine wine time.

For Information call 028 316 3988 or visit www.winevillage.co.za

THE NEWSPAPER

THE NEWS

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New Cameras Will Keep Speedsters in check The City of Cape Town has installed a new average speed over distance (ASOD) camera system that will compel motorists to slow down on Nelson Mandela Boulevard.

The cameras will measure the speed of all vehicles travelling inbound and outbound between the bottom of Nelson Mandela Boulevard and the N2 and M3. The system consists of three sets of cameras that will cover all of the incoming and outgoing lanes. The first set is on the footbridge over Nelson Mandela Boulevard in the vicinity of District Six; the second set is on the Main Road bridge over Settlers Way; and the third set is on the footbridge at Mostert’s Mill on the M3.

“What this means is that a motorist traveling to or from the CBD along the M3 will be monitored between the UCT footbridge and the footbridge over Nelson Mandela Boulevard, just before the Strand Street off-ramp. The same would apply to a motorist travelling in or out on the N2, from the Main Road bridge.

Too often, motorists travel at speeds in excess of the legal limit in this area and we hope that the introduction of the system will result in greater compliance with the law – in line with our commitment to create a safe city,” says the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

The ASOD system uses specialised cameras that accurately record each and every vehicle passing through their area. The cameras read the number plate of the vehicle and record the location, date and exact time. Another camera further along does exactly the same. The data and images of the vehicles are encrypted and transmitted to a computer.

The two sets of data are then matched and, if the same vehicle passes both cameras, the time taken for the vehicle to cover the distance is calculated. A fine is generated for vehicles that travel the distance in a shorter time than that allowed by the speed limit.

The City introduced a similar system on the M5 between the Kromboom Road and the Ottery Road bridges a few years ago and it has generated just over 14 500 fines since August 2012.

“Speeding continues to be one of the top causes of collisions and fatalities, but as the adage goes “hoor is min”, and we continue to record thousands of speeding offences.

In August alone, Cape Town Traffic Services recorded 113 000 speeding offences. We appeal to residents to work with us by obeying the rules of the road and showing courtesy for their fellow road users,”says Alderman Smith.

Cape Winelands Claims 8 Global Tourism Awards The Cape Winelands claimed 8 global and forty-three regional awards in the Great Wine Capitals’ Internationals Best of Wine Tourism Awards, celebrated in Mendoza, Argentina recently.

Amongst the 8 global awards SA received, 5 Winelands farms were awarded in the following respective categories: Waterford Estate (Wine Tourism Service and Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices), Vergelegen (Art and Culture Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences), La Motte (Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices and Art and Culture), Rust and Vrede (Wine Tourism Restaurants), and Steenberg Vineyards (Wine Tourism Services).

Some of the 43 regional winners include the following wine farms for their respective prestigious offerings: Cavalli Wine & Stud Farm (Art and Culture), Tokara Restaurant (Wine Tourism Restaurant), Spice Route Winery Destination (Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences, Robertson Wine Valley (Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences), and Tokara Restaurant (Wine Tourism Restaurant).

La Motte Museum - Pierneef Exhibition

The awards seek the very best of the world's wine industry, looking specifically at the Great Wine Capitals (GWC) of the world including Rioja in Bilbao, Bordeaux in France, South Island in Christchurch, Firenze, Italy, Rheihnhessen in Mainz, Mendoza, Porto, the Casablanca Valley in Valparaiso, the Napa Valley in San Francisco and for South Africa, the Cape Winelands.

Cape Town Wins at World Travel Market

Cape Town is leading the way in Responsible Tourism, with two Cape Town Tourism members winning Gold at the World Responsible Tourism awards that took place at World Travel Market in London. The City of Cape Town also announced that Cape Town will be hosting the International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations in May 2015.

Hotel Verde, known as the greenest hotel in Africa, won the Best City Hotel Gold award and the V&A Waterfront won the Best Destination Gold award at the 11th Responsible Tourism Awards held at World Travel Market London.

Furthermore, the City of Cape Town revealed that it will play host to the 11th International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations, to be held from 13 to 15 April 2015. The conference, a collaboration between the City of Cape Town and the International Centre for Responsible Tourism, will form part of Africa Travel Week, incorporating World Travel Market (WTM) Africa.

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HEALTH

THE NEWSPAPER

Pets get breast cancer too October is World Breast Cancer Awareness month and few pet owners know that this potential fatal decease can also affects their dogs and cats.

The incidence of breast cancer in dogs is 1 in 4 female dogs and in cats it is almost 50% over the entire lifetime of these female pets.

Half of these cancers in dogs are malignant, meaning they can spread to other parts of the body and in cats it is a worrying 85%!

The incidence in women is 1 in 35 of all women who will contract breast cancer during their lifetime.

Luckily, veterinarians, are able to prevent breast cancer in pets almost 100% if sterilisation takes place before their first heat, 8% if spayed after their 1st heat and 20% after their 2nd heat.

It was with these statistics in mind that EberVet Community Veterinary Care, who specialises in primary health care, decided to start an annual Sterilisation Campaign. EberVet CVC is the charity division of the EberVet Petcare Group consisting of 7 Vetshops and 2 clinics in the Helderberg, Stellenbosch and Hermanus areas.

EberVet CVC asked Fallen Angels, a rescue organisation located in the Table View area, to “supply” them with patients, while The Country Animal Clinic made their Pet Spa facility available. Vetsbrand donated food goody bags for every patient to take home and willing hands from The Country Animal Clinic staff helped organise the day. The clinical work was done by Drs Hilldidge Beer, Belinda Roxburgh, and Sr Jeanette Rudge helped with the surgical preparation while keeping a watchful eye on the recovering patients.

EberVet CVC managed to attend to 30 pets and are happy to have prevented breast cancer in these animals, but also prevented unwanted litters who might end up being neglected and abused.

“It is always a pleasure to witness people giving their time and skills to make something happen we all feel strongly about”, says Dr Beer.

The EberVet Team wishes to thank all the generous donators, Mrs Dianne de Villiers in particular. They hope to be back same time, same place next year to make a difference in the lives of who those cannot speak.

In the words of Mother Teresa: “I cannot do what you can, you cannot do what I can, but together we can do extraordinary things.”

For more information contact Dr Hilldidge Beer 0722977905 or hilldidge@gmail.com

Help Marinda to see again Marinda Holtzhausen well-known in the tourism industry for 28 years is going blind. She is the initiator of the Cape Winelands Tourism Expo project, and owner of Socially Unforgettable, sharing her Social Media skills with newcomers to the Digital world.

In January 2013 Marinda Holtzhausen went on a Tourism Road Show to India.

A year later she woke one morning and discovered that she was blind in her right eye. By June 2014 she had only 30% blurred vision remaining in the left eye. The eye surgeon gave her until December 2014 before she would lose total eye sight.

After the India Road Show Marinda became gravely ill and only 10 months later was diagnosed with TB. On 25 November 2013 she had a bronchoscopy and started the horrid TB medication with terrible side effects. A little more than a month later, she had a massive hemorrhage behind her right eye.

One of the surgeons is of the opinion that the wrong TB medication was prescribed

Franschhoek, Paarl and Wellington Gordons Bay, Strand and Somerset West Stellenbosch Johannesburg North West +27 (0) 86 172 5824 Update.salt@gmail.com

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as a Type I Diabetic which brought on Proliferate Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR).

The Retina in Maranda’s right eye is detached and blood has seeped into the vitreous gel of the eye, causing the loss of sight.

During October 2014 she discovered that the Retina in her left eye deteriorated even more, further limiting her sight.

Marinda has undergone 3 very painful Pan Retinal Photocoagulation procedures on both eyes at Tygerberg Hospital. On 13 August the eye surgeon at Tygerberg Hospital told her to “Forget about your right eye, it will never see again.” He advised her to come back in two months. If she has lost total sight by then, they would decide what to do next.

Without a medical aid and dependent upon Government treatment this news was devastating. In spite of having the odds against her, Marinda looked for second and third opinions.

cut or remove fibrous or scar tissue from the retina, flatten areas where the retina has become detached, or repair tears or holes in the retina or macula. At the end of the surgery, silicone oil or a gas is injected into the eye to replace the vitreous gel and restore normal pressure in the eye.

Due to the severity of damage to the right eye, more than one operation may be needed to repair the Retina.

After visiting several Retina Specialists, Dr James Acton, known for his high success rate in treating PDR patients has agreed to perform a series of operations called a Vitrectomy.

Marinda’s love for the Tourism Industry has left her with approaching blindness.

Without these operations costing an approximate R 60,000 each, Marinda will definitely soon be completely blind.

A Vitrectomy is the surgical removal of the vitreous gel from the middle of the eye, During a Vitrectomy, the surgeon inserts small instruments into the eye, cuts the vitreous gel, to be removed.

Thereafter the surgeon may treat the retina with a laser (photocoagulation),

Marinda’s friends are organizing a Fund Raising Event on 6 December at the NH Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West.

For more information on this event, contact Ina Viljoen at 021 930 1726 or Email: Kershoff@mweb.co.za

THE NEWSPAPER

LIFESTYLE

HOLDEN MANZ WINE ESTATE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

PAGE 5

Castle 1895 Draught Africa's first tank beer Castle Lager has brought a new beer experience to Africa by offering Brewery Fresh Tank Beer, unpasteurised and straight from the Newlands Brewery.

Previously only available to South African Breweries brew masters themselves, brewery-fresh Castle 1895 Draught beer is piped directly from Newlands Brewery’s tanks into a dedicated “Fresh Beer Truck”, straight to 500L copper tanks and in to your glass – all in a matter of hours after it is finished being made.

Tank beer allows consumers to enjoy the experience of draught beer at its best. With its smooth taste, the breweryfresh Castle 1895 Draught beer pairs beautifully with food, as demonstrated at the launch by Pete Goff-Wood, food alchemist and Masterchef judge.

Situated within an array of Franschhoek wine farms at the top of the Franschhoek valley, Holden Manz wine estate is dominated by the spectacular mountains which stand guard over the scenic vineyards below. The 22ha state of the art winery lies between Franschhoek and the Stony Brook rivers.

The property was transformed into a beautiful wine farm in 1999. Positioned away from the winery is their 5 star Franschhoek Guest House like no other located on this small, verdant estate. It offers the perfect getaway amongst the vineyards, a stress free environment of everyday life of serenity and peace, called home. A personalised experience awaits guests during their stay in one of the five beautifully appointed rooms.

The Franschhoek Kitchen, the Estate’s Restaurant, is rated one of the valley’s leading Restaurants with standards based on the best in International Cuisine reflecting simplicity and pureness of each and every ingredient.

Relaxation comes naturally when entering Holden Manz, and is perfectly complimented by their Spa offering a multitude of therapies, including local products.

Holden Manz is also well known for its tailor made weddings and provide an effortless venue for both ceremony and reception. A variety of options are available to make this your special day you dreamt of.

For art lover - The Holden Manz Collection is located in the centre of Franschhoek and hosts a portfolio of fine contemporary African art. The gallery schedules regular shows, and has a resident selection of work from renowned artists such as Karin Miller, Marie Stander, Luhanri Bekker, Trevor Potter, Lisette Forsyth, Jayne Cully, Donna McKellar, and Shui-Lyn White.

For more information contact 021 8762738 or visit www.holdenmanz.com

Eat Out Restaurant Awards Winners Announced A culinary hat trick for a Cape Town restaurant and a female winner for Chef of the Year were just two of the exciting announcements at the 2014 Eat Out MercedesBenz Restaurant Awards held on 16 November. The winners of the awards, which celebrate culinary distinction and talent across South Africa, were announced at its biggest ceremony yet, held at Thunder City in Cape Town.

The Test Kitchen in Cape Town took first place as Restaurant of the Year for the third year running. Johannesburg-based restaurant Five Hundred, with 2013 Chef of the Year David Higgs at the helm, kept its second place in the Top 10 restaurant list.

Chantel Dartnall of Restaurant Mosaic at the Orient was honoured with the title of San Pellegrino Chef of the Year for 2014. Margot Janse of The Tasting Room is the only other woman who has received this award since the introduction of the Eat Out Restaurant awards in 1998. This year, The Tasting Room received the Grolsch Service Excellence Award.

The winners of the Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by associate sponsor, were Eduan Naudé and the late Brian Shalkoff, former owners of Gramadoelas restaurant in Johannesburg.

The Nederburg Rising Star Award went to Kobus van der Merwe of Oep ve Koep in Paternoster for his promising talent and The Tsogo Sun Wine Service Award for a top sommelier was won by Patson Mathonsi of DW Eleven-13 for his unique and refreshing approach.

In October, Ferryman’s Tavern at the V&A Waterfront was the first of four iconic bars to be unveiled as a venue where Castle 1895 Draught’s Brewery Fresh unpasteurised Tank Beer will be served.

Forrester’s Arms and Long Street Cafe followed suit, while Quay 4 will offer the beer when they reopen with freshly renovated premises in December.

Walking the streets of the Mother City, you’ll recognise Brewery Fresh Tank Beer outlets by the progressively crafted copper tanks in their windows. Follow the pipes from these tanks and you’ll find yourself at the bar ready to order your first Brewery Fresh Tank draught beer.

SAB brewer Denis da Silva with Brewery Fresh truck driver Andre Alexander

Castle 1895 Draught was introduced in August 2014 as a contemporary alternative in premium beer.

“By introducing Brewery Fresh Tank Beer to the 1895 brand, we are living up to our up slogan of being progressively crafted,” said Castle Lager Marketing Manager Matt Brownell. The tank beer will only be available in Cape Town.

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GENERAL

THE NEWSPAPER

Brothers develop mobile solution to fight Ebola

Woolworths launches Carb Clever Meal Solutions

Two brothers and Stellenbosch University (SU) graduates and engineers, Malan (28) and Philip Joubert (26), have developed a mobile solution to assist in the fight against Ebola. The app is currently being used by the non-profit organisation More Than Me in Monrovia, Liberia.

If you are watching your carbohydrate intake, but can’t always find the time to cook from scratch, help is at hand.

Woolworths is launching a new CARBCLEVER range that is packed with fresh and flavoursome ingredients, but excludes pasta, potatoes and rice.

The brothers attended Somerset College and SU and recently moved to Silicon Valley in the USA to expand their tech start-up Journey Apps. While in the USA they became aware of the Ebola virus’s massive global impact and as the crisis escalated they realised that even in the midst of the technology giants of Silicon Valley, a South African startup could do something significant in the fight against the deadly disease.

The full CARBCLEVER range spans nine meals, a soup and three vegetable dishes, which will be introduced countrywide.

Philip and Malan contacted Liberia-based NGOs to talk about their biggest struggles with regard to fighting the disease. Sam Herring, NGO More Than Me’s data manager, highlighted the need for real-time data collection, which happens to be one of Journey’s fields of expertise.

Expected favourites are grilled chicken with veg & cheese sauce and Thai red chicken curry with a rich coconut sauce, roasted cauliflower and mint chutney, plus shepherd’s or cottage pie topped with cauliflower mash.

Four days later and with the help of the rest of the Journey team, a mobile solution was deployed in Liberia. According to Herring, the Ebola Care App allows them to respond in an efficient manner.

Other flavour-packed meals are smoked pork with creamed cabbage and spinach in a sage cream sauce, and beef meatballs with cauliflower mash, roasted vegetables and tomato sauce.

To combat the spread of Ebola it is essential to identify the worst affected areas.

To maximise efficiency Journey utilises GPS co-ordinates to trace those infected and their families, and to assist ambulance teams collecting sick patients to capture vital information.

Many of the most affected areas do not use street names and run on paper medical records, making the app's capacity to identify affected 'cluster' areas and digitally monitor health workers' movements a pioneering step in the fight against Ebola.

Journey has funded all of the development, and is providing the Ebola Care free of charge to anyone involved in the Ebola battle. However, to get phones deployed to aid organisations the project needs financial support from the global community.

The dishes also have no wheat, grains, legumes or pulses.

They are instead packed with seasonal vegetables, delicious creamy sauces (like coconut-cream curries & cheese sauce) and spicy accompaniments for full-on flavour.

And creamy Chicken Korma & Chicken tikka are available in convenient, microwaveable pots.

Cauliflower is definitely making a comeback as a delicious vegetable accompaniment with the options of cauliflower mash and cauliflower, bacon & cheese bake.

“Many of our customers have been requesting easy meals that provide options for their lifestyles,” said Woolworths Managing Director of Foods, Zyda Rylands.

“After months of careful testing – and some delectable tasting – we are proud to reveal these ready-prepared meals and accompaniments. As these products are also microwaveable and combine flavours and cooking styles, they should have wide appeal.”

Akademia en Afrikaans Met die Potch-kampus van die NWU onder skoot oor Afrikaans as onderrigtaal en die aankondiging deur Flip Buys oor die Solidariteit Beweging se twaalfpuntplan om Afrikaans in die hoëronderwysarena uit te bou en te bevorder, bly die gesprek oor moedertaalonderrig aktueel.

Net vandag weer is ek gekonfronteer deur ʼn bekommerde ma wat wil weet of dit nie maar beter is om haar kinders na ʼn Engelse hoërskool te stuur nie sodat hulle dan in Engels aan een van ons groot universiteite kan gaan studeer. Volgens haar sal dit ʼn reuse-voordeel aan haar kinders gee bó ander kinders – “die besigheidswêreld in Suid-Afrika is mos Engels!” was haar redenasie.

My antwoord was eenvoudig: “Mevrou, wil jy graag jou kinders die geleentheid gee om die beste matriek- en graadkwalifikasie te verwerf, of wil jy hulle leer Engels praat? As laasgenoemde die bedoeling is, is ʼn Engelse taalkursus van drie maande wat by bekende boekwinkels beskikbaar is tog seker ʼn goedkoper opsie”.

Wat ek bedoel, is beslis nie ʼn veralgemening oor alle studente en leerlinge nie.

Wêreldwye navorsing deur verskeie instansies het wel aangetoon dat moedertaalonderrig vir ten minste 85% van elke etniese bevolkingsgroep meer voordelig is as om in ʼn tweede taal te studeer.

Daarbenewens is Afrikaans ook een van ʼn handjievol tale wat akademies so hoog ontwikkel is dat tot kernfisika daarin aangebied kan word.

Wat ons egter van Akademia se kant af onomwonde stel, is dat alle persone die voorreg moet kan hê om, as dit hul keuse is, wel in hul moedertaal te kan studeer sonder dat hulle geforseer moet word om met ʼn moontlike agterstand in ʼn tweede taal te moet studeer.

Daarom bied Akademia ʼn alternatief vir mense wat hul geakkrediteerde grade, diplomas of hoërsertifikate deur middel van Afrikaans as voertaal wil verwerf. Sou jy in Gauteng of die Wes-Kaap woonagtig wees, is daar ook studiesentrums wat relatief naby aan jou huis geleë is.

Ons goed beplande nauurse rooster maak dit nog makliker om te studeer terwyl jy voltyds werk en die nuutste videokonferensiemodel van klasgee help ook om jou studiekoste baie bekostigbaar te hou.

Vir meer inligting, besoek www.akademia.ac.za, of SMS soldeer, jou naam en van na 34933! (’n SMS kos R2) Chris du Plessis, hoof van bemarking by Akademia

THE NEWSPAPER

RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH

PAGE 7

Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant - Winelands Cuisine at its Best

A visit to La Motte Estate in Franschhoek takes you way back in history. The Newspaper was honoured to dine at the Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant embraced by the presence of an extensive collection of one of South Africa’s greatest artists, Pierneef, to experience unique Cape Winelands Cuisine.

Pierneef’s artistic creativity became inspirational in naming the restaurant as well as set the tone going back in history in preparing traditional cuisine with a modern interpretation. Passionate about regional cuisine, CEO Hein Koegelenberg and his wife and owner of the estate Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg encouraged and supported Hetta van Deventer-Terblanche as the Culinary Manager in her research collecting historical recipes.

The Cape Bokkom Salad was a not only a surprise, but a tasting sensation and also one of the family favourites.

The salad was served with semi-dried tomatoes, dried apricots, quail eggs, toasted almonds, butternut croquant, wild garlic dressing, perfectly paired with a La Motte Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc.

The Dutch inspired ‘1510’ curry-scented seafood dish is another favourite on the starter menu. The 2011 La Motte Chardonnay paired with this special seafood dish beautifully complements its complex, yet gentle flavour profile of the slow-cooked octopus, grilled squid, and steamed mussels.

It was difficult to imagine what would follow as a main dish after the delightful starter experience, and would have loved to taste each of these main dishes.

The slow-cooked New-Karoo lamb, a dish to die for, plated beautifully with potato dumpling, caramelised olive and balsamic jus, was well paired with La Motte Cabernet Sauvignon, not to mention the taste of the Pasture Pork Cassoulét served with spring greens, cannellini beans, farm salami, and paired with the recommended La Motte Syrah.

With the support of the Executive Chef, Michelle Theron, they were able to publish the Cape Winelands Cuisine Cookbook, introducing Old-Cape chefs’ “lost” recipes and “forgotten” knowledge. It is these unique food styles and diverse flavours inspired by centuries of cooking, spiced by influences from across the globe which adds to the quality served in the Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant.

La Motte has kept these traditions alive at their restaurant with the use of a seasonal menu, fresh vegetables and fruit from biologic garden, including the use of spices and herbs as well as cooking with wine, a creativity of the early Cape Cuisine being recreated today, for guests’ enjoyment.

The restaurant interior blends beautifully with the external surroundings. The fresh, natural look inside is embraced by tranquil gardens and majestic oak trees, the perfect setting for a gastronomic experience.

The elegant restaurant not only pays tribute to the great Artist with linoleum cuts as décor, chandeliers made from porcelain crockery, but also depicts family photos of the Rupert family.

Food Experience La Motte Méthode Cap Classic attributed toward a perfect atmosphere for a dining experience.

The bread basket was filled with a selection of Olive Ciabatta, Mini baguette and ‘Ouma’ Bread - Huberte Rupert’s brown seed bread, made according to a recipe she discovered in 1960 on a packet of flour she bought at a bakery in Bird Street, Stellenbosch.

The dinner menu, including the Chef’s Menu with a selection of Family Classics, was just as tempting and inventive and differs from the usual, making it difficult to choose from dishes as the entire menu appeared appetizing. The delicious “Koningsbrood” or King’s Bread Soup, a traditional Cape bean soup served with ‘bitterballen’ and potbread, took me back in time to my own grandmother’s version.

The original soup recipe dating back to the 17th century in The Netherlands, was based on stock made from ‘hutspot’ as recorded by the Dutch pastor, Gilles D.J. Schotel.

The menu selectively also caters for vegetarian dishes such as Textures of Cauliflower and Gluten-free quinoa and gem squash risotto.

While deciding on the desserts, we were treated with a pre-dessert mini chocolate mint milkshake. Mouth-watering desserts include a Chocolate Tasting with a feast of delectable chocolate treats paired with De Wetshof Edeloes dessert wine.

The most exciting moment of the evening was cracking the coconut dome of the Snow Egg dessert, and discover the truly theatrical dessert filled with textures of custard and meringue and a fragrant combination of rose and coconut, accompanied by the 2011 La Motte Méthode Cap Classique.

A perfect evening’s gastronomic experience ended on a high note with delicious Pierneef truffles.

Chef Michelle and The Chef’s Table

From a young age Michelle Theron was interested in the culinary art, admiring chefs such as Margot Janse, Clare Smythe and Elena Arzak.

After her culinary studies she worked at various restaurants in the Winelands and Cape Town and in 2010 joined the Pierneef à La Motte team to pursue her dream in becoming an Executive Chef.

The Chef’s Table is secluded from the restaurant area, giving patrons privacy while being entertained by the cooking activities in the kitchen.

Where else can guests plan and select their own fine-dine menu and wine-list with the assistance of the chef?

Chef Michelle, passionate about her love for food, creates gastronomic magic in the open kitchen, serving each dish beautifully paired with a handpicked selection of La Motte Wines or from other estates, to the guests.

The Chef’s Table is available for up to 8 guests for lunch or dinner.

Reservations are recommended and can be made at 021 876 8800 or visit www.la-motte.com

PROPERTY

THE NEWSPAPER

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R102

Kelderhof Country Village

Sales Centre

Croydon Olive & Vineyard Estates

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Main Rd

Sitari Country Estate

N2 M9

Firgrove

FOOD

PAGE 10

THE NEWSPAPER

Getting ready for the Festive Season It’s just a few weeks until Christmas Day. By the time you read this article you may find yourself stranded with challenges getting everything in time for the Christmas Eve dinner, the Christmas Day braai, and the New Year’s party. You may notice that the Christmas tree is not set up, you have no menus planned, and possibly heading toward a family bickering.

Whether you’re going for a bird, beef or gammon this festive season, it’s only right that your gleaming roast will be accompanied by a healthy combination of vegetables, and good quality wines, and your Christmas day braai with a selection of succulent beef steaks, choice Lamb Chops, Boerewors, Spare Ribs, Sosaties, or many other meat varieties.

Well, the friendly staff of De Nieuwe Rodenburg Butchery and Deli is there to assist you with your order for the festive season.

They have re-introduced its favourites of yesteryear and believe it’s paramount that you have easy access to top-notch products including a variety of excellent products such as Smoked and Glazed Gammon Rolls, Roast Beef, Turkey, Turduken, fresh Free Range Chickens, Stuffed Chickens, Smoked Chickens, succulent Beef Steaks, choice Lamb Chops, a selection of sausages, be it Boerewors, Cheese wors, or Pork sausages - they have it! De Nieuwe Rodenburg Butchery and Deli also provide purposely made-up Platters for various year-end functions.

To the European visitors De Nieuwe Rodenburg Butchery and Deli provide freshly-made cold meats as well as a selection of sausages, such as Fleiswurst, Hollandse Rookwors, Bokwurst, Jagtwurst, Bierwurst, Salami, and many more.

Fresh Kroonbread is baked every day, and many other products are available.

Don’t forget to call ahead and place your order or visit them to avoid disappointment. All Christmas orders close on 17 December 2014.

For more information call 021 853 6320

De Nieuwe BUTCHERY & DELI COME VISIT US AT 43 Wesley Street, Strand or Call 021 853 6320

THE NEWSPAPER

HEALTHY BEVERAGES

PAGE 11

DISCOVER TEALICIOUS NEW ROOIBOS FRUTEA® INNOVATION IN A WORLD OF TASTE

A refreshing combination of 100% fruit juice and freshly brewed Rooibos tea.

The Newspaper recently visited Konrad and Marinda Hambrecht, proud owners of Brothers Beverages, at their factory in Somerset West to hear their success story in building the Rooibos Frutea® and Helderberg Juice® brands.

WHERE IT ALL STARTED In 1996, Konrad Hambrecht became interested in Rooibos tea with its health benefits and potential for numerous applications. Out of his dislike for fizzy drinks and artificial products, a unique brew of Rooibos fruit juice mixes were born, namely Rooibos Frutea®.

Konrad and Marinda started developing a secret brewing process for the ideal Rooibos Frutea® recipe from home. Encouraged by family and friends, they tested the public’s response at a popular premium outdoor market. The response was overwhelming – convincing Marinda to quit her job and continue building Brothers Beverages full time.

After signing up their second client, Melissa’s Food Shop, they were confident that Rooibos Frutea® had found a niche market. With popular demand setting the tone, they moved to a factory in Somerset Business Park where the brand continued to flourish due to the excellent quality stemming from the slow brewing process of Rooibos with pure herbs and spices, blended with 100% fruit juices.

HELDERBERG JUICE® Helderberg Juice® is classified as an unsweetened, 100% fruit juice blend, which simply means that it’s a combination of different fruit juices.

Like Rooibos Frutea®, Helderberg Juice® is available in 350ml, 500ml, 1.5L and 4L bottles, and must be stored in the cold chain at all times to ensure the guaranteed shelf life. All products in its natural fresh make-up have a lifespan of 7-8 weeks from the day of manufacturing. The seven flavours available include Apple, Cranberry-Cherry, Exotic Fruit, Mango, Mango-Orange, Orange, and Pomegranate.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF ROOIBOS FRUTEA® Rooibos tea is naturally high in antioxidants and caffeine free. Another excellent characteristic of Rooibos tea, when brewed, is that it is naturally sweet – therefore requiring less fruit pulp and concentrates than when producing 100% fruit juices.

Rooibos Frutea® is unsweetened as no sugarcane is added and is infused with herbs and spices to add to the health benefits. Furthermore, only freshly brewed Rooibos tea is used – no tea extracts or powders.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

In October 2011, Bothers Beverages purchased the brand Helderberg Juice®, adding a 100% fruit juice to their Rooibos range. It made perfect business sense to take a flanking brand on board, and what better than Helderberg Juice®. The brand has been around for over 10 years, and is well known for its outstanding taste and excellent quality. In fact, it tastes so good that most clients think it’s freshly pressed.

In 2013, Brothers Beverages was chosen and assisted by Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) to implement the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, or HACCP system. This system is a systematic preventive approach to food safety from biological, chemical, and physical hazards in production and is applied in the factory.

Applying HACCP procedures has opened many doors for Brothers Beverages, one of which is being listed as a supplier to Spar Western Cape, Northern Cape and Namibia.

Today, Marinda and her team apply the principle of quality without compromise as each batch is sampled and monitored daily.

Brothers Beverages manufactures two products in the fresh food line namely Rooibos Frutea® and Helderberg Juice®.

ROOIBOS FRUTEA® Rooibos Frutea® differentiates itself from ice teas in that the Rooibos tea is freshly brewed every day during the manufacturing process. To this, only 100% fruit concentrates and pulps are added and no extra sweeteners, such as sugarcane, are used.

Because the Rooibos tea is naturally brewed, Rooibos Frutea® has a shorter shelf life than Helderberg Juice®. Brothers Beverages can extend the shelf life if they use a Rooibos extract, a concentrate or a powder, but they still believe that the delicious taste comes from brewing the Rooibos tea themselves.

Rooibos Frutea® is available in 350ml, 500ml, 1.5L, and 4L bottles and must be stored in the cold chain at all times to ensure the guaranteed shelf life, which is 6-7 weeks. The five flavours available include Cranberry-Cherry, Grapefruit, Lemon-Apple, Mango-Lemon, and Pomegranate.

PRODUCT AVAILABILITY Brothers Beverages products are available at various outlets in the Western and Northern Cape, including Melissa’s Food Shop and Spar. In Namibia, it is available in most Spar and Food Lovers Market stores.

For more information, call 021 851 0771, visit www.brothersbeverages.co.za or like us on www.facebook.com/frutea

PAGE 12

HERITAGE

THE NEWSPAPER

Oom SAMIE SE WINKEL - A working museum The greyer the beard, the longer the memory, and in this case, memory will fondly take in the congenial confusion of tins, bags, cartons and the lamp oillavender-tobacco-and-soap symphony of smells. For the young it may be an anachronism, but for other this mixture of sights and sounds conjures up only one thing - The General Dealer’s Store.

On entering, the pungent aroma of dried fish, spices, tobacco and leather takes you by surprise.

Uncle Samie’s General Store, better known as Oom Samie se Winkel in the historic Dorp Street of Stellenbosch is such a place. It was established in 1904 and is presently celebrating its 110th anniversary.

This well-known Victorian-era general dealer was one of the first trading stores, and today, claimed the longest existing uninterrupted trading store in Stellenbosch, a working National Monument, offering all sorts of bric-a-brac and delightful foods and products.

History The building stands on a portion of the land which was granted to Pieter Gerhard Wium in 1791. With his brother Eduard and his father Pieter, he acquired a concession to supply the community with meat; this they did for more than 60 years.

Through the 19th century the premises passed through successive hands, until it was sub-divided in 1876, and the portion on which Uncle Samie’s General Store stands today, was sold to Johannes Christoffel Heyneke. On 19 May 1904 Samuel Johannes Volsteedt bought the premises for £1 000.00 from Heyneke for his son, Samie who suffered of a weak back, and was not able to take on the hard physical workday of a farmer.

It was Uncle Samie’s gentle and caring nature that has survived the decades and is characterised in the simple inscription on his grave: “He was a good man.” Uncle Samie was apparently well-loved due to his kindheartedness and generosity. He simply never collected debt on the store slate from customers that fallen on hard times, he even raised and educated a family member whose parents were killed in an accident. He liked to tease, especially the children – in his unhurried way.

Other people in Uncle Samie’s life was Lallie who helped out at the store while his nephew Floors was a match for Uncle Samie when it came to baking. Floors is said to have a cripple foot and he was short, while Uncle Samie with his sharp features looked event taller than he was. Imagine the two together behind the counter!

When Uncle Samie grew old Floors came to help out in the store and later inherited the store, when Uncle Samie died on 27 June 1944.

According to Uncle Samie’s family, it was already a shop at that time. Uncle Samie traded as S.J.Volsteedt, General Dealer. In the “fifties” the name changed to XL Trading, XL Stores, and XL Supply Store. Even 30 years after Uncle Samie’s death, the business continued to be known as Uncle Samie’s General Store. Just as special as the store is today, it was in days of yesteryear. Today’s Uncle Samie’s General Store trades in much the same way as it did back then.

Uncle Samie’s General Store became the first general dealer to implement delivery of goods on a three-wheel delivery bicycle. Apart from the general supplies there were also fresh goods like eggs, cheese, butter, bread, preserves on sale.

Sweets were kept in glass jars near the counter, everyone remembers the rolls of tobacco, customers brought their own snuff tins to be filled and one could buy sticks of cinnamon and even a single length of cotton. Credit was “on the slate,” payable by the week or by the month.

Two great loves of Uncle Samie’s life were animals and baking. He was a master baker and his nephew speaks even today of his sugar loaf, koeksisters, bread puddings, sago pudding and orange cake. In the back yard he kept chickens, of which he was very fond.

Today this area is home to H-Homestyle Eatery, neatly revamped to meet the need of tourists, and serve them traditional hearty meals.

It is Hans Zerwick who set out to create a place that feels like home, where friends and family can reconnect over fresh, hearty meals prepared with passion, attention and love — a place where one is reminded of the kitchens of our mothers and grandmothers, filled with the aroma of fresh, homemade food. H is home-style, H is home, H is Hans’ Hope that you will share and enjoy his passion.

It is the historical significance that prompted Annatjie Melck to purchase the store in 1981, and made the praiseworthy decision to re-establish it as a general dealer’s store. She immediately re-named it Uncle Samie’s General Store. For the past 33 years Annatjie shaped Uncle Samie’s General Store into a working museum.

Visit the store to find old fashioned sticky toffees, boiled sweets, collectible books, vintage clothing and authentic old butter churns. You might even walk out armed with a rare antique along with your purchases of fruit, vegetables, wine, biltong and bokkoms, or even enjoy a scrumptious meal at H-Homestyle Eatery.

Who was Uncle Samie?

Samie was born on 27 May 1879 on a farm near Faure. As a child he developed a weak back, something akin to a hunchback. He customarily wore a pair of fine, gold-rimmed spectacles and dressed neatly in a tie and waistcoat, even in the store. He was distinguished by his sharp nose and fine hair, which with time became snow white.

Uncle Samie’s General Store represents an aspect of heritage that has disappeared with the arrival of modern department stores and supermarkets, especially in the larger towns. That is why it is so important that the business should survive as an authentic commercial undertaking, and remain a living museum, built on initiative and the labour of love.

For more information contact Uncle Samie’s General Store at 021 887 0797 or e-mail oomsamie@kingsleymail.co.za Contact H-Homestyle Eatery at 021 8828316 or visit www.h-eatery.com

THE NEWSPAPER

TOURS

PAGE 13

TAKE A TRIP WITH WINE AND WHALE TOURS Alan Bent, proprietor of Wine and Whale Tours spent a little over 20 years in New Zealand during which time he travelled extensively through their wine producing areas. He also took the opportunity to visit most of the wine producing areas in Australia.

On the day the selection of Wineries are determined based on the tourist’s local knowledge, the time of the year, and any preferences the tourist may express. Furthermore, a day in the country can often be defined by the restaurants chosen for meals and afternoon teas.

“Isn’t it extraordinary that most wine producing areas of the Southern Hemisphere seem to be blessed with the best golf courses. What a way to have a holiday, drink good wine, and play golf,” says Alan.

His professionalism has paid off well. Wine and Whale Tours was appointed official transport provider to the BBC during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. TOURS Constantia Tour - Historically the Constantia Tour is the seat of the Cape Wine Industry, and the oldest wine producing region in the Southern Hemisphere. Life is savoured slowly amongst the tree lined avenues, vineyards, and equestrian centres.

Cape Ladies Tour - Behind every successful man …. Not necessarily, these ladies are doing it for themselves! Do not be confused this is not a Ladies only Tour, but rather, a Tour about embracing and honouring the women of the Wine Industry from earlier times until this day.

The Newspaper recently accompanied Alan on a day tour to get a feel on what any prospective tourist can expect when making use of his professional services while visiting various Wine Estates in the Western Cape.

Alan returned to South Africa in 2007, and established his own tour company. He completed the Western Cape Tour Guide Training Course as well as the Cape Wine Academy Certificate Course, and for the past three years from April to June finds himself employed in London working at the International Wine Challenge (IWC), the largest of its kind, enabling him to gain experience in wines from all wine producing countries around the world.

Durbanville Valley Tour - While Durbanville Valley is not endowed with as many wineries as other Cape regions, a few date back some 300 years and this experience is reflected in the quality of their wines. The area also provides spectacular views of Table Mountain so providing wonderful photo opportunities.

All South African Wine Producers and exports should seriously consider entering their wines in this IWC as a medal earned will most certainly enhance sale potential.

“What sets the IWC apart is the integrity of its judging process. All the wines are judged ‘blind’,” Alan claims. His time at the IWC also allowed him to learn from the likes of luminaries such as Oz Clarke and Tim Atkins.

To further his knowledge of wine Alan became a garagiste, and now produces a Shiraz which he presently markets under the label, ‘The Dog’s Bollocks.’

It is only after he engaged in the production of wine that he appreciates the risks involved in being a wine producer, having not escaped a few failures along the way.

Wine and Whale Tours specialize in Wine Tours and during August through November, Whale Tours. All day tours include visits to areas of historical significance, and natural beauty to ensure an interesting and informative day. Ideally, Alan prefers to work with small groups of 2 to 4 persons. He believes this enables him to pay close attention to the need of his clientele, and also as a courtesy to the Wine Estates who generally do not enjoy large groups suddenly arriving on their doorstep.

All Alan’s packaged Wine Tours are themed. This permits him to vary the Wineries from time to time. He believes that in being independent he can provide for the client’s needs on the day, and therefore relieve the Tourist of being constrained by issues like corporate time schedules. In the selection of Wineries, he also includes the smaller family owned enterprises filled with history and character.

French Corner Tour - Franschhoek lies between the Simonsberg and Stellenbosch mountain ranges, being one of the most scenic areas in the Western Cape.

“The impact of these mountains strongly influences its terroir and wines produced in this valley are, dare it be said, more ‘refined’ than those of other regions,” says Alan.

Mixed Case Tour - A Tour designed to demonstrate the diversity of scale of operation and/or sophistication of technology by visiting a ‘smorgasbord’ of wineries located in the Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch regions.

Round the Rock Tour - ‘Round the Rock’ takes in a number of wineries that are located around Paarl Mountain, emphasizing the change in terroir as one moves around and the impact it has on the wines.

Fine Wine Tour - .... when only the very best will do for those in search of the holy grail.

Bespoke Tour – Here the client sets the agenda for the day – usually for importers searching for specific wines, or for something new.

Wine and Whale Tour - This is the Tour that launched the Wine and Whale Tour Company.

This Tour goes beyond the Hottentots Mountains to the picturesque town of Hermanus, home to South Africa’s best in Pinot Noir Wines. During the Whale season, August to November, the tour can include a boat based whale tour or simply walk on the rocks and spot the whales. Lunch and visits to wineries take place in the famous Hemel en Aarde Valley.

For more information contact alan@wineandwhaletours.com or call +27 (0) 72 019 4456 Visit www.wineandwhaletours.com

PAGE 14

TRAVEL

THE NEWSPAPER

Sea Point swimming pool reopens in time for summer

Cape Town International Airport gears up for the peak season

The Sea Point swimming pool is a flagship facility that has never failed to attract crowds of users. Whether it is to simply cool off or spend time training and improving one’s stroke, the pool is a constant lure. The main pool, splash pool and diving pool were officially reopened, but the baby pool will remain closed until construction has been fully completed

Cape Town International Airport sees seasonal international airlines return in time for the peak period with some increasing their weekly flights to the City. The five international airlines, namely Condor, Edelweiss, Air France, Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa have all commenced with their Cape Town route.

In 2013 the British newspaper, the Guardian, ranked the Sea Point pool as one of the top 10 swimming pools in the world. In the current financial year, R2,6 million is being spent on further upgrades to the tiling and rim flows, as well as the fibre lining of the pools.

Significantly, the Friends of Sea Point Pavilion also raised funding to assist with minor items which contributed to giving the facility a makeover.

During the peak summer season (October to February), the swimming pool attracts up to 60 000 visitors and more than 20 000 visitors per month in December and January.

The swimming pool can accommodate up to 1 750 people at a time. Records show that residents come from all across the city to use this popular pool, thus it is a crucial element in sustaining an inclusive city.

“The Sea Point swimming pool is one of the jewels in Cape Town’s crown and we want to ensure that this popular and inclusive facility remains in pristine condition and in line with global standards,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Special Projects, Alderman Belinda Walker.

Condor Airways, which offers a nonstop flight from Frankfurt, Germany, has increased its frequency from two flights weekly to three. Edelweiss, has also increased its weekly flights to three per week. The airport also welcomes back Lufthansa Airline which connects Cape Town directly to Munich, Germany with its five weekly flights. Air France resumed on 16 October with Virgin Atlantic on 25 October.

“The good news, not only for the airport but, for Cape Town, is Qatar’s newly introduced direct flight between Doha and Cape Town. The airline is now operating a daily direct flight to Cape Town as of 3 November,” said Deborah Francis, acting Communications Manager: Cape Town International Airport.

From December, the route will be operating with its brand new, state-of-the art 787 Dreamliner aircraft which features 22 seats in Business Class and 232 seats in Economy Class, and is equipped with the latest interactive inflight entertainment system featuring over 1000 options available in all cabin classes.

On the domestic front, the airport welcomed FLYSAFAIR which operates flights between Cape Town and Johannesburg as well as George and Port Elizabeth. The airline has 27 weekly flights to Johannesburg, seven weekly flights to George and 13 weekly flights to Port Elizabeth.

Cape Town International Airport and its airport stakeholders take this opportunity to welcome back all the seasonal flights to Cape Town.

Hermanus – A Whale Watchers Paradise Facts on Southern Right Whales - They travel approximately 4000km from the Antarctic to the Cape Whale Coast during the winter and spring months (JulyNovember) to mate, calve and rear their young. The adults reach lengths of between 12.5 - 15.5 metres and weigh between 29 and 58 tonnes (the equivalent of 10 African elephants). The Southern Right Whale can dive to a maximum depth of over 300 metres and can hold its breath for 30 minutes.

Calves are between 4 - 6 metres long and weigh about 1 tonne at birth. They grow 3cm per day, feed on 600 litres of milk per day, and suckle between 6 - 8 months. Even calves less than a month old have callosities (the rough calcified skin patches) which makes them unique to each other.

Southern Right Whales are unique because of their distinctive V- shaped blow and they have broad backs with no dorsal fin. Their life span is approximately 50 years.

This information is supplied by the Windsor Hotel and Self Catering Apartments in Hermanus.

Hermanus Whale Crier - Photo Credit: Dave de Beer

Hermanus has been booming with travellers both local and international with lots of Whales in Walker Bay. These majestic kings of the sea have been very active this season and have been coming very close to shore which is why Hermanus has been acknowledged as one of the twelve best whale viewing sites in the world.

Hermanus also has its own whale crier who keeps visitors informed as to where the whales can be seen. During the whale season he walks around Hermanus spotting whales and announcing their presence by blowing on his kelp horn. It has been reported that approximately 53 Whales have been spotted in the Walker Bay this season.

The whales can be seen from the cliffs in the town centre, spectacular cliff paths, from the air, from any one of the beautiful beaches or boat-based whale watching excursions give you an even closer look at the great giants of sea.

Nothing quite sets your day like waking up and seeing the whales from the comfort of your bed or from the seafront lounge and breakfast room at the Windsor Hotel and Self Catering Apartments. Their latest offer includes 8 fully equipped self-catering apartments to enjoy this visual feast! What a great way to start the day!

For more information, contact 028 312 3727 or info@windsorhotel.co.za

THE NEWSPAPER

THINGS TO DO

Stellenbosch Festive experiences The ‘forever young’ town of Stellenbosch is donning all its bells and whistles to offer locals and holidaymakers alike a festooned line up of indulgences and experiences during this Festive Season.

PAGE 15

Summer entertainment at Cape’s only Forest Amphitheatre

December kicks off with the spellbinding Spier Festival of White Lights on 5 December. This evening is a performance arts procession across the farm, winding through heritage Cape Dutch monuments and led by Spier’s Angel of Light on stilts.

More light will be shed at Stellenbosch’s annual Festival of Street Lights on 7 and 8 December.

Bring the kids and be there when the mayor switches on the Christmas lights and pack a picnic and come sing along to your favourite songs during Carols by Candlelight on the opening night. December 7, also marks the start of Jordan Estate’s monthly Sunday Evening Concerts which cater for al fresco gatherings under starry skies.

If live music is your thing to shake off the end-of-year stress, then Muratie has just the remedy. Music line-ups that will impress include the sultry Luna Paige on 13 December and famous alternative rock artist Jesse Clegg on 28 December.

On 14 December Father Christmas will once again be making his appearance on his tractor at Middelvlei Wine Estate’s annual Sunset Carols.

For more information visit www.wineroute.co.za

Festive Franschhoek

Escape the hustle and bustle of the silly season and retreat to the tranquil surroundings of the Franschhoek Wine Valley to recharge.

From 10 - 16 December Franschhoek will come alive with festive cheer when wine farms, restaurants, retail stores and accommodation establishments pull out the stops. Dine at leisure, enjoy late night shopping and sample superb wines before heading back to your guesthouse for a peaceful nights’ sleep.

Rupert Wyne, La Motte, Boekenhoutskloof and Grande Provence amongst others.

Not forgetting that Franschhoek is regarded as South Africa’s culinary capital a visit to one of the village’s fine dining restaurants is must on your to do list during this week.

Stock up on wines for the festive season from Holden Manz, Anthonij

Seating up to 600 people, the theatre uses state-of-the-art sound and lighting to create an intimate experience for the audience that few outdoor venues can parallel. The entire amphitheatre is a ‘golden circle’ ticket and all the events are selected to match the acoustic potential of the space.

The line-up for 2014/2015 includes another fantastic array of artists, such as The Parlotones, Elvis Blue, Matthew Mole and Heinz Winckler as well as Watershed and retro favourites McCully Workshop. The programme also boasts comedy from stand-up, Barry Hilton as well as three special festivals: Hope Music Festival, Hidden Years Festival and Kids theatre Festival.

This summer’s programme started on 8 November until 28 March 2015. Guests are welcome to bring their own picnics to all events.

For more information visit www.cluver.com

Gabriëlskloof Favourite Things Market With loads of beautiful stalls enticing with real, authentic products, interesting exhibitors and locals to mingle with, friends and family are invited to kick off the shoes and find a ‘kuier’ spot on the lawn, far away from the maddening end of year rush.

La Paris' Festival in the Valley La Paris offers entertainment for the whole family which includes fire dancers, silk performers, stilt walkers, jumping castles, live performances by Lize Mynhardt, Aking, Wild Lettuce, Jacques Terre'blanche and Caitlin de Ville.

Visit the La Paris exhibition and bask in the luxurious surroundings of their premier venue with astounding works from amazing contemporary artists Karl Gustav Sevenster, Johan Conradie, Jan De Rooster and Greg Miller.

Participating retail establishments, amongst others, include Peacock Blue, Indian Summer, Masquerade Antiques & Things and Troll Beads.

A natural amphitheatre of Eucalyptus trees sets the scene for an extraordinary outdoor experience on the centuries-old Paul Cluver farm in Elgin – just 45 mins from Cape Town.

The Festival is taking place from the 11-13 December from 3pm - 10pm and on Sunday 14 December from 10am 5pm.

Tickets are available online at www.webtickets.co.za For more information on the event visit www.laparis.co.za

Ho Ho Ho…off to Gabriëlskloof young and old should go, when this prominent wine estate, perched high on the outskirts of Bot River in the Overberg, dons its festive bells and whistles for the popular Favourite Things Market on 12 and 13 December 2014.

Celebrating its fifth year of all things local, lekker and lavish, the Favourite Thing Market offers a ‘happy place’ for enthusiasts to swap the crowded mall for a carefree day out in the countryside, whilst ticking off those Christmas shopping lists with glee.

Think vintage finds; gorgeous kiddies clothing; décor treasures; trendy accessories; flowers and indigenous fynbos wreathes; ceramic masterpieces; pamper products; artisanal cheeses, pesto’s and chocolates; craft beers, and of course a glass or two of Gabriëlskloof wines.

The 2014 Gabriëlskloof Favourite Things Market is your ticket to meet more than 30 passionate producers who will make, bake, curate, craft, sew and share their wares for you to stock up in style.

The merriment kicks off on Friday, 12 December, at 5pm - 9pm whilst all the magic will be repeated on, 13 December from 11am until 9pm

SPORTS NEWS For the dedicated fans

December 2014

Tel: 021 855 2900

www.thenewspaper.co.za

Free Copy

Volvo Ocean Race fleet breeze out of Cape Town Skippers of the seven boats in the Volvo Ocean Race fleet, which set out for the 6,125 nautical mile (nm) Leg 2 from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi on 19 November, left with warnings of possible cyclone activity and tropical storms ringing in their ears.

Race organisers took late measures to keep the 66 sailors away from the very worst of the weather on the Indian Ocean with a new exclusion zone leading to the Seychelles. There were already zones in place to avoid icebergs in the Southern Ocean.

From the very start the sailors were given a taste of things to come with gusts of up to 35 knots kicking up a procession of white-capped waves. It was a question of 'don't break your boat' as most opted for conservative sail choices, while they wrestled to keep them under control and intact.

Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race

Favourites for the leg are Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker/GBR), who have barely made a false move since setting out from Alicante on 11 October. They followed their 12-minute win over Dongfeng Race Team in Leg 1 by securing victory in the Cape Town in-port race. Leg 2 is expected to take between 22 to 28 days to complete, depending on conditions. The boats will remain in Abu Dhabi over Christmas and the New Year before setting sail again on January 3 for Sanya, China.

Rocky Mountain

Nelson Mandela

to Sponsor Snow Epic

Legendary mountain bike manufacturer Rocky Mountain Bicycles will sponsor the inaugural Snow Epic.

The Canadian company was one of the first to recognise the Snow Epic’s potential and shipped out a prototype of its new fatbike – the Rocky Mountain Blizzard – to Engelberg, Switzerland, for the trial ride of the Snow Epic in April this year. Now it will sponsor the Rocky Dual, a floodlit dual slalom event that promises to be the most exciting of the five separate Snow Epic races during the January 14 to 18 winter festival of biking.

Photo Credit: Wade Simmons

The spectator friendly Rocky Dual will be competitive, but also a fun event. Competitors would do well to brush up on cornering skills and powder sliding. The Rocky Dual will take place on the evening of Friday, January 16.

All Snow Epic competitors will be on fatbikes, the super-sized wheel phenomenon, and Rocky Mountain Blizzards will be available to those wishing to rent a bike. The Blizzard is one of the first fatbikes to be developed with a suspension fork, the Rock Shox Bluto RL. Are you Rocky Mountain? Passionate mountain bikers, fatbikers, or simply new fans have the opportunity to represent Rocky Mountain at Europe’s first winter festival of biking – the Snow Epic in Engelberg.

Visit Rocky Mountain Bicycles on Facebook to enquire and tell them why you should be receive a Rocky Mountain race entry into the Snow Epic. Submission deadline is 5 December 2014.

Legacy Cup

The Blue Label Telecoms Proteas and the Springboks will go head to head in the Nelson Mandela Legacy Cup T20 match that will be played at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on 5 December 2014.

“The inaugural match at Newlands last year was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who participated and I have no doubt that this year’s match will be no different, if not better,” Proteas T20 captain, Faf du Plessis said.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) will partner with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the South African Rugby Union (SARU) to bring fans another unique encounter on the first anniversary of the passing away of our beloved former President, Nelson Mandela. Various fundraising initiatives will take place on the day with proceeds going to the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Fans will also be entertained on the day by top local artists. A signing session with both teams will also take place as well as the popular Hit a Six competition.

The Proteas and Springbok Team Management have agreed to play their best available players for this match. ”The passing of Madiba affected all South Africans and left us with a duty to continue his legacy,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SARU. Madiba aptly said, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived.

It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

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