The Village NEWS 21 April - 27 April 2021 by The Village NEWS

THE VILLAGE

NEWS

21 APRIL 2021 YOUR FREE COPY #ALLOVEROVERSTRAND The next issue of The Village NEWS will be out on 28 April 2021.

THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS

Pam Bruce-Brand from Northcliff took these stunning photos of an adult (left) and a juvenile (right) Spotted Eagle Owl in her garden. There are two adults and two juveniles that frequent Pam’s backyard on a regular basis. In the main photo you will see a juvenile owl sleeping on its stomach. According to BirdNote, "juvenile owls most often sleep face-down because their heads are too heavy for their developing muscles to hold up". They use their back toe, the hallux, to hold onto the branch. The hallux will not open or let go until the bird straightens its leg. PHOTO: Pam Bruce-Brand

Management programme for Betty's Bay baboons Writer Hedda Mittner

high level meeting held on 15 April between the Executive Mayor Dudley Coetzee, Municipal Manager Dean O’Neill, officials managing the Overstrand Baboon Programme, as well as councillors from the affected wards in the Hangklip/Kleinmond area led to a final decision taken to immediately expand the implementation of the management programme for the Betty’s Bay/ Kleinmond baboon troop. Discussions focused on how to proceed with the sustainable management of the troop by using methods that will ensure a less aggressive

approach – but in keeping with the main objective of the Strategic Baboon Management Plan (SBMP): to ensure the sustainable management of baboon troops by keeping them out of the urban area.

managed by its service provider. The management programme will include the use of virtual fence technology and other approved management techniques aimed at the rewilding of the Betty’s Bay baboon troop:

Up to now, there was no official monitoring programme in operation in Betty’s Bay as part of the Overstrand Baboon Management Programme, and the municipality’s service provider was only operating in Hermanus and Pringle Bay.

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The municipality has announced that from Monday 19 April, Betty’s Bay baboons will be incorporated in the Overstrand Municipality’s baboon management programme and actively

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The management approach will take into consideration that management interventions will take time to implement, but that the overall long-term objective for this troop will be to allow it to become wild again. The long-term goal is to minimise the possibility of baboons coming into town. This will be achieved using a Virtual Fence, only at certain positions, with the main objective of keeping

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the troop north of the mountain. As the project is implemented, planned activities may change or vary as new information becomes available or troop behaviour changes. The troop will also be managed using a less aggressive approach by rangers; in other words with the use of noise aversion instead of initially using paintball markers. Should paintball markers need to be used, rangers will shoot single shots only. The use of paintball markers will be complemented with the use of non-aversive sounds to create an association between the two. The Virtual Fence will be used to the north of the Harold Porter

Botanical Garden and also below the baboon sleep site above the town, so as to encourage the troop to go back over the mountain for foraging in the mornings instead of coming straight into the town. Overstrand Municipality once again calls on residents and visitors to behave responsibly in their interactions with baboons. The dedicated 24-hour Baboon Hotline number is 072 028 0008 and will remain the same for all the areas. Residents must continue to use this number to report raiding baboons and are further encouraged to join their neighbourhood WhatsApp groups for baboon alerts.

THE VILLAGE NEWS

21 April 2021

#ALLOVEROVERSTRAND

21 April 2021

A festival for all outdoors enthusiasts

ermanus will come alive this weekend with the return of the popular Hi-Tec Walker Bay Outdoor Festival, which will combine six events for serious athletes, a plethora of options for the less avid sportsmen and women, and loads of thrilling fun for the spectators. With mountain biking, trail running, triathlons, open-water swims, cliff jumps and the exhilarating Hi-Tec Dash4Cash, there is an activity for everyone at the Hi-Tec Walker Bay Outdoor. So be sure not to miss out on the excitement, be it for a morning or all weekend, from Friday 23 to Monday 26 April. There has never been a better time to visit Hermanus! “We’d like the Hi-Tec Walker Bay Outdoor to grow into a weekend for everyone,” says Gerhardi Odendaal, group CEO of the organisers of the festival, the Old School Group. “The town of Hermanus lends itself perfectly to a range of sporting events, with its world-class mountain biking routes, hiking trails and hospitable attitude towards hosting road events like triathlons. But it is also unarguably one of the most beautiful sea-side towns in the country and it boasts an incredible wine route as well as fantastic restaurants. The Hi-Tec Walker Bay Outdoor seeks to bring all of those elements together and show off everything Hermanus has to offer.” The action gets underway on Friday evening, 23 April, with the Ledlenser Twilight Run. It is a 7.5-kilometre trot along the Cliff Path, into the setting sun, from Grotto Beach to the historic Old Harbour. While some of the 200 expected entrants will race to beat the

sun, most will take their time; showcasing the twin nature of the Hi-Tec Walker Bay Outdoor, where every event is as competitive as each individual entrant wishes to make it. Following the Ledlenser Twilight Run, the sporting events continue on Saturday 24 April and participants have the opportunity to enter one or multiple of the remaining 17 events on the Walker Bay Outdoor schedule. These include long and short route mountain bike races, with single- or two-day options, as well as a one- or two-day trail run, a triathlon, open water swims, plus the See & Sand cliff jump and swim run. Each event can be entered individually or as part of the Walker Bay Xtreme, a six-event multi-sports challenge. To earn a Big 6 Xtreme finisher’s medal competitors need to complete the Ledlenser Twilight Run, Day 1 of the MTB Adventure, the 14 km trail run, the sprint distance triathlon and the 2.5 km open-water swim. The most exhilarating and perhaps daunting challenge of the Walker Bay Xtreme is the cliff jump and swim run. It requires you to leap from the 8m high Dreunkrans into the cool waters of Walker Bay.

the Trail Adventure on Sunday morning, along with the other athletes who qualify for the Hi-Tec Dash4Cash) will be paired against each other in a unique, never been seen before event. They will be dropped off in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and will have to swim, cycle and run their way back to the race village near the Old Harbour. There, a few final mystery challenges await before the winners will be able to walk away with their share of R50 000 in cash prizes. Non-athletes will also play their part in the Hi-Tec Dash4Cash. Six lucky winners from the social media competition will partner with the athletes once the race reaches its final phases, in the race village. There they will help the athletes complete the final two challenges of the Hi-Tec Dash4Cash. Monday 26 April brings the HI-TEC Walker Bay Outdoor to its conclusion with the triathlon and open water swim events. The Sprint and Junior Distance triathlons provide options for the young and young at heart triathletes in the field, while the open water swims offer 5 and 2.5 km routes. The overall Hi-Tec Walker Bay Xtreme Champions will be crowned on Monday after the Open Water Swim.

On Sunday, 25 April, the mountain biking and trail running events conclude in the morning, before the signature event of the 2021 Hi-Tec Walker Bay Outdoor takes place. The newly-created Dash4Cash will certainly be among the most exciting races on the 2021 South African sports calendar.

Keep an eye on the HI-TEC Walker Bay Outdoor social media handles for more information on the HI-TEC Dash4Cash. Stay updated by following Walker Bay Outdoor, on Facebook, @walkerbayoutdoor on Instagram, and @WalkerBayODR on Twitter.

The top three men’s and women’s participants of the Hi-Tec Walker Bay Xtreme (who will be determined after

For more details on the events and for online entries visit www.walkerbayoutdoor.com.

2021 HI-TEC WALKER BAY OUTDOOR SCHEDULE Friday, 23 April • Ledlenser Twilight Run

Distance: 7.1km

Start Time: 17h30

Distance: 46km Distance: 46km Distance: 34km Distance: 19km Distance: 19km Distance: 4km Distance: 12.2km Distance: 5.6km

Start Time: 07h30 Start Time: 07h45 Start Time: 08h00 Start Time: 08h15 Start Time: 08h15 Start Time: 14h00 Start Time: 16h30 Start Time: 16h45

Distance: 36km Distance: 36km Distance: 14km Distance: 14km Distance: 12km

Start Time: 07h30 Start Time: 07h45 Start Time: 08h00 Start Time: 08h15 Start Time: 13h00

Sprint Distance Junior Distance Distance: 5km Distance: 2.5km

Start Time: 08h00 Start Time: 12h00 Start Time: 13h00 Start Time: 14h00

Saturday, 24 April • MTB: 2-Day Stage Race (Day 1) • MTB: 1-Day Adventure (Long) • MTB: 1-Day Adventure (Short) • Trail: 2-Day Stage Race (Day 1) • Trail: 1-Day Adventure • See & Sand Swim Run Jump • Run: Windsor Cliff Path (Long) • Run: Windsor Cliff Path (Short)

Sunday, 25 April • MTB: 2-Day Stage Race (Day 2) • MTB: 1-Day Adventure • Trail: 2-Day Stage Race (Day 2) • Trail: 1-Day Adventure • HI-TEC Dash4Cash (Participation by qualification only)

Monday, 26 April • Triathlon: Open • Triathlon: Junior • Open Water Swim • Open Water Swim

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21 April 2021

FynArts will be back this winter F

ynArts gets international colours this year from 10 – 20 June when Russia, Japan, India and South Africa will feature in a stimulating 10-day programme. Mary Faure, festival director, says the arts and culture of these countries will be portrayed through music, the Strauss & Co Series of Talks and Presentations as well as through workshops, tutored tastings, demonstrations and film. A wide range of galleries in the town will present special exhibitions during the festival and a number of restaurants will prepare a typical dish or meal to represent one – or more – of this year’s countries. “The 2021 programme will be more

intimate and will strictly adhere to the Covid-19 regulations applicable at the time. We will therefore have waiting lists for all events that are sold out in case we can be allowed to increase audience sizes at the last minute or insert a repeat of the relevant event,” Mary says. The new-look programme is due for release during the first half of May. However, as individual events are confirmed FynArts will release the relevant information via its newsletter, the media and social media, and on the website hermanusfynarts. co.za. Tickets will at the same time be available on the website, at Webtickets, as well as in person at the FynArts Gallery and Hermanus Tourism Bureau, or telephonically

on 060 957 5371. “We are enormously grateful to our Patrons and Lifetime Friends for supporting FynArts in the last few months following last year’s lockdown and subsequent forced cancellation of the festival. Their support has made it possible for us to, once again, plan for a winter festival for Hermanus,” Mary says. If you would like to support FynArts by becoming a Patron, Lifetime or annual Friend, or sponsor a workshop, small concert or even someone to attend an event, please pop in to the FynArts Gallery or contact: Mary Faure at fynarts@hermanus. co.za or 084 600 7058, or Chantel Louskitt at admin@hermanusfynarts.co.za or 060 957 5371.

The Art Shop held a competition last month that entailed customers spending R500 or more in order to stand a chance of winning R5 000’s worth of art materials of their own choice. The lucky draw was done by The Village NEWS’ marketing manager, Charé van der Walt and the lucky winner was none other than Hermanus artist and owner of Art Thirst Gallery, Leon Müller. He was handed his prize by Jolene Erasmus, who manages this iconic shop alongside Isabel Greyvenstein.

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#ALLOVEROVERSTRAND

21 April 2021

LOVE A LITTLE LOCAL

Hermanus Varsity – keeping the dream alive Writer Elaine Davie

t seems difficult to believe that it was only two years ago that Hermanus Varsity was launched, based on nothing more than a dream shared by three men, Theo Krynauw, William Ntebe and Professor John de Gruchy. Their vision was to create an educational institution that would enable young people, especially those from the disadvantaged communities of this region, to obtain a post-matric qualification and the opportunity to find employment without having to leave their home-town. In anybody’s terms, it was an ambitious (some said impossible) dream. Fortunately, one of the first actions the founders took was to appoint a CEO with the skills and personality traits they felt would help turn their vision into reality. Delana Finlayson was a professional quantity surveyor with strong business skills and most importantly, the energy, creativity and enthusiasm to lay the foundations for the successful centre of learning they had in mind.

Towards the end of 2020, reviewing the previous two years, Theo Krynauw commented on this decision: “From the word go, Delana turbo boosted this whole thing forward. She gathered a small, dynamic team of people around her that achieved the near impossible. Wonderful courses and amazing lecturers and tutors who all have one thing in common – they do it from the heart!” Within this period, well over 100 students benefited from a wide range of courses presented at HV and in Delana’s own words during the review process, “We are providing hope and opportunities to many: by delivering relevant academic programmes with more efficiency, and with more focus on employability and entrepreneurial success." Unfortunately, establishing a complex institution like this without a blueprint does not come

without cost. Involving the creation of systems and structures, as well as forging relationships with other tertiary partners, recruiting and co-ordinating volunteers, balancing opposing interests, meeting the needs of students, and most stressful of all perhaps, finding the necessary funding to support the enterprise, unsurprisingly, Delana ended up carrying a huge amount of stress. Nevertheless, it came as a shock to everyone when she resigned at the end of March. “The Trustees deeply regret this decision on her part,” says Mike Olivier, Deputy Chair of the Board. “Hers will be incredibly difficult shoes to fill. Delana’s energy, inventiveness and pro-active approach created a situation where she found herself taking on more and more responsibilities, with perhaps too little support. Although this was not strictly part of her job description, for example, she found herself getting heavily involved in fundraising, which in itself, put a huge amount of pressure on her. And then, of course, there was the additional strain of adapting to Covid restrictions in 2020. “So we want to pay tribute to the huge contribution she has made to the development of Hermanus Varsity over the past two years and we will certainly not walk away from her reimagined vision for the future.” Following Delana’s resignation, Mike was asked to take on the role of caretaker manager until a new appointment could be made. A former strategic consultant for the corporate sector, his aim is to consolidate the work already done and to plot a way forward. “Of course, whatever we do has to take into account the landscape within which we work – one of sometimes dire poverty, where our students often lack resources like access to the internet, where the education system has failed to prepare them for the contemporary world of work, and thanks to Covid, much donor funding has been re-directed towards health care and food sustain-

ability,” Mike points out. With this in mind, he underscores the importance of continuing to implement the support systems provided to the students by HV in providing coaching in study- and life-skills, facilitating financial subsidisation and access to the internet, as well as psychological counselling, where necessary. The volunteer tutors who form the bedrock of HV’s services to students and the key to their academic success will continue to provide their exceptional support. “Two of our immediate priorities,” says Mike, “will be the registration of a Non-Profit Company under the umbrella of the Trust, with its own Board of Directors who, in addition to providing fiduciary oversight will be directly involved in guiding and supporting management; and further negotiations with the Department of Higher Education, which has raised certain concerns with the Varsity, including its name. We will also want to review our partnerships with several of the tertiary institutions whose accredited courses we have been implementing, to ensure that mutual benefits accrue more favourably to HV and its students than they presently do. “As it is, we have a particularly good relationship with Stadio (the tertiary branch of the Curro Group) and are happy to say that we have just launched their accredited B Ed degree course and ECD higher diploma, with an expected final enrolment of 25 students. We will, of course, also honour our commitment to our LED students who still have a number of modules to complete. But most of our other courses have been put on hold for the time being until we have obtained sufficient funding.” As Mike emphasises, funding is the greatest imperative for HV at the moment. Although the staff complement remains small and nimble and, thanks to a miraculous donation from overseas, the Hub now belongs to HVT, given the level of financial and

ABOVE: The historic old synagogue building, now known as the Hub, was bought by an anonymous overseas donor and presented to Hermanus Varsity in early 2020. BELOW: Student, Selma Ncube receives a letter of congratulation from Delana Finlayson in December 2020. Delana recently resigned as CEO of the HVT and Mike Olivier, Deputy Chair of the Board, has taken on the role of caretaker manager until a new appointment can be made. PHOTOS: Johann Kruger

other support required by its students, it needs a powerful injection of additional funding to continue implementing the courses it envisages. While the organisation’s anchor funder, Johann Visser, continues his generous support, Mike would like to appeal to other members of the Overstrand community, especially its business sector, the ultimate beneficiaries of a well-trained pool of potential employees, to step up to the mark and help this inspired initiative to remain an asset of which the town can be proud.

He believes that the long-term sustainability of HV will be a fitting tribute to the groundwork laid by Delana, as well as to Administration Manager, Beverley Moller, the mainstay of the organisation, who has also resigned after devoting herself body, soul and mind, from the beginning, to getting it on its feet and running on oiled wheels. For further information, visit HV’s website, www.hermanusvarsity.co.za or contact Mike Olivier on 082 881 3282.

Oral Cancer- Danger signs to look for Oral Cancer is treated surgically. This invariably means mutilating surgery to remove the cancer. Although throat cancer can sometimes be treated with radiation and chemotherapy alone, the same does not apply to the majority of oral cancers. This has important implications for the patient, as earlier diagnosis leads to more successful removal of the cancer and less mutilating surgery. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the survival rate, with even the possibility of 100% survival after 5 years. Your medical doctor, dentist or oral hygienist is trained to diagnose abnormalities occurring in the oral cavity. Although the use/

abuse of alcohol and tobacco are the two major causes of oral cancer, young people who have never smoked or abused alcohol may also develop OC. This is due to Human Papilloma Viruses that spread through oral sex and may play a role in OC at the back of the oral cavity/throat. Smoking and alcohol, especially if used in combination remains the biggest danger. If you are over 40, drink alcohol and smoke, you are in the highest risk group and should be screened at least yearly. If over 50 it would be in your interest to be seen more than once a year. More than two-thirds of oral cancer cases will occur in the over 50’s group. Any lesion in the mouth that does not heal

within 2 weeks is a danger sign and should be examined. The biggest cause of death in oral cancer is late diagnosis, so do not delay seeking help if you detect an abnormal lesion in the mouth. Rather be safe than sorry is the best approach. The following are danger signs: • Oral sores that do not heal within 2 weeks • Lesions that appears red or white A sore that becomes painful and limits movement of tongue or interferes with swallowing may be a late sign. The most important tip? Make a note on the calendar when a sore is noticed. If it has not healed by 2 weeks it should be examined.

THE VILLAGE NEWS

FROM THE EDITOR

21 April 2021

Let’s share our resources

While human beings are social animals, living in close proximity to one another is not always a piece of cake. Let us not forget that we are earth’s super-predators. There is no one higher up the food chain to keep our numbers in check, so we turn on one another instead, or even worse, we take out our frustrations on defenceless animals. Or both… The level of violence in this country, and indeed the world, is frightening. We are killing each other for greater control over the resources. Indeed, we are rapidly destroying the very earth itself through our uncontrollable greed. Looking back on this pandemic year which

came at us from the left field, a lesson that many of us thought we’d learnt during the first weeks of lockdown, just a year ago, was that we could live quite comfortably without all the ‘stuff’ with which we surround our lives and homes. Yet, as lockdown lifted, it took many of us no time at all to revert to our old habits of mass consumerism, while poverty continued to escalate across the country.

Take the matter of baboons, for example. Is it because their habits are so similar to our own, that we can’t find a way to live with them? If food is easily available, they will take it, just like us. The only difference is that they share it amongst themselves and don’t waste it; neither do they decide to chase us over the mountains or even euthanise us, so that they can have more for themselves.

And instead of nurturing the spirit of human kindness that characterised our response to the crisis, to a large extent we have given up loving our neighbour and resorted to squabbling amongst ourselves at best, or murdering one another at worst.

Many of us have decided to live in this beautiful part of the country because we love being close to nature, but when nature strolls through the open door, we scream and run for our shotguns. And then, on top of it, we fight with one another about how to deal with the problem.

NEWS PUBLISHING EDITOR

Hedda Mittner

CONTENT EDITOR T: 083 645 3928

E: hedda@thevillagenews.co.za Taylum Meyer PRODUCTION MANAGER, PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN T: 084 564 0779

E: taylum@thevillagenews.co.za

Charé van der Walt MARKETING & SALES MANAGER T: 082 430 1974

E: chare@thevillagenews.co.za

Elaine Davie

JOURNALIST T: 084 343 7500

E: elaine@thevillagenews.co.za

ADMINISTRATION & SOCIAL MEDIA

Similarly, when the economy starts to pick and ‘we’re all right, Jack,’ why do we so quickly forget about the inequality on our doorstep? One thing Covid should have hammered home to us is the fact that we are one community and what affects the most vulnerable of us, affects us all. If for no other reason than our own survival, it is absolutely imperative that we find a way to share our resources with the less fortunate. And with our big brains, we can. This is the good NEWS – Ed.

Writer’s cramp vs writer’s block

THE VILLAGE

De Waal Steyn

With our huge brains, surely we can find a less confrontational means of finding a win-win solution.

By Murray Stewart murray.stewart49@gmail.com

studied nor had any interest in at all. Who would, really?

tualism, she was persuaded to take part in a séance. “It’s all codswallop anyway,” she scoffed.

he For Fact’s Sake columns are – according to Google research and the Duck ’n Fiddle’s archives – based in truth.

Phantom of the Author Hélène Truter, who shares this space with me, recently started her Sugar & Spice column with: I’m staring at a blank screen. I have to find a topic for my column… Well, Hélène, you’re not alone. Even internationally acclaimed columnists will sometimes encounter that vacuum. They/we first need to find an interesting topic, then hopefully write about it in a way that prevents readers from dozing off in the third paragraph. Well, we’re about to launch into paragraph three, so seatbelts please – things are about to get a bit weird. One lady, who inexplicably didn’t have this ‘blank screen’ vacuum, was a certain Mrs Pearl Curran from St Louis, Missouri. She was a regular housewife and mom – not a scholarly type at all. She had no interest in history, seldom read a book, and knew nothing about the subtleties or nuances of writing anything longer than a grocery list. Why would she? But with no literary aspirations at all, and a family/pets/household to run, all that changed dramatically one July evening in 1913. Despite her disdain for mediums and spooky spiri-

The intelligence and wit of the elusive Patience Worth continued to baffle psychologists for years, but to Pearl she was just a spiritual soulmate who pitched up regularly to recount fascinating tales of days gone by in far-off lands.

Then, with her hand on the Ouija board, she spelled out the name ‘Patience Worth’– someone she’d never heard of. But from that moment on, Pearl and the phantom Patience – whoever or whatever she was – became close friends.

Anyway, either Shakespeare or Zappa wrote, You gotta get out of it before you get into it, and I’m sure different wordsmiths have their own dubious methods of seeking inspiration from the Muse, some of which – I’ve been told – actually work. But artificially stimulated creativity aside, wouldn’t it be wonderful if Patience would just pop in now and again for coffee and an afternoon of dictation?

Through her writings – dictated telepathically to her by Patience – she penned a set of historical novels over the next few years in a variety of period styles. They ranged from The Sorry Tale, set in the time of Christ, to Hope Trueblood, a romantic novel from the 19th century which received wide acclaim.

She would no doubt come up with an interesting topic for our next column – instead of being the topic of interest in this one. So, if anyone is having a séance soon, please let our editor know. We writers need to find out more about Patience. Does she dictate in Afrikaans as well? Can we maybe Skype her? Is there an Ouija board app?

One critic wrote: “Definite and clear-cut characterisation, good dialogue and arresting runs of subtle expression.” I’m sure we’re all delighted that she can arrest her runs. Expressively. Anyway, she was so prolific, she’d often flipflop seamlessly between two or more books – one chapter at a time – depending on what Patience dictated to her. She not only wrote novels and poems, but would reply in period prose to a range of subjects put to her by historians, scientists, the clergy and a pole-dancer (the latter unverified).

Now, for our younger readers, the term ‘writer’s cramp’ in the headline (Lat: scribulatis agonium) refers to the hand-pains experienced from scribbling frantically for extended periods while clutching a pen or pencil. Remember them? They’re those long, thin things with a point at one end where the words come out.

However, her remarkable knowledge of language and style led to her most highly acclaimed work, Telka, a novel set in medieval England. It was written flawlessly in ‘ye olde English’ of the time, which Pearl had never

Oops, gotta go! Screen’s full, and my laptop needs sharpening.

E: barbara@thevillagenews.co.za

QUERIES & FINANCE

E: admin@thevillagenews.co.za

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FORECASTS: HERMANUS, OVERBERG

5 Proudly sponsored by Talisman Tool Hire Hermanus

LEGEND / KEY

Wed | 21 Apr

Thu | 22 Apr

Fri | 23 Apr

Sat | 24 Apr

Sun | 25 Apr

Mon | 26 Apr

Tue | 27 Apr

Wind

15°/23° Clear

18/24° Partly Cloudy

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14°/18° Partly Cloudy

15°/18° Some Rain

14°/18° Partly Cloudy

14°/16° Rain

18km/h

14km/h

22km/h

11km/h

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18km/h

07:10/18:12

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Sunrise/set Tides

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The next editon of The Village NEWS will be out on 28 April 2021.

De Bos Dam 83.64% Last week N/A Weekly Rainfall 5mm Last week N/A

LOW HIGH LOW HIGH

04:25 10:35 17:00 23:31

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05:49 11:54 18:05

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LOCKDOWN LEVEL:

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COVID-19 DASHBOARD OVERSTRAND

#ALLOVEROVERSTRAND

21 April 2021

TOTAL CASES AS OF 21 APRIL 2021:

OVERSTRAND TOTAL CASES: TOTAL (ACTIVE)

WORLD: 142 329 570 SOUTH AFRICA: 1 566 769 WESTERN CAPE: 282 529 (18.13% of cases in SA) OVERBERG: 13 456

• FISHERHAVEN: 45 (0) • GANSBAAI: 186 (1) • HAWSTON: 467 (0) • HERMANUS: 730 (1) • KLEINMOND: 683 (5)

• MT PLEASANT: 362 (0) • ONRUS: 206 (0) • SANDBAAI: 229 (1) • STANFORD: 380 (0) • VERMONT: 97 (1) • ZWELIHLE: 1 103 (0) TOTAL: 5 093 (11)

LAST WEEK'S TOTAL CASES: WORLD: 136 673 028 SOUTH AFRICA: 1 558 458 (20th in the world) WESTERN CAPE: 281 231 OVERBERG: 13 402 OVERSTRAND: 5 087

(11 APR)

LET'S TALK The Village NEWS firmly believes in freedom of the press as well as the right of individuals to freely express themselves, as long as they don’t infringe upon the rights of others. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors therefore do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Village NEWS. Letters may be shortened and/or edited for clarity and style. Send your letters to hedda@thevillagenews.co.za.

Albie’s spirit will live on There would be reason enough to say thank you to all of our people, each one of them, after we could successfully finish the 2021 Springfontein harvest at the end of last week. Today there would have been a tremendous reason to say thank you in particular to one Springfonteiner – Albie du Toit, who joined us more than 20 years ago. Albie planted nearly all of our high-quality, but by far not easy-going, vineyards. When Albie came back three years ago, after travelling the world for nearly 15 years, he still knew each single plant by heart, if not by name. Albie was always a shining example of and for every Springfonteiner. Not one of us could represent Springfontein’s virtues and values in a better way. Albie was always humble about

himself and always proud of the team. He was always most diligent and loyal. He always showed such honesty and had an exceptionally warm heart. He was a most supportive colleague, employee, supervisor and teacher. And for me, a soulmate nearly as much as Tariro Masayiti is a soulmate for me. Albie is gone as a physical being from our mother Earth. His body was killed in a car accident on Saturday 17 April, early afternoon. Let his spirit always stay with Springfontein. Let us take not just one leaf out of his book. Let us Springfonteiners greet him every day as he will always live on in our vines, in our wines. CEO, Springfontein Wine Estate

Gansbaai‌ ‌clinic‌ ‌services‌ ‌resume‌ ‌in‌ ‌new‌ ‌building‌ Construction of Phase 1 of the Gansbaai Clinic expansion and general upgrade has been completed. According to the Western Cape Government Health Department in the Overberg District, Phase 1 of this project included a new clinic extension wing with a link to the existing Gansbaai Clinic facility and the addition of an emergency treatment unit (EC), ambulance bay, infectious diseases unit, and medical waste and refuse facilities.

Burst water pipes a Traffic office recurring problem open hours Burst water mains in the Voëlklip area are a long-standing problem. Recently the problem has escalated and has become a frequent occurrence. We have recently had three in quick succession. The latest incident happened at night when one erupted in front of our house. It took a long time for a reaction to turn off the water, by which time our garden was flooded. The strong flowing stream narrowly avoided the house. Expensive paving was torn up, leaving a

ploughed area. Quite apart from the ongoing inconvenience, expensive water filters are damaged when the muddy water is restored. This sometimes requires a plumber to clear the system. The pipe system in our area is quite obviously way beyond its use by date. My question is: when will the pipes be replaced or are we expected to go on living like this? Patrick Tyson Voëlklip

The traffic offices in KLEINMOND and GANSBAAI are open from: Monday to Friday 08:00 – 15:30 with a lunch break between 13:00 – 13:45. The traffic offices in HERMANUS are open from: Monday to Friday from 08:00 – 15:15 and alternative Saturday mornings. On these Saturdays, motorists will be allowed to renew motor vehicle licences, vehicle registration, learners’ and drivers’ license bookings, obtain roadworthy certificates, public driving permits and pay traffic fines. The Hermanus Traffic offices will be open on Saturday 24 April 2021 from 08:30 until 12:00.

The clinic decanted to the new extension last week in order for Phase 2 of the project, the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing clinic facility, to commence. All primary health care services have now resumed in the new extension of the clinic. The clinic can then be entered at the Corner of Main and Kapokblom Street and can be contacted at 028 384 1917 to make an appointment.

Many people took advantage of the lovely weather on Sunday to spend a relaxing, windless day at Onrus Beach. The water was mostly flat which allowed for safe swimming conditons, but not much surfing. PHOTO: Anette Leuvennink

WHAT’S ON

OVERBERG 22

THURSDAY

Food & Wine Pairing Dinner Join La Pentola and Ataraxia for a four-course meal expertly prepared by Chef Shane and paired with Ataraxia wines. R450 pp. To book, call 028 313 1685. La Pentola, Marine Dr, Hermanus Waterfront | 18:30

FRIDAY

Friday Morning Market Hosted by Gansbaai Tourism, this fun-filled market offers lovely, fresh, home-baked goodies, from jams to cookies and much more, every Friday morning. Pretorius Hall, Gansbaai Main Road | 09:00 – 11:30 Wine Down Friday Celebrate that TGIF feeling at The Wine Glass at the end of a busy week! Enjoy the vibe and get two for the price of one on selected wines, beers and nibbles. Book via www.thewineglass.guru or call 082 082 0007. The Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Rd, Hermanus | 16:00 – 18:00 Bottomless Bubbles Fridays Start the weekend in style at the iconic Marine Hotel with bottomless bubbles from L’Ormarins and chef’s welcome canapés at R200 pp. Get 10% discount off your dinner that same evening. Booking essential on 028 313 1000/bookings@themarine.co.za. The Marine | 17:00 – 19:00 Hi-Tec Walker Bay Outdoor This four-day adventure sports festival situated in the heart of Hermanus features multiple sporting events and kicks off with the Ledlenser Twilight Run along the Cliff Path from Grotto Beach to the Old Harbour. Find all of the details on the weekend’s various events, including the popular Big 6 Xtreme on P 3 or visit www.walkerbayoutdoor.com. Grotto Beach | 17:30

SATURDAY

WINE & DINE

L2L Official Practice Walk A family-friendly walk along the Walker Bay coastline in aid of Overstrand Hospice, hosted by the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse ladies in collaboration with Whale Coast Tourism and Walkerbay Outdoor. Starting at Grotto Beach, you can choose between a 6 km, 12 km or 18 km route. Bring your own water (there is no fresh water along the route), sunscreen, snacks and lunch. Wear comfortable hiking shoes and gaiters are recommended (protects against sand in shoes). Tickets from R50 pp available online at quicket.co.za (children U12 walk free). Grotto Beach parking area | 06:30 (registration)

Whalers Longrun Join the Whalers Athletics Club for an exhilirating 20 km run. Starting from Grotto Beach, the route will take you along Die Plaat and then onto gravel roads and jeep tracks towards Wortelgat and onwards to Stanford. The run will finish at Ou Meul in Stanford, where participants can enjoy something to eat and drink. There is no cost and non-members are also welcome. Let Carina know on 072 347 1142 or carina@cegela. co.za by not later than Thursday 22 April in order for the club to organise a support vehicle and transport back from Stanford. Grotto Beach parking area | 06:30 Race2Stanford Triathlon A breathtaking half iron distance triathlon with a route that begins in beautiful Hermanus and winds through the scenic Hemel-en-Aarde wine valley before culminating in the stunning town of Stanford, where the finish line will feature a farm-style market with local foods, wine and beer. There will also be a 5km Fun Run along the Stanford Wandelpad at 09:00 for friends and families who don’t want to miss out on all the fun before welcoming participants back off their bikes (R90 pp – snapscan or cash on the day). Enter online at electricink.co.za/race-2-stanford/ Hermanus New Harbour | 07:00

delights on display, from homemade sheep and goats’ cheeses to wood-fired ciabattas, pastries and pies, charcuterie, farm-fresh vegetables, free-range eggs, flowers, preserves and deli delights (including gluten-free, wheat-free and vegan goodies) to tantalise your taste buds! #Nomasksnoservice. Stanford Hotel Stoep | 09:00 – 12:00 Junktique Market One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Pop in and give new life to a previously loved item. Treats and nibbles also available. R50 per stall. To book contact 028 341 0340 or book@ stanfordinfo.co.za. Stanford Tourism Office Courtyard | 09:00 – 12:00 Craft Beer & Bratwurst Celebration Enjoy an afternoon of good vibes in The Courtyard with local craft beers, delicious bratwurst, live music, wine and cocktails. The Wine Glass’s full menu will also be available. Call 082 082 0007 to book. The Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Rd, Hermanus | 13:00 – 18:00 (Sat & Sun)

Gansbaai Farmers’ Market Specialising in fresh produce, home-baked foods, and crafts. Come and enjoy entertainment and refreshments at this popular kuierplek. For enquiries, contact 028 384 1439 or doulene@gansbaaitourism.co.za Kapokblom Street, opposite Gansbaai Tourism | 09:00 – 13:00 Stanford Saturday Morning Market Come and sample the artisanal

Send your events to hedda@thevillagenews.co.za

at 18:00 and the movie will begin shortly after sunset. No alcohol of any kind is permitted onto the wine estate. A bar with non-alcoholic and alcoholic refreshments, as well as various food items will be available for purchase. R95 per adult and R75 per child U12. Book at nomadgigs. co.za/notting-hill/ and check out the combo deals that include your movie ticket and a bite to eat. Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate | 18:00

Twilight Street Market You’ll find all your favourite hand-crafted things, including wine, craft beer, chocolate, leather goods, clothing, home décor, arts and crafts, chillis, pickles, cheese, dried fruit and nuts at this family fun market. Live music and free entry. Book a stand at R100 by contacting Jaci Less on 082 611 0354. Creative Emporium, Hemel-enAarde Village | 16:00 – late

SUNDAY

Outdoor Cinema Located on the edge of the Bot River lagoon, Benguela Cove is the perfect place for a date night or a night out with friends while enjoying an outdoor screening of the romantic classic, Notting Hill. Doors open

MONDAY

Die Heuwels Fantasties Live! Music & Wine next to the dam on Lomond Wine Estate – what more could one ask for? Drinks and food will be served while you enjoy the amazing Heuwels Fantasties. Seating will be available, but it’s advisable to bring picnic blankets and camping chairs. Tickets at R250 per adult (incl. stemless wine glass), R200 per child U18 and R100 per child U12 (kids U5 free) are limited to ensure social distancing. Book online at quicket.co.za. No tables or seats will be reserved, so be sure to come early to reserve your spot. For enquiries contact info@ lomond.co.za or WhatsApp 082 908 0099. Lomond Wine Estate |Gates open from 09:30, performance starts at 12:00

Hermanus Country Market A favourite among the locals. Young, old, two-legged and four-legged family members are all welcome. You’ll find wholesome goodies, home-made crafts, local produce, beers and wine, speciality foods, coffee and live music. Next to Hermanus Cricket Field | 09:00 – 13:00 Die Markie It’s Saturday. Time to recharge the batteries... Where better to kick off your shoes and put your feet up than Die Markie, where you can meet up with family and friends and take it easy in a safe, open-air environment? Share a platter, a pizza or a bottle, or grab an empty plate and glass to pick and choose a brekkie, brunch or lunch and sip of your choosing. Wear your mask, sanitise, energise and enjoy a Slice of Life... Hermanuspietersfontein Wynkelder | 09:00 – 13:00

22 APRIL – 1 MAY 2021

TUESDAY

WCC Spider Hunt Join Whale Coast Conservation and Dr Vic Hamilton-Attwell with finding and identifying spiders in Fernkloof Nature Reserve. You might even help them find the very precious and endangered baboon spiders. (No spiders or humans will be harmed!) R120 for adults and R60 for children (towards environmental education). To book, contact anina.wcc@gmail. com or WhatsApp 083 242 3295. Fernkloof Nature Reserve | 14:30 – 16:00

FRIDAY

Stanford Sunset Market Stanford's favourite, family-friendly, dog-friendly market brings local food, coffee, deli products, gifts, plants, fresh produce and live tunes to the heritage market square on the last Friday of the month. Pop in, meet new people, hook up with old friends, support local vendors, and take delicious food home for the whole weekend. Free entrance and plenty of free parking. Please wear a mask and follow Covid protocols of social distancing. Stanford Market Square | 18:00 – 20:00 (in the event of rain, the venue will be at Birkenhead Brewery)

Outdoor Movie Night Enjoy a screening of Pitch Perfect under the stars at the picturesque Wildekrans Wine Estate. A yummy selection of food, popcorn and a cash bar will be available on the night, so arrive with an appetite. Dress snuggly, bring your own camping chair/blanket and come with your best singing voice to join the Barden Bellas in this hilarious comedy. Tickets at R100 for adults and R75 for pensioners and children 13 years and younger are available at milkywayproductions.co.za/events/pitch-perfect. Own food and drinks will not be permitted but the restaurant will be fully operational. Wildekrans Wine Estate, Bot River | 18:00 (gates open & movie starts at 19:30) Nature Reserve Camp Whale Coast Conservation invites you to join them for an overnight camp under the milkwoods in the beautiful Whale Coast Nature Reserve. Arriving at the Reserve gate at 17:00, you’ll settle in and enjoy a braai before going on a chameleon hunt, followed by a beach exploration the next morning, both under the expert guidance of WCC’s Sheraine van Wyk. Then you can help to plant a forest – see details below. You will need to bring your own camping gear, food, beverages, etc. Braai wood will be supplied. The cost for the overnight experience in this very special private reserve is R200 per adult and R100 for children U12. Book your place soon as a maximum of 30 people will be allowed. Contact shirleym.wcc@gmail.com. Detailed directions will be provided when you book. Whale Coast Nature Reserve | 17:00

SATURDAY

Plant a forest Celebrate Worker’s Day by making a difference for the environment and getting to work on planting ‘Frank’s Forest’. Whale Coast Conservation is planting 400 trees to celebrate late Frank Woodvine's extraordinary life in conservation and they need an army of volunteers to help. Simply park your car about 200m on the Hawston side of the Green House next to the R43 (look out for the Whale Coast Conservation banner). The nearby gate to the Whale Coast Nature Reserve will be opened for volunteers from 09:30 (no dogs allowed). Bring a shovel, watering can and refreshments, and walk just under 1 km to the forest planting site, where the holes will be ready for you to plant the trees. For more information and directions, email Shirley on shirleym.wcc@gmail.com. Whale Coast Nature Reserve | 10:00

#ALLOVEROVERSTRAND

21 April 2021

LOVE A LITTLE LOCAL

11 PHOTO: Old Tin Hat

Old Tin Hat brings war heroes back to life A

t the recent launch of Old Tin Hat, The Spirit of Hermanus’ new range of fine craft beers at The Wine Glass, it came as no surprise to learn that co-owner Peter Dickens is also an amateur historian. The Spirit of Hermanus, a local microbrewery and distillery (with a secondary brewery at Black Oystercatcher Wine Farm near Elim) already produces an extensive range of beers under the Folk & Goode brand, from American IPA to English Pale Ale, Irish Stout, Belgian Witbier, Pilsner and Lager, along with the Fiddler’s Premium Botanical Gin and a range of pre-mixed, readyto-drink spirits such as Moscow Mule, Rum & Raspberry, G&T and Pink G&T. Their latest range, named after the steel combat helmet worn by the Allied forces in both World Wars, comprises four beers – a Lager, Pilsner, Blonde Ale and India Pale Ale – with each dedicated to the memory of an unsung South African WWII hero. ‘Sheer Courage’ (the IPA) celebrates Lance Corporal Lucas Majozi, the volunteer WWII stretcher-bearer who, unarmed, entered into a hail of enemy machine gun fire to rescue injured South African soldiers caught in the

crossfire during the second battle of El Alamein. ‘Freedom Fighter’ (the Lager) honours Group Captain Adolph ‘Sailor’ Malan, the South African fighter pilot and flying ace who led No. 74 Squadron RAF during the Battle of Britain. The Pilsner, ‘Cauldron of Valour’ recognises the SA WWII Victoria Cross hero, Sergeant Quentin Smythe, who was the first South African to be awarded this highest of all British military decorations after leading an attack on an anti-tank gun position of Rommel’s Afrika Korps in the Western Dessert despite being heavily wounded. The fourth hero in this range is ‘The Great Escaper’ (the Blonde Ale), named after none other than Squadron Leader Roger Bushell who led the famous escape from a German POW camp, Stalag Luft III before being caught and executed by the Gestapo. Bushell’s parents were living in Hermanus at the time and he is commemorated by the War Memorial above the Old Harbour. “Marketing is all about telling stories,

but most stories are fables and the fabulous thing is that these are all factual,” said Peter, who started a popular South African History blog, The Observation Post, after the death of his father, the well-known local artist Derrick Dickens, who specialised in aviation and marine art. Father and son shared a passion for history, a subject they often debated and discussed, surrounded by Derrick’s library of military history books and his many aviation and maritime artworks. Peter was full of praise for the artwork of Old Tin Hat’s labels by Rial de Wet, done in the style of war comics illustrations. During April’s First Fridays Artwalk, Rial’s original illustrations were exhibited at The Wine Glass, along with some paintings and illustrations by Peter’s late father, drawing considerable interest from artwalkers who were keen to hear more about these legendary stories – and, of course, to taste the beer! – Hedda Mittner

SEE MORE ONLINE www.issuu.com/dwaal @thevillagenews

ABOVE: The four Old Tin Hat beers: The Great Escaper (Blonde Ale), Freedom Fighter (Lager), Sheer Courage (IPA) and Cauldron of Valour (Pilsner). BELOW: Artist Rial de Wet with one of his illustrations that were used for the labels of the Old Tin Hat range of craft beers. In the background is Peter Dickens, master brewer, amateur historian and co-owner of The Spirit of Hermanus. PHOTO: Hedda Mittner

THE VILLAGE NEWS

21 April 2021

MY HOME

Strategies for a more positive South Africa By Stephen de Stadler Managing Director Fine & Country Hermanus and Arabella

recently had the distinct pleasure of attending a presentation by Chantell Ilbury, the renowned scenario strategist and co-author of a series of books, including The Mind of a Fox, which seek to enlighten us as to the way in which to understand scenario planning and use it for the benefit of future planning. Within the working environment, scenario planning is used to provide flexible long-term planning solutions for businesses. It is a level of “what if” analysis, but the scenarios are real, albeit that they have different probabilities of outcome. When planning a day of relaxation, we all subconsciously use scenario planning in order to decide what we might do on any particular day.

Dad says, “Who wants to go to the beach on our day off tomorrow?” to which Mom might say, “But what if it rains?” and the daughter might say, “Well, then we can go to the movies.” If you live in the Western Cape and it is summer, the chances of rain are relatively small, therefore the strong likelihood is that the family will be going to the beach tomorrow, but if it rains, they will be going to the movies. True flexible short-term planning has resulted in two definitive outcomes, both achievable, but with varying probabilities.

strong or weak. The economic climate can be either positive or negative, or a range in between. A disclaimer needs insertion here, as what follows is purely my interpretation.

Chantell Ilbury presented her strategic scenarios for South Africa based on a range of outcomes relating to social cohesion and the economic climate.

Few will argue that our government is showing high levels of social cohesion at the current time, but the indicators that this will improve over the medium to longer term are starting to show. The government does seem to be taking a stronger line against corruption, but our problem still remains that the culture of entitlement which leads to corruption is far too high. We are also entering a municipal election year, where in the past political posturing has led to slow-downs in positive actions by the government of the day.

In its simplest form social cohesion refers to the way in which government interacts within the government structures, the interaction between political parties, and the interaction with business. This cohesion can be either

The one positive effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, however, has been to bring us together as a nation in a fight against a common cause, and government has shown relatively strong and decisive leadership in this time. Against

that background, in my opinion, social cohesion will improve over the medium to longer term.

lifestyle destination. The “swallows” will return, bringing with them the much-needed foreign investment.

On the economic front, it cannot be disputed that the economy is struggling. What is interesting is that we are seeing a high level of emerging entrepreneurship, and although a small part of the economy, any activity which places less reliance on government and the formal economy has to be positive. In addition, while business confidence is extremely low, there are signs of improvement. South Africans are extremely resilient, and this will drive the economy to growth in the medium to longer term.

But even if the economy grows at a slower rate, there will be more incentive to move to well-run municipalities, many of which exist in this region. There will always be an emphasis on security in South Africa, which will also bode well for the various security estates that have become more noticeable in the Western Cape over the last 10 to 15 years.

So, what effect does this have on the property market in the Overberg region? In an environment of improved economic activity together with stronger social cohesion, and assuming we can ensure the steady and uninterrupted supply of water and electricity, South Africa may again become a

In closing, for me the most positive aspect of scenario planning is that it always gives you options and shows you that with a small change in only a few parameters, a totally different (and positive) future can be assured. The views expressed above are those of the writer in his personal capacity and may not necessarily reflect the views of Fine & Country as a national and international brand.

#ALLOVEROVERSTRAND

21 April 2021

LOVE A LITTLE LOCAL

Music: the universal language K

leinmond welcomed a new business in Harbour Road this month when Dirk Uys, who has been in the South African music industry for 30 years, opened his funky new shop, Dirk Ace Records which sells vintage clothing, books, movies, CDs and vinyl records in excellent condition. Dirk grew up in Carolina, Mpumalanga and developed his passion for music at a young age. His taste in music was heavily influenced between the ages of 11 and 13 years when he fell in love with Neil Diamond in 1973, and when he started listening to The Beatles in 1975. The Beatles' music was revolutionary for its time and it left a big impression on young Dirk, who decided around that time that he would like to work in the music industry. He slowly grew his music collection and knowledge throughout his high school years, and when he reached university (where he studied for a BA degree in Business Communication) he became a DJ and Public Relations Director for the university’s radio station, Radio Shimla. At the end of his final year at university he turned professional and became the band manager and agent for Johannes Kerkorrel (who sadly passed away in Kleinmond in 2002), the Gereformeerde Blues Band

and Koos Kombuis after arranging their first shows for them. In 1988 Dirk produced Die Eerste Alternatiewe Afrikaanse Rock Konsert in Johannesburg. The concert was originally to be held at the Yeoville Recreation Centre, but when the city council proclaimed blacks unwelcome there, the venue was shifted to the Pool Club on Von Wielligh Street. Dirk and Boogy Gottsman of Shifty Records organised the concert, which was later recognised as part of the Voëlvry Movement. The movement started in the 1980s with the opening of Shifty Records, focusing on Afrikaans rock music, which wasn't yet widely accepted in South Africa. There were many Afrikaans singers who used their music at that time to express their opposition to Apartheid. An example is Johannes Kerkorrel, a major force in the movement, who used this stage name to poke fun at the Dutch Reformed Church. Other musicians, such as Koos Kombuis, Bernoldus Niemand and Karla Krimpelien were prominent in the movement. One of the movement's greatest aims was to create awareness among the South African youth about the social and political injustices perpetrated by the government at that time. In 1989, Dirk organised the Voëlvry Toer (facili-

tated by Shifty Records and sponsored by the Vrye Weekblad newspaper) for Afrikaans rock singers, but they were banned from many venues and were not allowed to perform, which forced them they had to find alternative venues to play in on short notice. During and after the 1980s, Dirk went on to become heavily involved in music and quickly made a name for himself as Dirk Uys Musiek Produksies. He has an extensive CV – he managed many more singers and bands (including Valiant Swart, Drain, and The Led), produced and stage managed several events (including Oppikoppi Main Stage and the Hermanus Whale Festival) and more. He also began his own record label company, Trippy Grape Records in 1997 and of course… he also sang in his own band called Dirk Ace and Da Faith Machine (DADAFM)! Dirk has now left the spotlight behind to share his passion for music with others by selling vinyl records. He says he loves how music, the universal language of emotion, can bring people together in shared enjoyment, regardless of the language you speak. Pay Dirk a visit at 31 Harbour Road in Kleinmond or find him on Facebook (Dirk Ace Records). Alternatively he can be reached on 083 995 4142 or dirkace vox@gmail.com. – Taylum Meyer

SEE MORE ONLINE www.issuu.com/dwaal @thevillagenews

ABOVE: Dirk with some vinyl records in front of his new shop, Dirk Ace Records in Harbour Road, Kleinmond. RIGHT: Dirk opened his shop earlier this month with a special launch event. PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer

THE VILLAGE NEWS

21 April 2021

MY WELLNESS

'I am different, not less’

- Dr Temple Grandin

Writer Taylum Meyer

Neurodiversity Centre recently opened its doors in Hermanus, offering a unique support service to neurodiverse individuals of all ages in the Overberg. The term ‘neurodiverse’ is often misunderstood and could be explained as ‘the range of differences in individual brain function and behavioural traits regarded as part of normal variation in the human population, used especially in the context of autistic spectrum disorders’. The term was coined in the late 1990s by the Australian sociologist, Judy Singer, who rejected the idea that people with autism were ‘disabled’. Neurodiversity is complicated and often it is defined more by society’s expectations than by individual conditions.

mental Clinical Examinations), when working with and understanding their clients. ESSENCE is an umbrella term which was coined by Gillberg in 2009 and refers to the presentation of ‘Early Symptomatic Syndromes Eliciting Neurodevelopmental Clinical Examination’. Neurodiverse individuals generally present with at least two if not three domains of neurodevelopmental difference or concern. Some examples of neurodiverse conditions falling within an ESSSENCE syndrome include ADHD, Tourette’s, dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, anxiety and OCD.

Neurodiverse individuals have brains that are wired differently and this difference is understood to be genetic in origin. Practically this means that they process things differently from the neurotypical person.

These conditions are often genetic, affect one in ten people and usually do not stand alone. According to Gillberg, problems associated with at least one condition before the age of five often signals problems in the same or overlapping conditions years later. Lack of appropriate intervention at a young age for Neurodiverse individuals can lead to an array of additional struggles such as low self-confidence, fear of failure and heightened anxiety.

The eight Neurodiversity Centres (NDC) in the Western Cape aim to “provide multi-disciplinary assessment, support and intervention to children, adolescents and adults presenting with neurodevelopmental needs and challenges”. They are affiliated with the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre founded by Christopher Gillberg and Agneta Holmäng, at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. The NDC makes use of Gillberg's concept, ESSENCE (Early Symptomatic Syndromes Eliciting Neurodevelop-

Neurodevelopmental ESSENCE Centres, like the NDC, are needed for early intervention in children, but it is never too late to make a difference in someone's life. Each Neurodiversity Centre works closely with their multi-disciplinary team alongside their clients’ parents, family, teachers or employers to see how they can best improve their clients’ lives. Therapy is sometimes combined with the aid of medication and often by changing their clients’ environments to create an atmo-

sphere in which they can learn or work calmly. To quote inspirational speaker Alexander den Hiejer, “When a flower doesn’t bloom you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” The most recent Neurodiversity Centre to open its doors this year is the Hermanus NDC at Xpediant House in Dirkie Uys Street. The team consists of two clinical psychologists, Dr Nick Davies and Tracy Fletcher Davies, an education psychologist, Janine Boshoff, a paediatrician, Dr Michèle van Niekerk and office administrator, Monique MacDonald. Nick and Tracy are originally from Johannesburg, where they used to run their own private practice. They discovered the NDC while looking to expand their knowledge on neurodiversity. After a few training courses with the NDC, they left for Northern Ireland in 2019 where they worked for the National Health Service for just under two years. Nick and Tracy decided to move back to South Africa in January this year and were delighted to be able to take up positions in the growing branch of the NDC in Hermanus, which is much in need of the support a centre like this can provide. Janine and Michèle were already well-established in Hermanus before the centre opened and had started to lay the foundation for a Neurodiversity Centre through the work they were doing with neuro-atypical youngsters in the Overstrand. Both professionals had taken an interest in the NDC after feeling, at times, that there was something more going on with their client’s condition than they could

The Hermanus Neurodiversity Centre team (back from left): Dr Nick Davies (clinical psychologist), Janine Boshoff (educational psychologist), Dr Michèle van Niekerk (paediatrician), Monique Mac Donald (administrator) and Tracy Fletcher Davies (clinical psychologist). PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

easily identify. This is when they discovered the ESSENCE concept. The Hermanus Neurodiversity Centre is here to assist neurodiverse individuals of all ages, as well as to provide support and psychoeducation for their clients’ families, schools and

caregivers. To make an appointment you can call Monique at their offices at Xpediant House (4 Dirkie Uys Street) on 087 094 2663 or email practicemanager@neurodiversitycentre.co.za. For more information visit www.neurodiversitycentre. co.za and click on ‘Services’.

21 April 2021

#ALLOVEROVERSTRAND

THE VILLAGE NEWS

21 April 2021

‘Hermanus is one town’: Lessons learnt during lockdown M

ore than a million meals were provided to people in need across the Greater Hermanus area, from the start of the Covid-19 lockdown a year ago, according to a wrap-up report from Food4Love and the Red Cross about the food relief efforts in our area. (Food4Love, which ceased operating at the end of February 2021, was a spontaneous civil society effort that sprang up as livelihoods shattered.) In March 2020 President Cyril Ramaphosa invoked the Disaster Management Act (DMA) of 2002 which recognises, in the language of the law, an event ‘of a magnitude that exceeds the ability of those affected by the disaster to cope with its effects using only their own resources’. The Act also mandates local government to initiate a disaster management plan to mitigate the severity and consequences of a disaster and to look to post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation. F4L founder, Natalie Munro and Red Cross chair, Angela Heslop suggest in their report that now, a year later, might be an appropriate time to examine how our local government structures performed. Worth noting is that Overstrand is the municipality with the second highest population in the Western Cape, with a 2018 estimate of 104 985 people. Its population growth is likewise estimated to be the highest in the province for the foreseeable future, according to the municipali-

ty’s most recent 2019 Socio-Economic Profile. Before Covid19 even started, for many residents Greater Hermanus was not a comfortable or equitable community in which to live. “We can therefore be inspired by those Hermanus civilians who stepped up,” says Munro. Their contribution was financial (including some international funding) but, for around 125 volunteers, back-breaking hours were spent packing essential vegetables and maize into multi-meal packs – in April 1 800 packs a day, jumping to 2 620 in May. In all, 1 054 000 meals were packed; there is a documented record of each monthly output. “This happened in a time of deep confusion and fear,” adds Munro, who was inspired to launch F4L because “it was clear what people needed most was love and kindness and of course real sustenance for those whose livelihoods had collapsed. Our food packs provided the basis for a family to feed itself.” She notes, too, the loneliness and isolation people felt and says that while F4L provided the bulk of food relief in Greater Hermanus, it also offered a sense of community to both volunteers and recipients. “Without the heart-lifting humanity of our volunteers, we couldn’t have achieved this.” Distribution was managed by William Ntebe whose own network of con-

tacts at drop-off points ensured that food reached those in real need and that no exploitation occurred within the system. Red Cross Hermanus was tasked by National South African Red Cross to engage with the Overstrand Disaster Management team from the start, acting as an umbrella to F4L. Heslop notes the many challenges and lessons learned, record-keeping being high on the list. “The unprecedented nature and scale of the disaster and the absence of leadership from the municipality generated a collaborative all-handson-deck spirit. However, while the money and food outputs were tracked, the collection of valuable consumption data that could have been foundational for a poverty assessment, was not.” The uncertainty surrounding funding and support was dealt a further blow in September 2020 with a surprise announcement that municipal funds supporting Overstrand soup kitchens would be ‘redirected’ to ‘community vegetable gardens’. What had been a lifeline to as many as 10 000 people across Zwelihle, Mount Pleasant, Hawston and other communities disappeared with a mayoral stroke of the pen. “We have ended the F4L operation because we appreciate that feeding cannot be a long-term solution,” says Heslop. “But as we think about the future, our greatest take-out as civil society has to be a recognition that

our official structures failed us entirely with respect to leadership. “There was a certain amount of political assistance and some guidance at State and Provincial level, but our local leaders were on mute,” she adds.

In terms of data collection, Heslop reports that a November survey saw a number of people learn digital skills using cellphones. This work continues through SharpDigital, a Zwelihle-based NPO.

Heslop and Munro list some of the challenges ahead, among them the hard realities around food-growing schemes, which should not move ahead without wide community consultation and feasibility studies.

“With the invigorating experience of community participation top of mind, we urge Overstrand leadership to appreciate its value and to find its own voice of compassion,” urges Heslop.

They stress the urgent need for a thorough poverty assessment to understand the economic impact of the pandemic and the deep pre-existing inequalities.

“It must demonstrate that the community is seen and heard, and make a trustworthy commitment to broad consultation. A vision for the Overstrand is only possible if everyone feels a part of it.”

In collaboration with the Hermanus Varsity Trust (HVT), Munro has proposed a Veg House concept to teach people about self-sufficiency and gardening. She is also reaching out to the wealth of farming wisdom in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.

Munro adds: “The pandemic definitively ends the outdated notion that Hermanus is an affluent town with a service dormitory settlement. It is one town, one village; it has one road running through it that we all share.”

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#ALLOVEROVERSTRAND

21 April 2021

MY SPORT & SCHOOL

Emma Privett, a learner at Generation Schools Hermanus, took part in the Western Province Canoe Sprint on Saturday 10 April in Paarl. She competed in the 200m, 500m, 1 000m and 5km K1 (single) races, winning the 5km race and placing second overall in the girls U14 category. She also raced in the girls U14 K2 (doubles) section in the 200m, 500m and 1 000m and came first in all the races with her partner Ruby Petersen from Fish Hoek. Emma will go on to compete in the SA Schools Canoe Sprints at Shongweni from 24 – 26 April in KwaZulu-Natal. We wish her the best of luck and look forward to hearing her results. PHOTOS: Supplied Matthew Privett, a Grade 11 learner at Hermanus High School, took part in the 2021 Dusi Canoe Marathon from Camps Drift in Pietermaritzburg to Blue Lagoon in Durban over three legs from 18 – 20 March 2021. The Dusi is 120 km long (the biggest canoeing event on the African continent) and one of the world’s most popular river marathons. It is a unique race and participants have to be strong paddlers, be able to handle big rapids and have the stamina to run with their boats over rough terrain through the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Most of these portages are through thick bush on steep and undulating terrain, and several of them are around 4km in length.

Local MMA fighter places third in nationals The MMA South Africa Nationals took place in Edenvale from 9 – 11 April. The top athletes were chosen from each province to compete in either the senior, junior or youth category in various weight groups (149 fighters in total).

PHOTO: Supplied

Hermanus canoeing family keeps winning

All three days were streamed live on Alpha MMA's YouTube channel for supporters of the fighters to watch. Among the fighters was Duke Jackson from Hermanus who trains at GB's Boxing & Fitness at Gateway Centre. He competed in the Men's Junior Welterweight category (18 – 20 years).

Duke Jackson (right) with fellow competitor Cameron Coulson (from KZN) at the MMA South African Nationals.

Duke did very well on Friday and proceeded to the semi-finals on Saturday. He put on a spectacular fight and placed third in his category after losing to last year's champion, Cameron Coulson, via armbar (a joint lock where the elbow is hyperextended to cause pain).

Federation) President Kerrith Brown said after the competition that it was fantastic to see the expansion of amateur MMA in South Africa, with the Nationals drawing talent from across the nation, deepening the talent pool and broadening the range of competitive experience.

He will be part of the training squad and will still have a chance to make the South African team competing in Kazakhstan, Russia later this year.

He added that it was exciting to see competition back underway in South Africa and that IMMAF was looking forward to welcoming the South African team at the 2021 Worlds.

IMMAF (International Mixed Martial Arts

Good luck, Duke!

– Taylum Meyer

This was Matthew’s first Dusi and he paddled with his father, Sean in a double (K2) kayak. They had an excellent first day, finishing fifth overall in the double category. Unfortunately on the second day, two broken paddles in Mamba Gorge meant time lost, but they came back strongly on the third day, again finishing in the top five in their category and ending up 13th overall in the senior K2 division. Well done!

Curro Hermanus is very proud of their Top Academic Achievers for term 1 in Grades 9 to 12. The IEB tests and assessments are of very high standard and these learners did exceptionally well. Back from left to right are Stephanie Hodson, Kerin Helmbold, Ethan Higham, Hayden Oehl, Ra’ees de Witt, Daniel Cornell, (front) Alexa Vivier, Raynier Erasmus, Neha Dhoolab, Elizabeth Montgomery and Chevonne Erasmus. PHOTO: Supplied

Congratulations to the below Hermanus High School learners who have been selected to represent Boland Junior Squash at the following major tournaments this year: • Interprovincial Tournaments (IPT) for 2021: Rohann Swart (U14 boys), Ashton Roets (U16 boys), Ryan Ingles (U16 boys) and Marinus Neethling (U19 boys). IPT representation qualifies these players for their full provincial colours. • Margery Taylor SA Schools Country Festival from 24 – 27 April 2021 in Bloemfontein: Karla Van Wyk (U16 girls), Vaughn Kuhn (U16 boys) and Chanté Roux (U19 girls). South African Country Festival representation qualifies these players for their half provincial colours. 1. Rohann Swart 2. Ashton Roets 3.Ryan Ingles 4. Marinus Neethling 5. Karla van Wyk 6. Vaughn Kuhn 7. Chanté Roux PHOTOS: Hermanus High School

Locals chosen for Junior Protea Bass Angling Team During the weekend of 9 April, Bernard Joubert (left) and Cevin Barnard (right) from Hermanus High School represented the Western Cape in the SABAA (South African Bass Anglers Association) Humminbird Minn Kota 2021 Junior National Championship in Clanwilliam. Although faced with very tough circumstances, the boys performed extremely well and have been selected for the Junior Protea Bass Angling Team for 2021! We wish them all the best for the upcoming Junior International Test against Zimbabwe. PHOTOS: Supplied

THE VILLAGE NEWS

21 April 2021

MY ENVIRONMENT

How green is our blue planet? By Dr Anina Lee

t’s time to see the oceans in a new light: to treat fish not as seafood but as wildlife; to see their societies not as stocks but as populations; and marine food webs not as fisheries but as ecosystems. It’s time we saw their existence as a wonder of nature, rather than an opportunity for exploitation. It’s time to redefine our relationship with the blue planet. – George Monbiot Ocean life is increasingly threatened. Offshore drilling has polluted ocean waters, while overfishing has severely impacted fish populations, pushing numbers to the point of collapse. Oceans are also taking the heat of climate change. According to a recent study published in the scientific journal Nature, fishing boats that trawl the ocean floor release as much carbon dioxide as the entire aviation industry. The report – Protecting the Global Ocean for Biodiversity, Food and Climate – is the first study to show the global climate impacts of trawling. It also provides a blueprint for identifying which areas of the ocean should be protected to safeguard marine life, boost seafood production and reduce climate emissions. Such areas are known as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). When well-sited and well-managed, Marine Protected Areas support ocean ecosystems in restoring marine populations, protecting endangered species, and recovering faster from climate-caused disasters. The report notes that only 7% of the ocean is under any form of protection.

Scientists argue that, by identifying strategic areas for stewardship (protection), nations could reap “significant benefits” for climate, food and biodiversity. “Ocean life has been declining worldwide because of overfishing, habitat destruction and climate change,” said Dr Enric Sala, explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society and lead author of the paper. “In this study, we’ve pioneered a new way to identify the places that – if strongly protected – will boost food production and safeguard marine life, all while reducing carbon emissions. “It’s clear that humanity and the economy will benefit from a healthier ocean. And we can realise those benefits quickly if countries work together to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030.” The top 10 countries with the most carbon emissions from bottom trawling are China, Russia, Italy, the UK, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Croatia, and Spain. One notable priority for conservation is Antarctica, which has little protection at present. The study calculates that protecting only about 4% of the ocean, primarily within national waters, could eliminate 90% of the present risk of carbon disturbance due to bottom trawling. However, George Monbiot is not optimistic: Industrial fishing, an issue woefully neglected by the media and conservation groups, is driving many wildlife populations and ecosystems around the world towards collapse. Vast fishing ships from powerful nations threaten to deprive local people of their subsistence. Many “marine reserves” are a total farce, as industrial fishing is still allowed inside them. In the EU, the intensity of trawling in so-called protected areas is greater than in unprotected places. “Sustainable seafood” is often nothing

of the kind. Commercial fishing is the greatest cause of the death and decline of marine animals.

PHOTO: Jean Tresfon

People are starting to realise that dragging vast nets weighed down with chains over the ocean floor, or setting lines of hooks 50 km long, affect ocean life. It is in our own interests to turn things around. The “ecosystem services” that the oceans provide for free are worth trillions of dollars worldwide and underpin millions of livelihoods. This is an issue of people as much as it is about ecosystems and biodiversity. However, beach clean-ups of plastic straws and bottle tops will not solve the problem. Civil society needs to be more outspoken about the critical importance of protecting and effectively managing critical marine ecosystems. How effectively is South Africa protecting its extensive and biodiverse coastline? Do we have adequate areas under protection, and are these marine protected areas effectively managed? What benefits can we expect from allowing marine biodiversity to flourish? Hermanus was established as a fishing town in the 19th century. There were vast numbers of fish in Walker Bay, attracting both subsistence and sport fishers. Then, in the early 20th century, commercial fishing fleets descended on our bay and decimated the fish stocks. Now, a shoal of baitfish like sardines or pilchards is a rare sight and a hit on social media. We marvel at photos of predators such as dolphins and seals hunting, and watching them is a special treat. But the large predatory fish are no more. What would be the benefits of protecting Walker Bay from “exploitation” by declaring it an MPA? Would marine biodiversity flourish to a point where it “spills over” into the adjacent areas, providing increased catches for local fishers outside the protected areas all along the coast? Could Hermanus again boost its tourism as the “angling

ABOVE: By the early 20th century, fish stocks in Walker Bay had been decimated by commercial fishing. Now, a shoal of baitfish like sardines or pilchards is a rare sight and watching predators such as dolphins and seals hunting is a special treat. BELOW: Commercial fishing is the greatest cause of the death and decline of marine animals. PHOTO: The Sun Nigeria

capital” of South Africa? Talk by George and Margo Branch These – and many other questions - will be answered by George and Margo Branch in their Zoom talk to Whale Coast Conservation, entitled ‘Marine protected areas: do they work and how can we optimise their benefits?’ Tune in on Thursday 22 April at 18:00 live on Facebook. Or email anina.wcc@gmail.com for the link to the Zoom talk. George and Margo Branch wrote the award-winning books Living Shores

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of Southern Africa and Two Oceans – a Field Guide to the Marine Life of Southern Africa. Margo has also authored many books, including Exploring Fynbos, First Field Guide to Mushrooms and Exploring the Seashore. Margo and George have a passionate interest in the biology and management of sea life and a natural flair for communicating their passions. For the occasion, all these books are available at a special price through Whale Coast Conservation. Email margo.branch@gmail.com to order your books. They are a must for any library.

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21 April 2021

#ALLOVEROVERSTRAND

Autumn brings a bounty of oceanic friends baleen beauties as they surfaced sporadically before making our way to the heart of the bait ball. By Jax Bath

Comb jellies, which is a treat as we don’t often see them here. There was also a larger species that may be a variation of Moon jelly, although they cannot be easily found in any of our ID Books. Sometimes when our environmental conditions change, large swarms of jellyfish will find their way into an area. We had a similar occurrence a couple of years ago when the night light jellyfish were found in abundance in the Dyer Island ecosystem.

he ocean has recently been showing off the best that the month of April has to offer! Autumn is my favourite time of year at sea, with the movement of sardine schools through the area bringing in all our favorite oceanic friends. Anticipation runs high at this time, more than any other, as what we see depends solely on whether or not there’s fish moving through. There are currently tons of fish making their way through Walker Bay, and we were lucky enough to get out on the water to take it all in. Bryde’s whales are a regular feature at bait balls, expanding their pleated throat groves to allow them to take in a mass of fish and water before expelling the water and swallowing the fish trapped in their baleen. This time of year more than any, whale watching operators stand the chance to witness this incredible sight, particularly if the fish are found close to the surface.

Our first sight for the tour was several little African penguins who were out and about in the hopes of getting in on the action. These flightless friends looked like they’d already eaten, relaxing on the crystal-blue Atlantic and even coming in towards the boat for a closer look at us. Penguins are more often than not shy at sea, so this was a real treat! African penguins love sardine, so they will travel many miles out to find the big shoals, sometimes as far as 60km a day!

We then moved on to a large patch of disturbed water where birds and seals numbered into the hundreds. Here, we watched in awe as seals ravaged the bottom whilst Cape gannets, Swift terns and White-chinned petrels launched an aerial attack. Watching Cape gannets diving is always a sight to behold, hitting the water at around 100km/h in perfect form to avoid injury.

Our last little bit of excitement for the day came at the end of our tour. We were trying to catch up with one last Bryde’s whale when we found a bob of seals fighting over a Chimera (also known as an Elephant fish or St Joseph shark). This is very occasionally seen in Walker Bay, but as a guide this was my first ever sighting of a Chimera in the wild, which made it a definite highlight of the tour! This curious looking fish was dubbed the “Elephant fish” due to it having what appears to be a small trunk, reminiscent of that of an elephant, at the front of its snout. If you were to look for it in an identification book, you would find it next to the sharks, although it is in fact the only creature of its kind found commonly in Southern Africa, falling into the subclass Holocephali. They are bottom dwelling creatures, sometimes preyed upon by Cape fur seals which bring them to the surface to devour. The sneaky seal that made the kill had an awfully tough time trying to protect its hunt as other seals and Swift terns gathered around in the hopes of stealing a bite. After all this excitement, we set out back to the harbour, taking stock of the day’s incredible finds.

We took in the sights and sounds as the gannets plummeted and the seals surfaced for breath. We even got a quick look at the fish as they moved below the boat. With the presence of fish and the onset of winter, pelagic seabirds join in on these hunts, with White-chinned petrels taking a particular interest in the fish, often following fishing boats as a means to easily locate their prey. Although food may seem plentiful along the coast at the moment, these birds will often travel for hundreds of kilometres over the open ocean to find a meal. After we said goodbye to the penguins, we happened upon a Cape fur seal making a meal of an octopus. The seal flung the 8-legged cryptic creature violently in an attempt to bite off chunks of arm small enough to swallow, before eventually devouring the whole thing as an early Sunday lunch.

Until next time!

Seals are apex predators and octopus stand little chance once these pinnipeds enter the kelp forest. We then moved along the white sandy beaches of Die Plaat before spotting some bird action in the distance. At first we thought we might have dolphins but as we approached, we discovered a ton of seals in the water feeding on a giant shoal of fish. With all the prey in the area, a couple of Bryde’s whales began to surface too, and we spent some time watching these

Whilst we watched in awe, we also noticed the presence of many jellyfish in the water below us. There were some easily identified

THE VILLAGE NEWS

21 April 2021

MOTORING

on cars

Compiled by John Floyd

New Audi RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback: compact power packs have arrived A

udi presents the new edition of the RS Q3 and an all-new derivative with the RS Q3 Sportback, now extending the compact SUV product range with two performance models. The two sport compacts offer outstanding performance, athletic design and maximum everyday usability. The first Audi RS Q3 established its own distinct position in the performance market and with the new generation and additional model, Audi aims to continue this success story in the compact high-performance SUV segment of the market. With the offering of the all-new Audi RS Q3 Sportback, a progressive SUV coupé crossover, Audi envisions to set a trend and leverage the full potential of the latest performance vehicle range. Both models are now currently available for retail in South Africa. Athletic: the exterior The Audi RS Q3 and Audi RS Q3 Sportback are synonymous with strength and outstanding performance. Virtues that are also reflected in the design. The Singleframe with no colour-contrasting surround in the compact SUV creates an even sharper impression. The gloss black grill with three-dimensional honeycomb structure is inset deeper and directly into the RS bumper with its large side air inlets. The striking boomerang-shaped blades in the bumper are designed exclusively for the RS Q3. The RS genes are also apparent in the flat slits above the Singleframe radiator grille. With its downward sloping coupé-like roof line, the RS Q3 Sportback is with a height of 1,557 millimetres, 45 millimetres lower than the RS Q3. The rising shoulder line on the Sportback is set farther down than on the sister model, lowering the body’s optical centre of gravity. As such, the body appears even more muscular and the wheels larger. Both high-performance sports cars underscore their performance aspiration with pronounced muscles over the wheel arches, which have been flared by 10 millimetres. The rear design also appears very powerful. With the low rear window and the roof edge spoiler with RS-specific spoiler lip in body colour, the RS Q3 Sportback appears even wider than its sister model. The low-slung roof line culminates in strong, flat sloping D-pillars. The RS-specific long roof edge spoiler in the RS Q3 emphasizes the pronounced forward thrust of the high-performance SUV and ensures

improved downforce. The new generation of the RS Q3 comes for the first time with a standard, dual-branch RS sports exhaust system with large oval tailpipes on both sides. This exhaust system sits in an RS-specific bumper with rear diffuser. The high-performance SUVs come standard with Matrix LED headlights with dynamic indicators and RS-specific darkened trims. The rear lights also feature LED technology. Outstanding: the drive Within the Audi Q3 family, the RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback are the sporty flagships. The performance figures for the compact engines are compelling: five-cylinder, 294 kW power output, 480 Nm of torque, quattro all-wheel drive. The five-cylinder engine is a modern classic. Last year, Audi received the sought-after “International Engine of the Year Award” for the 2.5 TFSI engine for the ninth consecutive time. The multi-award-winning five-cylinder engine gains a good 17 percent increase in power at an unchanged displacement of 2,480 cc. The engine’s maximum torque is available over the very broad rev range between 1,950 and 5,850 rpm. The RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback sprint from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds. The top speed is regulated at 250 km/h or an optional 280 km/h at an additional cost. At less than 50 centimetre’s in length, the 2.5 TFSI engine is extremely compact and is 26 kg lighter than the previous model. Its crankcase is made of aluminium, which alone saves 18 kg. Elaborate measures reduce internal friction while at the same time increasing power output. The cylinder liners are plasma-coated; the crankshaft main bearings are six millimetres smaller in diameter. The crankshaft is hollow bored and is therefore 1 kg lighter, while the aluminium pistons have integrated channels for oil cooling. In the short warm-up phase after a cold start, the switchable water pump does not circulate the coolant in the cylinder head – the 2.5 TFSI engine thus reaches its operating temperature more quickly. This lowers the coefficient of friction and reduces fuel consumption. 1-2-4-5-3 – firing alternates between adjacent cylinders and those far apart from one another. The particular firing sequence and the odd number of cyl-

inders make for a very special rhythm and unique engine sound. The RS sports exhaust system underscores the characteristic and unmistakable sound of the five-cylinder firing sequence. The power from the five-cylinder engine flows via a seven-speed S tronic to the quattro permanent allwheel drive that distributes the power as needed between the axles via a multi-plate clutch. The wheel selective torque control perfects the safe and agile handling. The Audi drive select dynamic handling system influences the quattro drive and other components such as steering, suspension, S tronic, engine characteristic and sound. Depending on the selected equipment variant, there is a choice of five or six modes: comfort, auto, dynamic, efficiency and individual or, as an alternative to the individual mode, the two new RS modes RS1 and RS2. Via the MMI the driver can adjust and save the two RS modes individually. Simply pressing the new “RS MODE” steering wheel button provides rapid access to the two new modes and allows the driver to switch between modes. Consistently sporty: the suspension The standard RS sport suspension lowers the body by 10 millimetres compared with the Audi Q3 and Q3 Sportback. Its consistently sporty tuning satisfies the basic requirements for the outstanding handling of the two sport compacts. The standard RS-tuned progressive steering also conveys close contact with the road even on fast bends. At the front axle with its MacPherson design featuring lower wishbones, the track width is 1,590 millimetres. In the rear, the four-link design provides a track width of 1,583 millimetres. For the first time on a compact high-performance SUV, Audi offers 21-inch wheels in various rim designs. Behind the standard 21-inch wheels, the allnew six-piston RS steel brake system works with ventilated and perforated disks measuring 375 millimetres (front) and 310 millimetres (rear, not perforated). Their brake calipers are painted red as standard. As an option the new RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback are available with the RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC). Here an electrically actuated proportional valve regulates the flow of oil into the damper pistons. The Audi drive select dynamic handling system also influences the

optional RS sport suspension plus with damper control, in which sensors measure movements of the vehicle body. The RS-tuned dampers are then adjusted accordingly to the road surface conditions and driving situation. The suspension provides the optimum damping force for each damper within milliseconds – low for hard bumps; high to brace the body during fast cornering or when braking. The upshot is enhanced driving dynamics, precise stability and agile handling coupled with even greater comfort. Driver-oriented: the interior The athletic design of the exterior is echoed in the car’s interior. The emphasis on the horizontal lines conveys a generous sense of space. The air-conditioning control unit, the centre console and the MMI touch display are tilted toward the driver by ten degrees – the entire cockpit is very much designed with the driver in mind. The architecture of the instrument panel with the Audi virtual cockpit in the RS design harmonizes perfectly with the operating concept. The MMI touch display with its high-gloss black glass-look surround slots in seamlessly as another central element. With the standard Audi virtual cockpit plus, the driver has a larger display with shift light display that prompts the driver to upshift when the maximum engine speed is reached. Special RS displays in the Audi virtual cockpit plus also provide information on tyre pressure, torque, power output, lap times, g-forces and acceleration measurements. RS Sport seat plus in fine Nappa leather with honeycomb stitching express the athletic character of the RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback. Integrated head restraints are available for the first time in the Q3 family. Their contrasting stitching comes standard in gloss black, and optionally in red or blue. When selecting one of the two RS styling packages in Express red or Ara blue, highlights on the steering wheel rim, belt straps, floor mats and gear lever are coloured while the steering wheel and selector lever come in Alcantara. Inlays in Aluminium Race, anthracite, optionally in piano finish, black, or carbon, round out the sporty interior. Entry lighting with Audi Sport projection in the doors welcomes the driver and front passenger. RS logos adorn

the interior on the steering wheel and the illuminated front door sill trims. The standard RS sport leather steering wheel, flattened at the bottom, including newly designed shift paddles comes with multifunction buttons that allow the driver to control the two optional RS modes in the Audi drive select dynamic handling system. The RS-specific displays open automatically in the Audi virtual cockpit plus. Generous: space concept and equipment The new RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback are designed as fully fledged five-seater models and also offer maximum everyday usability for all their sportiness. The rear seats can be moved fore-aft as standard by 150 millimetres in the RS Q3 or 130 millimetres in the RS Q3 Sportback; their three-way split backrests can be tilted in seven stages. The luggage compartment holds 530 litres, with the backrests folded down the figure rises to 1,525 litres (Sportback: 1,400 litres). Eight paint colours are available for the new RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback, including the RS-specific colours Kyalami green and Nardo grey. Customized paint finishes are available from Audi exclusive. The optional gloss black styling package adds highlights to blades in front- and rear bumper, window slot trims, roof rails (RS Q3 only) and on the insert in the side sills. In combination with the extended gloss black styling package, the Audi rings and the RS logos come in black on the front and rear. Local pricing and availability The new Audi RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback will officially go on sale in South Africa from 1 April 2021 and is priced as follows (inclusive of all taxes) and comes standard with a five-year Audi Freeway Plan: Audi RS Q3 TFSI quattro: R1 094 000 Audi RS Q3 Sportback TFSI quattro: R1 128 000 A snapshot of a few, key standard equipment features includes: Matrix LED headlights; comfort key; 21” wheels; RS sports seats; RS sports exhaust; fine Nappa leather with honeycomb stitching upholstery; Audi virtual cockpit plus; MMI navigation plus; lane departure warning; Bang and Olufsen premium sound system with 3D sound; progressive steering; rear view camera system; Audi drive select; Audi smartphone interface.

THE VILLAGE NEWS

21 April 2021

Additional V8 engine for Jaguar F-TYPE in SA J

aguar has added a second V8 supercharged engine option to its F-TYPE sports car range in South Africa. The new P450-badged model will be available in a choice of Coupé and Convertible body styles. The new 331kW supercharged V8 has been developed to offer exploitable and rewarding performance – its maximum torque of 580Nm being generated from just 2,500rpm. It’s offered with a choice of all-wheel drive with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics or – for purists – rear-wheel drive. Both powertrains feature an electronic active rear differential to optimise traction, and both enable 0-100km/h in just 4.6 seconds and maximum speeds of 285km/h. All F-TYPEs feature eight-speed Quickshift transmissions with full manual control using either the SportShift gear selector or the

gearshift paddles. A special P450 R-Dynamic Black model, which will be available from launch, further heightens the purity and presence that set Jaguar's definitive sports car apart. Developed from the 331kW V8 R-Dynamic Coupé and Convertible, these exclusive additions to the lineup offer an enhanced specification and an even more luxurious, crafted interior. F-TYPE’s sculpted form is accentuated by the Black Pack and 20-inch, five split-spoke wheels with gloss black finish. Known as ‘Style 5039’, these wheels are not available on any other model in the range. Complementing these perfectly is the choice of three metallic paints: Santorini Black, Eiger Grey or Firenze Red. The driver-focused ‘1+1’ cabin sur-

rounds the occupants with rich, luxurious materials. Slimline Performance Seats feature 12-way adjustment and are trimmed in Windsor leather with a choice of Ebony with Light Oyster contrast stitching or – for a more sporting theme – Mars with Flame Red stitch. Details such as the beautifully crafted monogram stitch pattern, repeated in the door trim, are among the subtle refinements which make F-TYPE feel special. The same monogram design is used to emboss the suedecloth wrap for the 12.3-inch reconfigurable Interactive Driver Display, while other refinements include satin-finish aluminium gearshift paddles, an Ebony suedecloth headliner and illuminated treadplates featuring the Jaguar script. For truly exceptional performance in all weathers and on any kind of road

there is also the F-TYPE R P575. Offered exclusively with all-wheel drive, its supercharged V8 delivers 423kW and 700Nm: the benchmark sprint to 100km/h takes just 3.7 seconds, while maximum speed is an electronically-limited 300km/h.

bypass valves in the rear silencer remain closed until they automatically open up under load. If desired, Quiet Start can be over-ridden by selecting Dynamic Mode or by pressing the switchable exhaust button before starting the engine.

The F-TYPE R and P450 models are equipped as standard with Jaguar’s Adaptive Dynamics system with Configurable Dynamics. Using electronically-controlled, continuously-variable dampers, Adaptive Dynamics optimises both low speed comfort and high speed control, while Configurable Dynamics enables the driver to tailor the settings for suspension stiffness, steering weight, throttle response and gearshifts.

The 2022 Model Year F-TYPE range is planned for launch in South Africa in the second half of this year and consists of:

Customers who choose either of the V8 F-TYPEs benefit from the Quiet Start function: the electrically actuated

F-TYPE R-Dynamic P450 Coupé and Convertible: • 331kW 5.0-litre V8; Quickshift; RWD F-TYPE R-Dynamic Black P450 Coupé and Convertible: • 331kW 5.0-litre V8; Quickshift; AWD F-TYPE R P575 Coupé and Convertible: • 423kW 5.0-litre V8; Quickshift AWD

#ALLOVEROVERSTRAND

21 April 2021

The new Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+: the S-Class of SUVs is here

seven-seater SUV that blasts you from zero to 100 km/h in 4,2 seconds, while wrapping you in the lap of luxury? You’d better believe it. Welcome to the new Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+, which is about to redefine the South African luxury SUV segment. Dubbed the ‘S-Class among SUVs’, the new AMG GLS 63 combines striking design, exclusive appointments, and space for up to seven people with unrivalled driving dynamics. Its 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine delivers 450 kW and 850 Nm to all 4 wheels, with a 9-speed automatic transmission. No wonder the top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h, although 280 km/h is possible with the optional AMG Driver’s package. “The new GLS 63 is a vehicle for those who are not willing to accept compromises when it comes to versatility, effortless superiority and spaciousness. It’s the ideal companion for long distances, on a par with the S-Class, with rough-terrain attributes and space for up to seven people,” said Johannes Fritz, Co-CEO for Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars.

At first glance, it is clear that this SUV means business. The exterior is expressive, dominant and sporty, and leaves you in no doubt as to the sheer power of this performance model. The AMG-specific radiator grille with vertical louvres in high-gloss chrome is larger than in other AMG models, and the vehicle comes shod with 21-inch 10-spoke light-alloy wheels in tantalite grey as standard, with six further wheel variants with diameters of up to 23 inches available.

The MBUX infotainment system includes numerous AMG-specific features. The modern widescreen cockpit, instrument display and high-resolution multimedia touch display form one visual unit. Numerous functions can also be activated via the intelligent voice-operated control ‘Hey Mercedes’, and MBUX functions by movement recognition and gestures, creating an even closer connection between the vehicle, driver and passengers.

kick-down, the transmission can shift directly from 9th to 5th gear, or from 5th to 3rd gear.

touch of a button at up to 70 km/h.

The AMG GLS 63 is outfitted with a high-performance braking system to provide effective stopping power and short braking distances, even with heavier loads. 400 x 38 mm internally ventilated and perforated integral brake disks are used at the front axle, with internally ventilated integral brake disks of 370 x 32 mm at the rear.

Even more space and comfort

Made to perform

The new GLS 63 has a significantly longer wheelbase than its predecessor. The resulting increase in space particularly benefits occupants in the second seat row. Legroom here is increased by 87 mm when the seats are in their rearmost position, which also makes it easier to get into the vehicle.

For the first time, the AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine is equipped with an integrated EQ Boost starter-alternator, combining a starter motor and an alternator in a single, powerful electric motor compactly integrated between the engine and the transmission. The briefly and additionally available 16 kW of output and 250 Nm of torque allow particularly fast sprints from a standstill and when overtaking.

The standard-fit AMG RIDE CONTROL+ air suspension with special spring/damper set-up and adaptive adjustable damping ADS+ (Adaptive Damping System) combines outstanding driving dynamics with high ride comfort. Thanks to pneumatic self-levelling, the GLS 63 maintains a constant vehicle level regardless of the vehicle load.

The latest generation of Mercedes-Benz driving assistance systems further enhances the level of active safety. As standard these include Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with route-based speed adjustment, which uses information from LiveTraffic to recognise tailbacks or slow-moving traffic and respond accordingly. With the Driving Assistance package Plus, Active Stop-and-Go Assist helps the driver stay in their lane and maintain safe following distances up to around 60 km/h.

The interior of the GLS 63 is spacious and displays outstanding quality. As if you needed any reminder this was an AMG, it boasts AMG sports pedals in brushed stainless steel with rubber studs, and illuminated door sill panels and black floor mats with AMG lettering. Seating comes standard in black AMG nappa leather, with a choice of seven further colour and material variants, and a 3-spoke AMG steering wheel completes the look.

The 9-speed automatic transmission ensures highly dynamic acceleration with short shift times, and allows a comfortable and fuel-efficient driving style. The transmission is optimally configured for the engine and promises hallmark agility along with speedy gearshifts. Another strength is the fast multiple downshifts: for example, on

Ride height is generally lowered by 10 mm in the Sport and Sport+ programs, while in the Comfort drive program, the vehicle only lowers when above 120 km/h, and is raised back to normal level below 70 km/h. This reduces aerodynamic drag and therefore fuel consumption. To increase ground clearance on poor surfaces or on ramps, the ride height can be raised by up to 55 mm at the

Even more safety and comfort

AMG DYNAMICS allows widely variable driving dynamics, and therefore a highly variable driving experience, from moderate, to sporty, to extremely dynamic. The driver either selects the preconfigured mode or defines the vehicle configuration themselves in Individual mode. The six driving modes include Comfort, which enables comfortable and fuel-efficient driving; Sport+, which delivers a more agile throttle response and sportier handling dynamics; and Trail and Sand, which enable safe driving at maximum performance on soft, muddy or sandy surfaces.

THE VILLAGE NEWS

21 April 2021

Nissan Magnite hits South Africa N

issan is thrilled to announce the introduction of the Nissan Magnite, a compact SUV in South Africa that is now available for sale.

The much-awaited B-Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) speaks to Nissan’s relentless crossover spirit of innovation and style which makes the launch concept a fitting one for this bold, beautiful and ‘charismatic’ game-changing SUV. “In line with Nissan’s philosophy of continuous innovation and enriching experiences, we thought it fitting to have a launch that supports this narrative. Our market is bold, self-driven with go-for-it attitudes aligning to what the Nissan Magnite embodies. We are ex-cited to finally have the Nissan Magnite on our South African shores and we cannot wait for you to experience it for yourself,” said Stefan Haasbroek, Nissan South Africa Market-ing Director. True to Nissan’s global SUV DNA of advanced technology, the Nissan Magnite comes with numerous firstin-class and best-in-segment features that will provide customers with a differentiated, innovative, and accessible experience. It features latest technology as a part of Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM), Nissan’s vision of how vehicles are powered, driven, and integrated into society. This includes an impressive 8-inch full flash touch screen with

best-in-class wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay compatible with the lat-est devices to ensure every journey is a first-class experience. Built for those who take charge of every journey, the car has the sleekest headlamps as-sembled in its class with lightsaber-style turn indicators, while its L-shape LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and dominating front grille is unlike any other design in the B-SUV segment. When it comes to the interiors, the all-new Nissan Magnite has achieved the best level of packaging and seating comfort. A first in its segment, the all-new Nissan Magnite is also equipped with one of Nissan’s top support technology, the Around View Monitor (AVM), which gives the driver a virtual bird’s eye view from above the vehicle.

compact SUV of the year’ and Autocar India ‘Value for Money Car of the Year’ award. It has been the front runner in the Nissan India family with 4,244 units bought in February 2021, and over 50,000 bookings since the launch. A feature-rich premium vehicle with a stylish design for a strong and dynamic road pres-ence, Nissan Africa is excited to see how the Nissan Magnite will be received and has no doubt that the praises will be echoed in South Africa. Beautiful All LED Front Exteriors • LED bi-projector headlamps (sleekest in class with even wider coverage) • LED lightsaber-style turn indicators • LED L-shaped Daytime Running Lights (DRL) • LED fog lamps

With high strength and impact absorbing efficient body structure, the Magnite is equipped with safety features such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Start Assist (HSA), speed sensing door lock, central locking and SRS dual airbag system with pretension and load limiter seatbelt for driver and passenger.

Bold SUV Cues • 205 mm ground clearance (among the best) • Best-in-class turning radius (5.0m) • Functional roof rails with 50kg load bearing • Square wheel arches for bold styling • Front and rear silver skid plates • Integrated sculpted bodyside cladding • Stunning diamond cut alloys, standard 16-inch wheels

Since it launched globally, the Nissan Magnite has already received a few accolades in-cluding ‘Top Gear India

Bold & Beautiful Premium Cues • Sporty IP with stylish horizontal execu-tion and premium finish

• Carefully crafted door seals • Wide split taillamps • First-in-class eye grabbing Flare garnet red (tint coat) colour • Tall floor console with smartphone tray Big on Interior Comfort & Convenience • High command eye position (bestin-class visibility & opening angle) • Best-in-class rear knee room • Best-in-class ‘couple distance’ (shoulder room in the front row) • Sporty & welcoming seats • Rear armrest with 2 cupholders and first-in-class mobile holder • 5-degree tilt of centre stack for driver centric cockpit feel • 336L cargo space with flexible capacity by 60:40 split foldable rear seats • Ergonomically designed buttons for ease of control for the driver • BIG, 10L glovebox with illumination Big on Technology • HRA0 1.0-litre Turbo engine • Best-in-class Nissan Signature X-Tronic CVT transmission • First-in-class AVM (Around View Monitor) to give a bird’s eye view – toggle between rear view, bird’s eye view and RH camera for eased parallel, perpendicular parking and front camera for taking out from tight spots • Best-in-class driving eco function – rates driving and assigns score, also provides suggestions to improve efficient driving skills • First-in-class full 7-inch TFT instru-

ment cluster with built-in tyre pressure monitor • First-in-class ‘welcome animation’ • Toggle the menu and up/down buttons for all functions • Fully integrated steering wheel controls for audio, cluster and Cruise Control • 8-inch full flash touch screen with best-in-class wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay (compatible with latest devices) with 6 Speakers • Carefully placed microphone and speaker for better phone calls • Nissan Connect Big on Safety • SRS dual airbags • Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) for safe vehicle manoeuvring in tight corners and risk situations • Hill Start Assist (HSA) for comfortable stop and go in slopes and hilly terrains • Traction Control (TC) for best vehicle control in different terrains • Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) • Anti-Roll bar for tight cornering at high speeds giving low body roll The Nissan Magnite Recommended Retail Price (RRP) and line-up are as follows: • Acenta MT = R256 999 • Acenta CVT = R280 100 • Acenta Plus MT = R282 600 • Acenta Plus CVT = R305 700 Service Plan: 3yr/30000 kms (3 services) and warranty 6 year/150 000km

#ALLOVEROVERSTRAND

21 April 2021

World Premiere of the all new Toyota GR 86 T

he all-new Toyota GR 86 made its world debut recently in an online event hosted by Toyota Gazoo Racing and Subaru Corporation. Toyota’s newest sports car becomes the third model in its global GR portfolio, joining the widely acclaimed GR Supra and GR Yaris. GR 86 inherits the essential fun-todrive characteristics of the original GT86, which was launched in 2012 and went on to amass more than 200,000 worldwide sales. It is expected to be the lightest

four-seater coupe in its class, thanks to weight-saving initiatives such as using aluminium for the roof and body panels. The coupe is powered by a new, lightweight, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder engine. An increase in displacement to 2.4-litres brings a step-up in performance from the 2.0-litre unit in GT86. Preliminary power figures1 are quoted as 173 kW and 250 Nm (pending local market confirmation).

The car’s dimensions are almost identical to its predecessor, allowing the new model to maintain a low centre of gravity for agile handling. Torsional rigidity has been increased by around 50 per cent to deliver even sharper handling and steering. GT86’s experience in motorsport competition has helped the development of functioning aerodynamic components for GR 86, such as the front air ducts and side-rocker panels. These will help the new model achieve expected best-in-class han-

dling and stability. The GR 86 is set for local debut in Q1 of 2022. Toyota GR 86 preliminary specifications • Length (mm): 4,265 • Width (mm): 1,775 • Height (mm): 1,310 (incl. antenna) 1,280 (without antenna) • Wheelbase (mm): 2,575 • Kerb weight (kg): 1,270 • Engine type: Horizontally opposed four-cylinder DOHC

• Fuel system: Toyota D-4S direct injection and port injection system • Engine displacement (cc): 2,387 • Drivetrain: Front engine, rear-wheel drive • Suspension – front: MacPherson strut • Suspension – rear: Double wishbone • Brakes – front: Ventilated discs • Brakes – rear: Ventilated discs • Tyres: 215/40R18 Local specifications are subject to homologation and will be confirmed at the time of GR 86’s launch

The Village NEWS 21 April - 27 April 2021

Articles inside

How green is our blue planet?

Local MMA fighter places third in nationals

Autumn brings a bounty of oceanic friends

New Audi RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback: compact power packs have arrived

‘Hermanus is one town’: Lessons learnt during lockdown

Additional V8 engine for Jaguar F-TYPE in SA

'I am different, not less"

Love a Little Local: Music - the universal language

The new Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC+: the S-Class of SUVs is here

Strategies for a more positive South Africa

Gansbaai clinic services resume in new building

Letter to the Editor: Burst water pipes a recurring problem

Albie's spirit will live on

For Fact's Sake: Writer's cramp vs writer's block

Nissan Magnite hits South Africa

Love a Little Local: Old Tin Hat brings war heroes back to life

What's On Overberg: 22 April - 1 May 2021

From the Editor: Let's share our resources

Love a Little Local: Hermanus Varsity – keeping the dream alive

World Premiere of the all new Toyota GR 86

FynArts will be back this winter

A festival for all outdoors enthusiasts

Management programme for Betty's Bay baboons