THE VILLAGE
NEWS
21 OCTOBER 2020 YOUR FREE COPY #ALLOVEROVERBERG The next issue of The Village NEWS will be out on 28 October 2020.
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Cheers to our hospitality industry Writer De Waal Steyn
T
he hospitality industry in the Overstrand has shown itself to be able to innovate, transform, refresh and persevere during the Covid-19 pandemic,” says Frieda Lloyd, Tourism Manager of the Cape Whale Coast. According to her the region has been fortunate enough to have very few hospitality businesses close their doors. This follows reports that the South African wine industry has lost an estimated R7,5 billion during the lockdown, while shedding 21 000 jobs. In the greater Cape Town area, an estimated 60% percent of restaurants were forced to close, resulting in thousands of lost job opportunities. “Very few restaurants and no wine farms in our region have closed down. In fact, several restaurants have expanded or found new markets for their products. This goes to show what a strong brand the local hospitality industry has built up over the years,” Lloyd said.
She added that local wine sales remain depressed, but on the upside, exports have been on a par with previous years. “Wine producers are however still struggling to move stock at their cellar doors. While there are many local visitors over weekends, cellars are still not allowed to do wine sales and that has a huge negative impact. It is time for the hospitality industry to focus on getting the Government to allow for wine sales over weekends,” she said. Gerrie Heyneke of Hermanuspietersfontein said they are cautiously optimistic about the industry at this stage. “We put a lot of hard work into promoting our brand online from shortly before the lockdown started. Now we sell more wine online than we do through any of our other sales channels,” he said. According to him wine sales in the Overberg and Cape Town are slow. “Although the cellar is busy over weekends, we have seen a general decline in sales.”
Maryna Calow, Marketing Manager of Wines of South Africa (Wosa) said it is expected that up to 80 wine producers may be forced to close their doors and that there is now a surplus of 300 million litres of wine, a third of South Africa’s total annual production.
Carolyn Martin of Creation Wines echoed this sentiment. “While local sales are down, we are fortunate enough to have opened new sales channels online, especially in Europe. During the lockdown we opened online stores in Switzerland and the UK, and they are doing very well. We have also increased our footprint in Belgium, North America and Singapore,” she said.
“Wine producers with excess stock are left between a rock and a hard place as current wine sales are not enough to get rid of the surplus. This while preparations must start in earnest for the next harvest. These producers are left with very few options, including using the excess for juice concentrate, making sanitiser or using the wine for the distilling of spirits, none of which are as profitable as the wines in the barrels,” said Calow.
She does warn, however, that the industry is not out of the woods yet. “There are reports of cellars having a rough time moving stock to try and make space for the upcoming harvest. It would not be a surprise if we see some cellars closing over the next few months. In Hemel-en-Aarde, however, we are fortunate enough to have had an exceptional harvest that has produced award-winning wines, and that has helped sales in the region,” she said.
A baboon from the Betty's Bay troop enjoying some pincushions and Bietou berries. Unfortunately these plants are often found along the roadsides and there have been a few instances where baboons have been hit by cars, so please drive with caution. PHOTO: Pete Oxford (Pete is an internationally-renowned wildlife photographer now living in the Overstrand. To see more of his photos visit www.peteoxford.com.)
Local expertise, national presence and international audience
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R 1 950 000 FINE & COUNTRY FEATURE SANDBAAI, HERMANUS, WESTERN CAPE
Modern double-storey three bedroom family home This modern double-storey home is situated in the much soughtafter secure Sundew Villas Estate in Sandbaai. The entrance hall leads to an open-plan lounge, dining room, welldesigned kitchen with quality finishes. The living area opens up onto a patio with built-in braai, mountain views and an enclosed garden. The spacious main bedroom is en-suite, situated upstairs, leading out onto a balcony with stunning mountain views. The beautifully designed main en-suite bathroom leads onto a balcony of its own. The two other bedrooms, one en-suite, are situated on the ground floor, including another guest bathroom. The single garage is tiled and offers direct access to this lovely home. There are still final finishes to be done to this home as the seller is awaiting the potential buyer’s choices. Sundew Villas Estate is an extremely popular estate close to the Whale Coast Mall, Curro School, popular beaches, restaurants, hospitals and many more amenities. There is a communal sparkling pool, dog park and play park for children. Phone me today to view this lovely home. Jenny Küsel 083 262 7578 WEB 1366066
Hermanus Office 16 Hope Street, Cnr Dirkie Uys, Hermanus, 7200 +27 (0)21 205 7135 hermanus@fi neandcountry.com
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21 October 2020
‘Let a thousand flowers bloom’ Writer Elaine Davie
C
hairman Mao might have been aiming these words directly at a local son of the soil who has devoted his entire adult life to the creation of beautiful gardens. His name is Graham (Charlie) Felix. For almost 30 years he has been the Head Gardener at the Fynbos Park Retirement Village in Hermanus, bringing peace and joy to the hearts of generations of elderly residents, while his wife Veronica has tended to their physical needs for the past 18 years as a cleaner. In his family’s small house in Grassy Park when he was growing up, there was no space for flowers, but when his brother-in-law got him a job at a nursery in Diep River, it was love at first sight for Charlie. In the 11 years he worked there, he learnt every plant’s common name – in English and Afrikaans – as well as its botanical name. He learnt how to care for them and how to eliminate pests, and he learnt about pruning and propagating and landscaping. But happy as he was to have his hands in the soil from morning to night and to see his flowers bloom, he and Veronica were worried. The Cape Flats were not a safe place to bring up their six children. Family members persuaded them to move to Hawston and the die was cast. Shortly after arriving, Charlie heard of a vacancy for a gardener at the newly-built Fynbos Park. When he arrived for the interview, references in hand, he found he was last in the line of applicants. “When I saw them going in one after the other, I got very worried,” he recounts, “but I decided, no, I’m going to wait my turn and see the man.” After reading his references, the interviewer smiled and said, “Janee, you look like the guy we’re going to need, but how do you get on with older people? What if they want to interfere with your work?” Charlie assured him that he had no problem with older people and he would demonstrate his loyalty. The job was his; it was 1994. “When I started here,” he continues, “all there was, was rocks. They had
to be blasted out of the ground and there was only one small single-storey building. I began this garden from nothing. The trees you see here now, I planted them; they were just little sticks, and look at them now.” For two years he laboured in the garden alone, laying it out from scratch. And as the buildings in the retirement centre grew in number, so did Charlie’s gardens. There was simply no stopping him. And each separate nook and courtyard garden he created had its own unique character and arrangement of plants. “Oh, I loved it,” he says with a faraway look in his eyes. “I knew every plant; it was like living between heaven and earth. I gave them compost, super phosphate, lots of water, and they grew. When I went home in the evening with dirt on my hands, I knew I had done a good job that day.” One handlanger followed another as the gardens grew too big for one person to handle, but Charlie wasn’t happy with any of them (“They just weren’t willing to work – they were lazy!” he snorts). But in 2008 Dennis Ndinisa arrived and they hit it off from the start. “Charlie taught me everything I know about gardening and I am still learning from him,” he says with his big sunny smile. “But Charlie will always be boss – you can’t buy his experience. So why be jealous of him? You can learn more if you are friends.” And after 12 years of working side by side, that’s what they clearly are. In the meantime, with the children no longer needing her full attention, Veronica was appointed as a cleaner at Fynbos Park and is still the only one there full-time; all the others are contract workers. “Ja, I’ve seen many passing through and also dying here,” she sighs. “I’ve had some favourites, but all of them are my people. After I’ve been away on leave, they’re all asking, ‘Where’s Veronica?’” Charlie has a special story to tell about one of the residents, Mr R, a man who never had a good word to say to him; who, indeed, was downright abusive. As he tells the story, tears well up in his eyes. One day, he says, one of the staff
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members came to call him with a message that Mr R wanted to see him urgently. “I said I wasn’t going; someone else could go,” he takes up the story. “I was sick of his rudeness and preferred to stay out of his way.” However, the messenger reported that the old man was insistent that he see nobody but Charlie. “So in the end I went,” he says. “When I arrived at this flat, I found him leaning against the sliding door. He stuck out his arm and asked if I was prepared to shake his hand and forgive him for how badly he had treated me. ‘It’s not for me to judge,’ I said and shook his hand. With tears rolling down his cheeks, he said, ‘Thank you, my son’, and closed the door. The following day he was dead.” Veronica says she is looking forward to retiring, so that she can devote more time to their eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, but Charlie has no desire to give up his work while he still has the strength to carry on. “My work is my life,” he says. “I even dream about it at night. But when I do leave, I want to be able to pat myself on my shoulder and say I have done a good job.”
ABOVE: Dean Salies (maintenance), Charlie Felix (head gardener), Dennis Ndinisa (assistant gardener) and, behind them, Charlie’s wife, Veronica (cleaner). Charlie has worked at Fynbos Park for 26 years and Veronica for 17 years. BELOW: “My work is my life,” says Charlie of the prize-winning gardens at Fynbospark, which are always a sight to gladden the heart. BOTTOM: The Fynbos Park ‘dream team’ of Charlie, Dennis, Veronica and Dean in one of the three flourishing atrium gardens at this retirement village in Westcliff. PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer
Phillip du Plessis is a resident and the Trustee in charge of the grounds. He says they are so proud of the prize-winning gardens Charlie has created that they have a special budget for their upkeep. “No one tells Charlie what to do in the garden, though; he tells us what he needs and we get it for him. Some of the residents who have themselves been keen gardeners enjoy pottering around here, too,” he adds, “but all under Charlie’s supervision. It’s spring now and just look at the mass of colour everywhere, but no matter what the season, the gardens are always a sight to gladden the heart.” Charlie is already hard at work planning his next project which is to plant more fynbos, in line with the name of the centre. It is clear that more than anyone else, he epitomises the sentiment of Thomas Jefferson: ‘Those who labour in the earth, are the chosen people of God.’
Dental Implants – a miracle treatment? Dental Implants were hailed as a miracle when they became commercially available in the early eighties. Today’s implants are a far cry from those early primitive designs. I still see patients on a weekly basis who are shocked to hear their implants are infected, failing and poisoning their general health – and in some cases have to be removed! Patients cannot believe that some implants are harming them, when they have spent a fortune in hard-earned savings to have this “miracle” treatment. Many of the older implant designs caused infection of the jawbone, which can be a risk to your systemic
health (especially cardiovascular), just like gum disease. Some of these older design implants are still used today, with many clinicians ignoring the scientific evidence linking implant designs and gum disease. The important message is that not all implants are equal – and the shocking fact is that excellent implants will cost you the same as bad ones! It should not surprise anyone that the Koreans are now producing 3 of the top 5 implant brands in the world – and at the most competitive prices, too. The purpose of Dental Implants is
to replace lost teeth – from a single tooth to all the teeth. However, as dental professionals we have an obligation to patients to prevent the loss of teeth, and never should teeth be removed simply because we have the alternative of placing a dental implant. What is the secret to not losing teeth? Correct brushing and flossing every day. There are no shortcuts to a healthy mouth and smile. And yes, proper cleaning should start with the eruption of the first tooth. It may well be the best investment for a child, as implant treatment may run into a few hundred thousand in extreme cases.
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21 October 2020
Cycling adventure in aid of Covid relief I
t is with smiles from ear to ear and hearts filled to bursting that the Grootbos Foundation team welcomed back the two intrepid cyclists, Ian Privett of Globalcyclingtours.com and Mark Lawson of CycletheCape.com on Friday 16 October.
The charismatic adventurers, who joined forces to undertake an unsupported cycle adventure, The Whole Way Round, had set off on 11 September from the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve near Gansbaai, where Ian’s younger brother Sean is the Conservation Director. Criss-crossing the Western Cape by bicycle over 35 days to raise much-needed funds for Covid-19 Relief Programmes of the Grootbos Foundation NPO, they covered nearly 6 000 km – a distance even further than crossing the continental USA – with a total ascent equal to climbing Mount Everest seven times! “We are deeply honoured by Ian and Mark’s vision, their passion and many hours in the saddle, in order to help rebuild the lives of the most vulnerable local communities served by the Foundation,” said Phil Murray of the Grootbos Foundation. The initial idea was to circumnavigate South Africa and ride ‘The Whole Way Round’. After careful consideration, a decision was made to rather follow a route within the Western Cape borders, because of the fluctuating Covid-19 infection rate at the time and the risk of provincial borders being closed again. The riders also did not want to wait as the need for Covid-19 relief was immediate. The Whole Way Round started and finished at the Grootbos Foundation offices. Day 1 dawned rainy and windy on 11 September but Ian and Mark were fired up with their trademark indomitable optimism, both for the start of their adventure and for the goal of cycling to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives during the pandemic. Keeping to tarred roads less travelled, they wound their way towards the Cape Peninsula before heading up the West Coast to enjoy the world famous Namaqualand bloom. They turned inland to cross the Cederberg, cycled Route 62, rode all the way to Beaufort West and then turned to begin the criss-crossing homeward route along the Garden Route. Undaunted by days of fierce sun, gale-force winds, rain, a few flat tyres and mechanical issues, Ian and Mark said the South Africans they
met along the way, and the breathtaking scenery in a country only just beginning to emerge from lockdown, made their experience one of the most exciting and fulfilling of their lives. The kindness of friends and strangers along the route who offered free meals, free accommodation and encouragement, and the generous donations by those who followed their adventures made The Whole Way Round a marvellous success. To date, this initiative has raised R71 000 towards the Covid Relief Programmes of the Grootbos Foundation. Their aim before they set off was R100 000 – and anyone who would like to help them achieve this goal can still make a donation at www. grootbosfoundation.org/campaign/the-wholeway-round/ – Hedda Mittner
Ian Privett and Mark Lawson setting off from Grootbos in the rain and wind on Day 1.
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21 October 2020
Ian and Mark are planning to take on The (full) Whole Way Round in 2021.
Ian Privett and Mark Lawson were welcomed back home at Green Futures Nursery, Grootbos on 16 October. With them are Ian’s parents and Gansbaai locals, Dave and Cynthia Privett. PHOTOS: Grootbos Foundation
Beautifying the Hermanus Cemetery The branch president of the Hermanus Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Adam Spires, gathered his family, church members and four missionaries together to meet up at the Hermanus Cemetery on Saturday morning with Melanie Moore and other volunteers who have been working since 2017 to beautify this once-forlorn and badly neglected public space. The group spent the morning gardening and planting, and also painted the crosses that had been procured and erected on the unmarked graves through a project driven by Melanie. They also planted a Coastal Silver Oak tree on the northern border of the cemetery – the 43rd tree to be planted since the beginning of Melanie’s initiative, and with the assistance of the Overstrand Municipality’s horticultural department. “It's important to remember those who
have passed and with this small act we hope to pay homage to their memory,” said Adam. At the back, from left are Jessica and Adam Spires, Melanie Moore with the Spires’ daughter Anna in front of her, Geoff Spires with Gibson Kadango in front of him and young Elijah Spires behind him, Fortunate Mhlala with baby Liam, Bobby de Villiers behind them, Winston and Barbara Mackinnon, with Kirsty McDowell behind them. In front are the missionaries, Elder Siems and Elder Mwachoweka, both from Johannesburg, Elder Bramedeo from Guyana and Elder Sumalpong from the Philippines. Between the latter two are Asher Spires and Khaya Mhlala. The missionaries have been stranded here since the lockdown and are looking forward to returning home next month. PHOTO: Hedda Mittner
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Vandalism and theft is costing ratepayers The lives of officials were at stake and vehicles damaged recently when law enforcement officers assisted electricians to remove unlawful electricity connections in order to restore electricity in Zwelihle. Officers also had personal possessions stolen. “Theft of electricity and vandalism are serious crimes and ultimately cost ratepayers money,” said the Overstrand Municipality in
a statement last week. “These acts jeopardise the safety of the entire community and impact negatively on the daily lives of law-abiding residents.” The municipality appeals to community members to work with officials, and not against them, when they perform their functions to the benefit of law-abiding citizens.
Wills Week 26 - 30 October 2020
Wills Week: why is it important to have a will? D id you know that more than 75% of South Africans pass away without a valid will in place, causing devastating consequences for their families and dependants?
not have the necessary legal knowledge to ensure that the requirements of the law are met.
To help combat this statistic, the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) promotes National Wills Week every year, with participating attorneys offering their will-drafting services for basic wills at no cost to clients.
If you die without leaving a valid will, your assets will be distributed according to the provisions of the Intestate Succession Act. The provisions of this Act are generally fair and ensure that your possessions are transferred to your spouse and children.
Wills Week is normally in September, but due to the Covid-19 lockdown regulations, the LSSA has officially announced that National Wills Week will be from 26 – 30 October this year. By making a will you ensure that your assets are disposed of in accordance with your wishes after your death. This privilege is called ‘freedom of testation’. According to Capital Legacy, the reality is that most people know they need a will, but statistics show that South Africans are notorious procrastinators. “In a recent survey we conducted, we asked people why they haven’t got their wills in order,” says Alex Simeonides, CEO and co-founder of Capital Legacy. The results?
Contact Us For A Free Will Tel: 064 747 0345
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21 October 2020
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43% of respondents said: “I just haven’t got around to it”. 27% said: “I’m not sure where to get my Will done”. 21% said: “I think it might be expensive to get a Will”. Only 9% of respondents said they think they don’t need a Will.
Why should an attorney draft your will? Attorneys are professionals qualified in law. An attorney can advise you on any problem which may arise with regard to your will. An attorney has the necessary knowledge and expertise to ensure that your will is valid and complies with your wishes. Often a will is not valid because the person who drafts it does
What happens to your estate if you die without a valid will?
BUT, the following problems may arise if you die without leaving a will:
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Your assets and family heirlooms may not be left to the person(s) of your choice. Your partner may be left with nothing if you are not married, or your will is not updated from a previous marriage. It can take a long time to have an executor appointed. The executor who is appointed may be somebody you may not have chosen yourself. Your children’s inheritance could pass to the Government Guardian’s Fund or an appointed guardian rather than to a Trust that will ensure your wishes for them are carried out. Winding up your estate can take years and the Government will essentially be in control of the process. There can be extra and unnecessary costs.
Families often struggle to deal with the devastating loss of a loved one, and this struggle is made infinitely more difficult when your affairs are not in order. Unhappiness and conflict among members of your family could arise and even lead to long-lasting feuds if there are no clear instructions on how to distribute your assets. For more information on National Wills Week, visit the Law Society of South Africa’s website, www.lssa.org.za
Three drown when boat capsizes NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were activated at 07:11 on Saturday, 17 October following reports of a RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) that washed ashore approximately 4 kilometres from Kleinmond. The boat was suspected to have capsized during the night. According to NSRI Kleinmond station commander, Schalk Boonzaaier, The NSRI Kleinmond sea rescue craft Jaytee III and Rescue 42 Alpha were launched and the NSRI Hermanus sea rescue craft South Star and Rotarian Burnett were diverted from a training exercise to join in the search. A sea and shoreline search commenced for what was initially believed to be four missing men. NSRI Gordon’s Bay duty crew and NSRI ASR (Airborne Sea Rescue) rescue swimmers were placed on alert. The SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS and Overberg Fire and Rescue Services were also activated. The casualty RHIB was located by rescue
authorities where it had washed up on the beach and during the search it was confirmed that only three men, believed to be from Hawston, had been on the boat during the night. Sadly the body of one of the missing men was located and secured on the beach near to where the casualty boat was found. NSRI rescue swimmers waded into the surf in the same vicinity and while they conducted sweeping line search efforts, the sea rescue craft continued with a sea search. Sadly the bodies of the remaining two missing men were located some distance apart in the surfline and recovered. The three bodies were declared deceased by paramedics and they were confirmed to be the men who had been reported missing. The bodies of the deceased were taken into the care of Police and WC Forensic Pathology Services. An inquest docket was opened by the police.
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21 October 2020
Be fire wise this summer Summer has once again arrived in the Overstrand, bringing not only long sunny days but also strong winds and many fire hazards. Yes, it’s fire season in the Western Cape and residents are urged to be fire wise and to report any fire to the Overstrand Fire Department.
23 – 29 October 2020
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A small uncontrolled fire can spread really quickly and become a threat to people's lives and property. Always remember to extinguish all braai fires completely before leaving them unattended. The municipality also urges property owners to consider the fire safety around their houses, especially those in the Biosphere regions. It is important in these areas to ensure that your gardens are trimmed back to reduce the fire load of shrubs and trees, and that all deadwood is removed from under vegetation such as fynbos. The fire wise concept of maintaining your gardens in a manner that provides adequate buffer zones around properties should be used. This entails creating at least a 5 metre clear break around structures and cutting back
The Overstrand Fire & Rescue team is standing by as fire season in the Western Cape begins. all encroaching tree branches and shrubs close to your house. An open green lawn between your property boundary and the house will also serve as an adequate fire buffer zone. All larger properties with plenty of natural
vegetation must have a fire break of 5 to 10 metres created on the perimeters to provide access to contain and prevent fire spread.
Over 300 people from across the Western Cape gathered at the wall of the Theewaterskloof Dam on Sunday for a Diens van Dankbaarheid (Thanksgiving Service) to express their gratitude for the dam not only being full, but overflowing for the first time in nearly a decade.
The last time that Theewaterskloof Dam overflowed was in 2014. On March 9, 2018, the dam, which is Western Cape’s biggest and main water source for residents and industry in Cape Town and Stellenbosch, was just 11% full. With just one percent of this water usable, Cape Town was facing Day Zero and becoming the first major city in the world to run out of drinkable water. When asked by The Village NEWS why he attended the thanksgiving, Minister Meyer said, “Water is life” and added that while the dam is
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Theewaterskloof: overflowing with gratitude The event, organised by retired Caledon businessman, Louis Jordaan, and broadcast live across the Overberg by Caledon FM (CFM) was attended by Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, Overberg District Executive Mayor, Sakkie Franken and Executive Mayor of Theewaterskloof Municipality, Christelle Vosloo.
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10:00 | 12:30 | 15:00 | 17:45 Residents from across the Western Cape gathered on Sunday at Theewaterskloof Dam to celebrate and give thanks for the abundance of rain that has filled the dam to overflowing for the first time in nearly a decade. PHOTO: Raphael da Silva important for Cape Town, it is also a vital source for farmers. Approximately 30% of the dam’s water is used to irrigate about 15 000 hectares of farmland, where high-value fruit and vegetables are grown, much of which is exported around the world. Jan Grayling, the CFM presenter of Koskas, a weekly show that focuses on agriculture and food security, hosted the event and said that while we often pray for rain, we don’t often give thanks when it does rain. This day, he added,
was an opportunity to “praise God for his abundance” and to bring the community together. In Afrikaans, a koskas is a low cupboard that was traditionally used in the past for storing food. The Theewaterskloof Dam was established in 1978 with a capacity of 480 million cubic metres, about 41% of the water storage capacity available to Cape Town. – Raphael da Silva
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ANNOUNCEMENT SUNDAY EVENING No screening of Tenet (19:00) and Dragon Rider (17:45) scheduled
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Open daily from 09:30 during school holidays
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21 October 2020
FROM THE EDITOR
News fights more than one pandemic The next edition of The Village NEWS will be available on 28 October 2020. The NEWS can be found at over 300 distribution points in the Overberg.
De Waal Steyn
PUBLISHING EDITOR E: dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za T: 083 700 3319
Hedda Mittner
On Wednesday 18 October 1977, the iron fist of the apartheid government cracked down on the media. A number of newspapers were banned and several well-known journalists arrested. This date is marked every year as a warning. However, a mere 43 years later, we are seeing the resurgence of an equally pernicious phenomenon. In mutated form and in the company of Covid-19, another virus is consuming the world, not just South Africa. Fake news spreads like wildfire across borders. By means of social media, in a matter of hours, whole populations can be bullied,
CONTENT EDITOR
Raphael da Silva
E: raphael@thevillagenews.co.za T: 074 125 5854
Elaine Davie JOURNALIST E: elaine@thevillagenews.co.za T: 084 343 7500
Taylum Meyer PRODUCTION MANAGER, PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN E: taylum@thevillagenews.co.za T: 084 564 0779
Charé van der Walt MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE E: chare@thevillagenews.co.za T: 082 430 1974
Nickey Jackson
The only antidote is the availability of a wide spectrum of independent, thoughtful and unbiased media. In this country we should be proud to have produced some of the best investigative journalists to be found anywhere, who have been afforded the time and opportunity to dig into dark secrets and murky relationships, and untangle webs of corruption. The fact-based reports they have
produced have helped uncover a sewer of crime at all levels of government and the private sector. Unfortunately, with the economic implosion following lockdown, more and more publications were forced to close down, put up online firewalls or cut back on the size of their newsrooms. Hundreds of reporters have lost their jobs and been forced to join the breadline. Good journalists should not just entertain (although hopefully most do), but inform, ask questions, exercise our minds and hold powerful individuals and
institutions to account. All these factors are as relevant at community level, as they are at national level. There have been times during the past couple of months when The Village NEWS has barely been able to keep afloat and even now on a week-by-week basis we find ourselves living dangerously. However, the support of our readers never fails to give us hope that we will survive the twin pandemics of fake news and economic recession and continue to serve you with the trustworthy journalism you deserve. This is the good NEWS – Ed
Ties that bind are a bind to tie
E: hedda@thevillagenews.co.za T: 083 645 3928
ONLINE EDITOR
manipulated and driven to mass panic or aggression. It allows no room for debate, argument or alternative opinions.
By Murray Stewart murray.stewart49@gmail.com
T
he For Fact’s Sake columns are – according to Google and the Duck ’n Fiddle’s Explanation of Everything – based in truth. Occasionally however, names and places have been changed to protect innocent people involved. Getting Knotted “Why in heaven’s name do men still wear ties?” someone asked casually, but this innocent query caused such divisions at the recent AGM of the Yodelling Plumbers Society, that the police were called and arrests made. It was horrible. There were professional yodellers who could plumb a bit, versus professional plumbers who yodelled a bit, but in the end – after the ambulances had left – the question still remained unanswered. Why ties? Well, for a start, we can blame Croatia. During France’s 30-year war (1618– ‘48), platoons of Croatian mercenaries were deployed in the conflict, and part of their traditional uniform was a small knotted neckerchief. This caught the eye of the Parisian upper
classes (tres chic, nè), who began flaunting them as jaunty fashion statements – either as a cravat that was tucked in, or a thinner version that dangled down from a knot/toggle. (Out of morbid interest, ‘cravat’ stems from the French nickname for this Croatian accessory – la cravate.) Anyway, Louis XIII started wearing one and made them mandatory at all royal gatherings, so the fad went viral. Many variations of this throat-warmer popped up over the centuries, and in 1840 the word ‘tie’ (separate from cravat) acquired its own status in the sartorial lexicon. In 1864 the first ready-made, mass-produced tie was patented, and sold like hot-cakes in Europe and the USA. Dictionaries describe a neck-tie as “a long piece of cloth worn around the neck and knotted at the throat, for decorative purposes, usually by men”. The standard tie as we know it today only emerged in the 1920s, and a New York tailor, Jessie Langsdorf, invented a new way of cutting the fabric when constructing a tie, which allowed it to spring back to its original shape uncreased. Fascinating, nè? As we’ve all seen in movies/ maga-
zines/ real life, different knots and shapes of tie have graced many a famous Adam’s apple. On formal occasions, Bond wears a black bow tie with his tux. In cowboy movies, wellto-do gamblers and ranch-owners always sported a dangling string tie, creating an air of sartorial superiority over the lowly bandanna-throated bar flies and ranch hands. Sometimes you’d find a combination of both – a bow tie with dangly bits. Over the last 60 years, shapes and colours have gone from one extreme to the other. In the fifties, ties were pretty sedate and narrow, but in the hippie sixties they reflected their dope-induced flower-power sentiments, and ties became wider and more flamboyant, often in bold floral prints. This was the dawn of bell-bottoms and platforms, and some ties, up to 15 centimetres wide, coined the name ‘Kipper Tie’. Over a couple of decades, Kippers were eventually fished to extinction with the re-emergence of ‘skinny ties’, sometimes made of leather, but usually fairly sedate, with dots or stripes. Then there are club ties, or the old school ties with their crests and emblems, which flaunt your pedigree
or affiliation to some or other snobbish association. These ties would supposedly give you a head start in your cut-throat, break-neck journey through life. But apart from head starters or fashion statements, they’re probably worn as a sign of respect to a host, or on auspicious occasions. Yet it still doesn’t explain why men – in this modern era – haven’t made a global ‘gentleman’s agreement’ to dispense with ties altogether. Most women realised from early on that they were useless and unnecessary. So, to the yodelling plumbers, apologies. We couldn’t find any compelling reason why men still wear ties today. Corporate bigwigs like Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates don’t find them necessary. But sadly, Trump does. Vanity compels him to wear an elongated tie all the time instead of a face mask – and what happened? He got infected with Covid-19. This is living proof that ties can potentially kill you. But the burning question remains unanswered. Why ties? Perhaps Ellen DeGeneres knows. She often wears one.
HERMANUS: SEVEN-DAY WEATHER AND TIDE TABLE Wed | 21 Oct
Thurs | 22 Oct
Fri | 23 Oct
Sat | 24 Oct
Sun | 25 Oct
Mon | 26 Oct
Tues | 27 Oct
11°/16° Clear
12°/23° Partly Cloudy
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15°/19° Clear
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15°/21° Partly Cloudy
16°/19° Some Rain
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21 October 2020
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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. Enjoy our paper. Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za.
Making small, local businesses stronger
Pat van Schoor 21.08.1937 – 11.10.2020 A beloved resident of Hermanus for more than 20 years, Pat van Schoor passed away on 11 October at the age of 83 years. Pat was a woman of many talents, but I reckon her stand-out gift was her ability to spark friendships between strangers. Pat taught most of Hermanus to play bridge. She had bridge schools a couple of days a week and arranged annual Bridge Drives for charity. She was tireless in her efforts to lend a helping hand to her community by volunteering for several charities, including Overstrand Hospice, Hermanus Child Welfare and SANTA, which she served as chairperson for 10 years. As a volunteer of the Hermanus Botanical Society she could often be found working in the kitchen at their annual Flower Show. She also started a woman’s club called Quest in 2003, arranging interesting speakers each month and various outings to places of interest in our beautiful region. Described by Sue Holmes, the current chairperson of SANTA, as “a Duracell Bunny”, Pat was known as “a wonderful hostess who could get a dinner party going in no time – always with great food, wine and, above all, laughter”.
2020 has taught us to look at our own place in the world differently. Not only have we been challenged to think about our families, neighbours, communities and countrymen differently, but also our place on the African continent and our place on the globe. Grootbos Foundation has, in the past, empowered people to become entrepreneurial small business owners in the local economy through providing free training and dispersing seed funding. But lockdown regulations threatened to collapse these small enterprises, many of which were trained to source locally, strive towards sustainability and contribute to the green economy. Rebuilding small businesses, many of which are female-owned, allows communities to re-root so that new growth and recovery can take place. Emerging from lockdown seems to have made us all look differently at how we can contribute towards recovery in our own communities. Responding to the needs of micro-businesses,
Grootbos Foundation has been able to direct funds towards 21 Small Business Relief packages to help these essential small businesses survive, and to provide 27 small businesses with Covid-19 Compliance PPE packs so that they could safely open their doors and resume operation and trading. Thank you to the funders whose donations have been passed directly on to young entrepreneurs to rescue their businesses. Thank you for the donations that enabled the daily feeding of children and families throughout the strictest phase of lockdown, the provision of over 13 000 individual face masks, PPE to 10 schools, and the EduSupport of township children who struggled to access data and learning tools during school closures. Thank you to everyone who buys and sources locally. The recovery process starts at home. Phil Murray Grootbos Foundation
Pat was always very active and her other interests (where did she find the time and energy?)
Mercia Teubes, a 75-year-old Hermanus resident and supporter of the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Ladies Charity Walk recently heard the announcement that Hermanus Child & Family Services (HCFS) is the chosen beneficiary for the main walk in 2021. Mercia wanted to make a contribution to HCFS in the form of soft toys and books which was collected by the L2L committee and given to the charity on Mercia’s behalf. L2L would like to thank Mercia and the other businesses and individuals in the Overstrand community for their constant support. This year they are supporting a main charity, a secondary charity (Overstrand Hospice) and 11 other local charities that applied for funding. To get involved or to make a donation, visit www.lighthouse2lighthouse.co.za.
included hiking, birding and book clubs. During her school days at Rustenburg Girls High School, Pat had excellent role models in her parents. Her father, Buck Ryan, was the Head of English at Rondebosch Boys, whilst her mother produced plays and was involved in community work. She met John van Schoor when she was 18 years old and married him in 1959. They were married for 51 years until John’s untimely passing in 2010. He was a peacemaker with a dry sense of humour and very active in his retirement years – playing tennis twice a week and golf four times a week. During his career with Standard Bank, John was transferred 19 times and they lived in places as diverse as London and Kokstad. Pat was a devoted mother to four children and four grandchildren. When I once asked Pat what motivated her to live such a full, energetic life – one that has enriched the lives of so many in Hermanus – she said: “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and proclaiming, Wow, what a ride!” Pat, we salute you and thank you for all the hard work you did for our community. You were truly inspirational. – Clyde Manson
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21 October 2020
WHAT'S COOKING
See what’s baking at Daan’s By Hedda Mittner
T
he Gonggrijp family – Just, Joke and their son, Daan – have already made a huge contribution to the culinary scene in Hermanus with Dutchies, their iconic restaurant on Grotto Beach, followed by the popular Summer Lounge and, more recently, Ficks Wine & Pinchos Bar located at the historic Fick’s Pool on Marine Drive. Who knew they had another ace up their sleeve? Always on the look-out for new opportunities, their latest innovation is an artisan bakery in the CBD called Daan’s Bakery. A joint venture between Daan and Talent Musatyira, aka ‘Talent the Baker’, this lovely little shop in Dirkie Uys Street is where they celebrated their official opening last week. The pretty little garden at the back was bursting with friends and clients who had popped in to wish them well and sample their offering. All the products – ranging from ciabatta, baguette, brioche, pain de mie, rye and sourdough, to potato, white farm and brown gluten-free loaves – are made with stone-ground flour containing no additives or preservatives. Slow mixing and a minimum 18-hour fermentation allows for full flavour and enzyme development and minimal oxidation (nutrient loss). All the loaves, rolls and bread sticks are gently hand-shaped and baked in a gas oven at a high temperature.
While the Gonggrijps admit they knew little about bread baking, they felt Hermanus was in need of the traditional kind of bakery they have back home in the Netherlands. And it all came together when they found Talent, who’s done little else but bake bread for the past ten years. Starting out at the Woodstock Bakery, where he was trained by a German baker and also completed a diploma course in culinary arts through the SA Chefs Academy, Talent left after five years to join Amaro Foods, a national supplier of breads and pastries, before being appointed as head baker at the five-star Cape Grace Hotel at the Cape Town Waterfront. ABOVE: Carol Barnard, Megan Dryburgh and Anne Parke enjoyed sampling the delicious artisan breads. ABOVE LEFT: Daan Gonggrijp with Talent Musatyira, aka ‘Talent the Baker’. LEFT: Rebecca Matthysen of The Eatery (on the right) surprised Joke with a beautiful bunch of flowers at the opening of Daan’s Bakery last week. BELOW LEFT: 'Talent the Baker' with some of his freshly-baked breads in Daan's Bakery. BELOW: Among the well-wishers were Albert Lubbe, Theo Krynauw and Francois Barnard. PHOTOS: Hedda Mittner
With such an impressive resumé, the Gonggrijps were very excited. There was just one problem – after the year our restaurants have experienced, they were unable to match Talent’s Cape Grace salary. Instead, they offered him a share in the business, which Talent gladly accepted. As a co-owner of Daan’s Bakery, Talent is now happily settled in Hermanus and gets up in the middle of the night (something he is quite used to by now!) to start baking at 02:00, six days a week. The shop opens at 07:00 on weekdays and 08:00 on weekends, and closes at 14:00. Daan’s Bakery is open on Sundays but closed on Mondays. You’ll find them next to the Health Shop in Dirkie Uys Street (and opposite Co.Unity, where Standard Bank was before.) Orders need to be placed before 10:00 for the following day by contacting 071 115 1205 or info@daansbakery.co.za.
PHOTO: Di Rattle
Join us at Ficks, 7 days a week, for your favourite pinchos, wine & cocktails. We also have a range of crispy flammkuche available as well as a delicious selection of desserts. We are situated at 8 Marine Drive, Westcliff , overlooking the historic Ficks Tidal Pool. We have wheelchair access to the left side of the parking area. Please visit our website to view our full menu.
EMAIL: info@ficks.co.za
TEL: 0283124082
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21 October 2020
Afrikanos offers a whole new experience
LEFT: If you do not want to dive with the crocodiles, you can view them through a window on the other side of the pond. RIGHT: : Joseph Sibanda is the friendly and informative guide who can tell you everything there is to know about the Nile crocodile.
Writer Hedda Mittner Photographer Taylum Meyer
K
nown as the Great White Shark Capital of the World, Gansbaai already offers visitors the opportunity to see the Marine Big Five – whales, sharks, dolphins, seals and penguins – all in one place. And now visitors are in for a new experience – getting up close and personal with the mighty Nile crocodile, the largest freshwater predator in Africa. It sounds far-fetched, I know, but that is exactly what Afrikanos is offering. And no, you don’t have to get into a cage, but can ‘free-dive’ in their crocodile pool, where a first-in-the-world stainless steel net separates you from their six Nile crocodiles. Kitted out with a towel, rash vest and goggles, you can submerge yourself in the pool, which is run by a completely natural filtration system with no added chemicals, and observe these fascinating reptiles in a natural swimming environment while the net safely keeps the crocs on their side of the pool. Afrikanos is situated just outside of Gansbaai, in the lush wilderness area of Birkenhead near the
Danger Point lighthouse. The bar and restaurant are located in an attractive stone building with a thatched roof, and the veranda overlooks a small wetland and the crocodile pool, with a suspended walkway leading to an observation deck. Owned by Marc Kotze and managed by Keith Louw, Afrikanos was ready to open for the public just two weeks before the start of the lockdown back in March, and it’s been a long wait for them to finally reopen. Maybe that’s part of the reason why visitors receive such a warm welcome from all the staff, who are attentive to your needs and go out of their way to ensure a pleasant experience. In charge of the crocodile tour is Joseph Sibanda, a Zimbabwean native who grew up on a farm where crocodiles in the river often attacked the family’s cattle. He went on to work in nature conservation at Victoria Falls before relocating to the Cape. He has been at Afrikanos for four years, during which time he has been involved with every step of the development of the property into a crocodile facility. Joseph is a very friendly and informative guide who can tell you everything there is to know about the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). Sourced from a breeding facility in Bonnievale
(of all places), the Afrikanos crocodiles are all females and grow to 3 metres in length (the males reach up to five metres). The pool is stocked with different kinds of fish for them to snack on and they are fed chickens twice a week. During winter, however, they hibernate for up to six months and, amazingly, during this time they can survive on the fat stored in their tails alone. Their lifespan is similar to that of humans, with maturity reached at about 13 years, and they live up to around 80 years, although Joseph says the longest surviving Nile crocodile is 114 years old. The female lays 45 – 80 eggs and they hatch after an incubation period of about 90 days. The croc babies have a sharp ‘egg tooth’ to help them break out of their shell. Although they usually only spend a few minutes underwater, Nile crocodiles can hold their breath for up to two hours. On land they can move at speeds of up to 15 km/h but in the water they are much faster, reaching speeds of up to 30 km/h. When their jaws snap shut, it’s with a bite force eight times that of a great white shark’s jaw. These are just a few fascinating facts about Nile crocodiles – you’ll have to do the crocodile tour
to find out more. And if getting into the water in close proximity to these rather frightening animals is not for you, you are welcome to stay on dry ground and observe them from above, or through the window that gives you an underwater view of the pool. The veranda of the Afrikanos Bar & Grill is a pleasant spot to relax and enjoy being out in nature. There is also a lovely play area for children to keep the young ones busy while waiting for your food orders. Since reopening only a limited menu has been offered, but it includes very tasty pizzas and burgers, and a no-fuss kiddies’ menu. According to the manager, Keith, the menu is still evolving and more dishes with a local flavour will be added soon. The fully-licensed bar serves local wines, craft beer on tap and some interesting cocktail specials. The opening hours for the restaurant are from Wednesday to Sunday from 12:00 until late (kitchen closes at 21:00), and for crocodile tours and dives from Wednesday to Sunday between 12:00 and 16:00. Afrikanos is offering restaurant guests a free crocodile tour until the end of October. Call 083 206 9278 for bookings.
LEFT: The elevated walkway above the crocodile pool with the restaurant in the background. RIGHT: At Afrikanos you can ‘free-dive’ in their crocodile pool, with the stainless steel net safely keeping the six Nile crocodiles on their side of the pool.
21 October 2020
The inside of Afrikanos has some interesting fixtures including a light made from part of a windmill.
WHAT'S COOKING
www.thevillagenews.co.za
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Manager Keith Louw is delighted to be welcoming guests back to Afrikanos.
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21 October 2020
MY ENVIRONMENT
The cautionary tale of Klein Brakrivier By Dr Anina Lee
T
here was a little picturesque seaside village called Klein Brakrivier, which in English means ‘Little Salt Marsh River’. It lay at the western end of the Garden Route in the Fairest Cape. My family travelled every summer holiday to this idyllic seaside spot to visit my paternal grandmother. Ouma’s house was on top of a milkwood-covered dune, overlooking the broad sandy flood plain of the river. Upstream we could watch the trains crossing on the much-loved old iron railway bridge, while downstream was the sea, with sandy beaches and rock pools filled with marine life. In the 1940s and ‘50s Kleinbrak, as we called it, was a tiny village with no more than 100 or so dwellings, mostly holiday homes. There was no electricity and no running water. We used oil lamps and candles, and collected rainwater from the roof in tanks and used a ‘long drop’. Every day an old man on a donkey cart came to collect the ‘slops buckets’ which he emptied at the slops pit on the salt marsh between ouma’s house and the railway line. There were many marshy areas around the village in those days. We thought nothing of them, except as wasteland. And that’s how they were treated by everyone, especially the various government departments. Those were the days before we were aware of the ecological importance of biodiversity, much less the critical ecosystem services from nature on which life depends. In fact the Klein Brak Estuary (for it is an open estuary most of the time) is one of the most crucial estuary-wetland-salt marsh areas on the Southern Cape coast. What is a salt marsh? Salt marshes are coastal wetlands that are flooded and drained by salt water brought in by the tides. They are important as nurseries for migrant marine fish species. An estuary
is a place where freshwater meets the sea. The mixing of freshwater and seawater creates a unique and productive environment with lots of diverse flora and fauna. The concrete bridge, which was built in 1954 to replace the old railway bridge across the Klein Brakrivier, and the R102 bridge running parallel to it, which was built later when the road was upgraded, can clearly be seen in the centre of this photo.
The slow movement of saltwater inland and the gentle flow of freshwater from the watershed bring fine sediments that settle out as mud. This environment is called a mudflat. The mud builds up over time and eventually may rise above the high tide line, at which point a salt marsh habitat develops. Plants in the salt marsh are unique because, in order to survive, they must be tolerant of saline (salty) conditions and being submerged during some high tides. Long before environmental issues were taken seriously, Dr Allan Heydorn did a baseline study of all estuaries in South Africa. Klein Brak Estuary was ranked equal to, and aesthetically higher than, the Knysna Estuary. Declining health of Klein Brak Estuary Kleinbrak was too special not to attract masses of people. In the 1960s milkwoods were uprooted, dunes flattened, and the town ‘developed’. Conservation and protection of the Klein Brak Estuary became an extremely high priority. However, according to the 2017 draft Environmental Management Plan for the estuary, “a very small proportion of the vegetation is protected, and is critically endangered… and is under severe pressure from coastal development and upstream activities”. Furthermore, “The Klein Brak River Estuary is exhibiting a decline in ecosystem wellbeing. If the (development) pressures are not controlled, and reversed in the case of the destruction of the salt marshes and the culverts in the upper reaches, the Klein Brak River Estuary will become a largely degraded estuary”. In 2007 Turpie and Clark assessed the Klein Brak Estuary to be of average importance and ranked it at 93rd in the country. But worryingly, it recently slipped further to being rated 115th out of 283 estuaries. What happened? The trouble started in the1950s when several ad hoc engineering projects were proposed and all approved by government institutions, in the name
of ‘development’. Municipal and state infrastructure was built, apparently without considering the ecological impact on the estuary. In 1954 the old railway bridge was replaced by the present concrete bridge. The stanchions of the old bridge were not removed, and together with the many footings of the new bridge, they now impede the flow of the river and trap sea sand – almost the entire river is choked up. With the building of the new bridge many concrete structures were left in the river itself, causing an upwelling of sand which blocks the flow of tidal water. In the 1980s work began on a new N2 National Highway. Tonnes of road infill were dumped into the estuary and into the tributaries, further blocking the flow of tidal water. Later the regional R102 road was upgraded, and a new bridge built just inland of the N2 bridge. The two bridges ran parallel to one another through the Kleinbrak River but, lo and behold, the piers of the bridges were not aligned, causing the water to swirl in opposite directions. In 1980, the rapidly expanding town required an additional Water Treatment Works (WTW). The Municipality decided to put this facility on the banks of the main tributary of the Klein Brak River. Out of sight and tucked away neatly from public eyes, this large WTW was equipped with two sludge dams and a too-small pump that often failed. Sludge water from this facility caused reeds to increase that further choked the water flow of the tributary and estuary.
Appalling as this seems in hindsight, remember that we did not have laws like the National Environment Management Act to protect the environment until 1998. Nor were there as many civil society organisations that spoke for nature.
severe degradation of the estuary, aggravated by developments within the estuarine functional zone, weir construction in the tributaries, nutrient inputs from agricultural activities, over-fishing pressures and human disturbance of estuarine birds.
In 2008, the Kleinbrak WTW was upgraded, and an Environmental Authorisation was issued by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). The Municipality was ordered to remove the reeds and the filling that had been dumped in the estuary, in order to allow a better flow of water. However, this Environmental Assessment apparently lapsed before the Municipality had even started the work.
How is this allowed? Oh, easy – when few people care, and most people don’t even know what is going on.
This WTW used ferric chloride to clarify the water, and the waste was pumped into the sludge dams, which often overflowed into the estuary. Millions of litres of wastewater with sludge were periodically discharged into the estuary, turning the salt marsh orange. A subsequent change to aluminium sulphate, turned the estuary black when it was dumped. In 2012, this WTW facility was upgraded once again. It appears that the Municipality built the new sludge dam without an Environmental Impact Assessment. A local Community Forum managed to get the discharge stopped, and the Municipality now pumps this wastewater to the Hartenbos Sewage WWTW. But… when that facility is too full, waste continues to flow into the Klein Brak River. The overall result of all this is the
After the disasters of the two train bridges, the building of the N2, the R102 upgrade, the WTW and accompanying sludge dams, two government institutions then proceeded to place a total of seven huge concrete water pipes right through the estuary and all three tributaries, further blocking the flow of water. Alien reed beds now choke up this once thriving and functional special river system. Nature is dying a slow death there in full public view. Whale Coast Conservation cares The lesson is clear. Passing laws, appointing officials and even going through Public Participation Processes is not enough, unless there are independent watch-dog bodies following every move – and supported by a concerned public. When it comes to our Whale Coast environment, Whale Coast Conservation keeps watch. SA’s excellent environmental laws are there to protect nature, and WCC’s EcoWatch team attempts to ensure that all developments in the Overstrand comply with legislation – not just to the letter of the law, but also the spirit of the law.
WHAT’S ON
22 OCT – 31 OCT 2020
OVERBERG 22
Thursday
Free guided hikes Harold Porter Botanical Garden is offering free guided tours, every Tuesday and Thursday until the end of October. Booking is essential and numbers are limited to 10 persons per tour. The normal entry fee will still apply. For more information, contact Loretta Floors or Etienne Smith on 028 272 9311 or L.Floors@sanbi.org. za or E.Smith@sanbi.org.za. Harold Porter Botanical Garden, Betty’s Bay | 08:00 – 16:30 Thursday Talks @ Harold Porter Ebraime Hull is presenting a series of free talks at Harold Porter, every Thursday during October. The topic of discussion on 22 Oct is ‘Smoke treatment on Fynbos seed’ and on 29 Oct ‘Plants and Pollination’. The normal entry fee will still apply. For more information contact Ebraime on 028 272 9311. Harold Porter Botanical Garden, Betty’s Bay | 11:00 – 12:00
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Friday
Ladies social tennis Join the Hermanus Tennis Club for ladies social tennis, every Friday morning. This is ideal for those who feel inspired to revitalise their tennis game in a safe and friendly space. No booking is required, but a R30 visitors’ fee will be charged. All Covid-19 protocols are observed. Contact Lynn on 071 109 8175 for further information. Hermanus Sports Centre | 09:00 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. This special offer now also extends to Super Saturday at the same time, from 16:00 –18:00. You can book via www.thewineglass. guru or call the restaurant on 082 082 0007. The Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Rd, Hermanus | 16:00 – 18:00 (Fri & Sat)
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Saturday
Die Markie Looking for koek? Vetkoek, pannekoek, soet koekies, sout koekies, lewer koekies? A peaceful place to while away Saturday mornings, glass of wine in hand, with Woefie lying at your feet? Olives, freshly shucked oysters and other nibbles made by real people? Served on real porcelain, using real cutlery, sipping wine from a real wine glass? Then you’ll want to hotfoot it across to Die Markie at Hermanuspietersfontein. Hermanuspietersfontein Wine Cellar | 09:00 – 13:00
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 Stanford Saturday Morning Market Come and sample the artisanal delights on display, from home-made sheep and goats’ cheeses to woodfired ciabattas, pastries and pies, farmfresh 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 | 09:00 – 12:00 Gansbaai Farmers’ Market Specialising in organic, homemade and home-grown products such as fresh farm produce, oven-fresh bakes and pastries, local wines and craft beers, and indigenous plants and herbs. No plastic or polystyrene packaging; only eco-friendly wood, paper, glass and earthenware used to display goods. For enquiries, contact 028 384 1439 or doulene@gansbaaitourism.co.za Kapokblom Street, opposite Gansbaai Tourism | 09:00 – 14:00 Classic & Vintage Car Show Bring the whole family and enjoy live entertainment by Edian Barnard and Jaco Tosen, food stalls and a bar. R20 pp and R10 for each family member 12 years and older. For enquiries, contact Roy Groenewald on 081 543 3603. Sandbaai Hall | from 10:00 Blomdag Celebration Join Bartho Eksteen and family for a day of country hospitality, food and wine on the farm! For more information and to book, contact 072 323 5060 or mana@hermanus.co.za. Bartho Eksteen Wines | 10:00 – 16:00
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Tuesday
Free guided hikes Harold Porter Botanical Garden is offering free guided tours, every Tuesday and Thursday until the end of October. Booking is essential and numbers are limited to 10 persons per tour. The normal entry fee will still apply. For more information, contact Loretta Floors or Etienne Smith on 028 272 9311 or L.Floors@ sanbi.org.za or E.Smith@sanbi.org.za. Harold Porter Botanical Garden, Betty’s Bay | 08:00 – 16:30
www.thevillagenews.co.za/whatson
Hermanus Leeskring After months of restrictions the Hermanus Leeskring is having a meeting where Anita Sutherland will be discussing the award-winning novel, Where the crawdads sing by Delia Owens. All attendees must wear face masks and strict social distancing rules will be followed. No eats or drinks will be served. For enquiries, contact Anita on 082 806 3247. Herman Swart Hall, Dutch Reformed Church, Hermanus | 15:00
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Wednesday
Wild Woman Within creative writing workshop Join local artist Gillian Hahn online every Wednesday afternoon for her creative writing group workshop via Zoom. The cost is R200 pp. Gillian also offers private one-on-one workshops on drawing and creative writing. You’ll find all the info at www.gillianhahn. com/workshops/ or contact 076 181 2964 or gillianhahn14@gmail.com Virtual event | 14:00 –16:00 Grape Expectations The Wine Glass’s popular wine evenings are back and selling out fast! Join Domaine des Dieux for an evening that will start with an arrival drink and canapés, followed by a formal tasting of their wines, and a three-course, wine-paired dinner. Early reservation is essential at R265 pp. The event is limited to 40 people to allow for social distancing. To book, contact 082 082 0007 or foh@ thewineglass.guru. The Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Rd, Hermanus | 18:30
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Thursday
Fernkloof Pop-up Market Visit the tranquil Fernkloof Garden for this two-day pop-up market where you will find lots of beautiful handmade products, home-made food and so much more! Fernkloof Nature Reserve | 09:00 – 16:00 (Thur & Fri)
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Friday
Bottomless Bubbly Friday Domaine des Dieux’s famous Bottomless Bubbly Fridays are back! R199 gets you your ticket to enjoy as many ice-cold bubbles as you like – and the views are on the house. There will also be snack boards available at R115 per board for those who would like to enjoy some nibbles. Bookings can be made on 028 313 2126 or via email to tastingroom@domainedesdieux.co.za. Domaine des Dieux Tasting Room, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge | 16:30 – 19:30 Stanford Sunset Market Stanford's favourite, family-friendly, dog-welcoming, open-air food market. Bringing you local food, coffee, deli products, gifts, plants, fresh produce and live tunes to enjoy on the last Friday of the month (September to May). Pop in, meet new people, hook up with old friends, support local vendors, and take delicious food home for the whole weekend. Entry is free and there is plenty of free parking. Please practise social distancing and note that the market will be held at Birkenhead Brewery in case of rain. Stanford Market Square | 18:00 – 20:00
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Saturday
Panthera Sunset Visit Visit Panthera’s big cats at sunset, when they come alive after a long day of rest. Enjoy a unique experience at this big-hearted, non-profit sanctuary. Your passionate host will take you around to the big cat enclosures and tell you their heartfelt stories, and how they came to be at Panthera Africa. Only for people 16 years and older. Pre-booking is essential at R490 pp. Telephone bookings only on 071 182 8368. Bring your camera, wear sturdy and comfortable shoes and bring your camera and a jacket. Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary (near Stanford) | 17:00
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21 October 2020
MY HOME
Changing trends in holiday rentals By Stuart Cohen CabinCare Property Management & Project Specialists
A
s increased numbers of holiday rental hosts feel the momentum pick up, so the spirits of those involved are soaring at the prospect of a return to a semblance of normality. There are reports of increasing enquiries for year-end accommodation and hosts are anticipating a reasonable influx of South African visitors. With few international travellers expected, heightened competition is developing in this market and many hosts are doing their utmost to spruce up their accommodation offerings in order to compete in what, this year, will be an over-flooded market. This leaves holidaymakers with a wide choice, especially as there are no clear guidelines on nightly rates. Research on Airbnbs in the Overstrand shows that, for example, quality accommodation for a six- sleeper can range from R1 800 per night to R3 500 per night. Whilst normally one would be able to ascribe this discrepancy to the difference in quality of the amenities, appliances, décor and finishes, this year very similar
properties offering the same amenities are on the market at vastly different rates. The nightly rates for 10-sleeper properties range from around R3 500 to R12 500, with a few notable exceptions – for which most South Africans would have little appetite – at up to R24 000 per night. A new trend, which is very much a sign of the times, is for people to list their properties directly on Facebook, Gumtree, or any other website that is not a formal booking platform, like Airbnb, Booking.com and the rest. Whilst this is an alternative means of sourcing guests, there are some red flags for travellers to consider. The main reason people avoid portals like Airbnb is due to the fees they charge both guests and hosts, but with that comes a level of security and protection otherwise not guaranteed. Most of us are aware of the recent debacle in Camps Bay, Cape Town, where a group known as ‘activists’ booked an Airbnb for a weekend under false pretences and then stayed on as squatters to highlight housing and land issues. From a legal perspective, this was undertaken in a deceitful manner and with criminal intent, as stated by the owner’s attorneys, and the end result was that the case went to court and the
culprits were forced to vacate or face eviction.
message:
The point here is that anyone offering holiday accommodation directly to guests has no protection whatsoever should a similar situation occur. Unless the guests are known personally to the owners, or family or friends who can vouch for them, you are opening yourself up to all kinds of risks if something goes wrong. One of the key advantages of listing on a recognised platform is that there are strict vetting procedures for hosts and guests, and various forms of protection are in place.
“We want to reassure you that protecting Airbnb’s host community is of key importance to us. We are keeping an open line of communication with the host and are reviewing all reasonable options, as overstays go against our terms of service.
If letting directly, owners need to introduce some system of guest validation and verification, and should consider implementing strict checks to protect themselves and their properties. They should have an appropriate rental agreement and consider additional checks on prospective guests’ financial liquidity, or possibly require larger deposits. Having no rental agreement in place is highly risky and could result in untold legal complications, should things go wrong. In the Camps Bay incident, the owner could immediately call on back-up and assistance from Airbnb in support of their stance against the guests. Many Airbnb hosts were panicked by these unexpected events and Airbnb responded appropriately with the following
028 313 1839
“At Airbnb we are continuously working on ways to make our community as secure as possible for everyone. That’s why, before booking, guests are verified by asking for their government ID, legal name and address, and Airbnb only charges for reservations at the point of booking. “In addition to these deterrents Airbnb also provides hosts with the security of a Host Guarantee which provides protection for up to $1 million for guest damages to properties.” Whilst many hosts are trying to minimise their expenses and achieve the highest possible income, renting directly to guests can bring about huge challenges and it’s that protection that one pays for when listing on a recognised website. That said, there is no doubt that the ‘new normal’ will bring a change to many of the traditional ways of going about holiday lets and hopefully the result will be a positive one that benefits all parties.
admin@theinstaller.co.za www.theinstaller.co.za
Unit 9, Whale Park, 2 Argon Rd, Hermanus Business Park
WIN YOUR LOAN BACK! TO ENTER, APPLY FOR AN AFFORDABLE CASHIES LOAN AGAINST YOUR SALARY. BE APPROVED AND STAND A CHANCE TO WIN YOUR LOAN BACK. We also offer a FREE credit report. Visit our Personal Finance Centre today! Competition ends 30 November 2020. Winner will be notified telephonically on 4 January 2020! Valid ONLY at Cash Converters Hermanus.
Cash Converters Hermanus Astoria Village, 23 Long St Hermanus T: 010 590 6328
hermanus@cashconverters.co.za
www.cashconverters.co.za
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21 October 2020
MY WELLNESS
L2L supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month
E
ach year, Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse (L2L) hosts a series of practice walks in the months leading up to the main 100 km walk for charity from Cape Agulhas Lighthouse to Danger Point Lighthouse. The practice walks give ladies registered for the main walk an opportunity to get used to the terrain and distance that they will experience on the main walk in 2021, and are also open to anyone who wishes to join in. From this year, those who are unable to make it to the practice walks (which are held in the Overstrand), are encouraged to join in spirit and do a virtual practice walk on that same weekend in their home areas. It is also the first year that participants are required to register online for the practice walks in advance on Quicket, and to pay an entry fee if they are not a registered L2L 2021 walker. The funds raised from these practice walks will be used to raise funds for the other 11 charities that were not selected as the main beneficiary (Hermanus Child & Family Services) or secondary beneficiary (Overstrand Hospice). The full list of charities that will benefit from the 2021 walk can be found at www.lighthouse2lighthouse.co.za/
charities_new.Walkers were asked to wear pink for the first practice walk, which took place on Sunday, to show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The 72 participants met at The Beanery at Gateway Centre at 07:00 to sign in and just before 08:00 the group set off for Fernkloof Nature Reserve. The route followed a hiking trail in Fernkloof Nature Reserve before continuing on the trail towards Voëlklip. The walkers enjoyed beautiful views and a few whales could be seen in the distance. From there it was down to Grotto Beach where they enjoyed a break before heading along the Cliff Path back towards town and the end of the walk at Gateway. Committee member Elna de Villiers was on standby with her support vehicle to provide backup and help in case of any incidents. Joining the group were several representatives from the 2021 charity list, including Phil Murray (Grootbos Foundation), Sister Zoe Hayman (Hawston Health and Welfare Organisation), Jennie Vorster and Joanie Nel (SOFCA), Wilna Barnes (Overstrand Hospice), Ninky Matthee (Hermanus Waldorf School) and Daisy Verburg (Children's Book Network). Jami Kastner of The Butterfly Centre, which was the beneficiary of
the 2020 walk, also joined in the practice walk on Sunday, while Adene Pringle from Kleinmond Animal Welfare and Tracy Whitehead from the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation joined in spirit by doing virtual walks. They were among six teams of virtual walkers on Sunday, from Gauteng to Montagu and Jacobsbaai.
Honorary Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Member Leslie Clark (left) with L2L Chairperson Ronelle van Zyl on the last stretch of the walk to Gateway Centre. PHOTOS: Simone Heunis & Elna de Villiers
Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse will hold one practice walk a month in different locations in the Overstrand leading up to their main 100 km walk for charity in 2021 (for the first time split into two groups to help maintain social distancing). The next practice walk will be held for the first time at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and part of the trail will extend into Flower Valley Farm. This is a very rare opportunity to walk in this area so make sure you register on Quicket (search for ‘Practice Walk 2 - Grootbos Fynbos Trail‘) as spots are limited. If you cannot make it to Hermanus for the walk then register for the virtual practice walk (search for ‘Virtual Walk 2’). For more information visit www.lighthouse2lighthouse.co.za or visit the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Ladies Facebook page for updates. – Taylum Meyer
72 walkers set off from The Beanery in the rain on Sunday morning for the 23km practice walk. The weather cleared as the morning progressed turning into a beautiful day for walking.
www.thevillagenews.co.za
21 October 2020
19 Several representatives from the L2L 2021 charity list joined the practice walk on Sunday.
Rest break at Fernkloof gardens.
This lovely local lady completed her first long distance walk. Well done!
eeuw, that's one ugly sucker!
Unfortunately, there's a really good chance that he's sitting inside your pet's tummy right now! Deworming your pets every 3 months is the only way to protect them against tapeworm, hookworm & roundworms, all of which can be passed on to you and your children
Ask your nearest EberVet Vetshop for advice ONRUS 2 Wybo Newmark Rd tel: 028 316 2904
HERMANUS Checkers Centre Station Mall tel: 028 312 3028
HERMANUS Whale Coast Mall tel: 028 312 1453
CALEDON Victoria Mall Caledon Tel: 028 214 1112
21 October 2020
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Pushing the boundaries
Generation Schools Hermanus is extremely proud of senior learner Kyle Saville for “pushing the boundaries of education�. Kyle starred in his preliminary Cambridge exams last month in both IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education, Year 10 & 11) and in AS Level (Advanced Subsidiary Level, Year 12 & 13). He has also now received a dual qualification which makes him eligible to do a dual degree. That means he can study for an undergraduate qualification in both South Africa and the UK at the same time. Well done on your amazing achievements, Kyle! With Kyle on the left is Generation Schools CEO, Jevron Epstein. PHOTO: Generation Schools Hermanus
MY WELLNESS
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SA Canoe Marathon Champs
Emma Privett (Generation Schools Hermanus) and Matthew Privett (Hermanus High School) took part in the SA Canoe Marathon Champs in St Francis on 11 October. Emma represented WP and the Stanford Canoe Club and won gold in the girls U12 guppy race. Matthew, who also represented Stanford Canoe Club, won gold in the boys U16 K1 (singles), as well as a gold in the doubles race (K2) after a sprint to the finish line, giving him a clean sweep for the U16 SA title. Well done to both of you! PHOTOS: Supplied
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21 October 2020
Second Brewery to Brewery a success
PHOTO: Martyn Mulder VIDEO: Shaun Peters Media
T
he second annual Brewery to Brewery Beer Festival & MTB Challenge took place this past weekend with 450 riders participating – more than double the amount that took part in the inaugural event last year. Riders met in Greyton on Saturday for registration at the Old Potter’s Inn, where they later relaxed and enjoyed what can only be described as a mini Oktoberfest as they were treated to music by the famous German band Wurstzipfel. They also had the opportunity to enjoy traditional German food and delicious craft beers before getting a good night’s rest for the race on Sunday. The last of the riders arrived early in Greyton on Sunday morning for registration before the race began at 07:00 from Uitkyk Primary School. Participants enjoyed near-per-
fect weather on the 85 km route, although some parts were muddy and many of the riders arrived at the finish line covered in dirt, yet smiling from ear to ear. The route took them through the Overberg along 67 km of scenic gravel roads, 10 km of tarred roads and 8 km of single track with a 1 450m ascent. The riders we spoke to agreed that the MTB event was one of the best they had participated in, with many commenting on the beautiful scenery, as well as how well organised it was. In the men’s category, Matthew Beers finished first in a time of 2 hours and 45 minutes, followed by Zander Kurger in second place, Andreas Studer in third and Hermanus rider Gys Malan in fourth, just seconds behind Andreas. In the women’s category, Nicky Giliomee finished first in a time of 3 hours and 31 minutes, followed closely by
Sarita Louw, Jeanie de Villiers and Nikki Biesheuvel. Besides being a fantastic mountain biking event, Brewery to Brewery also shines a light on some of the best craft beers in the Western Cape, including Feral (Cape Town), Woodstock, Hemel-en-Aarde (Hermanus), Old Potter’s Inn and Brewhouse (Greyton) and Shackleton (Cape Town), which riders could enjoy after the race, which ended at The Brewery in Hermanus. Besides the German food and music of the night before and the craft beers, the event was given an Oktoberfest vibe by The Brewery’s staff who dressed in dirndl dresses and lederhosen shorts for the event. Brewery to Brewery has quickly become an event not to be missed! – Taylum Meyer
ABOVE: Jodi McKirdy (The Brewery) with Trevor Gerntholtz (left), the owner of Old Potter’s Inn in Greyton and Marc de Maudave Bestel, co-owner of The Brewery. Trevor shows us that we must all be safe and wear our masks...maybe just not when trying to drink a beer! BELOW: One of the organisers, Bianca le Roux with Cape Town riders (from left) Rob Craig, Kyle Gifford, Rob Misplon and Lee Kotze.
PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer
21 October 2020
www.thevillagenews.co.za
Riders could book a much-needed massage with T33M at the finish line in Hermanus. PHOTO: Taylum Meyer
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Holger Stutz (left) came down from Johannesburg especially for the event. With him are Jodi McKirdy (The Brewery) and Kevin Davids from Hermanus. PHOTO: Taylum Meyer PHOTO: Martyn Mulder
PHOTO: Martyn Mulder
The race ended at The Brewery in Hermanus where riders could relax and have a cold beer from one of the many microbreweries that had stalls set up. PHOTO: Taylum Meyer
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21 October 2020
Some of the route was a little muddy! PHOTO: Martyn Mulder
The Brewery to Brewery MTB Challenge started at the Uitkyk Primary School sports field in Greyton at 07:00 on Sunday. PHOTO: Martyn Mulder
The microbreweries who joined the event were Woodstock Brewery, Shackleton Brewing Company, Old Potter’s Inn and Brewhouse, Feral Brew Co., and The Brewery @ Hemel-en-Aarde. PHOTO: Taylum Meyer Despite the inclement weather and strong wind, the Walker Bay Radio Flyers Club (WBRF) held a special gathering of local members on Saturday 17 October in aid of Cancer Awareness Month. More than 10 radio-controlled aircraft, one of them even decked out in a pink feather boa, took to the air while hotdogs and pink-themed cookies were on offer to help raise funds for this worthy cause. The club was launched more than a decade ago and is one of a few select clubs that not only has two airfields (one in Karwyderskraal and one in
Bot River) but also a dam where water planes can land. Club events organiser, Terry Lesser said anyone who is interested in radio-controlled aircraft is welcome to join the club or to come and have a look at the airplanes. “If you see aircraft in the sky at Karwyderskraal, feel welcome to drop in and join us. There are goats on the farm where the airstrip is located next to the R43, so that is the reason why the gate is closed. Just pop the gate open, remember to close it again, and come and join us as we take to the skies,” he said. For more information follow Walker Bay Radio Flyers on Facebook.
Desi Doran and Nazmie Anthony from Cape Town participated in the Brewery to Brewery MTB Challenge for the first time this year. They especially enjoyed the single tracks and complemented the organisers on their clear route markers. PHOTO: Taylum Meyer
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www.thevillagenews.co.za
21 October 2020
MOTORING
F
on cars
Compiled by John Floyd
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is “SUV of the Year” T
he 2020 model year of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio receives an award that the Italian high-performance SUV won once before two years ago: the car magazine AUTO ZEITUNG once again awarded the 375 kW (510 hp) top version of the series as the "SUV of the Year". This time the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio prevailed against eleven competitors, including the most powerful SUVs of the major German, Italian and British brands. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is equipped with a V6 bi-turbo petrol engine: its 375 kW (510 hp) provides
acceleration from a standing start to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 283 km/h. This agile handling is due to the active suspension with electronic shock absorber control (AlfaTM Active Suspension), the AlfaTM D.N.A. Pro Dynamic Driving Control system, enhanced by the "Race" performance mode, the Brembo® high-performance braking system, the AlfaTM Q4 electronically controlled four-wheel drive, the ideal weight distribution of almost 50/50 between front and rear axles and the extremely direct steering. Sports
seats upholstered in a combination of leather and Alcantara® and an eight-speed automatic transmission that allows gear changes using paddles on the steering wheel further enhance the driving pleasure. Shortly after its premiere, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio set a lap record for production SUVs on the legendary Nordschleife of the Nürburgring. Highlights of the 2020 model year include advanced electronic driver assistance systems, which enable autonomous driving at level 2, and a newly developed infotainment system with an 8.8-inch (22.3-centimetre) display.
BMW 330is pays homage to the iconic 325is T here is no replacing a legend such as the iconic South African manufactured BMW 325is, but you can pay your respects to it. To celebrate what became revered as the ‘Gusheshe’, BMW South Africa is launching a limited-run BMW 330is Edition. Only 230 BMW 330is Edition models will be made available exclusively for the South African market. Perfect performance With an acceleration of 0 – 100 kilometres per hour in 5.8 seconds and a power output of 190 kW, it is poised to set the pace. The new generation BMW TwinPower Turbo, 2 litre and 4-cylinder petrol engine is notable for its agile power delivery and outstanding responsiveness, even at low engine speeds. This
results in high fuel efficiency and low emissions.
The BMW 330is Edition is equipped with an M Sport package and 20” M Performance wheels. The M Aerodynamic kit includes an M Performance front splitter, M Performance side skirts in body colour, M Performance boot spoiler and an M Performance exhaust for added sportiness. The M Sport brakes have four-piston fixed callipers at the front and single-piston floating callipers at the rear, in blue with the M designation and features large brake discs to ensure outstanding stopping power. The 10 millimetre lowered Adaptive M suspension can be electronically adjusted to suit all driving and road
conditions. The driver can also adjust the suspension characteristics via the Driving Experience Control to enable their preferred driving style – from comfortable to athletic. The variable sport steering creates a direct and agile steering response, improving the handling when driving more dynamically. This is complemented by the 8 -Speed Steptronic Sport transmission that offers sporty gear changes. Whether automatic or manual using gearshift paddles or the gear lever, the gear shifts are configured optimally. The BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line (inspired by the BMW 325i Shadow Line introduced in 1985) with extended features also includes a black grille and darkened
interior headlights. Each BMW 330is Edition also carries an authentic boot badge unique to the vehicle.
To spark nostalgia, the BMW 330is Edition is available in a choice of colours – from classic Glacier Silver, striking Melbourne Red and timeless Alpine White to the sleek Black Sapphire. One-of-a -kind interior From the unique Edition door sills on the front passenger and driver side to the interior trim finisher with 330is, the BMW 330is Edition features an exclusively sporty interior. Unique door sills with 330is insignia for the front passenger and driver, as well as leather 'Vernasca' Black with decorative stitching ensure the vehicle stands out.
M seat belts, an M leather steering wheel, ambient interior lighting, anthracite roof lining, a glass sliding sunroof and a Harman Kardon Surround Sound system complete the package. The BMW 330is comes standard with next generation technology such as BMW Gesture Control, Park Assist and Live Cockpit Professional. The sport seats for the driver and front passenger provide the most ideal lumbar support with their raised side bolsters and adjustable support. The fore-and-aft position and seat angle can be adjusted, as well as the backrest width. The BMW 330is Edition is on sale from R899 000 incl. CO2 Tax.
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21 October 2020
All-electric MINI now in South Africa W hen Mini was introduced to the world in 1959, the first compact car for the premium segment immediately became a trendsetter. Built for purpose as a fuel-efficient, four-seater city car, the classic Mini soon captured the hearts of a large and loyal fanbase. Fast forward to the next era of urban mobility, and the new MINI Electric is ready to take the sustainability baton in South Africa. To be officially launched in October 2020, its starting price of R642 000 makes this the most affordable electric vehicle on sale in South Africa. The new MINI Cooper SE is based on the MINI 3 door with an internal combustion engine. Its highly ex-
pressive design is complemented by the accent colour Energetic Yellow that points to the electrifying character of the MINI Cooper SE. These accents can be found in several places, including the closed radiator grille, mirror caps, tailgate and side scuttles. The car is produced together with the conventionally-powered model at the British MINI Plant in Oxford.
in the underbody shifts the vehicle’s centre of gravity down considerably. The vehicle’s resulting low centre of gravity and the suspension adapted to this specific model’s requirements assist the new MINI Cooper SE in achieving impressive agility and dynamic cornering performance. For the first time, electric mobility goes hand-in-hand with the typical MINI go-kart feeling.
Big emotions, no emissions
The new MINI Cooper SE accelerates from zero to 60 km/h in 3.9 seconds and from a standstill to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds. In addition to its agile handling characteristics, its unmistakable features include an extensive range of standard equipment, model-specific display and control elements, and two-stage brake energy recuperation that can be
Locally emission-free and almost noiseless, the electrically-powered MINI converts the hassle of everyday traffic into the perfect driving fun in the city. Its 135 kW/270Nm electric motor thrills with its spontaneous power delivery. The high-voltage battery located deep
configured using a toggle switch. With a range of 217 kilometres, the new MINI Cooper SE is ideally equipped for sustainable urban mobility.
But, while urban mobility is certainly the greatest strength of the MINI Cooper SE, its low cost of ownership and low running costs cannot be discounted. The all-electric MINI drivetrain consists of far fewer working parts than an internal combustion engine and, therefore, there are fewer parts that need to be repaired or replaced over time. As with the BMW Group’s BMW i models, the MINI Cooper SE comes standard with an eight-year/100 000km battery warranty. And how much would it, for exam-
ple, cost to charge a MINI Cooper SE at home, either using the standard charging cable or the optional MINI Wallbox? The MINI Cooper SE consumes 17kWh per 100km. If the cost of electricity is 75c/kWh, then it would cost around R12,75 to run a MINI Cooper SE for 100km (or R28 for a full “tank”, assuming the battery is depleted). Charging at all BMW and MINI-branded public chargers, using the standard MINI charging card is, however, free of charge. Allow 35 minutes for a charge from 0 – 80% using a 50kW fast charger, and two-and-a-half hours using the 11kW charger. For more on the MINI Cooper SE in South Africa, visit: mini.co.za.
21 October 2020
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From Detroit to Port Elizabeth – the Ford Model T revolutionised transport I
t is a fascinating exercise to think of what October’s Transport Month would look like, were it not for cars like the Ford Model T - which went on sale for the very first time on 1 October 1908. This day is celebrated annually around the world as Model T Day.
Even those with limited car knowledge will have, no doubt, heard of the famous Model T that pioneered many recognisable aspects of the modern car. More than a century later, manufacturing methods and engineering solutions in the current automotive landscape still owe credit to the Model T. The Ford Model T was named the most influential car of the 20th century in the 1999 Car of the Century competition. In its lifetime the Model T sold more than 15 million examples between 1908 and 1927 – a production period that very few nameplates have managed to beat.
released. It was characterised by a number of now-common features including a left-sided steering wheel, an enclosed four-cylinder engine with a detachable cylinder head and a one-piece cylinder block – this configuration made it possible for owners to do most of their own repairs. It was also the first Ford with all its parts built by the company itself. Although its early life began in Detroit, the Model T has a rich and beloved history in South Africa. The first local Ford agents were appointed in 1905 in Port Elizabeth, with the Model T being introduced in 1908 as a successor to the Model N.
Regarding the Model T’s success, Henry Ford said it best: “I will build a car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one.”
Ford Motor Company of South Africa was founded as a subsidiary of Ford of Canada in 1923, and local assembly of the Model T began the following year, close to what is now Ford’s Struandale Engine Plant. During this time Model T components arrived in large wooden crates imported from Canada through the Port Elizabeth harbour and were assembled in a converted old wool warehouse – making it the 16th Ford assembly plant outside of North America, and the first assembly line of any kind in Africa. Many of the houses nearby were actually built from the remains of these wooden crates! South Africa had about 19 000 Model T Fords on its roads between 1908 and 1927.
In a top-secret room of a small factory on Piquette Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, plans for the Model T steadily took shape until October 1, 1908 when the first Model T was officially
October 1, 1908 will always be an auspicious date in Ford’s history, says Doreen Mashinini, General Manager Marketing at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA): “Thanks to
a combination of an affordable price and robust construction, the Model T is frequently referred to as the car that put the world on wheels and one of mankind’s supreme engineering achievements. “The Model T transformed the entire concept of transport and inspired a global shift away from the horse and carts that were being used at the time. Nearly all modern vehicles have similarities to the Model T while Henry Ford’s moving assembly line has remained. Ford Motor Company’s legacy started here and all our products continue the leadership that was so evident throughout Henry Ford’s lifetime.” Philip Kuschke, president of the Model T Ford Club of South Africa, adds: “Among its many traits, the Model T was extremely adaptable. There are many accounts where Model T owners out on the farm would need to improvise by connecting wood saws or water pumps to the Model T’s rotating axle. After cutting wood out on the farm, owners and friends would load up the Model T with all the supplies it could carry and drive it back home.” Apart from being within the economic reach of the average citizen, the Model T helped Henry Ford show off one of his truly pioneering inventions -- the moving assembly line. By breaking assembly down into 84 distinct steps performed by groups of workers as the vehicle chassis moved down the line, production time in 1913 was slashed from 12.5 hours to around 1.5 hours per vehicle. At Ford’s peak production of the
Model T in 1923, the production time was cut down to only 23 seconds! Henry Ford’s way of assembling cars is still used in modern factories around the world. In 2016 the Model T Ford Club of South Africa was established and now includes around 45 members who frequently get together around the country and drive formidable distances – including the almost 1 800km from Simon’s Town to Nelspruit, or the rough and treacherous Seven Passes between George and Knysna. Remarkably, the club continues to grow with some younger Model T owners clearly enthused by this legendary vehicle’s history and fun-to-drive personality. “Although the number of Model Ts in South Africa can’t compare to the approximately one million still running in the United States, the quality of local restorations is as good as anywhere in the world,” says Kuschke. “All members in the club understand that in order to keep up the enthusiasm for the Model T, they need to pass along all the knowledge and tradecraft they can. As a retired woodworker, I have made sure to teach other Model T owners how to build the intricate spokes that make up the centre of the wheel. “It has been a privilege to be part of this amazing legacy! Some members, like myself, learned to drive in a Model T, and that same 1915 Model T Ford is still being driven by my brother today. It’s such an icon, and once you have learned to drive the car, you have to have one,” concludes Kuschke.
