27 MAY 2020
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Nothing like celebrating a birthday on top of a mountain! "We woke up and left Chanteclaire at 06:00 to watch the sunrise and celebrate a birthday with coffee and homemade biscuits," says the photographer of this beautiful view, Gys Malan. "On the way down I got some awesome photos in the beautiful morning light." Find Gys on Instagram (@gysrace) and follow his adventures.
Schools prepare to reopen Writer Hedda Mittner
T
he principals and staff of Overstrand schools are hard at work to prepare for their reopening after Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga announced last week that Grade 7 and Grade 12 pupils would return to class on Monday 1 June. By adopting a phasing-in approach, other grades would follow in due course, she said. This follows weeks of uncertainty about when and how schools across South Africa would resume, and complete, the 2020 academic year. All schools in the country have been closed since 18 March and by 1 June, a total of 40 schooldays would already have been lost due to the lockdown. It has been a trying time for educators, pupils
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and their families, and while most parents have welcomed the Minister’s announcement, others have expressed concern about the safety of sending their children back to school at a time when the Western Cape is experiencing a spike in COVID-19 infections. In his address on Sunday evening to announce the country’s move to Alert Level 3 on 1 June, President Cyril Ramaphosa said “no one will be forced to send their child to school” and that parents would have the option of continuing to rather homeschool their children. “We are facing an unprecedented challenge which could not have been anticipated, with no blueprint. There is much anxiety among all sectors of our population, which is understandable given the nature of the Coronavirus,” said Western Cape Minister of Education, Debbie Schäfer. “Some people are also struggling to understand
that on the one hand, they have been told to stay home and isolate themselves from society, yet now they are being told to go to schools, or send their children to school.” In light of Professor Salim Abdool Karim’s statement that we are going to have to live with this virus for a long time and that it “is going to pose a threat continually, well into next year”, Schäfer went on to say that schools could not, however, remain closed indefinitely. Emphasising the disadvantages of keeping children at home, she said this would mean that “parents cannot work, children miss out on important parts of the curriculum which can affect the rest of their schooling and their future earning capacity, and the poor are affected the most”. While most schools have been able to continue their pupils’ education during the lockdown through distance learning, not all pupils have
access to computers, the internet and data. For these vulnerable children, many of whom also depend on their school’s feeding scheme, home schooling is not an option. And, as Dr Fiona Kritzinger, a paediatric pulmonologist at Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital points out, being unable to go to school has a far-reaching impact on children’s lives – not only academically but also emotionally, socially and psychologically. “Schools play a vital role in a child’s overall wellbeing,” she said in a recent video interview. “While there are risks associated with returning to school, my advice to families is to weigh up the benefits of attending school against the disadvantages of staying at home for a prolonged period.”
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27 May 2020
Mixed reaction from parents From P1 Most of the parents that The Village NEWS spoke to expressed cautious optimism about the prospect of sending their children back to school. “My children experienced the lockdown as a punishment and they can’t wait to go back,” said one mother. “They have been bored and depressed, missing their friends and teachers. The isolation has been particularly difficult for teenagers as
socialising is a big part of their lives and they feel they are missing out. Sitting at home all day is no life for a child.” Other parents are not convinced. ”The reopening of schools does cause me significant stress as I constantly wonder whether I am making the right decision,” says the mother of an asthmatic child who will not be returning to school. “I am not sure how many of the preventative measures will be able to be implemented at schools. Social distancing is neces-
sary but how this will be managed in schools remains to be seen. We also know that many people can have the virus but show no symptoms, so precautions put in place for early detection of sick students and teachers may be totally ineffective.” Another parent said, “Of course we are worried. There are a lot of unanswered questions and uncertainty about how all the guidelines will be implemented and how they will actually work in practice. A lot of parents are unsure about what to do, but we
can only protect our children so far and I think we have to have faith that the schools will be doing everything they can to keep them safe.” Local schools have been preparing for reopening for weeks and, in the words of Kobus Vermeulen, executive head of Curro Hermanus, “We are ready.” The school will be welcoming back both their Grade 12 and Grade 7 learners, with strict protocols in place. Gerhard Coetzee, principal of Northcliff House College, also said
he and his staff have ensured that all safety measures are adhered to. “I’d like to reassure parents that the school will take good care of their children,” he said, “but we need their cooperation and support in taking responsibility for their children’s safety after school and at home, by continuing to practice good hygiene and social distancing. "There will be a lot of kids getting the usual winter colds and flu, but please keep your child at home if they display any symptoms.”
Is it safe to send my child back to school? Writer Hedda Mittner
T
he burning question that all parents want an answer to is: How safe is it to send my child back to school? The short answer is that there is no scientific evidence that keeping children at home will help to curb the spread of COVID-19. Worldwide, relatively few children have been reported with COVID-19. According to RIVM, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands, which has been conducting extensive ongoing studies on the role of children in the spread of the Coronavirus, international research shows that the percentage of children among confirmed COVID-19 patients is low, ranging from 1% in young children to 6% in older children. Worldwide, very few children with COVID-19 have died and, so far, there are no COVID-19 fatalities among children under the age of 18 in South Africa. “For example, China, Korea, Italy, Spain and the United States have already conducted research on COVID-19 and children. International studies show that the disease in children is generally much milder than in adults. Children who were found to be infected with COVID-19 were also less likely to have symptoms than adults. Contact tracing shows that none of the children have infected other people.” RIVM’s findings confirm that COVID-19 patients under 20 years play a much smaller role in the
spread of the disease than adults and the elderly. “The virus is mainly spread between adults and from adult family members to children. Cases of children infecting one another or children infecting adults are less common. Children are also less likely to be infected by adults.”
be done practically to allow children to return to school safely, especially if there’s constant monitoring and awareness, and parents don’t send their children to school when they have symptoms. We are in uncharted territory and do not have hard facts, but the risks can be managed and minimised.”
Dr Kritzinger, a paediatric pulmonologist at Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, agrees that evidence from across the world points to the fact that children are in fact not ‘super spreaders’ of COVID-19. “We’ve learnt a lot over the last two months and the data suggests that our initial assumption – based on previous influenza outbreaks – that children could be ‘super spreaders’ of the disease, was wrong. The majority of children who become infected do so within a family cluster or household and are very rarely responsible for the spread of infection within a household or a school environment.
For parents of school-going children with comorbidities, Dr Kritzinger shared encouraging information during the interview. While advising them to set up an appointment with the child’s doctor or specialist in cases of serious cardiac disease, lung disease, diabetes, obesity or immune suppression to discuss the possible risks of sending the child back to school, she said there was no evidence to suggest that asthma sufferers should stay at home.
“If you look at the scientific data, and also bear in mind that there is no winter without the risk of children contracting the flu and other viral infections, I honestly don’t think there is an exceptionally high risk now that is completely different to previous winters.” Dr Kritzinger went on to say if the schools have prepared adequately and have all the necessary protocols in place, such as screening, sanitising, frequent hand-washing and maintaining social distancing, there’s “every reason to allow children back to school in a strategic fashion. A lot can
“There is reassuring data from Europe and North America that they have not seen more cases of COVID-19 in children with asthma or even with serious lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis. Even patients undergoing chemotherapy or who’ve had bone marrow transplants only had mild disease.” She emphasised that parents should make rational decisions based on individual circumstances and risks. “There’s a lot of information (and misinformation) out there, but what is often lacking in insight and context – you have to apply the available information to a specific context, otherwise fear takes over everything and we no longer make rational decisions. And if there is a case, rather
close down a specific class or school than resort to a blanket decision that all children should stay at home.” Schools in several European countries have reopened and children in the UK will also be returning to their classrooms on 1 June. Mark Woolhouse, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh was quoted in The Guardian last week as saying that under 2% of hospital admissions for COVID-19 in the UK were children under the age of 18. He said other considerations in reopening schools were that there had been few recorded cases of adults catching the disease from children, and no outbreaks had occurred in schools around the world. He did caution, however, “that teachers may be at risk from other teachers – as is the case between workers in other jobs”. The Guardian also reported that the reopening of schools in 22 European countries had, as yet, not led to any significant increase in Coronavirus infections among children, parents or staff. In France, however, 70 cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed within days of the reopening of 40 000 preschools and primary schools on 11 May. France’s Minister of Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer commented, “It’s inevitable this sort of thing will happen, but it’s a minority. In almost all the cases, this (infection) happened outside of the school.” He described the number as a very small proportion of the 1.4 million children who had gone back to school.
Inflammatory Syndrome linked to COVID-19
Parents have also been put on edge by reports of a small number of cases around the world of children with a potentially deadly inflammatory syndrome that has been linked to COVID-19. However experts have stressed it is rare, affecting only one in 1 000 children exposed to the virus. With this new illness, dubbed Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), patients tend to have symptoms similar to those found in Kawasaki disease, a rare childhood illness that causes inflammation in blood vessel walls, and in serious cases can cause heart damage. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US, symptoms can include fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes, and swollen hands and feet. The syndrome has a relatively wide age range and has been detected in babies of a few months old, young children and adolescents up to 20 years old. Cases have appeared in the US, Italy and Spain. According to the CDC, the disease is not directly caused by the Coronavirus, but the weakened immune system following infection can make children more susceptible to getting MIS-C, sometimes weeks later.Although much is still unknown about this new illness, experts have said that the cases are too rare to affect policy decisions and should not be a factor in the reopening of schools.
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27 May 2020
Overberg named as a COVID-19 hotspot Writer De Waal Steyn There is still uncertainty over what the effect on residents and businesses will be after the Overberg was named by Pres Cyril Ramaphosa as one of several COVID-19 hotspots countrywide. This follows the president’s announcement on Sunday 24 May that the whole country will be moving to Alert Level 3 of the lockdown from 1 June. This level will see an easing of several regulations, including the lifting of the ban on the sale of liquor, but not on cigarettes and other tobacco-related products. In a televised address, Ramaphosa said details of the new regulations
would be made available when discussions have been concluded. He added, however, that areas of the country where infection numbers are high, which he referred to as “hotspots”, may see more stringent restrictions, compared to other parts of the country. According to Level 3 regulations, curfews will be discontinued, outdoor exercise may take place at any time, and alcohol sales by liquor stores (though not bars) for off-premises consumption will be permitted. Most manufacturing, construction, financial services, professional and business services, information technology, government services, and media services can be reopened, while wholesale and retail trade will be fully functional, including stores,
spaza shops and informal traders. However, many businesses will not be allowed to trade, including hairdressers and beauty salons, restaurants (apart from takeaways for delivery, collection or drive-through services), bars, taverns, and shebeens, or nightclubs and casinos.
except for funerals, with an attendance of no more than 50 people, or meetings in the workplace for work purposes. People are requested to stay at home, especially those over 60 and people with underlying health conditions. No visiting of friends or family will be allowed.
Hotels, lodges and other accommodation facilities will remain closed, as well as gyms and sporting facilities, cinemas, flea markets and bazaars. For now, churches will also have to remain closed. But Ramaphosa said that proposals for partial access to "spiritual worship" – subject to certain norms and standards – are being considered.
For reopening businesses, Ramaphosa said that, where possible, employees should continue to work from home, and on site, companies would have to adhere to strict control measures. All staff who are older than 60 years of age and those who suffer from underlying conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer should stay at home.
All gatherings will remain prohibited,
However, differentiated lockdown
levels for different parts of the country could see those with severe Coronavirus infections stepped back a level (or two). "Should it be necessary, any part of the country could be returned to alert levels four or five if the spread of infection is not contained despite our interventions, and there is a risk of our health facilities being overwhelmed," he said. A hotspot is defined as an area that has more than five infected people per 100 000, or where new infections are increasing at a particularly rapid rate. Cape Town, the Cape West Coast, Overberg and Cape Winelands district municipalities were mentioned as hotspots in the Western Cape. The list of hotspot areas will be reviewed every two weeks depending on the progression of the virus.
Guidelines for the reopening of schools T
he Western Cape Minister of Education, Debbie Schäfer has confirmed that the following plans for the reopening of schools are being implemented, adding that “some are still being finalised, and some may change as we learn more”.
Preparation of school premises In preparation for reopening, the WCED placed orders for school safety and hygiene packs that will be received by principals at all public schools. These include two masks for every learner and staff member, hand sanitiser and liquid soap, cleaning materials and non-contact digital thermometers. Principals will also oversee the thorough cleaning of schools in preparation for the arrival of school staff and learners. The cleaning materials being delivered to schools include bleach, which is recommended by both South African and international health authorities for disinfecting surfaces. According to the NICD, the virus does not live longer than 72 hours on a surface, and is not airborne. Simply put, if there have been no people in the buildings, the virus cannot be there.
Learners and staff with comorbidities An interim list of conditions that present a risk for staff and learners as ‘comorbidities’, such as hypertension, diabetes and TB, has been sent to schools. This list specifies in detail which conditions are regarded by health experts as high risk, and how they are measured. Principals and Senior Management Teams will be compiling confidential lists of learners and staff with these conditions.
Parents whose children have comorbidities will be offered the opportunity to oversee their children’s learning at home with the support of the Department over the next few months, or until restrictions are lifted. A letter will be sent to schools with a form for parents to sign indicating their intention to keep their child at home and to oversee their learning. Staff with these conditions will need to provide a medical report on the nature and duration of the illness. Appropriate work arrangements and/or potential leave may then be considered. Screening of staff and learners for COVID-19 symptoms The issue of screening has caused concern amongst some staff mem-
bers, who feel that they are not able to screen others because they are not health professionals. Screening is a simple process that involves asking an individual some basic questions as to whether they are experiencing any symptoms, and taking their temperature with a non-contact digital thermometer pointed at the forehead.
This requires no medical expertise – in fact, many of our residents will have already encountered ordinary shop, bank and workplace staff performing screening as Level 4 economic activity expanded. Detailed guidelines on this process have been sent to schools. In our view, the most practical solution is for staff at schools to undertake this task. This is going to have to be done every day with every child and staff member. If there is only one person to do this, it will take up much-needed time for teaching. In addition, if school staff do it, it minimises the risks posed by additional people coming onto school premises. It is important that schools devise a method to implement this as quickly as possible, to minimise loss of teaching time. Physical Distancing As grades are due to return in phases,
there will be ample space for classes to be spread out to maintain the required 1.5m between learners for the first grades returning. The difficulty arises when more grades return to school, and space becomes a problem. One of the key tasks of our returning Senior Management Teams is to develop plans to teach in a new way, whilst the appropriate physical distance is maintained. Let us be clear: we have no intention of relaxing the physical distancing requirement at schools. When this maximum number is exceeded in the phased return, we are currently determining which option will be implemented – be it grades attending class on alternate days, the use of school halls as classrooms, or any of the many helpful proposals we have received from officials and the public alike. But we will not reduce or remove the physical distancing requirement.
Curriculum There is no way that the curriculum in its original form could be ‘caught up’ before the end of the year, without putting further pressure on our teachers, parents and children. So the Department of Basic Education has trimmed the curriculum to ensure that the essential concepts required
for progression to the next grade are taught. This does not apply to matric, though, which will proceed as normal, with catch-up plans to be implemented. We do not plan to have ‘matric camps’ in the Western Cape, as per some media reports. Transport For learners who rely on our learner transport scheme, we have been engaging with our service providers to ensure that they institute the appropriate sanitation measures. Detailed guidelines on these measures will be issued to providers and schools. Those who are using public transport must follow the guidelines as set out in the regulations published by the Minister of Transport:
• • • • •
Minibus taxis may only be 70% full (11 people including driver in a 16-seater minibus) Busses may only be 50% full Driver and marshals must wear a mask Hand sanitiser must be available for passengers The vehicle must be sanitised – especially handles, arm rests and handrails – before and after every trip
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27 May 2020
Hermanus society and the founding of NGOs: 1920 – 2020 In this comprehensive new series on the history of Hermanus, DR ROBIN LEE turns his attention to the proliferation of non-government organisations over the past 100 years. Focusing on the issue of conservation of fynbos and other indigenous vegetation, he takes a look at the rather complicated history of early efforts to preserve our floral kingdom. This will be followed next week by an article on the Hermanus Botanical Society as an example of the benefits to the community of healthy private voluntary organisations.
T
hrough my research, I have documented well over a hundred NGOs in Hermanus, which are active in many areas: welfare, social development, education and training, environmental conservation, sports clubs, community support, early childhood education, marine studies and others. In fact, Hermanus probably has more voluntary organisations at work than most towns of comparable size in South Africa. But they did not always come easily into existence. NGOs do not feature in the earliest years of the town. From 1855 to about 1895, the Hermanus community was of a single class, relatively poor and hard-working, with little time and resources to spend on much beyond their own survival. Doubtless, help from one neighbour to another neighbour played a part. Still, as far as I can tell, there were no formal charitable organisations until the entrance of the ‘fish merchants’ started the growth of capitalism in the town. The establishment of the Victoria Hotel (1895), the Sanatorium (1896), the Royal Hotel (1902), and The Marine Hotel (1904) created a more affluent propertied class (families named MacFarlane, Allengensky, Luyt, and Hoffman) with resources to devote to charitable activity. The hotels attracted guests who were even better off than the hotel owners, and
Lady Anne Barnard first noted the beauty of the “brilliant everlasting flowers” (below) of the area during a visit in 1798.
they made generous donations.
brightest foils…
However, the first organisations to deserve the name NGO resulted from partially commercial motives. P John Luyt, owner of The Marine and Riviera Hotels started several sporting clubs, with stable membership from permanent residents, but also a system of ‘honorary’ memberships for guests, while they were staying at one of the hotels. He believed that associations like this increased the likelihood of hotel guests returning ‘next year’. In this way, an angling club, a bowling club, and the Golf Club came into existence. In the terminology of NGOs, these are voluntary associations, managed by the members for the benefit of the members.
Lady Anne Barnard wrote these words in 1798, illustrating how fynbos first attracted attention for its spectacular ‘wildflowers’, which were easily gathered and contained long-lasting varieties, as well as fleeting blooms. It was perfect for floral ‘arrangements’ in houses. Indeed, this view of fynbos as mainly ‘decorative’ was dominant in Hermanus as late as the mid-20th century.
From there, it was a short step to establishing voluntary organisations for the benefit of the local community, and a number of these were created before 1920. Understandably, these organisations targeted the ‘coloured’ and ‘native’ populations and the social and financial problems they were experiencing. A semi-formal organisation known as The Non-White Adult and Child Welfare Society came into existence and raised funds for the Moffatt Hall in Mount Pleasant. It also opposed aspects of the implementation of the Group Areas Acts in Hermanus. Greater Hermanus is located entirely within the fynbos biome of the Overberg and people choosing to live here inherit the complex issue of striking a balance between the conservation of fynbos, on the one hand, and the demands for land for human purposes, on the other. Looking for this balance was not given much attention in 1855 when the first European families settled in Hermanuspietersfontein. They were fisherfolk, oriented solely to the ocean for their living. Yet, about 60 years before, someone had passed this way and recorded a response to the fynbos: Quantities of the most brilliant everlasting flowers, pink with black hearts, grew amongst the heath. (We) loaded ourselves with them, we were so intoxicated with their beauty, glistening as they did in the sun like the
Many of the early references to ‘wildflowers’ in the recorded history of Hermanus come from reports of memories that William Hugh (Meester) Paterson shared with different audiences at different times. For instance, on 23 January 1954, the Hermanus News reported that Paterson had spoken at a recent flower show. He reminded listeners that “the first show of wildflowers in Hermanus had been held 50 years before”, that is to say, as early as 1904. Arderne Tredgold reports that certainly before 1910, three brothers named Walsh began picking everlastings in bulk and exporting them to Europe. They were used as stuffing for mattresses and pillows, but the enterprise came to an end with the onset of World War I. In 1955, Meester Paterson told the Hermanus News in an interview that wildflower exhibitions had been held annually in Cape Town. In the same interview, Paterson is quoted as saying: In 1923 (I) went overseas, taking three large consignments of Hermanus wildflowers with (me). Some of these flowers were placed at the Cenotaph at Southampton, in memory of Lieut. Evered Poole of Hermanus, who was killed in World War I. Other flowers were placed at the Cenotaph in London and a further bunch on the statue of Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace. Queen Mary was also graciously pleased to receive a quantity of Hermanus wildflowers. These initiatives led to the formation of a ‘horticultural society’ in 1924. However, it only achieved one of its many aims, which was the staging of the annual Flower Show in October.
WH (Meester) Paterson (third from left) was a local teacher and principal of St Peter’s School, who later became the Town Clerk and then Mayor. A keen hiker, he took a special interest in the natural environment and had extensive knowledge of the area’s wildflowers. PHOTO: Old Harbour Museum An extract from the first annual report of the Society reads: From every point of view the Exhibition was an unqualified success. Every hotel was filled, and the takings at the door were treble those of preceding years. Unfortunately, the enthusiasm was not sustained and the Society was described as ‘dormant’ by the time World War II started. However, after the War, the Hermanus Horticultural Society was re-founded under the name of ‘Hermanus Horticultural and Wild Flower Protection Society’ under the chairmanship of Mr WH Paterson. In a refreshing new direction, the wildflowers were for the first time described as needing ‘protection’, indicating that previous regulation had not prevented large-scale illegal picking and that some areas of fynbos were at risk. Again, the enthusiasm did not last, and a citizen is quoted as saying: The natural beauty of Hermanus has not progressed with the town. Twenty-five years ago, Hermanus was renowned for its heath, much of which has been destroyed, and this should now be replaced. At this point, an influential name enters the record: Mr OJ Prillevitz. He was a prominent businessman in the town and had been Mayor twice. He strongly supported creating a ‘wildflower and fynbos garden’ for the town, and was the first to identify the Fernkloof area as a suitable site and to use the name Fernkloof Nature Reserve. The name was unusual, as the area he referred to was officially known as ‘Mossel River West.’ There was no reference to ‘Fernkloof’ in municipal records. On 8 June 1957, the Hermanus News PHOTO: Supplied
PHOTO: Supplied
Motivated by the need to protect the wildflowers in Hermanus, Fernkloof Nature Reserve was established in 1958.
reported that the May meeting of the Town Council would be devoted to the issue of a nature reserve. A vital letter about it had been received from the Provincial Administration, giving the go-ahead under certain conditions. Before the meeting, Prillevitz arranged a visit to the proposed area by Prof HB Rycroft, Director of the National Botanical Gardens at Kirstenbosch. A report from Prof Rycroft, which was firmly in favour of a reserve, was tabled at the meeting. Factors mentioned in the report included the need to protect wildflowers, and the fact that the area was already well-stocked with plants and no “programme of extensive planting” would be needed. There was a permanent water supply, and fires seemed less frequent than in other areas, and it was relatively clear of aliens (“exotics”). Prillevitz and his supporters were successful. On 10 August 1957, a notice for the establishment of a nature reserve of approximately 224 moregn in Fernkloof was published by the Town Clerk in the Hermanus News. No objections were recorded, and on 1 March 1958, the boundaries of the Reserve were announced. A Committee was appointed to control the Reserve. Up until this point, arguments for the conservation of the natural fynbos environment had been dominated by the ‘gardening’ perspective. Interventions to ‘improve’ the natural display of wildflowers were encouraged, preferably in locations near the town such as Hoy’s Koppie, where it made a decorative show. But change was soon to come. PHOTO: Kate Black
27 May 2020
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Born to be a shrewd entrepreneur Writer & Photographer Elaine Davie
I
n this time of Coronavirus lockdown, just when many small business owners in the Overstrand are living in fear of having to close down, William Chiwara, a Kleinmond coffee shop owner, decided to open a second business. It is in the nature of the true entrepreneur to see opportunities where no one else does, to be willing to take a calculated risk and then to put in the hard yards to make it succeed. That, together with a warm and sunny disposition, is an accurate description of William.
When he, his wife, Florence and little girl first arrived in Kleinmond almost exactly three years ago, it was after an epic journey starting in 2008 that took them from Mutare in Zimbabwe, where William was a coffin maker, through Botswana, to Johannesburg, and then Cape Town. Everywhere they stopped, Florence and William enthusiastically plunged into a proliferation of different jobs, learning new skills and never giving up on their hopes for a better life. By the time they arrived in Kleinmond, William’s dream was to open a coffee and health drink shop of his own. By then he had become a qualified barista and a self-taught specialist in super foods. The only premises he could find for his business was a shop tucked away in the so-called industrial area. With his never-say-die attitude, he took it anyway. Serendipitously, it was the best thing he could have done. Located right next door to the only gym in town, it wasn’t long before the fitness fanatics discovered his delicious super-food smoothies. His outgoing, friendly personality soon earned him not only a fan club of devoted customers, but a circle of loyal friends. However, being the shrewd businessman he was, he realised he had little chance of attracting passing trade where he was, and six months later he was able to find new premises right on the Main Road in the same block as the police
station and the Primary School, across the road from a petrol station and diagonally opposite a supermarket and small shopping centre. This was a bold move in a small tight-knit, traditional community like Kleinmond with an inbuilt suspicion of strangers, especially those from across our borders. Totally undaunted, William set up shop, assisted by Florence who by then was pregnant with their second child. And after a few exploratory test runs, teachers from the school, policemen from down the road and eventually many ordinary citizens joined his loyal customer base from the gym and beat a path to his tiny shop. It was also ideally placed for drive-by travellers from out of town. William brought all his produce locally and his family, which now included a baby boy, attended a local church. Everybody in town knew William. So when Hurricane Idai struck Mozambique and Zimbabwe in 2019, devastating many rural communities, and William called for contributions of clothing and household goods to distribute to the victims, piles of stuff arrived on the doorstep of his little shop in a matter of days. On his own initiative and at his own expense, William personally took two loads of clothing, food, medical items like bandages and anti-cholera medication, pots, pans and blankets to hand out in the Chimanimani region of Zimbabwe. Now firmly ensconced in the Kleinmond landscape, William continued to keep a weather eye open for new business opportunities in the area. So when the Red Disa restaurant in the Harold Porter Nature Reserve closed its doors just before the 2019 holiday season, William managed to negotiate a 6-month contract with the reserve to serve coffee there. Giving his young brother, Archmore a crash coffee-making course and installing a spare coffee machine, they made a killing, until lockdown put an end to both that and William’s Natural Health Coffee Shop. But while Archmore was slaving away over
a hot coffee machine in Betty’s Bay, William had not been idle. Across the road from him was an Halaal restaurant, the owner of which was also a tour guide. Eventually, finding that his tourism job was clashing too often with his responsibilities at the restaurant, he decided to sell it. He was delighted to find a willing buyer in William, who had money available from the Red Disa coffee sales. He was thrilled. The restaurant could seat about Stepping out with 50 people, but the main a pizza delivery, attraction was the beautiful William Chiwara is wood-fired pizza oven in the proud owner the kitchen. During their of William's Pizza pre-Kleinmond travels, Wiland Grill which liam had worked in a steakwas launched in house and Florence had Kleinmond five been employed at a frandays before lockchise pizza outlet. “Perfect.” down. (His favourite word.) And thus was William’s Pizza and Grill born. It opened its doors for a test run for five days; then lockdown types, in three sizes, on the menu, as well as a closed them again for over five weeks. variety of extra toppings and William’s Bullet Proof Coffee. They will add steaks, side dishes “It was fine,” says the ever-optimistic new and desserts along the line. “We want to get owner. “It gave us time to organise everything the pizzas right first and build up our clientele inside, to try out recipes and to plan for the before we add anything else. And we’re inviting future with Florence and my two new employour customers to tell us what we’re doing right ees, Jovan Peters and Nomakhosazana Shoba.” and what can be improved.” William says he was absolutely clear that if he was going to take on assistants in the restauIn the meantime, as their new customer base rant they should be locals. “I want to create jobs steadily grows, they’re all involved in offering for people who live in the town that has been a delivery service, often on foot. When the good to us,” he emphasises, “and I also want Natural Health Coffee Shop is allowed to open them to know that all sections of the communi- again, Florence will run that, Archmore will go ty are welcome in my restaurant; there will even back to Harold Porter, if that’s still an option, be a play area for the children.” and William, the super-entrepreneur will manage his new venture. Perfect! William can be They plan to start small with just six pizza contacted on 078 492 5175.
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27 May 2020
FROM THE EDITOR
The next edition of The Village NEWS will be available on 3 June 2020. The NEWS can be found at over 300 distribution points in the Overberg.
028 312 2234
6 Royal Street, Hermanus
De Waal Steyn
PUBLISHING EDITOR dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za
Hedda Mittner
CONTENT EDITOR hedda@thevillagenews.co.za
Responsibility is key to flattening the curve It is good news that the whole country will be moving down to Level 3 lockdown restrictions on 1 June. But the question is how will the Overberg’s hotspot status impact on the region? From the figures, it is clear that the numbers of infections in the district are rising, which is to be expected. However, with a very fragile economy largely dependent on tourism, which is unlikely to revive before December, we find ourselves in a very precarious position.
hungover, Marco picked himself up and staggered off through the early morning mist in search of the docks. Unfortunately, the thick, grey fog that enveloped the harbour was not unlike the thick fog enveloping Marco’s own grey matter, which would explain things…
ONLINE EDITOR
raphael@thevillagenews.co.za
Stumbling blindly through the murk, he somehow ended up on a different ship to Pa’s which was taking the more scenic route via Constantinople and the Silk Road. Realising his mistake too late, Marco was nevertheless undeterred. Although they were going the long way round, he knew he would eventually meet Pa again in that Pleasure Dome with the strange name in the Far East.
Elaine Davie SUB-EDITOR & JOURNALIST elaine@thevillagenews.co.za
PHOTOGRAPHER & PRODUCTION MANAGER taylum@thevillagenews.co.za
Alta Pretorius MARKETING MANAGER alta@thevillagenews.co.za
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As a community we need to work together to help curb the spread of the virus. While the multitude of frustrations we all experience can be understood, we need to ensure that we do not undo the effect the
lockdown has had on flattening the curve. All of us have a responsibility towards ourselves and our community to help keep the spread of the virus in check. The saying, ‘Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities is not freedom, it is adolescence’ seems very apt at the moment. These responsibilities not only include the health aspects of the pandemic but also those associated with
our local businesses. Although the phrase ‘Local is Lekker’ has become a constant refrain, the call to all residents to support local businesses cannot be overemphasized. Now that most of them will be allowed to trade, we need to make sure that the money we spend stays local. Many are struggling to compete with their corporate counterparts. Let us be united in spending our hard-earned money where it counts most – locally. This is the good NEWS - Ed
Marco Polo’s South African leg
Raphael da Silva
Taylum Meyer
While it is time for many of us to return to work and resume those aspects of our lives that have been on hold since the lockdown began, the risk of a massive increase in infections is now greater than it has been since the start of the outbreak in our country.
By Murray Stewart murray.stewart49@gmail.com
W
hen Marco Polo rounded the Cape on his way to the Far East, he was both delighted and disappointed at what he discovered. But before we get into that, just a quick recap of the circumstances…
Pa had told him tales of sallow -skinned people with high cheekbones and narrow eyes who spoke in a strange tongue. They cultivated tea, grew chopstick orchards and made cloth out of silkworm poo. He couldn’t wait.
Together with his Pa and Oom Maffeo, Marco had got totally plastered in Venice the night before they were to set sail to the East, and all ended up passed out in a soggy heap on the pavement outside the pub.
When his ship eventually docked in Table Bay for supplies, he climbed the main mast to the crow’s nest, and was convinced he’d spotted the Pleasure Dome in Kathmandu. Or was it Xanadu or Gugulethu – he wasn’t 100% sure of the name. He also found sallow-skinned folks with a strange language who drank tea,
At dawn, still severely drunk and
although they didn’t have silkworms or grow chopsticks. After a two-day trek, what he thought was the fabled Pleasure Dome turned out to be nothing more than Paarl glinting in the sunlight. So, trudging back, a somewhat crestfallen Marco boarded the ship again and set forth on his eastward journey. Rounding the Cape of Storms proved to be more frightening than expected. Apart from sailing into the teeth of a screaming South-easter, they were constantly harassed by a ghostly three-masted ship that would suddenly appear out of the mist, then eerily vanish minutes later. More disturbing was catching glimpses of its captain flapping his arms frantically and shouting at them in Dutch. Fortunately for Marco and the crew, Alphonso van Tonder, the ship’s cook from Genoa, had been taught Afrikaans by his father and could roughly translate the hysterical yelling. “What’s he saying?” shouted Marco over the howling gale. “He’s... telling us... to... turn back,” from Alph. “Because of the storm?” “No. He says there’s a ‘special offer’ at McDonald’s in Hout Bay. Big Mac and chips plus a Coke for only 6 lira! But hurry – while stocks last!”
Fortunately they didn’t turn back, because the stocks didn’t last and they would have been too late. Marco shuddered to think how disappointed the crew would have been. So, ignoring the advice of the phantom Dutchman, they navigated their way through the storm, and rounding the Southern tip of Africa, headed towards the twin heads of a lagoon called Nice Nè, which to Alph’s Afrikaans ear sounded more like a question than a place. In these sheltered waters the captain mustered the crew together to fell and load hundreds of valuable stinkwood logs into the hold for trade in the East. Over there they apparently only grew chopsticks and bamboo, so timber beams were extremely valuable in the construction industry. This gave Marco the opportunity to venture inland in search, perhaps, of more sallow-skinned tea drinkers. What he found instead were communities of long-haired forest-dwellers who kept saying “Hey Shoe”. They made candles, leather bags and wooden carvings. Instead of drinking tea, they smoked it, and to his amazement, they actually had elephants as pets. But that’s another story for next time.
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27 May 2020
LET'S TALK
Smoking ban makes no sense President Ramaphosa’s address on Sunday night has once again left a very bitter taste in my mouth. The off-handed announcement that the ban on cigarettes and tobacco products would continue was even more infuriating coming from him than from Minister Dlamini-Zuma when she made her own U-turn announcement some weeks ago. The logic of this ban defies any rationality and simply beggars belief. It is not only without any scientific basis; it is spiteful and cruel. First the issue was “the saliva on the paper” and now it’s simply that COVID-19 is a respiratory illness and that smoking is bad for your lungs. Duh? I think most of us smokers know that. You are our President, for heaven’s sake, not a parent or a teacher. But thanks for treating us like retarded children. You have no
idea how it has boosted our morale at a time when we are fast losing our livelihoods and our sanity. Your guidance has been most helpful and we are so grateful for your concern for our health!
Sarcasm aside, I think the agitated state I find myself in is probably clear from the tone of this letter. Yes, I am angry. Not only for being treated in such a condescending manner, but for being made to feel like a criminal.
I can now sleep soundly at night, safe in the knowledge that the damage inflicted on my lungs by 40 years of smoking will magically disappear in the few weeks that you so nobly prevented me from smoking.
It is not only outrageously unfair and insulting – it is cruelty disguised as goodwill. The stress it has induced in perfectly innocent and law-abiding citizens has led to serious withdrawal symptoms, anxiety and depression; it has ruined relationships and marriages. It has affected not only me but so many people around me.
Now, if I should get COVID-19, thanks to your benevolent gesture, I will simply sail through it and hardly get sick at all! The fact that my mental health will take a nosedive as I struggle through the effects of nicotine withdrawal are but a small price to pay for this wonderful gift of uncompromised lungs you have given me. Once again, I cannot thank you enough.
To mention just one example: there is my 85-year-old mother who has been kept in isolation at the care home where she lives. Among the few pleasures she had left in life were the two cigarettes she smoked every day – one with a cup of coffee late
Culture of ‘tattling’ is becoming a witch hunt I’m writing this in response to Dr Kokot’s letter published in the 13 May edition of The Village NEWS. This culture of tattling has escalated despicably during the COVID-19 lockdown. Suddenly society has been given the right to point at individuals for behaviour that we not only dislike but somehow want to see them pun-
ished for, too. How bizarre. I feel we need to caution this movement of rallying a witch hunt. We all know what happened in Salem. On a lighter note, this Coronacoaster has sadly caused us to miss those we don’t even know. So, please, if you don’t want to see people and view
them as the enemy because you fear infection, news flash: it’s going nowhere, so maybe you should rather just walk your own safer, solitary path. The rest of us yearn to feel normal. Helena Haward
Joshua Ryan It is with a sore heart that we share the passing of Joshua Ryan, one of our senior Camphill School learners. Joshie joined Camphill School in 2012 with severe intellectual disability and Camphill soon became his world. He had just celebrated his 18th birthday when he passed away and we have all watched him grow and blossom into a talented young adult. Valda Coetzee, his Class Facilitator, says she was so looking forward to seeing all her children again.
On behalf of our School’s Board, management, staff and German co-workers, we send heartfelt condolences to his family. Know that we are all sharing in your sadness. We offer you our thoughts and prayers during this time. Joshie, we will forever cherish your smiles, your sweet playful nature and your naughty giggles and laughs. You have touched each of us in your own unique way and we will all miss you – may you always rest in peace.
Genevieve Linney, PR & Fundraiser, Camphill School Hermanus
The Village NEWS firmly believes in freedom of the press as well as the right of individuals to freely express themselves, as long as they don’t infringe upon the rights of others. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors therefore do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Village NEWS. Letters may be shortened and/or edited for clarity and style. Send your letters to dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za.
morning, and the other with a small whiskey or a glass of wine before dinner. Already deprived of her children and grandchildren’s visits during this endless lockdown, she simply can’t understand why she is no longer allowed to smoke the two cigarettes per day. At her age, I think that’s the least she deserves. It’s not asking for much. But maybe our President will be able to explain to her why this regulation is “good for her”. There simply is no excuse for this nonsensical regulation. My friends all over the world are gobsmacked. I almost feel embarrassed to tell them about it, as it makes me feel ashamed of our so-called leaders and the type of country I live in. How is it that the medical experts advising our President have not told him that there is absolutely no clinical evidence that
smoking is a predisposing factor for contracting and becoming seriously ill with COVID-19? In fact, it is something that has puzzled the medical world for months, as the data points to exactly the opposite: a very small percentage of patients that have to be hospitalised for treatment are smokers. The stats are so startling that some doctors are now advocating for nicotine to be used as a potential treatment for COVID-19. Oh, the irony… But then again, maybe they do know this – and maybe there is something much more sinister behind this tobacco ban. Because whichever way you look at it, the nonsense we are being fed (and expected to believe) simply does not make sense. Woman against smoker cruelty
OAK now offers virtual concerts Overstrand Arts/Kunste (OAK) is delighted to have found an alternative to the usual live music concerts they offered regularly at the Municipal Auditorium, and which will hopefully resume in 2021. In collaboration with Concerts Connect, a unique live-stream concert platform that aims to connect music societies with audiences and artists, you can now enjoy world-class virtual performances in the comfort of your own home via your computer. Professional cameramen and sound technicians ensure that the visuals and audio of these live broadcasts are of the highest quality. To enhance the performance, the broadcasts will commence at 15:30 with an interview with the artist, which will include background information about the programme and recording setting. The actual concert starts at 16:00. The first virtual performance kicked off
on Sunday 24 May, and will be followed by a concert featuring Nina Schumann on piano on Sunday 7 June, with an eclectic programme of sketches by Bach, Haydn, Debussy and Rachmaninoff. On Sunday 21 June, the piano duo, Luis Magalhaes and Nina Schumann will present a varied programme including Chopin’s Sonata No.2. A ticket at R100 will provide access to this unforgettable musical experience for everyone in your household to enjoy. Bookings can be made via quicket, Facebook (Concerts Connect SA) or the website, www.brconcerts.com/ concertsconnect (select the OAK option when you make your booking). You can also follow OAK on Facebook for regular updates. For any further information, contact OAK secretary René du Plooy on 028 312 1895 or 082 940 4238.
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27 May 2020
MY HOME
By LB Vorster
T
What is meant by ‘suspensive condition’?
he contents of any agreement are commonly referred to as ‘terms’, ‘conditions’ or ‘stipulations’. Contracts for the purchase of fixed property (the Offer to Purchase and, once accepted, the Deed of Sale) normally contain one or more ‘suspensive conditions’. These are conditions that must be fulfilled before a contract will become operative and the transfer process can commence. In the event that a suspensive condition has not been fulfilled by the cut-off date, the contract automatically lapses and no cancellation process is required. The most common suspensive clauses are those that provide for:
• •
The obtaining of a mortgage loan by the purchaser; The sale of the purchaser’s property.
Mortgage loan It is critically important that the suspensive clause providing for the obtaining of a mortgage bond by the purchaser is properly worded. That will be the case if the clause clearly stipulates the following: 1. The time within which a mortgage loan has to be obtained. (To this end, bear in mind that stipulating a specific date is preferable to stipulating a number of days, due to the general uncertainty surrounding the correct way of reckoning time in the latter case.); 2. What is meant by ‘obtaining’ a mortgage
bond. (In a recent High Court case it was held that the use of the word ‘obtain’ meant that the purchaser had to actually conclude a binding agreement of loan with the bank. Consequently, all the required loan documents had to be signed by the purchaser to the satisfaction of the bank prior to the cut-off date of the suspensive clause. The purchaser was under the impression that he had fully complied with the clause on having received written confirmation from the bank that a bond had been approved in principle. In fact, this has always been the general assumption amongst contracting parties and estate agents.); 3. Explanation of the procedure to be followed by the purchaser when notifying the seller that a mortgage bond has been obtained and that the suspensive condition has therefore been fulfilled; and that 4. In the event of the purchaser’s failure or inability to obtain a mortgage bond by the cutoff date, the contract will lapse and be of no further force or effect. Sale of Purchaser’s Property It is similarly important that the clause rendering a contract subject to the sale of the purchaser’s property is properly worded. That will be the case if the clause clearly stipulates:
•
the time within which the purchaser’s property has to be successfully sold and transferred;
•
that in the event of the purchaser’s failure or inability to successfully sell and transfer his property by the cut-off date, the contract will lapse and be of no further force or effect.
Once again, remember that stipulating a specific date is preferable to stipulating a number of days, due to the general uncertainty surrounding the correct way of reckoning time periods in the latter case. It is also important to bear in mind that, should the words ‘and transferred’ be omitted from this clause, it may well happen that a purchaser who manages to sell his property before the cut-off date nevertheless finds it impossible to transfer the property in time. He could then be compelled to take transfer of the property that he had bought, without having at his disposal the proceeds of the sale of his other property.
However, for a seller it means that the property has effectively been withdrawn from the market for an indefinite period of time, during which other serious buyers may have been lost. That is why, in the pre-printed OTP forms of most estate agencies, provision is made for the ‘Continued Marketing’ of the seller’s property, in anticipation of fulfilment by the purchaser of the suspensive condition/s. In the event that a second, better offer is received as a result of such continued marketing, the seller will be entitled to give written notice to the purchaser who had made the first offer, to either fulfil the suspensive conditions or waive them within 72 hours (or 3 days).
Such a clause is normally inserted for the benefit of the seller in an Offer to Purchase (OTP) that is subject to one or more suspensive conditions, i.e. subject to the acquisition of a mortgage bond and/or the sale of the purchaser’s other property within a certain time frame.
In the event of fulfilment or a waiver of the suspensive conditions within 3 days, the first OTP will become unconditional and the transaction will be proceeded with. In the event of failure on the part of the first buyer to either fulfil or waive the suspensive condition/s within 3 days, the seller may consider the first OTP as lapsed and of no further force or effect. The seller is then free to accept the second offer, which would normally be an unconditional offer. The transfer process can then immediately commence.
As explained above, we have already learnt that failure on the part of the purchaser to fulfil any one or more of the suspensive condition/s on or before the cut-off date will simply render the OTP of no further force or effect. It will also be incapable of being revived unless extended by agreement between the parties prior to the stipulated cut-off date.
The above is a simplified explanation of the 72hour clause, the wording of which is extremely important due to the technical nature of its implementation and the correct execution thereof. It is therefore advisable that parties obtain appropriate legal advice before presenting or accepting an OTP that contains a 72-hour clause.
The so-called ‘72-hour clause’
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Poems of comfort in the time of Corona AVBOB invited poets to come out of their creative slumber ahead of the 2020 AVBOB Poetry Competition in August, and craft poems to provide comfort through the COVID-19 crisis. The competition – one of several micro-competitions on AVBOB Poetry’s social pages – struck a chord and the poems poured in. The three winning poems were personal and nuanced, detailing a revival of faith and fruitfulness, a recovery of agency and levity, a dizzying sense of freedom to come, and a refusal to succumb to despair. Freelance fine artist and graphic designer Ann Scar-
borough Moore penned the winning poem, Harvest and third prize went to 21-year-old final year science student, Arcolate Ubisi for her poem, Let your little light shine. The second-prize winner, Linza de Jager, is a freelance journalist based in Sandbaai. Like Ann, she slips seamlessly between the visual and the verbal, using words and paint to give expression to her emotions and experiences. Her poem, Free, speaks to recovery of the real that lockdown has robbed us of. For Linza, lockdown has led to something of a revelation about what is important in life: “Forget about luxuries! They're not really of any importance. My poem is about enjoying the little things.”
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Free by Linza de Jager (second-prize winner) When lockdown lifts I'll put on a hat a midnight blue Borsalino that could have come from Strombolino or somewhere fanciful like that I'll wear it with a waistcoat that is the colour of cinnamon or a sweet pumpkin I'll mow the lawn and break down the maize the one that grew wild during the lockdown haze I'll take a walk to the sea where there will almost certainly be children setting a paper boat free I'll sit outside until it is late and should anyone comment I'll say, lockdown has been lifted, haven’t
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you heard it? Who knows at what time I will get to bed
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27 May 2020
MY SPORT
Mass exodus of Springboks after RWC By Tony O'Hagan
A
s expected, many Springbok rugby players have signed contracts with big-spending overseas clubs in Europe and Japan. Winning the World Cup has made ‘our boys’ more attractive targets for these clubs. Including the two replacements, Thomas du Toit (Nyakane) and Damian Willemse (Kriel) there were 33 members of the Springbok squad at the 2019 RWC. As it stands at the moment, only 13 will continue playing for franchises in South Africa. This number could dwindle even further in the next few months as players are lured by the euro, pound and yen. Financial wellbeing is the prime motive for the majority of these ‘exports’ as they seek to secure a more stable future. Furthermore, the financial losses suffered by the South African Rugby Union due to COVID-19 necessitated drastic cost-cutting measures. These included allowing players a 21-day window period to exit their contracts with local franchises via an escape clause. Local franchises have also implemented salary reductions for players which, allied to a weakening rand, make
contracts abroad even more appetising. This situation has been thrust upon SA Rugby due to loss of revenue from cancelled international and local rugby competitions. The winning World Cup squad will be scattered across the globe when play resumes – hopefully in the not too distant future! At the moment, squad members are contracted as follows: • Japan (7 players) – Duane Vermeulen, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Malcolm Marx, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Willie le Roux (ex Wasps) • England (6 players) – Faf de Klerk, Franco Mostert, Vincent Koch, Cobus Reinach, Francois Louw, Lood de Jager • France (5 players) – Cheslin Kolbe, Handré Pollard, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Francois Steyn (will be returning to Cheetahs)
Pieter-Steph du Toit (above right), who was the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year, and Cheslin Kolbe (left) are among the Springbok players who are being lured by overseas clubs.
PHOTO: rugbyworldcup.com
• South Africa (13 players) Stormers – Pieter-Steph du Toit, Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbanambi, Damian Willemse, Herschel Jantjies Sharks – Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Sbu Nkosi Bulls – Warrick Gelant, Trevor Nyakane Lions – Elton Jantjies • Retired (2 players) – Schalk Britz and Tendai Mtawarira (The latter has indicated interest in a contract abroad as a swansong to his career). There was some consternation among Stormers fans when 27-year-old, World Rugby Player of the Year, Pieter-Steph du Toit exited his contract with Western Province on 14 May. He had taken advantage of the 21-day escape clause allowing players to exit their contracts with local franchises. Rumours abounded that he had been targeted by Top 14 French club, Montpellier, which offered him an attractive three-year contract of ± R75 million. Much to the delight of streeptruie supporters, Pieter-Steph has withdrawn his contract termination notification and committed his immediate future to the Union. He will remain with the franchise until at least the end of the British and Irish Lions tour scheduled for next year. In line with other local franchise players, he will take a salary cut as per the rugby industry financial impact plan. The offer from Montpellier would have placed him at the top of the highest-paid rugby players in the world. Clubs in Japan have apparently shown interest in Springbok and Sharks stars, Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am, but it is not only the World Cup winning players who are on the overseas clubs’ radars. Other South African rugby players who have already signed contracts abroad include EW Viljoen, Dillyn Leyds and SP
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Marais (Stormers); Jason Jenkins and Handré Liebenberg (Bulls); Jacques Vermeulen and Akker van der Merwe (Sharks); and Stephen Lewies and Nic Groom (Lions). The South African rugby talent drain has been ongoing for a number of years and well over 200 players are plying their trade abroad. Our players have contributed to the success of overseas clubs and a number have gone on to represent other national teams. At the recent World Cup there were 14 South African-born players representing other participating nations. Despite the exodus of players, our country continues to produce high-class rugby players. Evidence of this is our victories at three World Cups in just seven appearances, a better record than any other rugby-playing nation. Most important for now, the Springboks are World Champions and we hold this honour for the next four years!
27 May 2020
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MY PET
How food impacts your pet’s health Feed for the need
By Hilldidge Beer
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Like humans, our pets’ nutritional needs change as they age. Puppies and kittens have very different nutritional needs from adult pets, and seniors who are at increased risk of arthritis need to protect their ageing bones. Food can help.
et food can take a significant chunk out of your monthly budget and many pet owners are having to tighten their belts now more than ever. However, abandoning your usual kibble in favour of cheaper, lower-quality brands may not be the smartest option right now. Here’s why:
Puppies raised on low-quality, incorrectly-formulated diets often suffer from abnormal growth, severe skin allergies and early organ failure, and have a low life expectancy. Cats are at risk of bladder and kidney stones due to incorrect mineral balances in cheaper foods, and also to food allergies.
The health risks Food plays a significant role in your pet’s immune system, his bones and growth, and the health of his organs. Feed him poor quality food and you increase the risk of diseases and ailments like skin allergies, bladder stones and growth abnormalities. Skin allergies, for example, are often food-related and the more your pet scratches the more susceptible he becomes to secondary bacterial infections which in turn, lead to a severe skin infection known as a ‘hotspot’. This can be very frustrating for an owner to treat. Many of the cheaper animal foods save on manufacturing costs by using poorer quality proteins, too few vitamins and an incorrect balance of minerals. Too much of a particular mineral can lead to bladder stones, excessive
and irregular bone growth and joint disease. Animal protein, especially chicken, is always a better choice for pets, yet many cheaper brands often use plant-based proteins like soya. Low-quality proteins contribute to poor muscle development, stunted growth, and can play a role in kidney failure. Maize is less digestible than rice and can lead to obesity.
Large-breed dogs have their own special requirements. If you have a large-breed puppy, for example, its food should not contain too much calcium as this may predispose him to excessive and irregular bone growth and joint disease. Large-breed puppies need more high-quality proteins to ensure the development of strong and healthy muscles with the minimum of excess body fat. How do I know what’s good? The quality of pet food is essentially deter-
mined by the formulation, the raw materials used, the additives included, and by the quality and reliability of manufacture. How much and what kind of protein, starch and fat is included in a food are the main determinants when it comes to quality. The quality and number of vitamins, minerals and trace elements is also very important. The ins and outs of quality brands The higher the quality of food, the smaller the portions needed to satisfy your pet’s appetite and health needs. And one of the biggest advantages is the size and frequency of stools. Your pooch absorbs more, so he poops less. Cheaper brands mean larger volumes of stool containing large amounts of undigested material. We know it’s really tough to keep a healthy household budget right now, but if you can't afford the best food indefinitely, try at least for the first year of your pet’s life, as the solid foundation good food builds in a growing pet will help to prevent illness (and costly vet’s bills) in later years. Veterinarian Dr Hilldidge Beer is CEO of the EberVet Petcare Group and of EberVet Vetshops
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27 May 2020
MY ENVIRONMENT
Batty about bats By Anina Lee
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However, according to Merlin Tuttle of Bat Conservation International, A closer look at what science knows about bats strongly suggests that the scientific and media furore is at best overstated, and is likely a distraction from more serious research and health problems. Above all, it turns out that while we certainly should be concerned about bats, we probably don’t need to worry very much about what they might do to us. Rather, we should be worrying about what we are doing to bats. Bats comprise almost a quarter of all mammal species on earth! There are, in fact, about 1 000 species of bats worldwide; 53 species occur in South Africa, of which 12 are found in the Western Cape, but because of their nocturnal habits we are largely unaware of them. Bats play a vital ecological role and are a benefit to man in many direct and indirect ways. For example, through eating huge numbers of insects such as malaria-carrying mosquitoes, bats contribute directly to human health. Yet through ignorance and stubborn myths they are feared and persecuted. About 50% of South-African bats are threatened. Bats have been around for a very long time – something like 55 million years. Unlike rodents, which are prolific breeders, bats are amongst the slowest reproducing mammals in the world, giving birth to only one or two pups per year. Up to 70% of the pups may die in the first year.
Fruit-eating or Mega-bats They are larger than the micro-bats and have big eyes and long, doglike muzzles – hence their common name, ‘flying foxes’. Most fruit bats do not echolocate, but use their excellent senses of sight and smell to find the nectar and fruit on which they feed. More than 300 plants and 400 economically important products require fruit bats for pollination and/or seed dispersal, e.g. the baobab tree, mangoes, paw paws, guavas, bananas and figs. Debunking some myths about bats • Bats are not blind. All bats have eyes; indeed fruit bats need excellent sight to fly at night to find the fruit on which they feed. • Bats are not dirty and don’t spread disease. In fact, they are very clean – they groom themselves after every meal. They are less likely than dogs to spread disease. • Bats will not get tangled in your hair or suck your blood. Bats are excellent navigators and fliers. Their echolocation or sonar is so accurate that they are unlikely even to touch you as they fly past, let alone get tangled in your hair. Only the vampire bats found in South America feed on the blood of animals – rarely humans. • Bats are harmless to people, and useful to farmers. Insectivorous bats are the most important predators of nocturnal insect pests. Fruit bats consume over-ripe fruits left after harvesting, preventing them from rotting and harbouring fruit fly maggots. And, bat droppings (guano) make excellent fertiliser. • A healthy bat community indicates a healthy planet! Long associated with witches and vampires, many species of bats are now threatened with extinction due to a combination of habitat destruction, pesticides and, above all, people's negative attitudes towards bats. 1
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At least 12 bat species occur in the Western Cape.
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Some of the more common ones are the: 1. Schreiber’s Long-fingered Bat 2. Egyptian Fruit Bat 3. Cape Serotine Bat 4. Geoffroy’s Horseshoe Bat
PHOTO: iNaturalist
ENROL NOW
REMOTE LEARNING A reality at Curro Hermanus
Bats belong to the order Chiroptera (meaning ‘hand-wing’). They can basically be grouped into two main groups, namely the micro-bats (predominantly insectivorous) and mega-bats (fruit-eating ‘flying foxes’). Insect-eating or Micro-bats As the name implies, these are small bats. They have tiny eyes and rely mainly on echo-location or sonar to navigate and to find their prey. They are extremely effective at pest-control and are therefore very useful to crop farmers. Some bats
PHOTO: Twee Rivieren Camp
have such excellent hearing that they can hear the wing-beats of the insects on which they feed, and use this to home in on their prey. Insect-eating bats help to control mosquitoes and therefore malaria. A colony of 300 000 long-fingered bats in the De Hoop Nature Reserve consumes an estimated 100 tonnes of insects per year!
t all started with SARS – not taxes, but the idea that bats could be responsible for the transmission of newly emerging and potentially deadly infectious diseases. In 2002 a new Coronavirus that caused severe respiratory infections appeared and killed 800 people, generating frightening headlines worldwide. Coronaviruses are widespread in animals, from birds to whales, and are the cause of common colds. A frenzy of research on bats was triggered, on the assumption that bats carry all sorts of deadly diseases.
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Contact Tinka at tinka.s@curro.co.za or on 028 316 4911. From 4 months to Grade 12 | Quality education for future leaders
028 316 4911 hermanus.admin@curro.co.za
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