The Village NEWS 30 Sept - 7 Oct 2020 by The Village NEWS

THE VILLAGE

NEWS

30 SEPTEMBER 2020 YOUR FREE COPY #ALLOVEROVERBERG The next issue of The Village NEWS will be out on 7 October 2020.

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The Hermanus Waterfront was buzzing with visitors and locals enjoying the beautiful weather on Heritage Day last Thursday. The air was filled with the sound of children laughing, music and muted chatter as people enjoyed drinks and meals at the Waterfront’s restaurants. Providing the music for most of the day was Ilitha Lelanga Marimba Ensemble, a vibrant marimba band from Cape Town. PHOTO: Taylum Meyer

Long weekend a success Writer De Waal Steyn

y all accounts, the Cape Whale Coast had a highly successful long weekend with thousands of out-of-towners enjoying all the area has to offer. “Most accommodation establishments reported good occupation numbers, with self-catering establishments leading the way. It seems that groups of visitors from over the mountain opted to make use of the option to rent holiday homes for the weekend,” said Frieda Lloyd, Tourism Manager of the Cape Whale Coast. According to her all the markets along the coast did brisk trade on Saturday, with the Farmer’s Market in Gansbaai reporting that goods at some stalls, including the Clivia booth, were sold out by the afternoon. The first Sunset Market in Stanford since February also attracted scores of shoppers and at the Harold Porter

Botanical Garden the plant sale was a huge success. The garden also reports that bookings for free guided tours have been received all the way up until the end of October. All the major towns in the area reported remarkably busy roads leading up to and during the weekend. The weekend also saw several accommodation establishments and restaurants opening their doors for the first time since the lockdown began. The Arabella Hotel and Spa reported that they were fully booked during the long weekend and forward bookings for the rest of the year were picking up, especially over weekends. Despite the inclement weather on some days, many visitors took part in outdoor activities. Both whale-watching and shark-cage diving boat operators said they were busy and that although they were still some way off from the normal number of passengers, there was a marked increase over the weekend as locals took to the water with them.

Brenda Walters from Marine Dynamics in Gansbaai said they undertook a number of trips during the weekend. “On some days the weather did not play along, but we are happy that people are coming to see the whales and sharks. We are offering special deals to locals and due to Covid-19 restrictions cannot accommodate as many people as before. This does have an impact on our business, but we are certain that we will bounce back. While we are looking forward to international travellers returning to our shores, we invite locals to make use of our special discounted rates,” she said. According to Brenda, their Great White House restaurant had a busy weekend with many visitors from across the mountain. The popularity of our wine farms was also evident, with scores of people visiting for a meal and a wine tasting. Carolyn Martin of Creation said they were busy during the course of the whole weekend. “We unfortunately had to show

some people away as we have limited capacity due to the lockdown restrictions. We urge visitors to make reservations, especially over weekends, to avoid disappointment,” she said. According to her the restrictions in terms of mask wearing and social distancing bring with them new challenges. “Especially on days when the weather is not so good, it is difficult to seat everyone and still ensure safe distancing between people. But we are learning to adapt every day and we keep on improving. We are happy that tourists are returning, and we can start seeing business increasing.” Sebastian Beaumont of Beaumont Family Wines in Bot River echoes her sentiment. “It is great to see our tasting room full again and it is heartening that so many locals are buying local wines. We look forward to many busy weekends in the near future,” he said. Continues on P3

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30 September 2020

Business on the increase

Thumbs up for private electricity The Western Cape Government has welcomed the national government’s gazetting last week of approval for the generating of electricity by independent power producers. The approval by Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe comes as South Africa faces its worst year for load shedding on record. According to the gazette, Eskom will now be forced to buy the new electricity from the successful independent power producers.

From P1 Restaurants in general have all reported an increase in trade. Jacques le Roux, co-owner of The Wine Glass, said they had an exceptional weekend. “We are in the fortunate position that we have large premises, so social distancing is not that big an issue for us. Mask-wearing on the other hand does create problems as it makes it difficult for our waiters and clients to communicate easily and freely. But all in all, our QR code-based menu system is working well and customers understand that there are challenges. They have no problem complying with the rules, such as having their temperature taken and providing personal details for record keeping as required.

“We will also be relaunching our popular wine evenings this week and together with our menu specials that are proving very popular, we are certain that business will continue to grow.” Grethe Conradie, Marketing Manager of the Whale Coast Mall, said tenants have on the whole all reported good trading. “Last week Friday was our busiest Friday since the lockdown began. Apart from the long weekend trade we are fortunate to see a constant increase in the number of people visiting the mall. Our anchor tenants, such as Checkers, Woolworths and Dis-Chem are all busy, and the smaller shops are also seeing an increase in feet through their doors.

“It is interesting to note that during the height of the lockdown, the suppliers of computer equipment and peripherals reported higher than normal trading volumes. This was largely driven by the number of people who were suddenly forced to work from home and school children who had to home school,” she said. Seth Anderson of Gateway Centre said most of their tenants were busy throughout the weekend. “Interestingly enough the busiest day for OK was on Wednesday before the long weekend started. It seems that visitors took the time to buy what they needed for the weekend as soon as they arrived and similarly residents made their purchases before town got too busy,” he said.

It is estimated that load shedding to date this year has cost the South African economy in excess of R160 billion. The gazette determines that South Africa must get 6 800 new megawatts (MW) of wind and solar PV power, while 513 MW should be procured to be generated from storage, 3 000 MW from gas and 1 500 MW from coal. The first electricity from these projects should land on the grid in 2022. David Maynier, Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities said he welcomes the decision by government as it paves the way for more energy security in the Western Cape. “Investment in this green infrastructure is in line with postCovid-19 recovery opportunities and is estimated to provide R40 billion of investment per year to the economy in South Africa. This investment is in line with our strategic objective of growing the green economy in the

Western Cape,” Maynier said. “We call on Minister Mantashe to maintain the urgency required to ensure procurement and the finalisation of power purchase agreements to bring these projects onto the grid. We also look forward to the minister providing more clarity on when and how municipalities could also participate as purchasers of electricity where appropriate, and not only from Eskom, as has been the historical precedent,” he said. Maynier said he recently visited the Perdekraal East Wind Farm near Matjiesfontein, which is a great example of how private sector investment in renewable energy infrastructure not only contributes to power supply but can also create jobs and grow the economy in the Western Cape. Under the new plan, municipalities can also apply to establish new generation capacity in accordance with the integrated resource plan, and such an application should be accompanied by a detailed feasibility plan. This is expected to open new investment and revenue opportunities for towns and cities, especially in the Western Cape where the government has already said it will continue to do everything it can to support businesses to participate in the growing green energy sector and to become more energy resilient in the province. – De Waal Steyn

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30 September 2020

Minister visits Hermanus to boost local tourism Writer Hedda Mittner

he Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier met with several representatives of the local tourism industry on Thursday, in support of Tourism Month and the #WeAreOpen campaign. The minister’s visit to Hermanus formed part of a road trip to showcase the many affordable and world-class experiences on offer in the Western Cape, while encouraging South Africans to support the province’s tourism and hospitality sectors. Maynier’s itinerary included the West Coast, the Garden Route, Prince Albert, where he launched the exciting new Karoo Crossing Cycle Route, and finally, Hermanus. Meeting up with Mayor of the Overberg District Municipality, Sakkie Franken, Cape Whale Coast Tourism Manager, Frieda Lloyd and Head of Wesgro: Leisure, Tourism & Trade, Inge Dykman, the Minister’s day in Hermanus

kicked off with a boat trip on board Majestic Cruising to spot some whales and other marine life, followed by a walking tour of the FynArts Sculpture on the Cliffs exhibition at Gearing’s Point. The group also joined in the Heritage Day celebrations by taking part in the Jerusalema Dance Challenge at the Old Harbour. This action-packed morning was followed by a festive lunch at La Pentola, where the Minister joined Chef Shane Sauvage in the kitchen to lend a hand with the preparation of the starters. This also gave him the opportunity to engage with Shane on the challenges he is experiencing as a restaurateur and to learn first-hand how the Covid-19 regulations have impacted his business and his staff. After lunch, the Minister’s last stop before returning to Cape Town was a visit to the community garden in Hawston, established by environmental consultant and natural scientist, Melun Jeptha and a handful of volunteers on the property of the St Andrews Church, 1

behind Ability House and the Overstrand Care Centre. With the help of several partners, including the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and committed locals such as Carolyn Martin of Creation and Ann Wright of Rotary Hermanus, this ambitious vegetable and herb garden project will give residents whose job and food security have been impacted by the pandemic, the opportunity to grow their own food for their families throughout the year. “We know that times are tough, but during my visits across the province, I have also been inspired by the great innovation, adaptation and resilience that can be found in our towns and communities,” said Maynier. “We have stood with business through the crisis and we remain committed to standing with business in recovery, which is why we are now moving forward and focusing on our economic recovery with all the urgency of the health response in the Western Cape. “With the relaxation of regulations under Alert Level 1, we are now focused on our market-

ing campaigns that will place the Western Cape front of mind for leisure and business travellers looking to find unique, affordable, world-class and importantly, safe destinations to visit. These campaigns include encouraging locals and domestic travellers to explore the many attractions, adventure activities and wide-open spaces of our smaller towns.” Maynier stressed the importance of rebuilding our tourism and hospitality sectors, which have been hard-hit during the pandemic and remain vital to our economy. He added that the relaxation of restrictions on international travel, and the certainty that borders will open on 1 October, will be a welcome relief to the tourism industry because international visitors tend to stay longer and spend more in the Western Cape. “We will now be moving to expand our campaign to target key audiences in international source markets as soon as we have more certainty on the re-opening of international travel,” he said.

1. Chef Shane Sauvage of La Pentola (left) showed Minister David Maynier how to prepare a simple yet delicious dish in the restaurant's kitchen. 2. Whale Coast Tourism Manager Frieda Lloyd, ODM Mayor Sakkie Franken and Shane Sauvage of La Pentola with (in front) Inge Dykman of Wesgro and Minister David Maynier. 3. Mayor Sakkie Franken and Minister David Maynier being shown around the Hawston community garden by Melun Jeptha and her two daughters. 4 & 5. Chef Shane showed off his skill in the kitchen by creating some mouth-watering dishes for the visiting Minister. 6. The Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier joined the Mayor of the Overberg District Municipality, Sakkie Franken in performing the Jerusalema Dance Challenge at the Old Harbour. PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer

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30 September 2020

FRIDAY TO SUNDAY / TUESDAY 2 – 4 OCTOBER / 6 OCTOBER We will initially only be screening ﬁlms on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, public and school holidays. This will be evaluated on a regular basis and amended when deemed necessary.

Celebrating

eople all over the Overstrand got together with family and friends last Thursday to celebrate Heritage Day by braaing at home, eating out, or by simply relaxing and enjoying one anothers' company. The Hermanus Waterfront was packed as visitors and locals flocked to the sea front to picnic or to enjoy the delicious food on offer from the restaurants in Village Square. Visitors to the Waterfront were also treated to a performance from the Ilitha Lelanga Marimba Ensemble,

MAIN THEATRE

Heritage Day!

SCOOB!

a vibrant marimba band from Cape Town, who set a festive mood for the day with their music.

dressing in brightly coloured traditional-wear with face paint and big smiles.

During late morning, several of the locals and visitors joined in the Jerusalema Challenge which took place at the Old Harbour in front of the 'Hermanus is Open' banner near the water. After a few practice attempts, the group had it and performed their final dance with gusto (and a lot of laughs!)

The sponsors of the Youth Café were also invited to join in the festivities and to see the developments that have been made to the buildings and gardens since the lockdown was started at the end of March earlier this year.

The Zwelihle Youth Café also had a full day of fun planned with tasty food, singing, peotry slam, dancing and an open mic for those brave enough to take the stage. Children and adults alike got into the full spirit of Heritage Day by

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While there was no Whale Festival over the long weekend this year due to COVID-19, visitors to Hermanus were still able to enjoy what Hermanus has to offer and even saw some Southern Right whales frolicking in Walker Bay!

TUESDAY SHOWTIMES (IN RED) Please note that movie schedules d i ff e r o n a Tu e s d a y

#iamtourism #hermanusisopen #weareopen

17:45 | 11:00 | 17:45

BEANBAG THEATRE TROLLS

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ANNOUNCEMENT We are thrilled to announce that Whale Coast Theatre will be re-opening on 2 October 2020!

1 & 2. Visitors and locals joined in the Jerusalema Challenge at the Old Harbour. 3. The Zwelihle Youth Café held a day of dancing, singing, poetry slam and open mic to celebrate Heritage Day. 4 & 6. Children and adults alike dressed up to celebrate their heritage. 5. Local Lizette Spandiel led the 'dancers' through their Jerusalema paces. 7. Fikiswa Gxamesi of the Youth Café celebrated her 40th birthday on Heritage Day. Here she is with her son, Lumi. PHOTOS: Taylum Meyer & Hedda Mittner

COVID regulations and protocols will be adhered to: • Both cinemas will be ﬁlled to 50% capacity only; • Masks must be worn; • Sanitizing of hands will be facilitated; and • Upon entry there will be temperature checks done. We encourage movie-goers to make use of our online booking system, especially as seats are limited. Please book your tickets by visiting our website, www.whalecoasttheatre.com All concessions will be available for purchase, so you will be able to snack on popcorn during the movie.

WIN YOUR ! K C A B N A LO 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 31 October 2020. Winner will be notified telephonically on 30 November 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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30 September 2020

FROM THE EDITOR

We are on the right track The next edition of The Village NEWS will be available on 7 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

CONTENT EDITOR E: hedda@thevillagenews.co.za T: 083 645 3928

Raphael da Silva

It is heartening to hear the stories from business owners across the region that trade is slowly but surely picking up and there is some light at the end of the long Covid-19 tunnel. Most tourism-related businesses have indicated that the past long weekend was just what the doctor ordered to get the ball rolling again. The fact that we saw so many visitors in our towns is a testament to the popularity of the area. In tourism, as in real estate, position, position, position are the three most important words. The Cape Whale Coast has the enviable advantage that we are located centrally

En route to Algoa Bay, while sailing past the sugar-cane fields carpeting the Zululand coast, Vasco sent Marco up to the crow’s nest, and there, through a telescope, he caught his first glimpse of Indians. They were happily harvesting the cane, but he was disappointed to see they looked physically similar to him. He was searching for the people from Xanadu, where Pa was, those with sallow complexions, narrow eyes and high cheekbones, who drank tea and ate with sticks.

Elaine Davie JOURNALIST E: elaine@thevillagenews.co.za T: 084 343 7500

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

And while this all plays in our favour, we as a community need to thank all those business owners and staff who are doing everything possible

trading in the Far East for centuries, and had been rounding the Cape of Storms long before there was a cape, let alone storms.

E: raphael@thevillagenews.co.za T: 074 125 5854

PRODUCTION MANAGER, PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN

Every rand that is spent locally at tourism businesses is a rand that will find its way into our local economy and assist all businesses across the board.

to keep our economy going. By all accounts, the Overberg can be proud of its achievements under very trying circumstances. While spending time in Hermanus over the weekend it was noticeable that businesses were going out of their way to make visitors feel welcome and safe. Social distancing, sanitising and mask-wearing were the order of the day. This will further enhance our position as a preferred and safe destination to visit, even with the sword of Covid-19 still hanging over our heads. Apart from the first signs of returning to a new normal in terms of tourism,

the Overstand is also now becoming a hotspot destination for those who want to change from working in an office to working from home. All over our towns there are new faces as more people move here for work from home. Many holiday homes have now been transformed into office homes and the installation of highspeed fibre networks are an extra drawcard. The Overstrand might just be in the perfect position to claim first prize in restoring its economy after the lockdown. This is the good NEWS – Ed

Marco Polo's Travels: The Zulu Encounter

ONLINE EDITOR

Taylum Meyer

enough for tourists to easily pop over the mountain for a visit. In addition, we have no shortage of activities and wine and food destinations, and tourists are bound to find something for every family member’s taste.

By Murray Stewart murray.stewart49@gmail.com

arco was perplexed. Although he hadn’t seen a single Indian, he was informed by Vasco Diaz, captain of the east-bound Santa Flatulata, that they were sailing in the Indian Ocean, east of Africa. He knew this coastline well, and told Marco he’d soon reveal why it was called the Indian Ocean.

Now, Vasco had a rather multinational upbringing. Born in Portugal, he worked mainly out of Venice for a firm of Hollanders called The Dutch East India Company. These guys had been

Somewhat crestfallen, he wondered how long it would be till he found Kubla Cohen and Pa, and would the ship, overladen with Stinkwood, even stay afloat long enough? Waves were washing over the gunwales. Before long, the warm Agulhas current flattened the sea to a breathless calm, and the captain hove to in a sheltered bay, and despatched a fourman dinghy ashore to explore. Being too drunk himself, he put his first mate, Ricardo, in charge of the expedition. Handing him a Portuguese flag, he told him to claim the area as

a Portuguese protectorate, and name the bay after whoever he liked. Marco was one of the lucky four to land at Richard’s Bay. Alphonso van Tonder, the ship’s cook (who’d learnt Afrikaans from his father in Italy), and a bloke called Lenny da Vinci (notes and sketches), were the other two. After planting the flag, they nervously surveyed the dense foliage lining the beach. They were ill-equipped to tackle this green wall of unimaginable horrors. Luckily, they didn’t need to because out of the forest strode a line of polished-ebony warriors carrying spears and knobkerries and sporting designer animal-print outfits. With shoddy documentation of this encounter, details are somewhat sketchy, but the warriors soon realised that these terrified sailors were no threat. This enabled their King, Shaka, to emerge regal and imposing from the forest to confront the strangers. As you can imagine, communication was challenging. Marco only spoke Italian and knew some rude phrases in French which received no reaction. Ricardo could only speak a dialect of Mediterranean dock-yard slang, and Lenny conjugated a few verbs in Latin, which didn’t work either.

Fortunately, a thread of understanding was spun between King Shaka and the cook Alphonso, who, as we mentioned before, understood Afrikaans. Luckily, over the years, King Shaka had picked up a dialect from his many subjects working on the gold mines further inland. It was called Fanagalo, and was a mix of Zulu, English, Sotho and Afrikaans, so all was not lost. Information was relayed by Shaka to Alf in Fanagalo, then translated into Italian to Lenny, who then transcribed it in Latin shorthand. The Zulus were apparently at war on two fronts. One bunch wore khaki and veldskoene and the other crowd wore bright red jackets, easier to spot from miles away. The King claimed they were all fighting over gold – wagon-loads of it. Then, claiming the flag in exchange, Shaka handed Marco a sacred Zulu wind instrument as a talisman, and suggested they sail up the coast to the next big bay where these wagon-loads of gold were headed – via Nelspruit. Were these the Kruger millions? Will all that glitters be gold in Algoa Bay, and will Marco ever learn how to play that sacred vuvuzela?

HERMANUS: SEVEN-DAY WEATHER AND TIDE TABLE Wed | 30 Sep

Thurs | 1 Oct

Fri | 2 Oct

Sat | 3 Oct

Sun | 4 Oct

Mon | 5 Oct

Tues | 6 Oct

11°/14° Rain

10°/14° Some Rain

11°/16° Partly Cloudy

11°/19° Partly Cloudy

14°/19° Clear

13°/17° Mostly Clear

15°/16° Partly Cloudy

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Weekly Rainfall 17mm Last week 9mm

05:10 11:10 17:19 23:33 De Bos Dam 88.31% Last week 86.21%

WORLD: 33 451 920 SOUTH AFRICA: 670 766 (10th in the world) WESTERN CAPE: 109 783 – 4 168 deaths (16.36% of total cases in South Africa)

The Overberg and Overstrand breakdowns were not available at time of print

(21 SEP) WORLD: 31 313 741 SOUTH AFRICA: 661 211 (10th) WESTERN CAPE: 108 813 OVERBERG: 3 597 OVERSTRAND: 1 676

LET'S TALK

Traffic circles don't Who needs a work in Hermanus! Whale Festival? Unfortunately, in reality the circles are becoming a nightmare, particularly the one at the taxi rank because many drivers have no clue on how to negotiate a roundabout. Most drivers treat it like a three- or four-way stop i.e. braking instead of maintaining speed, whether traffic is oncoming or not. It’s high time somebody starts educating our drivers and clarifying that stopping at a roundabout should be an exception, not the rule. Even if traffic is visible to the right, it does not mean one has to stop! Instead

VILL GE Insider NEWS

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.

When the Royal Street bypass was constructed, several traffic circles were incorporated with the objective to improve traffic flow versus the dysfunctional three- and four-way stops.

OVERSTRAND

LAST WEEK'S TOTAL CASES:

TOTAL CASES AS OF 28 SEPTEMBER 2020:

LOCKDOWN LEVEL:

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COVID-19 DASHBOARD

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30 September 2020

one should enter the circle at the same speed as the oncoming traffic, in which case a maximum space of 10 metres is needed. I have asked the Traffic Chief in the past to set up an educational campaign, but so far I have seen nothing of the sort happening. So why can our hugely popular local paper not start an educational campaign in the interest of all our drivers? You might start by publishing this letter, but make sure you follow up, particularly when the holiday makers are descending onto Hermanus. Because then the problem becomes huge! Willy Vanderhoeven Hermanus Heights

The Hermanus Photographic Society held its first meeting earlier this month since March, albeit with strict social distancing between members. Resuming their monthly competition, the Senior Image of the Month was awarded to Carina de Klerk for her ‘Greyton Farm Scene’ (right). The Set Subject Image of the month (black & white) was Elizma Fourie’s ‘Concentration’. The club also has had great success over the last few months with many members gaining awards at national and international level. Future meetings on the first Wednesday of every month at the Hermanus Dutch Reformed Church will start at 18:30 instead of 19:00. Visitors are most welcome. For more information, contact the club president at elizma@adminevolution.co.za. Don’t forget to pop in at Foto First this Friday during the HFF Artwalk to view the Hermanus Photographic Society’s exhibit.

For the first time in decades Hermanus has not held the annual Whale Festival and I for one did not miss the bus loads of people arriving to make a mess of our town. Some businesses had a higher sales volume for the weekend than they would traditionally see during the Whale Festival. To me this indicates that people were visiting our town even without all the fanfare that the Whale Festival holds. We know that this is a topic that has come up time and time again but I think it's important that we really begin to focus on how to move forward. The pandemic has given us time to rethink how to make this town attractive to tourists while ben-

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Let’s keep independent positive community journalism alive in the Overberg.

efiting the local economy. The real money makers as we all know are the franchises and take-away establishments, swiftly followed by the traders arriving from Cape Town to sell their wares. There is little that is authentic about the "Hermanus" Whale Festival. Chaotic crowds at the seafront combined with the ever-present noise is in stark contrast to the purpose of a so-called eco-festival: wonder, appreciation and respect for the whales in our bay. If we all had this outlook we would realise how ridiculous it is to use these magnificent mammals’ annual migration to our shores as nothing more than an excuse to host a circus. Danny Meyer

Although our online readership has grown exponentially since the lockdown, we have also been inundated with calls and messages from people who want to know where they can get access to a printed copy of our weekly newspaper. We are printing as many as we can afford to at the moment, but to keep up with the demand we need your help to print and distribute even more. Together we can do this! Become a VILLAGE INSIDER from as little as R50 per month and help your proudly-local newspaper to continue bringing you the Good News every week. Visit www.thevillagenews.co.za and search for 'Dear Village NEWS reader'. Local artist and owner of Gallery 19, Jenny Jackson, was the first Village NEWS reader to sign up to become a VILLAGE INSIDER. “The Village NEWS has been there for us, come rain or shine. Now we need to be there for them. We simply cannot afford to lose such an upbeat and informative newspaper!” she said. We are very grateful for your support, Jenny. Contact Raphael on the number/ email address below; or get all the information on our website, www.thevillagenews.co.za. Simply click on the search icon and type in: Dear Village NEWS reader.

062 837 3122 raphael@thevillagenews.co.za

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30 September 2020

MY BOOKS

Restoring our faith in humanity Review by Elaine Davie

f you’ve lost all faith in the milk of human kindness; if you’re overwhelmed by the level of violence, dishonesty, selfishness and greed around every corner, this book may be the antidote you need. Dutch historian and journalist, Rutger Bregman, author of award-winning Utopia for Realists sets out in this entertaining and well-researched book to disprove Machiavelli when he comments ‘it can be said about men in general that they are ungrateful, fickle, dissembling, hypocritical, cowardly and greedy.’ If someone does you a good turn, Machiavelli adds, don’t be fooled, for ‘men never do anything good except out of necessity.’ Given man’s track record through the ages, it was never going to be easy to disprove these sentiments, and

Publisher: Bloomsbury Bregman is realistic when he says that anyone attempting to make a strong case for human goodness is likely to be roundly ridiculed. The book is

broadly structured around two opposing viewpoints, one articulated by English philosopher, Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), the pessimist who argued in favour of the wickedness of human nature, and the other by his French counterpart Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), who implicitly believed that within our heart of hearts we’re all good.

lahari, he explores the characteristics that made early man or Homo puppy, as he describes him (you will have to read why), so much more successful than, for example, Neanderthal Man. And he ponders why, as researcher Brian Hare puts it, we are both the friendliest and the cruellest species on the planet (and, incidentally, also the only one that blushes).

Bregman transports us on a rollicking ride from pre-history to the modern era. While his style is anything but stuffy and academic, he takes his arguments seriously. He is clearly a born storyteller with a wry sense of humour and his book is filled with well-documented accounts of scientific psycho-social experiments carried out around the world, as well as real-life events, viewed from a radically non-conventional perspective.

We explore with him what made the outcome of an actual event with a similar storyline to William Golding’s horror tale, Lord of the Flies so different from the fictional one, and we delve into the fascinating history of Easter Island with its gigantic moai statues, and what happened to the people who created them. We learn why most soldiers in modern conflicts haven’t fired a single shot in anger and why the soldiers of the German Wehrmacht fought to the bitter end in WWII, even when there was no chance of victory. Another intriguing story which gained notoriety

So, based on anthropological evidence and the oral histories of hunter-gatherers like the !Kung of the Ka-

What’s new on the bookshelves

in the 1960s is that of a murder that was committed in full view of over 30 neighbours in New York City, with none of them apparently prepared to intervene. In exploring a remedy for hate, injustice and prejudice, Bregman tells a story which will be of particular interest to South African readers, revolving as it does around twin brothers, Constand and Abraham Viljoen, the former, the Head of the SA Defence Force during the later years of apartheid. In my opinion, the author convincingly wins a number of his arguments to prove the fundamental goodness of humankind; with others, not so much. Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between. But whether you buy into his hypotheses or not, the book is still a page-turner and is guaranteed to make you feel more hopeful about our species than you did before.

Compiled by Hedda Mittner

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes Wild, a remarkable story about the resilience of the human spirit, the triumph of hope and the promise of new beginnings. In the rugged Pacific Northwest of the United States lies the Olympic National Forest – a vast expanse of impenetrable darkness and impossible beauty. From deep within this mysterious land, a six-year-old girl appears. Speechless and alone, she offers no clue as to her identity, no hint of her past. Having retreated to her hometown after a scandal left her career in ruins, child psychiatrist Dr Julia Cates begins working with the extraordinary little girl. Naming her Alice, Julia is determined to free her from a prison of unimaginable fear and isolation, and discover the truth about Alice’s past. The shocking facts of Alice’s life test the limits of Julia’s faith and strength, even as she struggles to make a home for Alice – and find a new one for herself. - panmacmillan.com

Lydia Quixano Pérez lives in the Mexican city of Acapulco, where she runs a bookstore. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And then one day a man enters the shop. Javier is erudite and charming. And, unbeknownst to Lydia, he is the jefe of the newest drug cartel that has gruesomely taken over the city. When Lydia’s husband’s tell-all profile of Javier is published, none of their lives will ever be the same. Forced to flee, Lydia and eight-year-old Luca soon find themselves worlds away from their comfortable middle-class existence. Instantly transformed into migrants, they make their way north toward the US, which is the only place Javier’s reach doesn’t extend. As they join the countless people trying to reach el norte, Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something. But what exactly are they running to? Hailed as “a Grapes of Wrath for our times", American Dirt is a literary achievement filled with poignancy, drama, and humanity. – amazon.com

August 1939. Hetty Cartwright is tasked with the evacuation and safekeeping of the natural history museum’s collection of mammals. Once she and her exhibits arrive at Lockwood Manor, however, where they are to stay for the duration of the war, Hetty soon realises that she’s taken on more than she’d bargained for. Protecting her charges from the irascible Lord Lockwood and resentful servants is work enough, but when some of the animals go missing, and worse, Hetty begins to suspect someone – or something – is stalking her through the darkened corridors of the house. As the disasters mount, Hetty finds herself falling under the spell of Lucy, Lord Lockwood’s beautiful but clearly haunted daughter. But why is Lucy so traumatised? Does she know something she’s not telling? And is there any truth to local rumours of ghosts and curses? Part love story, part mystery, The Animals at Lockwood Manor is a gripping and atmospheric tale of family madness, long-buried secrets and hidden desires. - goodreads.com

This practical and inspirational guide to healing from the bestselling author of The Choice shows us how to release your self-limiting beliefs and embrace your potential. The prison is in your mind. The key is in your pocket. In the end, it's not what happens to us that matters most – it's what we choose to do with it. We all face suffering – sadness, loss, despair, fear, anxiety, failure. But we also have a choice; to give in and give up in the face of trauma or difficulties, or to live every moment as a gift. Celebrated therapist and Holocaust survivor, Dr Edith Eger provides a hands-on guide that gently encourages us to change the imprisoning thoughts and destructive behaviours that may be holding us back. Accompanied by stories from Eger's own life and the lives of her patients, her empowering lessons help you to see your darkest moments as your greatest teachers and find freedom through the strength that lies within. Oprah said "I will be forever changed by Dr Eger's story". – penguin.co.uk

If a mere seven more MPs had voted with Prime Minister JBM Hertzog in favour of neutrality, South Africa’s history would have been quite different. Parliament’s narrow decision to go to war in 1939 led to a seismic upheaval throughout the 1940s and upended South Africa’s politics, ruining attempts to forge white unity and galvanising opposition to segregation among African, Indian and coloured communities. It also sparked debates among nationalists, socialists, liberals and communists such as the country had never previously experienced. The war’s unforeseen consequence was the boost it gave to nationalisms, both Afrikaner and African, which went on to transform the country in the second half of the 20th century. The book brings to life an extraordinary cast of characters, including wartime leader Jan Smuts, DF Malan and his NP colleagues, African nationalists such as Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela, the influential Indian activists Yusuf Dadoo and Monty Naicker, and many others. – barnesandnoble.com

This prequel to The Pillars of the Earth by bestselling author Ken Follett is set in England at the dawn of a new era: The Middle Ages. It is 997 CE, the end of the Dark Ages. England is facing attacks from the Welsh in the west and the Vikings in the east. Those in power bend justice according to their will and, without a clear rule of law, chaos reigns. In these turbulent times, three characters find their lives intertwined: A young boat builder whose life is turned upside down when the only home he's ever known is raided by Vikings, a Norman noblewoman who marries for love, following her husband across the sea to a new land, and a monk who dreams of transforming his humble abbey into a centre of learning that will be admired throughout Europe. Each in turn comes into dangerous conflict with a clever and ruthless bishop… Follett's masterful new novel takes us on an epic journey into a rich historical past that will end where The Pillars of the Earth began 30 years ago. – goodreads.com

Pan Macmillan

Headline

Pan Macmillan

Penguin Random House

Johnathan Ball

Pan Macmillan

www.thevillagenews.co.za

30 September 2020

MY ART

Long weekend of fine art T he weather did not quite play along with all the art events that FynArts Select had planned for the long weekend, including the painting of the bollards and the plein air painting around the Old Harbour, but fortunately the main events on Saturday were able to go ahead.

Melvyn Minnaar gave the opening address at the opening of the FynArts Festival Artist, Beezy Bailey’s exhibition, Landing Stars, at the FynArts Gallery at 11:00 on Saturday morning, followed by the unveiling of the artist’s sculpture, Dancing Jester, at the Hermanus Waterfront. (It had been delivered and installed in the pouring rain on Friday!) FynArts Festival Director Mary

Faure expressed her gratitude to Beezy and art consultant, director and co-owner of the Everard Read Gallery, Charles Shields, who curated the exhibition, for their commitment to FynArts during these uncertain times. She also thanked the Village Square and Overstrand Municipality for agreeing to “yet another sculpture” being installed, this time at the waterfront amphitheatre.

In his opening address, Melvyn summed up Beezy’s work by quoting Brian Eno’s words: “Beezy makes his art out of joy and laughter (and sometimes out of terror). He is somebody to whom art comes easily and who doesn’t feel guilty about it, who revels in his gift and has confidence in it – like a chef gleefully throw-

ing ingredients in by the handful without ever measuring them. He cooks up new worlds, tiny and huge, peopled by bird-women, snakemen, lizard children, and animated vegetables, bursting with bright new music. He makes African jazz in paint, garish as the midday sun, dark as the deepest night.” Other special exhibitions were hosted over the long weekend at Originals (Covid Anthem 2020 by Terry Kobus), Lembu (Joy of Life by Ed Bredenkamp), Lize Art Gallery (New Season by Lize van der Walt and Jeandré Marinier), Rossouw Modern (C19 Lockdown by Obert Jongwe) and the Whale Museum pop-up gallery (Nature by the Hermanus Art Circle).

ABOVE LEFT: Cllr Kari Brice, wine & arts writer Melvyn Minnaar, FynArts Festival Artist Beezy Bailey, Festival Director Mary Faure and art consultant Charles Shields of Everard Read, in front of a work by Beezy entitled Purple Glass City Night Dance. ABOVE MIDDLE: Among the invited guests who attended the opening of the Landing Stars exhibition at the FynArts Gallery were Di Rattle, Victoria Young-Pugh and Stuart Dods. ABOVE RIGHT: Beezy Bailey at the unveiling of his new sculpture at the amphitheatre, Dancing Jester.

CONGRATULATIONS! There was great excitement at Rossouw Modern Art Gallery on Saturday when local artist Jenny Jackson did the lucky draw in the Obert Jongwe competition which had been running on Facebook and Instagram over the past couple of weeks. The lucky winner of Obert’s painting, Walk the Dog II, valued at R46 000, was Nandie du Plooy Swarts. Above, from left, are Jenny Jackson, the artist Obert Jongwe, and gallery owner Jozua Rossouw.

Hermanus First Fridays is part of a worldwide initiative to make art more accessible to the public. On the ﬁrst Friday of every month, you are invited to stroll from gallery to gallery in the centre of town to enjoy the outstanding range of art and ﬁne craft on display, to meet the artists and gallery owners, and mingle with fellow art lovers.

This Friday 2 October from 17:00 – 20:00

Join us this Friday for a treasure hunt to locate a pair of beautiful pearl earrings designed and crafted by Geta Finlayson. The earrings could be hidden at any one of the galleries, so keep your eyes peeled and you may just become the lucky winner of these bespoke earrings! All COVID-19 protocols will be followed. No mask, no entry.

18 Galleries

Paintings • Sculptures • Ceramics • Photography • Jewellery Hermanus First Fridays Artwalk

@FFHermanus

Hermanus Tourism

www.thevillagenews.co.za

30 September 2020

Putting pencil to paper during lockdown Writer Elaine Davie

ne day not too far in the future, the proud citizens of our town will be saying, “You know, of course, that Siphosethu Ntetha grew up in Hermanus.” There is no doubt about it, this shy, 15-year-old pupil of Qhayiya Secondary School in Zwelihle has enough talent to make it big on the South African visual arts scene.

And Siphosethu has a particularly strong work ethic to go with it. Deciding not to waste a good crisis, he thought he’d try his hand at portraits during lockdown, and because he didn’t have access to paints, he resorted to a pencil and an A4 exercise book with blank pages. Portraiture is one of the most difficult genres to master, because not only must the artist capture the likeness, but also the personality and mood of the subject. Nevertheless, he took to it as to the manner born and has produced the most astonishingly mature drawings, nuanced, expressive and textured. Siphosethu’s adventure in art started when his best friend Iviwe Mrwebi persuaded him to come to art classes at Enlighten Education Trust run by Ashleigh Temple-Camp. She immediately recognised the boys’ exceptional talent. In fact, in 2018 Siphosethu won Gold in his age-group in the Overberg Art Competition organised by the WC Education Department, and the following year it was Iviwe’s turn. Ashleigh says one of the things she admires most about Siphosethu, who comes from a broken home and lives with his aunt and three

cousins, is his self-motivation. “He is very quiet but very focused; he takes the initiative and is not afraid to experiment.” “I’ve learnt from Ashleigh that in art there’s no such thing as a mistake,” explains Siphosethu, “you just make it part of the picture.” When he is working on a piece he goes into a creative zone, he says. “It’s like I go into another world, and then the only thing I concentrate on is what I’m doing.” “There is something uncannily intuitive about Siphosethu,” adds Ashleigh. “As an exercise, one day I asked my advanced group to visualise some particular place and then draw it. He produced a very oddly-designed building which he struggled to describe. A few weeks later I took the group on an outing to the Zeitz MOCAA art museum in Cape Town. As we arrived, a light bulb seemed to go on and his face lit up. Without ever having been there before, this was the building he had tried to draw. Amazing, hey?” Ashleigh herself is highly innovative and offers her students the opportunity to work in a multiplicity of media, using a variety of techniques. Siphosethu says he likes to try everything out. But for now, it’s portraits. “I saw a boy on TV drawing people, so I decided to try, too.” At the moment, he is drawing mainly from photographic images, but Ashleigh says she is presently organising a life-drawing class (Trust, the Enlighten gardener has agreed to be the model). She also wants to ensure that he can work on better quality paper in the future and be able to mount his work. At the end of every year, Enlighten organises an art exhibition, including work done by both

the younger and more advanced group and invariably it’s a sold-out event. She would like to create opportunities for Siphosethu and his group to sell some of their work during the year as well. “There’s a fine line to be walked between enjoyment and earning an income from art, though,” she says. “I don’t want them ever to lose the pleasure and fulfilment that art offers them.” Sadly, Qhayiya doesn’t have an art teacher, but Ashleigh is hoping to arrange for her five advanced pupils to take art as an extra subject for matric through the Hermanus Visual Art & Design Centre. They also have a close work-

ing relationship with the artist Obert Jongwe, whose work is represented by Rossouw Modern Art Gallery. In fact, they’re currently working towards a very exciting joint project with Obert, so watch this space… Astonishingly, when asked whether he plans to continue with his art studies when he leaves school, Siphosethu says he intends studying engineering. We’ll see – he still has three more years at school to make a final decision. But whatever he does in the future, the creative dimension art has brought to his life and to his personal development will endure a lifetime.

ABOVE: With art classes at the Enlighten Education Trust suspended, and with no access to any art materials, fifteen-year-old Siphosethu Ntetha, a learner from Qhayiya Secondary School in Zwelihle, filled the empty hours during lockdown by making pencil drawings of friends and neighbours in an A4 exercise book. LEFT: Enlighten art teacher, Ashleigh Temple-Camp is thrilled with these expressive and nuanced portraits that Siphosethu has produced. PHOTOS: Hedda Mittner

WHAT’S ON

OVERBERG 30

Wednesday

Overberg Pop-in Market Join Afdaksrivier Nursery for their Wednesday markets and get farmfresh veggies, freshly-baked sourdough bread, microgreens, jams, pies, gluten-free cookies and other sweet treats to enjoy and take home. For every R1 000 spent on plants (total can be accumulated) you will receive an entry into the Lucky Draw to win another R1 000 worth of plants. The competition runs until 9 Oct and the winner will be announced on 10 Oct. You’ll find the turn-off to Afdaksrivier at the red harvester on the R43 between Fisherhaven and Benguela Cove. For more info call 082 673 4446 or 083 656 7063. Afdaksrivier Nursery, Karwyderskraal | 09:30 – 14:00

30 Sep - 3 Oct Clivia Open Display This year’s clivia show will be an open-air event at a different location where the public is welcome to enjoy the extraordinary beauty of the Hermanus Clivia Interest Group’s multi-coloured clivia collection. The entry fee is R20 pp and all Covid-19 protocols will be followed, including

mask-wearing, sanitising and social distancing. For more information, contact Gerrit on 082 839 6683 or Heidi on 084 203 1506. Rocklands Petting Farm | daily from 09:00 – 16:00

Thursday

Drive-in Movie Night Enjoy the original movie, The Karate Kid, the old-fashioned way by parking your car under the Milky Way! The cost is R350 per car with 2 persons and R450 per car with 5 persons. Online bookings only, at www.milkywayproductions.co.za. Sales close 29 September, so hurry up as only 36 cars can be accommodated. The venue opens at 19:00 and the movie will start between 20:00 and 20:30, depending on sunset. The Brewery, Hemel-en-Aarde Village | from 19:00

Friday

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

TAKURA TERRY & THE ROCKING SOULS

Live music performances for Corporate Events - Weddings - Hotels - Family Gatherings & Parties - Wine Estates - Bars - Restaurants - Markets and more!

072 755 8505 • hello@takuraterry.com www.takuraterry.com

same time, from 16:00 –18:00. Book via www.thewineglass.guru or call 082 082 0007. The Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Rd, Hermanus | 16:00 – 18:00 (Fri & Sat) Hermanus First Fridays Artwalk Join the art galleries in the centre of town as they stay open until 8pm, every first Friday of the month. Marvel at the outstanding range of art, fine craft, photography and jewellery on display and meet the local artists and gallery owners. Please note that Covid-19 protocols will be followed and that all artwalkers need to wear their masks. Hermanus CBD | 17:00 – 20:00

Saturday

Onrus Markie This friendly neighbourhood market is back, every first Saturday of the month! Offering arts, crafts, antiques, plants, cakes, meat and veggies. Treat yourself to a cooked breakfast, pancakes, vetkoek and much more. De Wet Hall, Roos St, Onrus | 09:00 – 12:00 Hermanus Country Market A favourite among the locals. Young, old, two-legged and four-legged fam-

30 SEP – 3 OCT 2020 www.thevillagenews.co.za/whatson ily members are all welcome. You’ll find wholesome goodies, homemade crafts, local produce, beers and wine, speciality foods, coffee and live music. Next to Hermanus Cricket Field | 09:00 – 13:00

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. Here safe parking is a doddle and life is easy. Hermanuspietersfontein Wine Cellar | 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, farm-fresh vegetables, free-range eggs, flowers, preserves and deli delights (including gluten-free, wheatfree and vegan goodies) to tantalise your taste buds! #Nomasksnoservice. Stanford Hotel Stoep | 09:00 – 12:00 Junktique Market One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Pop in and give new life to a previously loved item. Treats and nibbles also available. R50 per stall. To book contact 028 341 0340 or book@ stanfordinfo.co.za. Stanford Tourism Office Courtyard | 09:00 – 12:00 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

JOB OPPORTUNITIES A leading catering and facility management company is looking to expand their team with professional and experienced individuals. Applications are required for the following positions: Food & Beverage Managers | Barman | Full time & Part Time Waiters | Junior Chefs | Cleaners Please e-mail your CV to hr@twochefs.co.za with position applying for in subject line. Should you not receive a reply on your application within two weeks, accept application as unsuccessful

MY HOME

www.thevillagenews.co.za

30 September 2020

www.thevillagenews.co.za

30 September 2020

MY PET

Staying healthy: vaccinate your dogs! Transmission can also occur if saliva of infected animals comes into direct contact with human mucosa or fresh skin wounds. Human-to-human transmission through bites or saliva is theoretically possible but has never been confirmed. The same applies for transmission to humans via consumption of raw meat or milk of infected animals.

By Dr Hilldidge Beer

or too long, pet owners living in cities and the suburbs have believed that rabies is no threat to their animals; that it’s a disease carried by farm animals and wildlife and therefore won’t infect their pets. Not true.

Rabies is endemic in South Africa and has been identified in rural and in urban areas. In fact, 99% of rabies cases come from dog bites, with children being at greatest risk. Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal. Rabies is present on all continents, except Antarctica, with over 95% of human deaths occurring in the Asia and Africa regions. People are usually infected following a deep bite or scratch from a dog with rabies (99% of the time). Human deaths following exposure to foxes, raccoons, skunks, jackals, mongooses and other wild carnivore host species are very rare, and bites from rodents are not known to transmit rabies.

What’s truly scary is that the incubation period for rabies is typically two to three months which means that should you be bitten by a rabid dog, you may not know you have the disease for up to 12 weeks. Initial symptoms include a fever with pain and unusual or unexplained tingling, pricking, or burning sensation (paraes-

HE RMA NUS

Animal Welfare Society

thesia) at the wound site. As the virus spreads to the central nervous system, progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord develops.

few days due to cardio-respiratory arrest. • Paralytic rabies accounts for about 20% of the total number of human cases. This form of rabies runs a less dramatic and usually longer course than the furious form. Muscles gradually become paralysed, starting at the site of the bite or scratch. A coma slowly develops, and eventually death occurs. The paralytic form of rabies is often misdiagnosed, contributing to the under-reporting of the disease.

There are two forms of the disease: • Furious rabies results in signs of hyperactivity, excitable behaviour, hydrophobia (fear of water) and sometimes aerophobia (fear of drafts or of fresh air). Death occurs after a

What to do if you are bitten If you or your children are bitten or scratched by a potentially rabid animal, hold the wound under running water for at least 15 minutes and wash thoroughly with soap and water then

get to a healthcare facility as fast as you can. Once symptoms appear it is too late. A health professional will also offer you the following preventative measures: • A series of rabies vaccinations (also called post-exposure prophylaxis) • Wound care and disinfection • A tetanus booster vaccination Alert your veterinarian immediately. If the animal is still in the area, alert the State Veterinarian, law enforcement or animal welfare authorities. The case for vaccination and education Rabies is 100% preventable by vaccination. In South Africa, not vaccinating your dog against rabies is illegal. Educating your children on dog behaviour and bite prevention is vital. The more your kids understand about rabies, and about how to approach strange dogs, the greater their chances of avoiding dog bites. Rabies kills 70 000 people annually. Don’t become a statistic. Vaccinate your dog.

www.thevillagenews.co.za

30 September 2020

MY WELLNESS Dr Arien van der Merwe is a medical doctor specialising in natural and mind-body medicine, herbal remedies, fat loss, stress management, workplace wellness and holistic health counselling. Address: The Green Healing Space, 16 Hope St, Hermanus. Tel: 067 1166 111. Email: hermanus@DrArien.co.za. Website: www.DrArien.co.za

Youthful Living

The heart of the matter for the entire hormonal system reside.

By Dr Arien van der Merwe

y heart’s not in it anymore’; ‘my heart is sore’; ‘my heart is breaking’. We have all uttered these phrases. They are not simply figures of speech, but very often unconsciously uttered, based on our intuitive understanding of the heart as the seat of the emotions and soul. In all cultures and religions, the experience of peace, love, healing and harmony is seated in the heart and thymus (responsible for immunity) region in the chest. Feelings of love also have a positive influence on the immune system, hormones and cognitive brain function.

The heart has receptor sites for, and manufactures, peptides that are identical to the neurotransmitter message carrier molecules inside the brain. It is now crystal clear that the heart is a very important endocrine gland, producing and releasing oxytocin (the bonding hormone) that acts on its cardiac receptors to decrease heart rate. The heart also produces and releases the major hormone, ANF (atrial natriuretic factor). ANF has a profound effect on the brain’s limbic structure and function. The limbic system is the seat of the emotions and stress survival reaction, and is also called the emotional brain. The limbic system includes the hippocampus where the memory, learning and control centres

Approximately 60 – 65% of heart cells are neurons (nervous system cells), and not cardiac muscle cells as previously believed. These neurons are identical to brain neurons. About 50% of the heart neuron cells translate information from the whole body to keep it functioning as a harmonious whole. The other 50% have a direct, unmediated neural connection with the brain inside the head, with a 24/7 heart-brain-heart dialogue we are completely unconscious of. The heart is a powerful electromagnetic generator, which creates an electromagnetic field that encompasses the body and extends at least 3 – 5 metres away from it. One can actually take an ECG (electrocardiogram) reading one metre away from the body, with no wires attached. This electromagnetic field has a profound effect on the brain, furnishing radio wave patterns from which the brain draws to create an internal experience of the world. Ultimately everything in our lives depends on our emotional response to events. Stress accelerates your heart rate through secretion of the adrenal stress hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline and the long-term stress hormone cortisol. Stress is initially experienced as emotions or feelings within the limbic system of the brain. ANF influences not only the heart muscle contraction, and pressure in the blood vessels and kidneys, but also the mood-influencing adrenal glands, as well as the brain. In the brain, parasympathetic or sympathetic

impulses coming from the heart help trigger the onset of either calming or excitatory thoughts and emotions. The feelings and emotions of kindness, compassion, forgiveness, appreciation and love can be encoded into your heart, creating a coherent wave pattern between your heart and brain, amplifying the electromagnetic field generated by both organs, reaching out and extending from the body to encompass not only yourself but everyone and everything around you. Practice the heart-centred meditation/visualisation every day and you will soon notice a difference in your heart rate. Heart-centred meditation Sit comfortably on the floor or in a chair, in a quiet place, or outside in nature, or with soft pink candle light, rose quartz crystals and soothing music if you prefer. Hold your back straight, chin parallel to the floor, hands relaxed in your lap, eyes closed. As you breathe in, deeply and slowly, feel the breath entering your nose and mouth, extending into your heart, and from there to the rest of your body, into every cell of your being. Repeat the ‘ah’ sound of gratitude as you breathe out. Do it softly or aloud, whichever feels comfortable to you. Notice the deep sense of peace and calm infusing your whole body and mind. You can envision this sense as a blanket of green and blue enveloping your heart, your whole body, your loved ones, all sentient beings, the earth and the universe. Feel yourself relaxing with each exhalation. Do

this for 5 – 20 minutes until you’re completely relaxed. As you breathe in and out, know that when the heart beats, it pumps blood to itself first, and from there to the rest of the body. If it didn’t do this, the rest of the body would die. This is an example of self-love. It is not a selfish act. Give appreciation and deep love to your own heart, for its lifetime of service. Then, in your mind’s eye, imagine a bright, healing light shining into your heart. The light becomes softer, changing to hues of pink or green, associated with feelings of love, peace, reassurance, forgiveness and acceptance. The light dissolves all tension from your heart and chest. Feel all heaviness, sadness, regret and pain lift and release, leaving you light-hearted and joyful. Feel your heart developing its own radiance as though an inner flame is being rekindled. Allow this light from inside your heart to spread to every part of you, into the far reaches of every cell, molecule, thought and emotion. Imagine yourself filled with this light’s purity and wonder; your body, mind, emotions and soul healed by the radiance inside your own heart. As your heart opens with love, peace and forgiveness, bathe in this light for as long as you can. Then slowly become aware of your body, move and stretch your limbs, notice your breathing, experience the calm and peace inside. Gently come back to normal awareness. Read more about Heart Health at www.drarien. co.za/heart-functions/ and www.drarien.co.za/ heart-healing/

30 September 2020

www.thevillagenews.co.za

Donkey sanctuary launches equine sterilisation programme Writer & Photographer Toni Younghusband

reyton’s ever increasing horse population poses a significant traffic threat in the small town, and urgent measures are needed to stop this equine explosion, says EARS donkey sanctuary founder Jo Sedgwick. “We already have between 500 and 600 horses in this area and those numbers will grow as there are many mares pregnant again,” Sedgwick says. EARS is hoping to launch a mass horse sterilisation programme, provided it can raise the funds. Last year the donor-funded organisation gelded (sterilised) 33 stallions, and this year it would like to sterilise at least as many, if not more. “There are owners who are willing to have their horses sterilised but these are poor people who can’t afford the veterinary fees and so year after year their mares give birth.” EARS rescues and rehabilitates donkeys and offers community equine support to impoverished horse owners living in Greyton, and neighbouring Genadendal, Voorstekraal and Bereaville. Horses free-graze on verges and in open fields in Greyton, but Sedgwick says there is simply not enough grazing around the town to support this many horses, some of which suffer

life-threatening ailments because they end up grazing at the town’s rubbish dump. On Friday, sanctuary manager, Penny James, was called to attend to a horse that had ingested plastic and chicken bones at the dump. It costs about R750 per horse to geld, provided there are no medical complications. The horses are gelded where they are standing and the procedure takes no more than an hour or so. EARS is also hoping to provide chemical sterilisation for many of the mares. It lasts up to six months, giving the mares a much-needed break from multiple pregnancies. EARS is a registered non-profit organisation, relying solely on donations for the work that it does. The Sanctuary supports 20 permanent donkey residents, and offers temporary shelter to horses that are ill or neglected. It also responds to equine emergencies and helps educate horse and donkey owners. Visitors and school groups are welcome to visit the sanctuary, which lies about 10 km outside of Greyton. Horse and cart rides are a popular feature at Greyton’s Saturday morning market and EARS works with owners to ensure their horses are healthy and properly shod. If you would like to donate to the EARS gelding programme, the bank details are: EARS, Absa, Acc no. 9309869152. For visits to the sanctuary, call Penny on 082 660 6714. Visits are by appointment only.

ABOVE LEFT: EARS donkey sanctuary founder Jo Sedgwick gives rescue donkey Henry a cuddle. ABOVE RIGHT: EARS donkey sanctuary manager Penny James with a foal taken into temporary care. LEFT: Free-grazing horses pose a traffic hazard in Greyton.

Rescued grysbokkie doing well We promised an update on the grysbokkie that was rescued last week after she was spotted in an urban green field, on the wrong side of the Main Road in Hermanus. On closer inspection, she was found to be injured and, on top of that, pregnant. She was transported to a vet, who splinted the fractured hoof bone. A safe place on a farm in the Valley was offered where she could recuperate until the hoof healed and the fawn delivered. So what has happened since then? The most urgent thing was to reduce any stress on the bokkie to avoid a miscarriage. Then it was vital to find out what to feed her to maintain good nutrition for both mom and fawn. Her care team offered her a selection of fynbos plants each evening. Grysbokkies are nocturnal, so they eat at night. In the morning, it was easy to see what species she had browsed overnight. To make sure she was getting enough nutrition, she was also given lucerne, which is a good staple animal feed. As expected, bokkie loved the lucerne and polished off everything. She also ate a bit of each of the fynbos species offered, but she especially liked dried eucalyptus leaves from branches that were used to make a screen in her pen. That was a bit surprising. Bokkie also kept regular toilet habits – a good indication that she was eating well. After about a week in captivity, it was decided that bokkie should go to the vet for a check-up to make sure the hoof is healing correctly. A handicapped antelope would be very vulnerable in the wild and may not be able to raise her fawn. There is a chance that neither mom nor baby would survive.

The vet sedated her, and the splint and bandage were removed from her leg and X-rays taken. To everyone’s delight, the bone in her hoof was starting to heal in the correct position. It was decided not to replace the splint. It will be better to keep her quiet in captivity until the bone is sufficiently healed to release her into Fernkloof Nature Reserve. And what about the baby? While it was not possible to tell how imminent the birth is, an ultrasound showed a little heart beating beautifully. So good news for both Bokkie and baby – not to mention her human carers. Please donate towards the Whale Coast Conservation Wildlife Fund to cover vets’ cost for any wild animal that needs our help. Contact sheraine.wcc@gmail.com for details of the fund. – Anina Lee

L2L practice walks to kick off soon With the arrival of Covid-19 in South Africa, many organisations were forced to either cancel events or to make adjustments to the format. The same is true for the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse committee, which started planning for the 2021 L2L Ladies Walk when the country went to Alert Level 2. Because events at that time were still limited to 50 people, it was decided to split the annual walk into two – one in February and one in May. “Even though we are now at Level 1 which allows for up to 250 people, we will still be splitting the main walk into two due to a lot of interest from walkers,” says L2L chairperson, Ronelle van Zyl. There will still be only one primary beneficiary who will receive the funds raised by the main walk, and a secondary beneficiary who will receive the funds raised by the practice walks that are held in the months leading up to the main walk. Thirteen local charitable organisations applied for funding from the 2021 L2L Ladies Walk and registered walkers voted for their top two beneficiaries. Voting closed on 28 September and the chosen charities will be announced in October. Last year’s primary beneficiary, The Butterfly Centre, received R800 000 towards the building of their new school, while the secondary beneficiary, Overstrand Hospice, received R100 000 to buy a new vehicle for their staff. Adjustments also needed to be made for

the practice walks. Whereas before anyone could just show up to join any of the practice walks, this year walkers need to register and buy a ticket online via Quicket (the details can be found on the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Facebook page). The proceeds from these ticket sales will also go towards fundraising. The practice walks are only free for the registered walkers doing one of the main walks in 2021. On the same weekends that each practice walk takes place, there will also be a virtual walk which you can register for from anywhere in the world. “In order to limit the size of groups and ensure social distancing, supporters of L2L are encouraged to take part in the virtual walks in their area instead of driving through to Hermanus to join the practice walks here each month,” says Ronelle. Virtual walkers need to walk a minimum of 5 km and record their route and distance on their fitness app (STRAVA is a good recommendation) and then post a screenshot of the route, along with a photo/video of themselves on their walk to the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Ladies Facebook page. L2L would like to encourage the charities that applied, any interested sponsors, municipal officials and members of the public to join them on their practice walks to see what Lighthouse is all about and to meet the registered walkers who do this challenging walk each year for their local community. PRACTICE WALK DATES • 18 October 2020 • 15 November 2020 • 6 December 2020 • 17 January 2020 • 31 January 2020 (Official Practice Walk)

www.thevillagenews.co.za

30 September 2020

MY ENVIRONMENT

The extinction of species By Dr Anina Lee

avid Attenborough's documentary on the rate at which species are going extinct as a result of human activity has had a big impact on viewers. Whether anyone is going to change their lifestyles as a result, remains to be seen. Extinctions often happen gradually, so that when people notice and become concerned, it's often too late. For example, when last did you find your windscreen covered in insect splat? Here's another example, although not from our shores. Does anyone know what happened to passenger pigeons? Passenger pigeons The passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) was a North American wild pigeon species that went extinct by 1914. Ectopistes means ‘moving about or wandering’, and migratorius means ‘migrating’. Its common name is derived from the French word passager, meaning ‘passing by’. Clearly they didn't carry passengers. But they were migratory, travelling in large flocks between the eastern parts of Canada and the south-east of the Length: 32cm USA.

massed together that they frequently broke the limbs of the trees by their weight. In the morning the birds flew out in large flocks scouring the countryside for food. At night they returned to the roosting area. The migratory flights of the passenger pigeon are described in writings of the time as spectacular. Although the birds flew at an estimated speed of about 80 km/h, observers reported that the sky was darkened by huge flocks passing overhead, often continuing from morning until night and lasting for several days. But despite their vast numbers (estimated to be about five billion), passenger pigeons were doomed from the moment that Europeans arrived in North America. In the 19th century, passenger pigeons were so numerous that there were contests to shoot as many of them as possible during a specific period. In one competition, the winner shot 30 000 birds. The settlers ate passenger pigeons in massive amounts, but mainly they were killed because they were perceived as a threat to agriculture. As Europeans migrated across North America, they thinned out and eliminated the immense forests that the pigeons depended on. By 1850 the destruction of the pigeons was in full swing. Ten years later observers noticed that the numbers of birds seemed to be decreasing, but still the slaughter continued.

The habitat of the passenger pigeon was mixed hardwood forests. The birds depended on the vast forests for their spring nesting sites, for winter 'roosts', and for food. They ate beechnuts, acorns, chestnuts, seeds, and berries found in the forests. Worms and insects supplemented the diet in spring and summer.

One of the last killing competitions of passenger pigeons took place in Michigan in1878. Here 50 000 birds per day were killed, and the contest continued for nearly five months. When the adult birds that survived this massacre attempted second nestings at new sites, they were soon located by the professional hunters and killed before they had a chance to raise any young.

In the winter the birds established roosting sites in the forests of the southern states. Each roost often comprised tremendous numbers of birds. They were so crowded and

As the species was already dying out, the last big flock of 250 000 birds were shot on a single day in 1896. That same year, a sighting of the last passenger pigeon was recorded in

Louisiana. It was also shot. Pigeon superpower Pigeons have unique navigational superpowers. The carrier or homing pigeon is a domesticated version of the wild rock pigeon (Columba livia). Wild rock pigeons have an innate ability to find their way home over long distances – hence the name homing pigeons. Today's homing pigeons have to be carefully bred and trained to do the same. If taken away from home, pigeons can find their way back in a remarkably short time. In fact, homing pigeons have been known to 'home' from 1 500 kilometres away, and they can travel an average of 70 km/h, with bursts of up to 120 km/h. This ability has made them valuable as messengers since at least the time of the ancient Egyptians. Homing pigeons were used extensively in both World Wars. Several birds even received medals for their service in delivering critical messages during wartime! But how do they find their way home over such long distances? Despite many scientific studies over the years, no one yet fully understands how homing pigeons navigate. Several theories may explain at least part of the processes at work. Scientists now believe that homing pigeons have both compass and mapping mechanisms that help them navigate. The compass mechanism helps them to fly in the right direction, while the mapping mechanism allows them to compare where they are to where they want to be (home). A homing pigeon's compass mechanism likely relies upon the sun. Like many other birds, homing pigeons can use the position and angle of the sun at a particular time to determine the proper direction for flight. The mapping mechanism kicks in closer to the home when they remember specific landmarks. For example, they may follow a railway line to where it intersects with a road, then change direction to follow the road home. Pigeons have a prodigious memory

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TOP: In the 19th century, passenger pigeons were so numerous that there were contests to shoot as many of them as possible during a specific period. In one competition, the winner shot 30 000 birds. PHOTO: Indiana History Blog ABOVE: Despite their vast numbers – estimated to be about five billion – passenger pigeons were doomed from the moment that Europeans arrived in North America. PHOTO: Reddit LEFT: The passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) was a North American wild pigeon species that went extinct by 1914. PHOTO: Getty Images and can recall more than a thousand images, even years later. Some researchers believe homing pigeons use magneto-reception, which involves relying on Earth's magnetic fields for guidance. They have found that homing pigeons have magnetite crystals in their upper beaks that would allow them to detect magnetic fields easily. More recent research, however, suggests that homing pigeons may also rely upon low-frequency infrasound. These low-frequency sounds are inaudible to human ears, but they're created by nearly everything,

including the oceans and Earth's crust. Homing pigeons may listen to these sounds until they recognise the signature sounds of their home roost. Some research suggests that pigeons may also be guided by smell. If all this seems unbelievable, just remember that pigeons have unimagined superpowers. But despite superpowers, passenger pigeons and another million species are no match for the destructive superpower of humans. We are undoubtedly able to cause extinctions such as Attenborough identifies. The Sixth Extinction is all too possible.

www.thevillagenews.co.za

30 September 2020

MOTORING

on cars

Compiled by John Floyd

Extended warranties, service plans for Mahindra

rivers of all Mahindra models – ranging from the Mahindra Bolero to the top-of-therange XUV500 – can now enjoy additional peace of mind with the introduction of the Mahindra Extended Warranty and Optional Service Plan packages. The new packages were developed completely in-house by Mahindra South Africa and they allow owners to purchase a complete service plan – for models not currently sold with one – or to top up their service plans and add an extended warranty – on all models.

The new vehicle support packages were developed as part of a

concerted customer service drive by Mahindra and its chain of 67 dealers across South Africa and neighbouring countries. It started earlier this year when Mahindra introduced its #GreatValueGreatService customer brand promise. With #GreatValueGreatService, Mahindra ensures that it delivers a delightful homogeneous experience across its network, while also offering excellent value for money. Mahindra also holds its dealers and suppliers accountable for the speedy and professional resolution of any customer queries or vehicle services. The #GreatValueGreatService is

aligned with the launch of the Mzanzi Mahindra app and dedicated Customer Care line (012-865-0171). Through the app, customers can easily book an appointment, locate their nearest dealer, notify emergency services, navigate through the Mahindra range of products and accessories, and learn about any special retail offerings. “Our research shows that our Mahindra bakkie and SUV owners have great trust in their cars. They know that they can rely on their Mahindra to transport their family, travel to work or on holiday or support their businesses. With our new plans, they can now extend that trust well beyond the usual length of a warranty

or service plan,” says Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa.

using Mahindra Genuine Parts and Maximile Oils.”

Rajesh says that the Mahindra #GreatValueGreatService promise offers customers a higher level of certainty and that Mahindra is continuously working to enhance the value proposition to its customers, with the extended warranty and service plan the next step in this programme.

The new plans have been introduced across all dealers and all product ranges and they offer uncapped coverage on defined parts. It is also competitively priced against other similar services on offer by non- Mahindra service providers.

“Our new plans not only guarantee that customers will not pay extra on services and mechanical repairs covered by the mechanical warranty or service plan, but we guarantee that all services and repairs will be done by trained Mahindra technicians,

“Our new service plans and extended warranties are available immediately across our network of dealers. They are available to customers of new and used Mahindra vehicles and will transfer with the sale of a vehicle, adding additional value to both the seller and the buyer.”

GridCars appointed as BMW charge point operator B

MW Group South Africa, in line with its expanded electromobility offering in the country, announces the appointment of established service provider GridCars as its official Charge Point Operator, effective 1 September 2020. The responses from existing BMW i3 drivers were considered when the new three-year agreement with GridCars was decided. An enhanced customer experience and access to Gridcar’s extensive network were instrumental in securing the deal. There will, however, be a defined sign-up process for BMW Group customers who register on the GridCars portal with their new (or existing) RFID ChargeNow cards. Customers will be able to use one card for access across both networks, yet still enjoy free access to BMW

or MINI-branded public charging stations. Other features that BMW Group South Africa customers might enjoy include the ability to actively manage charge sessions using Gridcar’s web-based app, real-time information on charge point availability and, at a later stage, a customer rewards programme. This announcement comes as BMW Group South Africa prepares for the market introduction of the first fully electric MINI, the MINI Cooper SE, from October 2020. Tim Abbott, Chief Executive Officer, BMW Group South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa, said: “As a very exciting MINI model is added to further expand the BMW Group’s leading

position in electrification, we now have an opportunity to also act on our loyal BMW i customers’ advice. “In future, customers who drive either a BMW or MINI electric vehicle will benefit from a simplified charging process and the increased efficiencies that spring from our renewed partnership with GridCars.” “GridCars is looking forward to engaging with BMW Group South Africa’s customers to add value to their charging experience, using the extended charging network now available across the country,” said Winstone Jordaan, GridCars Managing Director. “The launch of the electric MINI is exciting and it will be a valuable addition to the broader electric vehicle offering in South Africa.”

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Paddy Hopkirk: Gentleman, legend in the classic Mini and fifth Beatle

is tour-de-force at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964 transformed the racing driver from Northern Ireland into the United Kingdom’s most illustrious rally driver and propelled the classic Mini to the status of motor-sport icon. Driving fun typical of the brand is still the passion of the racing driver, now 87 years old. And he continues to relish the challenge of winding country roads. The Ford Falcon was powered by eight cylinders and had a lead of 17 seconds. Paddy Hopkirk had stowed a can of caviar in the toolbox of his Mini Cooper S and he had just mastered the “Night of the Long Knives” in a rumbustious drive. In 1964, the Monte Carlo Rally was still a genuine adventure for all the competing racing drivers and the spectacle was broadcast live on television. This was the era when automobile manufacturers all over the world discovered rally sport as the perfect stage for presenting their models. And consequently, vehicles from different weight and performance classes competed against each other with a handicap formula providing appropriate compensation when allocating points. When Hopkirk, now 87 years old, talks about his tour-de-force driving the classic Mini with start number 37, the fascination of classic motor sport immediately comes alive. Today, Hopkirk can still get excited about the driving characteristics of the classic Mini. “The Mini was a very advanced motor car. Its front-wheel drive and the transversely mounted engine at the front presented significant advantages, just like the fact that the car was small given that the roads had lots of bends and were narrow,” explained the rally driver from Northern Ireland as he recalled his greatest triumph. When we met up at the foot of the Col de Turini, he slid in nimbly behind the steering wheel of a classic Mini. This time, the little car was styled in a livery of British Racing Green, there was no snow on the carriageway, and time was available to enjoy the magnificent landscape and the view of Monte Carlo nestling in the valley. But Hopkirk still finds the ideal

line from the start and steers the classic Mini out of the bend with a broad smile and forceful pedal-to-metal acceleration. Driving fun comes back immediately, along with the memories of the event 56 years ago. Incidentally, the caviar originated from Minsk. In the winter of 1964, Hopkirk and his English co-pilot Harry Liddon started out from Minsk in the Monte Carlo Rally, which at that time commenced as a star rally from nine different European cities. The six Mini works cars and the other vehicles in the starter field only met up in Rheims, France. At that time, Patrick or “Paddy” Hopkirk was already able to look back on an impressive career in which he had won hillclimb races and come out victorious five times in the Circuit of Ireland. Hopkirk had also attracted attention in the Tulip Rally staged in the Netherlands, the Austrian Alpine Rally and the Safari Rally. In 1962, he crossed the finishing line driving a Sunbeam Rapier in third place in the overall placings of the Monte Carlo Rally. And because he had such a taste for adventure and had never driven on Soviet roads, Hopkirk registered voluntarily to start the race in Minsk in 1964. He started off successfully, and along the country roads in France a duel quickly developed between Hopkirk driving the Mini Cooper S and Swedish driver Bo Ljungfeldt in the Ford Falcon. The showdown came on the Col de Turini and this was destined to presage the ultimate outcome for the race. On the day before, there had been a big snowfall and this significantly slowed down powerful and heavy vehicles steered by competing drivers. However, this

wasn’t the case for the little challenger. According to Hopkirk: “The Mini performed particularly well going downhill, and the tests had all been uphill and down dale so that we were able make good anything we lost going uphill when we were driving downhill.” Everything else was dealt with by the handicap formula. Ljungfeldt made up 17 seconds during the “Night of the Long Knives” and gained a lead of half a minute in the final circuit race on the Monte Carlo Grand Prix track, but this was not enough to displace Paddy Hopkirk from his position as number one in the overall placings. At the finishing line, it took some time before all the times had been compared and all the points had been totted up. However, ultimately the first overall victory achieved by the classic Mini in the Monte Carlo Rally was established. The surprising coup won acclaim worldwide, and feverish celebrations followed in the United Kingdom. The classic MINI became a motor-sport legend and Paddy Hopkirk shot to fame as the United Kingdom’s most illustrious rally driver overnight. After the winner’s podium ceremony, driver and vehicle were repatriated to the United Kingdom where they starred in the immensely popular TV show of the time, “Sunday Night at the London Palladium”. Fans, celebrities and even the British Government sent telegrams to convey their congratulations. Hopkirk’s most treasured memorabilia include an autograph card from the Beatles with the message: “Now you are one of us, Paddy!” The MINI Cooper S continued to dominate the Monte Carlo Rally in subsequent years.

Hopkirk’s Finnish teammates Timo Mäkinen and Rauno Aaltonen, who had taken places four and seven in 1964, succeeded in driving the Mini Cooper S to second and third place in the overall standings in 1965 and 1967 respectively. Rally fans named the trio “The Three Musketeers”. In 2010, they were all welcomed as the first members of the Finnish “Rally Hall of Fame”. In 1967, Hopkirk took sixth place in the overall standings and in the following year he crossed the finishing line of the “Monte” in fifth place. However, it was inevitable that the golden era of this diminutive adventurous runabout was coming to an end, particularly since the competition had been busily working on developments. Hopkirk changed to other models and won a number of races including the Acropolis Rally. In 1968, Paddy Hopkirk highlighted his reputation as a fair sportsman and gentleman in the London-Sydney Marathon when he and his co-pilot Tony Nash stopped their Austin, which was in the lead, in order to rescue a team from their burning car that had been involved in a serious accident. At the beginning of the 1970s, Paddy Hopkirk retired from professional rallying and built up a career importing automobiles to his homeland of Northern Ireland and the sale of accessory products sold under the brand named after him. He was also involved in the relaunch of the MINI brand as a consultant to the BMW Group. The veteran rally driver still engages in a wealth of honorary activities to this day. During his active driving career, Hopkirk supported a large number of road safety campaigns and he is still involved today as an ambassador for the charity organisation IAM RoadSmart. His commitments also include working on the Board of Management of the British Racing Drivers’ Club and supporting WheelPower, an association dedicated to promoting wheelchair sport. In 2016, Paddy Hopkirk received the award of Member of the Order of the British Empire from Princess Anne.

www.thevillagenews.co.za

30 September 2020

Ferrari Portofino M: a voyage of rediscovery T he Ferrari Portofino M, the evolution of the Prancing Horse’s 2+ GT spider, the Ferrari Portofino, was unveiled today. In a move unprecedented in the Maranello marque’s 70-year-plus history, the new car’s premiere took place entirely online. The build-up to the unveiling included the sending out of a series of newsletters to clients over recent weeks at the end of which they were given access to a platform containing exclusive videos illustrating the concept behind the car, its restyling and main technical content. Significantly, the Portofino M is the first Ferrari to be presented in the wake of the company’s temporary closure due to the Covid-19 crisis, making it the symbol of a voyage of rediscovery. It is the (re)starting point for Prancing Horse’s pursuit of innovation whilst fully respecting its heritage, passion and constant search for perfection. All of these values are reflected in the new Portofino M with the ‘M’ in

its moniker standing for ‘Modificata’, which in Ferrari nomenclature refers to cars that have undergone an evolution that has boosted their performance.

There is no shortage of technical innovation in this stunning new evolution of the Ferrari Portofino, the most notable being its redesigned powertrain, a brand-new eight-speed gearbox and a five-position Manettino that includes a Race mode, an absolute first for a Maranello GT spider.

redesigned eight-speed gearbox that replaces the previous seven-speed version. This is, in fact, the first eightspeed to be installed on an open-top Ferrari and is based on a dual-clutch oil bath architecture with a 20% smaller clutch module and 35% higher torque delivery.

As a consequence of these and many other new features, the Portofino M guarantees a completely unprecedented combination of authentic GT performance, driving pleasure, agility and exceptional versatility in everyday driving contexts.

From a vehicle dynamics perspective, the most significant innovation is most certainly the introduction of the five-position Manettino, an absolute first for a Prancing Horse GT spider. The aim being, of course, to further enhance the Ferrari Portofino’s already superb handling and traction through the addition of the Race mode. Supported by the Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer, said Race mode focuses mainly on maximising driving pleasure and fun behind the wheel.

In terms of its powertrain, the Portofino M’s 3855 cc engine, which belongs to the V8 turbo family voted “International Engine of the Year” on four consecutive occasions, has been optimised to unleash 620 cv at 7,500 rpm – 20 cv more than the Ferrari Portofino. It also boasts a completely

The significant technological evolution the model has undergone is visually underscored by the new design of the front of the car and the bumpers in particular, which are sportier and more aggressive. Both inside and out, there is a sense of harmony of expression and intent

in forms that are sometimes sharper and then softer and more flowing.

4 Ferrari Portofino M Summary Technical Specification

This latest design and engineering masterpiece from the Prancing Horse is the perfect evolution of the Ferrari Portofino. Sportier in character than its predecessor, it also delivers superior handling whilst not only maintaining but enhancing on-board comfort, courtesy of specific new optional features, such as ADAS, and ventilated and heated seats.

ENGINE Type V8 - 90° turbo Total displacement 3855 cc Bore and stroke 86.5 mm x 82 mm Max. power output* 456 kW (620 CV) at 5750 - 7500 rpm Max. torque 760 Nm at 3000 ÷ 5750 rpm

The Ferrari Portofino M thus retains its predecessor’s twin soul and is the only car on the market that can rightfully be described as an authentic coupé with its top closed and a genuine spider when it is open. This is thanks, of course, to the Retractable Hard Top (RHT), the signature feature of all the Prancing Horse’s convertibles. The Portofino M’s compact dimensions also make it ideal for all occasions. In fact, its unparalleled versatility and on-board comfort turn every trip into a voyage of (re) discovery.

WEIGHT AND DIMENSIONS Length 4594 mm Width 1938 mm (2020 mm with wing mirrors) Height 1318 mm Wheelbase 2670 mm Dry weight** 1545 kg PERFORMANCE Max. speed 0-100 km/h 0-200 km/h

> 320 km/h 3.45 s 9.8 s

The Village NEWS 30 Sept - 7 Oct 2020

Articles inside

L2L practice walks to kick off soon

Rescued grysbokkie doing well

Donkey sanctuary launches equine sterilisation programme

The heart of the matter

Staying healthy: vaccinate your dogs!

What’s new on the bookshelves

Restoring our faith in humanity

Marco Polo’s Travels: The Zulu Encounter

We are on the right track

Thumbs up for private electricity

The extinction of species

Putting pencil to paper during lockdown

A long weekend of fine art

Minister visits Hermanus to boost local tourism

Long weekend a success