3 MARCH 2021
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Fourteen-year-old Jordan Millar took this photo of a school of Strepies (Sarpa salpa) while diving in front of Hoek van den Berg Nature Reserve recently. Jordan is a very keen diver and photographer and often walks along the coastal path from his grandmother's house in Vermont to this particular spot which has nice clear water and an abundance of sea life. He hopes to extend his photography skills and to perhaps turn it into a career someday. For more of his photographs, find him on Instagram @jordan1205millar. PHOTO: Jordan Millar
Tourism sees an uptick Writer De Waal Steyn
T
he decision to move South Africa from Covid-19 Alert Level 3 to Level 1 will be the proverbial cherry on the cake for the Overstrand as visitors are returning to our towns in droves, after the summer season was cut short due to the second wave of Coronavirus infections. “We have been fortunate that the last few weekends have seen large numbers of people from all over the province visiting our towns. After the Level 3 lockdown come into effect in December, people have been yearning to get out of their houses and spend some time with family and friends,” said Frieda Lloyd, Tourism Manager of the Cape Whale Coast. Business owners in all our towns are smiling broadly after the rush of weekend visitors that started during the Valentine’s weekend.
“Many guesthouses reported occupancy levels above 75% last weekend and all the attractions around our coast report large numbers of visitors. Wine farms, adventure sports activities, restaurants, art galleries and weekend markets have said they have seen a marked uptick in the number of visitors,” said Lloyd. According to her, one of the most positive signs is that although the numbers are growing, people are still taking Covid-19 precautions very seriously. “Both the visitors and business owners understand the importance of sticking to the regulations. In the past few months, the Cape Whale Coast has built a reputation as a safe destination to travel to. One example is the fact that we have Covid monitors at our markets to ensure that people are keeping their distance and wearing their masks. When the rules are broken, the issue is followed up on and the perpetrators are dealt with according to the law. “Visitors are looking to spend as much time as
possible outside and in activities where social distancing can be easily achieved. This makes our region the perfect destination as we offer rural outings for runners and cyclists, but also beaches, restaurants, and boating experiences in a safe and controlled environment. This past weekend there was a vacation-like atmosphere in town centres and it was great to see the large number of campers at the Onrus Caravan Park,” she said. Lloyd said we can look forward to a busy time during March, especially with the Day of Goodwill long weekend on 22 March and Easter shortly thereafter. “We are already seeing a steady flow of bookings for the long weekends. If Coronavirus infection numbers stay as low as they are now, we will once again be able offer tourists the ultimate getaway during Easter, something that was sorely missed last year.” Under Level 1 of the lockdown, the country’s curfew now takes place between midnight and
04:00. The new regulations will permit gatherings – religious, social, political and cultural – to take place, subject to limitations on size, adherence to social distancing and other health protocols. Under the new dispensation, night vigils or other gatherings before or after funerals are still not allowed, while the doors of nightclubs will remain shut. The sale of alcohol will be permitted, according to normal licence provisions. The wearing of masks in public places is still mandatory, with failure to wear one remaining an offence. To date nearly 67 000 healthcare workers have been vaccinated, with a further 80 000 Johnson and Johnson vaccines arriving in the country this week. The second phase of vaccinations is set to start at the end of April and will include the elderly, public interface service workers and those with comorbidities.
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www.thevillagenews.co.za
3 March 2021
LOVE A LITTLE LOCAL
Matric results ‘something to celebrate’ A lthough the national pass rate for last year’s National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam dropped by more than 5 percentage points to 76.2%, the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga commended the class of 2020. The year was characterised by resilience, she said, as the matrics had to adapt to the many disruptions and obstacles presented by the Covid-19 pandemic in their crucial, final year of school.
dedication – even in times of uncertainty and fear.”
“We were always unsure as to what the impact would be on our matriculants and their performance in the NSC, and from an education perspective the results are, in many ways, something to celebrate,” said the Head of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), Brian Schreuder in a statement released last week.
Hermanus High School achieved a 98% pass rate, of which 86.3% were Bachelor passes. A total of 19 matrics had A-aggregates, and the school’s top academic achiever was Danie Gouws (95.8%), who also came out tops in the country in mathematics (100%), in addition to scoring 93% in die IEB Applied Mathematical Programme. His other results are no less impressive: 94% for Afrikaans Home Language, 87% for English Home Language, 99% for Engineering Graphics & Design, 97% for Life Orientation, 97% for Accounting and 98% for Physical Science. Danie has received more awards, prizes, certificates and trophies for his matric performance than most people will accumulate in a lifetime!
“We are therefore pleased that the impact of Covid-19 on our class of 2020 wasn’t more severe. The Western Cape pass rate declined by 2.4% (to 79.9%), which is the lowest decline in the country. Our candidates also achieved the highest Bachelor pass rate ever (43.8%).” He added that the WCED was extremely proud of the province’s learners, teachers and principals. “We salute their resilience, fortitude and
Northcliff Northcliff House College achieved a 100% pass rate for the third year in a row and is particularly proud of Nosiviwe Matikinca, who joined the school from Qhayiya Secondary in her matric year in order to realise her dream of studying art. With the donation of funds raised by the Hermanus First Fridays (HFF) Artwalk during the Night of a Thousand Drawings in December 2019, the Hermanus Visual Art
& Design Centre was able to give Nosi the opportunity to study at Northcliff House, where she could take both Visual Art and Design as matric subjects.
Although it could not have been easy for Nosi to change schools in the middle of a chaotic pandemic, she passed all her subjects, obtaining 75% for Design and 84% for Visual Art. She will be studying Fine Art at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University from 15 March. Nosi thanked the HFF committee and her teachers, Jeandré Marinier and Vivienne Mitchley, for giving her this opportunity. Qhayiya Secondary School in Zwelihle unfortunately saw a drop in its pass rate from 84.7% to 63.2%. Of the 182 candidates that wrote the NSC exam, 115 passed and 67 failed. The school’s 54 Bachelor passes (29.7%) are also down from last year (41.6%). Hawston Secondary School’s pass rate of 75.6% is slightly down from the encouraging 80% they achieved in 2019, but the school is very proud of its 25 Bachelor passes and the hard work and determination of their top student, Lyle Arendse, who achieved four distinctions and an aggregate of 78.9%. – Hedda Mittner
ABOVE: Hermanus High School’s top 10 students: At the back, from left are Michaela Lawrence, Anna van Deventer, Gerphan Louw, Mia Burgess, Kaylan Miller and Amé Yue. In front are Greg Earle, Sam Cutts, Luschke Labuschagne and Danie Gouws. PHOTO: Hedda Mittner BELOW: Northcliff High’s matric class of 2020: At the back are Uan Manuel, Collen Mteyise, Lwando Mbovane, Peter Africa and Ravick Black, (middle) Lara du Plessis, Keegan du Plessis and Teacher Katherine Liefeldt, and (front) Nosi Matikinca and Sinebongo Qebeyi. PHOTO: Supplied
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www.thevillagenews.co.za
3 March 2021
LOVING A LITTLE LOCAL AT THE VILLAGE NEWS!
Elaine Davie – A voice for the voiceless Writer Hedda Mittner
T
he Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) Excellence Awards, held annually in July – and among the many events that were derailed last year by Covid-19 – was finally presented online on Friday to honour the shining stars of South Africa’s community press for 2019. Having won the coveted Newspaper of the Year award in the independent commercial newspaper category for 2017, The Village NEWS was the runner-up for the second year in a row, and in the Columnist category, Murray Stewart was the runner-up for the third time. The Village NEWS also won third place in the Front Page category, while Taylum Meyer was a finalist for General Photography, a category in which she placed second the year before. This was good news indeed for the whole team after a year of hard knocks, but there was even more reason to rejoice when it was announced that our journalist Elaine Davie was the winner of both Hard News and the most coveted award of all – Journalist of the Year for 2019. When selecting the recipient of this sought-after accolade, the FCJ judges were looking for qualities such as versatility, the eloquent use of language, and a wide variety of interesting topics. They found exactly that, and more, in the stories submitted by Elaine, who has been a valuable contributor to The Village NEWS for just over three years, keeping our readers entertained and informed on everything happening in the Overstrand, from community issues to education, the environment, books and the arts. The judges made particular mention of Elaine’s striking reports on abalone poaching, commenting that her articles “all show initiative and the ability to stick with a story until the end, answering important questions, all highly relevant to the community”. As someone who says she’s “adopted causes all my life”, one of Elaine’s strengths is her dedication to bringing issues affecting our communities into the open, while taking great care to present all sides of a story. She feels strongly about giving a voice to the voiceless and presenting the perspective of the disenfranchised – which goes back to her years as a radio journalist during the apartheid years. Above all, Elaine’s stories are about people. It therefore came as no surprise to us when she won the Human Interest category at the FCJ Excellence Awards for 2018. “When I do an interview, one of my main aims is to get below the surface and capture the essence of the person I am speaking to without their feeling I am invading their privacy,” she says. “I truly believe that everyone has a story to tell that needs to be heard, even if they don’t necessarily think so themselves.” Elaine’s ability to connect with people has perhaps more than a little to do with the fact that she was a Lifeline counsellor and trainer for six years (“It taught me to listen for the unexpressed,” she says) – not to mention her extraordinarily diverse life experience. “You know
the Chinese proverb, ‘Be careful what you wish for’… Well, when I was young and people asked me what I wanted to do with my life, I always used to say, ‘I want to experience everything’. And I have – and looking back it’s been exhausting!” she laughs. Born in Springs in 1940 (yes, it’s hard to believe that Elaine turned 80 last year!), her family later moved to Pretoria, via the Northern Transvaal. During her school years she had a strong aptitude for languages and drama, and participating in school plays and editing the school newspaper were what gave her the greatest fulfilment. “As a child I was fortunate to have had two grandparents who were voracious readers and parents who, each in their own way, were storytellers. I myself had an unreasonable obsession to know what it would be like to live in someone else’s skin. When I left school I was torn between studying drama and journalism, both of which fed into this passion.” In the end, she chose drama and, after matriculating from Pretoria Girls High, Elaine went off to the Maas Phillips College of Speech and Drama in Cape Town (now the Cape Academy of Dramatic Art), where she relished her newfound independence. Cape Town was also where she met Mike Malherbe, who was to become her husband a few years later, and father to her three children – Neil, Geraldine and Robin. Back in Pretoria, Elaine taught drama at Carmel Primary School for six years before returning to her theatre roots when she joined the former PACT (Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal). “This was during the seventies and I worked with lovely people like Janice Honeyman and Robin Malan. Head of Drama, Mannie Manim, went on to co-found The Market Theatre with Barney Simon in 1976.” Elaine not only wrote children’s plays but also developed educational programmes for PACT Playwork, the Drama Department’s Theatre-in-Education Company. Since leaving PACT in 1978, and indeed throughout her life, she has continued to write, from magazine features, to internal newsletters, marketing material, children’s plays, television scripts and academic conference papers. Although she derived immense satisfaction from her work, neither her personal nor her professional life was always plain sailing. She got divorced, remarried and divorced again; more than once she found herself “without a job or a place to stay”. But Elaine’s courage and resilience never faltered. When a former PACT colleague, then
working for the SABC, asked Elaine one day: “Have you ever thought of doing radio work?” her answer was that she had not, but was willing to give it a try. That decision led to a whole new career in radio journalism during the turbulent eighties. “As a radio broadcaster and producer, I covered a wide range of topics including conservation, science, the arts, current affairs and community issues, during which I had the privilege to meet and interview people at all levels of society who were generous enough to allow me a glimpse into their lives,” she says. Among the ground-breaking work she did during this last decade of the apartheid era were the first radio interviews with prominent political figures such as Helen Suzman and Mangosuthu Buthelezi to be broadcast by the SABC, and a radio doccie titled ‘Ubuntu’, which saw Elaine visiting several townships and interviewing men, women and children to gain an insight into their lives and struggles. “No white people went into the townships in the ‘80s and I realised that the one half of our country had no idea how the other half lived,” she says. Another initiative was a monthly regional round-up programme, for which Elaine travelled to many small towns in the old Transvaal like Barberton, Rustenburg and White River, where she did live interviews with interesting locals. “Unfortunately, many of my stories for the SABC were canned for political reasons and my integrity became so compromised that I eventually had to leave.” This was another turning point in Elaine’s eventful life, which led to her involvement with SOS Children’s Villages. “I think I was only appointed because they were starting a new village in Mamelodi and they needed a general go-to skivvy. I ended up supervising the building, buying the furniture, appointing and training the staff…” Once the Village was up and running as a haven for orphaned and abandoned children, Elaine went on to launch three outreach programmes which included an ECD project. Being subjected to strong-arm apartheid tactics made this a scary time for Elaine, though, especially as she was living alone. “While I was working for SOS in Mamelodi and even afterwards, I was constantly harassed by the Security Police. My phone was tapped; I received threatening phone calls in the early hours of the morning and was told I was being watched night and day. One day when I came home from work I found that my kitchen door had literally been chopped down with an axe and my house was completely trashed.”
Undaunted, Elaine went on, as national co-ordinator, to establish the SA Association for Early Childhood Educare (SAAECE) – formerly the SA Nursery Schools Association, which was reorganising to become more inclusive. Once again, she travelled a lot and was instrumental in establishing branches all over the country. During a trip to America by invitation of the US Embassy to attend an ECD conference in Washington DC, she also visited ghetto communities in several urban centres, from New York to Boston, Detroit and Memphis. Later, she served as a member of the National Committee for Children’s Rights, working closely with Judge PJJ Olivier to draw up the draft Children’s Rights Charter, which was later expanded and incorporated into the Constitution of South Africa. In the early nineties Elaine started her own ECD training programme called Small Beginnings and launched seven training centres around the Northern and Eastern Transvaal. Her success at securing funding from local corporates and international foundations led to Liberty Life recruiting her to set up the Southern African Grantmakers’ Association (SAGA), to bring funders, government departments and NGOs together. Among SAGA’s objectives was implementing a community foundation pilot programme, publishing a donor directory, developing a training programme for corporate social investment practitioners – and convening seminars and conferences on specific sectors. Eventually, Elaine decided it was time for a change of focus and this time she set her sights on Knysna, where she’d spent many happy holidays as a child, and also with her own family when her children were young. Having settled into her new home, she decided to open a craft art gallery. “I’d always been interested in the crafts I found in the rural areas I’d travelled to and I thoroughly enjoyed sourcing the stock, but unfortunately Knysna was a very seasonal town, much like Hermanus, and I was very reliant on tourists to keep the business sustainable.” In order to supplement her income, Elaine worked as an estate agent. “I absolutely hated it!” she laughs. Having finally decided to sell her gallery, Elaine relocated to Greyton, where she got involved with an NGO for rhino conservation. From there she made her way in 2010 to Kleinmond after seeing an advert for a wooden toy-making project run by Mthimkhulu Village. When that closed down she joined first Camphill School and then Enlighten Education Trust as fundraiser/PRO, as well as continuing to do free-lance writing and editing. “In my last three years at The Village NEWS, I have come full circle and been given the opportunity to give a voice to members of this dynamic and diverse Overstrand community, to contribute some insights and at the same time to pay tribute to them and to the beautiful place we share,” she says. We are indeed privileged to have Elaine on our team. To bag both the Hard News award and Journalist of the Year award among stiff competition from all across the country – and at the age of 80, nogal! – is no mean feat. Congratulations, Elaine! We are immensely proud of you.
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www.thevillagenews.co.za
FROM THE EDITOR
3 March 2021
Whoop, whoop for The NEWS
There has been an unwritten rule in journalism that states: We write the news; we do not make it. Simply put, it means that professional media organisations report the news of the day but do not write about themselves. But sometimes it is necessary to bend the rules somewhat. Like when you are on a deserted stretch of beach, who does not slip their masks off? For The Village NEWS it is time to slip our mask off for just a second to thank our loyal readers and advertisers who continue to invest in us. This has made it possible for us once again to stand
proud during the annual Forum of Community Journalist’s annual awards. These awards are judged by some of South Africa’s most prominent media leaders and allow local media houses to be measured against their peers. In a time when the media industry is under constant threat with revenue models needing to be reworked and readership numbers declining, it is important to know where you stand compared to those in the same field. Community newspapers are not immune to this insecure environment and several publications have been forced
NEWS WhatsApp or SMS your stories and photos to 083 700 3319 De Waal Steyn
E: dewaal@thevillagenews.co.za
Hedda Mittner
CONTENT EDITOR T: 083 645 3928
E: hedda@thevillagenews.co.za
Raphael da Silva ONLINE EDITOR T: 074 125 5854
E: raphael@thevillagenews.co.za
Elaine Davie
JOURNALIST T: 084 343 7500
E: elaine@thevillagenews.co.za Taylum Meyer PRODUCTION MANAGER, PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN T: 084 564 0779
E: taylum@thevillagenews.co.za
Charé van der Walt MARKETING & SALES MANAGER T: 082 430 1974
a great compliment to us. Who would have thought that a “good news” newspaper would be able to stand up to its hard news counterparts? And with our very own Elaine Davie winning the distinction of being named Hard News Journalist of the Year, it just goes to show that finding the good in the news is a worthwhile pursuit.
We are once again seeing growth in our readership and will soon have to increase the number of copies we print. We thank each and every one of you for this. To be named runner-up for the second consecutive year in the Best Newspaper of the Year category is
In addition, Elaine showed her mettle by being named Journalist of the Year – an award that is not easily won. But she did it and we are immensely proud to have her on our team. So too, Murray Stewart who makes us laugh every
week with his column, and Nickey Jackson who ensured that pages and adverts were designed to be a treat to read aided by Taylum Meyer, who takes award-winning photographs. These accolades speak to our passion to offer the Overstrand only the best news, information, and entertainment. Not only do we look forward each week to publishing the best possible paper, but we also enjoy interacting with our communities and telling your stories. It is an honour for us to serve you. This is the good NEWS – Ed.
Boys to men – the circle of life?
THE VILLAGE
PUBLISHING EDITOR T: 083 700 3319
to close during the course of the year because of declining advertising. Although The Village NEWS has also had to adapt to the new economic realities we are faced with, we are thankful for the continued support of our advertisers and well-wishers who assist us in publishing a newspaper every week.
By Murray Stewart murray.stewart49@gmail.com
way. Skates and ladders had progressed to bikes and bullets. But on to more cheerful fellowships and fraternities...
T
he For Fact’s Sake columns are – according to Google and The Duck ‘n Fiddle’s archives – based in truth.
Girls don’t do it till they’re older. But boys, from a fairly young age, do. We somehow find it necessary to form little ‘gangs’ and build tree-house dens and secret fortresses and have furtive meetings for ‘members only’. At these early indabas, we’d discuss serious tactical manoeuvres, like raiding the rival gang’s headquarters and snaffling their skateboards, or how to booby trap their tree-house ladder, and who should steal their gang-leader’s bicycle saddle during lunch break. These junior school cliques are the seedlings that will flourish within some boys through their adolescence and manhood. This feeling of camaraderie, and the urge to belong is the glue that would bind them into fraternities, fellowships, gangs and societies, like the Round Table, Rotary Club, Masons or Hell’s Angels. Some of these fellowships are altruistic, but others were formed for their own benefit, their very survival. Many Vietnam war vets were left to fend for themselves, which led to the formation of various support groups. These sometimes became the foundations of motorcycle gangs that offered the security of a brotherhood. To survive, and in fact flourish, they peddled drugs and killed rival gang members who got in their
The Golden Circle would incorporate all of today’s Southern States, from Florida and the Bahamas in the East, right through Mississippi, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico to the West. Old Mexico didn’t know it yet, but they were also on the list, as was Central America, Panama and all the countries across the top of South America. By annexing the Caribbean Islands, the Golden Circle surrounding the Gulf of Mexico was complete.
Take, for example, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, founded in 1819 in Baltimore. Objective? To “promote personal and social development by helping those in need”. Yummy, nè? They, like the Masons, also have nudge-nudge wink-wink secret passwords, handshakes and rituals, but oddly enough, even people who are not odd can join.
The Circle therefore included the wealthy oil producers, productive agricultural lands and harbours servicing two oceans for commercial trade. Brilliant! A civil war over slavery was on the horizon anyway, so the time was ripe to mobilise the rednecks and hillbillies into a frenzy, to storm the Capitol, and hang those pesky unpatriotic Northerners. Ring any bells?
Then there’s the Honourable Order of Turtles. Basically a booze-up for WWII veterans – described as “an honourable drinking fraternity for ladies and gentlemen of the highest morals and good character, and who are never vulgar.” Yeah, right! What were they drinking? Oros?
Anyway, President Lincoln wasn’t amused, and in 1861 commissioned his chief detective to infiltrate and apprehend the ringleaders. Enter Alan Pinkerton, famous for nabbing cattle rustlers, bank robbers and unsavoury gunslingers with halitosis. Pretty soon he’d arrested or shot most of the Circle’s leading Knights – halitosis or not – which prevented an insurrection and avoided a more explosive civil war that would have changed world politics forever.
We also find the Order of Elks, the Bald Knobbers and the Order of Peacock Angels, which – among many others with totally ridiculous names – generally aim to lend a hand. Most operate under the radar, preferring their altruism to remain anonymous. But not this bunch. The Knights of the Golden Circle, founded in 1854 were very brazen about their objectives, both financially and politically. They still cast an ominous shadow over what’s happening in America today – the old story of North versus South.
Bells still ringing? They should be. Orange is the new Gold. Beware the Knights of the Orange Circle...
Their plan was to create a country separate from the Northern States which would become the commercial hub of the Americas – perhaps the world.
Anyway, girls do form societies later in life, like book clubs, needlework support groups and Tupperware parties, but they seldom end up killing each other.
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COVID-19 DASHBOARD OVERSTRAND
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3 March 2021
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TOTAL CASES AS OF 1 MAR 2021:
OVERSTRAND (27 FEB): TOTAL (ACTIVE)
WORLD: 114 756 819 SOUTH AFRICA: 1 513 393 WESTERN CAPE: 275 366 (18.19% of cases in SA) OVERBERG: 13 258
• FISHERHAVEN: 44 (0) • GANSBAAI: 185 (5) • HAWSTON: 449 (13) • HERMANUS: 719 (6) • KLEINMOND: 677 (9)
• MT PLEASANT: 357 (2) • ONRUS: 205 (4) • SANDBAAI: 218 (2) • STANFORD: 380 (4) • VERMONT: 93 (2) • ZWELIHLE: 1 088 (13)
LAST WEEK'S TOTAL CASES:
TOTAL: 5 015 (65)
(22 FEB)
WORLD: 112 072 399 SOUTH AFRICA: 1 503 796 (16th in the world) WESTERN CAPE: 274 046 OVERBERG: 13 236 (468 deaths) OVERSTRAND: 5 000 (142 deaths)
LET'S TALK
Fernkloof deserves better protection The editorial in The Village NEWS of 24 February 2021 (Fernkloof gets what it deserves) refers. As a proclaimed nature reserve protected under the Protected Areas Management Act (NEM:PAA), Fernkloof Nature Reserve (FNR) must be managed for the purpose for which the reserve was proclaimed, in accordance with an approved management plan, known as a Protected Areas Management Plan (PAMP). This must be a tactical five-year plan, containing performance measures, that concisely sets out what the management authority (the OM is the management authority for FNR) undertakes to do to fulfil its responsibility to manage the reserve for the purpose for which it was proclaimed – nothing more, nothing less. It must contain a budget and progress in the implementation of the plan must be reported upon annually to the provincial MEC for Local Government and Environment. The submission of the FNR PAMP to Council for its approval is certainly not good news for FNR. And what FNR deserves is for the Overstrand Municipality (OM) simply to manage FNR in accordance with the purpose for which it was proclaimed – which is the conservation of its natural ecosystems. This the PAMP cannot facilitate, despite OM’s spin to the contrary, focused as it is on the contradictory strategy of making FNR “pay its way”. In this area there are plenty of places well placed to cater for the public’s need for entertainment and amusement. Tourism development belongs there. In 2017 the PAMP developed by the OM caused widespread public outrage, as it would have opened most
of FNR to infrastructure development. Although the latest 2019 version does restrict the area open for this, it uses a zoning sleight-of-hand that would enable the OM to decide what infrastructure is allowable by allowing wide consent use discretions for development. Given the OM’s record in this regard this loophole should not be allowed. The record includes not only the 2017 PAMP but also the OM’s applications since 2008 for a bypass road to be routed through FNR. The long development time of the latest PAMP has been characterised by a refusal by the OM to take any of the many concerns raised by the various civil society organisations on board and to adjust this cumbersome, voluminous and user non-friendly document accordingly to make it fit for purpose. The approval process has been a cynical tick-box exercise aimed at satisfying the various bureaucratic requirements. The required approval by the Fernkloof Advisory Board (FAB) was not unanimous. Not one of the Overstrand civil society organisations supports the adoption of the present PAMP. At a meeting called, at the insistence of concerned Overstrand civil society organisations, by the chair of the Infrastructure and Planning Portfolio Committee to discuss stakeholders’ concerns on 5 August 2020, numerous issues were listed. These required full discussion for which there was not time at that meeting. All requests for a promised follow-up workshop involving the full Infrastructure and Planning Portfolio Committee to resolve these were not responded to, until the week of 8 February, when two “feedback” meetings were offered, giving one
and three days’ notice respectively. In place of stakeholders’ input, a document had been drawn up by the Infrastructure and Planning Portfolio Committee and Director, commenting on the issues raised on 5 August. The consensus at the February 2021 Ward 3 committee meeting was that the FNR PAMP should not be presented to Council for approval as substantive issues remain that the OM has not addressed. Concerns over this abuse of process were raised with the Mayor and the Municipal Manager; the response was that should the FNR PAMP be approved by Council, civil society could raise their concerns with the relevant MEC. FNR is arguably the most ecologically biodiverse 1 900 hectares on planet Earth. It deserves nothing less than complete protection against development that is not essential for the conservation of that biodiversity. Civil society also deserves better – the protection in perpetuity for its exceptional biodiversity that was intended by the enlightened town administrators who created it. That would really be good news! In the meantime, we will continue to fight to give FNR what it really deserves. Given that there is not a single civil society organisation that supports the PAMP in its present form, that the Ward 3 committee was unanimous that the present PAMP should not be presented to Council for adoption, and that the technically flawed FAB meeting was not unanimous in its acceptance of the PAMP, how is it that Council has voted to adopt the PAMP? Rob Fryer & Pat Miller Whale Coast Conservation
R.I.P. Jimlongo sisters We are shocked and saddened by the recent loss of two very special friends – Angelina and Nellie Jimlongo. On 3 February Nellie phoned to say that her elder sister, Angelina, had died during the night. Two weeks later, on 17 February, Nellie herself passed away. The sisters were born and bred in Hermanus and went to school here. They grew up to become pillars of strength in the community and were loved and respected by everyone who knew them. When Mareta Nel and her husband, Dr Piet Nel, retired to Vermont some 30 years ago, she met the Jimlongo sisters and they became firm friends. The circle of friends widened and they decided on the name ‘Woman to Woman’, which included women from all denominations and communities in the Hermanus area. We tried to meet at least once a month, and various activities resulted. We laughed together, cried together and always prayed together – for each other, and our families and friends. As we all grew older and aches and pains set in, we often met at Angelina's beautiful home in Zwelihle. Her pride and joy was her huge collection of brass and copper memorabilia, which was always kept polished to perfection. Despite the pain of arthritis and
less mobility, Nellie was always cheerful and optimistic – we called her ‘Smiling Nellie’, which always made her laugh heartily. She was fondly called ‘Bunny’ by those who knew her well. For the past 15 years or so, our first meeting every year was at Volmoed, usually on Ash Wednesday. This was also true for 2020. None of us knew then that, due to Covid-19, this would be our last meeting with the Jimlongo sisters. We traditionally ended each year with a breakfast or lunch at a special venue. This was always a highlight. Gifts and good wishes for Christmas and New Year were exchanged. Sadly, in 2020 this was not possible. In 2021, Nellie passed away on Ash Wednesday, two weeks after Angelina. A huge loss to our Woman to Woman circle of sisters, the community and society as a whole. Another sad result of the pandemic was that we could not visit the family at their homes tomourn with them. The custom is for family, friends and neighbours to visit the home of the deceased and sit in respectful silence on mattresses on the floor with the bereaved family for an hour or two. Angelina and Nellie Jimlongo, our beloved sisters, may you rest in everlasting peace. Ellen Ellis, on behalf of all the members and supporters of the Woman to Woman circle of friends
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WHAT’S ON
5 – 12 MARCH 2021
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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. Make your booking via www.thewineglass.guru or call 082 082 0007. The Wine Glass, 2 Harbour Rd, Hermanus | 16:00 – 18:00 Bottomless Bubbles Fridays Start the weekend in style at the iconic Marine Hotel with bottomless bubbles from L’Ormarins and chef’s welcome canapés at R200 pp, every Friday. Booking is essential on 028 313 1000 or bookings@themarine.co.za. The Marine | 17:00 – 19:00 Hermanus First Fridays Join the 20 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
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SATURDAY
Hermanus Country Market A favourite among the locals. Young, old, two-legged and four-legged family members are all welcome. You’ll find wholesome goodies, homemade crafts, local produce, beers and wine, speciality foods, coffee and live music. Next to Hermanus Cricket Field | 09:00 – 13:00 Stanford Saturday Morning Market Come and sample the artisanal delights on display, from home-made sheep and goats’ cheeses to woodfired ciabattas, pastries and pies, 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 Gansbaai Farmers’ Market Specialising in fresh produce, home-
Send your events to hedda@thevillagenews.co.za
baked foods, and crafts. Come and enjoy entertainment and a variety of refreshments at this popular kuierplek. For enquiries, please contact 028 384 1439 or doulene@gansbaaitourism.co.za Kapokblom Street, opposite Gansbaai Tourism | 09:00 – 13:00
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WEDNESDAY
Piano Concert Pianist and poet Lara Kirsten gives her debut performance with a stirring programme featuring some famous (and not so famous) piano pieces, including the ever-popular Minute Waltz by Chopin, the effervescent Rustle of Spring by Sinding and the haunting melodies of the soundtrack of the 1993 film The Piano. Limited tickets available at R100 pp. Please book by contacting Helma on 082 443 2292. Andanté theatre, Harbour Rd, Kleinmond | 18:00
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FRIDAY
Explore the Enneagram Who am I really? What motivates me? How is that different to other people? How can I feel more fulfilled? The enneagram is a powerful, scientifically validated framework with ancient roots, to support personal growth and enrich relationships, careers and lives. Join Karin Wellman, Enneagram practitioner, teacher and master coach for a one-day workshop (either on Fri or Sat) to examine your unconscious
WINE & DINE
patterns and gain greater self-knowledge and self-acceptance. R2 880 pp includes an enneagram type assessment and 42-page profile report. Bookings can be made by sending an email to christine@hermanusvarsity. co.za. All proceeds will be donated to the Hermanus Varsity Trust. Hermanus Varsity Hub | 09:00 – 16:30 (Fri & Sat) Neuroplasticity & Creativity Workshop Join Dr Arien van der Merwe from The Green Healing Space in Hermanus for a learn-play-grow experience where you’ll learn all about how to use your whole brain for optimal mental functioning and wellbeing. The workshop will include relaxation training, information on food, sensible supplements and herbal remedies to support your heart, brain and nervous system, as well as easy, fun exercises, creative activities and refreshments. All materials will be supplied. Limited tickets available at R650 pp (incl. a recording of the event, eBook on Neuroplasticity and relaxation track). To book, contact Hermanus@DrArien. co.za or 067 116 6111. Fernkloof Hall | 10:00 – 13:00 (registration at 09:30)
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LOVE A LITTLE LOCAL
The fine art of country hospitality House, which has gone on to win one gastronomic accolade after another. They aim for wholesome country fare presented with sophisticated flare. Chef Janine van der Nest, who has been there for the past 18 months, is as passionate about the restaurant and the quality of food they offer as they are.
Writer Elaine Davie Photographer Taylum Meyer
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tanding on the wide-spreading green lawns of the Stanford Valley Guest Farm, looking across the horse paddock towards the Akkedisberg Mountain range opposite, the wistful voice of Meryl Streep (as Karen Blixen in the 1985 movie Out of Africa) comes suddenly to mind: “I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong Hills”. Although her setting was British East Africa (later Kenya), it reminded me of how deeply ingrained is the love of the land in many South Africans. Like Elsabé Nauta, who with her husband Reinder, has owned this farm, 10 km from Stanford, since 2015. With a Huguenot pedigree stretching back to the 17th century, Elsabé grew up on the neighbouring farm, which is still owned by her brother. Her childhood memories include frequently visiting her friends on this farm which was owned by the de Kock family and as a teenager, dancing the night away on the farmhouse stoep.
The herb garden they planted some time back is flourishing and they are presently in the process of increasing its size and establishing a full vegetable garden. In the centre of the elegant path leading up to the front door of the restaurant is a fountain with a sculpture by well-known artist, Herman van Nazareth, several of whose other sculptures are dotted around the property.
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Although it is not certain when it was first occupied, Reinder estimates that it was probably in the early 19th century. Indeed, they recently uncovered an overgrown graveyard, containing graves dating from 1845 to 1905. It seems certain that the original owners kept cattle, since one of the old buildings was a milking shed with a sloping stone floor and sturdy, thick walls. After they took over the farm, they also discovered a witblits still, clearly indicating one of the pre-occupations of the de Kock ancestors. When they heard the farm was for sale in 2014, by then no longer owned by that family, Elsabé felt she had to have it back in her life. At that point it was known as the Syringa Guest Farm and, as she puts it, was what estate agents call a ‘renovator’s dream’. And she and doctor-turned-businessman, Reinder, who were then living in Cape Town, were just that – renovators with a passion. “Both of us love beautiful things,” she says, “and we wanted to restore it to its former dignity. We wanted our guests to enjoy it as much as we do and to soak up the peace of the countryside. Of course, we could never have done it without the help of our wonderful staff, like Manager Sarah Dix, most of whom have been with us from the beginning,” she adds. In early 2015 while they were planning renovations, they carried on the business where the previous owners had left off. However, determined not to let the grass grow under their feet, in December that year, they opened their restaurant, The Manor
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“You can’t believe what this entrance looked like when we came here,” laughs Elsabé. “There was a washing line right in front of the door, together with a rubbish bin and lots of chickens scratching in the dirt.” One step at a time, they have tackled the renovations. Accommodation is in the form of whitewalled cottages clustered around a central werf, each with its own small garden and some with an outdoor shower. There are 19 en suite bedrooms all together, some of which can sleep three people, so up to 50 guests can be accommodated at full capacity.
1 - Elsabé and Reinder have owned Stanford Valley Guest Farm since 2015. Elsabé grew up on the neighbouring farm and frequently visited as a teenager. 2 - Visitors to the farm's restaurant, Manor House, can look forward to a delicious meal while enjoying views of horses grazing in the paddock against the backdrop of the Akkedisberg Mountain range. 3 - Manor House Restaurant opened in December 2015 and has gone on to win one gastronomic accolade after another. 4 - The farm now also offers a spa where you will be able to enjoy massages, a steam room, a wood-fired sauna, an outside shower and a plunge pool.
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“There again,” explains Elsabé, “we refurbished everything from scratch, from reed ceilings, to new floors; and everything from pillow slips to furniture was replaced.” They have also restored what was called ‘Die Ou Huis’ and turned it into an informal entertainment area, where groups of people can organise their own braais and let their hair down.
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A large conference facility already existed, but they halved it, installing a fully-fledged art gallery, run by Barbara Lindop of Intethe Gallery in Hermanus in the other half. “It’s a beautiful space for displaying the pieces to their best advantage,” says Barbara. “I’m so pleased to have this wonderful collaborative relationship with Elsabé and Reinder, who have the most amazing private art collection of their own and a refined taste in African art.” Elsabé’s latest addition to the farm’s offerings is a spa, with a large massage room equipped to cater for couples; a wood-fired sauna, steam room, outdoor shower and plunge pool complete the package. She is very excited about it and the newly-introduced four-day Detox programme, which is proving to be very popular and includes the intriguing prospect of Secret Sunset or Sunrise Dances. For the more active guests there are several kilometres of walking and cycling trails through the fynbos, as well as the pièce de résistance, the large farm dam, with its cool clear mountain water, perfect for a swim on a hot summer’s day. If requested, the restaurant will provide a picnic lunch for guests
to enjoy beside the dam. Interestingly, Reinder mentions that the Klein River which runs through the farm is the longest in the world, at about 80 km, to square with such a short distance between source and mouth, only about 7 km. It will, of course be a huge relief when foreign visitors can return, says Elsabé, but she is nevertheless very happy about the growth in South African guest numbers. “We haven’t done much formal advertising,” she comments, “so it’s nearly all come about through word-of mouth referrals, which I guess is the best form of advertising there is. The whole alcohol aspect of the Covid
pandemic is still our greatest frustration, especially over weekends, when we are at our busiest, so we can only hope the government will normalise the situation before much longer.” In the meantime, ever optimistic, Reinder has planted new vineyards with Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, in the hope that the ban will have been lifted by the time the farm produces its own bubbly for the enjoyment of its guests. For more information visit www.stanfordvalley.co.za
3 March 2021
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5 & 6 - Spend the night in one of Stanford Valley's inviting and tastefully-decorated cottages. 7 - Each cottage has stunning views of the Akkedisberg Mountain range – even in the middle of winter! 8 - The farm now also offers a spa where you will be able to enjoy massages (given by these two talented young women), a steam room, a wood-fired sauna, an outside shower and a plunge pool. 9 - Inthethe Gallery, run by Barbara Lindop, has opened a second premises on Stanford Valley Guest Farm next to the conference room. Elsabé and Reinder already have their own private gallery and have a refined taste in African art – something Barbara’s galleries focus on. 10 - Stanford Valley Guest Farm and Manor House Restaurant reception. 11 & 13 - Visitors to the farm's restaurant, Manor House, can look forward to a delicious meal while enjoying views of horses grazing in the paddock against the backdrop of the Akkedisberg Mountain range. 12 - Manor House Restaurant opened in December 2015 and has gone on to win one gastronomic accolade after another. They aim for wholesome country fare presented with sophisticated flare.
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A symphony of colour and form ‘Reflections’ is the name of a striking new joint exhibition of paintings by Jiri Kobos and ceramics by Dale Lambert, which was opened by Frieda Lloyd at the FynArts Gallery last week. In their bold use of colour, the works speak of confidence, structure and strength, but also of simplicity, lightness and freedom. Jiri, who hails from Bohemia and has travelled extensively, is an hotelier, restaurateur (he owns Mezz & Co at the Hermanus Waterfront) and a selftaught artist. He describes his paintings as “an expression of the ‘real’ as interpreted by the free and unrestricted movements of
colour to reflect creative life”. There is nothing sentimental about his work – it is abstract expressionism at its best, drawing the viewer in to reveal the ceaseless movements of the universal journey. Jiri’s meditative paintings are complemented by the strong colours of Dale’s ceramics, which aim to strike a balance between a bold colour palette, minimal forms and a softly textured surface. Curated by Liz Coates, the ceramics are displayed in complete harmony with the paintings at this must-see exhibition. You’ll find the FynArts Gallery in The Courtyard at 2 Harbour Road (behind The Wine Glass). – Hedda Mittner ABOVE: Karen McKerron with artist Jiri Kobos, who became a local in 2017. LEFT: Patrick Chapman, Liz Coates and ceramic artist Dale Lambert at the opening of the ‘Reflections’ exhibition in the FynArts Gallery. PHOTOS: Hedda Mittner
3 March 2021
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www.thevillagenews.co.za
MY WELLNESS
Albertyn
Neuroplasticity & Creativity – our natural abilities! Youthful Living with Dr Arien van der Merwe
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europlasticity is all about the incredible ability of our brains to adapt to situations. We tend to think of our brains as static and unchangeable, but nothing could be further from the truth. Your brain is malleable like clay and the most exercise-able body part you have. You can learn to retrain and rewire your brain to serve you rather than hold you back – teaching an ‘old dog’ new tricks, so to speak, and realising all of your potential.
Our brain never ever stops learning, developing and changing because it constantly optimises itself, reorganising itself by transferring cognitive abilities from one lobe to the other, particularly as we age. Ultimately, you and your mind are the architect of your brain. When you change your beliefs, learn something new or become mindful of your habitual reactions to unpleasant emotions, you actually alter the neurochemistry and the structure of your brain. Neuroplasticity defined Neuroplasticity is the brain's inherent ability to form new neural connections throughout life, allowing the nerve cells in the brain and body to compensate for injury and disease while adjust-
ing their activities in response to new situations or to changes in their environment, leading to changes in behaviour, thinking and emotions. Neuroplasticity makes your brain extremely resilient and is the process by which all permanent learning takes place, such as learning to walk, drive, playing a musical instrument or mastering a different language. Neuroplasticity also enables people to recover from stroke, injury and birth abnormalities, overcome autism, ADHD, learning disabilities and other brain challenges, heal depression and addictions and reverse obsessive compulsive patterns. Use it or lose it Similar to resistance training and physical exercise building muscles, nerve cells in the brain are growing and cross linking with other neurons for better communication, through mental exercise and continuous learning. For new manifestations, new beliefs and attitudes – not rehashing old, often negative memories and traumatic experiences from the past and projecting these into the future – we have to retrain and refire our brains, change out of our comfort zones of neural networks stuck in old grooves (those that can still remember LP’s) to create a new physical reality for ourselves and to evolve into all we’re meant to be. There’s also such a thing as negative neuroplasticity (neurorigidity), where you keep on doing what you’ve always done, with the results you’ve always been getting – not the ones you actually want! If
Tel: 028 271 4666 Fax: 028 271 4665 WhatsApp: 079 387 2650 Email: albertyn@netactive.co.za
we want to experience positive neuroplasticity, the first step is a willingness to change, and that’s easier said than done, for human beings love things to stay the same; even if old behaviour patterns are not working, at least they’re familiar. Mind training The key to mind training is willingness to change. If you’re content to remain stuck in a rigid pattern, resisting change and insisting things stay the same, or saying to yourself that you’re too old to learn new things or develop new abilities, then neuroplasticity mind training is not for you. But by softening your mind and at least considering the possibility, a whole new world opens up to you! Once the willingness is there, the next step is focused attention to become aware of old behaviour patterns based on past memories with their accompanying emotional load. Then comes determination and diligence to change the old patterns and maintain overall brain health, remembering the 3P’s (practice, patience and perseverance) and the 1GNF (good-natured flexibility). Keep on practising, day after day, stumbling and falling and getting up until you find longer periods of peace, joy and happiness – the key ingredients for a brain to remain malleable. Cells that fire together, wire together: the more something is practised, the more connections are changed and made to include all elements of the experience (sensory information, movement, cognitive patterns). You can think of it as a new
Vir vriendelike diens! caring for you
software program being formed for that particular behaviour, which allows it to be performed with remarkable facility and reliability over time. Remember when you started to drive and had to remember everything, then after a while it became completely automatic and easy? You practised and finally it became a known and automatic software program. Problem is we do the same thing with programs that don’t serve us any longer, and the challenge then is to change the old programming and relearn new programming. This takes determination and practice, and a willingness to keep exploring and challenging yourself. Whole brain function Brain training will allow both left and right sides of the brain to work together. Learning and practising activities that get us out of our comfort zones and force us to use both hemispheres, will help us to become more proficient at whole brain thinking, and from there to a mind that extends much wider than the physical brain. This will have a pay-it-forward effect on our bodies and the rest of our lives, while also inspiring others around us. To find out more about the brain training tools and techniques available to you to support and enhance your neuroplasticity, book now for Dr Arien’s seminar on Neuroplasticity at Fernkloof Botanical Hall on Friday 12 March, from 10:00 – 13:00. You’ll find all the details in the What’s On diary on P 6.
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www.thevillagenews.co.za
3 March 2021
MY HOME
National budget and the residential property market By Stephen de Stadler Chief Executive Officer, Fine & Country South Africa
ployment rate touching 40% in South Africa, you can well understand why the revenue at the moment does not cover the expected expenditure over the short to medium term.
direct investment in our country to increase.
s the Minister of Finance Toto Mboweni delivered the national budget in Parliament during the last week of February, most commentators held their breath as they waited to hear how the government was going to fund the implementation of the Covid-19 vaccine programme.
The Minister of Finance however recognised that the ability of the relatively small number of personal taxpayers to withstand an increase in personal tax was significantly limited, and wisely, effectively reduced the average tax rates by increasing the tax bands and allowances by above the current inflation rate of 4%.
It is well recorded that reductions over time in corporate and personal tax rates leads to increased spending and improved economic conditions in the longer term. In addition, the lower the corporate tax rates, the less incentive there is to avoid the payment of tax. Avoidance (being legal ways to reduce tax liabilities) always comes as a financial cost to the entity avoiding tax, so the lower the rate, the less financial gain there is in avoiding.
We must always remember that the sources of income for our government are fairly simple to identify. Personal taxes, VAT, corporate taxes, customs, excise and fuel duties and levies together provide approximately 94% of the total government revenue, while personal taxes on their own are required to deliver approximately 40% of the total revenue. With an unem-
The corporate tax rate will also be reduced to 27% in April 2022, and whilst that may sound counterintuitive, as in “why reduce tax rates when we need to collect more income?”, it is critically important for corporate South Africa to expand, so as to produce much-needed jobs in the medium to longer term. A reduction in corporate rates also makes it easier for foreign
The Covid-19 vaccine programme is going to be funded by a reallocation and reprioritisation of current government expenditure, and (lest we forget) the large increase in duties attached to alcohol and tobacco. Obviously, the government also needs to borrow in order to meet the budget deficit and it is a bit of a shock to realise that close on 21% of the revenue raised is used
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to finance government debt. The financial markets reacted well to the Minister’s budget, with the Rand strengthening across all the major currencies as the budget speech was being delivered. It appears that the government also managed to effectively embargo the speech until it was delivered, because right up until the moment of delivery there was still speculation on the social media platforms as to what Minister Mboweni would say. This small matter is also cause for celebration, because it means that the government is serious when it says it wants to operate more professionally and cut down corruption and manipulation of markets at all costs. But what of the housing market? The strong buyers’ market continues to reign. The buyers have the power at the moment, and this is not expected to change in the short to medium
term. This means that homes have to be properly priced in the current market in order to sell. ‘Properly priced’ in this environment simply refers to the price that a buyer is prepared to pay. I would submit without hesitation that any property that has been on the market for more than six months and has not received at least an offer, is not priced at the correct level. The professional and knowledgeable agents are using this information correctly and counselling their sellers to temper their expectations. By the same token, due to the large number of properties on the market at the moment, it is critically important to present and exhibit your property so that it stands out from the crowd. The views expressed above are those of the writer in his personal capacity and may not necessarily reflect the views of Fine & Country as a national and international brand.
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3 March 2021
MY ENVIRONMENT
The Beauty and the Disa By Dr Anina Lee
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ate summer is a magical time for those who venture into the shady kloofs along streams and waterfalls in the Cape mountains because that is when one of the most famous of all Cape plants blooms: the red disa (Disa uniflora). Next to the king protea (Protea cynoroides), the disa is probably the most recognised of the fynbos flowers and is carried proudly as an emblem by many sports teams and organisations. The red disa was first associated with Table Mountain, where it grows on the upper slopes. This may seem strange for a flower that favours moist conditions, but it's all because of the 'table cloth' on Table Mountain. Moist air rises from the ocean up the mountain, reaches the cold air on top and condenses into a water-bearing cloud covering the mountain. This cloud cover is said to produce twice as much water annually on the mountain as rainfall does, and it provides the ideal habitat for the disa. This iconic beauty is found in protected areas from Hermanus to Cape Town and north into the Cederberg. Locally, the Klein River Mountains and the Kogelberg are favourites for Disa uniflora sightings. But, the story of the disa has another dimension. Those who
are fortunate enough to hike our Cape mountains in summer may have noticed a large butterfly of rare beauty. Wear anything red, and this butterfly will seek you out, hoping that you will provide a sip of nectar. This is the Table Mountain Beauty, also known as the 'Mountain Pride' butterfly (Aeropetes tulbaghia). It is awe-inspiring – the largest and most beautiful of southern Africa's ‘brown’ butterflies. This butterfly sees red – literally. It is so specialised that it is only attracted to red flowers – or anything else that's red. So it has a unique niche in nature, pollinating only red flowers that bloom in summer. Butterfly and flower have evolved in parallel, doing their thing in the season when there is less competition from others. So connected are the flower and insect that this butterfly is the only pollinator of Disa uniflora. If the Mountain Pride should go extinct, so will the Disa. Unfortunately, this outcome is entirely on the cards. Insect apocalypse Do you remember the days when a road trip meant washing a myriad of splattered insects off your windscreen at each refilling stop? When last did you have to do that? The change happened so slowly that we hardly noticed. Is it too late for insects – and for us? 1
According to a 2019 global scientific review, the world's insects are hurtling down the path to extinction, threatening a "catastrophic collapse of nature's ecosystems". According to the best data available, the total mass of insects is falling so precipitously that they could vanish within a century. The planet is at the start of a sixth mass extinction in its history, with huge losses already reported in larger animals that are easier to study. But insects are by far the most varied and abundant ani-
mals. They are essential for the proper functioning of all ecosystems, as food for other creatures, as pollinators and recyclers of nutrients.
and fish that eat insects. But it could also see the extinction of the Mountain Pride butterfly, which would mean the disappearance of one of our most precious and iconic flowers.
We all know about the critical role that pollinating insects play in food production, but food production is the crux of the problem. Or rather, the problem is the exponential growth of the human population and the need to feed the ever-rising numbers. The authors of the review concluded: "Unless we change our ways of producing food, insects as a whole will go down the path of extinction in a few decades. The repercussions this will have for the planet's ecosystems are catastrophic, to say the least." Intensive agriculture is the primary driver of the decline in insect populations through land transformation and the heavy use of pesticides. Urbanisation and climate change are also significant factors. Insect loss spells disaster for the many birds, reptiles, amphibians
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1 & 2. The red disa (Disa uniflora) flowers in late summer in the shady kloofs along streams and waterfalls in the Cape mountains, including Vogelgat. PHOTOS: La Canopée & Ronnie Hazell 3. The Mountain Pride butterfly (Aeropetes tulbaghia) is the only pollinator of Disa uniflora. If the Mountain Pride should go extinct, so will the Disa. PHOTOS: Pinterest
3 March 2021
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Snorkelling in Walker Bay The next dive brought with it an encounter that was long awaited, but one that I was certainly not prepared for. I’ve spent the last few months trying to snorkel almost every day in the same forest, which allows you to become familiar with the different areas and animals one might encounter. The Clingfish seem to hang out in vaguely similar areas, shy sharks lay their eggs mostly around the same stretch of seaweed and as one sees these things every day, you become accustomed and comfortable.
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his past week has brought with it some perfect underwater conditions which made for some incredible snorkelling! There has also been an abundance of dolphin activity in the bay, with both Bottlenose and Common Dolphins being spotted from our shores. As Autumn draws near sardines begin to move east and with them, large aggregations of dolphins and other predators. If you happen to find yourself walking along the cliff paths this week, be sure to keep your eyes out for disturbances in the water, most noticeably, a lot of white water. The white water is caused by rapid movements made by these social marine mammals as they feed, travel and interact with one another at the surface. The dolphins are a side note I thought would be worth mentioning as we are so lucky to be able to watch them from ashore, but this week’s ocean story once again takes place below the surface, where predators and prey play cat and mouse in the kelp forests.
This past week we had remarkably calm waters which meant we had fantastic visibility underwater. In Walker Bay, visibility is often super poor so when it cleans up a bit, it’s worth jumping in as often as possible (in this case, three times!) to explore our rugged coastline and the marine life. After arriving home from the concrete jungle of Johannesburg on Wednesday, I jumped into my favourite local kelp collection to see how my forest friends were getting along. One of the most exciting elements of the week’s dives was finding the den of a particularly large octopus. As with any cryptic creature, often the easiest way to locate them is to find where they take their rest.
During the second dive of the week, I opted to go without a wetsuit which had a surprising psychological side effect. Although the water was lovely and warm, there is a feeling of vulnerability that comes when one plunges beneath the surface without their neoprene. It’s incredible how much confidence 5mm worth of fabric can instil – 5mm which was very much appreciated later in the week as the wind and upwelling made for colder water and an unexpected predator made its way into the Drip Kelders.
As the water got colder, a friend and I decided to explore a hidden pool in search of some brightly coloured sea slugs. Nudibranchs are small sea slugs which come in an awe-inspiring diversity of shapes and colours. These creatures are typically no more than a few millimetres in size and yet, are every avid diver’s dream find. In temperate waters where many would claim that colour is absent, nudibranchs are iridescent and delicate. We were very lucky to find two species, one yet to be identified and the second, the Cape Silvertip Nudibranch. We found a colony of these charismatic slugs on a boulder perched in the middle of a gully. There are over 2 000 species of Nudibranch in the world with an astonishing number found along the South African coastline.
In all the years I’ve lived here, I’d heard of the Gully Sharks in the area, but had never encountered one until last Saturday where a fairly large member of this species came out of nowhere in somewhat of a rush. I had been looking for my octopus friend in his home and given the way Mr Shark was moving, he seemed to be doing the same. In all my dives, I’d never really seen a shark on the hunt and it was quite a sight to behold. Despite knowing how harmless this species is, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy at it’s arrival. I put it down to primal instinct, as humans are after all only visitors in this oceanic environment. My tensions eased up a bit upon being able to properly identify the species and watching as the shark moved with grace through the bottom of the gully, clearly in search of a lunch time snack.
Other highlights from this past week’s snorkel include two sightings of Puffadder Shy Sharks in the Drip Kelders, where many a mermaid purse can be found tightly wound around the seaweeds in the middle of the cove. The presence of Stephenson’s Sea Cucumber lined across the sandy crevices of Stanfords Cove was also a super interesting find. Hopefully this week brings with it some more interesting sights to share in my next ocean story.
A large Klipvis gave this cephalopod away as it crept into a hollow at the bottom of a crevice festively decorated with urchins. I’ve since paid the eight-legged creature a few more visits and although he/she seems a bit shy from the offset, I’m hoping they’ll soon discover that this snorkeler means no harm.
Until next week!
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MOTORING
F
on cars
Compiled by John Floyd
Audi’s most powerful diesel engine A
full potential of Audi connect. The navigation system offers satellite images and takes predictions on the development of the traffic situation, weather, parking availability and point of interest search information into account.
udi presents the SQ7 and the SQ8 with a V8 diesel engine in the high-performance SUV segment. In terms of their suspension, the Audi SQ7 and SQ8 offer many high-tech components, but it’s their aggressive and sporty design as well as their connectivity and technology features which rounds off the package really well. The large S models are now available for sale in South Africa as part of a limited, once-off TDI engine launch opportunity. 310 kW and 900 Nm of torque: The 4.0 TDI has an easy job with the Audi SQ7 and the Audi SQ8. Making its South African debut, this engine is Audi’s most powerful diesel engine currently available. The twin-turbo V8 accelerates both models from zero to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. The electronics limit the propulsion at 250 km/h. Depending on the equipment, the SQ7 TDI consumes around 8.7 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres in a combined cycle, which corresponds to CO2 emissions of 228 grams per kilometre. For the SQ8 TDI, these figures are 8.3 litres and 217 grams of CO2. A quickly shifting eight-speed tiptronic and the quattro permanent all-wheel drive put the power of this 4.0 TDI onto the road. A clutch in the automatic transmission engages freewheeling when the driver takes their foot off the accelerator. In regular driving operation, the purely mechanical centre differential distributes the drive torque to the front axle and rear axle at a ratio of 40:60. If traction decreases at one axle, it directs most of the torque to the other axle – up to 70% to the front or up to 85% to the rear axle. Audi provides the SQ7 and SQ8 TDI with the adaptive air suspension sport system which integrates controlled dampers. It is capable of varying the ride height of the body by up to 90 millimetres (vehicle height is 15 millimetres lower than the adaptive air suspension option). The optional all-wheel steering consists of two components. The front axle steering, which has a sporty and direct gear ratio of 13.3:1, increases the vehicle’s agility and manoeuvrability considerably. A spindle drive influences the rear wheels: At low speed, it turns them by up to 5 degrees in the opposite direction, which makes it easier to manoeuvre. From a speed of about 60 km/h, it turns them slightly in the same direction for improved stability during fast changes of direction in particular. As a central control unit, the electronic chassis platform (ECP) connects the controlled suspension systems, with the exception of all-wheel steering. The driver experiences this close and lightning-fast coordination as maximum handling precision. They decide how the controlled suspension components as well as the 4.0 TDI and the tiptronic are to operate via the Audi drive select system. The driver can choose from seven driving profiles:
If the car is driven by multiple drivers, up to six users can save their individual settings – from frequently selected destinations to their preferred lighting – in separate profiles. The data is uploaded to the customer’s myAudi account in the cloud and stored there for their access via the app. The car adjusts the individual settings when the driver’s door is opened. This convenient personalization feature comes as standard with the Audi SQ7 and the SQ8.
comfort, auto, dynamic, efficiency, allroad, offroad, and individual. As standard, the Audi SQ7 and SQ8 are fitted with 21-inch Audi Sport wheels with an option to upgrade to 22-inch (for the SQ7) and up to 23inch (for the SQ8). Brake discs measuring 400 millimetres in diameter are fitted to the front axle, with 350 millimetre discs on the rear axle. The red brake callipers feature an S logo on the front axle and are standard for both models. Sporty look: the exterior design Thanks to its S-specific details, the special status of the Audi SQ7 and SQ8 becomes apparent at first glance. The front features double slats in the Singleframe and a distinctly three-dimensional blade in the bumper, while the side air inlets are filled with a honeycomb grid. At the side, the exterior mirror housings in aluminium look catch the eye, while the underbody protection with its powerful design, a honeycomb grid insert, and the four characteristic tailpipes provide highlights at the rear. Some attachments are designed in matte silver, including the frame of the Singleframe, which is designed as a wide mask in the SQ8. If the customer ordered the black styling package, the frame as well as other exterior parts (roof rails, trim strips on side windows, mirrors and front and rear bumpers) are finished in black paint. In addition to this, the extended black styling package adds the Audi rings at the front and rear as well as the SQ7 or SQ8 lettering in the radiator grille and on the boot lid in black. A standard panoramic glass sunroof rounds off the exterior design with class. Sporty character: interior and equipment The elegant sporty look is continued in the spacious interior of the Audi SQ7 and the SQ8 TDI. The sport seats
are upholstered with top-quality Valcona leather and come standard with a heating function in the front and memory function for both front seats. Their backrests feature S embossing and colour-coordinated contrasting stitching complements the appearance. The inlays are made of matt brushed aluminium. The series production scope also includes illuminated door sill trims with aluminium inlays with the S logo at the front. The pedals, the footrest, and the loading sill protector are made of stainless steel. Upon request, Audi will install S sport seats plus with integrated head restraints. Their covers are also made of Valcona leather but feature a rhombus pattern and diamond stitching. Arras red is available as a further colour option in addition to the grey and black colour schemes. The S sport seats can be further refined with ventilation and a massage function. A third seat row is available for the Audi SQ7. The contour/ambient lighting package, which is also another standard feature on both models, illuminates contours and surfaces in 30 colours that can be adjusted to the driver’s individual taste via the MMI. New computing power: infotainment and controls In terms of controls, infotainment, and connectivity, the Audi SQ7 and Audi SQ8 are equipped with state-ofthe-art technology. The MMI touch response control system integrates two large displays in the centre of the instrument panel. They have a 10.1inch and 8.6-inch diagonal measurement respectively, and respond with haptic and acoustic feedback to all finger input. The menu structure makes it easy to control with flat hierarchies. The user can configure the interface of the upper display such that they can follow multiple apps at the same time. The two S models provide a natural language voice control system as a second control level, which under-
stands many formulations from everyday language and accesses the knowledge of the cloud to respond to many requests. A head-up display that projects important information onto the windshield is available as an option. The standard Audi virtual cockpit plus with S-specific views is controlled via the multifunction steering wheel and serves as the standard display instrument. The driver can activate different screens, including an “S-Performance” look. It shifts the focus to the rev counter and displays the power output and torque as percentages. These standard and attractive hardware modules supplement the infotainment portfolio. The Audi smartphone interface embeds iOS and Android smartphones on the MMI display in their native environments Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Audi phone box couples smartphones with the car’s antenna and charges them inductively provided that the phone is equipped with this function. The Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System with 3D sound is also available and integrates an amplifier that outputs 1,920 watts and actuates up to 23 speakers. Convenience equipment such as fourzone automatic air conditioning is standard. The HD Matrix LED headlights with dynamic light design (standard on the Audi SQ8) are a further piece of top-of-the-line technology: Thanks to their intelligent regulation, they illuminate the road with maximum brightness and precision in any situation. In the SQ7, Matrix LED headlights with dynamic turn signals are part of the vehicle offering. Audi connect: top-calibre connectivity The services in the Audi connect portfolio offer customized information and intelligent assistance. The SQ7 and SQ8 are equipped with the top infotainment system MMI navigation plus as standard, which exploits the
The Audi connect functionality also includes Car2X services which consists of standard safety and service features in the event of damage, breakdown or minor accidents. This functionality (through a built-in emergency button in the vehicle’s roof module) allows an emergency safety or service call to an Audi call centre to support in any event. Additional functionality, accessible through the MyAudi application, includes remote functions that network the SQ7 and SQ8 TDI with the driver’s smartphone. This includes car finder, remote lock/unlocking, speed and theft alerts, to mention a few. Smart character: the driving safety systems The assist systems make driving the Audi SQ7 and the SQ8 feel even more confident and comfortable. Safety systems such as Audi pre sense basic are included as standard with a host of other assistance systems available. The adaptive cruise control takes over steering, accelerating, and decelerating for the driver in many situations. The improved restarting comfort is a new feature: Even after a longer standstill, the adaptive cruise control gets the car start rolling again if the car in front starts moving. It takes only a slight touch for the car to detect that the driver is taking responsibility for steering and automatic lateral guidance can remain active. The efficiency assist supports a fuel-efficient driving style by notifying the driver as to when it would make sense to take their foot off the gas. Systems such as the intersection assist, rear cross traffic assist, exit warning, and the surround view cameras add to the portfolio. Local pricing and availability The SQ7 and SQ8 TDI are officially available for sale in South Africa in limited numbers as part of a once-off launch opportunity. The models are priced as follows (inclusive of all taxes) and comes standard with a five year Audi Freeway Plan: Audi SQ7 TDI quattro - R 1 679 500 Audi SQ8 TDI quattro - R1 848 500
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Alfa Romeo Racing C41 L
aunched in Warsaw, Poland, Sauber Engineering unveiled the 2021 contender the: Alfa Romeo Racing C41.
The C41 shares a lot of common parts with the C39, simply because of the regulations that were voted in as a result of the pandemic. Development of some parts had to be frozen for example, we had to carry over the chassis, the gearbox and many other elements like the cooling system. The regulations allow to invest two so-called development tokens to carry out changes and we chose to use them on the nosecone. It is a very unusual situation in Formula 1 not to be able to build an entire new car for the new season, but it makes sense in these circumstances and with the objective of keeping costs under control. – Jan Monchaux, Technical Director • Survival cell: Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN Carbon-composite monocoque – homologated 2020 • Nosecone: Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN Carbon-composite structure – 2 tokens towards homologated components freeze • Front suspension: Double wishbone, inboard spring with Öhlins and Multimatics damper units actuated by pushrods • Rear suspension: Multilink, inboard hydraulic suspension actuated by pullrods • Brakes: Brembo 6 piston brake callipers. Brembo carbon-composite and discs and pads • Power unit: 2021 Ferrari Hybrid • Transmission: Ferrari 8-speed quick-shift
carbon gearbox, longitudinally mounted, carbon-composite clutch – homologated 2020 • Electronics: Magneti Marelli, McLaren Electronic Systems and Bosch • ERS: Ferrari • Steering wheel: Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN, customized for each driver • Driver’s Pedals and Seat: Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN, customized for each driver • Tyres: Pirelli, latest construction and compounds • Wheels: OZ Racing – homologated 2020 Ferrari power unit • Configuration: V6 90° • Displacement: 1 600 cc • Bore: 80 mm • Stroke: 53 mm • Valves: 4 per cylinder • Maximum rev: 15 000 rpm • Turbo Charging: Single Turbine and compressor • Maximum fuel flow: 100 kg/h • Maximum fuel capacity: 120kg of which 110kg max usable during the race • Injection: 500 bar – direct • Power Units per driver: 3 ERS System • Battery energy (per lap): 4 MJ • MGU-K power: 120 kW • MGU-K maximum revs: 50 000 rpm • MGU-H maximum revs: 120 000 rpm
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Range Rover Sport hits millionth sale milestone
L
and Rover is celebrating the one millionth sale of the Range Rover Sport. Sold in December 2020, the occasion is being marked with a commemorative film highlighting just some of the famous landmarks this ultimate luxury performance SUV has encountered over its 15 years in production. The Range Rover Sport made its debut in 2005, with the current second-generation making a spectacular entrance in New York City in 2013 with the assistance of actor Daniel Craig. Its dynamic breadth of capability has been showcased across the globe, setting a new record in its launch year on the Pikes Peak Hill Climb
course in the USA and then setting the fastest recorded crossing of the Empty Quarter desert in Saudi Arabia. In 2018, the Range Rover Sport completed a world-first for a vehicle driving up the 999 steps to renowned landmark Heaven’s Gate in China. In 2020, the Range Rover Sport offering was enhanced with new Ingenium six-cylinder diesel engines, new special edition models, as well as the previously launched P400e PHEV powertrain, providing customers with greater choice than ever.
Simola Hillclimb postponed D
ue to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports events, and an expected third wave, the organisers of the Simola Hillclimb have taken the difficult decision to postpone the event to 2-5 September 2021. “It is once again with a great deal of sadness that we have been forced to make this decision to postpone the event yet again,” said the organiser, Knysna Speed Festival. “We were all set to run the event on our traditional May dates, but having engaged with all stakeholders, medical experts and other event organisers the consensus is that May poses too much of a risk for the health and safety of attendees.” The uncertainty and possible risk impacts our international competitors and visitors who may
still not be allowed to travel to the country in May, as well as sponsor partners who would not be able to host staff and guests if the health risk is high. Indications from those consulted and experts around the globe is that with the roll out of vaccinations, sports events should return to some form of normality from July with spectators being allowed back to events. There is strong belief that hosting the event in September will be possible, albeit possibly with certain constraints. “As things stand there is no certainty as to what the situation will be in September, but unless we are back in a Level 5 lockdown situation, or prevented from doing so by national government, we will definitely run the Hillclimb in
some form. We are hoping that by then we can run it with at very least a limited number of spectators.” On a positive note, the Simola Hillclimb and Monarch Events have partnered to develop the Virtual Simola Hillclimb over the past few months. The track has been scanned and digitised and will run on the Assetto Corsa platform. More detail regarding these plans will follow within the next few weeks.
ues to be the most important issue to consider in our decision making.” The Hillclimb, held in Knysna over the past 12 years, has become South Africa’s premier motorsport lifestyle event with approximately 17 000 people from around the globe attending, and over 250 000 livestream views over the weekend.
All spectator tickets purchased for the 2020 event will be carried over and valid for the September event.
“We would like to thank our sponsor partners for their understanding and support with the situation we are faced with, and look forward to working with them to host a successful event in September,” added the organiser.
“The health of our employees, sponsor staff, competitors and their support crews, spectators, suppliers and the Knysna residents contin-
For more information on the event visit: www.simolahillclimb.com or email info@ speedfestival.co.za PHOTO: speedfestival.co.za
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3 March 2021
First Tyre with New “HL” Load Index Code L
arge, powerful cars and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) with electric or hybrid drive put far more weight onto the road than conventional vehicles. At the same time, these heavier models offer little scope for fitting larger tyres with higher load capacities. In response, Continental is now manufacturing the first passenger tyre with the new “HL” load index code. Inflated to the same pressure, these tyres have a higher load capacity than those built to the former XL standard. On the sidewall, products with the new maximum load capacity display the HL code ahead of the size, as in “HL 245/40 R 19 101 Y XL”. The load capacity of this HL tyre stands at 825 kg (load index 101), which equates to a 10 percent increase over
the familiar XL standard of 750 kg (load index 98).
of the development project for these tyres.
Passenger tyres of this size built to the SL standard, adequate for many cars, up to and including mid-range models, can take a maximum load of 670 kg (load index 94). That makes the load capacity of the new HL tyres almost one quarter higher. Looking ahead, Continental is expecting to see growing demand from vehicle manufacturers for tyres with the new HL code.
“In terms of construction, we reinforced the bead and enhanced the contour of the tyre to reduce tyre/road noise. At the same time, we also optimised the pattern compound. As a result, we were able to achieve low rolling resistance, ensure precise handling and keep mileage at its customary high level.”
Increasing the load capacity while at the same time meeting customer requirements called for a number of changes in both the tyre structure and the rubber compound. “We were dealing here with tradeoffs that needed resolving at a very high level,” explains Dr Stefan Habicht who was in charge
Continental is currently producing the first tyres to the new HL standard for original equipment (OE) fitments, but they will also be available in the replacement market. Currently the HL tyre range is manufactured at Contintental’s plant in Otrokovice in the Czech Republic, and is marketed around the globe.
Scuderia AlphaTauri Launches AT02 S
cuderia AlphaTauri has unveiled its 2021 car, the AT02, in an all-new matte blue and white livery, alongside its drivers Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda. The launch was held at AlphaTauri’s new showroom in Salzburg, Austria, and presented digitally. After a successful first season racing in the AlphaTauri colours, the Italian outfit is looking to challenge the top of the ultra-competitive midfield in 2021, putting its faith in the new pairing. Since debuting with the team in 2017, Gasly has earned two F1 podiums, including a spectacular maiden win at Monza in 2020, meaning his experience
with the team will allow him to stepup to a team leader role. Joining the Frenchman will be 20-year-old Tsunoda, the first Japanese driver to race in F1 since 2014. His promotion to F1 comes off the back of a fast, four-season trajectory; from winning the 2018 F4 Japanese Championship and finishing third in the 2020 FIA F2 Championship to entering the top-level ranks this year. Expectations are high for his rapid style of learning to complement the experience of Gasly. “The decision to go for Pierre and Yuki in 2021 was taken because Scuderia AlphaTauri’s philosophy is still to give talented young drivers from the Red
Bull Junior Program the opportunity to step up to F1 and to educate them – this is why Yuki now gets his chance,” explained Team Principal, Franz Tost. “With Pierre on Yuki’s side we have an experienced driver, who can help our Japanese rookie to develop faster, but at the same time we can aim for good results. I think this pair is the best possible scenario to achieve both our targets, and I’m also confident this will be a successful one.” “I’m ready to take on the role of team leader. Yuki is a very quick driver, and he will help us move the team forward, we will work together to achieve that,” said Pierre Gasly, the team’s all-time
top points scorer. “I really believe last year was the teams best in terms of the way it worked, the development, the performance and the way it managed the race weekends. I’m always hungry for more, and I’m sure we can achieve great things in 2021.” Yuki Tsunoda, who was honoured with the Anthoine Hubert Award for best Formula 2 rookie in 2020, added, “I’ve been lucky enough to spend some time with Scuderia AlphaTauri ahead of the season, so I’m already developing strong relationships and learning a lot from them, including Pierre, who is an incredible talent. My main goal is to learn quickly and deliver results as soon
as possible, and I’m really excited to get started.” Ahmet Mercan, CEO AlphaTauri, summarized: “This is a triple reveal at a unique point of time: a new AlphaTauri Showroom where fashion meets F1, a first look at the AW21 AlphaTauri collection and the unveiling of the new Scuderia AlphaTauri F1 livery and driver pairing.” The Formula 1 season kicks off at the Bahrain Test, 12 – 14 March, getting ready for the first round, the Bahrain Grand Prix on 28 March. ARTICLE AND IMAGES SUPPLIED
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