THURSDAY, 21 AUGUST 2014 | Tel 028 312 3717 | Fax 028 312 4316 Hermanustimes.mobi/www.hermanustimes.co.za

R5.20

2 Mussel Rd, Hermanus

Your local home, DIY and garden centre open 7 days a week

Fire services

no longer

free 2

Perlemoen

sindikaat

voor hof 4

Moenie

emigreer s

Croucamp 14

New safe

haven for

penguins 15

ILLEGALCULTIVATION: KLEINMONDCOUPLE ARRESTED

Dagga factorydiscovered

JANINE VAN DER RIET

A couple living in Kleinmond

wasarrestedlastweekafterpo-

lice members searched their

houseand foundadagga facto-

ry inside.

The arrest followed after mem-

bers of the Kleinmond Police and

theOverbergK9dogunit followed

up on information received from

the community regarding illegal

drug activities in Gerrit Maritz

Street in Palmiet, Kleinmond on

Wednesday 13 August.

According toWOJacovanWyk

from the Kleinmond Police sta-

tion,policemembersfoundhome-

made cannabis cultivating rooms

with heaters, fans, lights and oth-

er equipment in the house.

They also found 97 dagga

plants, small amounts of loose

dagga and one packet of magic

mushrooms. The estimated value

of theseizedequipmentanddrugs

is R40 000.

The arrested suspects, Michael

and Nicole (Nikki) Pietersen,

both in their early thirties, ap-

peared in the Caledon Magis-

trates Court on Friday 15August

on a charge relating to the culti-

vating of cannabis and dealing in

dagga.

According to a spokesperson at

the court, Michael Pietersen re-

ceivedbailofR1 000andNicolere-

ceived a warning to appear in

court on3Octoberwhen thecourt

case against them will continue.

The couple runs an online busi-

ness sellinghousehold itemsover

the Internet.

When theHermanusTimescon-

tacted the couple for comment,

Nicole replied the following via e-

mail: We are under strict in-

struction fromourattorneynot to

talk to the media until the case is

completed.Weunfortunatelycan-

not give you an interview at this

time.

Police members found home

made cannabis cultivating rooms

with heaters, fans, lights and

other equipment in the house in

Kleinmond. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

2HermanusTimes

21 August, 2014

Nuus

News

Nn weekhet leerders

weerbusvervoer

JANINE VAN DER RIET

Die meer as 200 leerders van

Mount Pleasant wat by Haws-

ton Sekondr skoolgaan, is

Maandag terug skool toe n

hulle amper n week skool ge-

mis het omdat busse wat die

leerders tussen Hawston en

Mount Pleasant vervoer deur

die verkeersdepartement na

die skut geneem is.

Volgens Hawston Sekondr se

skoolhoof Idy Adams, het hy en

die beheerliggaam van die skool

saam met die ouers van die

Mount Pleasant-leerders Maan-

dagaand n dringende vergade-

ring gehou.

nPlanvanaksie is ondermeer

ingestel oor hoe die leerders die

agterstallige werk kan inhaal.

Die skool is verlede Maandag

11 Augustus onkant gevang n

drie busse na die skut geneem is.

Die skool het drie roetes, en een

van die busoperateurs is as n af-

gewentelde kontrak deur die

skool aangestel.

Die ander twee busoperateurs

is deur die onderwysdeparte-

mentaangestel,maaralbei busse

hetnogniealhulpermittegereed

gehad om die leerders te vervoer

nie.

Volgens Rudi Fraser, die hoof

van verkeer by die Overstrand-

Munisipaliteit, het hulle verlede

Maandagoggend die busse ge-

skut. Hy het verduidelik dat die

busse geskut is nadat twee van

die busse nie die toepaslike per-

mitte gehadhetnie eneenonpad-

waardig was.

Jan Gelderblom, voorsitter

van die skoolbeheerliggaam, het

Dinsdagoggend ges dat van die

busse weer op die pad is, en be-

vestigdatdie leerderswatviram-

per nweekskoolgemishet, terug

is by die skool.

Toe dieHermanus Times Dins-

dag met Adams telefonies gesels

het, was dit duidelik dat Adams

ontsteld is oor die vorige berig

Hawston-busse geskut in die

uitgawe van 14 Augustus.

Hy het ges dit is nie die skool

se skuld dat die busse geskut is

nieendatmensenoudieverkeer-

de idee oor die skool gekry het,

n hulle die opskrif gelees het.

Hysvoortshyhetverskeieop-

roepe van ouers en of voorne-

mende ouers die afgelope week

ontvang wat ongelukkig is met

die nuus dat daar probleme is

met die busdienste.

Ekhet reeds agt jaar die skool

opgebou waar mense ons kan

vertrou. Nou dink ouers wat hul

kindersvolgende jaarwil inskryf

dat ons skool nie op standaard is

nie, en dit as gevolg van die bus-

dienste, en die verkeerde indruk

as gevolg van die artikel.

Die busse behoort nie aan die

skool nie en word besit deur pri-

vaat busmaatskappye. Die skool,

sowel as die Wes-Kaapse Onder-

wysdepartement, het kontrakte

met die betrokke busmaatskap-

pye om die leerders te vervoer.

Gelderblom het verlede week

reeds ges die probleem l by die

onderwysdepartement.

Volgens Paddy Attwell, direk-

teur van kommunikasie van die

Wes-Kaapse Onderwysdeparte-

ment, is daar tans twee busse

weer in werking. Twee busse is

nog buite werking. Dit beteken

dat die tweewerkende busse nou

twee roetes per dag moet ry in

plaas van een.

With effect from 1 July, proper-

ty owners were charged for Fire

Brigade call-outs:

. Structural fires per hour or

part thereof: R1 500. Free to indi-

gent households.

. Veld and other fires per hour

or part thereof: R500. In addition,

R300will be levied for the issuing

of certificates for flammable sub-

stances as well as inspections

(third and thereafter) conducted

intermsof firesafetycompliance.

Call 028 313 8111 for info. ) See

Overstrand Municipalitys ad-

vert on page 19.

Property owners now charged

for using fire brigades services

Changes to sewerage

charges

As from 1 July, single resi-

dential properties areno long-

er granted an unlimited

number of free-of-charge

tanker callouts per month.

In future, owners of these

properties will have one of

two options.

Either opt to pay a basic fee

of R70 plus the infrastructure

levy of R10,94 permonth,with

the understanding that every

time a tanker service is re-

quested, this service will be

charged at R478 (office hours,

weekdaysbefore15:00)orR956

(after hours) per removal of

up to 5/6kF of sewerage per

call or the second option is to

pay a monthly fee of R103,90

plus R11,70 per kF of water

used per month, based on a

maximum of 35 kF per month

(70% of 50 kF), plus the infra-

structure levy of R10,94 per

month, which will entitle you

to a maximum of two tanker

service callouts during office

hours at no additional charge

per month.

As per the first option, all

additional service requests

will be charged at either R478

(office hours, weekdays be-

fore 15:00) or R956 (after

hours).

Where in the past the tariff

for the second option allowed

for an unlimited number of

tanker requests per month

per household, this is no long-

er sustainable since council

experienced a substantial

(16%) increase in the number

of service requests that de-

spite a decrease in water con-

sumption in Overstrand.

According to a statement

from the Overstrand Munici-

pality (OM), this is largely at-

tributed to storm water and

ground water ingress into

conservancy tanks, resulting

in more service requests.

In numerous instances, it

was found that the volume of

sewage removed per month

exceeded the 70%of the actual

water consumption per

month, implicating leaking

tanks.

Leaking tanks result in

higher volumes of diluted

sewage having to be removed

and treated which, in turn,

causes an overloading of our

sewerage tanker service as

well as our sewerage treat-

ment plants.

This situation should be

avoided at all cost, and home

owners are urged to ensure

that their conservancy tanks

are watertight since this will

definitely be in their best in-

terest too.

Should you require further

informationcontact theOMat

enquiries@overstrand.gov.za

Beware of this new scheme that

is now being used country-wide.

If you see a piece of paper stuck

to your back window, lock your

doors and just drive away. Re-

move the paper later.

This is a newway to do carjack-

ings. When you climb into your

car in a car park or where ever

and you look into the rearview

mirror to back out of your space,

you notice a piece of paper stuck

to the middle of the rear window.

So, you stop and jump out of

your car to remove that paper

that is obstructing your view.

When you reach the back of

yourcar toremovethepaper, that

iswhen thecarjackersappearout

of nowhere, jump into your car

and take off. Usually a handbag

or purse with all your informa-

tion, addresses and house keys

are still in the car.

Beware of new carjacking scheme

R300 000 for festivals

The Overstrand Municipality

willdecideonthepartial sponsor-

ship of festivals on 27August dur-

ing the mayoral committee meet-

ing.

AnamountofR300 000hasbeen

allocated in councils 2014/2015

budget

The following festivals propos-

als will be considered by council:

) Two Oceans Whale Festival:

R60 000

) Kalfiefees: R55 000

) Stanford Country Fair

Festival: R35 000

) Hot Heels Africa: R20 000

) Hermanus FynArts: R50 000

) Hawston Sea Festival:

R40 000

) Gansbaai Funky Flower

Festival: R40 000.

During the 2012/2013 period,

the OM paid out an amount of

R640 000 as partial sponsorships

and in 2013/2014, the amount of

R587 500.

3HermanusTimes

21 August, 2014

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News

Skubaduikuitstappiesng lekkerder

JANHENDRIK COETZER

Ocean Quest, n 36 voet lange katamaran

en die nuutste toevoeging tot Neptunes

Divers Hermanus, het onlangs sy perma-

nente staanplek by die nuwe hawe gekry.

Neptunes Divers is begin deurMarxMohr

wat in2010matriekaanHorskoolHermanus

behaal het, en bied kursusse in skubaduik

aan.Ennou,metOceanQuest aanboord, kan

mense op skuba-uitstappies geneem word.

Die tweerompboot is toegerus vir 16mense

(12 duikers en vier bemanningslede).

Mohr het reeds op skool op internasionale

vlak aan seiljagkompetisies deelgeneem en

sy erekleure in di sport verwerf.

N skool het hy twee jaar lank in lande

soos Portugal, Frankryk en Bermuda as in-

strukteur en duikgids gewerk. Met sy terug-

keer na Hermanus het hy Neptunes Divers

begin.

Nadat hy al sy kursusse voltooi het, het hy

as instrukteur mense opgelei in skubaduik.

Nou, twee jaar later, kanhymetOceanQuest

ook mense op skuba-uitstappies neem.

Mohrvertel diekatamaran is oorspronklik

in Durban in 1998 gebou.

Ocean Quest het die afgelope drie jaar by

Mykonos vasgemeer gel. Toe ek begin van-

jaar hoor die boot is te koop, het ek dit met

finansile hulp van my ouers aangeskaf.

Ek het die boot in Mykonos gaan haal en

na die Waterfront in Kaapstad geseil, want

daarwas baie herstelwerknodig endiemees-

te bootbouers is in daardie omgewing. Verle-

de Saterdag het ons die boot gaan haal en na

Hermanus geseil. Dit het sowat 19 uur ge-

duur, s Mohr.

Omnkatamarantemagstuur,moet jyeers

aansoekdoenbySamsa (SouthAfricanMari-

time Safety Authority) wat jou lisensie goed-

keur nadat jy n kursus en eksamen afgel

het.

Mohr het n spesiale boodskap van dank

aan oom Boet Schein van BS Divers.

As dit nie vir hom was nie, sou hierdie

droom nooit werklikheid geword het nie. As

22-jarige het mense my by vergaderings nie

regtig ernstig opgeneem nie. Oom Boet het

egter n passie inmy raakgesien. Hy het selfs

nou een van sy twee vasmeerplekke by die

nuwe hawe aan ons verkoop.

Vir meer inligting oor duikkursusse of om

op n skuba-uitstappie te gaan, besoek die

webwerf: www.neptunesdivers.co.za.

Marx Mohr saam

met Andr du

Preez, een van sy

duikmeesters en

kollega.

MASERATIS MOVE IN: The parking area at the

waterfront resembled an exotic Italian golden mile when

spectacular specimens of Viglietti Motors (exclusive importers

of Maserati) were seen lined up during a breakfast run

outing on Sunday morning. The group of 16 people, and 6

Maseratis with an average value of R1,5 million each, drove

the scenic route from Cape Town via Rooi Els to Hermanus

where they enjoyed breakfast at La Pentola restaurant.

Maggie is aanbieder in FCHammanvideo

ELB VAN HEERDEN

Volgende keer as jy n fliek maak,

moet jy laat weet! Ek sal graag wil

act!

Maggie Heiberg van Hermanus se

woorde aan die bekende filmmaker

FCHammanwas skaars koud, toe hy

haar inderdaad n rol aanbied in n

video met n anti-kapingsboodskap

wat hy vir sy klint, Afrox, maak.

FC Hammanwoon deesdae in Her-

manus van waar hy sy produksie-

huis, FC Hamman Films, bestuur.

Hy vertel hy het vir Maggie ont-

moet toe hy by Kia Motors na voer-

tuie komkykhet. Hywas hoogs ben-

druk met haar. Sy is perfek as aan-

bieder vir die video.

N ek byKiawas, het ekAfrox ge-

naderommoontlikdimotorgroep te

nader om betrokke te raak. Die idee

is goed ontvang en ons het besluit om

die verfilming hier te doen met Mag-

gie as aanbieder.

Hulle het die eerste gedeelte van

die verfilming gedoen deur middel

van drones (afstandbeheerde kame-

ras) en die res is by die motorhande-

laar verfilm.

Maggie vertel sy het haarself baie

geniet, hoewel synooit gedinkhetFC

sal haar opmerking ernstig opneem

nie.

FC Hamman Films het talle ander

projekte in die omgewing waarmee

hulle besig is. Baie daarvan is op om-

gewingsbewaring gebaseer.

Onswildronesookgebruikomdie

walvisse af te neem en tel, en werk

ook saammet plaaslike organisasies

om die natuurskoon te bevorder.

FC is ook in die gemeenskap be-

trokke byTheo enAngieKrynauwse

SparkleKids-projek.

Theo Krynauw, FC Hamman, Maggie

Heiberg, Timothy Hamman en Priscil

la Pheiffer by Kia Motors.

FOTO: ELB VAN HEERDEN

4HermanusTimes

21 August, 2014

Nuus

News

The Camphill Farm Community Hermanus

Wish to invite the Hermanus public to their

Annual General Meeting

on Wednesday 27th August 2014 at 13:30h for 14:00h in

Mercury Hall, Hemel en Aarde Valley, Hermanus

RSVP: Jacky Booyens,

Tel. 021 200 2230 Fax 086 776 2764

info@camphill-hermanus.org.za

Perlemoensindikaatweer inhof

Die Wes-Kaapse hooggeregshof het Maan-

dag een van die grootste perlemoensindi-

kaat-sakevir nverderetweewekeuitgestel

sodat finale besluite oor moontlike plei-

tooreenkomste en erkennings geneem kan

word.

Di vermeende sindikaat, wat uit 25 beskul-

digdes bestaan, meeste afkomstig van Gans-

baai en Stanford, het in die hooggeregshof ver-

skyn waar die verhoor na verwagting sou be-

gin.

Regter Nathan Erasmus het aangedui dat

twee van die beskuldigdes, Frank Barends van

Gansbaai en sy vrou, Josephine, n aansoek om

n staking van vervolging by die hof gaan in-

dien.

Erasmus het ges hul regsverteenwoordiger

was nog nie gereed om die aansoek in te dien

nie en het die saak tot 1 September uitgestel.

Hy het die res van die beskuldigdes gemaan

engesditweewekeisgenoegtydomtebesluit

of enige van hulle saammet die Barends-eg-

paar n aansoek wil indien. Die aansoek sal

skriftelik ingedien word en sal op 1 Septem-

ber hanteer word.

Erasmus het ges geen van die beskuldigdes

kan pleit voordat di aansoek nie afgehandel

is nie.

Hy het bygevoeg dat dit ook genoeg tyd is vir

diegene wat erkennings of pleitooreenkomste

met die staat wil sluit om dit ook te doen.

Die saak het die potensiaal om jare te duur.

n Mens se lewe staan stil, het hy ges.

Hy het die saak met n seekat vergelyk deur

te s die Poca-wetgewing (die Wet op die Voor-

koming van Georganiseerde Misdaad), inge-

volge waarvan die beskuldigdes aangekla

word, het baie tentakels wat jou op verskeie

plekke kan vang.

Die enigstemanier om van di tentakels los

te kom, is om n pleitooreenkoms aan te gaan.

Die vermeende sindikaat was glo betrokke

by onwettige bedrywighede van miljoene ran-

de.

Dieaanklagteteenhullesluit inrampokkery,

geldwassery en die onwettige besit van perle-

moen. Sommigevandie beskuldigdes staannet

tereg opvier vandiemeer as 700 aanklagte teen

die sindikaat.

Die hoofverdagte, RanWei, word steeds deur

Interpol gesoek. Jana Breytenbach / Die Bur-

ger

Die hoofbeskuldigdes in die perlemoensindikaatsaak het Maandagoggend saam met hul

medebeskuldigdes in die hof verskyn. FOTO: LERATO MADUNA (FOTO24)

ELB VAN HEERDEN

A short reprieve was granted to abalone

quota holders after a decision by the De-

partment of Agriculture, Forestry and

Fisheries (DAFF) to extend quotas by a

year.

DAFF Minister, Senzeni Zokwana, is-

suedastatementon31Julyextendingthe

quotas until July 2015. He will exempt

right holders who had abalone fishing

rights in the 2013/2014 fishing season

from the expiration of their rights in or-

der toaffordcurrentquotaholdersanop-

portunity to fill their 2013/14 abalone al-

location until 30 September 2014.

This follows a statement by former na-

tional minister of DAFF, Tina Joemat-

Pettersen, earlier thisyear thatall abalo-

ne quotas will be revoked due to a crisis

in the sector. Revoking all commercial

abalone quotas on 1 August 2014 would

have left the 303 legal abalone divers, of

which 250 reside in the Overstrand, and

their families without an income.

In his statement Zokwana said: The

decline in numbers in the abalone fish-

ery is extremelyworrying, hence our de-

cision takes into consideration the long-

term conservation of the fishery. This

downward trend suggests that the cur-

rent stock levels would likely only be

able to sustain one abalone fishing sea-

son.

Extensive consultations are still un-

der way with the industry, according to

the minister. This will include a recov-

ery plan that will look at, among other

things, alternative livelihoods for those

involved in the sector.

Ourdecisionhas taken into consider-

ation socio-economic factors that have

contributed to hardships experienced in

coastal communities and particularly in

communities that rely on abalone for

their livelihood.

SaysShaheenMoolla,managingdirec-

tor of Feike, a Cape Town-based natural

resources advisory firm in a statement:

Having bungled the entire 2013 Fishing

Rights Allocation Process (FRAP), the

department has now confirmed the bun-

gling of the 2014 abalone fishing rights

allocation process.

The Fisheries Minister has today (31

July) announced that abalone fishers

will be exempted fromholding section 18

abalone fishing rights until 30 July 2015

because the department failed to

timeouslyallocateabalonefishingrights

when these expired yesterday (30 July

2014).

In reply to queries from theHermanus

Times, he said: It (the extension) is a

complete farce.First theentire2013proc-

ess was declared unlawful. Now abalone

quotas are not allocated only exemp-

tions. We just go from crisis to chaos.

Zelda Jongbloed, the DADeputy Shad-

ow Minister for Fisheries said that fish-

eries are in complete disarray. The

price we pay for cadre deployment and

putting a minister in charge (referring

to former minister Joemat-Pettersen)

whowas clueless and had no sense of ur-

gency whatsoever.

I am in the process of introducing a

private members bill to amend the Ma-

rine Living Resources Act (MLRA),

which will allow the department to roll

over fishing rights in the abalone sector

for three years.

It takes three years from preparation

to the awarding of rights. There is thus

no way in which the DAFF can speed up

the process because of their lack of prop-

er planning.

It is the fishers who get the short end

of the stick, once again, as a result of the

uncertainty they now face and the man-

ner inwhichthemesswiththere-issuing

of abalone rights impacts on their lives

and creditworthiness, Jongbloed add-

ed.

There is no real solution here, said

Moolla in an earlier statement (HT, 5

June 2014). The quota holders will have

to approach the public protector as soon

aspossibleandstate theircase.Theywill

have to raise their voices and speak to

the public through the use of the media

to try and force the departments hand.

Weneed our legal divers in thewater.

History tells us that poaching increased

after the last closure (of the abalone fish-

ing sector) because there is no compli-

ance strategy in place.

Between 2008 and 2009 poaching in-

creased to about 4 000 tons per year.

Poachers benefited hugely.

Department extends quotas for

abalone divers by one year

5HermanusTimes

21 August, 2014

Nuus

News

Kleinmondgetsastroturf

soccer field

JANHENDRIK

COETZER

Anoldsoccerfieldin

Kleinmond, that

was originally built

on a dump site, has

made way for a

brand new astro-

turf field.

Development of this

astro-turf field started

in March this year

and will be completed

by the end of August.

The facility will be

managed by the Over-

strand Municipality.

According to Den-

nis Hendriks, senior

manager: engineer-

ing services at the

Overstrand Munici-

pality, the funding for

this facility comes from the MIF

(Municipal InfrastructureFunding)

and is estimated at roughly R11 mil-

lion. Costs include the building of

the astro-turf, fencing, clubhouse

with bathrooms, the upgrading of

the access road as well as seating.

Thisfieldcameaboutbecausethe

previous grass field caused a lot of

problems in terms of the drainage

system that didnt work properly as

well as the fencing thatwas in avery

poor condition. So whenever it

rained, the storm water couldnt

drain, says Hendriks.

TheKleinmondSoccerFederation

will be the main beneficiary of the

new astro-turf, which will be under

themanagementof themunicipality

and only beused for soccermatches.

The big benefit of this new field

is that you save on the water usage,

its much cheaper

to maintain and

you dont need to

wait between

games for the

grass to recover,

says Hendriks.

Willie August,

chairman of the

Hangklip/Klein-

mond Sport and

CultureOrganisa-

tion, is all in fa-

vourof thenewas-

tro-turf soccer

field.

His only con-

cern is that it

wont be main-

tained properly.

Overall Im very

positive and glad

about this new fa-

cility, as long as

the municipality

keeps their hands on it, says Au-

gust.

Adrian de Kock, vice-chairman of

the Bettys Bay Ratepayers Associa-

tion, says although it cost a lot of

money he thinks it is a good idea.

It is important to have facilities

of such a high standard here in

Kleinmond, says De Kock.

The only other similar facility in

the Overstrand is in Gansbaai.

The new astroturf soccer field at Proteadorp in Kleinmond should

be ready for action by the end of August.

Recovery after fall a miracle

JANINE VAN DER RIET

Thewomanwho suffered serious injuries on

Monday 7 July when she fell down the cliff

near The Marine Hotel, is grateful that she

is alive and can walk again.

OnSaturday Iwasable to tiemyshoelaces

for the very first time since the fall, said Lu-

crecia Scullard (43) whowas here on holiday

from Johannesburg visiting her parents

when the incident occurred.

Even her doctors agree it is a miracle that

she survived the fall, said Scullard, who con-

tacted the Hermanus Times last week to

thank the people who had helped her after

the incident.

EMR paramedics had transported her to

the Hermanus Provincial Hospital, and she

was then transferred to Worcester Hospital

and later Tygerberg Hospital where she un-

derwent surgery.

She had suffered several fractures includ-

ing her pelvis.

I cried for three days after the doctors told

me Imightbepermanentlyparalysed. I could

not feel the bottom part of my body and was

in total shock.

Scullard says she was supposed to leave

Hermanusthedayafterher fall.Shewasbusy

doing last minute shopping for gifts for

friends and family, when she decided to take

a stroll along the cliff path, enjoying the fresh

air and sea breeze.

I walked on top of a rock when I slipped.

All I can remember is trying to hold on to

the rock, but my nails were too long, and I

let go. I remember when my body hit the

ground, I thought to myself: This is just like

in the movies.

She cannot remember much after that

though, except for a man with a green and

white shirt who phoned her parents and

helped her.

I really wish I could get hold of him to

thank him. He was an angel in disguise.

After this, she remembers waking up in

hospital while getting stitches in her leg.

On 15 July, she underwent surgery, and

three days later Scullard discharged herself

from hospital and flew back to Johannes-

burg, where a friend is looking after her.

She says she discharged herself as she felt

her situation was deteriorating in the hospi-

tal and that she could recover faster, back in

Johannesburg.

But,shesays,shehascomealongwaysince

the fall and sees a daily improvement. I can

nowwalk without a wheelchair or help from

others and for this I am extremely thankful.

Being a passionate athlete, Scullard says

it will still be a while before she can put on

herrunningshoes.However, the fact that she

canwalk again, is amiracle and she is happy

with how far she has come.

Besides broken bones, Lucre

cia Scullard (43) sustained

lacerations to her legs and

head. She received eight

stitches to her leg. Lucrecia Scullard. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Speeding offences in the

Overstrand on the decline

JANINE VAN DER RIET

The Overstrand traffic de-

partment issued their quar-

terly statistics for the

months of April to June

2014, during which the traf-

fic department received

R369 582 for transactions

such as learners licence ap-

pointments, drivers licenc-

es issued, renewalsand tem-

porary drivers licences.

A staggering 12 025 traffic

related offences/cases were

processedwiththepotential

income of R5 944 840.

In the same quarter in

2013, 12 638 cases were proc-

essed with an income of

R3 297 420.

It seems that speeding of-

fences (mobile cameras) in

the Overstrand decreased

from 13 638 between April

andJune 2013 to 7 839 for the

same period this year, of

which 2 700 offenceswere in

Hermanus, 4 169 in Klein-

mond, 640 in Gansbaai and

330 in Stanford.

In the quarterly statistics

April to June, Overstrand

Law Enforcement opened

203 cases of drinking in pub-

lic in Gansbaai, two in

Kleinmond and three in

Hermanus. Gansbaai also

had the highest number of

cases against people urinat-

ing in public, with 23 cases

opened in Gansbaai and

three in Hermanus.

Gansbaai was also the on-

ly town in theOverstrand to

have cases of nudity opened

against residents/visitors.

Ten people received fines to

the total value of R5 000 be-

tween April and June this

year.

Altogether 104 cases of

dog nuisance were investi-

gated in Hermanus, 18 in

Kleinmond and 62 in Gan-

sbaai,with45dogs thatwere

impounded in Hermanus,

one in Kleinmond and 33 in

Gansbaai, as well as 15 cats

in Hermanus.

A total of 29 veld and bush

fires were reported and at-

tended to by theOverstrand

Fire Brigade and Disaster

Management.

They also attended to 33

motor vehicle accidents in

the Overstrand of which 16

were in Hermanus, four in

Gansbaai, seven inStanford

and two in Kleinmond be-

tween April and June 2014.

6HermanusTimes

21 August, 2014

Nuus

News

HOSPICE MONTHLY DRAW WINNERS:

The Overstrand Hospice 600 Club draw took

place on Friday 15 August and Arno Hill

from Soho Systems (centre) drew the winning

numbers. Making sure everything was above

board were Elaine du Preez (left) from Don

Adams Auditors and Colin Harvett (right),

Hospice Board Member. The months winners

are: R5 000 Linda & Dave Schutte; R2 500

Jill Dunn and R1 000 Jack Davis.

PHOTO: JANHENDRIK COETZER

7HermanusTimes

21 August, 2014

Algemeen

General

For bookings

Tel: 028 312 2848

10 High Street, Hermanus.

Enjoy a glass of

house with every

main course ordered.

Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Rossi's - Local favourite since 1985.

FREE

WINE

Genetiese

manipulasie oorsaak

van piesanggroottes

Met verwysing na Leo Benning se fo-

to (bl 6Hermanus Times 14/8) oor die

verskillendepiesanggroottes,hetGN

Coetzee, Lewenswetenskaponderwy-

ser van Northcliff House College laat

weet:

Hierdie 2 soorte piesangs is soos

volg: Die kleintjies is die wilde pie-

sangs en die groter een die geneties

gemanipuleerde (GM) een.

Lewende organismes het twee stel-

le chromosome (diploied -2n)maar in

hierdie geval van die groot piesang

het hy 3 stelle chromosome (triploied

-3n).

Dit is gedoen om seker te maak dat

geen kruisbestuiwing tussen die

wildeenGMkanplaasvindnie.Die

organismesmetmulti-stelle chromo-

some word na verwys as poliploidie

(engels: polyploidy).

Triploid-gewasse (3n): piesangs,

appels, sitrus en waatlemoen.

Tetraploid-gewasse (4n): aartap-

pels en grondboontjies

Heksaploied-gewasse (6n): koring

en hawer.

Die GMs soos byvoorbeeld die pie-

sang hou voordele in soos n groter

vrug en harder skil.

Help die honger diere

Die trollies van Hermanus Times

OperasieBrakkenjan is die afgelope

paar weke baie leeg. Helpers van

Operasie Brakkenjan is bekom-

merd, veral met die koue wat steeds

in die Overstrand heers.

Annelie le Roux, medestigterslid

van Brakkenjan, s hulle wil juis

nou n voorraad vir die September-

en Desembervakansie opbou.

Winkels soos Pick n Pay, Eastcliff

en Gateway Spar en Checkers het

winkeltrollies in die winkels ge-

plaas vir skenkings van hondekos

wat Joyce Rawstorne (87) die diere

inveralZwelihle tweekeerperweek

voer. Kosskenkings kan by enige

vandiebogenoemdewinkelsgedoen

word.

Vir meer inligting, bel Annelie le

Roux by 082 516 6446.

8HermanusTimes

21 August, 2014

Mense

People

WOMENS DAY EVENT: Stanfords V.E.P. (Victims Empowerment Programme) team led by Stanford Polices

Constable Aniza Ali (second from right, organised a morning for some 50 local women in the community hall,

where they were spoilt rotten in an inspirational morning of tea, talks, manicures, pedicures, massages and

health checkups. The special guest speakers were social worker, Merle Swart and Elim national awardwinning

entrepreneur Preline Swart, who addressed the audience with advice on parenting and the vital role women

play in the community, respectively. With Ali are Serina Buys, Jolline October and Ntombi Jacobs of Stanfords

V.E.P. team. PHOTOS: STUART ANDERSON

Women from the Fynbos Trust were

invited to enjoy the Womens Day

event in Stanford.

FLOWER SHOW TALK

BLOOMIN GOOD: Whale

Coast Conservation (WCC) re

cently hosted a talk by racon

teur David Davidson, who

was part of the South African

team at the Chelsea Flower

Show this year. In his talk

Davidson also touched on the

logistical challenge of getting

the local flora shipped to

England, calling the trip A

Midsummers Nightmare. But

totally worth the effort! One

of the hightlights of the exhi

bition had included a floral

tribute to Nelson Mandela

with a pixel portrait made

from Protea buds.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

RIGHT: Around 50 flo

ralenthusiasts attend

ed the talk by David

Davidson (second

from left) With him

are Dr Pat Miller

(WCC board member),

prof John Verster

(WCC vice chairman)

and WCC chairman

Jamie Hart.

Catching up after the

talk are: Dr Di Ma

rais (chairman of the

Hermanus Botanical

Society), Rob Fryer

(manager of Whale

Coast Conservation)

and Anina Lee,

Whale Coast Conser

vations communica

tions officer.

PHOTOS: ELBE VAN HEER-

DEN

ROUND TABLE GEE

TERUG: n Groep van

Hermanus Round Table

het Vrydag van hul tyd

afgestaan om vis te

braai vir die inwoners

van Huis Lettie Theron

as deel van n gemeen

skapsprojek. Die geel

stert wat gebraai is, is

deur Alexis Zietsman

gevang en die Tafelron

ders en hul vroue het

ingespring om die kos

betyds op die tafel te

kry. FOTO: ELB VAN

HEERDEN

9HermanusTimes

21 August, 2014

Mense

People

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WOMEN

ACTION

GROUPS

WOMENS

DAY EVENT:

The Women Ac

tion Group re

cently held a

Womens Day

event at Learn to

Earn with Lize

van der Walt,

daughter of well

known actress

Wilna Snyman, as the main speaker. Lize spoke about her re

lationship with her mother and the moments she treasured the

most. She captured the ladies attention with stories about her

mother, and how she had kept her from hitting rock bottom.

Wilna in turn spoke about her daughter and read a poem by

Antjie Krog. Standing in the picture is Carmen Titus (project

manager of the Women Action Group) with Christelene

Brikkels, Caroline Thompson and Mariana Gardiner.

When Wilna Snyman and

Lize van der Walt entered

the building they were wel

comed with a standing ova

tion. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

MASKERBAL: Die Hermanus Provinsiale

Hospitaal het n deftige maskerbal Vrydag

aand by die Sandbaaisaal gehou as geldin

sameling vir di hospitaal. Gaste het pragtig

formeel aangetrek met die mooiste maskers.

Ooswald Oosthuizen en sy vrou Sonja, Cor

nel Janse van Vuuren en Attie Voges het in

teressante maskers gedra en die aand op

die dansvloer deurgebring op die maat van

lekker ou musiektreffers.

FOTOS: JANINE VAN DER RIET

By die 200 gaste het die geleentheid onder

steun. Onder hulle was Nombulelo Bleki, Ak

hona Nyathela van Hermanus en Simone Ty

ers van Kaapstad.

Pieter Otto, Alenda Otto, Silke Schmidt en

Andr Bester het ook die geldinsameling Vry

dagaand ondersteun.

Ilse Lourens, sekretaresse van die mediese bestuurder van die

Hermanus Provinsiale Hospitaal en een van die organiseer

ders van die funksie, oorhandig n geskenk aan Heidi Nortier

van Hermanus Toyota, om dankie te s vir hul borgskap van

die breekware, glase, tafeldoeke en eetgerei wat die aand

gehuur is. Ilse het na die tyd ges dat die organiseerders nog

besig is met die finansies, om te bepaal hoeveel wins hulle

gemaak het, maar dat die aand wel n groot sukses was. Die

hospitaal wil graag DVDspelers en opvoedkundige DVDs

koop om dit vir pasinte te speel.

Nicolene en Lourens Smith se maskers het

baie aandag getrek.

10

HermanusTimes

21 August, 2014

Briewe

Letters

Overstrand is paying

it forward

There are so many wonderful organisa

tions based in theOverstrandwhere you

can lend a hand, or pay it forward, as

one reader says in his letter.

Whether your love lies with animals,

the elderly, the youth or the needy, there

is an organisation that caters for each

of these.

The Dyer Island Conservation Trust

(DICT) is focused onmaking a difference

to the lives of penguins and seabirds that

are threatened by a variety of causes

such as oil pollution and the declining

fishing resources.

As such, DICT started dreaming about

having their own sanctuary andwith the

help of generous sponsorships, this

dream has become a reality.

The Hermanus Round Table took time

out to braai fresh fish for the residents

of Huis Lettie Theron. The same can be

said about local schools who are sup

ported by individuals or companies.

These are just a few examples of people

trying to make a difference in the world

around them and giving freely.

We can be proud to live in such a

sharing society.

Increase in traffic

Sandbaai over the years has expanded from

a once small suburb to now one of the largest

suburbs in Hermanus, this of course means

an increase in traffic, especially over peak

traffic times. With the addition of Curro

School and the completion of the new Mbeki

Road that joins Bergsig Street (connecting In-

dustrial area and Sandbaai) this has become

a rather busy road, resulting in the intersec-

tionofBergsigandMainRoadSandbaaibeing

chaos. Can a 4-way stop not be introduced

here. If the process of implementing a 4-way

stop is a long one then cant our helpful traffic

police direct the traffic at this intersection at

peak times?

With winter here, it is visible that there is

a problem in the way the town fixes/repairs

potholes.Apotholeappearsandtwodayslater

it is filled in a quick haphazardmanner, only

to have the sand fill fall away and the thin

tar cover crack exposing the pothole yet

again, this process is nearly a weekly event

with most of the potholes in the town. I can

commend the towns service provider for

their speedy attendance of fixing potholes but

the method of repair?

HERMANUS ROAD USER

ResponsefromClrBenSolomon,WardCoun-

cillor: Regarding the crossing at Main Road

and Bergsig Street, it is envisaged that a circle

will be put inwhenBergsig Street is upgraded.

This upgrade will have to be done by the devel-

oper of the Mall if the mall is approved.

Potholes are difficult to repair duringwinter

when the gravel underneath the tar is wet, as

the tar will not set properly.

Almost killed by drunken driver

Ihavedecided tosharemytraumaticexpe-

rience I had on Saturday 16 August at

around 20:00.

IwasheadinghometoOnrusaftera long

day at work. I turned left at the robot into

Main Road, Onrus. The next second I

heard a car just as I was about to enter

thehairpinbend. I realisedsomethingwas

not right as the speed at which the oncom-

ing car was travelling was very fast. In a

flash the driver lost control and the car

careened towards me. It was about to hit

me head on.My only optionwas to swerve

sharply to my left to avoid this. I hit the

pavement and slid on the loose gravel. The

driver drove on to the red robot.

I was badly shaken up and got out of my

car to get his details as my cars rims had

been badly damaged and buckled. I called

to the driver but he tried to ignore me.

I went up to him and said he nearly hit

me head on. He got out of his car and that

is when I realised he was under the influ-

ence.

He could hardly stand on his two feet

and supported himself by holding onto his

car door, he slurred an apology.

I was badly shaken up and said to him

I cannot drive further as my left front

wheel was buckled and I want his details.

He got back into his car and said he was

going to make a u-turn and come back to

my vehicle.

I took a photo of his number plate. Two

morevehiclescamearoundthebend. Iwas

amazed thatwhen I tried to get their atten-

tion for help, they just ignored me.

The driver that caused my accident

sped off. I had to changemy cars left front

wheel with the spare wheel before I could

drive home. The other rim I had to have

repaired.

I would like to say to that driver: Sir,

youdecided to consumealcohol to suchan

extent that it affected your driving. You

arrogantlygotbehindyoursteeringwheel

and endangered my life and every other

soberdriveron the roadand their families

as well as pedestrians.

How dare you? I could have been your

daughter.Youcouldhavecausedanentire

family immense sorrow. You nearly

caused my death.

I sincerely hope that none of your loved

ones ever experience what I did on Satur-

dayeveningbyadrunkdriver.Youshould

be ashamed of yourself. Your drunken

apology means nothing.

When I arrived home I broke down. I

considermyselfextremelyluckytohave

escaped serious injury.

TANYA MALAN

Hoe s mens dankie?

Ekissoemosioneelvandagenvrahoesmens

dankie?

Woorde kan nie beskryf hoe ons menswees

besig is om terug te kom nadat Tronel en Edi-

an van Hermanus Staan Saam ons twee weke

terug kom besoek het nie.

Julle bring saam met die skenkers en hel-

pers soveel moed terug in ons lewe, wat alles

verloor het en sukkel om weer op die been te

kom.

Vir drie jaarmoes ons water in bottels gooi

waarin ons moes bad, kosmaak en drink.

Onshetnie toiletgeriewegehadnie enmoes

n emmer gebruik.

Nico het aangebied om n toilet vir ons in

te sit. My kleinkind van drie na wie ek kyk

ken nie eens n toilet nie.

Ek dank en prys en vra Jesus se sen oor

ieder en elk van jullewat skenkings gegee het

en nog gee.

n Toilet is vir almal algemeen, maar weet

julle hoe dankbaar ons daarvoor is.

Ek het huise in Volklip ens. skoongemaak

vir n inkomste, maar ons karretjie se enjin

het opgepak en nou het ons nie vervoer nie.

Dit isookhoekomonssosukkel enHawston

toe moes trek.

Tronel, jy enEdian enal diemensewatHer-

manus Staan Saam ondersteun, mag jul so-

veel seninge ontvang, want julle het nie n

idee wat julle vir ons beteken nie.

n Bewo, hartseer-van-geluk ouma vra

vanoggend hoe s mens dankie?

Daar is nie woorde wat dit kan beskryf nie.

God sen ieder en elk van julle.

BRENDA DOUGLAS

Verkeer doen nie hul

werk

Ekwilnetbaiegraagnvraagaandiebetrokke

mense van die Hermanus Verkeersdeparte-

mentvra.Watdoendiebeampteswatpatrollie

te voet doen in die middedorp? Is dit om op

hul fone te speel of window shopping te

doen? Ek sien dat hier geen dissipline toege-

pas word nie.

Een voorbeeld om te noem is die laaisone

en rolstoelsone in die dorp. Ek self bedryf n

koerierdiens en daar is elke dag privaat mo-

tors op die laaisone geparkeer, geenkenteken

of plakker wat bewys dat dit n koeriermaat-

skappy is nie.

Ek moet my voertuig soms op n rooi lyn

parkeer om aflewerings te maak. Ek dink die

superintendente van die verkeersdeparte-

mentmoet nslaguitdiekantoorkomenhulle

werk doen.

KOERIERDIENSEIENAAR

RudiFraser,HoofVerkeer/Lisensiesre-

ageer:

Ekkrydie ideedatdaar nverskuildeagenda

kan wees aangesien die skrywer die volgende

noem: Die supsmoet n slag uit kantore kom.

Nou is my vraag die volgende? Waar is die

skrywer dan daagliks om te weet dat die sups

in hulle kantoor sit enmy tweede vraag: Indien

die skrywer weet die sups sit in hulle kantoor,

waarommaak hy/sy nie kontak om die aange-

leenthede te bespreek nie?

Ek kan u verseker dat die sups se hande vol

is met dag-tot-dag verpligtinge en meer spesi-

fiek om toe te sien dat verkeersoperasionele

dienste vlot verloop in alle opsigte.

Ek vertrou dat ons streef na die batho pele

beginsels en die skrywer is welkom omdie kan-

toor van die (sups) te nader waar die beweerde

klagtebespreekkanwordenonmiddellikeaan-

dag kan geniet.

Ek kan u verseker dat daar op n daaglikse

basis aandag geskenk word aan die klagtes

soos genoem en dat n vergadering reeds bel

wasmetoperasionele toesighouersomdiekwes-

sie te monitor en aandag te skenk.

Sisteme is reeds in plek en lede wat hul skul-

dig maak aan wangedrag sal die gevolge van

dissiplinre aksies in die gesig staar.

Daarwasreeds lede ingeroepoordiegenoem-

de klagte en streng riglyne is voorgel. Die kan-

toor van die (sups) kry op n gereelde basis na-

vrae en verto aangaande laaisones, wat my

die idee gee dat die beamptes wel optree teen

diegene wat hulself skuldig maak aan die oor-

tredings.

Daar sal meer gelet word op die skrywer se

klagte maar wat die dag tot dag monitering

betref, versoek ek vriendelik dat diegene wat

dit oplet of dan enige klagte onder verkeer se

aandagwil bring, asseblief die kantoor vandie

superintendente moet nader waar spoedig

moontlik aandag geskenk kan word aan leem-

tes.

Ek hoop ek antwoord die skrywer op die ge-

noemde vrae.

Dankie vir die Kalfie

Weereens n heerlike ervaring: Kalfiefees

2014. Ons het gelag en gehuil in ons taal. Elke

produksie/vertoning wat ons bygewoon het

was spesiaal en die standaard was baie hoog.

Baiedankieaandieorganiseerdersvir julle

tyd en moeite om dramas, musiek en bespre-

kings hier na ons toe te bring.

Dankie vir julle entoesiasme, harde werk

en goeie bestuur - alles vrywillig. Ons is trots

op julle.

Dankie ook aan die borge wat verstaan hoe

belangrik dit is om kultuur te bevorder.

NELIA LOUW

HERMANUS

EDITORIAL COMMENT

Staffie survives cliff fall, thanks to young man

Our 8-year-old Staffie, Kali, had amiraculous

escape from death or serious injury last week

when she careered after a dassie on the Cliff

Path near Ficks Pool and crashed over the

edge on to the rocks below. From above my

wife and I heard a terrible yowling and then

there was silence.

Heavy-hearted we walked round and down

the steps to the pool, prepared for the worst.

We were met by a young man walking to-

wards us with Kali cradled in his arms. He

had seen her fall and said she was still alive.

I carried her to the top and laid her down on

the grasswhilemywife fetched the car. There

was some blood round the mouth, but Kali

wagged her tail when I spoke to her.

Jean, the Irish vet, gave her a thorough ex-

amination and the only injury she could find

was a smashed tooth, appropriately a canine,

that had gone through the upper lip. Kali,

meanwhile, skippedaroundthesurgery floor,

proving that all four legs were still working.

Its a miracle, said Jean. We would like

to thank the young man who picked her up

after the fall. He did tell us his name, but in

the emotion of the moment we forgot it.

JOHN SCOTT

VOLKLIP

SHEPHERDS

WARNING:

Facebookuser

JacquesMario

Robert shared

this wonderful

picture with us

of the sunrise as

seen from East

cliff on Tuesday

morning.

PHOTO: JACQUES

MARIO ROBERT

Abig thanks

I, Winnie Nywebeni, want to thank everyone

who donated paint and other items after my

house was set on fire by my daughter earlier

this year. And thank you to those who paid

for a prepaid meter box. To know that there

are still good and kind people out there can

make a big difference. God bless you all.

WINNIE

11

HermanusTimes

21 August, 2014

Briewe

Letters

)Opregtedankaandiebestuurenper

soneel van Cattle Baron vir hul wonder

like diens aan die tien dames geduren

dedie verjaardagete opWoensdagdie

13de en meestal vir die lieflike ruiker.

CHRISTENE

) We are pensioners now but have

lived in Hermanus since 1986.We nor

mally shopat the supermarkets because

they are cheapest.Well, we were faced

with a beautiful day on Saturday but

alas! Nothing in the freezer to braai.

Off to the localOnrusButcherywewent.

We all know steak and chops dont fea

ture in the pensioners budget, but what

did we find? The best pork sausage we

havehad!Deliciouson thebraai!Saved

half the pack to have with mash and

beans. ANON, VERMONT

) A big thank you to everyone who

came to our help with the dog fight at

Checkers circle on Monday afternoon.

MARITJIE

) To chef Shane and staff at La Pentola:

a huge thank you for making our cele

bration very special one!

THE MEYER CLAN

) My kleindogter van Namibi kuier

bymy.Syhet nBankWindhoekdebiet

kaart. Sy wou geld onttrek en was by

Absa, FNB en Standard Bank. Nie een

kon help nie. Was na Capitec. Baie

dankie dat ons binne 10 minute gehelp

is en kon geld trek sonder probleme.

HELENE KOBERZIG

) A huge thank you to Jeffrey and his

son of Vygie St. Mount Pleasant, for of

fering up his fishing time, late on Mon

day evening, to help three ladies

change a flat tire. I hope you caught

a big fish! O. WINTER

) Baie dankie aan Santam en Dawie

Bothma! Julle is staatmakers!HENRY

)Who is responsible for the two foun

tains in front of Village Square? One

has been empty for weeks and the

Whale Tail fountain never works, the

water is constantly filthy and the tiles

all fell off years ago. Surely in a tourism

town like ours it shouldnt be difficult to

keep two smallwater features cleanand

functioning. In their present state they

give a very real impression of neglect

and disinterest. Please, whoever is re

sponsible, do the right thing, fix the

fountains and then maintain them.

IAN M

) Ek het my leesbril in die dorp verloor.

Bril se maak Bassie, met n swart raam.

Indien gevind skakel my asb. Ek voel

verlore sonder hom.

0 083 393 2446. DOREEN

)Baiedankievirgoeiediens:PathCare

Hermanus en personeel; dr V. Wium

vennote en personeel asook dr. L.Riddel

(tandarts) en personeel. Almal omgee

mense. Dankie. E. GILES

)Waaroor kan ons nog kla?O, ja kom

ons kla nou oor kindersmet skaatsplan

ke wat my honde laat blaf en ontstel,

motoriste wat in die nag jaag. Sal aan

nog ergernisse dink en binnekort op

volg met die klagtes. ELAINE

) The report about the Milkwood sign

has reminded me that the municipality

might also not have realised that Dirkie

UysStreet in central town ismisspelt and

reads Dirky Uys.

) Ek is n diereliefhebber en het ook

twee honde binne my erf. Ek gee nie

om as hulle blaf as iemand by die deur

of hek is nie. 95% van aanvalle by of

in jou huis is jy onverhoeds betrap. My

honde waarsku my as iemand daar is.

En as ek dan gaan kyk dan maak ek

hulle stil. Honde moet blaf en sal blaf

virmensewat verby jouhuis loopof kom

klop. Dis dood normaal. Ek stem dat

mens honde kry wat aanhou en aan

hou. Maar ek voel dis die eienaar se

verantwoordelikheid.Byges,niemand

weet wat hul honde doen as hulle nie

tuis is nie. As hulle dan blaf is dit ook

nafskrikmiddelby tye.Houopkla.Her

manus Times is nie n klakoerant nie.

Die een oomblik vra almal jy moet hon

deaanneem.Volgendeoomblikklahul

le omdat jy honde het. En die kere wat

daar by jou ingebreek, gesteel of jy in

jou huis aangeval word vra hulle weer,

waar was jou honde?

) Excellent TV repair/aerial etc. Rod

Dacre. Eugene. Fast & well done.

BRIDGET CROFFORD

) Well done Fisherhaven, thats the

spirit. Lets be positive and fight crime.

D

)Met trane in my o sit ek in my warm

motor voor Absa en kyk na n ou omie

in n rolstoel wat sit enwag vir die dame

wat hom rond stoot terwyl sy minute

lank gesels met iemand wat sy toevallig

raakloop. Hys totaal en al afhanklik

van haar en sit maar gedwee. Hy staar

stil voor hom uit, lyk so hartseer en hul

peloos. Ai oom, wens ek kon jou net

n drukkie gee en s eks jammer vir jou

lot! Dit laat my besef my probleme en

struikelblokke is niks nie. Ek kan nog

loop waar ek wil wees, ek het n s, ek

is onafhanklik.

) It is such a pleasure to shop at the

OK MiniMark in Onrus clean, and

friendly staff. But can they please do

something about their bakery? Buns,

etc. almost always overdone, and un

dersized. DT

)Wat gaan aan in Mountain Drive in

Northcliff met die gejaag en doodry

van diere en fisante wat loop tussen die

koppie en kragstasie? Kan daar nie

asb. spoedhobbel gebou word nie.

HOPPIES

)Nouhet diemunisipaliteit weer n nu

we manier gedink om geld letterlik en

figuurlik uit ons te suig met di van ons

wat uitsuigriooltenks by ons huise het.

Voorheen het ons dieselfde bedrag be

taal om n hele tenk uit te suig. En nou

ewe skielik suig hul net 6 kiloliter riool

vir die bedrag wat ons voorheen op n

10 kiloliter riool betaal het. So verneem

ek toe as jy als wil laat uitsuig soos dit

voorheen altyd was, moet jy nou dub

beld vir n 10 000 l riool betaal. Ek glo

nie n mens wat 2 en 2 bymekaar kan

tel sal dinkdatdit regverdig is nie. Liewe

land, ons kry swaar genoeg soos dit is.

DU TOIT

) Hermanus Botanical Society raffle

tickets now on sale. Lots of great prizes

to win. Contact a Botsoc member.

) Pensioenaris (dame) is op soek na n

rygeleentheid van Hermanus na Bela

Bela (Warmbad) in Limpopo. Is bereid

om te help met die brandstof. Bel asse

blief 0 076 115 7382.

) Lift required urgently to Benoni or

nearby. From04/09/2014.Will share

fuel and driving. Call 072 994 1835.

ALLAN DE BEER

Paying it forward hereorabroad

We live in Hermanus, South Africa.

Myson,Jamie, lives inPortland,Or-

egon. This letter is about what hap-

pened in both places.

My wife, Felicity Jane Maclen-

nan-Smith recently arranged an ap-

pointment for a friend with local

Hermanus urologist, Dr J Basson.

She paid for the appointment. A

gift to a friend. After the initial con-

sultation, Dr Basson arranged for

further investigations, including a

scan. Not inexpensive.

Finally he diagnosed the problem

and prescribed certain medication.

Then he refunded the full fee Fe-

licity Jane had paid and wrote off

the cost.

Recently my son had a legal prob-

lem. He was quoted US$ 3 000 by an

attorney in Portland, which Jamie

couldnotafford, sohewent toanoth-

er Portland attorney, Jim Shad-

duck. Jim sorted it out for him, and

although it took several hours, in-

cluding two court appearances, he

refused anypaymentwhatsoever. It

reaffirms my faith in the innate

goodnessofpeople whichhasbeen

a little dentedbyyears practising as

an attorney. Hence this letter.

Although those involved did not

do it for accolades or praise in fact

went to some lengths to conceal

what they had done. These are good

people. There are others. And I

think theydeserve to be recognised.

I took that lessontoheartandpaid

it forward to someone who needed

legal advice here in Hermanus,

South Africa, but couldnt afford it.

Perhaps you can do the same

when someone does something to

help you, or your family or your

friend?

KEN MACLENNANSMITH

Stilte voor storm?

Toe ons gister op iWeather se toring op Hermanusberg

inskakel, het die noordwes so 500 m bokant die rustige

Overstrand teen 65 km/h gejaag.

Tienminute later om 09:10 was dit 75 en n bekommer-

de Weerhaan die res van die dag op di sein vasgenael.

Die vols het hoeka Dinsdagmiddag vroeg duidelik

verskrik teruggekombometoeenFrancoisbuurmanhet

bekommerd gewys na die grys sperwer wat met halftoe

vlerke teen die noordwes huiswaarts beur.

Dalk die stilte voor n storm, het ons gewonder. Op

die skerm het alles so kalm gelyk. Die grafieke wys die

windrigting is pal op 330 noordwes.Dit help omdie tem-

peratuur (hitte vanuit die noordweste) te kniehalter op

rondom 15 C. Die barometer het egter te stadig gedaal

en dit s (gewoonlik) dat die aankomende vogvrag nie

aggressief is nie.

Wat dit beteken, s ek op buurman se vraag, is dat

net n klein persentasie van die vog wat deur konveksie

met warm lug opgeneem word, weer sal terugval aarde

toe. Vog kom in drie vorme aan: as vlugtige gas, solied

in ysvorm en in vloeibare vorm. Wat daarmee tussen

Gough-eiland en Mosselbaai gemaak word, hang alles

van die wind af.

Gister draai die wind sigbaar weer in die rigting van

die Overstrand en die vrag vogmet nmoontlikheid van

15 tot 20 mmrenword effensweggekeer.Dit gee die oor-

skot vog kans om via die Weskus en Worcester dieper

die binneland in te dryf waar dit tot volledige

renwolke sal groei vir neerslae tot in die

noordooste van die land.

Die lugverplasing oor die Overberg skep

ruimtevirdie resvandie frontwatuitAntark-

tika inonsrigtinggestuurword.Dienoordwes

sal inbeweeg en opnuut die vogtige lug oplek

om dit met sy hor druk, as die vog, in sy sel

in te slinger.

As die grafieke konstant bly, sal die vogtige

lug mre (Vrydag) met n moontlikheid van

nog 15 mm ren by ons aankom. Los neerslae

kan Dinsdagaand begin skiet gee voor dit vol-

gende Donderdag weer uitsak.

Tussenin kry ons Sondag heerlike sonskyn.

Toestandewaarinvoorspellingtansgemaak

word, word gestriem deurdat die aarde op n

nuwebaanisenselfskompassemet ingeboude

magnete wat afgelaai is, nog moet aanpas in

onderskeie apps-programme. Die beste is om

by die venster uit te kyk waar die son opkom.

A cold but sunny weekend is expected for most parts of the

weekend. A minimum of 9C is expected on Saturday and, al-

though sunny, Sunday will still be cold with a minimum of

only 10C and a maximum of 17C.

12

HermanusTimes

21 August, 2014

Algemeen

General

Lizette Britz from Bierman

Britz optometrists says:

Womens Day is there to

represent womens cour

age and strength, and I

am one of those girl

power females who be

lieve you can achieve an

ything and everything

you put your mind to. I love the idea of hav

ing a whole day put aside to think about

those achievements. Look back and be proud

of all you have done, whether it is starting a

small business, surviving breast cancer, being

a mom, running an empire, bungee jumping

or starting a vegetable garden. Be proud of

it as you are doing it for yourself. We as

women have come a far way for it to be re

cognised.

As a woman

with all the

challenges in

life, anything

can be

achieved if you

just put your

mind to it and

have faith in

what you do.

Doubt sees ob

stacles, but

faith sees the way! Vonji Steneveldt.

11yearold still semicomatose

after caraccident

JANINE VAN DER RIET

TroyWilliams, who was with his par-

ents,RodgerandMilandr in their car

on 14 May on the R43 between Sand-

baai and Onrus when a bus hit the car

from behind, is still in a semi-coma-

tose state in a rehabilitation centre in

Cape Town.

The family from Johannesburg was on

holiday in Strand and decided to drive

through to Hermanus for a day visit. The

accident occurred on their journey back

to Strand.

Little Troy was immediately taken to

TygerbergHospitalwhereheremainedin

ICU in a coma for more than three

months.

Two weeks ago he was transferred to

the St Joseph Rehabilitation Centre in

CapeTownwherehe isundergoingdiffer-

ent therapies to aid him to learn to walk

and talk again.

Milandr says her husbandmakes sev-

eral trips to Johannesburg for work, but

she has been by his side ever since the

accident.

Financially and emotionally it is a

strainonthe family,andthey live inguest

houses to be close to Troy. They have no

family or acquaintances in Cape Town.

According to Milandr, Troy is facing

at least another six months of rehabilita-

tion in Cape Town before they can think

of moving him to Johannesburg.

The bus, belonging to HanekomCoach-

ing in Cape Town, was transporting

school learners from Zwelihle to Klein-

mond when the accident happened. The

learners in thebusdidnot suffer any seri-

ous injuries.

Troy Williams is still recovering in a re

habilitation facility in Cape Town. This

photo was taken on Troys 11th birthday

on Monday 18 August. PHOTO:

SUPPLIED

RESEPTE/RECIPES

Perdeblom Pesto

BESTANDDELE

25ml sesamsaad, droog gerooster

5ml knoffel, gekap

20ml amandelvlokkies, droog gerooster

125ml perdeblomblare, gekap

15ml surings gekap (opsioneel), gebruik meer blare

as stingels.

125ml pietersielie (opsioneel)

Sout en varsgemaalde swartpeper (na smaak)

Suiwer sonneblomolie

METODE

Spoeleersdieperdeblomblaregoedafonderwater, sodat

al die sand verwyder word.

Sny perdeblomblare op in kort stukkies, en voeg dit in

die twister. Voeg by jou knoffel, amandelvlokkies, se-

samsaad, sierings, sout en peper en laastens jou olie.

Meng als lekker fyn in jou twister en siedaar jou pesto

net reg vir jou pizza basis, stews, braai brooitjies en

ook op jou braaivleis.

INGREDIENTS

1 packet marie biscuits,

crushed

1 egg and 5ml vanilla

essence mixed together

250g butter

500g icing sugar and 40ml

cocoa powder

METHOD

Melt the butter in a sauce pan.

Mix in the icing sugar and co-

coa and stir well.

Add in the egg and beat well.

Take off the heat and add in the

crushed marie biscuits. Allow

tocool inpanandcutinsquares

Recipe by Margeaux Victor,

Pack n Bake, 028 313 1475.

Smudge

Droom en droom groot! Met harde werk en

deursettingsvermo sal jy jou droom verwe

senlik. Voor van links is Natasha Leaf

Wright, Francis van Wyk en Mari Swane

poel. Agter is Sandra Kruger.

Marjoh Pienaar en Leslene Savage is die

trotse eienaars van die Van Blommenstein

slaghuis: Hulle s: Dit gaan oor om n ver

skil te maak.

13

HermanusTimes

21 August, 2014

Nuus

News

14

HermanusTimes

21 August, 2014

Sakegids

Business Guide

Moenieemigreernie, blyhier

JANHENDRIK COETZER

Tydens die naweek van die

Hermanus Times Kalfiefees het

dr. Piet Croucamp, n spreker

watniedoekiesomdraainie, n

praatjie gelewermet die fokus

optegnologie,dieekonomieen

politiek.

CroucampgeeklasaandieUni-

versiteit van Johannesburg en

spesialiseer in navorsingsmeto-

des, en die demokratisering van

politieke stelsels. Hy het Sater-

dag 9 Augustus n vol gehoor by

die Whale Coast Hotel toege-

spreek oor wat mense in Suid-

Afrika te wagte kan wees.

Croucamp het onder andere

baie klem gel op tegnologie en

hoe dit die onderwys, landbou en

die arbeidsektor gaan verander.

Tien jaar gelede het niemand

gedinkdatdiegrootstebiblioteek

op aarde in die vorm van n sel-

foon in jou handpalm gaan pas

nie. Net so kan ons ook binne die

volgende paar jaar 3D-printers te

wagte wees. Jy sal letterlik enig-

iets kan druk, as n koppie breek,

dan druk jy eenvoudig vir jou n

nuweeen. Indietoekomsgaandit

ook nie meer nodig wees vir n

onderwyser om fisies voor in die

klas te staan en klasgee nie aan-

gesien i-pad-onderwys gaan toe-

neem.

Volgens Croucamp sal ons

meer moet begin fokus op ont-

werp en nie noodwendig ver-

spreiding nie. Dis hoekom n

land soos Amerika so vinnig

vooruitgaan. Amerikaners is

baie meer ontwerp-georinteer

engeedithulle ngeweldigevoor-

sprong in terme van innoverend

dink en sodoende altyd op die

voorpunt van ontwikkeling bly.

Oor die ontwikkeling van mo-

derne tegnologie, s Croucamp

grappenderwys ek het byvoor-

beeld nou my vierde Landrover,

en ek is seker my vyfde een gaan

nie olie lek nie.

Oor politiek voel Croucamp

dat meer mededingende party-

politiek nodig is en dat die ANC

beter sal presteer as die DA by-

voorbeeld meer druk toepas.

Die geheim is uiteraard dat ons

iets nalaat vir ons kinders en die

land n beter plek vir hulle los.

Ons kla so maklik oor misdaad

en korrupsie, maar ons verloor

uit die oog dat ons in Suid-Afrika

ten minste nie n burgeroorlog

het nie.Onshet dalk n ietwat on-

bestendige demokrasie op die

oomblik,maartenminstehtons

n demokrasie. So baie mense

wonderaltydofonsnieopdieself-

de pad as Zimbabwe is nie, maar

ek kan hulle verseker dat ons nie

is nie. Die hele Zimbabwe se eko-

nomie is so te s gelykstaande

aan di van Durban. So ons poli-

tiek en ekonomie is baiemeer di-

vers as di van Zimbabwe, s

Croucamp.

Volgens Croucamp is die pro-

bleem waarmee ons wel sit, dat

die verkeerde mense toegang tot

grond kry. In plaas daarvan dat

ons swart boere wat reeds boer,

bemagtig en aan hulle die grond

gee, gee ons tans grond eerder

aanswartesmetpolitiekebelang.

As ons dit aan huidige swart boe-

re gee, dan kan grondhervor-

ming n suksesverhaal wees.

Croucamp voer ook aan dat

SEB (Swart Ekonomiese Bemag-

tiging) een van die grootste son-

des inSuid-Afrika is. Die ekono-

mie groeinou teenminderas 2%.

SEB is n redelike radikale ingry-

ping in produktiwiteit en onder-

myndieaansporingvirentrepre-

neurs om kapitaal te bel. SEB is

seker die belangrikste faktor in

ons ekonomiese inkrimping dit

is ideologies gedrewe en het n

enorme ekonomiese invloed.

Croucamp s ook dat verstede-

liking in Suid-Afrika binne die

volgende 10 jaar geweldig gaan

toeneem.Onshetreeds ngewel-

dige ho verstedelikingspatroon

in Suid-Afrika. Die redes het te

doen met armoede op die platte-

land,maarookomdatdiegeleent-

hede vir groei en ontwikkeling

grootliks n stedelike fenomeen

is. Skole op die platteland sal nie

die bronne h wat nodig is om te

bly nie, maar daar is ook nie die

markofbelastingbasis inlandeli-

ke areas nie. So as jy welvaart op

die platteland wil h, sal jy dit in

die stede moet gaan haal.

Volgens Croucamp is n groot

probleem dat daar van president

Jacob Zuma ontslae geraakmoet

word. Hymoet aangekla en ver-

volgword vir verskeie sake. Kor-

rupsie in die geval vandie Shaik-

saak,maar ook vir sy betrokken-

heid by die Nkandla-debakel.

Zuma is opportunisties en is be-

sig om n patronaat-staat te skep

waarin korrupsie en politieke

spanning sal floreer. Hy is n tra-

disionele leier, nie die staatshoof

van n gemoderniseerde land-

skap nie.

Croucamp het ook gepraat oor

die feit dat die middel- en wer-

kersklas hopeloos te min ver-

dien. n Onderwyser hier ver-

dien gemiddeld R12 000 per

maand teenoor n onderwyser in

Engeland wat sowat R25 000 per

maand verdien - en dis n aftrek-

kings. Wat dan gebeur, is jy kom

nie uit met jou geld nie, jy het n

familie om te onderhou en dan

moet jy op die ou end gaan geld

leen. En so bly jy net heeltyd ag-

teruit boer. Dis byvoorbeeld hoe

wit Suid-Afrikaners jare terug

ryk geword het deur bates en

nie noodwendig harde werk nie.

Daar is vroeg in hulle lewe huis

gekoop en afbetaal en was die

skuldlas vroer minder.

VerdervoelCroucampdatmis-

daad en korrupsie aangespreek

en tegnologie en dienste-ekono-

mie uitgebou moet word. Die

dienste-ekonomie is tans 70%

van die totale ekonomie. Dit is

ook die een sektor wat n tekort

aan opgeleide arbeid ervaar.

Hoewelditnienoodwendignuwe

welvaart skep nie, is dit n gewel-

dige groot area vir indiensne-

ming. Die media speel ook na-

tuurlik n baie belangrike rol en

mense moet die media onder-

steun. Dis die rol wat die media

speel, wat verseker dat die rege-

ring nie net kan maak en breek

sooshullewilnie.Dis juisdieme-

diawat hulle in toomhou.Mense

moet ook die waarde van entre-

preneurskap begin besef en hul

eie ding begin doen. Ons kan nie

verwag die regering moet vir als

pa-staannie.Vatbyvoorbeelddie

privaatskool, Curro, hulle doen

geweldig goed op die aandele-

beurs en is nie deel van die staat

nie, en trek al hoe meer mense.

Entrepreneurskap is sentraal

tot vooruitgang, ontwikkelingen

groei. Dit is egter n konsekwen-

sie van onderwys, opleiding en

ervaring - iets wat tans nie ge-

noeg aandag kry nie. Al wat ek

vir mense kan s is, hou op kla,

raak betrokke by organisasies in

jou gemeenskap, vestig digte net-

werkeenneemverantwoordelik-

heid vir jou eie bestuur. Van die

sowat een miljoen mense wat

reeds landuit is hulle het nie al-

mal gemigreer oor misdaad en

korrupsienie, vanhullehetbloot

beter geleenthede gekry.

Croucamp het verder ges

mense moet positief bly en nie

emigreer nie. Baie van die pro-

bleme in Suid-Afrika deel ons

met ander stelsels en lande. Ten

spyte van ons gebreke is daar ge-

weldigbaie geleenthedeom nge-

rekende lewenskwaliteit te

handhaaf inhierdie land.Die toe-

koms blink met n groter prent-

jie waaruit jy net voordeel kan

trek indien jy entrepreneurskap,

goeie gesondheid, kapitaal en ba-

tes kan akkumuleer.

Die wyse waarop mense n le-

we maak of welvaart genereer,

gaan revolusionr verander oor

die volgende dekade.

Somoenie weggaan nie, want

jy is goed geplaas om voordeel te

put uit hierdie verandering, s

Croucamp.

Dr. Piet Croucamp tydens sy toespraak by die Whale Coast Hotel.

Hy was die gasspreker by die Kalfiefees se besprekingsprogram.

INMYOPINION: The awesome power of an apology

CHRIS MOERDYK

It is a window of opportunity that has

opened up for perhaps just a fewyears

but it is going to take the mass media,

marketing strategists, ad agencies,

and clients with titanium balls to really

make the best of it.

But, get it right and the rewards will

be enormous. It is called the power

of apology and it all started when En

ron was exposed a dozen or so years

ago. Then came September 11 and

wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, fol

lowed closely by the sex abuse cover

up scandal in the Catholic Church,

mayhem as a gay priest was appoint

ed bishop in the Anglican church and

all sorts of other misdemeanours

among the worlds religions.

The list is fairly endless of occurrenc

es that have left the worlds consumers,

those ordinary Joes we call the man

in the street, with their confidence in

human nature shattered.

Business, politics and religion have

let themdownandnow theyredesper

ately looking for someone to trust.

This means enormous opportunities

for companies prepared to throw

away those We Care plaques on

their reception walls and stop using

their ads as platforms for empty prom

ises with Were the Best and all that

sort of guff. And then, to start making

accountable, measurable promises to

win the trust of consumers by deliver

ing quality on time and backing it up

with nononsense aftersales service.

Just say it: We screwed up and

were sorry and mean it.

But, there is anevenbiggeropportu

nity for companies that really want to

takemaximumadvantage of the social

climate right now and win the hearts

andminds of disenchanted consumers

by hanging their dirty laundry out for

everyone to see.

Because this is what the power of

apology is all about. Not being scared

to tell consumers that youre not per

fect, that youmademistakes,whatmis

takes youve made and what youre

doing to get things right.

Its a good start by saying youre not

perfect, but whats needed to get con

sumer confidence today is to say why

youre not perfect.

It all boils down to the old adage

our parents used to teach us when they

insisted we go and say sorry to friends

and family we had hurt. It is also in

all those management training cours

es. Not just avoiding colleagues and

playing no speaks because you feel

they need to apologise first, but rather

taking the initiative, no matter who is

right or wrong and apologising.

Not only are fences mended but

whatever relationships there were be

fore, are strengthened. It is a manage

ment basic.

Companies that are going to milk

this situation to theutmostare those that

are going to include in all theirmarket

ing communications some serious,

honest, breastbeating accompanied

by measurable promises.

Going the extra mile... actually cre

ating mistakes...

Some companies overseas have al

ready cottoned on to this phenomenon

and seem to have had somuch success

that when they run out of things they

have done wrong and for which they

have apologised, theyre actually

starting to concoctmistakes just so they

have somethingmore to apologise for.

Whatmost companies dont realise,

particularly in the field of customer

service, is that the normal kneejerk re

action employees have of defending

their firms actions is pointless, time

wasting and counterproductive.

My biggest lesson in life came from

my brother on my wedding day. Al

ways agree with your motherinlaw,

he advised. Why? Because arguing is

pointless and in most cases it doesnt

matter who was right or who was

wrong; all that counts is moving on to

something more constructive than a

petty argument.

So, when customers phone to com

plain, agree with them, whether

theyre right or wrong. You have to re

solve the problemanyway, so youmay

as well get the unproductive part of the

conversation over with.

Now, this is all moving into advertis

ing and PR. Wideawake companies

welcome something theyve cocked up

as a wonderful opportunity to apolo

gise and win the trust of the consumer.

Because right now, nothing is more

trusted by mankind generally than the

honesty of an admission of guilt.

No lies, no deceit, no smoke and

mirrors, just the plain, honest truth. It

not onlyworkswonders, but its profita

ble and then some.

Right, nowwhohasenough titanium

in their goonies to get this going?

) Chris Moerdyk is a corpo

rate marketing analyst, advi

sor and media commentator.

The article first appeared on

www.themediaonline.co.za.

This is youropportunity to shareanybreaking

news, about your business with potential cus

tomers in Hermanus and surrounds.

Have you recently started a new business,

opened a new branch, made new appoint

ments, won awards or heard about interest

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15

HermanusTimes

21 August, 2014

Sakegids

Business Guide

Offshore investing, just aRandhedge?

Over the past year or three the

rand depreciated meaningful-

ly against major currencies

such as the US dollar, Sterling

and Euro.

Whilemany commentators be-

lieve that the local currency is

now trading much closer to its

long-termparity,most agree that

trying to forecast the rands ex-

changerate isa futileandhazard-

ous exercise. Having regard to

the uncertainty as to where the

randmaybe inamonthorayear,

many investors have reacted to

a weakening rand exchange rate

and the risk of further weakness

by allocating increasing percent-

ages of their investment portfoli-

os to offshore assets.

We do not believe that a view

on the rand should be the domi-

nant determinant of an inves-

tors strategic allocation to off-

shore assets. Even though off-

shore investment exposure will

protect your investment portfo-

lio against a weakening rand,

there are other material advan-

tages to offshore investing. Some

of these are:

) Diversification across geo-

graphicalregionsandcurrencies

) Protection against country-

specific risks and political con-

cerns

) Obtaining exposure to secu-

rities/assets not available in

South Africa

There are various ways in

which an investor can obtain ex-

posure to offshore assets and

each has its own set of advantag-

es, disadvantages and costs. An

investor, inconsultationwithhis

financial adviser or portfolio

manager, should carefully con-

sider the suitability of the differ-

ent alternatives for his specific

circumstances.

A popular option is to invest in

top-quality international compa-

nies that are also listed on the

JSE, suchasSABMillerandBHP

Billiton. This option is usually

cost-effective and easy to imple-

ment, as it forms part of ones lo-

cal share portfolio. At the same

time, it offers a good hedge

against the weakening of the

rand and offers diversification

across different economies and

geographical regions. One also

does not need to take the funds

offshore, hence avoiding the

process of applying for tax clear-

ance.

The unit trust industry offers

various rand-denominated

South African funds that are one

hundred percent invested in

theiroffshoreequivalents.These

funds can often be identified by

the reference to feeder fund in

their names. An example is the

PSG Global Equity Feeder Fund.

While the fund isdenominated in

rand, it is solely invested in the

PSG Global Equity Fund IC Lim-

ited, which is a US dollar based

fund. Investors will mainly ob-

tain exposure to international

equity when investing in this

fund. No tax clearance is re-

quired when investing into a

South African feeder fund.

Many of the prominent South

African fund managers offer a

range of offshore unit trusts,

mostlydenominated inthemajor

international currencies, such

as the US dollar, sterling and eu-

ro. Investors are offered options

to choose a fund that fits a partic-

ular risk profile or desired asset

allocation, as funds range from

conservative money market in-

vestments to high risk equity-on-

ly investments. In this case one

will need to obtain tax clearance

if the amount invested offshore

exceeds the R1 million per year

that an individual can use for fo-

rex transactions without clear-

ance.Thetotalamount thatanin-

dividual can move offshore is R5

million per year.

An even more direct involve-

ment in offshore equities is a be-

spoke share portfolio for the por-

tion of your total investments for

which you require offshore equi-

ty exposure.

This alternative gives an in-

vestor access to a broad universe

of shares listed on exchanges all

over the world. One of the main

advantages of a direct offshore

share portfolio usually is lower

management fees comparedwith

offshore equity unit trusts. Fur-

thermore, an investor can cus-

tomize his share selection to suit

his long-term investment plan or

specific requirements. Tax clear-

ance is also required for invest-

ments larger than R1million per

year.

It is important for an investor,

togetherwith his auditor, to gain

informationon the taxandestate

planning implications of off-

shore investments. Foreign in-

terest and dividends need to be

declared in South Africa. Some

countriesalso imposeestateduty

when the foreign assets held in

that country exceed a certain

threshold.

The offshore allowance of R5

million per year is only available

for natural persons. Trusts and

otherlegalentitiescan

also investdirectlyoff-

shore by using the as-

set swop mechanism.

However, one needs to

keep in mind that the

funds invested via an

asset swop cannot re-

main offshore indefi-

nitely and need to be

repatriated to South Africa and

converted into rand at some

point in the future.

One very important aspect to

remember when investing off-

shore is that the characteristics

of the countrys economy in

which you are investedwill have

a significant bearing on your in-

vestment return. For example,

developed countries typically

have lower inflation rates than

emerging markets. As a result,

theprevailing interest rate in the

developedcountrywillmost like-

ly be lower and investment re-

turns measured in the countrys

home currency may also fall

shortof thoseofyourlocal invest-

ments.Alsobemindful of the fact

that the currency exposure can

add unwanted volatility to your

portfolio.

Evaluate your desired long-

term exposure to offshore assets

in consultationwith your invest-

ment adviser or portfoliomanag-

er and do not be swayed by short-

termmovements of the rands ex-

change rate.

Irrespective ofwhether you in-

vest in local or offshoreassets, al-

ways ensure that you stick with

high-quality investmentsandad-

here to your investment plan.

Note: This article does not con-

stitute formal advice. Past per-

formance is not indicative of fu-

ture returns. Always remember

to consult your stockbroker be-

fore investing.

Jaanre Muller is

a portfolio analyst

at PSG, Hermanus.

FINMONITOR

Jaanre Muller

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