1. Hospital battle hots up

THE battle for a licence to build a private hospital in Jeffreys Bay is hotting up. A licence has apparently already been approved by the Department of Health and has been awarded to former Eastern Cape education MEC Stone Sizani and his partner Dr Andries Marais. All that remains to be done before building commences, is for the Kouga Municipality to identify a location for the proposed hospital. Speculation has been rife over the past few months that Sizani had been awarded a licence to build a private hospital in Jeffreys Bay. Meanwhile, the licence application by Casualty Clinique Holdings (CCH), which already owns land rezoned for hospital use in the town, was turned down. The rumours about Sizani’s involvement was confirmed by the minutes of a Kouga mayoral committee held in January 2008. According to the entry, Marais addressed the mayoral committee at the meeting and indicated that he and his partners’ application to build a private hospital in the Kouga area had been approved by the Department of Health. Marais went on to say that he had forwarded a letter to the municipal manager asking for land to be made available to build the hospital. Sizani is said to be the developer of the project in partnership with Marais. Sizani earlier this week confirmed that he was involved but referred all enquiries to Marais, who was unavailable for comment. He is only expected back in his office next Monday. The department’s Chief Director of Hospital Services Management also declined to comment, referring the matter to communications officer, Siyanda Manana. Manana’s cell phone was turned off and despite numerous attempts could not be reached. CCH were informed in July this year that their application had been turned down. The reason given was that the area’s medical facilities were already adequate. The company is currently involved in the development of the Jeffreys Bay Polyclinic next to the Fountains development. According to various high-ranking officials a hospital licence may not be granted unless fully-rezoned land is available. The CEO of Life Isivivana Partnership Hospital in Humansdorp, Kevin Cragg, said this week that another private hospital so close to theirs could have a negative impact on the viability of their operation. Their partnership with the state-run Humansdorp Hospital has been commended as one of the most successful public-private partnerships in the province. While the Humansdorp Hospital currently battles with staff shortages, another private hospital in the area will not relieve the plight of the state patients, he said.

2. Munisipale waghond ontwaak

DIE Kouga Munisipaliteit en raadslede sal voortaan ekstra versigtig moet trap. Daar is ’n nuwe waghond in die kontrei - en dié een is glad nie op sy bek geval nie. ’n Nuwe geselskamer (chat room) het onlangs die lig gesien op “Die Ark”, die omstrede groep kuber-geselskamers waar Kouga se mense anoniem mekaar beskinder, dikwels in taal wat liefs op Humansdorp se vullishoop hoort.Dié nuwe geselskamer is aan die einde van Augustus op die been gebring en spog reeds met meer as 400 “hits”, ten spyte daarvan dat dit nie wyd geadverteer word nie. Die uitnodiging van die geselskamer se skepper, bekend as “Die Bek”, lees: “Haai Kouga! Man ek wetie van julle nie, maar ek is nou net mooi moeg van Kouga se skelm en slegte en onbeskofte councillors. Met die volgende verkiesing gaan hulle net weer jam om ons monde kom smeer net om ons stemme te kry. As jy weet van enige korrupsie, vertel dit hier op die waghond.” Die Bek nooi belangstellendes om hulle klagtes met hom/haar te deel en onderneem dat hy/sy sal sorg dat “die klagtes by die regte mense uitkom”. Vàn die groot name wat reeds opdraand gekry het in die geselskamer is wyk vier-raadslid Rosemary (Brenda) Rollison, wyk sewe-raadslid Fumanekile Lloyd en voormalige wyk tien-raadslid, Amos Mabukhane, wat nou by die munisipaliteit se tegniese-afdeling werk. Daar word ook flink geredekawel oor watter politieke party die bekwaamste is om die kontrei te lei en die gemeenskap op te hef. Ten spyte van die omstrede inhoud, is die taalgebruik in die geselskamer aansienlik “makker” as in die res van Die Ark. Die adres is waghond.prodigits.co.uk vir dié wat daar ’n draai wil maak.

3. Tragedie tref Paul Sauer matriekklas

TWEE leë skoolbanke in die saal waar die matrieks van die Hoërskool Paul Sauer op Kareedouw eksamen skryf, was Maandag stille getuienis van ’n tragiese ongeluk waarin een leerder gedood is en een kritiek beseer is. Adjani Joubert, 18, is dood toe die bakkie waarin sy en ’n klasmaat, Johan Olivier, ook 18, Vrydagoggend vroeg sowat 7km buite die dorp omgeslaan het. Johan is ook Dinsdag oorlede. Hywas in die Livingstone Hospitaal in Port Elizabeth opgeneem. Adjani is die dogter van mev Antoinetta Joubert van Kareedouw. Volgens die skoolhoof, mnr Manie Smit, het die matriekklas, wat maar 39 leerlinge het, Maandagoggend Engels geskryf. “Voor die eksamen het die kinders haweloos by die saal rondgedwaal, asof hulle deur weerlig geslaan is,” het Smit gesê. “Dis ’n kleinerige skool, almal ken mekaar, en skielik is daar die twee leë banke. Woensdag gaan ook erg wees. Dan word Adjani begrawe en haar klasmaats moet dan gasvryheidstudies skryf,” het hy gesê. Smit sê hulle sal kyk hoe erg die tragedie die matrieks se eksamenpunte raak en, indien nodig, aansoek doen by die departement om die punte aan te pas. Volgens hom was Adjani ‘n besondere leerling wat sterk standpunt ingeneem het en wat deur haar klasmaats gerespekteer was vir haar stil, maar sterk persoonlikheid. Sy was baie lief vir die natuur en sy het baie graag perd gery, ure by die see spandeer en in die veld gaan stap. Sy was ‘n baie diep mens met besondere kreatiewe denke. Sy het beplan om volgende jaar by haar broer in Australië te gaan bly en dan terug te kom om Regte te studeer. In haar laaste opstel vir die eksamen, wat sy Donderdagmiddag geskryf het, sê sy sy weet daar is ’n spesiale ridder op ‘n wit perd, maar sy glo dit gaan ‘n bont perd wees, wat bloots na haar toe aan gegalop sal kom. Sy sê sy weet geen mens is volmaak nie, daarom sal haar ridder op ‘n bont perd wees! Nie op die volmaakte wit perd nie. Sy was ‘n hardwerkende en suksesvolle leerling wat haar skoolwerk met ywer gedoen het. Sy was ‘n veelsydige leerling en sy het ook vir die skool se tennis- en netbalspanne gespeel. “Haar heengaan word diep betreur deur haar klasmaats, onderwysers en al die leerlinge van Hoërskool Paul Sauer. Ons opregte meegevoel gaan aan al haar naasbestaandes. Paul Sauer het een uit ons familie verloor, maar die mooi herinneringe sal ons help om daardeur te kom,” het Smit gesê. Supt Priscilla Naidu, polisiewoordvoerder, sê die twee tieners het Vrydag omstreeks 1:30vm in ’n dubbelkajuitbakkie op die R402 ongeveer 7km vanaf Kareedouw in die rigting van Eersterivier gery toe die voertuig omgeslaan het. Geen ander voertuig was in die ongeluk betrokke nie. Volle besonderhede van die ongeluk is nog nie beskikbaar nie. Naidu sê volgens polisie inligting het Adjani ’n leerling-bestuurderslisensie gehad. Die polisie ondersoek ’n aanklag van strafbare manslag.


4. Danish beach deal back on track

THE Kouga Municipality has committed itself to a project to restore the St Francis Bay beach and says it is “in the process” of finalising a contract with Danish experts SIC. This is the first response from the local authority since SIC and the St Francis Bay Residents’ Association charged two weeks ago that the municipality had failed to honour the R1-million first instalment stipulated in its contract with the Danes. SIC head Poul Jakobsen said Kouga municipal manager Dr Eddie Rankwana had signed a R5,5-million deal on the project on July 17. The deal was that Kouga would pay over R1-million as a first instalment and that SIC would begin its work not later than the end of August to begin survey work and then drove through to Port Elizabeth to take receipt of a container of “vertical drain tubes” and other equipment crucial to the project, from Denmark. He said then that he would be seeking help from his government to get Kouga to honour its contract. Responding to questions sent to him 10 days ago, Kouga Municipal manager Dr Eddie Rankwana said last week the authority “remains committed to the beach rehabilitation project. The Kouga municipality has reached an understanding with the St Francis Bay Residents’ Association on how the process will unfold.” Asked if this meant that SIC was contracted, he said the situation was still being finalised. Asked it it was correct that Kouga owed SIC R1-million, he said this question was difficult to comment on. “Things are in process and there have been interpretational differences. The matter should be resolved fairly quickly.” Residents association spokesman Joe Oosthuizen said on Friday he was thrilled at the municipal manager’s response. The Danes are due back on September 26 to begin installing their system. The St Francis Bay beach has eroded over the past three decades due to the stabilisation of dunes, residential development and the spread of alien brush, which used to feed sand onto it. The process has accelerated over the past five years. SIC’s PEM reclamation system involves the installation of rows and rows of its customised tubes in the shallow water just below the seabed. The tubes increase the circulation of seawater and the deposit of sand brought in by the surf so the beach slowly gets wider and higher.

5. Businesswoman to launch book

A BUSINESSWOMAN and former restaurant reviewer will launch her first storybook at the Savoy Hotel in Jeffreys Bay on Friday, September 19. Titled “Melani”, the book is the first novel by Heather Mundell and is set in a South African seaside town vaguely reminiscent of J’Bay. It tells the tale of a girl with amnesia who goes on a journey to discover who she is. Along the way she meets people who claim to know her, but she cannot identify with what they tell her until she arrives in an Eastern Cape town where she finds the answers she was looking for. For Mundell the book is the culmination of a 15-year-long journey filled with pitfalls, mainly of the PC kind. Armed with a guide to writing novels, given to her by Our Times founder Anthony Katz, she started “Melani” in 1993. She wrote the first draft by hand. One chapter from the finishing line, her brother gave her a computer. The last chapter was put on hold while she typed the book onto the computer, rewriting bits and pieces along the way. The book was just about done when the computer crashed and all her work was destroyed. Three more times she typed out the book and three more times the computer crashed. After the fourth crash, she pushed her dream of publishing the book aside for almost two years. “Just before my mother passed away, she told me not to give up,” Mundell says. “So, I upgraded my computer, saved the book onto CD and finally got it done.” She found a publisher, the Canadian firm Trafford Publishing, on the Internet and the first 500 copies rolled off the press last month. The launch at the Savoy will start at 6pm. Eats will be served and there will be a cash bar. All are welcome. Mundell’s second book, which she started in 1997, is also nearing completion. It is about her “surfing mates” and what happens when they are confronted by toxic waste in their beloved bay. “Melani” sells for R100 and is available from Mundell at 082 430 6063 or directly from the publisher at www.trafford.com.

1. Punch-up over waves

A ROW has broken out between local and visiting surfers competing for Jeffreys Bay’s prized waves. Tourists have even accused locals of resorting to violence. But that’s not so, says Koffie Jacobs of the Jeffreys Bay Underground Surf Club (JBU), who was allegedly involved in an altercation with an American surfer. According to a guesthouse owner, the American cut his visit to Jeffreys Bay short because of local aggression. She says it was not the first time she had heard of local surfers being rude to outsiders. “Some old-school local surfers think the waves belong to them, and they are chasing away visitors. This is no way to promote tourism in our town,” says the angry guesthouse owner. Jacobs - who is also a founder member of the Supertubes Surfing Foundation, the organisation that protects and beautifies Jeffreys Bay’s surfing spots - allegedly smacked the American in his face for trying to “drop in” on a wave. Jacobs, however, says he does not recall the incident and that the allegation is a “load of bull”. He says he is not a violent person and would never resort to hitting people. “This lady is a third party, and besides, there are always at least two sides to any story,” he says. Surfers across the world are known for protecting their territories from outsiders. Jacobs says the unwritten law of the waves determines that no surfer may drop in on another’s wave and that locals always enjoy preference. Surfers are also expected to respect each other, to have good manners and the right attitude. “Surfing is a dangerous sport, so common courtesy must be maintained at all times,” he says. Jacobs says there are no law books that regulate or protect the sport. “Many locals have day jobs, so they often only have a couple of hours a day to surf, and don’t enjoy chatterboxes or rude outsiders. Perhaps this makes us seem unwilling to share our waves, but I and many of my friends work in tourism-related industries or own restaurants and other businesses that depend on tourism, so what person in his right mind would hit his customers?” asks Jacobs. Jeffreys Bay’s waves is not the only a sore point when it comes to sharing them with other surfers. It is, for example, no secret that there is very little love lost between surfers, paddle skiers and boogie boarders. It is further very difficult to get permission to hold surfing competitions in Jeffreys Bay because locals feel it detracts from their time in the water.

2. Second biggest penguin release

Yvonne Craig

IT was a case of all hands on deck on a clear, calm Wednesday morning when Ajubatus volunteers were mustered for their second biggest release of endangered African Penguins. Ajubatus Marine and Wildlife Rescue is an organisation that rescues stranded penguins and rehabilitates them at the Rehab Centre situated at the Cape St Francis Lighthouse. These birds come ashore due to being oiled, sick, too small and weak to cope at sea, or if they cannot find sufficient food. They usually spend a couple of months at the centre where they are medicated, cleaned of oil, and fed to bring them to the right weight to be able to cope at sea. According to Trudi Malan, operations manager for Ajubatus, most of this particular group, which consisted of both adults and juveniles, were from Bird Island in Algoa Bay where they had been oiled. “The centre has treated 50 more penguins this year than at the same time last year,” she said. “To rehabilitate one bird costs R600 on average so our funds are really depleted. The reward comes when you see them swim off and you know you are halting their extinction.” All 26 penguins were packed into crates, then transported to the slipway at Harbour Road, St Francis Bay, where many spectators had already gathered, cameras at the ready, and were jostling for position to capture the best shots of these quaint creatures as they headed off over the swells. Julia Thorpe, long-time resident of St Francis Bay, confessed that it was quite an emotional event and the inevitable ‘lump in the throat’ soon made speech impossible. “I have seen several releases, but each one has the same emotional effect,” she said. The volunteers erected a crowd control fence along the proposed runway into the sea to keep the enthusiastic onlookers from getting too close, as the birds are sensitive to noise and could be deterred from the right path to the sea. There was a breathless hush as the eight crates were opened and tipped onto their sides. Adults and juveniles alike were hesitant at first and then slowly moved towards the water. They swam around for just a short while to get their bearings then confidently headed out to sea while the onlookers clicked away with their cameras, anxious to catch this special moment. Ajubatus was recently granted Public Benefit Organisation status and can now issue tax-deductible receipts for donations received. If you or your company would be interested in considering a donation, contact Ajubatus at info@penguin-rescue.org.za. Trudi Malan would be very willing to do full sponsorship presentations to companies. They really are desperate for funds and anything helps. The organisation is also looking for volunteers to occasionally bring penguins from Jeffreys Bay to the Rehab Centre. If you can help, please contact Trudi Malan on 082 940 5521. Also remember to visit the coffee shop at the lighthouse for breakfasts, lunches and yummy cakes for tea. Proceeds help fund the rehab centre where you can observe penguins, gannets, skuas, gulls and whatever other seabirds happen to be there at the time.

3. Gewapende rowers met bottles bestook

John Viljoen

DRIE gewapende rowers het hul rieme lelik styfgeloop in ’n taverne by Thornhill toe die manne in dié kuierplek hulle met bottels bestook het. Volgens Supt Priscilla Naidu, polisiewoordvoerder, het die voorval Sondagaand net na elfuur gebeur. Die drie mans het die taverne binnegekom en twee van hulle het vuurwapens op die kuierende mense in die taverne gerig. Die mense in die taverne het blykbaar gedink dit is speelgoed of windgewere en het bottels na die drie mans gegooi. Een van die gewapende mans het vier skote afgevuur en ’n 23-jarige man, Basie Skei, is in die rug getref. Die rowers het toe gevlug. Skei is na die Livingston Hospitaal geneem waar sy toestand stabiel is. Die polisie ondersoek aanklagte van gewapende roof en poging tot moord. Niemand is nog in hegtenis geneem nie. Dit is nie bekend of van die rowers deur die vlieënde bottels beseer is nie.

4. Spreading the news

Laura-Leigh Randall

THE Cacadu District Municipality (CDM) has launched its own newspaper aimed at bringing news from local government closer to the people. Called Cacadu News, the paper will be distributed throughout the district, including Kouga and Koukamma. Speaking at a Cacadu council meeting last week, Cacadu executive mayor, Mlungisi Mvoko said the aim of the paper was to “make the district a smaller place by keeping everyone abreast of the latest projects, initiatives, achievements and challenges of the district and local municipalities”. He invited local municipalities to use the paper as a vehicle through which to share information. “Use it as part of your work in communities and fill its pages with information,” he said. Cacadu News will be published three times a year, with the next issue due out in November. CDM public relations officer and Cacadu News editor, Janine Hambury, said 20 000 papers would be distributed through local municipal offices and clinics. A few copies would also be handed out door-to-door in each of the districts’ wards. She said the newspaper would not just be a platform for councillors and municipal officials to share information, but that the different interest groups within the district were also welcome to use Cacadu News to share their stories. “When information is released, a number of things can happen ... Simply put, an existing need somewhere will be noticed and met,” she said. The newspaper is being funded through CDM’s PR promotion budget, supplemented by advertising revenue.

5. Oud-soldaat stel boeke oor bos-oorlog bekend

TWEE boeke oor die bos-oorlog wat deur ’n oud-soldaat van Jeffreysbaai geskryf is, word op 17 September by Potters Place op Jeffreysbaai bekendgestel. Dié boeke, wat saam 670 unieke foto’s van die oorlog bevat, is geskryf deur Peet Coetzee van Wavecrest. Coetzee sê die herinneringe en ondervindings wat hy in die bos-oorlog opgedoen het, was vir hom só kosbaar dat hy besluit het om dit te boekstaaf. “Ek het al die jare ’n magdom relevante fotografiese materiaal in my besit gehad en is so vier jaar gelede finaal oorreed om my ondervindings op skrif te stel. “Ek het toe met die eerste boek, Special Forces ‘Jam Stealer’, begin.  “Sowat ’n jaar gelede het ek dit goed gedink om sommer, terwyl ek besig was, ook aan ’n tweede boek, Corporal K-9, te begin,” sê Coetzee. Hy het in sy 33 jaar in die Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag (SAW) verskeie medaljes verwerf, oncer andere, die Militêre Meriete Medalje, Pro-Patria, Suider Afrika Medalje, Algemene Diens Medalje, UNITA Medalje asook die 10, 20 en 30 jaar diensmedaljes. Hy het in 1963 by die Lugmag Gimnasium sy loopbaan begin en direk daarna by die Staande Mag aangesluit.  Later jare was hy ook ’n instrukteur by die SAW Hondeskool en was later selfs as ’n Kontrole Staflid by die Lugmag Kollege aangewend. Coetzee het in 1968 reeds sy eerste grensdiens gedoen wat 25 jaar later in 1993 eers tot ’n einde gekom het. “Ek was letterlik verslaaf aan die grens. Hoe my arme vrou dit moes hou, weet net sy alleen,” sê hy. Hy spesialiseer in 1973 as ’n lugfoto vertolker in die Lugmag na ses jaar van intensiewe blootstelling aan bos-oorlog toestande, waartydens hy insae in bykans al die SAW operasies gehad het. In 1979 word hy deur die elite Spesiale Magte (Recces) genader om by hulle aan te sluit. Hy was vir bykans 13 jaar ’n Recce. “Die hoogtepunt van my militêre loopbaan was sonder twyfel die 13 jaar saam met die beste groep militêre spesialiste in die wêreld - die verskillende Recce eenhede,” sê hy. Coetzee en sy vrou Jackie is reeds 35 jaar getroud. Hulle bly die afgelope 13 jaar op Jeffreysbaai en het drie dogters, waarvan die jongste, Mariska, by Billabong werk. Hulle het drie kleinkinders aan wie sy eerste boek opgedra is.