1. Evidence stolen in municipal probe

Cindy Liebenberg

FILES containing crucial evidence in the ongoing special investigation of the Auditor General (AG) into alleged irregularities at the Kouga Municipality have been stolen. Kouga executive mayor Robbie Dennis confirmed this week that the municipality’s files on the developments of Lamprecht Projects were stolen from the Council Chambers in Jeffreys Bay where they were being scrutinised by the AG. Various municipal staffers have been interviewed by the AG about the theft but, according to Senior Detective Superintendent PJ Smith of the local SAPS, no formal theft charges have been laid with the police. Apparently there are no official copies of the files but, according to the AG, they have sufficient documentation to continue the investigation. A municipal source said that while the Council Chambers is not a secure office, access is limited. The files were locked in an adjoining office at night. The special investigation into the irregularities surrounding municipal land sales in Kouga was instigated by Bhisho last year and will apparently consist of three phases. It was recently reported that the findings of the first phase implicated high-ranking municipal officials and politicians, and that criminal charges against those implicated could follow once the report was made public. Although the first phase of the investigation was completed several weeks ago, the content has still not been made public. Our Times recently reported that opposition parties wanted the report to be made public as soon as possible because they feared that those implicated might attempt to interfere with the investigation. They called for steps to be taken to ensure that there would be no interference. Concern has also been raised by ANC party members and members of the opposition about the missing files as they are believed to be pivotal in the bringing to book of the guilty parties in the land sale saga. Controversial businessman Braam Lamprecht, of Lamprecht Projects, has in the past been accused of irregularities concerning his developments in Jeffreys Bay. The sale of the Kabeljous Caravan Park to a company of which Lamprecht and his wife are shareholders is believed to have been one of the deals that triggered the AG’s investigation.

2. ‘Endless Summer’ returns to St Francis

Laura-Leigh Randall

THE legendary film-maker whose classic surf movie The Endless Summer placed Kouga on the map visited St Francis Bay last week to ride the new wave of development in the region. Bruce Brown, now aged 70 and a grandfather of eight, was in town to launch the world’s first The Endless Summer Surf Store at the new Village Square shopping centre, only a few kilometres from where he and the movie’s two surfer stars, Robert August and Mike Hynson, discovered the “perfect wave” almost 45 years ago. The surf store will open in September and will be complemented by a restaurant similar to The Endless Summer Café in Santa Barbara, some 50km south of Brown’s home town, Gaviota, in the United States. On sale will be The Endless Summer memorabilia, designed by US surf-brand developer Alex Mecl and artist Rich Debos. Brown was the guest of honour at the official opening of the Village Square on Saturday evening and delighted the packed venue with his reminiscences of St Francis in 1963 when he first stumbled across the vilage on his worldwide search for the perfect wave, as documented in the movie. “Back then there were only a couple of rondavels along the coast. We rented one for $4 a day, which included a horse for transport. The day we arrived there were these huge peelers coming in and we were just like ‘Jeez, look at that’. It’s an honour to be back and, let’s face it, for a surfer nothing beats a free trip!” Brown directed, produced, edited and narrated The Endless Summer, which has sold over 100 million copies since its release in 1964 and was last year rated the “Best Surfing Film Ever” by Surfer Magazine. This is the second time he has returned to St Francis. He also visited in 1993 to shoot The Endless Summer II. While he admits he prefers the quiet life - “Gaviota has a population of 90 and my closest neighbours are a mile away” - he likes the way St Francis is developing. “It’s real fancy,” he said. The Endless Summer brand will be managed in South Africa by the Cape Town-based surfwear retailer Sport Unlimited. The Village Square is a development of Capital Land, also based in Cape Town, and includes a SuperSpar, the first supermarket of its magnitude in the village.


3. Diewe dompel Laerskool Hankey in groot penarie

Cindy Liebenberg

DIEWE, wat meer as 70m se koperpype gesteel het, is die oorsaak dat 150 leerders van die Laerskool Hankey Maandagoggend huistoe gestuur is vir ’n onbepaalde tyd. Dié skool is die afgelope vakansie gestroop van al die pype wat die skool van water voorsien en gevolglik is al die toilet-en badkamergeriewe onbruikbaar. Aanvanklik het die Onderwys Departement aangedui dat hulle die koste sou dra, maar dat dit moontlik tot drie weke kon duur vir die tenderproses om afgehandel te word. Skoolhoof Kruger Bekker is ook Maandag ingelig dat die kinders intussen huistoe gestuur moet word tot die skade herstel is. Dinsdag is Bekker egter per SMS laat weet dat die departement nie bereid i$s om die koste te dra nie en dat die skool self ongeveer R20 000 sal moet opdok om die skade te herstel. Hymie Rossouw, hoof van die werke-afdeling van die departement, het die SMS gestuur en het dit later telefonies aan Bekker bevestig. Bekker is redelik raadop, want dis geld wat die skool eenvoudig nie het nie. Vir hom is die belangrikste om die kinders weer terug te kry by die skool. Die Kouga Munisipaliteit is bereid om tydelike toilette te verskaf, maar die skool sal moet betaal vir die huur daarvan. Raadslid Michael Tshume is gewikkel in onderhandelings met die departement en hoop om die situasie op te los. Behalwe vir die pype wat gesteel is, is wasbakke, onder anders, flenters gebreek. Bekker is reeds verlede Maandag in kennis gestel van die diefstal en het sy vakansie kortgeknip om met die departement te skakel sodat die skade herstel kon word voordat die nuwe kwartaal ’n aanvang sou neem, maar toe die klok Maandagoggend lui was daar nog niks gedoen aan die probleem nie.

4. Chilly Willy to break the ice at St Francis canals

THE Kouga Swim Club will host the first of an annual fun swim event, aptly named the Mid-winter Chilly Willy Swim, on Saturday, July 26. Kouga Swim Club coach, Brenton Williams, said the event would be held in the St Francis Bay canals and will be swum from Sea Glades Drive. The three events will be a 50m dash for U8s and U10s, a 100m dash for the not so brave over-10 year olds and a 1km swim around Marina Island for the tougher participants. Wetsuits can be worn for the 1km event. Pre-registrations for the 50m and 100m swims end at 8:15am and the swims will take place at 8:30am. Registrations for the 1km close at 9am and swimmers will hit the water at 9:30am. To get to the event turn left into St Francis Drive, drive till you come to the Marina Village-St Francis Bay cross, turn right and the event will be marked. The first 30 finalists in each event will receive a Chilly Willy medal. Other prizes will be also be awarded to the first three finalists in each event. Hot food and beverages will be for sale. Williams said the club decided on naming the event the Chilly Willy because “the water is going to be cold and the Chilly Willy penguin, after whom the event is named, is the only one who is probably going to be totally comfortable in the water!” He said the club was looking at expanding the event as there are no winter open-water swims in the Eastern Cape at present. “It’s a great way for open-water swimmers to test their fitness levels just two months before the open-water swim season starts with the Ocean Racing Series in Port Elizabeth,” he said. For more information contact event organisers Tanya on 083 656 2191 or Anne on 082 759 8440.






 

1. Laaste Skulpiefees

Kouga se grootste fees spog vanaf volgende jaar met ’n nuwe baadjie

Cindy Liebenberg

DIE bal is aan die rol en planne is reeds ver gevorder vir vanjaar se Skulpiefees, wat vanjaar oor ses dae vanaf 26 September tot 1 Oktober aangebied sal word. Met Our Times as mediavennoot, en die Kouga Munisipaliteit, Jeffreysbaai Toerisme en die Kouga Besigheidsforum wat hande geneem het om die fees aan te bied, beloof die 2008 Skulpiefees om groot dinge op te lewer. Die drie organiserende instansies het ’n magdom kennis en ondervinding wat saamgesnoer gaan word om hierdie fees weer die pragfees van weleer te maak terwyl Our Times mediablootstelling ter waarde van R80 000 belowe het. Vanjaar se fees word gesien as die begin van nuwe dinge en as die eerste van ’n splinternuwe konsep wat die Skulpiefees gaan omskep in ’n fees wat mettertyd die hele Kouga sal insluit. Die fees sal vanaf volgende jaar bekend staan as die Kouga Lentefees. Die feesarea sal weer vanjaar grotendeels in Diazstraat gesentreer wees.
’n Baie opwindende feesprogram, wat ’n groot verskeidenheid vermaak vir oud en jonk insluit, beloof om aan elke feesganger iets te bied. Stalletjies gaan baie streng gemonitor word en, volgens Marj Heyman van Jeffreysbaai Toerisme, gaan stalletjiehouers baie streng gekeur word. Daar sal ook nie geskroom word om die polisie se hulp in te roep met ongewenste karakters wat in die verlede ontwrigting veroorsaak het nie. Plaaslike uitstallers word genooi om die onderstaande persone te kontak om stalletjies te bekom. Baie van die ou gunstelinge - soos die Mej Skulpiefees, kosstalletjies, mini-golf en glybane - het steeds ’n plekkie op die program. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Brouerye (SAB) gaan die amfiteater betrek en hulle biertent gaan sorg vir hope vermaak vir volwassenes met vrouestoeigevegte en kroegmanne wat hulle vernuf toon. Plaaslike kunstenaars is ook reeds genader en die kat sal eersdaags uitgelaat word oor wie by die fees gaan optree. Die Besigheidsforum beplan om die parkeerterrein oorkant die polisiestasie as ekspogebied te gebruik vir uitstallings en praatjies. Voorsitter van die Besigheidsforum, Francios van Wyk, sê: “Ons is baie opgewonde oor die fees en almal se betrokkenheid. Ons hoop om ’n lewendige en interessante ekspo aan te bied.” Kobus Reichert en die Gamtkwa Khoisan-stam is nadergetrek om ’n tipiese Khoisan-stat van ouds uit te beeld. Om ’n stalletjie te bespreek of vir meer inligting skakel Marj of Vuyo by 042 293 2923.


2. Tuinroete Agri wins big business prize

A SOUTHERN Cape agricultural enterprise was recognised as the Corporate Award category winner in The Herald, Absa Corporate and Business Bank and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business School Business Person of the Year ceremony at the weekend. Representing Tuinroete Agri, managing director Jan Weys said he was humbled that the company had won the award, particularly with the world-wide problems that the agricultural sector was currently facing. “Margins are under pressure. But there is still a great opportunity because of food shortages. We are excited as we are part of all these.” Earlier, the prize-giving banquet was told via a slick, big-screen video presentation how Tuinroete Agri had extended its footprint to the Langkloof through the acquisition of a co-op there. It was formed in 1997 as a result of a merger between the Riversdale-Albertinia Co-op and South- Western Agricultural Co-op. The group offers a wide range of products and services, including, hardware, paint, tools, wine, outdoor, garden and building products, bulk animal feed, short-term insurance, credit facilities, farming machinery, equipment and parts, grain storage, and packaging facilities. Other category winners were Phindi Kema, who won the Editor’s Choice category for her agricultural enterprises in Addo, and Port Elizabeth’s Auspex Property Group chief executive Ben Nyaumwe, who won the Entrepreneur Award.

3. Opposition calls for the release of AG’s report

Laura-Leigh Randall

MEASURES must be taken to ensure that nobody interferes with the investigation by the Auditor General into alleged irregularities at the Kouga Municipality. This was the call from opposition parties in the Kouga Council, as well as from ANC party members, this week following a report in last week’s Our Times that top politicians and officials might have been guilty of misconduct in the sale of the Jeffreys Bay Country Club last year. In a press statement jointly issued by the DA, Kouga 2000+ and Kouga Civics Alliance on Monday, opposition councillors push for the public-making of the report which, they say, was supposed to have been tabled at a special council meeting last week. The meeting was cancelled at short notice and, consequently, opposition councillors have not yet seen the report. “We cannot comment (on the alleged misconduct of high-profile officials and politicians) until we have had an opportunity to study the report. It is, therefore, in the best interest of Kouga residents that the report be made public - the sooner, the better. “We are also of the opinion that those senior officials and politicians who might be implicated, must be kept from interfering with the investigation until the correct disciplinary or legal procedures have been completed.” DA caucus leader, Chimpie Cawood, stressed that the opposition was not against the alienation of municipal land, but that there were procedures that had to be followed. ID councillor Clive Njela could not be reached for comment this week. ANC party members have also expressed concern about the delay in the release of the report, echoing the opposition’s call that measures be taken to ensure nobody interferes with the ongoing investigation, instigated by the Eastern Cape government. “We don’t want anyone thinking we’re orchestrating a cover-up,” a disgruntled party member said.  Meanwhile, the ANC’s chief whip in the Bhisho legislature, Sicelo Qobana, who serves as chairman of the province’s local government committee, declined to comment on the findings of the investigation. “I haven’t read the report myself yet, so it would be unfair and premature for me to comment at this stage,” he said.


4. Big names at Fountains Mall

IN addition to the four mega retailers Woolworths, Pick n Pay, Edgars and Game, several national brands will bring unprecedented jobs, new products and services to the Kouga region when they open as part of the Fountains Estate development in Jeffreys Bay this October. Fountains spokesperson, Glen Buchner, confirmed this week that several brands would be making a first appearance in the town at the Fountains Regional Mall, scheduled to open on October 20. These would include McDonalds, Mugg & Bean, Cape Union Mart, @home, Sportscene, Truworths and Legit. Other big names such as Clicks, Musica and Foshini will also be stationed at the Fountains. He said the Fountains would revolutionise the shopping experience in Kouga. “The Fountains Regional Mall, value mart, commercial offices and Policlinic will bring a range of new services and products to residents in the region, adding quality to life and convenience on a level not before experienced by locals. “The new retail opportunities mean many Kouga residents would save substantially on travelling expenses necessitated by a monthly shop in Port Elizabeth.” He said the Fountains development would focus on satisfying the need of local residents for shopping at world-class retailers, that offer both value and range. The Fountains development is further expected to create more than 300 jobs for locals. “Fountains is bringing new opportunities and prosperity to Jeffreys Bay,” Buchner said. “The development will bolster the socio-economic situation of the town and improved income for the unemployed, which will help to keep crime in check.” The Fountains Estate Value Mart, adjacent to the Regional Mall, boasts 13 000m² for local and national retailers and businesses. Tiger Wheel and Tyre, Hi Q and a Total service station will trade within the value mart precinct by Easter 2009. Other sectors of the Fountains Estate include a commercial and office park, industrial precinct, medical centre, recreational area and retirement village, much of which would benefit from the opening of the Regional Mall.