Secret Cape Town book review

Secret Cape Town

Justin Fox and Alison Westwood

Jonglez Publishing

Review: Brian Joss

Cape Town is full of secrets. But thanks to Justin Fox and Alison Westwood you’ll know where to find them.

I’ve often been to the Public Library but I hadn’t noticed the poignant “We Are Still Here” memorial behind it. Although it was only installed in 2011 by mosaic artist Lovell Friedman, thanks to a grant from the Donald Gordon Creative Award, it is a tribute to 7 000 children who were sold as indentured labourers in the Cape Colony long after slavery was abolished in 1833.

UCT historian Lance van Sittert discovered thousands of advertisements for orphaned and destitute children which were published in the Cape Government Gazette between 1841 and 1921. The notices often headed Destitute Children were listed according to gender, age, race and sometimes where they were from and if they weren’t claimed within six weeks the children were apprenticed to ‘Fit and Proper Persons’. Lovell printed the adverts on ceramic tiles which are arranged to form the image of a child when viewed from a distance. There are also drawings and writings by modern day street children, also cast in ceramic, that serve as a reminder to the brutality of the past and the unkindness of the present. Friedmann’s work can be seen at the Mitchell’s Plain Hospital;  in Gugulethu and in Khayelitsha, and along the walkaways of the bus station next to the Cape Town Stadium.

Many of the secret places are off the beaten track, although not all of them.
Some of the more “open” secrets to those in the know are the Ubuntu Tree, a magical tree known for its healing properties; the Pump Tree in the Company’s Garden as well as a saffron pear tree that was planted 350 years ago.

Other secrets are a hammock on a beach; the remains of the Mouille Point lighthouse; Champion Trees at the Ardenne Gardens; the Secret Cave on Chapman’s Peak; the remains of the Old Zoo at Groote Schuur Estate and the wreck of the SS Kakapo at Long Beach, where Captain Niels Nicolayson, reportedly lived on it for three years. The West Coast and Cape Flats also have their fair share of Secret Cape Town. The Ma Tzu Temple in Montague Gardens, a privately funded temple for Taiwanese fisherman; the Trojan Horse Memorial in Athlone, a tribute to the young activists who were gunned down by the apartheid police in what subsequently became known as the Trojan Horse incident. At first glance the memorial appears to be a graffiti covered Vibracrete wall, but a closer look reveals the true horror of a day that will live on in infamy.

There are many more secret places in Cape Town. Some are open secrets although not many people take the trouble to go off the beaten track to explore them. Among them are Klein Zoar House in Brooklyn, and is where Wolraad Woltemade once lived. Although it doesn’t say so in the book it was restored by well-known foodie and writer, Jos Baker, who still lives there. There is also the Wijnland Auto Museum, a collection of vintage and classic cars, on the Joostenberg Vlakte.

And if you’re footsore from exploring the secret places you can always visit the Pollsmoor Mess, recently renamed Idlanathi , eat with us in Zulu, a public restaurant at the  maximum security prison in Tokai. The food is freshly prepared by the inmates and is open for breakfast and lunch.  Pollsmoor has been home to the famous, Nelson Mandela, and the infamous, members of the notorious Numbers gang, for example.

There are 154 secret places listed in the book from the City Bowl to the West Coast and Cape Flats. It is written in a lively and readable style with intriguing information about places you never knew existed. Secret Cape Town is a must for everyone, locals and tourists alike. Buy a copy and discover the hidden face of Cape Town: you’ll be surprised and amazed.

Secret Cape Town book review

Plentiful book review

Plentiful: The Big Book of Buddha Food

Chrisi & Louis van Loon, Paul Atkinson & Angela Shaw

Jacana Media

Review: Brian Joss

There is a Buddhist Retreat Centre (BRC) in Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, and the vegetarian food that is served there has won international acclaim and many of the recipes featured in Quiet Food (2005) and The Cake the Buddha Ate (2011) as they do in Plentiful.

The dishes were created by innovative chef, Paul Atkinson, who, with the help of cooks, the “Ladies” as he affectionately calls them, Lindiwe Ncgobo, Lungi Mbono; Dudu Memela  and Nonkanyiso Dlamini, runs the kitchen like a maestro conducting an orchestra of flavours, to make your taste buds, to quote a phrase from a banking ad, dance like fairies on your tongue. What the book does demonstrate is that there is nothing humble about a vegetable whether it’s a cauliflower, a carrot or a potato. In Atkinson’s hands they are turned into fare fit for royalty.  The book has eight headings: Soups, Salads, Mains, Sides, Sweet Treats, Tea Time, Bread & Pastry and Back To Basics which tells you how to prepare aoli, basil pesto, balsamic vinegar glaze and a mixed berry sauce, to name a few.

Soups include leek and potato soup; carrot and coriander, cream of tomato soup and roasted pumpkin. There are salads aplenty – from roasted potato salad to couscous salad with chickpeas and pomegranate. If you prefer something heartier then  you can try a mushroom bolognaise, Moroccan vegetable stew,  a spicy vegetable chili or a roasted vegetable lasagne, as Mains. On The Side will show you how to prepare an aubergine dip or the Lebanese classic tabouleh. To satisfy your sweet tooth there is a silky smooth chocolate tart, poached pear and chocolate pudding or a baked vanilla cheesecake in the chapter, Sweet Treats.  If you’re still not sated you can enjoy gluten-free chocolate brownies, marvellous meringues or a traditional fruit scone at Tea Time. In Bread & Pastry there is a homemade sourdough starter or the BRC’s own rye sourdough bread or their famous everyday bread. Many of the dishes have a distinct Mediterranean influence and if you follow the recipes you should be able to recreate them in your own kitchen. The ingredients are easily obtainable, just be sure that they are fresh. The headlines on the recipes are clever and humorous. For example, Holy Cannelloni describes the butternut and goat’s cheese cannelloni and Vanilla Thriller is the heading on the baked vanilla cheesecake, or Quiche de Resistance for a spinach and feta version of the French classic. Though the dishes are all vegetarian they will find favour with the carnivores among us.  And if you want to step beyond your comfort zone of  meat and potatoes, then Plentiful is the place to start.  The anecdotes and stories about the BRC and pictures and biographies of the contributors and cooks add interest to the colourful volume which will be well-thumbed and won’t just be part of the décor on your kitchen shelf.

Plentiful book review

Plentiful book review

Plentiful: The Big Book of Buddha Food

Chrisi & Louis van Loon, Paul Atkinson & Angela Shaw

Jacana Media

Review: Brian Joss

There is a Buddhist Retreat Centre (BRC) in Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, and the vegetarian food that is served there has won international acclaim and many of the recipes featured in Quiet Food (2005) and The Cake the Buddha Ate (2011) as they do in Plentiful.

The dishes were created by innovative chef, Paul Atkinson, who, with the help of cooks, the “Ladies” as he affectionately calls them, Lindiwe Ncgobo, Lungi Mbono; Dudu Memela  and Nonkanyiso Dlamini, runs the kitchen like a maestro conducting an orchestra of flavours, to make your taste buds, to quote a phrase from a banking ad, dance like fairies on your tongue. What the book does demonstrate is that there is nothing humble about a vegetable whether it’s a cauliflower, a carrot or a potato. In Atkinson’s hands they are turned into fare fit for royalty.  The book has eight headings: Soups, Salads, Mains, Sides, Sweet Treats, Tea Time, Bread & Pastry and Back To Basics which tells you how to prepare aoli, basil pesto, balsamic vinegar glaze and a mixed berry sauce, to name a few.

Soups include leek and potato soup; carrot and coriander, cream of tomato soup and roasted pumpkin. There are salads aplenty – from roasted potato salad to couscous salad with chickpeas and pomegranate. If you prefer something heartier then  you can try a mushroom bolognaise, Moroccan vegetable stew,  a spicy vegetable chili or a roasted vegetable lasagne, as Mains. On The Side will show you how to prepare an aubergine dip or the Lebanese classic tabouleh. To satisfy your sweet tooth there is a silky smooth chocolate tart, poached pear and chocolate pudding or a baked vanilla cheesecake in the chapter, Sweet Treats.  If you’re still not sated you can enjoy gluten-free chocolate brownies, marvellous meringues or a traditional fruit scone at Tea Time. In Bread & Pastry there is a homemade sourdough starter or the BRC’s own rye sourdough bread or their famous everyday bread. Many of the dishes have a distinct Mediterranean influence and if you follow the recipes you should be able to recreate them in your own kitchen. The ingredients are easily obtainable, just be sure that they are fresh. The headlines on the recipes are clever and humorous. For example, Holy Cannelloni describes the butternut and goat’s cheese cannelloni and Vanilla Thriller is the heading on the baked vanilla cheesecake, or Quiche de Resistance for a spinach and feta version of the French classic. Though the dishes are all vegetarian they will find favour with the carnivores among us.  And if you want to step beyond your comfort zone of  meat and potatoes, then Plentiful is the place to start.  The anecdotes and stories about the BRC and pictures and biographies of the contributors and cooks add interest to the colourful volume which will be well-thumbed and won’t just be part of the décor on your kitchen shelf.

Plentiful book review

Night School book review

Night School

Lee Child

Bantam Press

Review: Brian Joss

This is the 21^st book featuring Jack Reacher, who usually packs a toothbrush and perhaps a change of underwear and keeps the creases in his trousers crisp by pressing them underneath the mattress. This time though, Reacher, who we know from his previous exploits, is a former Military Policeman; a drifter who often charges in where angels fear to tread, righting wrongs.

Night School is a prequel. It goes back to 1996 and Reacher is still in the military. The story opens with Reacher getting a medal for something he did in the Balkans. And in the afternoon he is ordered to go to Night School in Virginia without telling anyone. The night school consists of three people: Reacher, and two operatives, John White from the CIA and Casey Waterman of the FBI. There is also a team to man the desks. They’re answerable only to the President through National Security Adviser Alfred Ratcliffe and his deputy, Dr Marian Sinclair and  the trio are being primed for a top-secret mission: to find the American who is planning to sell something worth $100 million to the Saudis. But the powers-that-be have no idea what that something is and it is up to Reacher and his two fellow “students” to find out and stop the sale of whatever it is.

The US government has been keeping a watch on four young Saudis living in Hamburg who communicate with their shadowy Afghan handler through a courier. Even though the US has a man on the inside, an Iranian, whom they have turned, they don’t seem to be getting anywhere which is why they set up the night school.

Things heat up when Reacher, along with his trusted sidekick, Sergeant Frances Neagley, are sent to Hamburg to investigate. They uncover a hornet’s nest: old Nazis who long for the old order meet in a seedy pub where everything and anything is for sale. But they also want what the Saudis want and they will do anything to get it. Their tentacles reach into the darkest corners of German law enforcement and when a prostitute is found murdered, Reacher gets an unexpected ally, Herr Griezman, Hamburg’s  chief of detectives. Horace Wiley, the villain of the piece, whose dream explodes like a Reacher punch to the head, is a contemptible Walter Mitty. Through a process of elimination and solid detective work, the old-fashioned way, without the aid of Cyber technology unlike in Make Me where Reacher explored the dark net, he cracks the case. Child has written a complex thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page.

Night School book review

3’rd Sedgefield Beach Festival raises money for NSRI

On 23 December 2016 the Sedgefield branch of Knysna & Partners, in collaboration with Sotheby’s Sedgefield, hosted the third Sedgefield Beach Festival, which proved once again to be a overwhelming success, attracting both locals and visitors eager to have lots of fun – and all for a worthy cause. The festival has enjoyed steady growth since its inception a few years ago.

All proceeds raised in this year’s Sedgefield Beach Festival will go to our our local heroes from The National Sea Rescue Institute of South Africa (NSRI). Several events took place throughout the morning, including the Citta Slow Fun Run, the Sandcastle Building competition and the Sotheby’s Treasure Hunt. A total of R3545.00 was raised collectively from these events as well as from raffles tickets sold for lots of generously sponsored prizes.

The day started early with a well-attended Citta Slow Beach Fun Run organised this year by Misfit Events. The event saw 80 participants enjoying the sublime scenery that Myoli Beach has to offer. Our very own local semi-finalist in the Miss South Africa competition, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, opened the Fun Run event and then came in 3rd place in the Ladies Division. (Please support and vote for this beautiful and remarkable young lady in the upcoming Miss South Africa.)

Once again, as in previous years, both first and second place was awarded to a sibling pair, therefore definitely making it the best family fun run of the season.

Great prizes from so many generous sponsors were up for grabs for the participants of the Sandbuilding competition. The theme this year was “Christmas time and festive fun and giving”. 14 masterpieces were built on Myoli Beach comprising of a Santa, Christmas trees, reindeer, snowmen, Christmas presents and even a mermaid or two. This year judging was very tight with local kids winning by only half a point. The first five places were awarded incredible prizes along with two consolation prizes.

No one walked away empty handed and a host of additional prizes, giveaways and lucky draws were dished out. Prizes this year were sponsored by San Parks, Sotheby’s, Pine Lake Marina, Misfit Events, Knysna and Partners, Sedge Links, Beach you to it, Pick n’ Pay, Hospitality and Home, Van Tonder inc, Ooba, Lizzy’s Hair and Beauty, Aquaman, Lemon and Lime, ZinkaSA sunscreen (who turned the beach goers pink with their sunscreen promotion), Eden Adventures, Tiffany’s, Just Water, Cycleworx, Blackwaters River Lodge, Brent Harris, ADT, Gordons Seafood, Nail Box and a Helicopter Flip sponsored by Christine and Francois Marititz.

The day was ended with the Sotheby’s Beach Treasure Hunt for kids as well as the very messy egg toss. A family on holiday in Sedgefield commented “This is the end of our holiday and today has definitely been the highlight”.

Be sure to note this festival on your to-do list for the 2017 December holiday – when the the Sedgefield office of Knysna & Partners and Sotheby’s Sedgefield will once again plan the 4th annual Sedgefield Beach Festival. A BIG thank you to the Garden Route San Parks for their continued support for this event.

3’rd Sedgefield Beach Festival raises money for NSRI

Busy season for the NSRI

MOSSEL BAY:

Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said:

NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated at 17h06, Wednesday, 21st December, following the concerns of a mother reporting her son to be too far out to sea for her comfort at the Kleinbrak River Mouth.

While he appeared to be swimming the concerns of the mother, enough to raise the alarm, was enough for us to activate our sea rescue craft and rescue swimmers to respond to the scene to check on the situation, but fortunately, before we arrived on the scene the mom phoned us back to say that her son had come ashore and confirmed that he had just been swimming and thankfully our assistance was no longer required.

WILDERNESS:

Saria van As, NSRI Wilderness duty controller, said:

At 16h48, Wednesday, 21st December, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated after one of our NSRI crew members witnessed what appeared to be 5 people being swept out to sea in the vicinity towards Lientjiesklip.

Our sea rescue craft Oscars Rescuer, Clemengold rescuer and Die Swart Tobie, out on the water at the time conducting routine training, diverted to the scene and on our arrival we found that 4 men, aged in their late 20’s, from The Netherlands, had been swept out to sea by rip-currents and George Municipal lifeguards had managed to rescue 3 of the men safely from about 200 meters off-shore and those 3 men and the lifeguards were safely ashore.

One lifeguard remained with the 4th man, 400 meters off-shore, assisting the man to stay afloat and they were taken aboard our sea rescue craft and brought safely ashore.

No one was injured.

MOSSEL BAY:

Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said:

At 17h35, Friday, 23rd December, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from the boat Captain Hook, with 12 local tourist fishermen onboard reporting damaged steering on their craft, South of Cape St Blaze, about a nautical mile from our sea rescue station.

We launched our sea rescue Vodacom Rescuer II and on arrival on the scene we found they had full motor power but loss of steering and being so close to the harbour we assisted them into the harbour using our boat as their steering, nudging them along, and they were brought safely to moorings in the harbour and no further assistance was required.

KNYSNA:

Jerome Simonis,  NSRI Knysna station commander, said:

At 15h17, Friday, 23rd December, NSRI Knyssna duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from the family of a 71 year old man from Scotland, on a coastal walk at the Pezula Estate, Knysna, and asking if NSRI will assist the man who had grown tired on the walk and facing a steep walk back to their vehicle.

We dispatched our sea rescue craft Jaytee IV and Jolen and on arrival on the scene a sea rescue craft beached.

We walked the man down to the beach and he was taken aboard our sea rescue craft and brought to the Knysna Marina onboard our sea rescue craft and no further assistance was required.

MOSSEL BAY:

Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said:

At, Sunday, 25th December, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Glentana.

Prior to our arriving on the scene we were informed that lifeguards and paramedics were attending to an 11 year old female who had washed onto the beach after getting into difficulty in the surf.

The child was resuscitated on the beach and transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Then at 18h12, Sunday, 25th December, we responded sea rescue craft and our rescue vehicle to De Bakke following reports of a drowning in progress.

On arrival on the scene 3 teenage males were out of the water after reportedly getting into difficulty in rip currents but concerns of a 4th person possibly missing in the water saw us continue a sea and shoreline search but no reports of any person outstanding were received and we suspect that the person got out of the water without assistance.

KNYSNA:

Jerome Simonis, NSRI Knysna station commander, said:

At 15h19, Sunday, 25th December, NSRI Knysna duty crew dispatched our sea rescue craft Jolen and our rescue vehicle to assist owners of boats at the Belvedere moorings where boats were taking water..

4 boats were taking water at their moorings suspected to have been caused by the stiff gusting 30 knot South Easterly winds.

On our arrival on the scene owners of 3 of the 4 boats had managed to pump water from their boats and had their boats re-floated but one boat had completely sunk.

We set up water extrication pumps and assisted by SA National Parks rangers, who had responded to assist, the boat was re-floated and once safely tied to her moorings no further assistance was required.

PLETTENBERG BAY:

Marc Rodgers, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said:

At 12h05, Tuesday, 27th December, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew and Plettenberg Bay lifeguards responded to The Dunes following reports of a paraglider suspected to have crashed.

On investigation it was found that the paraglider had landed safely amongst The Dunes and he required no further assistance.

Then at 17h50 NSRI activated to assist SA National Park rangers and family searching for a 12 year old female missing while cycling in the Harkeville forest.

Before arriving on the scene the child was found safe and no further assistance was required.

KNYSNA:

Jerome Simonis, NSRI Knysna station commander, said:

Since Tuesday, 27th December, Municipal Authorities have closed beaches in the Southern Cape between Maoli Beach, Sedgefield, and Brenton-on-Sea due to the high number of sharks spotted in the vicinity of beaches along this stretch of coastline.

Municipal Authorities will reportedly use a helicopter today, Wednesday, 28th December, to monitor the coastline before they decide on a further course of action.

NSRI urge the public to heed the Municipal Authorities decision which was made in the interests of public safety.

Media and the public are urged to follow official notifications regarding this situation posted by Municipal Authorities and cooperation is deeply appreciated.

PLETTENBERG BAY:

Marc Rodgers, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said:

At 11h28, Wednesday, 28th December, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew launched Airlink Rescuer following reports of a cabin boat capsized in the Keurbooms River Mouth.

All crew onboard were found safe and the sea rescue craft assisted them back to their moorings in the Keurbooms River and they required no further assistance.

KNYSNA:

Jerome Simonis, NSRI Knysna station commander, said:

2 pencil rubber ducks, suffering motor mechanical failure during the Trans Agulhas Race, both with 2 men onboard each casualty craft, were assisted at 09h38, Wednesday, 28th December.

Our NSRI sea rescue craft towed them through the Knysna Heads to safe moorings at the Knysna Marina and they required no further assistance.

MOSSEL BAY:

Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said:

At 12h06, Thursday, 29th December, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew dispatched sea rescue swimmers directly to Glentana Beach and 2 NSRI sea rescue craft were launched following reports of a drowning in progress.

The SA Police Services and ER24 ambulance services were also activated.

On arrival on the scene a 41 year old man and his 10 year old daughter were already on the beach after being swept out to sea by rip currents.

We believe 2 friends had gone into the water to assist them, and they had managed to get the 41 year old man to the beach while the 10 year old daughter is believed to have reached the beach without assistance.

CPR (Cardio Pulmonary resuscitation) efforts were performed on the 41 year old man but after all efforts to resuscitate him were exhausted he was declared deceased.

One of the friends, a 21 year old Pretoria man, and the 10 year old female, were transported to hospital suffering non-fatal drowning symptoms. Both are in stable conditions.

The body of the deceased man has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.

MOSSEL BAY:

Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said:

At 15h08, Thursday, 29th December, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew dispatched the sea rescue craft Vodacom Rescuer IV following multiple eye-witness reports of red distress flares sighted about a nautical mile off-shore of Mossel Bay harbour being fired from an overturned Hobie-Cat.

A local paragliding pleasure ski-boat also responded to assist and on our arrival on the scene they had assisted the 2 male sailors to right their Hobie-Cat and we escorted them to shore without incident and they required no further assistance.

Busy season for the NSRI

Busy season for the NSRI

MOSSEL BAY:

Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said:

NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated at 17h06, Wednesday, 21st December, following the concerns of a mother reporting her son to be too far out to sea for her comfort at the Kleinbrak River Mouth.

While he appeared to be swimming the concerns of the mother, enough to raise the alarm, was enough for us to activate our sea rescue craft and rescue swimmers to respond to the scene to check on the situation, but fortunately, before we arrived on the scene the mom phoned us back to say that her son had come ashore and confirmed that he had just been swimming and thankfully our assistance was no longer required.

WILDERNESS:

Saria van As, NSRI Wilderness duty controller, said:

At 16h48, Wednesday, 21st December, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated after one of our NSRI crew members witnessed what appeared to be 5 people being swept out to sea in the vicinity towards Lientjiesklip.

Our sea rescue craft Oscars Rescuer, Clemengold rescuer and Die Swart Tobie, out on the water at the time conducting routine training, diverted to the scene and on our arrival we found that 4 men, aged in their late 20’s, from The Netherlands, had been swept out to sea by rip-currents and George Municipal lifeguards had managed to rescue 3 of the men safely from about 200 meters off-shore and those 3 men and the lifeguards were safely ashore.

One lifeguard remained with the 4th man, 400 meters off-shore, assisting the man to stay afloat and they were taken aboard our sea rescue craft and brought safely ashore.

No one was injured.

MOSSEL BAY:

Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said:

At 17h35, Friday, 23rd December, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from the boat Captain Hook, with 12 local tourist fishermen onboard reporting damaged steering on their craft, South of Cape St Blaze, about a nautical mile from our sea rescue station.

We launched our sea rescue Vodacom Rescuer II and on arrival on the scene we found they had full motor power but loss of steering and being so close to the harbour we assisted them into the harbour using our boat as their steering, nudging them along, and they were brought safely to moorings in the harbour and no further assistance was required.

KNYSNA:

Jerome Simonis,  NSRI Knysna station commander, said:

At 15h17, Friday, 23rd December, NSRI Knyssna duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from the family of a 71 year old man from Scotland, on a coastal walk at the Pezula Estate, Knysna, and asking if NSRI will assist the man who had grown tired on the walk and facing a steep walk back to their vehicle.

We dispatched our sea rescue craft Jaytee IV and Jolen and on arrival on the scene a sea rescue craft beached.

We walked the man down to the beach and he was taken aboard our sea rescue craft and brought to the Knysna Marina onboard our sea rescue craft and no further assistance was required.

MOSSEL BAY:

Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said:

At, Sunday, 25th December, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Glentana.

Prior to our arriving on the scene we were informed that lifeguards and paramedics were attending to an 11 year old female who had washed onto the beach after getting into difficulty in the surf.

The child was resuscitated on the beach and transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Then at 18h12, Sunday, 25th December, we responded sea rescue craft and our rescue vehicle to De Bakke following reports of a drowning in progress.

On arrival on the scene 3 teenage males were out of the water after reportedly getting into difficulty in rip currents but concerns of a 4th person possibly missing in the water saw us continue a sea and shoreline search but no reports of any person outstanding were received and we suspect that the person got out of the water without assistance.

KNYSNA:

Jerome Simonis, NSRI Knysna station commander, said:

At 15h19, Sunday, 25th December, NSRI Knysna duty crew dispatched our sea rescue craft Jolen and our rescue vehicle to assist owners of boats at the Belvedere moorings where boats were taking water..

4 boats were taking water at their moorings suspected to have been caused by the stiff gusting 30 knot South Easterly winds.

On our arrival on the scene owners of 3 of the 4 boats had managed to pump water from their boats and had their boats re-floated but one boat had completely sunk.

We set up water extrication pumps and assisted by SA National Parks rangers, who had responded to assist, the boat was re-floated and once safely tied to her moorings no further assistance was required.

PLETTENBERG BAY:

Marc Rodgers, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said:

At 12h05, Tuesday, 27th December, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew and Plettenberg Bay lifeguards responded to The Dunes following reports of a paraglider suspected to have crashed.

On investigation it was found that the paraglider had landed safely amongst The Dunes and he required no further assistance.

Then at 17h50 NSRI activated to assist SA National Park rangers and family searching for a 12 year old female missing while cycling in the Harkeville forest.

Before arriving on the scene the child was found safe and no further assistance was required.

KNYSNA:

Jerome Simonis, NSRI Knysna station commander, said:

Since Tuesday, 27th December, Municipal Authorities have closed beaches in the Southern Cape between Maoli Beach, Sedgefield, and Brenton-on-Sea due to the high number of sharks spotted in the vicinity of beaches along this stretch of coastline.

Municipal Authorities will reportedly use a helicopter today, Wednesday, 28th December, to monitor the coastline before they decide on a further course of action.

NSRI urge the public to heed the Municipal Authorities decision which was made in the interests of public safety.

Media and the public are urged to follow official notifications regarding this situation posted by Municipal Authorities and cooperation is deeply appreciated.

PLETTENBERG BAY:

Marc Rodgers, NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander, said:

At 11h28, Wednesday, 28th December, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew launched Airlink Rescuer following reports of a cabin boat capsized in the Keurbooms River Mouth.

All crew onboard were found safe and the sea rescue craft assisted them back to their moorings in the Keurbooms River and they required no further assistance.

KNYSNA:

Jerome Simonis, NSRI Knysna station commander, said:

2 pencil rubber ducks, suffering motor mechanical failure during the Trans Agulhas Race, both with 2 men onboard each casualty craft, were assisted at 09h38, Wednesday, 28th December.

Our NSRI sea rescue craft towed them through the Knysna Heads to safe moorings at the Knysna Marina and they required no further assistance.

MOSSEL BAY:

Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said:

At 12h06, Thursday, 29th December, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew dispatched sea rescue swimmers directly to Glentana Beach and 2 NSRI sea rescue craft were launched following reports of a drowning in progress.

The SA Police Services and ER24 ambulance services were also activated.

On arrival on the scene a 41 year old man and his 10 year old daughter were already on the beach after being swept out to sea by rip currents.

We believe 2 friends had gone into the water to assist them, and they had managed to get the 41 year old man to the beach while the 10 year old daughter is believed to have reached the beach without assistance.

CPR (Cardio Pulmonary resuscitation) efforts were performed on the 41 year old man but after all efforts to resuscitate him were exhausted he was declared deceased.

One of the friends, a 21 year old Pretoria man, and the 10 year old female, were transported to hospital suffering non-fatal drowning symptoms. Both are in stable conditions.

The body of the deceased man has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.

MOSSEL BAY:

Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said:

At 15h08, Thursday, 29th December, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew dispatched the sea rescue craft Vodacom Rescuer IV following multiple eye-witness reports of red distress flares sighted about a nautical mile off-shore of Mossel Bay harbour being fired from an overturned Hobie-Cat.

A local paragliding pleasure ski-boat also responded to assist and on our arrival on the scene they had assisted the 2 male sailors to right their Hobie-Cat and we escorted them to shore without incident and they required no further assistance.

Busy season for the NSRI

SWD’s Jean du Plessis leads SA Colts team; Grant Esau selected for Cobras Cubs

Cricket South Africa announced the 2016 South Africa Schools and Colts squads at the conclusion of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week in Bloemfontein on Tuesday night.

Grant Esau

Gauteng captain, Wiaan Mulder was named the skipper of the Schools side, which also included Ruan de Swardt, who was named overall Player of the Week and Bowler of the Week as well as Christopher Schreuder, Batsman of the Week.

The SA Colts, led by Jean du Plessis also included Chadwin November who took home the Hero of the Week award for his hat-trick against Free State.

The sides will play a 50-over final match for the Coca-Cola Cup at Mangaung Oval.

SA Schools Team

Wiaan Mulder (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Jesse Christiansen, Michael Cohen, Jade de Klerk, Ruan de Swardt, Akhona Mnyaka, Sinethemba Qeshile, Christopher Schreuder, Lutho Sipamla, Keenan Smith, Raynard van Tonder.

SA Colts Team

Jean du Plessis, Gerald Coetzee, Jarred Alder, Sinalo Gobeni, Siphamandla Krweqe, Muhammad Mayet, Mihlali Mpongwana, Zakariya Paruk, Jiveshan Pillay, Jason Raubenheimer, William Sendin, Mitchell van Buuren.

Jean du Plessis

CSA also announced the squads for the 2017 CSA Cubs Week that will take place from 4-8 January in Stellenbosch.

CSA Cubs Week squads

Multiply Titans

Jarred Alder, Thabo Motaung, Joshua van Heerden, Ivan Kriek, Musawenkosi Twala, Donovan Ferreira, Beyers Swanepoel, Sahil Patel, Nkosinathi Msiza, Ruben Trumplemann, William Ledwaba, Nishan Pillay, Katleho Bala.

Warriors

David Rushmere, Matthew Breetzke, David Masterson, Jason Niemand, Sinethemba Qeshile, Jarryd Lookwhy, Jade de Klerk, Jason Raubenheimer, Lutho Sipamla, Akhona Mnyaka, Axola Ngwana, Siphamandla Krweqe, Jimmy Sholto-Douglas.

Buildnat Cape Cobras

Ricardo Vasconcelos, Michael Cohen, Grant Esau, Gavin Kaplan, William Sendin, Sisonke Mazele, Ben Hendersen, Sinalo Gobeni, Keagan Whitten, Kieran Kenny, Khanya Cotani, Tiaan du Plessis, Jesse Christensen.

Hollywoodbets Dolphins

Gavin Morris, Eathan Bosch, Sean Gilson, Jiveshan Pillay, Kamogelo Selane, Tyrone Koen, Joel Veeran, Zakariya Paruk, Waseem Rahman, Matthew Lees, Thamsanqa Khumalo, Andile Mokgakane, Jordan Grobelaar.

VKB Knights

Dilivio Ridgard, Christopher Schreuder, Wihan Victor, Raynard van Tonder, Reabone Prophy, Phillip Visser, Gerald Coetzee, Themba Maupa, Mason Zacharea, C.P. Klijnhans, Chadwin November, Thabiso Lekhoana, Franklin Damons.

bizhub Highveld Lions

Joshua Richards, Mohammed Ahmed, Louis van Schalkwyk, Wandile Makwetu, Khaudise Molefe, Mitchell van Buuren, Mohammed Mayet, Keegan Janse van Rensburg, Tshepo Bopape, Katlego Thena, Jacob Miltz, Reabetswe Mokgoro, Curtis Campher.

CSA U17 Invitational XI

Jean du Plessis, Keenan Smith, Daniel Moriarty, Thando Ntini, Hermann Rolfes, Umar Anthony, Mihlali Mpongwana, Cameron Brunner, Christopher Britz, Bonga Makhakha, Fraser Jones, Mudiwa Chanakira, Mujaahid Toffar.

SWD’s Jean du Plessis leads SA Colts team; Grant Esau selected for Cobras Cubs

SWD’s Jean du Plessis leads SA Colts team; Grant Esau selected for Cobras Cubs

Cricket South Africa announced the 2016 South Africa Schools and Colts squads at the conclusion of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week in Bloemfontein on Tuesday night.

Grant Esau

Gauteng captain, Wiaan Mulder was named the skipper of the Schools side, which also included Ruan de Swardt, who was named overall Player of the Week and Bowler of the Week as well as Christopher Schreuder, Batsman of the Week.

The SA Colts, led by Jean du Plessis also included Chadwin November who took home the Hero of the Week award for his hat-trick against Free State.

The sides will play a 50-over final match for the Coca-Cola Cup at Mangaung Oval.

SA Schools Team

Wiaan Mulder (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Jesse Christiansen, Michael Cohen, Jade de Klerk, Ruan de Swardt, Akhona Mnyaka, Sinethemba Qeshile, Christopher Schreuder, Lutho Sipamla, Keenan Smith, Raynard van Tonder.

SA Colts Team

Jean du Plessis, Gerald Coetzee, Jarred Alder, Sinalo Gobeni, Siphamandla Krweqe, Muhammad Mayet, Mihlali Mpongwana, Zakariya Paruk, Jiveshan Pillay, Jason Raubenheimer, William Sendin, Mitchell van Buuren.

Jean du Plessis

CSA also announced the squads for the 2017 CSA Cubs Week that will take place from 4-8 January in Stellenbosch.

CSA Cubs Week squads

Multiply Titans

Jarred Alder, Thabo Motaung, Joshua van Heerden, Ivan Kriek, Musawenkosi Twala, Donovan Ferreira, Beyers Swanepoel, Sahil Patel, Nkosinathi Msiza, Ruben Trumplemann, William Ledwaba, Nishan Pillay, Katleho Bala.

Warriors

David Rushmere, Matthew Breetzke, David Masterson, Jason Niemand, Sinethemba Qeshile, Jarryd Lookwhy, Jade de Klerk, Jason Raubenheimer, Lutho Sipamla, Akhona Mnyaka, Axola Ngwana, Siphamandla Krweqe, Jimmy Sholto-Douglas.

Buildnat Cape Cobras

Ricardo Vasconcelos, Michael Cohen, Grant Esau, Gavin Kaplan, William Sendin, Sisonke Mazele, Ben Hendersen, Sinalo Gobeni, Keagan Whitten, Kieran Kenny, Khanya Cotani, Tiaan du Plessis, Jesse Christensen.

Hollywoodbets Dolphins

Gavin Morris, Eathan Bosch, Sean Gilson, Jiveshan Pillay, Kamogelo Selane, Tyrone Koen, Joel Veeran, Zakariya Paruk, Waseem Rahman, Matthew Lees, Thamsanqa Khumalo, Andile Mokgakane, Jordan Grobelaar.

VKB Knights

Dilivio Ridgard, Christopher Schreuder, Wihan Victor, Raynard van Tonder, Reabone Prophy, Phillip Visser, Gerald Coetzee, Themba Maupa, Mason Zacharea, C.P. Klijnhans, Chadwin November, Thabiso Lekhoana, Franklin Damons.

bizhub Highveld Lions

Joshua Richards, Mohammed Ahmed, Louis van Schalkwyk, Wandile Makwetu, Khaudise Molefe, Mitchell van Buuren, Mohammed Mayet, Keegan Janse van Rensburg, Tshepo Bopape, Katlego Thena, Jacob Miltz, Reabetswe Mokgoro, Curtis Campher.

CSA U17 Invitational XI

Jean du Plessis, Keenan Smith, Daniel Moriarty, Thando Ntini, Hermann Rolfes, Umar Anthony, Mihlali Mpongwana, Cameron Brunner, Christopher Britz, Bonga Makhakha, Fraser Jones, Mudiwa Chanakira, Mujaahid Toffar.

SWD’s Jean du Plessis leads SA Colts team; Grant Esau selected for Cobras Cubs

Hungry Lion supports safe swimming

The Quick Service Restaurant chain, Hungry Lion, is committed to protecting and saving lives in their local communities this festive season.

NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson with the pool noodles donated by Hungry Lion. Picture NSRI.

In support of a Sea Rescue drowning prevention initiative Hungry Lion donated 2000 pool noodles to NSRI.

The rescue noodles will be used for various projects across the country, including basic floatation assistance aids for needy children’s swimming lessons, as well as a pilot project to provide emergency floatation assistance in the Bitou and Eden municipalities.

“Everyone knows what a pool noodle is, and it’s use as an aid to floatation is intuitive,” said Sea Rescue CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson.

“We have distributed 200 rescue noodles to the Eden Disaster Risk Management which will oversee their distribution to achieve our drowning prevention aims.  A further 200 noodles were distributed to swimming pools in disadvantaged areas of Cape Town.”

In a third pilot project some of the rescue noodles will be placed in strategic places on the Eden and Bitou coastline. “We hope that firstly, they will remind people of the danger of rip currents on this coast and secondly, that in an emergency they can be thrown to people in difficulty. We repeatedly warn people not to get into the water to assist someone in difficulty, but to rather throw something that floats to them. This basic floatation assistance may save a life,” said Dr Robertson.

Hungry Lion’s Brand Manager, Tashalene Reid said: “Hungry Lion’s commitment towards this initiative forms part of our company’s promise to reach out to the local communities we serve.

Contributing towards change within our communities is one of Hungry Lion’s main Corporate Social Responsibility aims.  We believe that Sea Rescue’s drowning prevention initiatives brings hope to this mission of ours.”

The remaining rescue noodles will be distributed to swimming schools within disadvantaged communities across South Africa.

Hungry Lion supports safe swimming