Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio The Knysna Local Municipality has won its legal battle and will soon argue before a judge that it can either not be sued for alleged failures during the devastating 2017 Knysna fires or that the Garden Route District Municipality should be joined as a defendant in the R17-million damages claim filed by residents Several residents filed a joint legal action against the Knysna Municipality claiming that the municipality failed to fight the fire in its beginning stages setting it up to become one of the worst wildfire disasters in the history of South Africa says it was not its job to fight the fire at Elandskraal but the job of the Garden Route District Municipality (then known as the Eden Municipality) There were three expert reports produced on the Knysna fire: A report commissioned by AfriForum, written by arson investigator David Klatzow, found that it was caused by lightning, with smouldering occurring for weeks as local fire brigades did not attend to it.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads A subsequent report on the Elandskraal fire the former head of the Knysna Municipality Fire Brigade was debunked by another report from the Council for Scientific Research (CSIR) That report used data that confirmed the fire had been caused by lightning and subsequent hot and windy weather conditions The CSIR further wrote in its report that “fragmented approaches to fire management” were not effective at the time the Garden Route District Municipality’s Fire and Rescue Service had a total of 40 permanent staff and 18 volunteers with resources strategically distributed across three municipalities: George (George) Hessequa (Riversdale) and Kannaland (Ladismith) There were normally three firefighters and one volunteer on duty per shift in Hessequa and Kannaland one rescue unit and two hazmat resources – to serve an area of more than 23,000km2 The report found that because of the distances Garden Route firefighters had to travel it could also significantly delay their responses Municipal fire and rescue services were also underresourced – although Working on Fire fire management units like those at CapeNature SANParks and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Residents and property owners have put the legal blame for failing to protect their properties on the Knysna Municipality the municipality said in papers before court that it was not its job and is pointing the finger at the Garden Route District Municipality The Knysna Municipality has also asked the court to rule whether it has statutory or other responsibilities for firefighting services in general or in respect of fires the legal team for the Knysna Municipality argued a district municipality’s functions and powers include:   Firefighting services serving the area of the district municipality as a whole coordination and regulation of fire services; specialised firefighting services such as mountain veld and chemical fire services; coordination of the standardisation of infrastructure equipment and procedures and the training of fire officers As a result the Knysna Municipality, a local municipality, claims that the fire did not fall within its jurisdiction and that it neither had the capacity nor the resources to fight the fire. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads It claims that it had reported the fires to the Garden Route District Municipality and the Western Cape government The plaintiffs’ legal team, however, argues that the Knysna Municipality had failed to seek timely assistance from other entities, including Eden Municipality, the national government or aerial firefighting resources, or did so too late.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads But according to the judgment evidence will be led that Knysna municipal officials had represented to residents that they were responsible for fighting the fire at Elandskraal and as a result the fire was not reported to the Garden Route District Municipality and that there were other legal instruments such as the Constitution the Fire Brigade Services Act and the National Veld and Forest Fire Act that would have compelled the Knysna Municipality to act Judge Melanie Holderness ruled that the issue of whether the Garden Route District Municipality should properly have been joined as a defendant should be determined before the matter proceeds on the merits The finger pointing is quite disappointing but knowing this could have been avoided as was not is even worse ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna-Plett Herald has received footage of a second crash at the Simola Hillclimb yesterday afternoon Bawa lost control of his BMW but fortunately emerged largely unscathed Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene This incident came just hours after a tragic accident earlier that morning reportedly due to a suspected mechanical failure in which veteran driver Pieter Joubert was fatally injured Read more details in this week's edition of Knysna-Plett Herald Legendary driver Pieter Joubert passes away after crash | Knysna-Plett Herald  ‘We bring you the latest Garden Route KNYNSA NEWS - The competition today Sunday 4 May setting the stage for the final three qualifying sessions.  The fastest times from all six qualifying rounds will determine the Top 3 competitors advancing to the Class Finals as well as the contenders for the Top 10 Shootout based on overall performance followed by the thrilling King of the Hill Shootouts across three distinct categories: The event concludes with a prize-giving ceremony next to the start line once all final runs are complete GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Victor Mokoena's mentor has given a glowing overview of the career in conservation of the newly appointed regional general manager for the SANParks Garden Route region.  Davies is the Wessa board chairperson and SANParks Honorary Rangers deputy chairperson "I met Victor in Clarens around 2000 when he was a student at Free State University and he was earning money as a waiter in a pizza restaurant.  both impressed me immediately with their sensitive customer orientation "They monitored their tables carefully from a distance and were at your table before one needed to beckon them over," Davies said The relationship developed into long philosophical discussions about life "One thing led to another and it was not long before Victor made up a group of young people and we started Saturday morning entrepreneurship and business development discussions at my house," remembers Davies "I was on the advisory board of the Wits Business School and lectured on the MBA programme at the time so it was easy to generate appropriate academic support material "Through this process we developed a life-long friendship and when he was appointed at Golden Gate National Park the park manager at the time formally appointed me as Victor's coach and mentor." the business and leadership principles that they discussed at the time "Victor has developed into a mature and effective leader and his stellar track record of achievements at SANParks is testament to this.  "I have every confidence that he will continue to learn and grow and serve his employer and the conservation cause in very senior leadership capacities into the future." KNYSNA NEWS AND VIDEO - The Knysna Speed Festival that seasoned competitor Pieter Joubert passed away in an accident this morning The organisers released a statement saying that Joubert was on his first run of the day at King of the Hill when he lost control of his Lotus on the fast uphill straight and veered off the course apparently due to a mechanical failure.  the event will continue today once the authorities have cleared the scene Pieter Joubert tragically passed away this morning after a high-speed crash with his Lotus.  VIDEO: Legendary driver Pieter Joubert passes away after crash  KNYSNA NEWS - Twenty-two young people from the town received certificates on Friday 25 April after completing a four-day programme to equip them with the skills needed to run small The programme was run by the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship a specialised unit within the UCT Business School and was supported by the Yona-Yethu Initiative and on the Friday they presented these concepts to a panel of judges that included Professor Steve Reid of the faculty of health sciences at UCT; Nathi Mabukane the president of the Yona-Yethu Initiative; and Mark Mosdell The business-concept presentations took place in KHS' school hall and the initiatives were aimed at alleviating health and social challenges in Knysna focusing on countering the threat of contracting diseases at dysfunctional toilets and from sewage spills The groups received constructive criticism and praise from each of the panel members celebrate receiving their certificates on the stage and on the left in the middle row is Mark Mosdell The Bertha Centre said it would run similar programmes in Knysna over the next eight years "Those certificates mean you are are now part of the UCT community and you will be updated on what opportunities are available for you," Vanessa Ramanjam "The problem in South Africa is that young people with matric have lost hope [due to the high rate of unemployment] and we are giving them a lifeline for the future," Reid said of the programme "We've never had anything like this in Knysna before," Mabukane said "It offers these young people a great opportunity to develop their businesses and innovations and also provides opportunities to address social and health issues in Knysna." The programme "added value to local SMMEs" which play a significant role in boosting the local economy The graduates were overjoyed at receiving their certificates and loudly applauded each of their co-graduates when Ramanjam handed them the document .‘We bring you the latest Garden Route KNYSNA NEWS - Two major factors are coming into play during the yesterday's afternoon qualifying sessions for King of the Hill - the first being the competitors pushing much harder and exploring the absolute limits of the 1.9 km Simola Hill course all while the ambient and track temperatures begin falling rapidly as the sun starts its descent behind the Simola hills Robert Wolk dominated the second qualifying session in the Gould GR55B setting his fastest official time yet of 36.140 seconds as the team refines the setup of this car on its first outing in South Africa Reghard Roets is edging closer to the Modified Saloon Car record powering the Nissan R35 GT-R to a time of 38.613 seconds – 0.2 quicker than his best qualifying run last year and less than half a second off Franco Scribante’s current record of 38.129 seconds from 2022 Dawie Joubert was just a fraction of a second adrift in the Lotus Exige (39.592 seconds) – however this is still 1.3 seconds off his winning time from last year Charl Joubert was a mere tenth of a second slower than his brother while Johan Kristoffersson cut another 0.2 sec off his time in the all-electric Volkswagen Polo R1Xe WRX car (40.157 seconds) Byron Mitchell was sixth overall and second fastest among the single-seater cars with a time of 40.504 seconds in the Reynard Formula VW.  Clint Weston remains the fastest of the standard road cars in the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 SE E Performance setting a time of 43.483 seconds in Q2 – three-tenths faster than Q1 KNYSNA NEWS - Mbuyiseli 'King' Ndukwana (32) current Western Cape lightweight boxing champion from Knysna could become the South African champion this year - if he wins a proposed challenge fight against current SA lightweight champion Khaya Busakwe This was revealed by Sonqoba Boxing Academy On his way to become the top contender for the SA title Ndukwana overcame Luthando Mkwini from Libode in the Eastern Cape in a six-round provincial bout in March This was an elimination bout that made Ndukwana eligible to challenge for a South African title He is currently ranked no 1 in the SA lightweight division making him the only fighter that can challenge Busakwe's national title we have agreed in principle in the past few weeks with the camp of Busakwe for a challenge fight this year," said his trainer "But nothing has been finalised yet as we are still looking for funds that would enable us to stage the fight here in Knysna." Tom said it is their ambition to host the fight at home "Fighting in front of his supporters and family that are watching him going for glory will boost his confidence." it would open doors for him to challenge for the international title.  they "don't want to jump and challenge for the international title" He must first defend it a number of times and get all the experience needed to challenge for international titles said they are trying to source funding in Knysna and Plett for the boxer to fight the SA title challenge on his own home ground It will encourage them to never give up on their dreams and not to pursue substance use "If a national title fight is hosted in Knysna it will be the first of its kind," Faas said "We would like to thank the businesses in Plett and Knysna for having supported boxing all the years as now Knysna is on the verge of having a national champion." Ndukwana made his professional debut in August 2019 against Masande Mendile and won by technical knockout He has had a total of 10 professional fights NSRI Knysna duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a paddler appearing to be in difficulties in the Knysna Heads.Our NSRI crew responded to our NSRI Knysna station 12 rescue base where our NSRI rescue craft JayTee IV was launched.NSRI shore crew responded to an elevated lookout point to keep a vigil of the casualty surf-skier.Our NSRI rescue craft reached the casualty where an NSRI rescue swimmer was deployed into the water The casualty man was rescued onto the NSRI rescue craft and while the NSRI rescue swimmer stayed with the casualty surf-ski our NSRI rescue craft negotiated incoming wave sets - heading further out to sea during a lull in the wave sets our rescue craft returned and recovered our NSRI rescue swimmer and the casualty craft.The casualty man was brought to shore at Knysna Lagoon where once safely ashore he required no further assistance We’re proud to announce that our newly rebuilt NSRI Station 21 in St Francis Bay is now officially open we held a blessing ceremony for two new state-of-the-art rescue vessels: the Spirit of St Francis III .. Gqeberha — The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) today officially celebrated the blessing of its latest state-of-the-art Offshore Rescue Craft (ORC) at a ceremony held at the PE Deep Sea Angling Club building Subscribe today for information about NSRI rescues This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers Organisors of the Knysna Speed Festival said that experienced race car driver Pieter Joubert died in an accident while travelling on the high-speed uphill section at the Simola Hillclimb on Sunday morning “Joubert was out on his first run on day two of the King of the Hill when he lost control of his Lotus on the fast uphill straight and veered off the course after it appeared that something broke on the car,” according to a statement The scene was immediately attended to by the event onsite medical and emergency crews but sadly Joubert was pronounced deceased on the scene.  “We are exceptionally saddened by this incident and our thoughts and condolences are with Pieter’s family said Knysna Speed Festival managing director have expressed their wish that the event continues an exclusive podcast on the life of Vicki Terblanche Dive into the expansive world of motoring with Naresh Maharaj Join Mark Marshall as he shares his extraordinary encounters with everything from bees to reptiles i PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS- The New Horizons community celebrated an award-winning theatrical team from Plettenberg Bay Secondary School with a “homecoming” performance on Friday 25 April.  talented young actresses Bronlyn van Rhyner and Carin Fourie was named Best Overall Drama Production for High Schools 2024 – 2025 by the Department of Culture and Sport last month and the play is now being nominated for Best Ensemble and Best Supporting Actress (Carin Fourie) for 2025.  Van Rhyner and Fourie are both from New Horizons in Plett is a BA psychology and English graduate from Potchefstroom University  The performance of PAS (the Afrikaans for “pass” which refers to the working passport non-whites had to have during the apartheid years) left the audience breathless.  It was a specially organised homecoming event to celebrate the team winning top honours at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town Carin Fourie (left) and Bronlyn van Rhyner (right) on stage.  Smith said they had no help and had to do everything on their own - he even bought props out of his own pocket The community was called up to support the performance by New Horizons ward councillor Claude Terblanche who posted a plea on social media “for everyone to support this amazing initiative”.  “Bronlyn often used to sit up until 02:00 in the morning going over her script and often I told her to get to bed,” said her proud dad “yet all her dedication and hard work has really paid off.”  One of the locals who attended the performance was overwhelmed by the special performance “It was a great honour to watch members of the audience shed a tear as they shared in the joys and sadness elicited in the play but even a greater honour to share in their [the theatre team's] journey and support them as they now move on to represent their school and community on new platforms,” Dunn said  “It would be amazing if we could also get them to perform at more local events such as the Plett Arts Festival because our area has no shortage of good arts and entertainment opportunities.”  NATIONAL NEWS - Eskom is planning to avoid load shedding during the winter period as its operational performance has improved and it expects additional capacity to come online unplanned outages must remain below 13 gigawatts (GW) load shedding would be limited to a maximum of 21 days out of 153 days at stage 2 - an improvement over the prior winter’s worst-case prediction of stage 5 load shedding,” Eskom Group Chief Executive Addressing a media briefing on Eskom’s State of the System for the 2024/2025 financial year Marokane said the improved winter outlook is due to a 3.1GW decrease in unplanned outages compared to the previous year.  the forecast range has been lowered to 13-15GW with average unplanned outages at 12.3GW - significantly below the winter 2024 base-case projection of 14GW “This year’s winter outlook prediction is built on an improvement in operational performance and overall efficiency Load shedding was the lowest in Eskom’s last financial year (FY) 2025 than in the previous two years.  Our diesel open cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) were utilised approximately 50% less in FY 2025 compared to the two previous financial years saving around R16 billion,” the CEO said Eskom has seen some setbacks in operational excellence as evidenced by the recent load shedding requirements between January to April 2025.  “A targeted plan has been put in place to reinforce operational discipline and accelerate recovery initiatives to address the root causes related to the recent load shedding events,” Marokane said said Koeberg unit 1 has received the long-term operating go-ahead from the regulator to ensure 20 years of additional life.  “We have been able to restore Kusile unit 2 and 3 Kusile unit 1 will be placed back in its original form before the end of May The three units at Kusile will give us [additional] megawatts (MW) during the winter period “Kusile unit 6 has been synchronised to the grid It is [providing electricity] and at times we will get the long-term benefits of the unit “We plan to bring back Medupi unit 4 back to service during winter It has been out of service for about four years We are expecting to get about 800MW in the middle of winter,” Ramokgopa said The Minister said load reduction will remain in place to protect the equipment and as a safety precaution to protect the lives of those who are close to the infrastructure when it gets overloaded due to rampant illegal connections Eskom implemented load shedding for 13 days compared to 329 and 208 in the two previous years Marokane said Eskom supplied South Africa with more electricity and reduced load shedding without the extensive use of diesel during the period under review “We had a 45% reduction in diesel consumption against the backdrop of the highest send out in the last three years and the lowest load shedding days “We used the OCGTs very tactically to support the high vulnerability and once we have our capacity you will see the diesel expenditure going down significantly,” he said According to Eskom Group Executive for Generation Eskom has continued to maintain high levels of planned maintenance as part of efforts to improve fleet reliability in preparation for the high winter demand while also meeting environmental licence conditions and regulatory requirements “We have evolved our Generation Recovery Plan to ensure our data-led analysis into the delays in returning units from outages on time which has caused our fleet to be constrained and not able to accommodate a sudden loss of units high support' culture to support our teams to rectify this situation,” Nxumalo said KNYSNA NEWS - The Rotary Club Knysna will hold its 25th annual Charity Golf Tournament from 22 to 26 May at six different golf courses Proceeds from the fundraiser are used to fund the Rotary Club's community-support programmes in the greater Knysna area "We attract golfers from around the country and they play at premium courses between Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay," the club says The tournament kicks off on the Thursday at the Pinnacle Point Estate Golf Course in Mossel Bay and at the Kingswood Golf Course in George.  taking place at the Simola Golf and Country Estate and the Pezula Championship Golf Course golfers will tee off at the Knysna Golf Club and the Goose Valley Golf Club in Plettenberg Bay and on the Sunday at the Simola and Pezula courses.  The final day of the tournament will be be held at the Pinnacle Point and Kingswood courses The Rotary Club makes all the arrangements with the courses "Our club also arranges accommodation for out-of-town golfers and their partners at the Simola Hotel," they say with excellent prizes on Friday through to Sunday." Golfers wishing to enter are asked to email Susan Fairweather at fairweather.susan@gmail.com to be sent an information sheet and booking form KNYSNA NEWS - The ANC Western Cape provincial leader has confirmed the temporary suspension of former Knysna mayor Aubrey Tsengwa from the ANC due to what it considers "misconduct" Tsengwa resigned as councillor on 31 March in the wake of allegations of misconduct pertaining to the appointment of political appointees which the Western Cape High Court had found to be illegal.  His resignation came shortly before Anton Bredell could apply decisions on the special investigation into the conduct of municipal councillors for the appointment of political appointees His resignation had the result that a by-election would have to be held in Ward 8 Tsengwa confirmed in a WhatsApp call that he had received the suspension letter and had provided reasons why he should not be suspended he told Knysna Plett Herald that he was waiting for the ANC’s provincial working committee meeting that is sitting today "The ANC confirms the temporary suspension of the acting regional chairperson [Tsengwa] and wishes to guarantee a fair disciplinary process," Sayed said Tsengwa was ousted from the position of mayor in February after a third no-confidence motion that came in the wake of the allegations of misconduct ANC provincial secretary Neville Delport wrote a letter to Tsengwa last Wednesday that said "his unilateral decision to resign from his ward councillor's seat in the Knysna municipality has the effect of impeding the organisation's activities and undermines the ANC which constitutes misconduct in terms of our Constitution" Delport said all deployees to elective office were required to respect the functioning of the structures to which they were deployed subject to directions from the oversight structures of the organisation "We now find ourselves in a situation of having to contest a by-election in the Knysna Municipality which has been thrust on us at a very inopportune time," said Delport KNYSNA NEWS - It's finally Simola Hillclimb time and the 15th edition of South Africa's premier motoring and motorsport lifestyle event promises more of everything – more spectacular cars and endless fun and excitement for spectators beyond the cars racing up the 1.9km Simola Hill This year's edition of the Simola Hillclimb takes place from 1 to 4 May with the Classic Car Friday scrutineering and FanFest in Hedge Street near the Knysna Waterfront followed by the parade of the golden oldies along Waterfront Drive at 14:45 Access to the scrutineering and Knysna Parade is free and this is a fantastic opportunity to get a close-up peek at the cars and drivers The Classic Car Friday programme commences at 08:00 on 2 May with the first of three practice sessions followed by three qualifying runs leading up to the lunchtime break The top three competitors from the qualifying runs in each class go head-to-head in the Class Finals in the afternoon Then it’s on to the all-or-nothing Top 10 Shootout where each of the 10 fastest qualifiers has one final sprint up the hill to decide who is crowned Classic Conqueror for 2025 The prize-giving ceremony will be held next to the start line after the final shootout is complete The big guns come out for King of the Hill with the two-day event preceded on Friday 2 May by the scrutineering FanFest and the King of the Hill Parade starting at 17:15 and spectators can expect lots of wild tyre-smoking action Saturday’s King of the Hill schedule comprises four practice sessions that begin at 09:05 and carry on through to the lunch break The first three qualifying sessions in the afternoon wrap up the first day of King of the Hill which starts with a warm-up run at 09:05 before the final three qualifying rounds The fastest qualifiers from all six sessions determine who will be the top three competitors that proceed to the Class Finals as well as the overall fastest times for the Top 10 Shootout followed by the King of the Hill shootouts for the three separate categories: Road Car and Supercar Prize-giving once again takes place next to the start line once the final runs are completed Aside from the thrilling antics on the tight and twisty 1.9km Simola Hillclimb course throughout the weekend there are plenty of other activities and highlights to keep fans enthralled Suzuki Auto South Africa will showcase a variety of its two and four-wheeled products and will have a fan-focused activation in Gasoline Alley that shouldn’t be missed Spectators can look forward to a variety of demonstrations and display runs between the sessions The afternoon break each day features a full programme of spectacular cars and motorcycles from several top-tier automotive brands sprinting up the hill Volkswagen Group South Africa is going all-out at the Simola Hillclimb this year including bringing seven-time World Rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson to compete in King of the Hill in the all-electric as he will also be doing spectacular demo runs in the 2016 Volkswagen Polo R WRC – the very car that won the World Rally Championship that year in the hands of Sebastian Ogier World-renowned stunt driver Terry Grant will be returning to the Simola Hillclimb once again following his 2018 outing which wowed the crowds His participation this year is courtesy of Volkswagen and he will be driving a showroom-specification Polo up the Simola Hill – on two wheels To further enhance the Simola Hillclimb experience the event’s exciting new merchandise range will be on sale in the Pit Vendor Area where attendees can buy official Simola Hillclimb caps and shirts as always there will be a superb range of food and beverages on sale to suit all tastes and a play area with a jumping castle will be available to keep the little ones entertained Monster is back once again to pump energy into the Simola Hillclimb with its activation at Turn 2 ORMS will be hosting a photographic deck adjacent to the Turn 2 Grandstand which is accessible to all ticketholders and will help enthusiastic photographers obtain the best shots of the action For the most breathtaking view of the Simola Hillclimb you simply can’t beat a helicopter flip AER Helicopters is offering scenic flights throughout the weekend then sweeping across the Knysna lagoon to the Heads and back A VIP option is also available that adds a low-level coastal flight past Buffalo Bay and Brenton-on-Sea Bookings are made directly with AER Helicopters which will have a gazebo at the end of the pit lane Local and international enthusiasts who aren’t able to attend this year’s Simola Hillclimb can follow all the action via the livestream, which is free to access via the website, www.simolahillclimb.com  ensuring that you don’t miss any of the excitement and intense competition and is hosted by expert presenters including Rodrigo de Oliviera from Portugal The livestream will include several innovations this year including in-car footage from some of the top competitors as well as expanded pit lane coverage that incorporates the amazing sights and sounds of this unique event More information and online ticket sales are available on the Simola Hillclimb website: www.simolahillclimb.com  NATIONAL NEWS - With a stable power system Eskom is set host a state of the system media briefing on Monday as the winter period sets in supported by adequate emergency reserves that are strategically deployed when necessary to manage periods of peak demand This proactive management contributes to the overall reliability and resilience of the electricity supply,” the power utility said on Friday the power utility said planned maintenance activities are ongoing as part of efforts to prepare for the anticipated winter peak demand while also ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and environmental requirements “For year-to-date (1 April to 1 May) an average of 6 928MW — equivalent to 14.82% of total generation capacity—has been under planned maintenance This reflects a 3.4 percentage point increase compared to the same period last year stands at 28.26% for the financial year-to-date (1 April to 1 May) This reflects an improvement of approximately 1.6 percentage points compared to 29.82% recorded during the same period last year,” it said reliance on diesel usage is expected to decline as maintenance activities wind down and additional units return from long-term repairs during the winter months “A total of 2 850MW will be returned to service before the evening peak on Monday to further stabilise the grid,” it said The power utility added that while load shedding remains suspended and electricity demand continues to rise the public should help to prevent transformer overloads and related equipment failures which can result in explosions and prolonged outages “This can be achieved by avoiding illegal connections purchasing electricity only from Eskom-accredited vendors and ensuring that customers take responsibility for regularising their electricity usage.” Eligible households are encouraged to register for free basic electricity with their local municipalities Any illegal activity impacting Eskom’s infrastructure should be reported to the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 112 722 or via WhatsApp on 081 333 3323 Eskom requests the public to continue to use electricity efficiently,” it said Monday’s briefing is set to take place at Eskom’s Megawatt Park offices in Johannesburg SCHOOL NEWS - The Department of Basic Education has revealed that 464 schools in South Africa do not offer Mathematics as a subject In a written parliamentary reply posed by MP Mandla Shikwambana Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube noted that KwaZulu-Natal has the largest number of schools without Mathematics These schools still offer Mathematical Literacy Number of public schools not offering Mathematics the department advises pupils to select their desired subject streams alongside parents and schools.  “While Mathematics remains a high-priority subject schools — particularly smaller ones — may not have sufficient resources or demand to offer both Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy,” she said Gwarube further highlighted the following challenges as the main reasons for having no Mathematics Gwarube said that the DBE actively promotes the offering of Mathematics in all schools with key interventions in place “Schools and learners are consistently encouraged to choose Mathematics over Mathematical Literacy where appropriate Provinces are also supported in strengthening teacher capacity and learner performance in Mathematics “Ongoing professional development includes a focus on methodology with the aim of enhancing learner understanding and retention in Mathematics,” she added several strategic interventions have been put in place many of which align with the findings from recent global and regional assessments “These measures are part of our broader strategy to improve learner participation and performance in Mathematics and ensure that more schools are equipped and encouraged to offer the subject,” Gwarube concluded NATIONAL NEWS - Rapper K.O finally won a Metro FM award in his home province of Mpumalanga after being named the Best Hip-Hop artist “The fact that it’s in my province and apparently this is the last Metro FM awards in Mpumalanga is a beautiful moment,” K.O told The Citizen after accepting his award K.O was the most nominated artist at the Metro FM awards with seven nods but walked away empty-handed on the third and final year of the Metro FM awards being held in his home province the rap artist hails from Mpumalanga and said winning the award in his home province means more My family is from the far east of the province The fact that they drove all the way up here to witness the moment is quite encouraging for me.” the Metro FM awards were held at Mpumalanga’s Mbombela stadium for the final year after being hosted in the province for three years Some of the night’s biggest winners were Makhadzi who walked away with the Artist of the Year award Amapiano boy band Woodblock DJs won the Best Viral Challenge for Skuta Baba this year’s Best Jazz Album winner Linda Sikhakhane won an award that he missed out on two years ago “First of all I wasn’t expecting to win as I said we never prepare for these moments because I understand the stature of the category and the people that were part of [it] To be given this opportunity is very humbling,” Sikhakhane told The Citizen on the night The category was one of the most competitive on the night with artists such as Thandiswa Mazwai ( Sankofa) Nomfundo Xaluva (Ndilapha) and Sydney Mavundla (Dirge for our Fathers) were all nominated Article: Caxton publication, The Citizen PROPERTY NEWS - Selling a home quickly can feel daunting There are many reasons for needing a fast sale whether to avoid missing out on a home you’ve just put in an offer for or simply wanting to avoid the extended stress of a lengthy selling process.  the right approach can expedite the sale significantly explains that property remains a great investment due to its potential to appreciate in value you should always be able to sell it to recoup your initial investment.  “If you have purchased a property in desirable enough location you should have little trouble selling quickly when the time comes,” he states When pushed into a situation where you want to close a deal fast Goslett suggests taking a flexible approach to pricing.  competitive asking price is essential when aiming for a speedy sale Ask your real estate agent for insights into local real estate trends and comparable properties then price your home somewhere within your market's range.  "Avoid aiming for the highest possible price as this can significantly limit buyer interest and prolong the selling process competitive price can spark interest quickly and encourage multiple offers potentially driving the final price higher through competition,” Goslett explains Goslett stresses the importance of first impressions.  “Homes gain maximum exposure with the first 24 hours of being listed on property portals This is because most portals share alerts with users when there are new listings that meet the users’ search criteria.  it is not a wise idea to take short cuts and avoid the use of a professional photographer and possibly even a home staging service You need to do all you can to ensure those listing photos draw buyers in immediately,” he stresses “It goes without saying that the better condition the home is in the broader the appeal it will have among buyers and the quicker it is likely to sell If you don’t have the time to get the home in top condition then you may need to compromise on price to attract a quicker sale,” he notes There are other more aggressive strategies that could also be considered if you are in a true rush to sell.  If you are up for trying something different speak to your real estate agent and find out if it would be worthwhile to boost your listing on the agent’s social media platforms or to try an out-of-the box marketing stunt like leveraging a local influencer or hosting a themed open house party my advice is to rely on the guidance of your chosen real estate professional Experienced agents understand local markets intimately and possess negotiation skills that can significantly streamline and expedite the selling process Trusting their advice can save you valuable time and increase your chances of a swift and successful sale,” Goslett concludes LIFESTYLE NEWS - When you order water in a restaurant the choice often comes down to “still or sparkling?” yet behind that simple question lies a much bigger story.  Understanding what goes into a truly safe and responsibly bottled water brand is important With South Africa facing growing water challenges from deteriorating municipal infrastructure to localised contamination more people are turning to bottled water as a trusted alternative.  But here’s the catch: not all bottled water meets the same standards That’s where SANBWA accreditation makes a critical difference The South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) sets some of the most stringent quality and sustainability standards in the world.  Members must adhere to strict protocols that go far beyond basic hygiene aligning with both local Department of Health regulations and international best practice It’s easy to think bottled water is just water in a sealed container but SANBWA-accredited brands go through rigorous checks before reaching your hands.  not all so-called “green” options are what they seem Take “biodegradable bottles” for example.  they’re not recyclable in South Africa and often end up as contamination in the recycling system Another trend to be cautious about is in-house refilled water If water is bottled and served (even in a café or wellness studio) it’s legally considered packaged water and must comply with strict safety regulations.  These are impossible to meet outside of a certified bottling facility jugs of tap water that can be cleaned thoroughly are fine make sure it’s from a SANBWA-accredited source Why this matters for your health and the planet Choosing a SANBWA-accredited brand means you’re making a conscious choice transparency and environmental responsibility Whether you’re hydrating after a yoga class packing school lunches or setting your dinner table knowing what’s in your bottle and where it comes from matters “When you choose a SANBWA-accredited brand you’re choosing peace of mind for your family and the environment.” So next time you're shopping for water NATIONAL NEWS - The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has announced the introduction of a mandatory biometric enrolment and identity verification process for grant recipients who use alternative forms of identification other than the standard 13-digit South African ID number Springs Advertiser reports that this move forms part of Sassa’s efforts to enhance the security and to protect the integrity of the country’s social grant system All new applicants who do not use the standard South African ID as well as existing clients undergoing personal information reviews or changes will be required to complete the biometric enrolment process which aligns with Regulation 13(1) of the Social Assistance Act [13 of 2004] is a proactive measure aimed at enhancing security and preventing potentially fraudulent activities related to identity misrepresentation,” says Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi To ensure a smooth implementation across all regions Sassa’s information and communication technology team in collaboration with the State Information Technology Agency has trained a group of designated ‘super-users’ These people will now facilitate regional training under the ‘Train-the-Trainer’ programme equipping staff at every Sassa office to manage biometric enrolments efficiently Sassa has also committed to ensuring that all offices are adequately staffed to assist clients and avoid delays during the rollout “Sassa is pulling out all the stops in tightening its systems and implementing measures meant to safeguard social grants – ensuring that we pay the right grant to the right person at the right time and place Njalo!” the agency said in a statement For enquiries about social grants, beneficiaries are encouraged to contact Sassa’s toll-free number at 0800 60 10 11 or email grantenquiries@sassa.gov.za. ‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’  GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The endangered Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis) has recently been successfully restocked in the educational display tank at the SANParks office on Thesen Island, Knysna. This initiative forms part of SANParks’ ongoing efforts to raise awareness about this unique species and to strengthen conservation education in the Garden Route National Park. SANParks’ head of communication, JP Louw, says the Thesen Island office is one of the few places in South Africa permitted to house and display captive Knysna seahorses for educational purposes.  “This rare species is found naturally only in three estuaries in the world; Swartvlei, Knysna and Keurbooms, and they are all located within the Garden Route.  The display tank at Thesen Island offers visitors a unique opportunity to view these iconic marine creatures up close while learning about the threats they face in the wild, including habitat degradation and pollution,” says Louw. While the educational permit allows for the housing of up to 50 adult seahorses, the tank population has declined significantly in recent years, with fewer than three breeding pairs remaining by early 2024.  The decline was primarily due to natural ageing, as most of the seahorses had exceeded their typical lifespan of five years. “These new additions are already contributing to improved breeding success, with recent signs of spawning offering hope for a sustainable, self-sustaining population in the display tank,” says Louw. Members of the public are encouraged to visit the SANParks Thesen Island office to view these fascinating creatures and learn more about the vital conservation work being undertaken to protect South Africa’s only endemic seahorse species. Juvenile seahorse born after the restocking of the SANParks display tank. Photos: SANParks‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’  MOTORING NEWS - Motorists will breathe a sigh of relief from Wednesday as the cost of all grades of petrol are set to come down. This as the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe announced the adjustment of fuel prices based on current local and international factors with effect from Wednesday, 7 May. The price of petrol 93 (ULP and LRP) will decrease by 22 cents a litre while the price of 95 (ULP and LRP) will also come down by 22 cents a litre. Currently, a litre of petrol 95 costs R21.62 in Gauteng. As of Wednesday, this will come down to R21.40 a litre. At the coast, a litre of 95 petrol, which costs R20.79 a litre, will cost R20.57 as of Wednesday. Meanwhile the price of Diesel (0.05% sulphur) will decrease by 42 cents a litre and that of Diesel (0.005% sulphur) will come down by 41 cents a litre. The price of Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale) will decrease by 31 cents per litre. The Single Maximum National Retail Price (SMNRP) for illuminating paraffin will see a 41 cent decrease and the maximum LPGas Retail Price will increase by 46 cents per kilogram. “The average Brent Crude oil price decreased from 71.04 US Dollars (USD) to 66.40 USD during the period under review,” said the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. It added that the tariff and trade war initiated by the United States which has raised global economic recession concerns, and a possible lower demand for crude oil, and oversupply of oil from non-OPEC countries and the anticipated increase in oil production by OPEC+ members were the main contributing factors for the fuel price adjustments. “The average international petroleum product prices of petrol and diesel followed the decreasing trend of crude oil prices while the price of LPG increased due to higher freight (shipping costs) during the period under review,” said the department. -SAnews.gov.za   lifestyle and provocative commentary from leading columnists Read more THE death threats levelled against Knysna Mayor Thando Matika in a voice note circulated in a WhatsApp group could be linked to the upcoming by-election in ward 8 This is according to the ANC Victor Molosi Region in Knysna as police confirmed they have since launched an investigation into a case of intimidation.  "The matter is investigated by our Provincial Detectives Serious and Violent Crime Investigations who have already identified a suspect the docket will be submitted to the Senior Public Prosecutor to decide whether prosecution will be instituted or not No one has been arrested yet," said police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie According to the ANCYL Victor Molosi Region “disturbing” voice notes had been circulating where a “rogue individual” makes death threats against Matika's life “We are aware of organised attempts by a few to destabilise Knysna These malicious efforts aim to undermine the progress and harmony achieved by the diligent work of the Mayor and his mayoral committee which includes dedicated leaders of the ANCYL like Deputy Regional Convener Kay Andrews We call on the authorities to thoroughly investigate these attempts and hold accountable those who seek to disrupt the peace and prosperity of Knysna We take these threats with the utmost seriousness a Councillor was gunned down in front of his house in Knysna We must learn to tolerate each other even at the height of disagreements The criminal making these threats must be arrested and should expose the others he is referring to in the circulating voice notes,” the ANC in the region said.  Approached for further comment on the matter spokesperson Moyisi Magalela said the person behind the voice note is a member but not part of leadership structures.  “We got to learn there are people who know him who could identify him on the voice note he was sending In the voice note he is talking about the mayor and his leadership style It looks like he said there was an attempt before he is saying the new mayor has big shoes to fill and questioning his leadership style.  "Because of the past experience of Victor Molosi we told the mayor he must not take these things lightly In that light he understands things are not normal and went to the police,” Magalela said.   He said they intended to talk to the structures about the incident to calm things down ahead of the by-election and urged law enforcement agencies to act swiftly.  The municipality said they had met with police on the issue and a new date for a budget Integrated Development Plan meeting which was scheduled to be addressed by Matika “The Knysna Municipality takes the recent security concerns very seriously While we cannot discuss specific security protocols in the media we can confirm that the Municipality has engaged with SAPS on this matter The threats are deeply concerning as they not only endanger public representatives but also undermine Council’s constitutional mandate and the public’s right to participate in democratic processes such as the IDP and budget consultations A new meeting date for Ward 8 must still be finalised.  “Due to the sensitive nature of the matter we suggest that further queries regarding the investigation be directed to SAPS as they are the lead authority on this matter,” said municipal spokesperson Matika did not respond to requests for comment by deadline KNYSNA NEWS - The Simola Hillclimb has added another high-profile international brand to its family of sponsors with the announcement that BP Southern Africa has signed a four-year sponsorship commitment for what is renowned as the country's premier motoring and motorsport lifestyle event and one of the top hillclimb events in the world The 15th edition of the Simola Hillclimb is expected to be the biggest and best yet as well as top-level local and international drivers descending on Knysna from 1 to 4 May to compete in Classic Car Friday and the thrilling King of the Hill challenge says it is fantastic that the renowned international fuel brand which has a long history in South Africa and in local motorsport "The BP brand and colours have been synonymous with so many international race teams making it an honour for the Simola Hillclimb to join this roster and forge our own partnership legacy together." general manager of mobility and convenience at BP Southern Africa says: "We are honoured to bring our most advanced fuels brand to the country's premier motorsport event." The BP sponsorship reaffirms the unique proposition the Simola Hillclimb offers for engaging with the thousands of motoring and motorsport enthusiasts that attend the event each year Last year's record attendance exceeded 19 000 people which offers significant additional exposure and value for sponsors as it reaches local and international enthusiasts Last year the Simola Hillclimb livestream feed reached 85 countries with almost 423 000 views and well over five million minutes of content delivered globally the event's YouTube videos currently have more than 40 million views The event livestream is free and covers the three days of competition from 2 to 4 May. It can be accessed via the website www.simolahillclimb.com  The 15th edition of the Simola Hillclimb takes place from 1 to 4 May KNYSNA NEWS - A body of recent works by renowned artist Lionel Smit will be exhibited at Knysna Fine Art from 3 May sculptures and hand-finished silkscreens embodies the diversity in Smit's work - the fine tension between classical painting and a contemporary sometimes fragmented depiction of subjects His palette changes from warm classical reds and umbers to soft pastels Smit revisits the reclining and sitting figure in a series of smaller sculptures The artist emphasises the modelling process the way shapes are formed in the hand of the artist through markings in the clay and movement in the figures The collection reflects the oeuvre of the artist and the ever-present shift between classical and contemporary expression is one of South Africa's most prolific and exalted artists His artistic diversity is pursued through a variety of mediums and he is best known for his contemporary portraiture each of Smit's works offers an entry point into the variety and richness that lies beneath every face we encounter in life The blending of techniques across genres is a display of Smit's work in multiple media all bearing a visible and tangible overlap “Shift captures my journey as an artist navigating the quiet transformations that redefine how I create This exhibition marks a departure from the bold embracing smaller brushstrokes,” Smit says small figurative sculptures embody this idea of focusing on larger fragmented pieces into more subtle and delicate work that demands precision and introspection "Each mark and form reflects a personal evolution - a move toward subtlety where the smallest detail carries the weight of change." Smit's pieces are held in prestigious collections and institutions worldwide including notable achievements such as the public display of his monumental bronze sculpture Morphous in Union Square Smit has held solo exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Moca) in Miami and the Didrichsen Art Museum in Helsinki Knysna: Monday to Friday: 09:00 to 17:00; Saturdays: 09:00 to 13:00 GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The manager of the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park has been appointed as the regional general manager for the Garden Route Region which was announced on Friday 25 April by SANParks managing executive for parks Mokoena joined SANParks as a duty manager at Golden Gate Highlands National Park in 2005 he was appointed as the front-office manager for the Golden Gate Hotel and in 2011 he was appointed as tourism manager In 2013 he was promoted to regional manager of tourism and marketing for the northern region (Golden Gate Highlands he was appointed acting park manager for Golden Gate Highlands between 2015 and 2017 where he also raked in a number of prestigious awards Tsitsikamma again won the Best Performing National Park in the country and Best Ranger Post in the Country while the Best Leadership award was awarded to Mokoena "It has been busy and very exciting," said Mokoena Part of his management philosophy is his firm belief in community and stakeholder inclusion in park management KNYSNA NEWS - A Pretoria man was rescued on Monday morning after getting into difficulty while paddling near the Knysna Heads According to NSRI Knysna station commander Jerome Simonis the station's duty crew were activated at 08:38 following reports from eyewitnesses who saw the man struggling in the water.  while shore crew maintained a visual on the casualty from a lookout point an NSRI rescue swimmer went into the surf to assist him Despite challenging conditions and a retreating tide the crew managed to safely recover both the man and his surf-ski The paddler was brought ashore at the Knysna lagoon and The NSRI has praised the swift action of bystanders in reporting the incident and reminded paddlers to always ensure they are properly equipped and monitored when venturing into open water fans in Knysna are waking up to the sights and sounds of the 2025 Simola Hillclimb commences Let’s see what the weather has in store for the spectators KNYSNA NEWS - A Hornlee man who has risen to the rank of commander in the SA Navy has been named as the commanding officer of a new navy ship Commander Gurshwin Herwels (38) received the honour from the chief of the navy who is based at the SA Navy's headquarters in Pretoria and is a hydrographic surveyor in the navy directorate of maritime planning who attended Knysna Secondary School in Hornlee received training at the Knysna Sea Cadets as teenagers The two attended the same school as the twins and now work as an occupational health inspector in Knysna and principal traffic inspector in Malmesbury The brothers were brought up by their mother I have no doubt that Gurshwin will be successful in his new role He is a man of good character," she said I am grateful to see how his childhood dream became a reality." the unit training officer at the Knysna Sea Cadets said Gurshwin's elevation to commanding officer of the ship brought pride to the organisation "It's a proud moment for us and a testament to the quality of the training we give teenagers "This is inspiration for the cadets we have currently and it shows the public that the cadets are getting somewhere through being committed to the organisation," Hennies said KNYSNA NEWS - The Best of Knysna Readers' Choice Awards are landing soon and we need you to help us shine the spotlight on all the local legends that make our town amazing we’re throwing open the doors for nominations That means it's your chance to shout out your go-to coffee shop and even the DIY wizard who can fix literally anything Got a favourite business that deserves the gold-star treatment Know a beauty spot that makes you feel like royalty Obsessed with a restaurant you recommend to everyone It's totally free to nominate and vote Just the people of Knysna lifting each other up Brought to you by Knysna-Plett Herald, this is our way of celebrating the heart, hustle and flavour that make Knysna Knysna. So keep an eye on www.bestofsouthafrica.co.za/knysna-plett/ and follow Knysna-Plett Herald on Facebook for all the juicy updates Let’s make some noise for our local legends and turn this town into a celebration zone Nominations are now open! Click here to nominate your favorite businesses today! BUSINESS NEWS - Garden Route Shuttles offers reliable daily transfers to and from George Airport and Plettenberg Bay Book online today for a seamless, stress-free journey along the Garden Route! For more information, please visit www.gardenrouteshuttle.co.za/daily-airport-shuttle/ Discounts for groups of 2 or moreOur daily shuttle service is the go-to choice for locals and visitors alike thanks to its reputation for reliability and punc-tuality Pre-bookings essentialTo guarantee your seat on our daily shuttle service Simply choose your desired pick-up and drop-off locations Garden Route AppWith our Garden Route App we bring smart safe and seamless transport to the Garden Route The app is a new-generation travel platform designed specifically for the Garden Route region cashless and easy-to-use transport solution VisionThe Garden Route App aims to become the preferred transport platform along the Garden Route AvailabilityThe Garden Route App is now available for download on Google Play and Apple App Store with services operational across major towns in the region For more information, please visit www.gardenrouteshuttle.co.za/uber-service/ A new dam and water treatment centres are some of the fresh long-term plans for new Knysna mayor Thando Matika But in the short term he wants the municipality to start fixing infrastructure that has been at the root of several service delivery problems in the coastal municipality Matika, an ANC councillor, spoke to Daily Maverick shortly after being elected mayor unopposed on 28 February 2025 during a special council meeting. He explained some of the problems in the “Jewel of the Garden Route”, including a lack of trust from residents and service delivery issues. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Read more: ‘When two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers — and Knysna is the grass’ people don’t have trust in the Knysna Municipality so we need to restore that trust,” said Matika He is the municipality’s third mayor since the 2021 local government elections who was ousted in 2022 and who was followed by the ANC’s Aubrey Tsengwa Tsengwa was removed on Valentine’s Day this year following an outcry from residents. A swing vote from EFF councillor Neil Louw delivered the final blow and confirmed that the community had lost faith in Tsengwa’s ability to lead Knysna is led by a coalition of the ANC, Patriotic Alliance and regional party Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads former mayor Davis advised him to remember the wards that needed support in terms of service delivery Matika had been a ward councillor until the 2021 elections when he secured a council seat as a proportional representation candidate Before joining politics he worked in the municipality’s infrastructure department The DA constituency head for Knysna, Ryan Smith described Matika’s appointment as “merely a reshuffle of the chairs on the Titanic to maintain the interests of the coalition of corruption and disregard those of Knysna’s residents” an organisation that aims to unite residents across the municipality “The problem is he’s still part of the ANC That is where the conflict comes in,” said Stander on Matika saying the party had been implicated in the malfunctioning of Knysna Stander said that if Matika was given a clean slate without having political party baggage either with the ANC or the current coalition He disagreed with Matika’s focus on improving infrastructure and said the first priority in the municipality should be getting rid of corruption “We need to sort out the fact that the municipality doesn’t even have one vehicle, like a rubbish truck or any of these big trucks – it’s all being hired from a certain supplier,” he claimed, citing the alleged influence corruption has on service delivery. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Matika told Daily Maverick the municipality had been receiving service delivery complaints, especially about water, sewage and potholes.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “Some of the infrastructure of the municipality “Most of the challenges will derive from burst pipes there will be challenges in terms of water… in terms of [sewage] there are challenges because it’s going to the lagoon.”  In Knysna’s 2024/25 budget former mayor Tsengwa announced that R52.8-million had been allocated to repairs and maintenance of which R46.4-million would go to infrastructure services “So there are challenges and the municipality is dealing with it,” said Matika who said the municipality had been facing financial challenges for more than a decade There were short and long-term goals for the municipality: “We are reprioritising some of the budget to address more especially infrastructure projects such as water and sanitation the municipality had applied for grants to build an extra water treatment centre “because in our town we only have one” The municipality had also applied to build another dam to increase its water storage capacity The current dam and water treatment centre was built when Knysna’s population was low Knysna lies between Cape Town and Gqeberha According to the latest Census there were 96,055 people living in Knysna in 2022 89.6% of residents had access to flushing water connected to sewerage and by 2022 this had risen to 93.9% Matika said his administration is engaging with different stakeholders in a bid to bring them on board He added that they were not “one-sided” on governance “We are a government that involves communities and businesses We also have to meet with businesses and civil society for us to build Knysna “But we cannot do it alone and we know that we need stakeholders we need your businesses… We need civil society so that we can restore the trust of people in Knysna.” DM There is zero chance that this will dramatically improve things They sided with the ANC to break the DA coalition but on the ground are he and his mates committed to see towns like Knysna thrive Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Friday attend and deliver the keynote address at the Knysna Regional 2024 Investment Conference scheduled to take place at the Knysna Premier Hotel Conference Centre The Knysna Regional 2024 Investment Conference is organised through partnership between Government the private sector as well as the civil society under the theme: “Investments through Skills and Capacity building in the broader region” led by partners that include the Greater Knysna Business Chamber is aimed at promoting Knysna as an attractive investment destination in the Western Cape and South Africa at large The Conference will be attended by delegates from various industries in Tourism Government continues to champion partnership with the private sector labour and civil society in tackling some of the most immediate challenges facing the South African economy amongst other government-led investment drives on a Government-wide initiative known as Operation Vulindlela a joint initiative led by the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms and support for economic recovery Government aims to modernise and transform network and infrastructure industries transport and digital communications to improve the living conditions of the people Deputy President Mashatile will be accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Higher Education Dr Mimmy Gondwe; Deputy Minister of Finance Mr Ashor Sarupen; Deputy Minister of Forestry Andrew Stroebel; as well as the Executive Mayor Date: Friday,15 November 2024Venue: Knysna Premier Hotel For more information and accreditation please contact Mr Sam Bopape (The Presidency) on 082 318 5251 or Ms Nwabisa Pondoyi (Knysna Local Municipality) on 060 998 7085 Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840 Simola Hillclimb is to South Africa what Goodwood Festival of Speed is to the UK it’s not as grand an event as the British hillclimb but ask any South African petrol head to name one must-attend event and they will undoubtedly mention Knysna's celebration of motoring which sees all manner of machinery tackle the 1.9km road up to Simola Hotel Here’s everything we experienced at the event’s breathtaking 15th edition.  Having totalled my beloved Alfa Romeo 75 after a suspension failure en-route to cover the event last year I set out with just a smidge of trepidation in my supercharged 1991 Mazda MX-5 just in time to witness Classic Car Friday which saw a plethora of vintage machinery contend with surprisingly dreary conditions.  The driver of the 7.0-litre V8-powered Corvette certainly had his hands full with a great deal of wheel spin off the starting line while even the lower-powered Datsun GX Coupes made up for lost traction with their impressive burnouts winning over the crowds conditions began improving and the track dried out as the day progressed allowing spectators to revel in the noise from monsters like the Chevron B19 screaming up the hill at full tilt it was Charles Arton’s March 79a single-seater that won the class dispatching the course in an impressive 44.436 second run up the hill As the classics were cooling down after a day of hard competition we migrated to Knysna’s picturesque waterfront for the annual parade Thousands of people line the holiday town’s streets as the sun begins to set for the chance to witness the hillclimb competitors demonstrate their considerable horsepower figures with magnificent smoky burnouts we spotted every generation of the legendary Nissan GT-R including Franco Scribante’s dual-winged time attack monster (more on that later) but surprisingly it was a wide body LS7 V8-powered BMW Z4 that made the most dramatic display of vaporising its tyres.  Volkswagen Polo has cemented itself in South African car culture above any other model — except for the Citi Golf perhaps — and its no surprise as the Polo is manufactured exclusively at Volkswagen’s Eastern Cape plant in Kariega to properly celebrate the iconic model’s 50th birthday Volkswagen sent their works team with a handful of Polo World Rallycross cars — wearing the magnificent 50th anniversary Harlequin livery — alongside seven-time world rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson and his championship-winning fully-electric Polo RX1e Anyone who tells you electric cars are boring hasn’t seen this 670 horsepower all-wheel-drive beast launch off the starting line because the sound and speed are truly something else.  With the weekend came the start of the King of the Hill shootout in earnest This is where the weekend’s most fearsome machinery finally managed to start setting some times with the plethora of Nissan GT-Rs quickly setting themselves apart as competitors to watch there was one car we found ourselves returning to time and time again and that was Franco Scribante’s missile of an R35 Nissan GT-R but two enormous DRS-enabled wings at the front and rear according to Franco this camo-green time attack machine can produce up to 2 tonnes of downforce while its completely overhauled V6 produces between 1,400hp and 1,600hp depending on the state of tune Franco revealed that the team was still developing the suspension setup and so they weren’t able to fully demonstrate what this mighty GT-R was capable of.  the winner of the Modified Saloon Car shootout wasn’t a GT-R or even Johan Kristoffersson in his Polo RX1e but the meanest third-generation MR-2 we’ve ever laid eyes on Driven by Peter Zeelie up the hill in just 37.090 seconds 3.5-litre V6 powered Toyota proved the rear-wheel-drive machines can still hold their own against the all-wheel-drive rockets from the likes of Nissan and Audi the road and supercar shootout was won by Clint Weston at the wheel of a new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance beating out a McLaren 720S and Audi R8 V10 Plus while the fastest single-seater of the day was the Formula VW Reynard driven by Byron Mitchell.  it’s incredible to see just how far this event has come since I attended the very first edition of the Simola Hillclimb as a young car-obsessed lad Having been spoiled by Europe's numerous fantastic automotive celebrations The gorgeous setting of Knysna is simply the cherry on top of a world-class petrol-fuelled extravaganza.  Pieter Joubert — a widely-loved figure in the local car scene — lost his life during his first run on Sunday morning when a mechanical failure caused his AMG V8-powered Lotus to veer off the track It was a shocking reminder of just how dangerous motorsport can be and the entire Classic Driver team extends our condolences to his family and friends.  KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna mayoral committee member for community services was arrested in the Eastern Cape on Friday 11 April for the alleged assault on fellow PA Eastern Cape provincial member Tiphany Stacey Harmse The incident was highlighted in a long Facebook video posted by PA leader Gayton Mckenzie which occurred in Harmse’s residence McKenzie posted that Harmse had told him Groot boom had spat in her face and that she spat back into his face police were called and broke into Harmse’s residence.The two had been in a relationship but recently broke up McKenzie said he had recruited Grootboom into the PA and treated him like a son.He said he would be taking serious action against Grootboom and said he had to “pay the ultimate price” and would be removed from his position I will speak to him and get him help,” said McKenzie Before being appointed as a member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Council Harmse served for a brief period as a PA councillor in the Bitou municipality KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna Mall was without electricity from about 13:00 today were able to continue operating by using back-up generators.  The Knysna Municipality is the licensed electricity provider for the town with it buying electricity in bulk from Eskom and then providing it to businesses and residents who pay the municipality for the amounts used A person who was at the mall after the power went off said many of the retailers there had suddenly stopped operating Businesses surrounding the mall were operating as normal The Knysna Mall said at 17:40 that power to the mall would be restored at around 18:10 "An urgent application was granted at the George High Court directing the municipality to restore the electricity with immediate effect," Donald Curtis The Knysna Municipality has been asked for information on the blackout at Knysna Mall global markets have delivered strong annual returns — around 8% to 10% per year Any investor would be happy with that result But those returns didn’t come in a straight line There were multiple points where it felt like the market was on the verge of collapse — Brexit they recovered — often faster than expected Every little red ‘X’ in the chart above felt like the world was ending This is the reality of investing: the path is messy That’s why we design portfolios with this in mind.  For clients who may need access to funds in the next year or two we set aside enough in cash or low-risk assets so they’re not forced to sell growth investments during a downturn.  It’s not about avoiding volatility — it’s about being prepared for it Because here’s the key point: drawdowns are normal But holding a diversified portfolio — and staying invested — continues to beat cash over time You don’t need to predict the next crash You just need a plan that makes it easier to hold on when it comes Matthew Matthee has a wealth management business that specialises in retirement planning and investments. He writes about financial markets, investments, and investor psychology. He holds a Masters Degree in Economics from Stellenbosch University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning from UFS. MatthewM@gravitonwm.com  KNYSNA NEWS - The lights are back on at the Knysna Mall This follows a court order granted in the Thembalethu High Court in George yesterday the result of an urgent application brought by Grey Elephant Investments (GEI) GEI brought the application in the chambers of Judge MR Dolamo after the municipality had cut the mall’s electricity off at about 13:00 yesterday the Knysna municipality is also a tenant at the mall The municipality’s move is believed to be in terms of its debt collection policy Judge Dolamo granted the order to restore the electricity supply immediately GEI and the municipality have been at loggerheads for the past three years over the alleged outstanding debt of GEI GEI challenged the constitutionality of the municipality’s tariff policy were able to continue operating by using back-up generators Knysna Mall without electricity | Knysna-Plett Herald  KNYSNA NEWS - Alleged death threats have surfaced in ANC circles in Knysna with the Knysna municipality calling in the SAPS to investigate the matter and describing the situation as “sensitive" SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies has confirmed that two cases of intimidation were opened at the Knysna Police Station on Thursday “Investigation into these matters is still underway SAPS is not at liberty to divulge the particulars of the complainant/s,” he said contained in voice notes in isiXhosa and allegedly aimed at Knysna mayor Thando Matika according to a news release from the ANC Youth League The result was that a budget Integrated Development Plan meeting that was to be addressed by council Speaker Mncedisi Skosana and Matika Read the full article in next week's Knysna-Plett Herald