Music fest to rock Richmond Hill

Picture: Mike Holmes

By Shaanaaz de Jager

NELSON Mandela Bay’s vibey Richmond Hill will be a feast of French flair, fun, live entertainment, stalls and more when its popular annual music festival takes place.
Now in its third year, the Richmond Hill Street Music Festival Fete de la Musique – will offer revellers and music lovers 12 hours of top local, national  and international entertainment when it kicks off at 10am on Saturday June 23.
Aurélien de Chappotin from the Alliance Française of Port Elizabeth which is hosting the event said they expected attendance crowd to be double that of last year.
“Last year about 6000 people attended the festival; this time we are expecting more than 10000 festival-goers,” De Chappotin said. Some 25 artists from South Africa, France and Reunion will perform.  He said the festival would be the “unofficial party before and after the game” before the rugby test between SA and England.
The main stage will be at the corner of Stanley and St Phillips streets, the second stage in front of the Alliance Française on the corner of Mackay and Raleigh streets. There will also be performances  in front of Vovo Telo and at the Granary.

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday June 16 2012. 

Island gave young wife bird’s eye view of life

Robyn Rohm has written a book about her time on Bird Island.

By Barbara Hollands

SPENDING three years on a deserted island the size of four rugby fields amid heaps of bird guano and “skinnering” about penguins is not a lifestyle choice for many – but for Eastern Cape nature conservationist Robyn Rohm the experience was an adventure that helped define the rest of her life.
As newly married nature conservationists working in Namibia in the early 1990s, Rohm and her husband Sean were on the lookout for an island to work on, but when he landed a job on Bird Island, 60km north of Port Elizabeth, neither of them had ever heard of it.
During her three-year island stint her interactions with African penguins and gannets came to represent her social life and Rohm kept a candid daily journal which has now been published as a beautiful book called I(s)land: Between the Desert and the Deep Blue Sea, complete with photographs and whimsical illustrations by Sean, who is also an artist and poet.
“I started my diary the day before we arrived at Bird Island in 1993 until the day I left, three years later, but it was never actually meant to be published,” said Rohm, who now lives with Sean and her two children, Heath, 9, and baby Tanna, in Morgan Bay, where the couple own the idyllic Yellowwood Forest Campsite on the Inchara River. While she initially looked forward to her short stints off the island every six weeks and flew to Port Elizabeth armed with copious lists of things she needed, Rohm eventually chose to forego her visits to civilisation.
It took a year, but the Rohms eventually caved in and started feeding abandoned penguin babies rather than watch them die.
“Sometimes when life is chaotic I can tap into it,” she said. “Bird Island was our first home as a married couple and I would love to visit it again. I lost my heart to a small wind-swept island and I will always be connected to it.”
I(s)land: Between the Desert and the Deep Blue Sea will be available in bookstores in the next few weeks.

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday May 12, 2012.

Stroll down memory lane on mosaic of colour, taste

Staff at Green Leaf Cafe (from left) Megan Kroutz, Nobesthu Ndlovu, Thando Lunge, Sonwabile Tobi with manager Jean Rigby. Picture: Mike Holmes

By Ina Randall

COULD there be a better way to while away a sunny winter morning than sitting on the Donkin, looking out over the historical heart of Port Elizabeth while savouring a cup of steaming coffee? I think not.
It is a memory place, and not only for the late Sir Rufane Donkin who built the little pyramid in memory of his beloved wife, Elizabeth, and then named the city after her. Close by a row of charmingly sculpted metal people line up to vote, with Madiba at the head and one approaches the coffee shop over a beautiful stretch of mosaic depicting maritime themes.
Since the establishment of the Green Leaf Cafe in the Donkin pyramid building, many older patrons have recounted tales of days gone by to Jean Rigby of the Wilderness Foundation, who currently overseas the coffee shop. “They remember how they used to walk over the Donkin to get to buses in Main Street,” says Rigby.
Describing this eatery as a view with a bargain is probably just the ticket, because its prices are very reasonable.
To this end the cafe serves a series of traditional dishes, including roosterkoek (R22), bobotie (R38), beef stew with samp and beans (R38), tomato bredie (R38) and koeksisters (R15).
A variety of sandwiches, quiches and salads are available. The rosa tomato, roast pepper and caramalised onion quiche (R32) and the beef fillet and Moroccan cous cous salad (R46) are definitely among my future taste plans.
My most recent visit was for breakfast and the croissant with scrambled eggs and bacon (R36) proved a winner.
A sweet tooth person myself, I have opted for their scones with jam and cream on several occasions and have found the scones just the right mix of soft and crispy, a bargain at R14.
The Green Leaf at the Donkin is open from 8am to 4.30pm on weekdays and from 9.30am to 3.30pm on Saturdays. Their contact number is (041) 582-1303 and the venue is wheelchair friendly.

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday May 12, 2012.

IPTS routes to start running in July

By Patrick Cull

THE first routes on the long- awaited Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) between Motherwell, Njoli Square and Greenacres, and Uitenhage and KwaNobuhle will start running from July 1.
A report to the Nelson Mandela Bay council on Friday said that following a workshop on Wednesday it had been agreed that during peak hours in the morning “express buses” would run directly from Motherwell to Greenacres via the freeway. Others buses would link Njoli Square and the shopping centre.
At peak periods, the buses will operate at 10 minute intervals “so there is no demand for more buses in the Motherwell-Njoli area”.
The buses purchased for the 2010 World Cup will be used and divided between the Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage routes.
The launch of the IPTS follows an agreement between the municipality, Laphu’milanga Secondary Cooperative – which represents the taxi associations – and the Algoa Bus Company.
The report says a “high-level dispute resolution and political structure” has been put in place involving the politicians and the chairman of the secondary cooperative.
Seven work streams have been set up to address outstanding issues that include loading facilities at Motherwell and Greenacres, finalisation of bus stops and removal of speed humps.
The next route on which the IPTS will be rolled out is Cleary Park, from January next year.

This is a version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday May 12, 2012.

Boost for tourism as PE chosen as Afcon host city

By Patrick Cull and Yolandé Stander

EASTERN Cape residents may have been told by 2010 Fifa World Cup organisers that the spectacle was a “once in a lifetime” event but Friday’s announcement that Port Elizabeth will be a host city for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations is creating almost as much buzz.
Following the announcement by Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula that the city would join Durban, Rustenburg and Mbombela as host cities, soccer fans, tourism authorities and business leaders across the province erupted in celebration.
The tournament is expected to be a massive boost for the region. A total of 16 teams – four of which will be based in Port Elizabeth – will participate in the event that will run from January 19 to February 10.
Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) chief executive Sybert Liebenberg said the city being chosen as a host was “phenomenal”. He said a tournament like the African Cup of Nations gave tourists every reason to visit the region.
“These people need to stay somewhere, they need to eat and get transport, so the direct and indirect spin-offs are massive. This is also a vote of confidence in the province that it has become a world class-sport destination.”
Although the cost of meeting the city’s obligations in terms of the tournament is expected to be around R30-million, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality economic development and recreational services executive director Zolile Siswana was “confident we will get financial support from both national and provincial government”.
In a report to the local Sport, Recreation, Arts and Cultural Services Committee he said the intention was for the provincial government to foot R20-million of the estimated costs and the municipality R10-million.
A report to parliament on the Sport and Recreation Department budget k said an additional R26-million had been made available for guarantees required for staging the tournament.
 – Additional reporting Sapa

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday May 5, 2012.

Lone cyclist ends African odyssey

Eugene Szulik of Poland has been tireless in his trek. Picture: Mike Holmes

By Shaanaaz de Jager

A EUROPEAN construction worker who gave up his job to pursue his dream of trekking around Africa on a bicycle has ended his journey in the Eastern Cape.
Eugene Szulik, from Marklowice in Poland, began his African odyssey on November 4 last year and has now covered a distance of 13000km, visiting nine countries – Egypt, Northern Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, South Africa and Tanzania.
“I’ve always wanted to visit Africa to see the animals in their natural habitat and see how the people here live,” said Szulik. He ended his journey in Port Elizabeth camping in the backyard of a couple’s home.
“I saved my money and quit my job. I was hoping to get as far as Cape Town but I pre-booked my Port Elizabeth air ticket so I was not sure what time I would be back in PE if I had to cycle to Cape Town,” he said.
“PE is a lovely city. There’s lots to see here. I saw the Ironman competitors and those people are amazing.”
Szulik began cycling from Hurghada, south of Cairo. Although he did not encounter any problems he was forced to pack up his bicycle and take a bus through northern Kenya, where tribal fighting was rife.
Whenever Szulik tired he simply set up his tent in bushes alongside the road or in villages whose residents were always ready to welcome him.
In Port Elizabeth the police allowed him to sleep at the New Brighton and Humewood stations.
Szulik especially enjoyed sampling the different foods from the various African nations. He said the tap water in Nelson Mandela Bay was of the best he had encountered.

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday May 5, 2012.

Van Vuuren makes the grade for top French rugby club

Michael van Vuuren

By George Byron

A DREAM has come true for former Grey High schoolboy and current Free State rugby hooker Michael van Vuuren  who has signed a lucrative “big money” two-year contract  to play for the world-famous Stade Francais club.

The big-spending French outfit, who are known as the Manchester United of French rugby and regularly play in front of 80 000 fans at France’s national stadium Stade de France, have had their sights on Van Vuuren for some time. Van Vuuren, 20, who played for the EP Craven week team and the  Grey 1st XV in 2008 and 2009, made a name for himself while playing hooker for the Springbok  under-20 team at the IRB Junior World Championship.

The Port Elizabeth-born forward’s name was put forward to Stade Francais by the South African-born former French prop Pieter de Villiers who worked with Van Vuuren at Investec Academy last year.

“Pieter’s decision to put my name forward to Stade Francais played a big role in me receiving the offer from the club. My goal is to treat this as a  learning curve. I am still young and desperately keen to learn,” he said.

Asked why he had decided to move on, Van Vuuren said he felt the time had arrived for a new challenge. “I’m still young so now is probably the best time for me to go away for a few years and develop my game in key areas like scrum work and tight phases of play.” Van Vuuren says he has not turned his back on South Africa and still dreams of playing for the Boks.

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday April 28, 2012.

Kiddies’ court made more user-friendly

LET’S MAKE IT BETTER: Theodor Herzl Grade 7 pupils (from left) Antigua Koekemoer, Britney Meyers and Mvuyiseko Ntanjana were among a group that donated comforting items for awaiting young witnesses to regional magistrate Ronel Erasmus (back). Picture: Mike Holmes

By Mary-Jane Botha

THE children’s waiting and testifying areas in the Sexual Offences Court in Port Elizabeth are now friendlier, more comforting places to be, thanks to the care and thoughtfulness of Theodor Herzl Primary School pupils.

The Grade 7 class delivered boxes of bright cushions, cuddly toys, crayons and colouring books, and bags of non-perishable snacks to the Law Courts last week. Regional magistrate in the Sexual Offences Court, Ronel Erasmus, said the donations would ease the difficult wait for children called upon to testify.

“We see an average of two to three cases per day, with children sometimes as young as three and up, all of whom are feeling anxious and vulnerable. These wonderful additions to their waiting area will help to distract and comfort them.

We are most grateful to Theodor Herzl for thinking ‘out of the box’ and caring enough about their fellow youth to want to help them in this way,” said Erasmus.

The dedicated waiting area leads into a room with one-way glass which, when the light is switched on in the room, protects the testifying children from seeing the adjacent courtroom and the potentially intimidating proceedings.

Acting regional court president Samson Dunywa said an adult intermediary helped the children to give full testimonies and answer questions. He said because they are young the children tire easily and get hungry, so the donations of crisps and other snacks would help to keep them going.

Theodor Herzl Primary School principal Kevin Lees said the class had been on an educational outing to the court in 2011, which had prompted the idea to uplift the waiting area.

This is a shortened and updated version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday April 28, 2012.

Robbers mown down in bloody shoot-out

A member of the Tactical Response Team at Friday's shooting. Picture: Ivor Markman

By Shaanaaz de Jager

FIVE armed men were killed in a mid-morning shoot-out with police in the Port Elizabeth industrial area of Markman on Friday April 20 after members of the Tactical Response Team laid an ambush for the gang at a local business.
Business was brought to a standstill and bystanders and staff members dived for cover just before 9am as dozens of gunshots rung out while the heavily-armed gang exchanged fire with police, who had taken up positions inside the cash office of United National Breweries in Chevrolet Street.
The five suspects who were killed in the fire fight are believed to be between the ages of 25 and 35. No policemen or staff members of any of the nearby businesses were injured.
However two other suspects managed to escape.
According to staff members at Van’s Used Car Parts, next door to the brewery, one of the suspects who managed to escape the police ran into their premises and threw his gun between some tyres.
“He demanded that the tea lady give him a change of clothes and she gave him a blue overall,” said one staff member who did not want to be named.
“We were all so scared. One of our guys was on his way out but as soon as he heard the shots he left his bakkie and ran back in again. It sounded like war.”
Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge, who was on the scene, revealed  “one or two” of the men were known criminals. He said the police took tip-offs about heists of this nature very seriously.
Xolani Sirunu, a sales representative for United National Breweries, was fortunate to miss the shoot-out as he had been busy taking manager Robet Sigaza to the bus stop.
“When I got back the police did not want me to go inside,” Sirunu said. “The supervisor and one of the cleaning staff were traumatised and taken to hospital.”
Lieutenant General Celiwe Binta said police recovered six 9mm handguns at the scene as well as the Jetta. “This will send a strong message to criminals that we are squeezing their space to zero,” Binta said, praising the response team members.

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday April 21, 2012.

Ironman contestant doing 226km to fight cancer

By Shaanaaz de Jager

AN Eastern Cape business owner is using this weekend’s Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa to raise money and awareness for children with cancer.
Brian Wilson (left), of Hydro Dynamics, will compete in the gruelling 226km event on Sunday in Nelson Mandela Bay to highlight the plight of these children and raise money for the oncology ward at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town.
Wilson, who lives with wife Lee and their two children in Port Elizabeth, said he would also “honour survivors and those who died because of cancer”.
The Ironman challenges contestants in a 3,8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run.
Wilson’s grandfather Hugh Gardner, who was a “huge influence” in his life, died of cancer and he would also use the event to pay tribute to him. Wilson aims to raise about R80000.
He said his first triathlon was an off-road event in 2007: “It was my birthday present to myself – a challenge to get myself fit. I have lost over 40kg, from 130kg to 90kg. My first Ironman was in 2009 and this will be my second.
“Through my business I have been involved with Ironman South Africa since the first race in PE in 2005. We provide the tanks and pumps used for backup water supply around the course. Being involved in this way and seeing others compete inspired me.
“For every R80 a person donates they can give one name to go on my race jersey to honour someone they know who has suffered from cancer. The goal is 1000 names.”
Wilson said donations could be in memory of someone who had died, in honour of someone who had triumphed over cancer or in support of someone who was fighting the disease.
To make a donation visit www.backabuddy.co.za/ironman-for-kids-with-cancer

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday April 14, 2012.