Briewe / Letters

Thanks to all my PA friends

May I take this opportunity to thank the ladies of the Thursday Group for their hearty welcome and get well wishes on returning from Groote Schuur after my successful major coronary operation.

Very special thanks to Pieter and Suzelle Koorts for taking me to Groote Schuur and staying with me, supporting and nursing me, until I could come back to Prince Albert. Surely God will bless them for the great love and unselfish sacrifice they gave me.

So many times in my life I have walked through dark valleys facing and looking at death squarely in the eyes, but the loving hand of God was always there to pull me out.
If everybody on earth denies the presence of a loving God, but for me, admitting being a great sinner, He will always be real because I can feel His deep love for me in my heart.

Reinwald Dedekind

Keep it up, PA Primêr

I have been an enthusiastic reader of the Friend since moving to Prince Albert seven-and-a-half years ago and am delighted that the newspaper is once again carrying news of all that is happening at Prince Albert Primêr.

For a time, a visitor to this town would have been forgiven for believing that Hoërskool Zwartberg was the only school in town. Well done to all the teachers and pupils, who participate in the school’s activities and sporting events and who also take the time to write about them and keep us both informed and entertained.

Dawn Viljoen

Our First-Rate Post Office

Prince Albert should be proud of its Post Office. For not only can it deliver a letter when the address given is incorrect - but it can deliver when the recipient is well, a bitch...

At the beginning of August, my German shepherd dog, Sophie, who has chased almost every car in Prince Albert and retrieved almost every tortoise (gently) at Waterkop, received a letter addressed to her by her registered name Jasmine of Cadeau (with the sketch of a dog on the envelope and containing her pedigree papers). She hasn't read it yet - but one wonders what the postman thought?

Well done, the Post Office!

Cas St Leger

Gemeentefees Word Gemeenskapsfees

Ons Kerkbasaar was ‘n groot sukses en het ons verwagtinge oortref danksy die gemeenskapslojaliteit en goeie beplanning.

Ons doel was om ‘n feestelike atmosfeer te skep en die gunstige landboutoestande, reklame, die langnaweek en ideale weer het baie gehelp. Sonder die dames se bakvernuf en toewyding, die mans se spyseniering en die gaste se ondersteuning kon die fees nie slaag nie

‘n Spesiale dank ook aan die sangers wat ons luisterryk vermaak het, die jeugwerkers wat ons kinders moes trakteer en die kassiere wat tussen vele gepraat somme moes maak.

Volgende jaar maak ons weer so!

Johan Diedericks

Letters / Briewe

Stormwaterskade – wat doen die Munisipaliteit?

As 'n inwoner en huiseienaar wat gereeld my munisipale verpligte aangaande belasting en diensbetalings nakom rig ek my nou aan die Vriend.

Die foto op die voorblad van die vorige uitgawe (Maart 2009) het my beskadigde buitegebou vertoon, slegs 'n gedeelte van dieskade wat aanbuitegebou en muur aangerig is as gevolg van 'n stormwaterstelsel wat 'agterstevoor' gebou is. Gevolglik word die water in my oprit in die stormwater voor reg langs my eiendom af gelei.

Na die trauma en skok hetek die munisipaliteit geskakel en later persoonlik na die munisipaliteit gegaan. Ek het 'n skriftelike boodskap vir menere September en Swanepoel gelaat met 'n versoek om my dringend aangaandete kontak, ongelukkig sonder dat ek ooit verder as die ontvangsdame gekom het.

Myen buitegebou is platgevee en moes vinnigteen aansienlike koste opgeruim word omdat dit gevaarlik was om dit so te los.

My vrae is:

• Watter gebeurlikheidsplanneis na 'n maand van ondersoek en beplanning inom my en die ander inwoners van ons pragtige dorp te beskerm?
• Wat is die munisipaliteit se finansiele verpligting teenoor my wat aansienlike uitgawes gehad het omdat ‘n stormwatersloot foutief gebou is?

Barbara Gorniak

Pierneef and the Swartberg Pass

Bokkie Botha’s article on the Swartberg Pass (March 2009) refers.

I love the Pass and thought you may be interested to know I have an acquaintance who has just written to me as she teaches the Art of Photography and has sent me a copy of the Swartberg Pass as she photographed it recently, together with a copy of Pierneef’s painting of the Pass, clearly showing nothing has changed.

Could you use this info to promote interest in your project?

Beryl Rimes

Letters / Briewe

Ek Laat van My Hoor

Ek wil net ‘n klip in die bos gooi, na aanleiding van die redaksionele kommentaar oor Afrikaans (Februarie 2009).

Dit is so dat daar te min Afrikaans in die Vriend is, maar as daar nie Afrikaanse nuuswaardigheid geskryf word nie, kan daar mos nie Afrikaans wees nie.

Dié wat wel stories skryf wat nuuswaardig is, is goed. Daar word egter oor ons geskryf, en dan is dit ook in Engels. Ek het niks teen Engels nie, dit is ook ‘n taal net soos enige ander taal.

Gebeur daar dan niks in ons omgewing, straat of op die plase wat belangrik is nie? Ek lig maar net my mening. Ek woon op ’n plaas waar daar erge drankprobleme is.

Van die mense het al hul werk verloor, deur die drankmisbruik. Ek het al verskillende instansies genader, maar daar gebeur niks nie. As iemand miskien met raad en leiding kan help, sal dit waardeer word.

By voorbaat baie dankie

A Willemse

Klaarstroom Kla?

Ek is ‘n inwoner van die Klaarstroom gemeenskap wat ongelukkig is en teleurgesteld voel dat die onderburgemeester van die dorp toegelaat het dat ‘n vrou, wat in ‘n huis op ’n plaas gebly het waar haar pa vir meer as 10 jaar werksaam was, nou ‘n plakkerhut in die plakkerskamp moet opslaan.

Na haar ma se dood het die vrou vir haar pa huisgehou. Die eienaar van die plaas het haar van sinkplate voorsien om vir haar ‘n plakkerhut op te slaan terwyl die onderburgemeester geweet het hoe gekant die munisipaliteit teen plakkers is. ‘n Ander boer vat toe die huis en omskep dit in perdestalle wat baie netjies gemaak is in vergelyking met die ander arbeiders-huise, wat omtrent agt meter van die stalle af is.

Dieselfde onderburgemeester het gehelp om die plakkerskamp van water te voorsien. Daar was ‘n kraan in die middel van die plakkerskamp. Maar net ‘n paar weke daarna laat die onderburgemeester egter die kraan omtrent 50 meter van die plakkerskamp skuif. Daar is gestremde persone wat nou van water afgesny is en wat van ander persone afhanklik is.

Op 23 Februarie 2009 laat die onderburgermeester sy kar was met ‘n oop pyp wat van die gemeenskapsaal af kom en wat nie eens ‘n lae druk spuit aan het nie. Hy praat van watervermorsing in die plakkers-kamp, maar is dit nie juis watervermorsing om ‘n kar met ‘n oop, hoë druk pyp te was nie?

Anoniem

(Identiteit van die skrywer is aan Die Vriend bekend).

Om hoflikheidshalwe is ‘n afskrif van die brief aan die Onderburgemeester voorsien. Dit het die Onderburgemeester te laat bereik om in hierdie uitgawe kommentaar daaroor te lewer indien hy sou wou


Hinkmangesin sê dankie

As Hinkmangesin bedank ons hiermee van harte ‘n ieder en elk wat betrokke was met organisasie en ondersteuning vir die verkryging van ons minibus-taxi:

Mev Rachel Roberts, vir u tyd, raad en ritse oproepe, u was ons laaste uitweg en altyd was daar nog tyd en nog advies.

Ook die mense in die konstitusionele kantoor van die LP Novello J Mack, waar Mev Roberts ook werksaam is.

Mnr Dawid Rossouw vir die hulp en briewe wat u te midde van u druk program geskryf het.

Almal wat vir Willem saamry geleent-heid gegee het.

Verder almal wat nie by name genoem is nie, baie hartlik dankie.

Mev C Hinkman

Prince Albert vs Greyton?

The article “Heritage: Proudly Prince Albert or just another Greyton? (October 2008) refers.

Having lived in Greyton for thepart of four years, I have yet to come across a more caring and giving community than that of this village. No one has ever asked me what I do and how much money I have. They care about me and my well-being. The fact that Greyton is so sought-after has put a premium on property values, which sadly might give it the image of 'keeping up with the Joneses".

The writer’s perception of Greyton is seriously distorted.When last was he here and how well does he know the people? In fact, I have no doubt that Greyton is the centre of the Universe.

Leoné Rouillard

What a wonderful town

In March, four, not so young, beautiful or bold ladies visited your town and fell in love with the place.

We arrived on a Friday afternoon and our first stop was the Museum. It was a wonderful experience and was summed up as a ‘must revisit place’. It was almost homely… maybe because it brought back memories of what we recalled in our Grannies’ homes. A big thanks to Debbie for all the time she spent with us, pointing out certain items of interest and the little parting gift of a very special “Friendship Poem”.

We then rushed ‘home’ to our cottage for the weekend … Vergeet-My-Niet…what a wonderful place and a garden to die for! Unpacked the car and managed to make the Ghost Walk on Friday the 13th. Just our luck, the wind came up and made it rather unpleasant to walk about, so no problem, Ailsa came home with us and continued with all the stories and had us in stitches. I can’t recall when we all laughed so much! Oh, if only we’d had teachers like Ailsa at school it would have been a more enjoyable place!

On Saturday morning we experienced the street breakfast….such a pity there was not a Sunday one as well! Boerie rolls, pancakes & figs & figs & figs……say no more!

Wherever we went, we were asked if we were the ‘Quilters’? At first we were surprised, and then felt honoured! Good news spreads! Yes, we were the quilters, and met your very own Patchwork Dolls.

It was such a pleasure to meet the local group and if we made a noise… apologies! But you can’t expect 12 women, who have such a passion, to be quiet. Naturally we all wanted to talk at once! Hopefully we will be back for a big Show and Tell (Quilt-related… quilters don’t tell tales!) and a big quilt meeting!

But what was just the best: before all the Patchwork Dolls arrived we had a very special visitor… Romy. Never have we had ‘foot fiddles’ in such a setting. Here we all are, sitting in this magnificent garden, feet in baths of cold water and having someone on their knees ‘toeing’ to us. Who needs a fancy beauty parlour when you can have Romy and Pam’s rose garden!
Saturday evening was spent at Karoo Kombuis - a splendid Karoo lamb meal, music fundi….. we agreed that Michael should be on Noot Vir Noot…. he would most certainly win! And a lemon pudding that left you wanting more! Just a pity about the sheep, watching us from the other side of the fence!

On Sunday we returned home, feeling rejuvenated and very privileged to have spent a weekend in a very different type of heaven.

Ruth Casti
Knysna

Letters / Briewe

Villa Kruger’s Owner Explains

I was a little surprised that you should publish a letter from Lutz and Veronika Diegel (January 2009) when neither they nor you asked me for an explanation.

Villa Kruger, Paul Kruger’s last home, within which he died in Clarens, Montreux has undergone various metamorphoses in the hands of different Afrikaner owners: beautifully restored, a museum, later an upmarket guest house. I was in Montreux for the jazz festival about 10 years ago and went for walk, stumbling upon the house. What extraordinary synchronicity it was. I had been battling for months whether I should return to South Africa, with which I have always had a stormy relationship, or not. It was all too surreal. The builders, speaking Afrikaans. The manager and his wife invited me for dinner, the first boerekos I had had in almost three decades.

Was he, the manager, I thought a reincarnation of Kruger, I wondered? Though his kids were learning French, he wasn’t able to master the language. His eyes were so sorrowful. He was desperately unhappy. Montreux is exquisitely beautiful. Across the footpath, the lake, framed by massive glaciers.

But of course it isn’t Africa, with its veld, the overwhelming sun, its rawness.

Villa Kruger, previously called Aloe Cottage, is the name of my house. The sign comes from that very villa in Clarens.

It is far more than a souvenir; it is a continuation of a campaign I spearheaded in France, to return the remains of Sarah Baartman, the so-called ‘Hottentot Venus’ back to South Africa.
It is the theme of my project, Toorkuns. It is about exile and the concomitant (untranslatable) heimwee.

It is about Kruger and his men - their wives and children in concentration camps - who were shipped off to St Helena, Ceylon, Argentina. It is about others who were banished, later. Breytenbach and Makeba, to mention two of many.

It is an autobiography.

Hennie Boshoff

Well done, Alf Joubert

I would like to commend Alf Joubert and his group ofcollectorspickingthe litterthe Pass during December (see “Cleaning the Swartberg”, January 2009).They are a fine example to us all.

Romy Mathews

Letters / Briewe

Villa Kruger?

Groot was ons verbasing toe ons tydens ‘n uitstappie na Skapies-einde se kant ‘n groot uithangbord met dié opskrif aan die heining van die voor-malige Aloe Cottage gevind het:

Villa Kruger
Sterfteplek van die Boerepresident
Paul Kruger

In geskiedenislesse in hoërskool in Duits-land het ek geleer dat hierdie volksheld, wat ook in Duitsland hoog aangeskryf word, na driejarige ballingskap in 1904 in Clarens, Switzerland, oorlede is. Die fraaie Vrystaatse dorp Clarens is hierna genoem.

Dit is te bevraagteken of die woord “Villa” vir hierdie huis van toepassing is.

Lutz en Veronika Diegel

Brilliant Prince Albert Police

On Monday morning 12 January at about 8am, we received a call from our neighbour to say we had had a burglary at our house in Prince Albert. Distressed by the news we then contacted the Police in Prince Albert. They proceeded to tell us that not only were they aware of the break-in, but that they had already apprehended the suspects, as well as recovered all our stolen household goods!

We were overwhelmed! Overjoyed and amazed!

At 5am on Monday morning, a patrol vehicle had stopped a suspicious vehicle, discovered the stolen goods, and arrested the two thieves. All this happened before we even knew we had been robbed!
We cannot express enough gratitude and thanks to all the staff involved both on the ground, as well as at the Police Station. Their regular patrols, sharp its,and prompt action certainly contribute to making Prince Albert one of the safest towns in South Africa.

Our sincere thanks once again.

Gordon and Caroline Midgley
Johannesburg

Save Our Leopard Tortoises

On Monday 12 January, travelling the R407 into Prince Albert, a guest to the town witnessed a Blue 4x4 with GP registration plates travelling at high speed intentionally drive over a Leopard Tortoise crossing the road. Their words to me were “they had ample space and time to move across the road and not harm the tortoise”.

I ask myself - why in the world would anyone do such a heinous thing to a creature that hurts no man or beast. How wonderful it would be if the Department of Roads and Cape Nature Conservation chose to do something about the protection of these gentle giants of the Mountain by placing warning signs along the road.

Although Leopard tortoises (Stigmoc-helys), commonly known as a Mountain tortoise or Bergskilpad, are a familiar sight in our area and are not presently threatened, the day will come when they are on the endangered list – last year travelling the R407 each day I counted over 30 tortoises ranging from hatchlings to older ones that had been killed and maimed by vehicles & trucks.

According to Tortoises, Terrapins and Turtles of Africa by Bill Branch, a hatchling Leopard tortoise weighs approximately 23 – 50 grams, at 7 years old itwill weigh about 1kg; thereafter the body mass will double every 2 – 3 years so you can work out the average age of the ones we take for granted.

So please when you see a Leopard tortoise on the road, take 5 minutes to stop and ensure it crosses the road safely. It is not recommended that you pick up the tortoise - they know where they have to get to. If you see a vehicle damaging a tortoise, take the registration number and report it to CapeNature Conservation.

If not you then who – If not now then when…….

Lisa Smith

Words of Wisdom

Stemming from recent correspondence in our local paper – may I share with you a few lines from the Farmer’s Weekly of about 1960.

“When buying a new farm:
Lay in a good supply of coffee.
Get a comfortable chair.
Sit on your stoep and watch your neighbour – for a year.”

Dick Metcalf

Have Passport … Will Travel?

Queen Vic’s “Quest for a Passport” in October’s Prince Albert Friend reminded me of my own recent request to renew a nearly-expired Passport, a slight difference being the long wait of six months for the renewal.

There were three different venues, the first adjacent to the Library, the second unexpectedly far of. The kindness of Mr Riaan Coetzee saved me the very long walk by giving me a lift in his car, and the third when a friend offered to find the venue indicated in North End.

At the venue opposite SPAR I sat alone in a large room containing stacked tables and chairs, but was joined, briefly, by a woman who chose the very next chair to mine, proceeding to rub her tummy and said “I am hungry, will you give me R3.00?” The Home Affairs official arrived, took my fingerprints (which had been forgotten on the previous visit) and I then asked, politely but firmly if my Passport could be posted. The reply was equally polite but firm, “No”, but, a few weeks later I received a personal phone call advising me the Passport would be available for collection at a certain date and time. As I now have a valid passport for the next ten years … QUO VADIS?

Beryl Rimes

The People Shall Speak

Sorry, Mr Speaker, but you (November/December 2008) appear to have missed the point of my letter about the Council’s lack of performance. Our elected Councillors should stop their petty political postulating and instead act for the good of the people they are supposed to be representing. Ms van der Mescht and Mr Rossouw can confirm that I tried – to no avail - to meet with a Council representative after the first two totally unproductive Council meetings. Hence my letter to the media.

In a democracy, people should be able to disagree freely with the party line and voice their disagreement in public and in the media. This is a vital principle and the cornerstone of democracy. However, I agree that in his final article in the Sunday Times, David Bullard pushed the boundaries of press freedom a bit too far.

I must say that I am really proud of how our new 15 year old democracy is maturing, with people expressing their dissatisfaction with non-service delivery and how corruption is being exposed. The recall of the President and the formation of a new political party, COPE, in readiness for the forthcoming general election in March or April 2009 are also positive developments.

Our Councillors throughout the country had better take note of the voice and the will of the people and start giving a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay or they might find themselves out of a job. Let’s put Prince Albert first and make us all “Proudly Prince Albert”!

John Mckenna

Thank You All

To all my wonderful family and friends, a huge thank you for being there for me, for your love, comfort and amazing support at this very sad time.

Victoria Raft

Ugh, Off Olive Oil

We have just returned from yet another wonderful trip to Prince Albert. We dined at our two favourite restaurants on the main road. Wonderful food and great service as always. What I could not believe was that when we asked for olive oil at the table, we were served with rancid oil on both occasions.

This is not good for the town that strives to be the Olive Capital of South Africa.

Kobus Pool
Durbanville

Cats, cats, cats

Many people are complaining about the problem of too many feral cats in Prince Albert. Lynette Brand, our local animal welfare volunteer was telling me how people pitch up on her doorstep demanding to know why she has not sorted out the problem. The perception is that Lynette’s work is funded by the Municipality.

Here are the facts:

• Lynette operates purely on a volunteer basis.
• She operates from her home.
• She offers a basic clinic service where she tends to sick animals and provides vitamins, de-worming and dips.
• She has funded all her work out of her own personal savings, which are now depleted.

What Lynette does receive, is R2000 a month from the Municipality for the sterilization of dogs only from under-privileged homes. There is no funding whatsoever for the sterilization of cats.

Cobus Ferreira (Animal Health Technician) and Brett the Vet have been very helpful with diagnosis and suggesting treatments. Brett also did a lot of sterilizing of stray cats covering the costs himself as the promised funding was never forthcoming.

Lynette would love to extend her clinic and is currently looking for premises. If anyone can help out in any of the following ways, she would be most grateful:

• Premises for her clinic.
• Cages to keep the animals separate from each other.
• A safe cat trap to capture the strays for sterilization to prevent further breeding.
• Any donations towards her work.
• And most of all, some understanding from the public.

Next time you want to ask ‘What has someone done about the cat problem in Prince Albert?’ first stop and ask yourself, ‘What have I done to assist with the cat problem in Prince Albert?’

Yolande Singery

Letters - Briewe

Thank You PA Police

This is to express my best and biggest thank you to the SA Police in Prince Albert for their assistance when I was robbed of R500 on Friday, 24 October, from a house in Prince Albert.

Their prompt response resulted in apprehending the thief in just 15 minutes and the full amount was recovered. I appreciate the help of all the competent staff in the police station as well as the men in the police vehicle.

I always look forward to visiting Prince Albert and this experience ensured that I again enjoyed my stay.

In Cape Town I most probably would not even have bothered to inform the police!

Jana Krejci
Cape Town

Tannie Daddi Stuur Groete

Net ‘n kort woordjie van dank aan al my vriende en vriendinne wat my geluk gewens het met my onlangse 84ste verjaarsdag. Dit was vir my ‘n groot verrassing om te sien hoe baie vriende aan my gedink het. Ek het hope kaartjies, briewe en telefoonoproepe gekry. Die telefoon het tot laat aand nog gelui. Dit beteken so baie vir my.

Dit was ‘n heuglike dag en ek sal dit altyd onthou. Dit gaan goed met my, ek is gelukkig en my kinders sorg baie goed vir my. Maar soms trek my hart darem maar ‘n punt na my vriende en my dorp. Daar is maar net een Prince Albert. Ek mis my vriende en die Saterdag se byeenkoms by die Markie. Mag dit altyd goed gaan met julle almal.

Ek dink aan julle almal in my gebede. Ek het die operasie gekanselleer want my ou hart is nie meer so sterk nie. Liefde vir elkeen van julle.

Groete van Daddi

Dankie aan die Vriend

Hartlik dank aan die redaksie van die Vriend vir die moeite wat hulle gedoen het om die foto en berig van my kleinseuns se krieket prestasie in Engeland te plaas.

Ek is verheug dat daar nog mense is wat omgee vir hulle medemens.

Hetta Blomerus

Calling All Animal Lovers

Earlier this year I took over the Prince Albert Animal Care charity organisation from Henriette. I have opened a small animal care clinic where we tend to sick, abused, abandoned or injured animals and provide people with their pets’ basic health requirements. I find that the most common problems are poor nutrition, even starvation and worms which make the animals thin and weak. Often they are riddled with fleas and ticks which cause ugly wounds and many suffer terribly as a result of tick bite fever and distemper.

There are a lot of unsterilised cats and dogs breeding and spreading diseases and this only makes the problems worse. The animals need de-worming, vitamin supplements, tick and flea dip and also need to be sterilised.

There are numerous ways in which you can help make a difference:
If you see an animal that is very thin, injured or distressed please pick it up and bring it to me or inform me of its whereabouts;
If you hear about an animal that needs help, please get as much information about it and let me know;
Please help spread the word that help is available;
Any form of donation, food, supplies (bowls, old baskets, old kennels, vitamins, de-worming, dip, antiseptics etc.) or money is welcome and will be put to good use.
If you have space or you are looking for a pet please let me know; we constantly have animals looking for good homes.
If you want to get involved in any other way please contact me. I can use all the help I can get.

I believe that if we stand together as a community we can make a difference to the lives of the needy animals all around us. From the beginning of December I will have a few collection boxes placed throughout Prince Albert for donations in kind or of money. Your caring and generosity will be greatly appreciated.

Lynette Brand
Prince Albert Animal Care
4 Jordaan Street
078 637 0015

Let’s discuss our architectural heritage

William Penfold's observations on Prince Albert's architecturalin the October Friend are courageous and necessary. Prince Albert enjoys a rapidly growing, very positive reputation as anGreat Karoo jewel of a town. While we may discuss ad lib about what authentic means in 21st century South Africa, the debatearticles provoke is essential to a public discourse on how and where all the town's residents see their sought-after environmentin the coming decades.

Short-sightedness is an easy way out, as is fast food architecturelittle or no urban integration. The 21st century has every right to leave its mark on our historic town, but it must be done in a, intelligent and informed manner. Never before have we had easier access to knowledge and information. There is no excusecreating ticky tacky housing in the name of any expedient - economic, political or otherwise.

For example, social housing incountries by informed architects has shown itself as some ofmost inspiring, aesthetic and historically groundbreaking shelterscreated - far more so than nouveau riche housing developments or pseudo, copy cat styles. Moreover, the opportunity for building sustainablepowered by solar and wind energies has never been more
easily within our reach.

Two great cities – Venice and Cape Town - were shaped by many cultural, hybrid and fertile, from East and West/ North and South. What beauties today! Authenticity would be just as complex to definee.g. the Italian context as it would be in South Africa. Polemicsare not helpful. What is needed are informed people gathering and presentingintelligent information suited to our climate and diverse history when new housing and the renovation of existing housing are up for.
We have the chance of our and our children’s lifetimes to shape the town's heritage in a positive, community-spirited and sustainable. An open informed discussion would begreat way to achieve.

Sally Arnold

Speaker reageer oor ontevredenheid met Munisipale Raad

Mnr. Mckenna se skrywe “We want service delivery-not self service” in die Prince Albert Vriend van Oktober 2008 verwys.

Die Raad het reeds in Oktober 2008 se Algemene Raadsvergadering mnr McKenna se versoek bespreek en goedgekeur wat ‘n afgehandelde saak behoort te wees.

Die Publiek en veral mnr McKenna weet teen dié tyd dat die Raad ‘n “Hung Council” is en nie met elke saak wat voor die Raad dien sal saamstem nie, wat op ‘n ander manier in koukusse bespreek moet word. Die Notule ter sprake in u skrywe word op ‘n hoë vlak ondersoek en raak geen besluitneming.

U sal ook onthou dat in die verlede het die vorige Rade by ‘n Hotel of Restaurant gaan uiteet na ‘n Algemene Raadsvergadering. Daar is ‘n sekere bedrag begroot vir onthaalkoste, soos in enige ander Munisipaliteit se begroting, maar die Raad bemagtig sy mense op alle vlakke deur besighede die geleentheid te gee om verversings vir Raadsvergaderings te verskaf.

Weereens beklemtoon ek as Voorsitter van die Raad dat ek my uiterste bes sal probeer om soveel as moontlik vergaderings te hou want u moet onthou dat as daar nie vergaderings gehou word nie, kan daar ook nie besluite geneem word nie. Ons, die Raad, word betaal om vergaderings te hou om sodoende dienslewering te bespoedig.

Alle Raadsvergaderings word geadverteer met datums en tyd en dit is oop vir die publiek.

Laastens, indien u enige verdere probleme het, staan dit u vry om my te kom spreek voordat u na die media toe gaan.

S Botes
Speaker

Prince Albert is not safe for our animals

I would strongly advise that all residents & guests to the town of Prince Albert do not walk on the Robert Gordon Koppie or the Koppie trail with their animals.

Val van der Riet’s beloved dog, Bubbles, died on Sunday 16th November from poisoning after being on the Koppie. As they live on the Koppie, Bubbles loved to walk there; this is the second animal of ours to die from poisoning. One would think that in a small community where we are relatively free from crime that it would be safe to walk in the veldt.

This is not the case: We have a silent killer - POISON

I think it is a terrible shame that in this day and age a systemic poison is allowed to be sold within a Municipal boundary. We shrug our shoulders and say that it was only a dog. But when does it stop? When a child dies who innocently picks up a feather of the bird that ate the jackal, will we then sit up and be accountable?

As Chief Seattle stated: “What is man without the beasts if all the beasts were gone – Man would die of a great loneliness of Spirit, for what happens to beasts soon happens to Man.”

Lisa Smith
Onse Rus Guesthouse

Reward for arrest and conviction of dog poisoners

Koggelmander Kuns- en Koshuis has always been a child and pet friendly establishment. We may have had problem parents and problem pet owners but have seldom had problem children or pets.

Together with many others we are outraged that someone may have deliberately set poison on the Koppie Trail to kill our dogs. Koggelmander is offering a R1 000.00 reward for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Kallie Erasmus

No to Pastorie Street Speedsters

This is a plea in support of the one made by Imke Maeyer in the October edition of the Prince Albert Friend.

I am also a resident living on Pastorie Street and am constantly amazed at the insensitivity of motor vehicle drivers using this road. Not only are schoolchildren and the elderly at risk, but those vehicles transporting seasonal farm workers do not slow down in spite of the risk to their human cargo.

Is it too much to expect the local traffic police to take action in order to curb the menace of unscrupulous drivers who care little for others?

Kay Howes

Thanks from the Thursday Group

The Ladies of the Thursday Group would like to thank the people of Prince Albert as well as visitors for their support during the past year. Not only for donating articles to the White Elephant stall at the Saturday market, but also for cash donations.

A special thanks to Gudrun and Bodo Toelstede for the excellent support derived from their many activities and acquaintances.

Ons weet daar is verskeie mense wat feitlik elke Saterdag iets kom koop net om ons te ondersteun.

Once again, a big thank you, baie dankie!

The Thursday Group

Letters / Briewe

Grondpaaie versus Teerpaaie

Daar was ‘n tyd gelede blykbaar ‘n toutrekkery oor die opsie om die Sani-pas te teer tussen die paaie-owerheid en die erfenisbewakers wat dit teengestaan het. Toe die Swartbergpas se vere in die 1980’s reggeskud is vir die eeufeesviering, is daar blykbaar ook haastig gewerk om enige so ‘n moontlikheid uit te skakel.

Die noordelike helfte van die pas is meestal in ‘n goeie toestand, maar die suidelike helfte ontwikkel as gevolg van reën dikwels vele slaggate waarvoor herhaaldelik grond uit gruisgroewe aangery moet word vir herstel. Na ‘n onlangse rit oor die Swartbergpas het die volgende vrae by my opgekom:

Het die bewakers regtig al die nadele en voordele van grondpaaie en teerpaaie teen mekaar opgeweeg? Het iemand dalk gewonder waar kom die grond vandaan om enige grondpad in ‘n goeie toestand te hou. Het iemand al oor die land heen gaan kyk hoe groot is die gruisgroewe en waar dit geleë is? Gesien hoe groei dit in grote met elke vrag grond wat uitgehaal word? Getel hoeveel vragte grond is nodig om 1 km blad te gooi?

Die grond behoort wel aan iemand wat daarvoor betaal het. Op boerdery eenhede laat dit ongevraagde “damme” wat nie benut kan word nie. Dis weiding wat weg is. Dit word dikwels agtergelaat met die potensiaal om erosie aan te moedig. Ander streke se bo-groei herstel dalk gouer, maar grondversteurings in die Karoo neem 15 tot 20 jaar vir volkome herstel. Van laasgenoemde het ek eerstehandse kennis.

Die gruisgroewe was gemaak waar die stootskraperoperateur – na ‘n paar onsuksesvolle pogings elders – gedink het die beste gruis was. Of iemand vir die vernieling vergoed word, weet ek nie.

‘n Teerpad se basis is darem amper lewenslank (dalk effe langer indien die owerheid die oorlaaide vragmotors van die paaie kan afhaal), maar ‘n grondpad se blad moet elke 6 tot 10 jaar vervang word.

Kan iemand dalk die korttermyn en langtermyn berekening doen?

Sara-Mari du Plessis

Kultuurstigting se Antwoord

Die skrywer (bo) kan vir haar bydrae gekomplimenteer word en het heelwat sinvolle opmerkings in haar brief gemaak, veral aangesien eksterne omgewingsfaktore wel ter sprake is.

Die argument teen die omgewingsimpak van gruisgroewe kom oortuigend voor, maar ‘n meer omvattende studie en ontleding van voor- en nadele moet deeglik oorweeg word.

“Asemrowend, ontsagwekkend, ‘n briljante padbou ingenieurs meesterstuk…” is die woorde waarmee beide Jan Alleman en deskundiges na ‘n enkele rit die Swartbergpas beskryf. Sal daar nie afbreuk gedoen word aan hierdie verwondering en ontsag as die pad oor die Swartberg geteer sou word nie? Dit is tog ‘n nasionale monument en een van die mees voortref-like passe in die land. Kan dit werklik onverantwoordelik genoem word om, ondanks die behoefte aan gruismateriaal uit gruisgroewe, ‘n nasionale erfenisskat in sy huidige vorm te behou?

‘n Oortuigende tegniese siening wat maan teen die omskepping in ‘n teerpad, is diè van ervare siviele ingenieurs. Hul uitgangs-punt is dat die geometriese standaarde te knap is.

In sy huidige ongeteerde vorm is die ongeluksyfer laag (Ross, 2003). Daar is wel die paar onverskilliges wat oor die Swartbergpas jaag om vroeër by hul bestemming uit te kom. Dink net hoe die ongeluksyfer sal opskiet as die knap, kort draaie eers geteer is. ‘n Deel van die opgradering met teer behels dan ook die aanbring van ui-ters onooglike standaard veiligheidsrelings enduit – ‘n versperring van die asemrowende uitsigte nou te sien terwyl jy ry.

Die Swartbergpas is nie net ‘n kommunikasiepad nie, maar ook ‘n gesogte bestemming.

Ons besef dit dalk nie nou nie, maar toekomstige geslagte sal die Swartbergpas al hoe meer op prys stel. Die genot van ‘n rit op ‘n eeue-oue gruispad oor ‘n majestieuse berg word al hoe meer uniek en kosbaar.

Daar bestaan ‘n algemene siening dat swaar verkeer wat die Swartbergpas as skakelpad gebruik strenger beheer moet word. Ligter verkeer sal die instandhoudingsbehoefte en dus die aanvraagmateriaal uit gruisgroewe ooreenstemmend verminder.

Die moontikheid van ‘n tolstelsel spesifiek vir die instandhouding van die Pas, met die toegevoegde byvoordeel van kosbare werksgeleenthede vir (moontlik voltydse) padwerkers, moet goed oorweeg word. Hulle aandag kan uitsluitlik toegespits worddie pad se oppervlak, mure en dreinering.

Hierdie uiters haalbare opsie is reeds herhaaldelik deur die Kultuurstigting aan die padowerheid geopper.


We want Service Delivery - Not Self Service!

For the past two months I have been trying to extract a decision from the Municipal Council on a simple matter and I now just have to reveal to fellow Prince Alberters what I see as a total lack of work ethic, commitment and delivery on the part of some of our local Municipal Councillors.

I have just discovered that they have spent the last three formal council meetings in September and October arguing over and not agreeing on the minutes of previous meetings held from January to June this year! This means that decisions taken at those meetings cannot be implemented. I was also disgusted to learn that the voices of reason are brushed aside and that meetings are often stretched out from early in the morning to late at night and consequently free teas, lunch and supper are provided at the expense of the ratepayers! It would be interesting to know what the current expenditure on meals and snacks at Council meetings is.

As a result there are now dozens of urgent decisions awaiting Council approval. How is the Acting Municipal Manager able to do his job under these conditions? This is a bad joke at the expense of all ratepayers.

We in Prince Albert would do well to wake up, stand up for our own rights and interests. Why don’t we all start attending Council meetings from the public gallery to see what some of our elected representatives get up to? After all, we pay their salaries! If we are not satisfied with what we see, then we should perhaps call for new elections.

Come on Councillors do the job for which you are being paid and make us all “Proudly Prince Albert”

John Mckenna

PS Please would the Friend publish the dates and times of all future Municipal Council meetings so that we can all be in the public gallery – who knows the public gallery may have to be made larger!
(A copy of the letter was sent as a courtesy to the Speaker of the MunicipalCouncil just before going to press. We hope that this will give the Council members sufficient time to respond in our next edition should they so choose.)

Munisipaliteit antwoord leser se vrae

Mnr G Breytenbach se Vrae aan die Munisipaliteit (Prince Albert Vriend, September 2008) verwys.

Die kwessie van ‘n kampeerplek in die parkie in Kerkstraat klink na ‘n goeie idee. Die Raad sal dit kan ondersoek, maar alle omringende bure sal daartoe moet instem.

Die ondersoek vir die betaling van rekeninge by buite instellings soos byvoorbeeld die Poskantoor was reeds ondersoek. Die maandelikse vaste fooi plus die kommissie wat op die betaling gehef word het dit nie koste effektief gemaak vir die paar verbruikers wat die fasiliteit wil gebruik nie.

Op navraag kan verbruikers wat verkies om by ander instellings betalings te maak is die aanbeveling om ‘n direkte bankinbetaling te maak op die bankrekening of ‘n internet oorplasing na die Munisipaliteit se bankrekening (laasgenoemde is die gewildste vorm van die ander betalingsmetode op hierdie stadium).

The building inspector has addressed numerous letters have been addressed to the owner of the house in Church Street that has RESTAURANT painted on its side in spite of no longer operating as such. It is the owner’s sole responsibility to remove the sign; the Municipality can not take this action. The owner lives abroad and has to date not responded to this and the Municipality’s other requests in respect of his property.


Vullis by ingang van ons dorp

Mnr en mev Frangs se brief (Prince Albert Vriend, September 2008) verwys.

Verskeie pogings, ook wat die skrywers aanbeveel het, is al aangewend om die gebied naby die Gholfbaan skoon te kry. Onlangs het ‘n groep skoliere in ‘n uur se tyd meer as 300 sakke rommel opgetel – op die presiese terrein.
Met die herwinningsprojek wat besig is om te ontwikkel behoort die toestand ook te verbeter. Die Raad het reeds in beginsel aanvaar om ‘n terugkoop stelsel in plek to stel. Persone wat graag geld wil ontvang vir rommel soos papiere, blikkies en plastiek kan dit inbring en sal dan vergoed word. Die tweedelige doel is om armoede te verlig maar terselfde tyd van die rommel ontslae te raak. Iets wat geld werd is, lê nie rond nie.

Dawid Rossouw
Waarnemende Munisipale Bestuurder

Wettige Taxi Operateurs

“Bekommerde Ouer” se brief (September 2008) verwys.

Daar is tans twee wettige taxi operateurs in ons dorp, naamlik:

Mnr en mev van Rooyen
Ambraalstraat 3
Prince Albert
Tel: 023 5411907/072337314

Mnr W Hinkman
Dahliastraat 477
Prince Albert
Tel: 023 5411280/0822942216

Beide mnr van Rooyen en mnr Hinkman is ten volle teen passasiersaanspreeklikheid verseker en mag volgens hulle vervoerpermitte binne die jurisdiksie van die plaaslike munisipaliteit en ander dorpe en stede sake doen. Hulle is ook lede van die wettige Norwich taxi vereniging.

Die twee persone en hulle voertuie voldoen aan alle vereistes wat hulle bestuurspermitte en bestuurslisensies betref, nl, die Nasionale Padverkeerswet 93/1996 (NRTA 93/96) en die National Land Transport Transition Act (NLTTA 22/2000).

Wetstoepassing sal op onwettige operateurs gedoen word en daar word ‘n beroep gedoen dat die gemeenskap nie onwettige operateurs bevorder nie.

Mark Februarie
Verkeersbeampte, PA Munisipaliteit

Slow Down Please

I would like to make a polite plea to farmers and other road users to slow down when entering Prince Albert along the dirt road onto Pastorie Street! There are children walking and cycling up and down this street several times everyday on their way to and from school and it terrifies me because people only start slowing down as they approach the stop street crossing over de Beer Street. I am aware that it is a provincial road and speed bumps are not a possibility, so the only thing to do is to appeal to your sense of responsibility and please consider this thought: If your children or grandchildren were in this situation, wouldn’t you feel better if people drove considerately?

Imke Maeyer

Thank You

I would like through the Friend to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to all the friends, acquaintances and even people not personally known to me who sent messages of hope and support during my recent surgery. Thank you too to everyone who visited me in hospital and kept my spirits up.

My rehabilitation will of necessity be long but with the continued support of friends and my wonderful family and the encouragement of a very able and enthusiastic physiotherapist, I am sure I will once again be able to walk around Prince Albert.

Thank you all once again.

Kay Howes

Letters - Briewe

Town’s disgraceful entrance

We recently made an extensive trip through parts of the Western Cape – travelling up the West Coast as far as Kammieskroon, then across to Nieuwoudtville, along to Prince Albert and then home via Oudtshoorn, Knysna, George and Mossel Bay.

The area which proved to be the dirtiest, most shocking and an absolute disgrace, on an otherwise memorable trip, was the entrance to Prince Albert. I cannot understand how your Municipality has allowed this to become the problem it has. There must be an acceptable and easy solution to the litter in an otherwise pristine and well- maintained area of so much historical and picturesque value.

We don’t like to complain and have made this observation as proud and committed South African citizens.

Lynn and Hugh Frangs
Hermanus
(A copy of this letter has been sent to the Acting Municipal Manager as a matter of courtesy.)

Vrae aan die Munisipaliteit

Graag sal ek verneem waarom ons in Prince Albert nie ook ons Munisipale rekeninge by die poskantoor kan betaal nie. Advertensies in die media moedig mense aan om hulle rekeninge by die poskantoor te betaal…daar is nogal pryse ook aan verbonde. Ongelukkig deel Prince Alberters nie in hierdie voorreg nie. Ek glo deur die Munisipale rekening by die poskantoor te betaal dit baie voordele inhou, want die Munisipaliteit maak vroeg toe en is Saterdae ook nie oop nie.

Ek het dit al twee keer onder die Munisipaliteit se aandag gebring dat ‘n restaurant aan die noordelike ingang van Kerkstraat wat vir jare nou al gesluit is, nog steeds prominent adverteer wat toeriste verwar. Persoonlik het ek dit al onder-vind dat toeriste moes terugdraai tot groot frustrasie omdat die plek nie meer operasioneel is nie. Kan die advertensie nie maar verwyder word nie? Wie se taak is dit?

Verder stel ek voor dat die parkie op die hoek van Park- en Kerkstraat moontlik toegerus word met karavaan of kampstaanplekke. Die rede hiervoor is dat baie navraag by my aan huis ontvang word vir oornagfasiliteite, veral vanaf motorfietsryers en persone wat net een nag of ‘n naweek wil oorstaan. Dit behoort nie te ‘n groot onkoste te wees nie, want water en elektrisiteit is reeds daar beskikbaar. Al wat verder nodig word, is ‘n klein gerieweblok met twee toilette en storte. Die mooi bome en die ligging van die perseel is aantreklik en sentraal. Wat van geraas? Moderne motorfietse raas nie en wat kan meer raas as die groot transportlorries met staalbakke en lugremme? Ons is ‘n dorp wat toeriste lok. Dit gebeur almeer dat hier nêrens akkommodasie beskikbaar is nie, en dan wyk van die besoekers na Klaarstroom of omliggende dorpe uit.

Gawie Breytenbach
(‘n Afskrif van hierdie brief is om hoflikheidshalwe aan die Waarnemende Munisipale Bestuurder gestuur.)

Baie dankie oom Carinus

Namens die Graad 11-klas wil ek net vir oom Carinus Koorts dankie sê vir die koedoe wat hy geskenk het as prys vir ons fondsinsameling. Met die lootjie verkope het ons R2 990.00 ingesamel. Sonder oom se bydra sou ons nie hierdie bedrag kon insamel nie!

Ek wil ook dankie sê aan al die mense wat ons ondersteun het deur `n lootjie te koop. Die trekking het 1 September plaasgevind en die gelukkige wenner van die koedoe was Fransiena Moos.

Nina Vermeulen

Bekommerde Ouer

Hiermee wil ek as inwoner, maar veral as ‘n bekommerde ouer, met die gemeenskap van Prince Albert ‘n ernstige en kommerwekkende tendens deel. Ek is ‘n ouer van twee kinders onderskeidelik 6 en 9jaar oud. As skoliere by Hoërskool Zwartberg moet hulle gebruik maak van openbare vervoer omdat die afstand eenvoudig vir hulle te ver is om alleen te loop. Nou is ek baie bly oor ‘n paar taxis wat beskikbaar is om ons kinders te vervoer.

My bekommernis is dit:

• Hoeveel van hierdie taxi’s (karre ingesluit) is wettig in ons dorp? Is hulle wettig geregistreer en het hulle die nodige permitte?
• Beskik die bestuurders oor die nodige rybewyse en openbare bestuurspermitte om mense te vervoer?

As jy nie seker is dat hierdie reëls / vereistes in plek is nie, word jou kinders dalk onwettig vervoer en as hulle in ‘n ongeluk beseer raak, het jy GEEN eis nie.

Ek sal bly wees as die plaaslike verkeers-polisie hierdie saak kan ondersoek, want ek is lief vir my kinders en besorgd oor hulle veiligheid. Ek wil graag hierdie versekering hê dat as my kinders soggens die huis verlaat, hulle op pad skooltoe in die beste sorg moontlik vervoer word en hulle lewe (sover menslik moontlik) verseker is.

Ek sal bly wees as die Plaaslike Munisipale Owerheid my op my vraag in die Prince Albert Vriend kan antwoord. ‘n Lys van geregistreerde taxi’s sal nogal ‘n aanbeveling wees. Dan weet ons van wie se dienste wettig gebruik gemaak kan word.

Heinrich Hinkman

Prince Albert Women in Action

After successfully implementing two projects this year, at their August meeting the Prince Albert Women in Action (PAWA) looked at a new focus for the upcoming months.

Several ideas were discussed in the context of contributing to the Municipality’s Local Economic Development (LED), which has called for proposals in the fields of tourism and small business development.

I am talking to a jewellery designer from Johannesburg, who has been working with empowerment beading projects for women in Mpumalanga. She is considering setting up an initiative in Prince Albert, similar to Monkeybiz in Cape Town, to produce her new range. Local women receive beads, work from home and are paid for their production, which is then sold through the Monkeybiz shop in the Waterkant. It is a simple concept which has worked wonders for women both in terms of self-esteem and hard cash to raise their children.

My wish is to see this happen sooner rather than later, as the number of small street children begging is on the rise again, in spite of more soup kitchens in town. If children – and their mothers - are not living a productive and nurtured life, society will not be productive and nurturing. Handouts are not the way to empower women in the long term – teaching them to discover and develop their real marketable skills is. They can pass this invaluable knowledge on to their children later on.

Another important project would be the creation of a dance school for the many talented children in Prince Albert. The local school performance, “Around the World”, revealed a rich talent just waiting to be nurtured. Business people could support such an initiative and assist the school personnel in raising corporate and private funding for such a project.

I believe local professional women can raise the bar in establishing a level of excellence for society in general. Role models can come from all sectors of society, but highly significant are those informed, independent women who join hands in excellence and good governance across all societal and politically imposed divides.

Sally Arnold
Prince Albert Women in Action

Ons Groet

Ons verlaat Prince Albert na byna 17 jaar om by ons kinders te gaan woon op Krugersdorp. Ons sê tot siens aan al ons vriende en kennisse en sê dankie vir al julle vriendskap en liefde. Wees gegroet

Fanie en Thelma Venter.

Letters - Briewe

Dankie Abraham Kammies

I grew up at Beaufort West and often picnicked with and drove over the Swartberg Pass with my parents.

2 May 2008 was a wonderful day, when a childhood dream was realised and my wife, Esmé and I finally arrived in Prince Albert for good. Recently another wonderful thing happened, which I would like to share with the people of Prince Albert.

I quit farming in the Free State in 2000. I quite honestly had lost faith in our country and its future. On 17 June this year, I bought something at the little shop at the Prince Albert National Garage. That afternoon someone phoned to ask if I was not missing my wallet, which I was. It had some rather important items, plus quite a bit of cash in it. It was returned to me with nothing missing. And the name of the man who brought it back, Abraham Kammies.

Abraham, ek het vir jou gesê: Dankie vir jou eerlikheid. Maar ek voel dit was nie genoeg nie. Dit is hoekom ek deur die koerant jou weer wil bedank. Mense soos jy sal maak dat mense soos ek weer ons vertroue terugkry in ons land en sy mense. My pa het altyd gesê: “As jy begin lieg, dan moet jy begin onthou.” Lyk my jy het ook so ‘n pa gehad. Dankie Abraham.

John Claassens

Praise for Recycling Activists

Well done and thank you to Imke Maeyer and Ellen Joubert for the long awaited Recycling Depot. The difficulties and delays you experienced in getting it off the ground makes the facility all the more valued and appreciated by all who care about the environment.

In your informative article in last month’s Friend (July 2008), recycling was referred to as an OPTION – on the contrary, it is a MUST if we want to reduce the enormous amount of indestructible waste consuming this planet.

A big thank you too to the Prince Albert Municipality for their consent and co-operation in getting the facility under way.

Lorna Verran

Boere voed die nasie

Die kommersiële boer in die land het nie 'n goeie naam nie. Keer op keer word die verlede voor ons kop gegooi en dis dan ook sommer die skuld vir hoekom dinge vandag is soos wat dit is.

Almal het hul monde uit te spoel oor die landbou, maar niemand het nog geboer nie!! Dit is met groot hartseer dat die vakbonde en NGO’s nou eers besef dat ons nie die oorsaak van hoë voedselpryse is nie, en nog meer, dat ons die fondasie van hierdie land is (of jy dit nou wil weet of nie!).

Alles wat verkeerd gaan is ons skuld; en daar word maar alte maklik en lekker veralgemeen; en meeste van die tyd weet ons nie eens daarvan nie. Byvoorbeeld: 'n paar weke terug is daar weer ‘n ongeluk gewees met ‘n trok en mense agterop. Dadelik is daar aangeneem dis weer 'n boer se skuld, en so is daar na die pers gehardloop. Met deeglike ondersoek word die teendeel bewys, maar nooit is ons om verskoning gevra oor die verkeerde beriggewing nie.

In 1977 was Suid-Afrika ‘n uitvoerland. Vandag is Suid-Afrika ‘n invoerder van basiese voedsel met onbetaalbare skuld in die buiteland. Ons kry geen hulp van die regering nie, maar Ysland subsideer sy boere met 60%. Dis nou wat ek liefde noem!!! Die gemiddeld vir die ander lande teen wie ons kompeteer is 22%. Ons praat ‘n ander taal as die res, en ek praat nie van een van die elf nie.

Ons is minder as 40 000 boere wie hierdie land voed (laat jou dink oor wie eintlik hierdie land moet regeer) en almal van ons kom nie eens reg nie.

Kom sluit aan by georganiseerde landbou, dis nie nodig om te boer om deel van jou toekoms te wees nie.!

Jacques du Plessis
Sekretaris: Landbouvereniging

Thank you, Prince Albert

We wish to thank all the people of Prince Albert for the kind and gracious manner in which they welcomed us in our new hometown.

We continue to be overwhelmed on a daily basis by the warm hospitality and sincere interest in our well-being. We expected people here to be friendly, but we were pleasantly surprised by the generosity and sincerity we encountered.

Village life is everything we expected it to be and much more! We dread the next time we may have to spend a few days in any city (even the traffic in Oudtshoorn is fast becoming a traumatic experience…)

Thank you also to all the members of the Tourism Association for your guidance and positive feedback. Your continued support is sincerely appreciated!

Anton Maartens & Jacques Maree

Letters - Briewe

Tannie Daddie Skryf

Liewe Vriende

Ek het lank gewik en geweeg voordat ek besluit het om hierdie storie te skryf, maar na my ongeluk dink ek dis ‘n “moet”.

Ons is tog so ywerig om ons te beveilig in ons huise, maar dink ons reguit as ons dit doen? Toe ek die aand val en daar op die vloer op my rug lê en my nie kan roer nie, toe tref dit my in watter gevaar ek eintlik is.

Daar lê ek soos ‘n pap baba. Niemand naby my nie, niemand hoor my geroep om hulp nie. Veilig, ja, dink ek, deure gesluit, vensters bedraad. Niemand kan my kom molesteer nie. Reg so.

Maar na ure se lê op my rug en planne maak, tref dit my: Wat gebeur as daar ‘n brand in die huis uitbreek? Ek was gewoond om saans die ligte af te skakel en dan die kort kersie op te steek in die blaker met die boksie vuurhoutjies daarin.

Sê nou net ek het die kersie opgesteek en dit het later uitgebrand en die was het oorgedrup en ‘n vlam veroorsaak? Dan het ek met huis en al uitgebrand en niemand sou my kon red nie. Ek sidder as ek daaraan dink.

Maar my Bewaarder sluimer of slaap nie. Hy was heeltyd daar by my - heelnag deur tot halfsewe die oggend toe Ockie Gouws my hulpkrete gehoor en my deur oopgebreek het.

Ek het ‘n fluit, maar dié hang buite my bereik. Ek het ‘n telefoon, maar dié is in die sitkamer... Al my hulpmiddels was van geen nut nie. Moet tog asseblief nooit vir julle so toesluit nie. Ek sal dit nooit, ooit weer doen nie. Laat die inbrekers dan maar liewer inkom. My redding was toe op die ou end my stem - waarmee ek om hulp kon roep.

Verskoon my skrif, ek is nog bietjie bewerig. Die heup kom aan, maar my been bly swak. Glo nie ek sal weer die been se volle gebruik terugkry nie.
Groete en dankie vir julle belangstelling.

Van Daddie
Posbus 112
Beaufort-Wes
6990

Dogs on the Koppie

On Wednesday morning, 9 July, at 7:40 whilst hiking on the Robert Gordon Koppie we heard a shout, and saw in the distance a brown dog chasing a bokkie.

The cross country jogger, who was with the dog, had good verbal control and immediately brought the dog to heel. Not good enough!

You are supposed to keep your dog on a leash at all times. Better still, keep dogs off the Koppie so that wild life will return.

Peter McEwan

Town’s heritage is disappearing fast

The excellent article on Heritage in last month’s Friend prompts a response not only about Heritage per se but more as a wistful reminiscence of how things were….less than five years ago!

Sadly, features that attracted us to the town are fast disappearing. The wonderful agricultural feel with its sights and sounds and open spaces seems to be replaced by a hint of suburbia with the addition of many more houses and barking dogs. Fewer chickens are seen roaming the streets nowadays, which is a pity!

Instead of repairing or renovating, structures are replaced, usually totally out of character. Lovely old fruit orchards and grazing sheep in open fields have either been subdivided or will be in the not too distant future. Municipal notices with proposals of subdivision appear frequently in this newspaper. Not to mention the controversial Housing Developments.

The functionality of the town with the schools and as a farming centre was another attraction (not just a “film-set town” for tourists). Truckloads of sheep and ostriches were often seen passing through. What has happened to all the farmers who used to frequent the Co-op?

The drought over the last few years has no doubt caused the town to lose its original purpose. It is distressing to see how much of the thick natural thorn bush that used to line the roads and riverbeds and surround the town has disappeared.

What a wealth of memories the many folk who have been here for donkeys’ years must have. Speaking of donkeys, with the surge of fuel prices we could see the return of the donkey cart – another common sight five years ago.

Lorna Verran

Prince Albert se Gholflandgoed

Dit is belangrik dat Prince Alberters deelneem aan die debat oor die voor- en nadele van die beplande gholflandgoed, dit raak ons almal.

Die ter saaklikste uit Kallie Erasmus se inligtingsvergadering:

• die gholfspelers ruil hulle grond vir nuwe fasiliteite, groen bowwe en setperke, klubgeriewe met restaurant, kroeg, onthaalgeriewe, tennisbane, jukskeibaan, rolbalbane, swembad. (Ek veronderstel hulle sal lewensreg geniet terwyl nuwe lede van hierdie ‘oop’ klub deur hulle tande betaal vir die ekslusiewe fasiliteite?)
• ‘n Swart Bemagtigingsgroep ontwikkel laerkoste behuising op die huidige gholfbaan perseel
• Die gemeenskap vind baat by nuwe werksgeleenthede
• ‘n Portwynkelder word opgerig
• Volstruisvlei is Prince Albert se grootste boerdery en werkverskaffer
• Een derde (sowat 40 hektaar) van die beplande gekonsolideerde gebied sal steeds landbou beoefen
• Een derde sal die gholfbaan en klubgeriewe huisves
• Een derde sal gebruik word vir 150 nuwe huise

Ek is opgewonde oor die totstandkoming van ‘n wynkelder vir die maak van Port. Dit sal ‘n beduidende waardetoevoeging tot die distrik wees, en verdien die sterkste ondersteuning. Uitstekend vir Toerisme, op die langer duur kan dit meer volhoubare werksgeleenthede skep as ‘n aantal vakansiehuise. Ek wil die Volstruisvlei eienaars dus mooi vra om die landbougrond te behou en nog Touriga en Tinta druiwe te plant!

Verskuiwing van die gholfbaan met klubhuis en bekostigbare behuising op die huidige perseel het beide meriete, maar dit mag nie gebruik word as polities korrekte motivering om die sonering van 150 nuwe woonerwe te regverdig nie.

Om ‘n imposante countryclub en gholf-landgoed met 150 eenhede langs die mooi-ste, mooiste ingang na Prince Albert te bou, gaan ‘n groot kontrakteur met ambagsmanne en arbeiders van buite benodig. Hierdie manne sal geruime tyd - twee drie jaar? - hier besig wees. Daarna sal ‘n groot persentasie waarskynlik hier agterbly en met ons plaaslike inwoners kompeteer vir huise en werk.

Hierdie nuwe voorstad sal ‘n geweldige las plaas op die kapasiteit van ons plaaslike owerheid. Die ontwikkelaars bou wel die paaie, en verskaf die water-, riool- en elektrisiteitsaanlegte, maar die instandhouding van hierdie dienste word daarna die verantwoordelikheid van ons munisipaliteit Al die inwoners sal moet help betaal aan die las.

Ek is ten gunste van sinvolle ontwikkeling, maar die hersonering van landbougrond vir die oprigting van nuwe luukse huise wat die dorp nie nodig het nie, is nie sinvol nie.

Susan Perold

Where you stand depends on where you sit: Relocating the Prince Albert Golf Course

The golf course needs to be moved because the present course isn’t good enough to allow for proper play.

The impact of relocating the golf course on water and sense of place will be fully addressed in the EIA, as will layout and design. The new golf club will be an open one so there is no question of it being a “security complex”.

Has it occurred to anyone that while the development will have an impact if it proceeds, it may affect the town even more if it doesn’t?

There is a real need for affordable housing for those who have outgrown the old township but can’t afford to buy in the formerly White part of town. If the golf course site is not made available the Municipality will have to find, buy and pay for land which is likely to be less well-suited and really expensive.

The Volstruisvlei development seeks a balance between increased agricultural activity, the historical character of the town and the need for housing and relaxation facilities. In this process it consolidates fragmented agricultural land, eases the push for densification in the older part of town, creates sustainable jobs and bridges the physical gap between the town’s communities.

For those who sit at tables dependent on the town for an escape from poverty, a place to stay, an income and a future this looks very different to the bleak picture painted from where they sit by the authors in the previous edition of the Friend.

It is precisely because Prince Albert is a vibrant working town that we have a heritage to protect. Every successive generation has left its own scratch marks on the town’s surface and what we have today is the cumulation of the changes they made.

Imagine if our predecessors had committed themselves to “remaining as much the same as possible”: no running water, no electricity, no access roads, no hospital, no old-aged home, no magistrate’s court or police station, no gables, no inside toilets ... and no tourists!

Kallie Erasmus

Prince Albert Ambulans: Die stryd duur voort

Ek wil graag reageer op die Provinsiale Minister van Gesondheid se brief (Prince Albert Vriend, Junie 2008).

Die Minister se inligting in verband met die tyd van die noodoproep en die tyd wat die ambulans daar aangekom het is wel reg volgens my Telkomlyn rekening.

Maar, die trein waarmee die dame, haar dogtertjie en my kleinkinders gereis het, het ongeveer 17h30 op Prince Albertweg stasie aangekom. Toe was die dame reeds siek.

Die kinders het die familie op Prince Albert geskakel en die ambulans se telefoonnommer bekom. Hulle het vanaf 18h15 die ambulans op 112 herhaaldelike kere geskakel maar geen antwoord gekry nie.

Me S Arense van Prince Albertstasie wat by Home Based Care werk, het ook die nommer geskakel sonder sukses. Toe het die kinders my geskakel.

Ek het die noodnommer van die ambulans geskakel, maar dit het of net gelui of net musiek gespeel. Uit desperaatheid het ek die Hospitaal gebel maar hulle kon my nie help nie. Toe het ek die Polisie gebel. Hulle was baie behulpsaam en het gesê dat hulle die ambulans sal gaan soek.

Teen hierdie tyd was dit reeds meer as ‘n uur dat verskeie persone die ambulans noodnommers gebel het en geen reaksie gekry het nie. Die polisie het dadelik gereageer en het voor die ambulans op die toneel gearriveer.

A Willemse

LETTERS / BRIEWE

Proposed Township Developments in Prince Albert

Two proposed housing developments in Prince Albert were publicised in the last edition of the Friend. Both raised questions in my mind about what type of town Prince Albert should be.

An advertisement, placed by Environmental Consultants from Durbanville, invited comments on a security complex/townhouse development. These comments would form a part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, required before developers can go ahead with their plans. It is intended to develop 1.919ha into 56 new erfs and to build a public road over 6 metres wide and other roads of less than 30 metres in length, and to install services to and within the site.

Unless my arithmetic is faulty, it appears that the erfs will therefore be about 270 square metres in size, which is very tiny by Prince Albert standards. I understand that the Spatial Development Framework for Prince Albert recommends that a minimum erf size of 500 square metres be maintained west of Kerkstraat. I understand also that the proposed development is to be named ‘The Olive Tree’ as one olive tree will be planted alongside each driveway. Clearly, gardens will be out of the question.

The second township development appears under the article entitled somewhat innocently “Groot Planne vir die Prince Albert Gholfbaan”, and now appears to have two parts, viz, a re-siting of the Golf Club together with a golf estate, and a re-development of the present golf club site. It is to the developers’ credit that they have decided to keep Prince Albert residents informed of their intentions even before the legally required processes begin.

Here, part one of the proposal is for a golf estate with a nine-hole golf course, new clubhouse and 150 new houses (in three phases of 50 each - is this the total number envisaged?).

A meeting – at the present golf club – was held to further explain the new development. A number of new facts emerged at this meeting: the old golf course, currently owned by the members will be exchanged for the new golf course. The re-siting of the golf course was considered necessary for socio-economic reasons and because some members of the Prince Albert community use the present facility for cutting down wood and for recreational purposes. The impression was given at the meeting that the golf club will own the new golf course. The Golf Club will be extended to include tennis courts, bowling greens, and will be a facility open to all in the Prince Albert community.

What was unclear to me was how the ‘new’ Golf Course (Country Club?) would avoid the problems which have led the present Golf Club to feel the need to swap the land.

The second part is that the existing golf course will be developed by the new owners for sale to (and ownership) by all economic sectors in Prince Albert. The number of erfs and the requirements for water and services have not yet been established.

The ‘new’ Golf Club will retain its Karoo Character, but greens and fairways will be watered with sewerage water and undrinkable borehole water.

It is encouraging to hear that public participation will be a feature of the Environmental Impact Assessment aspect of the planning of this new golf estate. I would encourage all members of the Prince Albert community to participate fully.

The questions that occur to me are the following:

1. Does Prince Albert have sufficient water to supply to developments such as these? The town’s history includes the painful imposition of water restrictions a couple of years ago, a ban on building new swimming pools, and a ban on sinking new boreholes (all these actions taken to conserve precious water). Other new developments in the town which have been permitted (e.g. Waterkop, Kweekvallei, and one other that I can think of) have not yet been fully developed and their impact on the provision of water in the future is not known and still to be experienced, not to mention vacant erfs and erfs on which building is already taking place. I am not aware of a municipal plan which predicts future water needs nor a supply plan to meet current and future needs. Does such a plan exist? Indeed, can water be supplied to all erfs not yet built on? Will public processes adequately deal with these questions, given that this has not happened during past township developments?

In the golf club estate development it is stated that it is intended to ‘green’ the new golf course possibly using sewerage water, but no mention is made of the provision of water to the new township, nor to the development on the existing golf course..

2. Will these developments add to the aesthetic appearance of Prince Albert? We do not currently have tiny plots of ground and the construction of these types of development in other towns and cities does little for their aesthetic appearance. We look forward to details regarding the appearance of the golf estate and to the development on the existing golf course.

3. What will the real impact be on Prince Albert? Maybe the developers could be persuaded to show ‘models’ superimposed on photographs of Prince Albert to give us a preview of what to expect.

4. Does Prince Albert need ‘security’ complexes? I find it abhorrent to imagine our town developing big city attitudes to security.

5. These types of development are often aimed at ‘older’ citizens. If this is so, are facilities being provided for frail care?

Bokkie Botha

Ambulans: Prince Albert

Ek verwys na die brief van mev Willemse in u Mei uitgawe.

Hiermee betuig ek my opregte medelye met die afsterwe van ‘n geliefde.

Die diensrekord toon dat ‘n noodroep om 19:27 ontvang is, dat ‘n ambulans om 19:31 uitgestuur is, en dat die ambulans die toneel op die Prince Albert-weg stasie om 20:14 bereik het ( d.w.s ‘n reaksietyd van 45 minute ).

In die lig van die groot afstande tussen bestemmings, twyfel ek of die ambulans enigsins vinniger kon reageer.

Uit die brief blyk dit ook dat probleme ondervind is om die ambulansdiens te kontak en dat vertraging in die reaksie van die ambulansdiens grootliks daaraan te wyte is dat die diens nie dadelik die boodskap ontvang het nie.

Die noodnommers wat geskakel kan word in geval van ‘n mediese noodgeval is 10177 vanaf ‘n Telkom-lyn en 112 vanaf ‘n selfoon. Gebruik asseblief hierdie telefoonnommers in die toekoms om te verseker dat u die toepaslike reaksie kry.

Wees verseker dat ons daartoe verbind is om te alle tye daarna te streef om ‘n kwaliteit mediese diens te lewer.

Pierre Uys
Minister van Gesondheid in die Wes–Kaap

Letters - Briewe

Where are they now?

I am trying to trace descendants of Peregrine Osborn and Elizabeth Bridget Joynt.

Their eldest child, Stephen Osborn Joynt, was born in Zeekoegat, Prince Albert, in 1847. Their children all seem to have been married in Oudtshoorn.

I would be very happy if any of their descendants still living in the area could contact me.
My postal address is P O Box 1834, Noorsekloof 8331.

Thank you

Val Wild

Waar is die Ambulanse van Prince Albert?

Waar is die ambulanse van Prince Albert as ‘n mens hulle nodig het? Op 12 April was daar ‘n baie siek meisie, Maria Jantjies, (my suster se kind) vanaf Kaapstad op die trein op pad huis toe. Maar sy het nie die huis gehaal nie. Sy het op die Prince Albertweg stasie gesterf weens die vertraging van die ambulansdiens. Die kinders wat by haar was het die ambulans by ons plaaslike hospitaal drie of vier keer geskakel. Die skakelbord het net musiek gespeel en hulle het my gebel en gesê ek moet die ambulans bel. Ek het ook geen antwoord gekry nie.

Daarna het ek die hospitaal weer gebel. Die verpleegster op diens het gesê ek moet weer die ambulans bel, want hulle vat lank voor hulle antwoord. Ek bel toe weer maar kry nie antwoord nie en bel toe die Polisie.

Die Polisie het gesê hulle sal die ambulans soek en stuur, maar ek moes ‘n nommer laat wat hulle kon kontak op die toneel. Net na die polisie opgetree het, bel my skoondogter om te sê dat Maria gesterf het.

Ek het omstreeks 6nm begin om die ambulans in die hande te probeer kry. Die Polisie het 8nm by die stasie aangekom en daar lê die meisie op die grond, twee ure na ek die ambulans en die Polisie gebel het. Sy sou seker maar gesterf het maar ten minste by haar ma se huis of in die hospitaal ... as die ambulans betyds was.

My stelling is “Waar is die ambulans as ‘n mens dit soek?” Hulle antwoord nie eers die telefoon nie. Dan moet ‘n mens eers doodgaan voor hulle opdaag.

Dit is iets verskriklik!!!!!

Mev A Willemse
(Die brief is om hoflikheidshalwe aan die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Minister van Gesondheid en aan die Direkteur: Mediese Nooddienste, Wes-Kaapse Departement van Gesondheid gestuur.)

The Blue Gum Project

During the past year I have often wondered what has happened to the youngsters, Willem Strydom, Jaco Stalmeester, Jacobus Murphy, Leon Kamfer and Jeffrey Armoed who under the guidance of artist Richard Forbes carved up or should I say, messed up our “Burghers of Prince Albert”.

Were the three or four weeks’ training they received during that time sufficient to enable them to fend for themselves and be creative artists? Forbes stated in his article in the February 2007 issue of the Prince Albert Friend:

“My intention was and is …. To train these people so that they are their own engine and therefore in control of the outcome of their futures.”

Has this vision of his been realised?

Can somebody please let me know whether these youngsters are able to use the skills obtained in this training project in their everyday lives? I would also like to know what became of the equipment which was purchased for the project. A lot of money was spent by ABSA, the sponsor of the project, of which about 60% left the town in the pocket of Richard Forbes.

When all has been said and done, I can’t help wondering whether the Local Council’s decision to allow the tree stumps to be carved up was not a short sighted one. Was it really a worthwhile project for the whole community through which our town lost the natural beauty of our beloved five Blue Gum tree stumps forever?

Lydia Barrella

Eat Your Heart Out Sunday Times!

I wonder how many readers are aware that the 2008 Festival edition of the Prince Albert Friend broke the record for the largest edition ever with a total of 44 pages (52 pages if you include the festival programme).

I am told that the issue also exceeded the number of pages for a newspaper and in fact, qualified to be called a magazine!

Very well done to all concerned … and watch out and eat your heart out, Sunday Times!!

John McKenna

Letters - Briewe

Well done SAPS

What a wonderful letter complimenting our policemen on their star service towards two elderly tourists wanting to drive over the Swartberg Pass (PA Friend, March 2008).

In that simple act of kindness these policemen made a major contribution to the growth of tourism in our country. Can you imagine how many times these British tourists are going to tell the story of how they were given a police escort over the Swartberg Pass?

Well done SAPS. I am going to send a cutting of the original PA Friend letter to the head of SA Tourism. You deserve an award!

Carol Campbell

Leeu-Gamka Toerisme Forum Loods Fondsinsamelings

Die Toerismeforum van Leeu-Gamka is tans besig met fondsinsamelingsprojekte. Hulle beplan tans verskillende lewensvatbare projekte vir die Toerismebedryf.

'n Geslaagde fondsinsameling is op Allpay gehou toe 'n skenking van 'n "vleishamper" deur Mev Tersia Scheun van KAROOGOUD uitgeloot is. Die gemeenskap was baie goed in hulle ondersteuning.

Die gelukkige wenner was Mev Wilma Baadjies van Leeu-Gamka. Sy kon nie glo toe haar prys by haar afgelewer is nie. Sy het nog nooit in haar lewe iets gewen nie. Die vleishamper is werklik 'n goeie gedagte veral omdat 'n gesin vleis vir 'n groot deel van die maand sal hê. By die volgende toerisme vergadering sal daar besluit word of dit 'n maandelikse instelling gaan word.

As voorsitter wil ek graag my knap forum lede bedank vir hul toegewydheid
om Leeu-Gamka en toerisme op die kaart te plaas.

Letitia Solomons
Voorsitter

Letters - Briewe

Thanks to SAPS

My mother and a friend from the UK recently visited your small town.

They were going to drive over the Swartberg Pass and went to the police station first to let them know. They said that they would phone the police when they got to the other side and if they hadn't phoned, asked whether the police would mind going to look for them.

Well, what happened next has to be the most unbelievable act of kindness they could have ever experienced. These two old ladies were given two police escorts to drive them over the Pass; one policeman drove my mother’s car while the other followed. I only know that the one policeman’s name was Fanie and it was a Captain Claassen who organised the escort.

We cannot express our gratitude enough and would like to thank the policemen concerned for being so gracious and helpful. This could only happen in Africa.

Kind regards and keep up the excellent work.

Jenny du Toit
Cape Town

What do tourists really want?

I think that there are as many answers to this question as there are tourists.

For hundreds of years, philosophers like Nietzsche, have been pondering why people travel. He suggested that through travel, a person may learn how his “societies and identities have been formed by the past and so acquire a sense of continuity and belonging.”

As early as the 1800s, poet William Wordsworth advocated trips into the country as “an indispensable corrective to the psychological damage inflicted by life in the city”.

Alain de Botton, author of The Art of Travel, says that the charm of a foreign place arises from the simple idea of novelty and change. He also says: “What we find exotic abroad may be what we hunger for in vain at home.” The 70s hippie rush to the East seems a good example of this.

Or maybe people simply travel for fun, and return home to dine out on their experiences.

That tourists love Prince Albert and the Karoo, there is no doubt, and it is easy to see why. So I will refrain from applauding our virtues and throw in another idea – that different aspects of tourism could co-exist.

The quad bikes, 4x4s racing through our veldt, off-road motor bikes, hang gliders jumping off our mountains, all the activities extreme sport tourists demand could work alongside our peace and quiet, our art and our culture. So long as the two don’t conflict. Separate spaces could be allocated for the noisy stuff, way out of town on a piece of otherwise useless ground.

I am concerned that in this world of certain change, if provision is not made for new directions in tourism, Prince Albert may be “left on the shelf” like a musty old maiden aunt, appealing only to those looking for a trip into the past.

The world moves fast these days, let’s move with it.

Romy Matthews

Auf Wiedersehen

My time in Prince Albert has passed very quickly and it is difficult to believe that three months have already passed. I return to Germany in the middle of March.

I have appreciated Prince Albert and its people very much. I have found the people open, friendly and most happy to help. I take away good memories of this beautiful place.

My school in Germany is very different to Hoërskool Zwartberg but it has been good to be a student here and I have learned much.

I want to say a special thank you to Gerda and Jürgen Klein – friends of my grandma - because without their invitation and hospitality my trip would not have been possible

I look forward to returning someday!

Laura Lukanz
(Grand daughter of Edeltraud Pfob)

No to a noisy airfield

As a fairly new and very happy resident of our lovely little town, I would like to comment on a recent suggestion to reopen the airfield for small planes (which will inevitably be followed by the incessant irritation of microlights, small helicopters and the like), as an additional attraction to tourists wishing to take flips over our beautiful mountains and surrounding countryside.

In my opinion, the type of tourists attracted by such amenities would completely destroy the charm and simplicity of our lovely, small historical town. This is its unique selling point and quintessential attraction, appealing to tourists from all walks of life wishing to see something different. To quote the editor of the March issue of Condé Nast House & Garden Magazine "I think the Karoo is pretty much as it has always been. What's changed is us. We are wanting what it has to offer - wilderness and all the non worldliness that it implies - more and more". She goes on to elaborate further in her editorial, and I hope the people concerned think long and hard before taking a step which would reduce this special place to just another ordinary small town.

Jackie Canning

Goodbye Prince Albert

To all of you good folk of Prince Albert, my sad good-bye – I shall truly miss you, the genuine care and friendships which wrapped me on every hand.

Lewis Tilney

Letters - Briewe

Why we enjoy Prince Albert

A few years ago we had the pleasure of reading a book “Over the Rainbow” by the Scottish writer, Gavin Bell. It was a fascinating story of his travels throughout South Africa, a part of which brought him to Prince Albert.

He touched on the history of the village and some of its colourful characters as well as the mystery and intrigue of the Swartberg Hotel. Such an episode in his book enabled us to plan a visit into the region as part of our first holiday to South Africa back in 2000.

An annual holiday to this great country wouldn’t be complete without visiting Prince Albert for a few days (and of course the enjoyment of staying at the charming Swartberg Hotel.) The real purpose of this letter is to commend the people of this grand village for the ongoing improvements, recognised by us for the last few years.

We enjoy many things about Prince Albert, the charm, the character, the cuisine – and even reading about the day-to-day village life in ‘the Friend ’. But most of all we enjoy the friendliness of the people of Prince Albert.

Tony & Ann Harper
Sheffield, UK

Avis opens in Prince Albert

Last November two members of Prince Albert's Tourism Association came to see me in George to discuss whether or not we could establish some form of cooperation for the mutual benefit of both Avis and the Association.

This was an intriguing idea since, in my experience, no such joint venture exists in South Africa, and I gladly accepted their invitation to meet with Bokkie Botha, Charles Roux and Zelia Mullins in Prince Albert for further discussions.

This was my first visit to Prince Albert (I am from Jo'burg) and it was my great pleasure to discover that you have such a delightful thriving community, populated, it would seem, by so many interesting characters.

As a result, I had no hesitation in recommending that Avis should establish a booking office within the Prince Albert Tourism office, and thus, earlier this month, my colleague Di Pollard and I returned to the town to set this up with Zelia.

We at Avis wish Prince Albert Tourism every success with this new venture and we look forward to working closely with you in the future.

Gadija Jappie
Area Manager - Garden Route
Avis Rent a Car

Thanks for finding our keys

We lost our front door keys on Monday, 4th February.

They were handed in to Shirley at the Municipality, where we eventually found them.

Thank you to someone for your much appreciated help.

Michael and Mavis Aggett.

Die Vrugtefees

Die Vrugtefees georganiseer deur die NG Kerk Vrouediens op Vrydag, 1 Februarie, in die Pastorietuin was ‘n voorreg om by te woon.

As ‘n inwoner bo 60 jaar (maar nog nie oud nie) wil ek baie dankie sê aan die organiseerders, werkers en almal wat vrugte geskenk het.

Sulke geleenthede maak ons dorp, Prince Albert, spesiaal.

Ione Auerswald