What happened there stays there …

Whiskers’ Edgemead home is almost exactly as he left it five months ago – before he was lost and found wandering in Paarden Island.

Just two things about his home now mystify the two-and-a-half year old cat: why has the cat food been moved from the floor to the kitchen cabinet and why are the windows closed?

His owner, Cornelia Nieuwenhuys, would tell him that the family’s dog has taken a liking to cat food, so she had to move it to the cabinet.

As for the window, Cornelia would tell him that she is afraid he will run back to Paarden Island.

If Whiskers was allowed to break the Cat Code and reveal that cats can speak English then he would answer: “Go back to that awful place? No thanks! I already spent five months exploring every nook and cranny and I don’t even know what a cranny is! I had to use every bit of my cunning to survive the cold, the rain and the un-neutered male cats! I didn’t do half bad…”

He remembers that fateful day in January well.

His owner and her boyfriend were towing their motor boat through Paarden Island. Little did they know Whiskers was hiding back there as well.

They stopped at a traffic light and apparently saw a cat (who is just as handsome as Whiskers, if that is even possible) running off into the distance. When they got home he was gone.

Nobody knows what happened from the moment he jumped off the trailer to the moment he was discovered by Paarden Island’s Cat Action Team (CAT).

TygerBurger could not convince Whiskers that it lies in the interest of all felines out there to break the Code and tell our readers what happened.

CAT’s Memory Woodford muses: “It would have been very tough for Whiskers. There are many cats in Paarden Island and many colonies. The un-neutered cats would not have accepted him in their colony, so Whiskers was probably a loner. I don’t think he would have had the confidence to get into any fights. He was very lucky to survive the ordeal!”

In June Memory saw a cat that matched Cornelia’s description and just knew it was Whiskers.

“I phoned her and then we went together. I didn’t think Whiskers would come to her when she called out, because it usually just takes a few days out there for cats to become feral. But whiskers did come to her,” she exclaims.

Once back home, the cat secretly rolls his eyes and grins. Somewhere in Paarden Island the cats wail: “The King is gone, long live the King!”

***DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE AND PHOTO WERE PUBLISHED IN TYGERBURGER, A CAPE TOWN BASED MEDIA24 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. NEITHER MAY BE DUPLICATED WITHOUT ACCREDITING THE SOURCE – TYGERBURGER, MEDIA24.***

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‘Never, never grow up’, Disney on Ice

A crescendo of colours, a chorus of costumes, a symphony on ice – what an experience!

The hodgepodge harmony of blue, red and yellow sends the heart racing before Peter Pan concludes: “Never grow up if that means you’ll lose the wonder of the world around you!” With these lingering words, Peter flies away to rapturous applause.

And so, Peter Pan and the cast of Disney on Ice’s Passport to Adventure prepare to mesmerise the next expectant audience.

Adults, teenagers and children leave the CTICC auditorium after much applause.

What have they just witnessed? Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Simba, Lilo, Ariel, and ooh, what’s-his-name and Wendy, yes, yes, Peter Pan – all on ice skates!

Captain Hook! A massive inflated crocodile! This show seems to have blown the minds of everyone in attendence (apart from one teenager who wasn’t impressed at all).

“It was boring,” he tells TygerBurger. The other 29 people (both young and old) this newspaper asked couldn’t stop raving about the spectacle.

“I liked it. I loved it! But not the trottodile,” says the three-year-old girl with big eyes.

Her mother is quite surprised by her daughter’s comment, since she initially thought most of the show “went over her head”.

The more analytical reviews of some of the adults were more tiresome.

“I particularly liked the way it was sporadically furnished with light.”

Come again ol’ boy, what?

“The music was mellifluent,” another person is kind enough to add. No kidding! Mellifluent.

To quote Peter Pan author JM Barrie: “If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, I’ll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!”

With that in mind this reporter allows the inner-child to review the Disney on Ice presentation, Passport to Adventure.

The white ice stood cold, before the sudden glare of light startles the audience. We are almost unprepared for the humour Mickey and Donald bring with them in the next moment!

Next comes Timon and Pumba on skates, and with a a big, big ship in the background the two sang famous songs and talked. They waved at us the whole time and we waved back!

Lion King’s wife fell once, but she was brave and just went on and didn’t even cry.

We ate popcorn in the break and then my sister knocked it over and there was popcorn all over the seat.

After the break Lilo and Stitch had all of us roaring, “Stitch! Stitch! Look it’s Stitch!”

We really like Stitch.

We enjoyed the stories of Lion King, Little Mermaid, Peter Pan and Lilo and Stitch being performed on ice. It was fun and sometimes scary.

Then we all went home. Goodbye.

***DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE AND PHOTO WERE PUBLISHED IN TYGERBURGER, A CAPE TOWN BASED MEDIA24 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. NEITHER MAY BE DUPLICATED WITHOUT ACCREDITING THE SOURCE – TYGERBURGER, MEDIA24.***

Jet Ski Champs: Jake’s thriumph

When intuition, anticipation and concentration merge, Jake Montandon twirls into the air.

And while suspended in the midair, the champion freerider uses his jet ski to pull off the most eye-catching moves imaginable.

All too soon he would plummet back to the unforgiving waves below.

On the Montalivet beach the predominantly French crowd goes wild, but Jake stays focused.

The 29-year-old freerider from Table View wants to be the best in the world, but coming second isn’t half bad!

Needless to say when he claimed the runner-up spot in France this month he returned home as a hero.

Third

Jake finished third in the 2012 IFWA Freeride World Championship Tour, and if he consistently performs at this rate, others will soon be measured by his high standards.

The World Tour comprises three international rounds a year of which France is the first. During these rounds competitors compete in a head-to-head double elimination format, while a panel of judges scores them 50 % for their wave surfing and 50 % for their aerial manoeuvres.

TygerBurger caught up with jet-setter Jake to hear more about his latest achievement and this audacious sport.

“This was the last championship of the guy who came first, so even though I’m currently second on the log, I will basically be going into the next competition with the most points,” he explains.

Jake has come a long way since he first started freeriding at the age of 12 while he worked for a jet ski rental company.

A fellow competitor once said: “The sport of jet ski freeride alone is best defined by taking the world’s best surfing contest, the world’s best motocross freestyle tricks, and blending them all together to create an intense and exciting sport.”

Variations

YouTube is full of of clips of people doing flips, turns and other gravity-defying tricks. Jake knows all of these and might even have come up with a couple himself.

“There are so many different variations out there. The Madonna flips, one-hand-one-foot, the can cans, the super-flips… And then we are also judged on normal surfing, such as big slashes off the top of the lip and things like that,” says Jake, adding his favourite is probably the Madonna flip.

He had to pay to get this good – either in time, sweat or ligament-wellness.

“I’ve been in and out of the doctor’s rooms lots of times: ankles, back, shoulders, teeth… at least I still have all of them!”

When he is not at the doctor’s room, you’ll probably find him preparing in the gym or flirting with the waves.

He concludes: “On the waves timing is everything. One has to improvise, think quickly and find the trick that works best. You’re up against Mother Nature, you know!”

***DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE AND PHOTO WERE PUBLISHED IN TYGERBURGER, A CAPE TOWN BASED MEDIA24 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. NEITHER MAY BE DUPLICATED WITHOUT ACCREDITING THE SOURCE – TYGERBURGER, MEDIA24.***

Tow-truck wars

The muddy underbelly of the tow-truck industry has become even murkier by the death of 45-year-old Linley Spencer Summers.

On the afternoon of 15 June, Summers was stabbed and pronounced dead soon after.

The accused, Chris Olieslager (40), maintains his innocence and on 28 August it will be up to the prosecutors to prove that he was the one who stabbed Summers.

In the meantime, Maitland police are requesting assistance from the public to come forward with eyewitness accounts.

W/O Siyabulela Vukubi, spokesperson for the local police, elaborates on the incident: “It is alleged that a container truck and an unknown car were involved in an accident whereby three tow trucks showed up to attend to that particular accident. An argument ensued between the tow truck drivers, after which one allegedly stabbed the other. The victim died later in hospital.”

However, Summers’ brother has also made allegations attacking Olieslager’s character and work ethics.

Threats

Olieslager was contacted by TygerBurger to respond to these, but he couldn’t comment under the advice of his legal representation.

He did admit that he is “dying” to comment, because there is “a whole lot that needs to be exposed”.

Summers’ brother, Lance, says that Olieslager threatened his brother’s life the night before the alleged attack.

Another tow-truck operator who wishes to remain anonymous says that the suspicion exists in the industry that the accident was a set-up.

Hearsay, suspicions and accusations are all that TygerBurger has to go on at this stage.

The police, the legal teams and this newspaper are looking for proof.

What is certain is that both the tow-truck companies Summers and Olieslager work for arrived at an accident scene at the Koeberg interchange in Maitland on 15 June.

Summers was there with his child and it is alleged that Olieslager stabbed him after an altercation.

According to Lance, Summers’ son was in the car when he heard an argument break out between his dad and Olieslager.

The child did not see his father get stabbed, but when he heard that someone was injured he allegedly saw Olieslager walk away from the scene and put a knife back into his pocket.

Lance continues: “I had a conversation with the accused the night before. He told me that my brother put out a contract on his life of R200 000. This was later denied to me by the person who was apparently funding this hit. That night the accused threatened to kill my brother.”

Olieslager and an accomplice then handed themselves over to the police. After Olieslager appeared in court he was given bail of R2 000. The next court date is 30 August.

Lance is not certain if the death of his brother is connected to a territory battle between the tow-truck operators.

He concludes: “In 1998 there were 35 tow-truck companies operating in the CBD. Now there is only one – Urban Towing. I’m convinced that Olieslager has contacts in high places.”

The operator who wishes to stay anonymous says that the tow-truck industry is cut-throat. The person adds: “It is vital for the public to be educated. If they are in accident they must insist on signing a document with the price of towing on. They must remember that there is a limit some insurance companies will pay. I know of operators who will charge up to R7 000 to tow a vehicle. The towing industry does not have a good reputation. It’s very sad.”

Summers is survived by his wife Karen and children Chandré, Joshua and Zara.

His family placed an advertisement which reads: “A smile for all, a heart of gold. One of the best the world could hold. Never selfish, always kind, what a beautiful memory you left behind. One last hug daddy from Zara. We love and miss you.”

***DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE AND PHOTO WERE PUBLISHED IN TYGERBURGER, A CAPE TOWN BASED MEDIA24 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. NEITHER MAY BE DUPLICATED WITHOUT ACCREDITING THE SOURCE – TYGERBURGER, MEDIA24.***

Wildcard could surprise the field

“We are maxed out. I have an over-sized sail and it is super-hard to hold down. The other guys are on a slightly smaller kit and they’re loving it, thinking ‘This kid is finished’!”

Somehow on the last mark Mitchell Wagstaff manages to pull a sweet inside move.

“I was blowing foul, but I managed to take the wind from the guy just below me! That was it, I was just holding on with everything I had and just hauling butt to the finish line!”

The 20-year-old South African champion has had many unlikely victories in his thriving career, but there’s nothing unlikely about his shot at windsurfing stardom.

The Port Elizabeth boys might choose to differ, but if they can’t win when windsurfing at home then their opinion doesn’t really carry much weight.

“Winning there was mindblowing. They weren’t expecting that one at all,” laughs Wagstaff.

He competed in three championships in South Africa this year before claiming the crown of fastest windsurfer.

It was almost inevitable when considering his dedication and sheer talent.

His journey started on the motocross track, but by the age of 11 he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps.

“Motocross became a bit expensive for me and since my farther’s been windsurfing for 21 years I decided to join him one day. I had no idea what I was trying out and I got absolutely destroyed, but that was when it all started,” he remembers.

Fate would have it that motocross’s loss was windsurfing’s gain. More particularly the slalom division’s gain.

“Slalom is just a race discipline. The standard is known as “downwind slalom” where you zig-zag your way downwind.

“We synchronise four minutes and then an imaginary gate opens, so you could be 20 feet back or right on the line when it starts. It’s very much about skillful tactics.”

When asked to elaborate on these tactics, Wagstaff first touches on “positioning”.

Basically one should always try to be upwind of one’s opponent, who might as a result be slowed down by “spin-off” (turbulence). Another tactic involves the turn, or the “gybe”.

The master-gyber explains: “You can choose different lines, but your goal is to enter the buoy really high and exit on the buoy so that there is no space for anyone else to get in.”

He sometimes trains with his nemesis and friend, Sunset Beach’s Peter Lumley, but when he just wants to relax he goes for a bit of wave sailing off the coast.

“The slalom is more meticulous and edgy, but when I go wave sailing it’s just me and the wave.

“Rig up my smaller sail, go 10 to 15 feet in the air and the wave disappears beneath you.

“When you’re up their you’re hovering you just manage to pull in this little forward loop and do a quick roll and sail away with a big smile on your face.”

He has been invited to participate as a wildcard in the Professional Windsurfer Association’s World Windsurfing Tour in Turkey from 19 to 24 August.

He has also been invited to represent South Africa in the 2013 Mauritius Indian Ocean Championships.

Go to http://www.tygerburger.co.za for audio/visual material about Wagstaff.

For more info go to his Facebook page “MitchwagstaffSa1111”.

***DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE AND PHOTO WERE PUBLISHED IN TYGERBURGER, A CAPE TOWN BASED MEDIA24 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. NEITHER MAY BE DUPLICATED WITHOUT ACCREDITING THE SOURCE – TYGERBURGER, MEDIA24.***

Focused on the silver lining

One evening in April 2006 Table View’s Deon van Zyl made a decision that would change his life forever.

He was on his way to a karaoke bar in West Palm Beach, Florida, when a drunken driver shattered his dreams.

“Obviously I don’t remember what happened that night, but whenever I went to this place I either went over the bridge or under the bridge. That night I decided to go over the bridge,” says Deon.

Some 21 days later and he woke up in a hospital bed.

Deon was told he was in a motorcycle accident and that he broke his spine.

His dream of becoming a chef slowly evaporated before his eyes.

From that day on his optimistic goals were replaced by simply staying optimistic.

Full of apprehension he returned to South Africa with a string of if-only nightmares on his trail.

Deon rebuilt his life, met his wife and fathered two children, but the desire to become a chef still burned silently within. A dream he believes is still within his reach.

“My friends and family will tell you that my signature dish is my lamb shank,” laughs Deon.

TygerBurger interviewed him this weekend to hear how he manages to stay focused on the silver lining while the cloud of lifelong paralysis hangs over him.

“I want to be successful in whatever I pursue, but now my family comes first. Being able to support them and keep them happy is enough!”

He now thrives in his job in the office automation industry and doesn’t let his disability stand between him and happiness.

He originally travelled to the USA via Workaway International and in his short time there as a chef he quickly established himself as an extraordinary talent.

Were it not for that one night in 2006 when he chose to drive across the bridge and not under it, he might have pursued his dream.

But he would not have met his wife, Lee-Ann, and fathered his two beautiful, amazing children.

Deon has an infectious lust for life and is clearly a born optimist.

He may also have missed the chance to be such an inspiration to others.

Says Charlotte Quenet-Meintjes, Head of Workaway International South Africa: “I have never met anyone quite like Deon before. He is one of the most fantastic individuals and its clear that he never lets anything get him down.”

It was so unfortunate and dreadful to hear about Deon’s accident, but the way he has come out on the other side by taking everything in his stride is phenomenal, Charlotte adds.

“We wish him all the best in his future endeavours and find it absolutely heart-warming that he has not let his disability define who he is and what he can do.”

Deon spoke for a long time about his adventure in America at five star country clubs and how he eventually triumphed over unexpected challenges.

It isn’t always easy, but a positive outlook is serving him well.

Yet, sometimes, just for a moment, he wonders how things would be today if he chose to take the road leading under the bridge instead of across it that night in 2006.

***DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE AND PHOTO WERE PUBLISHED IN TYGERBURGER, A CAPE TOWN BASED MEDIA24 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. NEITHER MAY BE DUPLICATED WITHOUT ACCREDITING THE SOURCE – TYGERBURGER, MEDIA24.***

Horror crash confusion

A horror accident on the corner of Koeberg and Plattekloof Roads last Tuesday claimed the life of 33-year-old Charmaine Wijnbeek.

Wijnbeek allegedly skipped a red traffic light and ploughed into a police vehicle that was transporting five suspects who were arrested in Du Noon.

One of the five suspects sustained a broken leg and the others, including the two police officers, were treated for minor injuries.

A culpable homicide docket has been opened by the police for investigation.

The police maintain that the above is correct, but certain facts cast shadows of doubt on what really happened that evening at 22:30.

The Table View police press statement received last Wednesday contained incorrect details, such as that Wijnbeek was 40 years old and that one of the dogs that was in the car with her ran off after the accident.

Yet one of the deceased’s friends who was on the scene insists that both dogs died in the accident and that the body of one of the two dogs was found in the boot of the hatchback.

Another uncertainty that hangs over the incident is exactly how the accident occurred.

According to an anonymous man who arrived on the scene moments after the incident, Wijnbeek’s Golf was smashed on the side and the police vehicle in the front.

He says: “I’m not accusing anybody. We just need some clarity. Which road did the police drive on – Plattekloof or Koeberg? Which robot did Charmaine skip? When I arrived on the scene the police vehicle was lying on its left side, right in the middle of the intersection facing towards Table View. Surely there’s no way she crashed into them and rolled them?”

His uncertainty is echoed by others on an IOL web forum.

One person writes: “These guys need to get their facts straight. The way they say it happened is impossible, sorry to say. Charmaine’s poor family is getting all the wrong details. I was there a few seconds after it happened.”

Another adds: “The driver of the police vehicle is to blame for this incident, no two ways about it! Surely the Caltex Refinery can provide video evidence to back the investigation – they have cameras pointing in all directions?”

A Daily Sun report included the following: “A witness who asked to remain anonymous said he was driving behind the police van when he saw a VW Golf jump a red robot and collide with the police vehicle, overturning it.”

This witness was contacted by TygerBurger. He first said that we must phone him a little later and then he refrained from answering his phone when follow-up calls were made.

On Friday TygerBurger emailed a number of questions to Table View police to clarify the events that led up to the accident and whether they have approached Caltex Refinery for video footage.

On Monday and Tuesday TygerBurger was sent from one officer to the next, who either didn’t have the time, information or the necessary authority to shed some light on the events that lead to Wijnbeek’s death.

By late Tuesday, at the time of going to press TygerBurger’s questions were still unanswered.

***DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN TYGERBURGER, A CAPE TOWN BASED MEDIA24 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. IT MAY NOT BE DUPLICATED WITHOUT ACCREDITING THE SOURCE – TYGERBURGER, MEDIA24.***

*****

Two eyewitnesses – two sides of the same devastating story.

One witness is convinced the Milnerton police officer skipped a red traffic light and the other is equally certain that it was the driver of the Golf who disobeyed the traffic rules.

Who is to blame for the death of 33-year-old Charmaine Wijnbeek?

TygerBurger reported last week in the article entitled “Horror crash confusion” how a police van transporting five suspects from Du Noon to Milnerton collided with Wijnbeek’s vehicle on 11 June at 22:30.

Last week it was uncertain at the time of going to press exactly how the accident happened.

It is now known that the police van was travelling on Koeberg Road towards Milnerton and Wijnbeek on Plattekloof Road. She wanted to turn towards Table View, but when she reached the middle of the intersection the police van collided into the right side of the Golf. The van flipped over onto its left side and the Golf was slammed a few metres down Koeberg Road towards Milnerton.

Wijnbeek and her two dogs were killed in the process and the occupants of the police van sustained relatively minor injuries.

The police maintain that Wijnbeek skipped the red light.

Last week the details of a witness were given to the newspaper to verify the police’s version of what happened, but he could not be reached.

This week TygerBurger managed to speak to him, but another witness also came forward – one of the suspects who was in the back of the police van.

Both insist that they want to stay anonymous.

The first witness, who apparently drove “not too far” behind the police, elaborates: “I was on my way to work that time. Then the driver of the Golf jumped the red robot, without stopping once. Then the van and the Golf met halfway at the robot. It was hectic! I wouldn’t say the police van drove into her and I wouldn’t say she drove into the police van. Anybody who says that the van skipped the red robot is lying.”

The witness is adamant that he has no connections in the police and what he says is definitely correct.

He adds that while he was behind the van he never got the impression that it was speeding at any point.

The second witness was driving in the back of the van after he was apparently arrested in Du Noon for carrying a small knife.

He sustained minor back injuries and was treated briefly in hospital.

According to his employer, Kevin Napier, the second witness told him that the police van drove through a red traffic light before any newspaper articles appeared. When the witness saw TygerBurger’s article he just said: “The police are lying.”

He claims that the police were driving dangerously and were speeding, so he kept his eye on the road through the canopy window and windscreen.

Napier adds that his employee has a habit of always looking where he’s going – especially when he sits in the back of a bakkie.

He is “absolutely certain” that the van drove through a “completely red” traffic light and straight into the Golf.

Napier says that his employee is an honest man who has been working for him for about eight years.

Francois de Roubaix, manager of Dals Towing, says it is “very obvious” that Wijnbeek just pulled away at the robot. His employees arrived on the scene just moments after the accident.

“If she came through the intersection with a bit of speed before the collision then the vehicles would have ended up in the lanes heading towards Table View. Yet, she ended up in the lanes heading towards Milnerton police station. So, my experience tells me she first stopped at the robot and then drove,” he explains.

He also finds it strange that if Wijnbeek indeed skipped the red light that she didn’t see the approaching police van on her right.

Spokesperson for Milnerton police, W/O Daphne Dell, first dispelled the second witness’s observation that the police van was speeding when she says: “As you are aware all police vehicles are fitted with tracking devices and the record is drawn on a daily basis. The speed of the vehicle was travelling can be seen on the report. According to the record of the vehicle involved in the accident the member was not speeding at any time before the accident.”

This tracking device can record the exact time of the accident, so Dell says that they have approached the City of Cape Town and are trying to determine what colour the traffic lights were at that precise moment. She admits, however, that this line of query is a long shot.

She continues: “The case is still under investigation and therefore I cannot answer all the questions, but I can confirm that we have also asked Caltex Refinery for some video footage.”

Dell concludes by saying that if it is found that police members made false statements then they will be charged with perjury.

***DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN TYGERBURGER, A CAPE TOWN BASED MEDIA24 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. IT MAY NOT BE DUPLICATED WITHOUT ACCREDITING THE SOURCE – TYGERBURGER, MEDIA24.***

***

On the eleventh of every month Sarie Botha sits in her Pretoria home and stares at her telephone. The tragic memories of 11 June 2013 have never healed. Just over a year ago she had a beautiful 33-year-old daughter, Charmaine Wijnbeek. Then the devastating news hit her like a sledgehammer – Charmaine was in a serious car accident on the corner of Plattekloof and Koeberg Roads. Just a few minutes later she was informed by one of Charmaine’s friends that her daughter had died. Various newspapers reported that she skipped a red traffic light before a Milnerton police vehicle slammed into her Golf. TygerBurger posed various questions in the aftermath of the accident on 19 June. Then, a week later, this newspaper reported in the article entitled “Horror car crash still a mystery” that a person in the back of the police van swears that it was the police who skipped the traffic light, and not Charmaine. Since last year, Sarie has phoned the police every month on the eleventh, but has never received any concrete answers as to how the investigation into the accident is proceeding. She will not be phoning again. “The investigation in the case is now complete. The docket will be presented to the senior public prosecutor for discussion and a decision,” Milnerton police spokesperson W/O Daphne O’Reilly told TygerBurger. O’Reilly says all the evidence and statements were included in the docket. “All we can do now is wait,” she says. “The senior public prosecutor has to deal with many such issues, so his decision could take a while yet.” This is the last thing Sarie wants to hear, since her patience ran dry months ago. She elaborates: “No-one ever phoned me. Till today I have not received a call from the police to tell me my daughter is dead…” During the telephonic interview Sarie’s anguish was tangible. “My family is not doing well,” she swallows. “To us it seems as if she didn’t die – she was killed.” That fateful night two police officers went to Du Noon and arrested five suspects. The van was heading towards Milnerton along Koeberg Road. The police officers in the vehicle and an eye-witness who was driving behind the van maintain that it was Charmaine who skipped the red light, but one of the suspects in the back of the van said that this version was a lie. The suspect also said the van was speeding. Both sides were presented in the media, but now it is ultimately the decision of the senior public prosecutor. If the decision goes against Charmaine then Sarie will have the option to appeal, but she doubts whether she will be able to afford it. While she waits, the same memories drift to the surface – the night of the accident. “I didn’t feel well and took a sleeping pill. I had just closed my eyes when one of Charmaine’s friends phoned me. He said to me she had been in a serious accident… While I was packing stuff I just thought soon I’ll be at the hospital with her. Then the same friend phoned me and said she didn’t make it.” Since then Sarie has had to cope with various challenges, the worst being when a cell phone company phoned her and demanded to speak to Charmaine. “I just started crying. I said if they have a direct line to heaven they can phone her.” Charmaine’s death has left a swathe of broken hearts. Sarie has two sons and neither of them have come to terms with the fact that they will never see Charmaine again. ***DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN TYGERBURGER, A CAPE TOWN BASED MEDIA24 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. IT MAY NOT BE DUPLICATED WITHOUT ACCREDITING THE SOURCE – TYGERBURGER, MEDIA24.***

There’s no stopping him

This year a pastor from Table View will aim to break eight world records, organise a massive flash mob and, quite astonishingly, read the entire New Testament in one sitting.

That wasn’t a typo.

What’s more, he will be reading the New Testament to a hip-hop beat that schoolchildren from all over Cape Town will be beatboxing.

Durbanville school kids are apparently keener than anyone.

Lukas Korff (aka Miracle Cuzzy) is ultimately trying to spread the Word of God in a way that teenagers can relate to.

In order to raise funds and create awareness of this massive undertaking, Korff will hold a series of astounding feats to go with his previous world records.

On 12 July he will be attempting a “Beat-Box Ultra Marathon” for 10 hours; on 13 July he will be trying to break the Mitt Boxing Speed World Record; on 29 July he will go for the “most catches of a golf ball at 100 metres” (which is currently six); after which he will be attempting a Boxing Mitt Ultra Marathon of 10 hours on 31 August; the fastest round of golf (with a putter nonetheless!) on 30 September; the most 100 metre chips on a golf course on 4 October; and finally the most 100 metre putts on 17 October.

Lo and behold, on 26 October he will be reading the New Testament in 17 hours!

The “who, what, where and when” are the easy parts.

The real question is the “why”.

Korff has a ready made answer for this one: “I was the drug addict. I was the man who supplied drugs to my friends. I was the violent, alcoholic, idiot.

“Then I had my experience, my encounter. My miracle. I was in a car accident in Johannesburg and the doctor said I will never walk again. I literally wasted away on a bed of sheep skins. Then I made a deal with God when I asked him to heal me and, in turn, I will make a change in the lives of others.”

He started his journey on the road of redemption when he became a pastor, but it was only after the tragic death of his first wife.

“She had cystic fibrosis – a long and disgusting disease. And then in 2006 she passed away. The next year I hid under covers, sleeping, drinking, on anti-depressants and then in 2008 it was the Argus.”

“People kept telling me, ‘C’mon. You said if you stand for nothing you fall for anything. Take a stand!’,” remembers Korff.

The inspirational pastor then completed the Argus while riding on a bicycle without a seat.

He laughs.

“I stood the entire route!”

Since then he has broken 13 jaw-dropping world records, such as sinking the longest putt (115 metres), punching a speed bag for over 26 hours, and the fastest round of golf with just a putter in 42 minutes (he hit a 250 metre drive that day!)

All these are impressive, but if he can manage to read the whole New Testament in one sitting, with the force and conviction of an energetic rapper, then it would probably take the cake.

Korff gave a demonstration to TygerBurger, but one should really hear it. How do you write to the beat of a hip-hopping beatbox?

“The in-hab-itants of Je-richo where per-ver-ted with sin-and-corrupt, surrounded by a wall so-thick-that chariots raced on top…”

Korff wants people to donate funds in order to give audio Bibles to kids from 100 schools nationally.

There are even people from Pakistan and South Korea who have expressed an interest in the project.

A portion of the money raised will also go to the Gen-X Youth Centre.

To get in touch with Korff go to his page on Facebook or contact him on 061 014 0988.

***DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE AND PHOTO WERE PUBLISHED IN TYGERBURGER, A CAPE TOWN BASED MEDIA24 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER.***

Family explores world together

For the Zapp family there is no tomorrow – there is only now.

Besides their four children, Herman and Candelaria Zapp have populated the present with persuasive inspiration and an astonishing narrative of their adventures.

Thirteen years ago the couple from Argentina set out to see the Americas in their 1928 Graham Paige vehicle.

A six-month endeavour evolved into a 13-year odyssey around the globe, and quite naturally two people became six.

Herman (44) and Candelaria (42), along with their four children Pampa (10), Tehue (8), Paloma (5) and Wallaby (4) have been sharing their unexpected journey with people from all over the world.

Last night they continued this trend at Milnerton Aquatic Club and soon they will be on their way to Namibia and then boldly carry on through Africa.

Special

TygerBurger spoke to them before they gave their final presentation in South Africa.

“We are not special. We are just like everyone else, but we are doing something special,” exclaims Candelaria with a heavy Spanish accent.

“If you have a dream you must not be afraid to follow it. Yes, there are many ups and downs – so many challenges – but you must just go, go, go!”

Herman adds: “We know it will be tricky, but that is what we’re looking for! Adventure, challenges… Every day is exciting, every day we don’t know what will happen. That is what keeps us alive and in love, because we work together to overcome.”

The couple left their whole world behind them in 2000 when they bought an old car from a friend in Argentina and set off to Alaska. They had enough money to last them six months.

Through the goodwill of people they’ve met on their journey, neither the money nor the motivation to continue ever dried up.

Travels

After the Argentina-Alaska journey they travelled from La Quiaca (Argentina) to Ushuaia (the southern most city in the world); from the West of the USA, through Canada, all the way to the East of the USA; all the way around Australia; from Oceana to Japan, China and India; and then they finally arrived in South Africa.

They wanted to travel through Africa in a year, but SA was so fascinating they’ve been here for more than eight months!

Candelaria explains: “You have it all here! The mountains, the beaches, the trees… Everyone told us we will fall in love with Cape Town and I was worried about this, because if everyone tells you that then you expect too much and be disappointed. But Cape Town is even better than we thought!”

According to Herman people also told them that they will be robbed somewhere along their journey through South Africa – and indeed they were.

“They were right! But they never told me about baboons! Baboons stole our medicine,” he laughs.

Highlights

The family has been exceptionally fortunate, since they have never been the victim of a serious crime or illness on their 13-year journey.

When Herman and Candelaria were asked to name one (one!) highlight they struggled.

“One?” asks Candelaria. “I would say the biggest highlight is people! Making friends with the locals.”

Another part of the journey that sparkles with wonder was when the family put the vehicle on a raft and rowed through the Amazon jungle.

She adds that the most difficult part of their travels was that very first day when they left their lives behind.

“Your mind had so many questions and there were no answers. It was very difficult to hear your heart. Everybody else also had many questions. The unknown is scary… We were so afraid and fragile the day we left. But we also felt powerful, because we were conquering our fears. That first day our car broke just 65 kilometres into our journey! I think it was very good that we didn’t return back home to fix it, or we might never have left,” says Candelaria.

VRead more about the Zapps on http://www.argentinaalaska.com.

***DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE AND PHOTO WERE PUBLISHED IN TYGERBURGER, A CAPE TOWN BASED MEDIA24 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER.***

In memory of young Ester

After years of pleading with authorities for traffic lights in front of the school in Koeberg road, Ysterplaat Primary’s personnel had to tell each and every learner that they will never see their classmate again.

They also had to notify 11-year-old Ester Nsenga-Banza’s parents that she was killed by a reckless taxi driver.

On Friday morning at 07:50 children were waiting on the western side of the main road for the traffic warden, Tammy Roos, to allow them to cross.

A teacher at the school, Marisa Meyer, elaborates: “Traffic stopped on the left hand lane and the right hand lane was empty. Tammy stood in the middle of the two lanes and held up her stop sign while the children crossed. Ester was holding her sister’s hand when she walked past Tammy.”

Speeding taxi

Then in dreadful moment the lives of several people changed forever.

Tammy saw a taxi speeding towards her in the right hand lane…

Ester’s sister, Doel, was suddenly yanked out of the way by Tammy.

Both of them – as well as the other learners who watched the scene unfold – saw the taxi pulverise the gentle Ester.

Straight after the horrendous accident the scene teemed with people trying to help.

Ester’s family was notified and they were there in a heartbeat. They would have seen paramedics and two teachers administer CPR on the unrecognisable and mangled ruin that was their daughter.

According to Meyer, Ester’s heart started beating again, upon which her father called out: “Praise the Lord!”

Ester died on the way to the hospital.

Counselling

A couple of teachers and principal Johann Kruger had to literally carry the grief-stricken family into a room in the school itself.

All the people who saw the accident received counselling and every child at the school was informed of the morning’s tragedy.

A tragedy that should have been prevented according to Kruger.

“I have been urging the authorities to erect a set of traffic lights in front of the school since 23 April 2003. Last year two of our learners were seriously injured on separate occasions! People just refer our request from one person to the next,” says Kruger.

An indent has been placed in the road, a stop sign was given to the traffic warden and small poles were erected on the side of the road.

Kruger says it wasn’t a day before those poles were destroyed by vehicles.

Neither Kruger nor Meyer can understand how a few hundred metres up the road there are two sets of traffic lights (placed within 15 metres of one another) while authorities simply refuse to place any where more than 400 children cross a busy road twice daily.

Ward councillor Bernadette le Roux

confirmed that there will be a meeting that will involve all the role players “as soon as possible”.

Traffic and roads engineers will join her and Kruger and the way forward will be carefully analysed.

She adds: “Firstly, I want to say that it is a disgusting incident! The driver probably knows the area well and he must’ve seen the traffic warden and the schoolchildren! I heard he tried to drive away from the scene were it not for another motorist who blocked his escape route.”

Le Roux also asks whether a traffic light would suffice, since children get run over whether there’s a traffic light or not.

On Thursday morning at 07:15, parents and teachers will be participating in a peaceful protest in front of the school in Koeberg road.

A memorial service for Esther will be held at the school on Friday.

*****

The gloomy overcast clouds cast a shadow over proceedings at Ysterplaat Primary last week.

The father and mother of 11-year-old Ester Nsenga-Banza were planting a tree on the school grounds in memory of their daughter, who was brutally killed in front of the school by a reckless taxi driver on 11 May.

With every spadeful of earth they wept and with every tear shed, onlookers were submerged in despair.

These included schoolchildren, the principal Johann Kruger, senior manager: operating licensing and permits Bernie McMahon, and MEC for Transport in the Western Cape, Robin Carlisle.

TygerBurger reported on 15 May in the article entitled “Traffic light’s high price” how Ester was run down at 07:50. The taxi driver allegedly ignored the traffic warden’s stop sign, barely missed Ester’s sister Doel and then doused the light of Ester’s life.

He apparently tried to flee the scene, but the vigilant community prevented him from escaping.

The taxi driver appeared in court and received R1 000 bail.

The private and public sector jumped to assist the impoverished family with money and other goods.

Representatives of two of these private companies, Stodels and Pick n Pay were also present during the morning.

Pick n Pay donated R12 000 to the family and Stodels R5 000 along with clothing and a Waterberry tree.

Says Nick Stodel, managing director of Stodels Nurseries: “The story of Ester really touched our hearts and we hope in some small way we can relieve some of the financial burden facing the family. It won’t bring Ester back, but there will be a tree to commemorate her life and hopefully this drive will raise more awareness about the totally unacceptable accident statistics caused by reckless driving on our roads.”

Pick n Pay’s marketing manager, Mark Jennings admits that he too found the story of Ester’s death disturbing.

“We immediately knew we had to help the family,” he elaborates.

“There are so many tragic stories and we help so many. This one was particularly sad and horrible.”

John Kalenga, who arrived in South Africa in 2007 from the Congo urges the government to do something for the school before the tragedy is repeated. “I don’t want anyone to feel the pain we are feeling now,” he says.

The school’s principal has been asking authorities to erect a traffic light in front of the school in Koeberg Road for years.

His insistence has, however, been falling on deaf ears.

Bernie McMahon said the provincial government will do everything in its power to avoid a similar incident.

*****

The Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) is looking to roll out an integrated traffic management system at schools in the province.

This news came after an 11-year-old schoolgirl was killed when she crossed Koeberg Road.

TygerBurger reported on this accident in last week’s article entitled “In memory of young Ester”.

The integrated management system will apparently include a tracker, which will be connected to a traffic light.

The traffic light will then turn red when a car approaches and a pedestrian is trying to cross the road.

PRE’s senior manager for operating licensing and permits, Bernie McMahon, revealed this during the tree planting ceremony at Ysterplaat Primary in memory of Ester Nsenga-Banza.

This system might, according to McMahon, be implemented at most schools.

“It’s no good if we are all here today and tomorrow our intervention stops. Safety is ongoing. Children are the future of tomorrow. We need to roll this out. Ysterplaat isn’t the main focal point,” she explains.

The Safer Schools initiative will also ensure that children are educated on the dangers of crossing a road.

“We will educate the children on an ongoing basis and then they will go out and educate their families and friends,” she says.

A lot of research will have to be done before it can be decided what traffic calming measure will be installed where, but insofar as the other projects go, it is clear McMahon is eager to get the show on the road.

“We need clear signage in front of schools, humps where there should be humps and traffic lights where needed. We are also giving reflector jackets to Ysterplaat in the meantime,” she concludes.

Ysterplaat Primary’s principal, Johann Kruger, has been asking authorities to erect a traffic light in front of the school in Koeberg Road for years.

Several accidents later and it seems as if Kruger might finally get his wish. Until new traffic lights are installed, however, they will have to make do with reflector jackets for traffic wardens.

***DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE AND PHOTO WERE PUBLISHED IN TYGERBURGER, A CAPE TOWN BASED MEDIA24 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER.***

Top of the world to fight dreaded TB

What does suffering from tuberculosis (TB) and climbing Kilimanjaro have in common?

While scaling the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5 895 metres one might experience shortness of breath, nausea and hallucinations.

These are just some of the symptoms and side effects of TB and its treatment.

A clinical psychologist at Brooklyn Chest Hospital, Leigh Rynhoud (40), will attempt to conquer the mountain in September and raise funds for the hospital, particularly for the treatment of deadly strains of TB.

The Bothasig resident says the funds will be used for two projects, namely visitor transport and a work-skills project.

“I know how important support from the patient’s family is and some of them cannot afford to come for a visit. As for the work-skills project, some of the reasons why people end up getting TB include not eating healthily or not looking after themselves appropriately. To just release them from hospital and put them in the same situation after a year of fighting the illness doesn’t help. They must learn something new,” she explains.

The hospital treats about 250 patients who suffer from Extremely Drug Resistant TB (XDR-TB).

In Rynhoud’s professional capacity, she faces a proverbial Kilimanjaro every day.

She has to motivate patients who are staring death in the face.

“During therapy I would sometimes tell the patient to look at Table Mountain. I would say: ‘You can’t wish yourself to the top. All you can do is try. And even while you walk around the hospital grounds, if that is your training for climbing it, it is still training for climbing that mountain’,” continues Rynhoud.

So, in order to raise funds and motivate her patients, she has decided to climb Kilimanjaro.

“It could take a patient up to a year to overcome TB, so my journey started on TB Day on 25 March and will end a year later,” she says.

Rynhoud will be paying for the trip herself, so all the money raised will go straight to the hospital. The success of her journey depends on people out there donating money for a good cause.

According to her, people gladly donate money for cancer or HIV/Aids, but they are not so considerate when it comes to TB.

One of these reasons, according to Rynhoud, is that people tend to underestimate the disease. Which leads to the question, how serious is TB really?

She sums up the problem in her blog (www.kileighmanjarovstb.blogspot.com): “According to the WHO, approximately 8,7 million people became ill with TB in 2011, 1,4 million people died and 10 million children were left orphaned after their parents succumbed to this disease worldwide. It is estimated that in the 22 high burden countries there are 10 million people living with active TB. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest proportion of new cases per population in the world. In 2011 it was estimated that there were nearly 30 000 people in the Cape Town metro area suffering from TB.”

To donate go to http://www.tbhivcare.org and click on donate and then on the Kileighmanjaro.vs.TB link.

***DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE AND PHOTO WERE PUBLISHED IN TYGERBURGER, A CAPE TOWN BASED MEDIA24 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER.***

Country-Opskop ’n ware skouspel!

Nostalgie en inspirasie het Sondag getrou in ’n melodieuse skouspel by GrandWest se Grand-arena. Die uitmuntende Bakgat-Country-Opskop, waarvan TygerBurger die mediaborg is, het die gehoor op hul voete gehad met bekende liedjies deur beroemde kunstenaars.

“Country road take me home’’, “Tiny Bubbles” en “Rarest Flowers’’ was net die regte medisyne om jou ou platespeler en LP’s af te stof, ’n cowboy-hoed en stewels aan te trek, en terug te gaan in tyd.

Die Afrikaanse cowboy, Lance James, het die taak van seremoniemeester verrig en die Musiekwêreld-orkes het verseker dat die vertonings altyd vars gebly het.

Al was die Opskopvertoning gedoop in herinneringe, het Die Campbells gewaarborg dat vandag se country-musiek nie afgeskeep word nie.

Teen die einde van die vertoning was elkeen van die kunstenaars op die verhoog en het hulle gesorg vir ’n uitsonderlike country-klimaks toe Die Campbells en James omring was deur sterre Ricus Nel, Matt Hurter, Wynand en Cheree Strydom, Barbara Ray, Alan Ladd, Billy Forrest, Manie Jackson en nuweling Sulize Bester.

Bakgat-Promosies se eienaar, Christo Booyens, is baie in sy noppies ná nog ’n suksesvolle Country-opskop.

“Dit was die eerste keer dat ons ’n band gehad het!

“Hulle het baie hard geoefen en ons is baie dankbaar vir hulle bydrae. Ons is natuurlik net so dankbaar dat so baie mense opgedaag het. Daar was meer as 4 000 mense,” sê hy.

TygerBurger was die hoofborg en dan het Bokradio, Radio Helderberg en Musiekwêreld in Bellville ook ’n rol gespeel in die skouspel.

Garth Hewitt, WP-Koerante se advertensiebestuurder, het gesê R10 van elke kaartjie wat verkoop is, sal geskenk word aan die TygerBurger-Solidariteit-beursfonds.

Gaan na TygerBurger se webtuiste vir meer foto’s.

***DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE AND PHOTO WERE PUBLISHED IN TYGERBURGER, A CAPE TOWN BASED MEDIA24 COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. NEITHER MAY BE DUPLICATED WITHOUT ACCREDITING THE SOURCE – TYGERBURGER, MEDIA24.***