Getting there… rapidly!

SA’s most talented all-round female paddler and Plett native, Michèle Eray, negotiates Pine Nasty rapid during her victorious debut Global Trader Drakensberg Challenge - see report on back page.

IN THIS EDITION:

Watching horses die – this page

Tsitsikamma toll hike shocks – this page

Mass wedding in The Crags – People & Places page

Increase in Tsitsikamma toll fees announced

THE existing Tsitsikamma toll road, stretching about 28km from the Salt River to Elandsbos River, was declared a toll road in 1984. A further section of the N2 was proclaimed as a toll road during 2005.
This section of the Tsitsikamma toll road has now been extended, after a long period of intense roadworks in the area, to stretch from Salt River to Witelsbos to total a distance of approximately 53km - an overall increase of about 25km.
This new extended toll road will be opened on March 1, and in CXPRESS of February 10 a notice was placed by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) informing readers of the new toll fees that will apply when they arrive at the toll gates at the Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza.
To this extent, three public information sessions were held to update the communities of Nature's Valley and Covie on February 15, and in Storms River Village on the 16th. As regular users of this stretch of road, the local discount structures were of par...

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Horror death of Kranshoek horse highlights neglect and abuse

NIKKI RIDLEY investigated the dire fate of horses in Kranshoek

THE community of smallholders who own properties on the Airport Road near Kranshoek are up in arms over the apparent neglect and abuse suffered by horses in Kranshoek - an ongoing situation that culminated two weeks ago in the senseless death of a beautiful, well-known and well-loved Anglo-Arab mare named Lady.
Lady was euthanized after being discovered lying on the side of the road by a passer-by.
At the time of the discovery, the teenage boys who had been racing her until she fell were still with her, hitting her with sticks to try to make her get up. They fled on realising that they had been seen, jumping on to other horses and riding away.
The passer-by, herself a horse-owner, called in a vet and the police on seeing that the horse was so badly injured she'd have to be destroyed.
"She had a broken hip - I don't know how - and we also suspect a fractured femu...

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Wilderness ‘big fish’ reeled in safely

The following NSRI report proves that, sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction…

SHORTLY before 7pm on Thursday February 18, NSRI Wilderness, the SAPS, Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services were activated following reports of a female being swept out to sea at Klein Krans, near Wilderness.
NSRI Wilderness duty coxswain, Torsten Henschell, said that on arrival on-scene a female was found to already be safe on the beach after being rescued by the joint efforts of off-duty Correctional Services Inspector Jacque Snyman, and off-duty Police Inspector Jacque Starbuck - two friends who were angling on the nearby beach at the time. “The lady was assessed by paramedics on the scene but required no further assistance or medical attention,” said Torsten.
The ordeal began when Klein Krans resident Sunyata Choyce - a Canadian now living in South Africa and who runs the children’s aid NGO, Project Colors – enjoyed an early...

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No lives lost in Knysna fires

By February 11, Knysna breathed a collective sigh of relief when seven fires that burnt in and around the town for the previous five days, were extinguished. Mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies thanked all groups and individuals whom assisted, either with fighting the blaze, or by providing food and water to visiting Working for Fire team members.