Local News

From GoPlett

16 February 2010

Open Letter to the Minister of Transport Minister Sibusiso Joel Ndebele

Dear Minister Sibusiso Joel Ndebele,

As you are aware The South Africa Roads Agency LTD will increase toll fees at the Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza from 1 March 2010. At the public information session held in Natures Valley on 15 Febuary 2010 residents were informed of the new fee structure.

Class 1 - Old: R  13.00 - New: R  33.00
Class 2 - Old: R  33.00 - New: R  83.00
Class 3 - Old: R  80.00 - New: R198.00
Class 4 - Old: R111.00 - New: R280.00

A local user discount was introduced.

Natures Valley and Covie residents get 85% discount.  They pay R5.00
The Crags, Coldstream, Kurland, Stormsriver residents get a 70% discount. They pay R10.00

I have personally measured the distances from the following communities to the toll plaza and beg you intervene in a clear bias.

Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza to Natures Valley 9.7km Tsitsikamma toll plaza to Storms River 26.7km Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza to Coldstream 9.7km Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza to Kurland Village 14.4km

Why do residents of Covie and Natures Valley get 85% discount but residents of say Cold Stream, The Crags and Kurland Village which are within 14km from the plaza only get 70% discount? Surely there should be some kind of sliding scale that applies for residents who live nearer the plaza.

Both Natures Valley and Coldstream residents live 9.7km from the plaza but only Natures Valley gets 85% discount. Surely this is bias.

I beg you intervene in this case before this clear bias leads to civil unrest. The communities of Coldstream, Kurland and The Crags are very poor and your help in this regard will go along way to alleviating poverty and conflict.

I can be contacted at the following number if you need further info 083 240 7796

Look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this case.

Kind regards

Simon Botes 0832407796

Emailed sent: Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 11:28 PM - Responce to follow

16 February 2010

Breaking news:

The South Africa Roads Agency LTD will increase toll fees at the Tsitsikamma Toll Plaze from 1 March 2010.

The new tariffs are indicated below:

Class 1 - Old: R  13.00 - New: R 33.00
Class 2 - Old: R  33.00 - New: R 83.00
Class 3 - Old: R  80.00 - New: R198.00
Class 4 - Old: R111.00 - New:  R280.00

A local user discount has been introduced to “help” locals living in the affected area’s.

The discount structure is as follows:

1. Natures Valley and Covie Residents: 85% Discount - R5 toll

2. The Crags, Kurland, Cold Stream, Storms River, Tsitsikamma, Nomplumulelo residents 75% discount. R10 toll

Why all local residents are not given the same discount structure has caused a heated debate and this matter will be taken to the minister of transport. What is the difference between people living in Natures Valley and The Crags, Coldstream, Kurland and even Keurbooms for that matter?

The old toll road was 28km long and was declared in 1984. The new section of toll road is an additional 25km and was declared in 2005 but only built between 2008/2010 and will be completed by 1 March 2010. The total length of toll road is now 53km. In addition to the existing N2 main line plaze, 2 additional Ramp plazes are being errected. These new plazes will toll user who plan to drive the old Bloukrans or Natures Valley roads. The fee will be the same no matter which route you are driving. There is no local discount rate for businesses operating large vehicals in this area.

For more info call this number 044 531 6767

Just as a matter of interest here is an idea of how far each community is from the toll gate:

Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza to Natures Valley 9.7km
Tsitsikamma toll plaza to Storms River 26.7km
Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza to Coldstream 9.7km
Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza to Kurland Village 14.4km

18 December 2009

SA's hottest bands tour with the Nokia Comes With Music Party Bus

Nokia will be taking the South African coast by storm this festive season with the launch of the Nokia Comes with Music Party Bus. Beach-goers down South Africa’s South Coast will be serenaded by some of South Africa’s hottest bands on tour with the Nokia Comes with Music road show. The tour will kick off in Umdloti, Durban on the 9th of December.

The Nokia Comes with Music Party bus, which will be making stops at beaches and shopping malls throughout the season, will showcase live performances from some of South Africa’s top bands which include Ashtray Electric, Taxi Violence, Mix n Blend, Straatligkinders, aKing and Loyiso.

Sarah Crowe, head of marketing for Nokia South Africa says that the bus is just another way in which Nokia is showing its support of local talent. “Nokia has exercised support for the local industry throughout 2009 with the launch of the Nokia Music Store and then the Comes with Music service. The Comes with Music party bus is a great way to end off the year and we look forward to giving fans a chance to see their favourite artists perform live over the festive season.”

As part of the tour, Nokia will be handing out free Nokia Music Store vouchers giving fans access to tracks from their favourite performers. Tracks to be included are ‘The Dance’ by aKing, ‘Quite Overstared’ by Ashtray Electric and ‘Shall We Swing (feat, Fletcher)’ by Mix n Blend. The tracks will be given away at each performance of specific bands per day. You can hear previews of these tracks from Nokia Music Store’s latest Podcast Episode at this site

The Nokia Comes with Music Party Bus starts its tour in Durban following which it will travel to Margate, Port Elizabeth, Plettenberg Bay and Cape Town. To follow the bus during the tour, Click Here

Tour route:

9th December – Umdloti, Durban: 11h00 Ashtray Electric and 15h00 Taxi Violence

10th December – Westbrook Beach, Durban: 11h00 Taxi Violence and 15h00 Ashtray Electric

11th December – Anstey Beach, Durban: 11h00 Ashtray Electric and 15h00 Taxi Violence

12th December – Amanzimtoti, Durban: 11h00 Mix n Blend:DJ and 15h00 Straatligkinders

13th December – Amanzimtoti, Durban: 11h00 Straatligkinders and 15h00 Mix n Blend:DJ

14th December – Margate Beach, Margate: 11h00 Ashtray Electric and 15h00 Taxi Violence

15th December – Margate Beach, Margate: 11h00 Mix n Blend:DJ and 15h00 Straatligkinders

17th December – Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth: 11h00 Mix n Blend:DJ and 15h00 Straatligkinders

18th December – Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth: 11h00 Straatligkinders and 15h00 Mix n Blend:DJ

19th December – King’s Beach, Port Elizabeth: 11h00 Mix n Blend:DJ and 15h00 Straatligkinders

21st December – Beacon Isle Beach, Plettenberg Bay: 11h00 Mix n Blend:DJ and 15h00 AKing

23rd December – Ratanga Junction, Cape Town: 11h00 Mix n Blend:DJ and 15h00 Straatligkinders

24th December – Cape Gate Centre, Cape Town: 11h00 Taxi Violence and 15h00 Mix n Blend:Band

26th December – Ratanga Junction, Cape Town: 11h00 Mix n Blend:Band and 15h00 Taxi Violence

27th December – Somerset Mall, Cape Town: 11h00 Taxi Violence and 15h00 Mix n Blend:Band

28th December – Blue Route Mall, Cape Town: 11h00 Ashtray Electric and 15h00 Mix n Blend: Band

29th December – V&A Waterfront, Cape Town: 11h00 Mix n Blend: Band and 15h00 Ashtray Electric

30th December – V&A Waterfront, Cape Town: 11h00 Ashtray Electric and 15h00 Mix n Blend: Band

31st December – V&A Waterfront, Cape Town: 11h00 Mix n Blend: Band and Loyiso

Via Nokia

Daily updates Daily Updates available here

1 March 2009

All emergency services must please be informed about the following person, include hospitals, back packers and any public related place.

Johan Redlinghuis, 67 nick name boetie 1.7m tall Weighing approx 84Kg Last seen wearing bark Karki shorts with similar top and sandles. Confirmed sighting of him on N2 leaving Plett heading towards PE. Suffers from Alzheimer's

Johan stays in PE and was complaining of being in Plett Could have been picked up and dropped of along the N2

Any info please relay to Andrew Scott 082 3391240 Rogan Hindmarch 082 3234349 Ray Farnham 082 9905975 Or nearset police station

Andrew Scott Rescue coordinator Mountain Club of South Africa - South Cape mountainrescue@telkomsa.net 0823391240

12 JUNE 2007

The body of Neil Calitz who went missing 12 days ago has been found, under a dune near Cannon Rocks. The Go-Plett team expresses their condolences to the family and friends of Neil Calitz. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

SABC

3 JUNE 2007

Para glider Neil Calitz Missing Near Cannon Rocks

When hearing about the missing Neil Calitz on Friday evening late, a few Plettenberg Bay locals formed a search and rescue team and headed to the Cannon rocks area near Port Elizabeth early 3am on Saturday morning. Go-Plett was invited along and we gladly accepted the task. Our team arrived just in time for early morning preparation 7:30am. We (the plett4) where then assigned to Ground patrol and aerial assistance.

The spirit on the ground was pleasant with all the farmers, local, and volunteers from as far afield as Pretoria working together to fine comb the area. The support from the local farmers and pilots was amazing. The family was on hand to ask the many questions from volunteers hoping to find Neil Calitz.

Neil Calitz who went missing on Wednesday 30th May 2007 Just after 5pm was still not found by the time the local Plettenberg Bay volunteer search team had left on Sunday at 1pm.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the volunteers who are continuing with their search.

Any updates will be made at this link as the news comes in.

Anyone who can help search the area can contact the base at 046 653 0963

Larger images available on request 083 240 7796 Please link to goplett.co.za if you use the pictures