The Frame House at Bosman Hermanus on Karwyderskraal Road in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is a sight to behold, whether it is your first time visiting or your tenth. 

Constructed from mainly wood and glass, The Frame House offers visitors uninterrupted views of the surrounding farms and fynbos, while a tasting of Bosman's exquisite wines can be enjoyed.

The Frame House was opened by the Bosman family, who have been growing vines in Wellington for eight generations. After focusing on their vine nursery for several years, the family, led by Petrus, an eighth generation Bosman, returned to their long-held family dream and released the first wines from their 270-year-old cellar in 2007, focusing on responsible, handcrafted winemaking.

Bosman Hermanus also grows their own vines, taking advantage of the unique climate and terroir that the Hemel-en-Aarde has become known for. After harvest, the grapes are sent to the Wellington cellar, where a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and two Pinot Noirs are produced. These wines have won many accolades over the years. 

The Sauvignon Blanc has received 4.5 stars in the Platter's Guide for the last five years as well as 90 points in the Tim Atkin SA Report for two years; the Chardonnay has received 4.5 stars in the Platter's Guide for three years and over 90 points in the Tim Atkin SA Report for three years; the Pinot Noir has received 4.5 stars in the Platter's Guide for three years as well as a 5 star in 2021, and over 90 points in the Tim Atkin SA Report for three years; and the Magnum Opus Pinot Noir has received 4.5 stars in the Platter's Guide for two years and over 90 points in the Tim Atkin SA Report for two years.

The Bosman wines grown and produced in Wellington have also received many accolades, scoring high in the Platter's Guide and Tim Atkins SA Report. The full range of Bosman's wines from both farms are available at The Frame House for tasting and purchasing and can be enjoyed with a light meal from a carefully curated menu which changes seasonally. 

The latest addition to the farm is the opening of their cottage which overlooks the farm and the De Bos Dam. The accommodation is self-catering, is equipped with a braai area, and sleeps four. It is a perfect hideaway in which to relax and unwind, and is close enough to restaurants and beaches, yet far enough from the madding crowd to ensure a peaceful escape.

Bosman Hermanus is run by the very capable Ruan Olivier (General Manager) and Felecia Solomons (Tasting Room Manager) and their team of eight permanent staff who are always ready to serve with a smile. While you unwind with a glass of wine, let the kids play on the jungle gym in front of The Frame House, or bring the whole family and amble up the mountain path where you will have a 360º view of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.

The Frame House offers a relaxed and unpretentious space for the entire family to enjoy. They are open from Tuesday to Friday 09:00 – 17:00, Saturday 10:00 – 16:00, and Sundays and public holidays 10:00 – 15:00. The kitchen opens an hour after opening time and closes an hour before closing time. To make a booking phone 076 300 0819 or email taste@bosmanhermanus.com. Booking is recommended, especially over weekends.

Bosman Hermanus will be hosting a Wine and Food Series once a month from May to August. Tickets include transport to and from The Frame House; a tutored wine tasting with a selection of five unique vintage Bosman wines; and a food experience presented by the head chef from a local restaurant. For more information and to book visit www.quicket.co.za and search for 'Bosman Hermanus'. Please note that space is limited.

Heart of the Hunter, based on the book by South African novelist Deon Meyer, premiered on Netflix on 29 March and has become the most successful Netflix movie ever to come out of Africa. The movie held the number 1 spot worldwide for two weeks, reaching number 1 in 79 countries and number 3 in the USA.

The production company behind the movie is Scene23, and one of the partners in the company is Cobus van den Berg who Kleinmond can now claim as one of its own.

Cobus, who is a chartered accountant, knew from the age of 7 that he wanted to be involved in movies, and his love for business made movie production an obvious choice. All the same, after completing school, he did what all responsible young men are expected to do and enrolled at university to study medicine. The only problem was his aversion to medical procedures, and so, with only a short time before he was due to begin his studies, Cobus decided that accounting would be a more suitable choice. This would go on to serve him well in his future as a TV and Film producer.

Cobus’ introduction to the South African movie scene came when he opened a theatre cafe in a small space in the basement of a hotel. It was here that he met up-and-coming actors and other key players in the industry. It also left no doubt in his mind that this was the career that he was going to pursue.

The first movie that Cobus produced was Klein Karoo which was released in 2013. It was written by Etienne Fourie and Tim Theron, who also starred in the romantic comedy as Frans Coetzee. Cobus had a small role in the movie and South Africans loved it so much that to this day he is still recognised on the street. It was the highest grossing South African film in that year and holds a very special place in Cobus’ heart. He says that the special feeling comes from making a movie that people love. 

In 2017, Scene23 was founded by Cobus and Tim alongside partners Deon Meyer and TV and radio personality Tracey Lange. They have produced several successful films and series including the wildly popular series Trackers which was nominated for the 2021 South African Film and Television Awards for Best TV Drama, Best Achievement in Editing in a TV Drama, and Best Achievement in Make-up and Hairstyling in a TV Drama. Trackers went on to win the award for Best Achievement in Make-up and Hairstyling.

During the Covid lockdown, Cobus and his family decided to stay at their holiday home in Kleinmond. As often happens to those enjoying a ‘temporary’ retreat to a coastal Overstrand town, the visit became permanent and Cobus now calls Kleinmond home. When working he stays in Durbanville to accommodate his busy schedule.

Heart of the Hunter was shot in 2022 and soon thereafter, in 2023, shooting began for Plan B, a TV series about two men who plan and carry out the theft of a painting from a gang boss. The cast includes Tim Theron, and Arnold Vosloo of international fame. After the filming of Plan B concluded, it was back to reworking some of the scenes in Heart of the Hunter.

Plan B, an action/crime/comedy, was released on Kyknet just a few days before Heart of the Hunter made its Netflix debut.

The movie industry has changed positively over the years and Netflix is eager for countries to produce movies which showcase their own local talent and with their own natural accents.  Heart of the Hunter has done this well, not only showcasing several South African accents but also several South African languages with subtitles on screen.

Cobus speaks highly of the cast, and in particular their humility. 

The main character in Heart of the Hunter is Zuko Khumalo played by SAFTA award-winning actor Bonko Khoza who was also previously a Tribeca Film Festival nominee. Cobus describes Bonko as “such a lovable guy” who “hugs and kisses everyone”.

Tim Theron, Cobus’ business partner and long-time friend, commands in the role of Tiger de Klerk, one of the movie’s memorable ‘bad guys’, and trained for months to get the fight scenes spot on. With numerous movies and series under his belt in various genres he is a man of many talents and Cobus says that he is also a great singer.

Connie Ferguson of Generations fame made her movie debut in Heart of the Hunter as Molebogeng Kwena. Cobus says that she “was great to work with”. In one scene rain was required and they were shooting on a lawn which, after many takes, had become soaked. As part of the scene, Connie had to fall down and even though a mat was provided for her to fall onto, so drenched was the lawn that both the mat and Connie were soaked. Fellow actor Nicole Fortuin who plays Naledi Gumede was then required to run past Connie and in doing so she unintentionally kicked up a lump of mud directly into Connie’s face. Throughout it all, Connie was the consummate professional. 

Cobus says he has found that “big actors are never divas”, even Arnold Vosloo, who played the role of Imhotep in the 1999 film The Mummy and 2021’s The Mummy Returns. The two mummy movies boast a total of 43 award nominations and 11 wins yet Arnold remains the same person he has always been. Cobus says that when he, Arnold, and Tim shared a house during filming of one of their productions, Arnold would put on the electric blankets for everyone at night, switch on the bedside lights and put out glasses of water.

When one meets Cobus one immediately recognises that there are no airs about him. Despite a successful career that continues to thrive, and being a well-known and respected producer, he is down to earth with genuine humility and is just like the actors and friends that he describes. The phrase “You are the company you keep”, rings true.

A home before winter 

How the marsh pagoda and birds need each other 

By Jenny Parsons

During the City Nature Challenge 2024, we were excited to find a population of the Vulnerable Mimetes hirtus commonly referred to as the marsh pagoda – a beautiful and distinctive member of the Proteaceae family which is endemic to the fynbos of the Western Cape. 

The marsh pagoda is locally abundant and is under threat from fragmentation, habitat loss due to urbanisation, and illegal wildflower harvesting. SANBI’s red list mentions that about 17% of this species habitat has already irreversibly been modified due to coastal development between Pringle Bay and Kleinmond.

This species has a small, restricted range (Cape Peninsula to Elim) and its typical habitat is boggy areas, seeps, and along streambanks. Dense stands usually occur on Table Mountain sandstone where it obtains groundwater inflow from surrounding slopes, also known as Erica-Osmitopsis. 

The unique structure of Mimetes hirtus's flowers is adapted specifically for pollination by birds, which are attracted to the bright colours of the flowers (the bracts and styles are shades of red and yellow) and the promise of nectar. 

The Cape Sugarbird seems to be the main pollinator in the Pringle/Betty’s Bay area while the Orange-Breasted Sunbird is another conspicuous visitor. As the birds feed on the nectar, their heads or beaks come into contact with the plant’s pollen-presenting anthers and stigma, located strategically for pollen transfer. 

The Sugarbirds perch above the partially opened flowerheads and pollen is often seen on their head and throats while the Sunbirds forage from below, probing the flowers for nectar, rarely showing pollen on their bills. 

This bird-pollination syndrome exhibits a mutualistic relationship: while the birds receive nourishment, Mimetes hirtus benefits from effective pollination, critical for its reproduction. Such interactions highlight the intricate connections within ecosystems and underscore the importance of specific pollinators for the survival of certain floral species. 

Given its limited habitat and specific pollinator requirements, Mimetes hirtus is sensitive to environmental changes. Citizen scientists and the bioblitz’s are playing an ever-increasing role in monitoring wildflowers and the iNaturalist platform is providing distribution data so that the conservation status of rare and endangered species can be easily monitore 

Hermanus as a fishing village 

By Dr Robin Lee

U3A Overberg History Interest Group

For the first 100 years of its life, Hermanus was a fishing village. Fishing became industrialised, and the village became a town but in the popular mind, fishing was the ethos of the settlement, and that sense has not changed. The Old Harbour, now a national monument, still lies at the heart of the town’s appeal.

The first European families that settled in Hermanus in 1855 already knew about the almost unbelievable abundance of fish in Walker Bay. They had seen it from their time at Herries Bay (Hawston). But they were pleasantly surprised to find a better inlet in the coast which was protected to a degree by a promontory (Gearing’s Point), though this also caused freak waves and deceptive currents.

They called the inlet ‘Die Visbaai’, not naming it after anyone and merely referring to the use they were making of it. For the next couple of decades everyone called it by that name, whether speaking English or Dutch, but by the early 20th century, English speakers started to call it the ‘harbour’. Its present name of ‘Old Harbour’ dates from the 1950s when the government built a ‘New Harbour’ at Still Bay, just along the coast.

Early fishing was organised on a family basis and individual fishing boats were operated by a ‘skipper’ and a crew of seven or more men – probably all related to or close friends of the skipper. The skipper was responsible for discipline on board, as well as seeing that each fisherman’s catch was allocated to him. The catch was mainly used to feed the families of the settlers, while some of an exceptionally good catch was salted or air-dried for later meals for the family, or for sale to farmers in the area.

Nicknames were much used by fishermen, partly because many men had the same surname. Some of the nicknames that have been recorded are John ‘Sly Fox’ Aproskie, Danie ‘Kasterolie’ du Toit, Jurie ‘Floukoffie’ Swart, and Hennie ‘Pylstert’ Wessels.

A brochure issued by the Old Harbour Museum describes the life of a fisherman: The return of the fishing boats to the rocky inlet was the event of the day. The boats often had to ride outside the harbour in heavy seas, waiting for a break between swells before they could row in to land their frail craft.

Large crowds gathered to watch this fascinating daily ritual as the catches were carried ashore, gutted and sold on the spot, while the boats were lifted and placed on the turning-stone before being carried up the slipway by sixteen men – eight fore and eight aft – straining under the carrying-poles. Some of the fish was salted and dispatched in crates for sale in other towns, while snoek and harders (mullet) were salted and dried on ‘bokkom’ stands in the harbour area and in the backyards of the fishermen.

The same source describes the boats used: At first, the boats depended on sails and oars, but later some were equipped with inboard engines. An examination of the back of the keel, through which the shaft for the screw passed, shows whether the boat was converted for use with a marine engine. However, all the boats kept a cut-out section for the mast in the second thwart. Slats from the thwart to the floor of the boat kept each fisherman’s catch separate. All the boats showed the marks of successful fishing lines under strain, gouged into the wood.

‘Subsistence fishing’ is a phrase still widely used to describe the way of life of the families at Hermanuspietersfontein, though the term ‘artisanal fishing’ is politically more acceptable.

The term ‘subsistence’ means that the activity of fishing was undertaken to feed the fishermen and their (extended) families. Fish were sold when there was a good catch. Still, sometimes there were so many fish that a surplus remained. This had to be buried soon before the stench permeated the entire village.

In Hermanus, there was always a chance of selling exceptionally large and healthy whole fish to one of the thirteen hotels that existed in the 1930s, as a special treat for their guests that very evening.

‘Artisanal fishing’ did not last much beyond the first decade of the 1900s. As early as 1885, ‘fish merchants’ set up business in the harbour. The earliest were Walter McFarlane, Adel and David Allengensky, and Eli Melnick.

They regarded fishing as a profit-making opportunity and began to reorganise the activities into a more efficient operation. First, the merchant negotiated with the skippers of boats a price at which he would buy the entire catch. The skipper then had a degree of certainty that he would realise the value of his catch and no longer depended on buyers turning up at the harbour.

The merchant then employed the women who had cleaned fish for their families to process the catch according to his instructions and paid them a wage. The financial stability of two sources of income was a significant advance for the fisher families. The fish merchant then took steps to increase the market for the fish, fresh or processed. Quite soon, the market expanded to Cape Town and surrounds, and a Mr Joffe was credited as being the first to use ice to keep fish fresh during the journey to distant markets. 

The fishing activities became part of a capitalist economy in Hermanus and had a significant impact on the general economic development of the town.

Several of the fishermen were among the first to buy plots when land was put on the market after 1875. Some of them moved away from fishing and set up small businesses. An early example of this was a fisherman known as Jean-Louis or ‘Swede’, with the surname Wessels. He set up a boatbuilding and repair business in a cottage where the Burgundy Restaurant is today and supported his family as an artisan and businessman for many years.

The artisanal fishing in Visbaai existed on the cusp of significant changes in South Africa. Cities, towns, and the country as a whole were moving into the early stages of industrialisation. As the Hermanus economy did not include mining, manufacturing, or large-scale agriculture, this historical development had to occur in its underlying fishing economy.

From classical symphonies and traditional African sounds, to crossover jazz, opera and a cappella, there is something for every musical palate on the Hermanus FynArts programme this year. Each performance offers a unique glimpse into different cultures, traditions, and perspectives.

On Friday 7 June, FynArts is delighted to welcome internationally acclaimed violinist Emmanuel Bach, who will perform the Opening Concert together with the FynArts orchestra conducted by Richard Cock. A young, up-and-coming musician, Emmanuel regularly performs with esteemed conductors across the UK, Europe and beyond,

On Saturday 8 June, the Cape Town VOX choir, conducted by John Woodland, brings together the sublime textures of the Renaissance with spirited folk songs and music composed for the silver screen in Tree of Life. Having gained a reputation for imaginative programming and innovative performances, this promises to be another stand-out evening.

The versatile Mizar Trio performs at lunchtime on Sunday 9 June. This unusual trio of flute, marimba/vibraphone and cello creates a unique sound. The programme includes music from the Baroque through to Piazolla’s tangos. 

Later on Sunday afternoon Bach, Beethoven and Boogie, a spectacular showcase of exciting music features the Charl du Plessis Trio and FynArts Orchestra, once again conducted by Richard Cock. The programme includes classical music, film music and big band jazz in diverse styles ranging from rock and boogie to blues. 

And then for the weekdays! On Monday 10 June take the opportunity to meet Emmanuel Bach at a lunchtime house concert Visions and Virtuosity, accompanied by his mother, pianist Jenny Stern. 

Put your troubles aside on Tuesday 11 June and join Albie van Schalkwyk (piano), Pamela Winjberg (flute) and Nerina von Mayer (flute) for an uplifting afternoon of music inspired by legend and fantasy at another lunchtime house concert, Viviamo per L’Arte.   

On Tuesday evening The Generation Gaps, comprising Hanna de Wet (vocals), Bram Potgieter (keys) and Wesley Rustin (double bass) – musicians from three generations, will perform songs for young and old. Hanna’s deep sultry voice and unique storytelling ability,  jazz pianist Bram’s quirky nature and moving arrangements, and Wesley’s interpretation of soul and rhythm will ensure that no-one leaves unmoved. 

The second weekend closes with no less than seven concerts. On Friday 14 June, a lunchtime Organ Ensemble with Louna Stofberg (organ), her son Pieter-Adriaan (cello) and daughter-in-law Jenna (violin) presents beautiful music through this unusual combination of instruments. The programme will also include two solo works for organ. 

Festival goers can start Saturday 15 June with a Choir Celebration and share the joy of singing with learners from four primary schools choirs – Lukhanyo, Waldorf, Zwelihle and Mount Pleasant. Entry is by donation.

At lunchtime on Saturday the Amani ya Ndani Experience presents an electrifying performance with two versatile African multi-instrumentalists. You will hear instruments being played, the names of which you have never even heard. Volley Nchabaleng has twenty years of experience touring the globe as ambassador of African sound, and Micca Manganye is an internationally acclaimed indigenous instrumentalist.

On the evening of Sunday 16 June it’s the turn of The Scullery Quintet with Everything but the Kitchen Sink! This show links fun and music in an unconventional crossover blend of sound, featuring Bach and Dvorak but also Kate Bush and Hugh Masekela, and much in between. 

Monday 17 June is a public holiday following Youth Day on Sunday. An appropriately youthful Closing Concert incorporates Hermanus’s own Enlighten String Ensemble, into the newly formed Whale Coast Symphony Orchestra for amateur and professional players of all ages. 

End the week of musical delights being inspired by the bridging of gaps and the creation of an exciting musical future.

Don’t delay in booking your tickets. At the time of going to print, only a few tickets were still available for A Victor Borge Tribute on Monday 10 June, and An Evening of Opera on Friday 14 June.

For more information click here or visit www.hermanusfynarts.co.za. Tickets are available at www.webtickets.co.za.

Nearly 500 athletes arrived in the Overstrand to take part in the Prescient Race2Hermanus Triathlon on Saturday 11 May. The prestigious event offered a variety of options for different skill levels: Ultra (2 km swim, 82 km cycle, 21 km run), Standard (1.5 km swim, 43 km cycle, 11 km run), Aquabike (2 km swim, 77 km cycle), and Sprint (750m swim, 23 km cycle, 5 km run).

The race started at the Hermanus New Harbour where the first wave of swimmers took off at 07:30. From there it was onto the bikes along a scenic cycling route which took them onto the R43 towards Stanford before the cyclists’ looped back to Hermanus New Harbour and set off on foot along the cliff path for the final leg of the race.

Visit Race2Hermanus Triathlon on Facebook for more photos and results.

A historic solar storm hit the Earth on Friday 10 May, continuing into Saturday. The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) issued several G4 warnings and, for the first time since 2003, one G5 warning. The Geomagnetic Storm Scale indicates the severity of geomagnetic storms, with 1 being a minor event, and 5 being an extreme event. A geomagnetic storm occurs when charged particles from the Sun, caused by a coronal mass ejection, interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. 

The impact of such a storm is mostly on technological systems and is also the origin of the northern and southern lights (Aurora Australis). Reports of Southern Light sightings were reported from Gansbaai in the Western Cape and Namibia amongst others. For more information visit www.sansa.org.za. 

Legacy Martial Arts Academy (LMAA) took part in the South African Kickboxing Championships held in Potchefstroom from 25 to 29 April. Their athletes displayed remarkable skill and dedication, earning accolades and securing positions on the national team for the upcoming championships. 

Lyle Asary, Anushca Thorne, Dylan Isaacs, Aiden Brummer, Namika Pieterse, Layla Brand, Qvaro Van Der Westhuizen, Zius Brand, and Shihan Ruehan have all qualified to represent South Africa at the World Championships in Budapest from 26 August to 1 September 2024, and at the African Championships in Benoni from 9-12 December 2024. Chelene Kreusch has also qualified to represent South Africa at the World University Cup in Italy in 2025.

To fundraise for the World Championships, LMAA will be selling patches to businesses at R2 000 each, that will be sewn onto bomber jackets which the athletes will wear to Budapest. For more information contact Shihan Ruehan van Romburgh on 078 621 4054 or senseiruehan@gmail.com. Visit the Legacy Martial Arts Academy on Facebook for more results and updates.

'Stitches with Love' is a local project by Free2Care which aims to provide handmade woollen items to the homeless in the Overberg. 

The team is currently knitting and crocheting beanies, scarves, and gloves for distribution at the Hermanus Night Shelter. The project commenced on 15 April and will conclude on 30 June. They hope to create at least 35 to 50 items of each category by the end of the project. To date, they have completed 21 beanies and 16 scarves. The finished items will be delivered to the shelter on 1 July.

Free2Care has established donation drop-off points and have been actively seeking contributions online, however the increasing number of homeless individuals in the Overberg region, especially during the colder months, necessitates further support. They are asking the community to donate yarn – new or left over from finished knitting projects. These can be dropped off at any of the below drop-off sites: 

- Hermanus Night Shelter 

- Mad Foods Hermanus 

- Mad Foods Kleinmond 

- Residential address in Botriver (WhatsApp 061 013 2875 for more details)

Alternatively, please consider donating R30 (or more), which covers the cost for a ball of wool. WhatsApp Free2Care on 061 013 2875 to find out more.