Christmas lunch is a cherished tradition, a moment when families and friends gather around the table to share in the joyous spirit of the season. The air is filled with the enticing aroma of roasted meats, fragrant spices, and the warmth of festive flavours, and the table is adorned with twinkling lights, glittering ornaments, and a feast fit for the occasion. 

There are several restaurants in Hermanus which will be open for lunch on Christmas Day. It is important to make a booking in advance to avoid disappointment. Please note that the information below may change, so please contact the restaurant for confirmation, or for any queries.

De Vette Mossel 

De Vette Mossel will be open for lunch and dinner on Christmas Day. Enjoy a buffet style, seven-course meal, made on open fires right in front of you. The price is R350 pp for adults and booking is essential. For more information and to make a reservation call 064 552 6627 or visit www.hermanus.devettemossel.co.za. De Vette Mossel reserves the right to cancel a session if the minimum number of required guests isn’t met.

Dutchies 

Join Dutchies for a day of celebration with fantastic food, delicious wine and great music. They will be serving a five-course Christmas lunch from 12:00 – 15:00 and the cost is R895 pp for adults, and R447.50 pp for children under 12. A 50% deposit is required in order to confirm your reservation. The menu can be viewed on their Facebook page. For more information and to book, call 028 314 1392.

La Pentola 

Join Chef Shane for his popular, annual Christmas lunch at La Pentola Hermanus which boasts beautiful views of Walker Bay. The menu and pricing are yet to be announced but keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates or contact 028 313 1685 for more information.

Mozambik 

Celebrate Christmas with Afro-Porto cuisine at Mozambik at the Hermanus Waterfront from 12:00 – 14:00 or 14:00 – 16:00. Enjoy an exquisite à la carte menu without having to worry about cleaning up afterwards! Reserve your space by phoning 079 510 5814 or contact them via email at infohermanus@mozambik.co.za. Bookings are essential.

The White Rabbit

The White Rabbit will be open for Christmas lunch and delicious desserts on 25 December from 12:00. The price is R250 pp for adults and R120 pp for children under 11. To make a reservation call 063 784 9709.

Molo & Mikro win at Coffee Awards  

Hermanus coffee shops, Mikro Coffee Co and Molo Coffee, both owned by husband-and-wife team Wihan and Lise Brink, received awards for the Best Community Café and Best Café Design in the sixth annual Coffee Magazine Awards held on 2 December in Johannesburg this year. Lise was also a finalist in the Outstanding Women in Coffee category. 

The Coffee Magazine has been in publication for eleven years, and created the awards to recognise the best cafés, roasteries, instructors, packaging, suppliers, franchises, baristas, and teams in South Africa. “The Awards are always a highlight, because of how it brings people together,” says Coffee Magazine, “It has been a really tough year, and we hope these awards can bring a little bit of light and joy in a challenging time.”

The Best Community Café Award, won by Mikro, was a new award in the annual competition. The award recognises a coffee shop that has “created a loyal base of regulars who would ride-or-die for their favourite café.” Coffee Magazine decided to add this award after seeing the passion that voters have for their favourite, local coffee shops. Upon accepting the award, Wihan thanked everyone who took the time to vote for them, saying, “This is for your Hermanus!”

Molo won the award for Best Café Design for creating a space that supplies great coffee but also provides a great experience. Coffee Magazine describes Molo as a “new little treasure on the southern coast in Hermanus conceptualised by Natalie Hauman, creating a compact space that just oozes calm and class… you won’t want to leave”.

In a touching Facebook post after the awards, Wihan said, “When times are tough and you sacrifice time with family and friends, relationships, and all the money, you sometimes think to yourself ‘What am I doing?’ That’s why it means so much to have been recognised amongst my peers this past weekend. The awards don’t mean that by tomorrow my bank accounts will be full (if only), but this entrepreneur’s heart is. And right now that means more. 

“Thank you to each and every person who made this dream a reality for me: Mel, Ian and Ben from Coffee Magazine, Kirsty and Red Espresso, all the friends in coffee who nominated, and judges who decided. We are so proud to have brought the trophy home! Thank you to Hermanus for your unwavering support over the past five years, but especially during this last one. We aim to make a positive impact in this community and to continue to invest in the coffee culture here.”

An Aladdin’s cave of artisan jewellery 

By Barbara Lindop

Intethe Gallery

Humans have adorned themselves with jewellery from prehistoric times: as protection from spiritual danger or as marks of status, expressions of affection and love, or simply for pleasure. Here in Hermanus, for over a half century, artisan jeweller Geta Finlayson has been the essential address to visit for any such reason. 

As a regular visitor to Hermanus and now resident, I have personally been able to date my life’s adventures from my collection of timeless and beautiful possessions created at Geta’s unassuming workbench. All my friends are equally adorned, as are complete strangers whom one can immediately recognise as fellow travellers, no matter where one may meet them. 

Geta’s jewellery, for good reason, travels far and wide!

Her individualistic style has been honed through years of practice. Born and educated in Bloemfontein, she enrolled at Stellenbosch University as a fine arts student but was soon persuaded by her friend to focus on jewellery making. One of her professors believed that jewellery should be conceived as Art and need not necessarily be wearable. Geta realised that as much as jewellery can and must be a statement of the conceptual process, and one of infinite beauty, it should however be practical and wearable. 

Her overriding drive is that each piece must be artistically unique whilst matching the individuality of its wearer.

When her celebrated wine-making husband Peter was offered a job as a pioneering winemaker in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Geta moved to live in Hermanus. They settled in the area as a young couple and there she found herself immersed in the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding mountainous tranquillity. It was here that she commenced her fledgling career, looking at the shapes, the harmony, and the balance in nature, inspired to recreate some of this within her own innovation and inventiveness. Nature continues to form part of her inspiration, whilst her technical and academic training enable the discipline to contain the conceptual design.    

It is a time consuming and labour-intensive process. As she proceeds, she considers how the individual parts can be brought together to read as a balanced harmonious whole. A drawing is prepared where balance, tension, and contrast are carefully considered. 

Thereafter the intensity of manual labour persists where individual parts are sawed, hammered, bent, and soldered before the final construction can begin. 

As time progressed, her talent flourished and with it her ever growing reputation. Far-flung travel and adventure followed. For the past couple of decades, she has visited the annual Hong Kong Jewellery Trade Fair, immersing herself in the Aladdin’s cave of precious stones coming from every part of the world. Her years of training have developed her ‘eye’, and combined with her own intuitive impeccable taste, she is quickly able to identify the most beautiful and pristine of gemstones laid out in the numerous kiosks. Again, the layers of years of experience enable her to envision how and where she will design a piece around the shimmering jewel presented to her, thus permitting quick decisive purchases.

On return from her travels, she looks at the stones and starts to draw. She admits to becoming emotionally attached to each treasure, but when the customer arrives and falls in love with a particular creation, the shared delight and admiration makes the parting less bittersweet.

Asked what her most favourite stones are, she replies without hesitation, “those reflecting her surrounding environment”. Her love of Hermanus running so deep within her, tourmalines, and pearls, mirroring the colours of the sea and sky, never cease to inspire. On her shopping escapades, she particularly seeks out the exquisite South Sea pearls, glowing with the unique sheen that only ‘real’ pearls manifest.

Today’s plethora of commercially made pearls serve an instant on-demand market but nothing can replace the slow, precise creation of nature’s work. Geta chooses her pearls with infinite care, matching their lustre to the selected stones, creating a necklace or a pair of earrings to be worn as a celebration of unique creativity. 

In the study of an artist’s career, it is always fascinating to explore the early output of that individual’s artistic oeuvre. In retrospect, there lie the secrets determining the path an artist will forge, hone, and from which new work will grow.

Early in Geta’s career, the factory at Abagold enabled her to secure some baby perlemoen shells. Although many broke in the laborious process, she cast some of the shells into silver and gold, transforming nature’s perfection into exquisite earrings. Whilst building and establishing her career and reputation, unable in those early years to afford the expense of buying fine pearls and gemstones, Geta relied on what was locally accessible to manufacture her jewellery. Her youthful energy enabled the intensive labour of grinding the brittle surfaces of perlemoen shell, sawing carefully, with the concomitant dust and grit, and the ever possibility of breakage, finally filing the diminutively fine sheets of the shell’s lustre to mould into perfect circles for earrings. Added beauty was created by the light catching the surface of the sheen on the finished earring, transforming the colour according to the reflection of external objects. 

An examination of the make-up of a necklace reveals the combination of various shapes of links and discs, often combining silver with gold, adding a richness of form, light, and shade. A combination of coloured gemstones with pearls woven into the overall composition of finely tuned metal shapes creates a visually tactile design that moves and shimmers with the wearer’s own movements.

It is no wonder that Geta Finlayson Design has become a world-renowned brand. From Hermanus to Rome, London, Paris, and New York, Geta’s necklaces, earrings and rings are instantly recognisable by the discerning eye with their unique individuality inevitably drawing admiring comments.

Geta’s studio can be found in The Courtyard in Harbour Road, Hermanus. She can be contacted on 082 772 5949 or via email on finonrus@hermanus.co.za.

It takes a community 

At the end of September, the Overstrand faced a formidable challenge in the form of unprecedented floods that have left an indelible mark on the community. These floods have not only tested the resilience of the local communities, but have also brought to light the strength, unity, and unwavering spirit of its residents.

As the waters surged and the landscape transformed, the Overstrand faced a collective call to action. The floods became a catalyst for neighbours, businesses, and local authorities to come together, demonstrating the power of community in times of adversity. From emergency response efforts to the heartwarming stories of neighbours helping neighbours, the floods have shown the true character of our residents.

While the aftermath has undoubtedly presented challenges, it has also paved the way for resilience and recovery. The Overstrand community, known for its close-knit bonds and sense of solidarity, has been working hand in hand to rebuild and restore the flood damage. One such case of restoration is that of Onrus Beach, which seemed to be all but washed away and covered in tonnes of debris, including reeds and wood from up-river. 

On 28 September, the Onrus River Homeowners Association (ORHA) made a call to the community to assist in cleaning up the beach ahead of the inaugural AIDA South African Bodyboarding Championships on 1 October. Over the next few days, several volunteers showed up to help including retired educator and Kalfiefees committee member Hester Finberg.

After two hours of back-breaking work, Hester could do no more and made her way to the Rheezicht Centre in Onrus Main Road to look for help. There she found several men looking for work. She offered five of them a meal and payment for a day’s work out of her own account and headed back to Onrus Beach with them squashed into her tiny car.

Not long after, the other ten men from the Rheezicht Centre who were looking for work showed up at the beach, asking if they could also get involved. The fifteen men dove in alongside volunteers and began removing reeds and wood by hand while Hester asked the community for donations to help pay them for their efforts. 

“There were many people who wanted to get involved but were too old, or unable to,” says Hester, “So they assisted by making monetary donations and even bringing food. We are so grateful for every donation received – no matter how small it was.”

Soon the group of 15 men grew to 30 as more arrived to find work. Ladles of Love, Women in Business, Kalfiefees, NG Church Onrus, Onrus River Estuary Forum (OREF), Realty 1, Greeff, Properties, OK Onrus, Handy House, Milk on the Beach, and other individuals quickly became involved, volunteering their time or donating money and food towards the clean-up. NG Church raised a staggering R15 000 from their congregation and other kind-hearted individuals which meant that Hester was able to pay and feed the workers for several days. 

At the end of October, Hester was joined by Adriaan van der Bank who took over the management of the clean-up at Onrus Beach, and heavy machinery was brought in to speed up the process. 

Now more than two months after the floods and Hester is left with 15 men who work in shifts every day to clean the beach ahead of the holiday season. Sometimes after a hard day’s work, they go to Hester’s house in Onrus where the educator in her comes out and she teaches them.

“All of these men want to work and are so dedicated,” says Hester, “Our team leader, Nkosi, wants to learn computer skills which I am arranging for him. Another three men are joining a local painting company next year to learn skills there. What started out as something small has become job creation and an informal skills development programme.”

Hester plans to open an office in Onrus for Nkosi to work from next year, where he can manage and offer the services (such as painting, gardening, and alien plant clearing) of the other 14 men and himself to the public. That way, if people are looking for a reliable gardener or painter, they can visit Nkosi at the office and he can arrange for one of the men to do the job. Hester hopes to increase the number of skills these men have by exposing them to other fields of work.

On 9 December, the Overstrand Municipality officially opened Onrus Beach to the public again. The clean-up teams will still be busy until 27 December, but it is safe to make use of the beach once more. 

According to Adriaan, who has been keeping careful track of the clean-up since he took over as project leader, in total they have removed approximately 3 190m³ of debris, logs and rubbish from the lagoon. “I cannot wait for my children and grandchildren to come and enjoy Onrus Beach again,” he says.

There were many people who were instrumental in the clean-up of Onrus Beach, from volunteers, to sponsors and donors. Unfortunately, we do not have the space to mention them all by name, but our heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone who was involved in some way to restore Onrus Beach in time for season. Local Life will be doing a follow up story on the Nkosi and the other 14 men in 2024.

Walk the Village Amble in Hermanus 

After roughly two years of preparation, planning, and painting, the Village Amble Hermanus mural walk was finally launched on Friday 8 December in the Hermanus CBD. 

Over 50 mural artists, business owners and other contributors met for a fun evening in each other’s company as they ambled around Hermanus to admire each of the over 30 murals on display. The event was opened by Executive Mayor of the Overstrand Dr Annelie Rabie and Cape Whale Coast Tourism Manager Frieda Lloyd at the Hermanus Tourism offices in Mitchell Street.

The Village Amble Hermanus (VAH) is an initiative that was started by the Whale Coast Business & Community Forum’s CBD Cluster Group (headed by Trevor Edwards), which works closely with various stakeholders including the Forum’s Arts & Events Cluster (headed by Debbie van Vuren), Whale Coast Tourism (headed by Frieda Lloyd), Overstrand Municipality, and local property owners, hotels, and businesses. 

The goal of the VAH is to encourage people to explore the lesser-known streets of Hermanus by using a map (which will be available at Hermanus Tourism soon) which shows the positions of several murals painted by local artists. 

Also on the map are the locations of some of the businesses in town in the form of icons illustrated by Kseniia Nel, one of the mural artists. 

While visiting each mural, locals, and visitors to Hermanus are encouraged to visit the shops in our town which they might not previously have been to before.

“Our artists’ generosity and time cannot be paid for,” said Frieda in her opening speech, “Jeandré Marinier and Kseniia Nel can be singled out for doing the greatest number of murals: Jeandré’s first mural of penguins and pincushions was opposite CanD’s, and Kseniia’s sunflowers sprouted shortly after in Dirkie Uys Street… the start of something new. 

“Debbie found the locations for the murals, spoke to building owners and organised the culmination of what we have. 

“The great general major behind the scenes, Trevor Edwards, should be thanked, as such Taylum Meyer who helped to make the map a reality. Thanks also goes to all the business owners who have kindly donated to this project. It takes a team!”

“These murals became a showstopper and the map that has been produced is another work of art,” continued Frieda, “The 37 murals come in at an estimated 1 200 hours of work. But this is not the real measure for what we have for show today. Today we have a community asset. Something to warm the heart and add a sense of place – Hermanus – where the streets have names and lots of special art!”

Each mural has a QR code which will take you to Hermanus Tourism website (www.hermanus-tourism.co.za/things-to-do/hermanus-village-amble) for more information about the Amble and its artists. 

Love where you live: shop local 

In today’s world, it is becoming more and more important to support local businesses. By shopping locally, you not only reinvest in your community’s economy but also contribute to the flourishing of artisans and small businesses. 

De Stasie Retail at Hermanus Station Mall, which originally started out as a pop-up shop for the summer season of 2022/23, currently stocks the products of over 20 small businesses in the Overstrand,. 

In April 2023, the pop-up closed its doors until Shelby Bailey, the founder of De Stasie, and her business partner and brother, James Bailey, joined forces to reopen its doors in July as a permanent, beautifully curated, collective space. 

De Stasie Retail is a platform that strives to support local businesses by showcasing their talents and entrepreneurship. Shelby and James believe that shopping for locally-made or sourced products can help small businesses gain brand awareness, sales, and expansion. 

“When we choose to support creatives, artisans, and entrepreneurs, we support our local economy and South African industries,” says Shelby, “In a world where you can shop anyway, why not shop local?”

Currently, the shop stocks items that range from personal gifts, homeware, home décor, and artworks, to clothing, accessories, natural skincare, and much more. 

De Stasie Retail vendors

• Threads & Stitches is run by a sustainable fashion designer who upcycles garments from thrifted and deadstock fabrics, and curates secondhand clothing. Instagram: @threads_stitches_sa

• Mad Daisy Designs creates home decor made with creativity and passion. Their products range from hanging lights to decorative cushions and hammocks. Instagram: @maddaisydesigns

• Little Jane Designs hand-illustrates designs that are then used in a wide range of unique stationery, greeting cards, limited prints, and other items. Instagram: @littlejanedesignsza

• Mayura Life is proudly rooted in South Africa and creates yoga-inspired clothing that seamlessly blends fashion with the essence of yoga. Instagram: @mayura_life

• Boho Soul in Hermanus specialises in personalised name bracelets, and beaded bohemian-inspired jewellery. Instagram: @boho_soul_boys

• Penny the Springbok was hand-reared in the Overstrand and is the inspiration and face behind the clothing brand ‘PenBok’. The brand promotes the love for animals and nature and plans to create a sanctuary and rehabilitation centre for wildlife through the sale of its clothing range. Instagram: @pen_bok

• The Hummingbird is committed to creating skincare products that are free from synthetics, embracing the holistic benefits of plant extracts and botanicals. Their multi-purpose solutions prioritise your body's well-being. Instagram: @the_hummingbird_za

• Studio Melissa Louise creates candles made from pure soy wax that are infused with 100% organic essential oils. They pride themselves on being a producer of high-quality, scented candles that burn beautifully, smell divine and can also be used as massage oil. Instagram: @studiomelissalousie

• Amulet Lifestyle is all about originality, quirkiness, and the pretty. All their products are created and manufactured locally. Instagram: @amuletlifestyle

• The Sketchy Quill is an illustrator and surface designer who infuses heart, soul, imagination, and craftsmanship into each design. Their products range from stationery to original artworks and illustrations as well as scenic photo prints. Instagram: @thesketchyquill

• Dallas Cantalou designs and manufactures a variety of macramé, fibre art, and cement products. The high-quality, colourful door stops have been sought after in the Western Cape. Instagram: @dallas_cantalou

• Second Time Round offers high-quality, preloved clothing which has been perfectly curated.

• Snoozesack uniquely curates designer home décor, baby accessories, and handcrafted dog beds – all made in Hermanus. Instagram: @snooze_sack

• The Nikabox is a brand that has proudly grown over the years. Bev designs and produces fun, funky, and on-trend jewellery that is affordable and suits any age. Instagram: @bev_thenikabox 

• Fielafooi is the creative child of goldsmith Aileen Février. The designs are fun and whimsical. She draws inspiration from nature and the shapes and forms that inspire her daily life. Instagram: @fielafooi

• Granny B Designs focuses on baby and toddler clothing, cot linen, and accessories made locally by Suzanne Bailey right here in Hermanus.

• Infinity Gift Bags creates reusable gift bags that are not only sustainable as a gift-wrapping alternative, but also a gift in itself. They can be repurposed as multifunctional storage bags and are handcrafted by Suzanne Bailey.

• Vinyl Jabulani believes that music unites us. Their brand offers collectors and music lovers quality, clean copies of vintage records in a wide range of music genres. Instagram: @vinyljabulani

• Amenities & Co is a family-run business based in Hermanus which offers a range of high-quality pump refill bottles for skincare and house cleaning products. Instagram: @amenitiesandco

• Fanie Roux is the 85-year-old creative spirit behind the brand FAAI. He upcycles Victorinox pocket knives and jewellery boxes using wood offcuts. These woods are indigenous to South Africa and include Tamnoti and Yellowwood.

• Hettie & the Clay Girls is a group of ladies who create beautiful, hand-crafted ceramics. Their designs range from home décor to functional crockery.

De Stasie is located at the Hermanus Station Building at the corner of Lord Roberts and Mitchell Street. For more information, photos and updates, follow them on Facebook and Instagram (@destasie). They are open Monday to Friday 09:00 – 17:00, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 09:00 – 14:00.

The Hermanus Emporium (HE) is an enchanting new pop-up shop at the Hermanus Country Market (HCM) which showcases a curated selection of unique products by talented local artisans. It is owned by friends Elaine Bayer and Nicky Fletcher, who launched the brand after deciding to put their passion for creativity to use.

HE started out with pallet furniture made in Elaine’s backyard while she was recovering from foot surgery.  Elaine’s husband, Michael, along with Nicky, created couches and tables from upcycled, wooden pallets while Elaine, who was on bed rest, sewed huge denim pillows for each couch as well as beautifully patterned scatter cushions.

The two had so much fun that they decided to continue their creative streak. “We have a WhatsApp group called ‘Think Tank’ where we write down all of our serious ideas,” says Nicky, “We give everything a try and if it does not work then we try something else!”

It was in this way that the rest of Elaine and Nicky’s handmade products were born including dog beds, whale-shaped, denim door stoppers, leather belts, crocheted bags, leather bags, and patterned shopper/beach bags with interchangeable straps. Most recently, Elaine and Nicky have also added hot chocolate in a jar, and a natural firestarter gift set to their offerings.

Realising the challenge of running a small business without a premises, the two opened a stall at HCM where they invited other local artisans to join them. Hermanus Emporium now includes earrings from Paperi, crocheted items from Custom Your Crochet, soft toys and key rings from Once Upon a Yarn, craft beer soap from Hermanus Brewing Co., natural Christmas wreaths from Stanford, and candles by Anne van Besouw.

Nicky and Elaine are busy working on more ideas and are always looking for more local people to join their stall. If you would like to get involved, contact Elaine on 082 954 6113 or Nicky on 072 448 8865.

Whether you're searching for a one-of-a-kind gift or a piece of locally crafted jewellery, Hermanus Emporium is a treasure trove of delightful discoveries. The Hermanus Emporium is at the Hermanus Country Market every Saturday from 09:00 – 14:00. They will also be open during the annual night markets

Maker Retail & Design redefine home décor 

Stanford recently welcomed the arrival of Maker Retail & Design, a newly established business by owner Nicola Rouillard (and her silent business partner who we will refer to as ‘Em’) in Queen Victoria Street. This unique store showcases an eclectic mix of antique, vintage, and contemporary handmade furniture, as well as an array of beautiful home décor elements and artworks for all tastes.

Nicole and Em met in Greyton almost three years ago through Nicole’s mom, Leoné. The two immediately hit it off, sharing their love for all things design. Nicole runs a small publishing house and is working on completing her architecture degree, and Em, who is originally from the UK, has years of experience in interior, architectural and landscape design. Leoné jokingly suggested that the two should open a shop together to share what they love with the rest of the world and so the seed was planted.

The opportunity arose when Em moved from Greyton to Stanford and found the perfect rental premises for a store. The dynamic duo decided to take the risk and on Saturday 9 December, Maker Retail & Design opened its doors to the public. 

Nicole has always been a fan of bold and dramatic interior decorating. “We wanted to provide items to the public that are not always easy to find,” says Nicole, “South Africa has a certain style when it comes to home decorating so finding elements outside of that style can be a challenge.”

When asked how they would describe the shop, Em said that the store is an eclectic mix of antique, vintage, and modern items that they would put in their own homes. “It is a one stop design shop!” adds Nicole. 

Em and Nicole are planning to make most of the items in the shop themselves but will also be stocking carefully curated products from local artisans. Nicole is gifted at sewing and will be making bags, pillows, clothing and more; whereas Em has a gift when it comes to the restoration of ceramics and paintings. Even Nicole’s fiancé, Raka, is involved – upcycling furniture into beautiful pieces that anyone would be proud to have in their home. 

“We are still going to be adding a pantry to our store,” says Nicole, “We want to fill it with what people want and enjoy, as well as to stock items and flavours that people may not necessarily be familiar with. Of course, everything will be proudly South African as supporting local is very important to us.” Nicole adds that everything in the pantry will be tried and tested before they stock it, so that they can give good recommendations to their customers: “We won’t stock anything that we do not like ourselves.” 

Maker Retail & Design will also be hosting small events and workshops such as sourdough fermentation, Bokashi composting, and home and lifestyle workshops – things that are of interest to Nicole.

There are many exciting things still to come so be sure to follow Maker Retails & Design on Facebook and Instagram (maker.retail.design). They will also be adding an online shop to their website, www.makermakes.co.za, in the near future.

Their store is located at 9 Queen Victoria Street in Stanford. They are open Tuesday to Thursday 10:00 – 17:00, Friday to Saturday 10:00 – 17:00 and 19:00 – 20:30, and Sunday 10:00 – 13:00 (closed Monday). They will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

By Matthew Germishuizen 

MRI Whale Unit

The University of Pretoria’s Whale Unit is based in Hermanus and has been monitoring the South African population of southern right whales since 1969. This extensive database is becoming extremely valuable in the face of climate change as it allows us to monitor any potential changes in the population which is still recovering from historical whaling. 

Since 2010, we have noticed that females are taking longer to produce calves and have shifted from a typical three-year calving cycle, to four-and five-year calving cycles. This indicates a decline in reproductive success. 

Southern right whales feed in the Southern Ocean and fast while on the South African coast. Understanding that they need good feeding conditions to ensure enough energy for their annual migration and a successful pregnancy, the changes observed in population seem to reflect changes to the environment that are affecting how much food is available for whales. Therefore, the fact that in 2010, our whales started to take longer to produce calves may indicate a period in which their offshore feeding grounds have changed. 

As a PhD student at the Whale Unit, my work relates to assessing how climate change is affecting our whales. I do this by figuring out what environmental conditions are important to ensure good feeding conditions in the Antarctic. As part of this work, we have satellite tagged 24 southern right whales so we can follow them on their migration into the Southern Ocean and better understand their migratory behaviour. 

What has been found so far is that during the last 10 years, sea ice conditions have been less favourable for Antarctic krill, a tiny ice-dwelling shrimp on which southern right whales feed. Antarctic krill depend on ice during the winter months for protection against predators and to feed on algae which grows under sea ice. The last 10 years has seen drastic declines in sea ice in crucial southern right whale foraging grounds which has likely impacted the abundance of Antarctic krill in these areas, and thus the food available for our whales. In response to these changes, southern right whales seem to have shifted their focus to feeding further north on much less energy-rich zooplankton. 

My PhD work reveals the threat climate change poses on whale populations that are still recovering from commercial whaling. Under current warming scenarios, more extreme changes are likely to occur in the Southern Ocean, and it is critical to gather as much information on whale migratory behaviour to better understand how climate change will affect these sensitive ecosystems in the future. 

You can follow our whales and see all the track data on the whale unit website: www.mammalresearchinstitute.science/whale-unit.

By Dan Bloch

“Sharing is caring.” This is the verdict of Grace, a Grade 2 pupil at Waldorf School Hermanus (WSH) who attends the Shine Literacy sessions that Enlighten Education Trust (EET) runs for her class.

Reading and writing programmes have taken a leaf out of children’s books, with innovative new approaches to instilling passion for the written word.

Cape Town-based organisation Shine Literacy has lit the way for 14 of its chapters, representing 24 centres nationwide with a “managed transition”, handing over responsibility for continuing its activities to the chapters. 

The non-profit organisation is closing in March 2024 and has trained chapter managers to run their programmes independently in schools and communities, as well as lifting licensing restrictions on its learning materials so anyone can use them. It has also donated books worth more than R1.5 million to the chapters.

“Covid has changed the way Shine works,” the organisation said in its 2022 annual report, “And it has changed the way schools work.” This means providing one-on-one help for the neediest learners in classrooms is no longer enough because most children in classes now need support. 

Volunteers are also “less forthcoming”, and access to schools is “more challenging, requiring new approaches to sourcing and training reading partners”.

EET has been working with Shine since January 2015, and the Shine chapter at WHS received training and books in November. “The Shine Centre in Cape Town has been from the word go a pillar of strength,” says EET director Magriet Peter, “Their support in training and communication has been invaluable.”

The 27 Grade 2 WHS pupils work in small groups with volunteers who help them with reading and writing for 45 minutes twice a week. Next year, EET is adding sessions for Grade 3. EET and Shine have also offered support to another local reading project at neighbouring town Stanford’s public library. 

Retired teacher Jennifer Johnson started the Stanford scheme in July. After discovering that only a few children were borrowing books, she wanted to encourage them to read more. Seven children attended the first session with two volunteers. Each child received a name tag, a star on an attendance chart and a stationery gift. Six months later and 60 children are on the register, and nine adult volunteers. 

“The number of attendees is erratic, but one week we had a bumper 47 children,” says Jennifer, “The library is not so big, so reading is done sitting on small chairs, cushions or on the floor. It’s pretty much jam-packed with books and people and the atmosphere is amazing.” After attending 10 sessions, each child receives a certificate.

EET gave more than 60 of the books and magazines that they received from Shine to Stanford, while the non-profit itself donated another 100 books and other materials, as well as training library volunteers to follow the Shine model. “What’s great about sharing the books is that we’re not competing for resources. We’re all working together to reach the same goal,” says Corlia Bloch, Shine Chapter Manager at EET. 

At Stanford Library, children who joined the year-end party, held on 27 November, each received a new book. “The children were so excited, they immediately asked if they could write their names in their books. It was a very emotional moment for us all”, says Jennifer.

The benefits for learners are clear, says Shine Literacy programme manager Sharleen Haupt: “Research shows that increasing access to books, and positive reading experiences motivate children to listen to stories and read independently. The more children read, the better they read, and the more they enjoy reading. 

“In South Africa, access to quality books and stories is an issue for many children and Shine Literacy is thrilled to have been able to donate books to our partners so that they can keep motivating and supporting literacy in their community schools.”

“Reading teaches, expands our minds, enriches our lives, shapes our dreams, opens doors and inspires us to become who we are,” adds Jennifer.

But the volunteers say they benefit from helping at least as much as the learners do. “During the year you can see an improvement,” says Mena de Oliveira, “They run into you and are excited about the class, and they are then later able to identify the things you’ve taught them earlier in the year, so it’s very rewarding.” “Shine offers a nurturing environment,” her colleague Jane Ellett adds, “I get more out of it than the kids do.”

Feedback from the children is overwhelmingly positive, and you can see how attached they are to their mentors. Grace likes reading and writing and “going to the different teachers”. “It makes me feel happy.” she says.

Such a ringing endorsement is probably the best thing about literacy programme volunteering. But there is an ongoing need for additional support. “The more volunteers I have, the more children I can reach,” says Corlia.

For information about the Shine Chapter or to volunteer for reading sessions, email corliabloch@yahoo.co.uk. For more information about EET or to donate, contact director Magriet Peter on 028 313 6502 or via email at magriet@enlighten.org.za.