The South African Ostrich Business Chamber (SAOBC) is thankful to have learnt that the seventh round of surveillance for the H5N2 Avian Influenza virus in the Klein Karoo Valley since April 2011, proved to be negative - and thus being counted as the first of the two negative rounds needed for the authorities to declare the end of the current disease outbreak.

"We really want to express our gratitude towards the officials from both the national – and provincial departments of agriculture (Veterinary Services) for their diligence and tireless efforts in dealing with  ...  View Complete Article

Yesterday (Wednesday, 19 October) Christoph Sauser (Songo.info), Switzerland's world champion in the mountain biking marathon, set a personal record when he and his partner, Max Knox (Ghost), won the third stage of the DCM Cape Pioneer Trek.

Sauser can now boast with four stage victories in three DCM Cape Pioneer Trek tours and this is the first time he won two in one year.

During a cold and wet day in which a strong wind at times made life pure hell for the cyc ...  View Complete Article

Thanks to mountain biking, Ischen Stopforth (Bizhub) is turning into a real wildlife expert.

Two weeks ago, during the MTN Ride Crater Cruise, she learned that red hartebeest can run very fast when frightened and yesterday (17 October), during the first stage of the DCM Cape Pioneer Trek, the lesson she learned was that first impressions can be misleading.

If you see a branch lying next to a mountain-bike route, it may turn out not to be a branch at all.  ...  View Complete Article

After winning the first stage in the mixed category of the DCM Cape Pioneer Trek on Monday, Erik and Ariane Kleinhans (Contego/Giant/Sludge) also won the second stage (Calitzdorp to Riversdale) on Tuesday (18 October).

But despite their victory Erik Kleinhans was not in a celebrating mood. On the contrary, he was downright upset after finishing.

"The section that we had to ride between water points three and four was ridiculous. I fail to understand the log ...  View Complete Article

By winning the second stage of the DCM Pioneer Trek yesterday (Tuesday, 18 October), Max Knox (Ghost) and Christoph Sauser (Songo.info) proved that you can't keep a good team down.

In what is undoubtedly one of the tour's toughest stages, they managed to ride away from the rest of the riders with a display of almost faultless mountain biking.

 ...  View Complete Article

In a mountain biker's life dramatic changes can occur unexpectedly.

Until a week ago Max Knox (Ghost/Do-it-now) told everybody that he would not defend his DCM Cape Pioneer Trek title because he did not have a partner.

He had planned to team up with Adrien Niyonshuti (MTN-Qhubeka), but when Jacques Janse van Rensburg signed a contract to ride for MTN-Qhubeka, matters changed.

"Perhaps it happened for the best. It has been a long season and I h ...  View Complete Article

The conversion of Neil MacDonald and Waylon Woolcock (RE:CM) from road cycling to mountain biking is undoubtedly one of the success stories of South African cycling.

Hardly a weekend goes by without at least one of them finishing in the top ten somewhere in the veld. Actually their mountain biking CVs provide impressive reading.

Definite highlights are their victory in the Joburg2C and their second-place finish in the Sani2C, when they both managed to finis ...  View Complete Article

The world's best mountain bikers are certainly beginning to take note of the DCM Cape Pioneer Trek (17-22 October) which will start, as well as finish, in Oudtshoorn.

Christopher Sauser (Specialized), currently the world marathon champion, has already established himself as one of the tour's stalwarts.

The Swiss rider makes it clear that something drastic will have to happen for him to miss out on the fun of the DCM Cape Pioneer Trek.

If Switzerland's Kathrin Stirnemann could make one request to the organizers of the DCM Cape Pioneer Trek (17-22 October), it would certainly be that there should be no cows on the route.

There is a very good reason for this request.

Although mountain biking and survival stories have become synonym over the years, Stirnemann's story remains unique.

Her adventure story took place last year while she was busy doing what she loves most, riding her moun ...  View Complete Article

One of the real 'tough ladies' of South African mountain biking, Ischen Stopforth (Bizbub), will again race in the DCM Cape Pioneer Trek (17-22 October) this year.

Stopforth was undoubtedly one of the true tour heroes of last year's DCM Cape Pioneer Trek.

Stopforth, who raced with Marcel Deacon, crashed heavily during the first stage. Although she had to endure severe pain, they went on to win the stage, taking the early lead in the mixed category.

Af ...  View Complete Article

"The Gugulethu Tenors, described as "South Africa's Il Divo", are taking the South African entertainment industry by storm with their sensational sound, live performance and endearing story. This afro-operatic pop sensation recently announced the signing of an International Licensing Agreement with David Gresham Records.

Their debut album, The Gugulethu Tenors, is the product of hard work and continued faith, and showcases the ripe and heart-warming sound, as well a ...  View Complete Article

Graag verskaf ons inligting en verdere konteks in reaksie op berigte in Die Hoorn (Alle magte nou by burgemeesterskomitee op 27 Januarie 2011) en die Oudtshoorn Courant (ANC kap na KKNK op 28 Januarie 2011).

Die bestuur van die Absa KKNK verwelkom enige voorstelle wat opreg tot verdere voordeel van alle lede van die breër gemeenskap van Groter Oudtshoorn kan lei. Inwoners is egter dikwels tydens die fees baie besig en weet nie altyd van die voordele wat die kunstefees reeds aan die gemeenskap bied nie. Oor die afgelope jaar het die Absa KKNK 'n wye reeks direkte voordele e ...  View Complete Article

The programme for the seventeenth Absa KKNK, which is to be presented in and around Oudtshoorn from 2 to 9 April this year, proves that this festival rejuvenates itself every year, offers a wide variety of experiences and plays a leading role in the development of new work for the stage.

The theatre offering at the festival is extended to include more than 30 productions this year, of which 17 will be performed at the festival for the first time. These debut works span a broad spectru ...  View Complete Article

Festival goers can, as always, look forward to an impressive number of productions that will be showcased for the first time during the 17th Absa KKNK from 2 – 9 April 2011 in Oudtshoorn. One prominent feature of this diverse festival programme, that will be launched on 20 January in Cape Town, is nail-biting dramas that will have audiences gripping their seats in suspense. Festival goers can indulge in this preview of two productions where the tension levels will ensure gripping drama.

As part of this festival's Oudtshoorn Oraloor offering of memorable outdoor arts experiences, t ...  View Complete Article

27 Nov 2010

Herinneringe gaan met klanke, reuke en smake gepaard. Die grond se reuk van 'n oorgroeide vrugteboord of 'n netjies gesnoeide wingerd, die brei klank en unieke manier van woordgebruik en die voortdurende gevatte humor van sonverbrande boere pas by die Klein Karoo soos wat die Noord Kaper by Hermanus pas.

Vertel jy vir my van die piramides in Egipte, beteken dit nie dat ek hulle grootte en misterie besef nie…dit is die belewenis wat saak maak.

Dit is hoekom ek elke liewe stedeling of kusbewoner of "naby die Mall mens" wil aan ...  View Complete Article

Afrikaanse hip-hop het Saterdag (20 November) in Oudtshoorn 'n reuse-hupstoot met die bekendstelling van 'n groot nuwe Afrikaanse hip-hop kompetisie, HipHopKop. “Dit is die eerste keer dat 'n kompetisie van so 'n groot aard in Afrikaans aangepak word. Hip-hop is al vir só lank deel van Afrikaanssprekende mense se kultuur, dat dit hoogtyd is dat dit die nodige en 'n geskikte platform kry”, sê Deon Maas, projekleier van HipHopKop. “Hierdie kompetisie poog om Afrikaanse hip-hop 'n platform te gee om sy regmatige plek in te neem tussen al die ander vorme van Afrikaan ...  View Complete Article

It gives Cango Wildlife Ranch GREAT pleasure to welcome their newest additions to the Natural Encounters Programme.

Charu, Jay and Nina were born on 13 October 2010 and Cango Wildlife Ranch is proud to announce that two of the three cubs are white without any dark stripes. This is indeed a very rare appearance. On Christmas day, 2009, this worldwide known facility celebrated the birth of their very first pure white Bengal tiger when Fareeda was born. She was also the first to be born in Africa. White Bengals are a variation of orange Bengals, due to a recessive gene.

During a day where mountain bikers learned the hard way that sheep are certainly no pushover when it comes to sharing a dirt road it was Brandon Stewart and Jacques Janse van Rensburg (DCM) who had the strongest legs that enabled them to win the fifth stage of the DCM Cape Pioneer Trek in the Klein Karoo.

What makes their stage victory special is the fact that both teammates were involved in their own little adventure.

Mountain bikers are always warned to be on the lookout for animals when they are racing.

So it is no surprise that the organizers of th ...  View Complete Article

From being a mechanic for mountain bike champions to becoming a champion in his own right is Patrick Griessen from Switzerland's success story during the DCM Cape Pioneer Trek.

Griessen and Ariane Luthi (Sputnik-Bikeshop.Ch) won the fourth stage (De Rust to Prince Albert – 110km) of the DCM Cape Pioneer's mixed category in a time of 5 hours 15 minutes and 17 seconds and in doing so they are now leading by more than 11 minutes.

Griessen and Luthi's performance might easily be seen as the tour's "fairy tale".

From 2003 to 2005 Griessen was the mechanic wh ...  View Complete Article

Piet Laubscher (Team Bodyworks) is certainly one of the true heroes of the DCM Cape Pioneer mountain bike tour.

Five years ago Laubscher was told that he had colon cancer which meant that he had to undergo an operation in which the doctor removed most of his colon.

It was a dramatic experience especially since Laubscher is an avid sportsman, cycling being just one of his passions. During his university years he represented Free State as a cyclist at provincial level. He also competed at the SA University Championship.

It seems the saying about once a cy ...  View Complete Article

Max Knox and Thomas Zahnd (DCM) proved during the third stage of the DCM Cape Pioneer Trek that it will take a super human effort from Kevin Evans and Adrien Niyonshuti (MTN-Energade) to take the coveted yellow jersey from them.

Actually judging by the way they rode during the third stage which is considered to be one of the toughest of the entire race it is starting to look as if Knox/Zahnd will be hard to overtake on the overall classification.

Evans admitted as much.

"The only thing left for us to do is to play the waiting game. The only chance that  ...  View Complete Article

The words blood, sweat and tears definitely became a reality for many a rider during the third stage of the DCM Cape Pioneer Trek.

First there was the challenge to work your way upwards through the never ending loose rocks, bumps and holes to get to the top of the old Voortrekker-trail in the Kammanassie Nature Reserve. There was no respite racing downhill either. It was just as technical and challenging.

Things certainly did not ease up during the remainder of the stage from George to De Rust (110km) in the Southern Cape. In the last 40 kilometers the riders' endu ...  View Complete Article

After stage two of the six day DCM Cape Pioneer Tour it is not a secret what Max Knox and Thomas Zahnd (DCM)'s favourite number is once they get onto their mountain bikes to race.

For the second consecutive day the riders from South Africa and Switzerland managed to outride their rivals when it mattered most. So it is only logical to conclude that their favourite number must definitely be number one.

Knox and Zahnd's winning time for the stage from Mosselbay to George (110km) was 4 hours, 24 minutes and 20 seconds. This second stage victory means that they now have ...  View Complete Article

The racing in the mixed category of the DCM Cape Pioneer might just turn out to be one of the big highlights of the six day mountain bike tour in the Southern Cape.

Ischen Stopforth and Marcel Deacon won the first stage from Oudtshoorn to Mosselbay (135km) in 6 hours 49 minutes and 36 seconds. Kobus and Fienie Barnard finished second in 6:52:31 and the Swiss Team of Patrick Griessen and Ariane Luthi were third in 7 hours and 2 minutes.

But the battle is far from being won.

Yolandi de Villiers and Johan Labuschagne who despite finishing 5th yesterday, 45 ...  View Complete Article

Things are certainly starting to hot up in the mixed category of the DCM Cape Pioneer mountain bike tour.

After the second stage Kobus and Fienie Barnard (Klein Karoo) are the new leaders while stage one's biggest losers, Johan Labuschagne and Yolande de Villiers (Cycle Lab), won the second stage from Mosselbay to George (110km).

Marcel Deacon and Ischen Stopforth (Bizhub) who won the first stage were the ones who were involved in a battle for survival during stage two, finishing fourth and slipping down to second overall.

Nobody was more surprised tha ...  View Complete Article

In any mountain bike tour it is not just about winning stages, sometimes just getting to the start line means a rider is a true hero because giving up on life is never an option.

Renate Telser from Switzerland is one of the DCM Cape Pioneer's heroes not only because she and her team mate Nathalie Schneitter have won the first two stages in the women's race and are the leaders in their category.

What makes her performance remarkable is the fact that she is deaf. In the true spirit of mountain biking she is riding to prove to herself and everybody across the world th ...  View Complete Article

Over the last four days it has been a case of different day, different province, different mountain bike tour and even different teammate.

The only constant seems to be Max Knox of DCM’s desire to “kill off” his rivals one by one with his cool and calculating hard riding.

Within 24 hours of having won all three stages of the Three Towers Mountain bike tour in the Lowveld with Brandon Stewart as his teammate Knox also managed to win the first stage of the DCM Cape Pioneer which started at the Chandelier Nature Reserve just outside Oudtshoorn and fini ...  View Complete Article

Agt onvergeetlike dae vanaf 2 tot 9 April, met twee naweke ingesluit, propvol uitnemende musiek, teater, vermaak, kos, kuns, kuier, kultuur en nog vele meer, lê voor in 2011. Dit is slegs 'n paar redes vir Absa KKNK-geesdriftiges om hul vere solank reg te skud vir die 17de jaarlikse Absa Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK) in Oudtshoorn. Die feesdatums vir die 2011 Absa KKNK is onlangs tydens 'n direksievergadering van dié kunstefees vasgeknoop. Dié datums val nie in 2011 oor die Paasnaweek nie, maar is wel gerieflik vir alle provinsies gedurende die April-skoolvak ...  View Complete Article