The Afropolitan Edition 40 by Contact Media

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C O N T E N T S

In This Edition

EDITOR Brendah Nyakudya

CONTRIBUTORS

8 READER'S EXPERIENCE

Alyn Adams Heather Clancy Eric Miyeni Damian Murphy Stacey Vee Michelle Randall Nick van der Leek Cath Jenkins Stephen Pellerade Cover image by Chris Denovan

Guilty Until Proven Rich

PUBLISHING HOUSE

4 EDITOR'S LETTER 40

10 COLUMN When is an opposition party the constitutional court of any country?

14 FEATURE 10 South African's under the age of 40 who are

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rocking their industries

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20 CULTURAL CORNER

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Social Media Activism

23 PROFILE

Lesley Fox

Discipline and slaying the ghosts of apartheid

Chioma Didi Okoro

28 ART FEATURE The Artist.

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36 FEATURE

SALES Damian Murphy Quincy Matonhodze Luey Naicker Melanie Scheepers Paul Styles

The business of war

42 FEATURE Africa's top tech start-ups

DESIGN & LAYOUT Janine Louw

SUBBING & PROOFING Stacey Vee

42 LUXURY

PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR

Best boutiques to browse

IT AND WEB MANAGER

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52 TRAVEL

Mircea Nicolae & Carmen Petre

La Dolce Vita, The sweet life!

Kadimah Print

REPRO AND PRINTING

56 MOTORING The Alfa Romeo Giulietta

58 TRAVEL Road-tripping!

62 LIFESTYLE December holidays in Joburg

64 FEATURE

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66 GIFT GUIDE Stocking fillers

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68 GADGETS Millionaire must haves!

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74 PROPERTY Mansions in the sky

80 FEATURE Africa's little oddities

84 RESTAURANT REVIEW Friday Afternoon traffic. Johannesburg. Work. Stress. Late!

92 COLUMN The day I learned that power trups truth

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E D I T O R ' S

L E T T E R

his is a number that evokes a lot of emotion in human beings across all race and class lines.

For people turning 40, it is the start of the rest of their lives and an accepting of the maturity that comes with aging well. For a married couple, celebrating their 40th anniversary is a landmark, a show of commitment and a celebration of a life and relationship well lived.

support of those who believed in the dream before it began and those who have pledged to walk with us in the future. And we humbly acknowledge those who make it their day to day to make this publication the gem that it is today. To all of you we say Asante Sana. Siyabonga. Mazvita. Thank You! Here is to another 40 editions!

The A Team For us at the Afropolitan it is no less a momentous occasion as we share with you our 40th edition filled to the brim with fun articles that will entertain, features that will inform and an amazing gift guide that will have you reaching for your credit card, plus lots more. As we look back to where we started and how far we have come we are well aware of the commitment of those who have come before and those who are taking it forward. We are overwhelmed by the

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R E A D E R ' S

E X P E R I E N C E

Guilty

Until Proven Rich MONEY TALKS, IN FACT, IT CURSES OUT “I AM F*CKING FREE!” WITH MONTHS IN THE COURTROOM BEHIND HIM, OSCAR HAS ASTOUNDINGLY EVADED THE CHARGE OF MURDER AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS THE SOLEMN WHEELS OF JUSTICE.

he saying goes “the poor man begs outside of the temple while the rich man begs inside the temple”. In this case, Oscar the rich man has been given the keys to the temple as long as Barry Roux receives his check in the mail.

Like something straight of out the fictional city of Gotham, “the broken man” of Oscar emerges. A Jekyll and Hyde character, the man shamelessly flirting with a woman only months after shooting dead his girlfriend, and the man weeping, vomiting and meekly adding “m’lady” to every breath is one and the same.

During this period, with money and influence acting as the Hydra-headed puppet masters, fact and fiction have become indistinguishable, and reality resembles a tragedy to which only Shakespeare could do justice to... But I digress; let me not mention the everelusive word “justice” when discussing the notorious events surrounding the 14th of February 2013.

Truth be told, Oscar Pistorius is the best kind of villain: a fallen hero. We love to hate him for countless reasons but importantly, because he is also the personification of the malaise of South Africa and much of the world. What is this malaise that binds us to the rest of the world in an unhappy matrimony? That’s right, the corrupting power of money and the bottomless pit of greed.

Simple supply and demand: an insidious pair, money and greed are the binary dynamic of capitalist society. Oscar always knew this, that’s why we hate him more. He played the game, paid the right people and the status quo remains intact: the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Keeping in mind, everything has a price, the very word “freedom” is an illusion, and freedom isn’t free. While the average Joe up for murder is unlikely to be given the courtesy of a lengthy, in-depth trial, Oscar and his R100 000 a day legal team have used months of courtroom sleight-of-hand to create an elaborate smokescreen for what remains a very simple fact: Reeva is dead and no amount of money can change that.

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C O L U M N

SINCE WHEN IS AN OPPOSITION PARTY THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OF ANY COUNTRY? By Eric Miyeni

Baleka Mbethe

tuned into Radio 702, one of South Africa’s most popular talk-radio stations one night and found the lines virtually clogged full of people calling in, foaming at the mouth, aided by a presenter who agreed with them, to say that Ms. Baleka Mbethe was biased because she holds the position of National Chairperson of the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC) and should therefore step down from her position as Speaker of the National Assembly.

FAILING TO ADHERE TO OUR CONSTITUTION AS IT STANDS IS A VIOLATION OF THE HIGHEST LAW IN OUR LAND.

The background to all this anger is the controversy surrounding the “security upgrades” of Inkandla, a homestead for sitting South African President Zuma’s retirement. The costs for this are estimated to be R246 million by the South African Public Protector’s office to the horror of many South Africans. In light of this, highly agitated opposition parties such as Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and Democratic Alliance (DA) had called President Zuma to the

C O L U M N

National Assembly to answer questions on the issue. When EFF Members of Parliament thought that their questions were not satisfactorily answered, they banged on tables, chanted “Pay back the money”, created a fracas and refused to leave the National Assembly as ordered by Speaker Mbethe until security personnel were called to remove them. At the heart of this mini National Assembly EFF protest is Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s recommendation that President Zuma pay back part of the money spent on these Inkandla “security upgrades” such as a swimming pool and other additions that her office deemed excessive and therefore not for the taxpayer’s pocket. Now the issue had spilt into the public domain where ordinary citizens were airing their views on public platforms such as Radio 702, agreeing with the host that Speaker Mbethe was biased and should be removed. I called Radio-702 to find out, firstly, what Speaker Mbethe had done to show bias and was asked if I had been watching the same media that agitated everybody to which I answered yes and persisted on being told where the Speaker’s bias lay and was told it lay in that she had protected President Zuma in the National Assembly. On asking if the host knew what the president’s answer to the EFF question as to when he would pay back the money was, it emerged that he was not sure, so I told him that President Zuma had answered that the matter was still being investigated by other bodies, including an ad hoc committee in parliament set up for this purpose and that he would say what he would do at the end of all these processes currently underway to get finality on the matter. To this, the host responded by saying that the committee was set up by the ANC and therefore could not be trusted. When I asked if South Africans should stop trusting the judiciary too as the president (who is also the president of the ANC) appointed our judges it all seemed to fizzle out. In the end what I told this host was that people need to decide if our constitution is a good thing or a bad thing because it can’t be good when it suits them, as when they see the property clause, which protects their right to keep the land no matter how they got it before the ANC came to power and bad when it does not suit them, as when the ANC appoints Ms. Mbethe to be Speaker of the National Assembly. I said to remove her, you would need to change the constitution, and if you do that, the ANC might want to remove the property clause.

A FLOUTING OF A COUNTRY’S LEGISLATION, BECOMING A LAW UNTO YOURSELF AND REFUSING TO ABIDE BY EXISTING RULES BECAUSE YOU DON’T LIKE THEM IS AS GOOD AS BEHAVING LIKE A DICTATOR My take, as I explained to this host, is that if an opposition party does not like what it hears in the National Assembly and has the guts to protest about it, it still does not make that party our constitutional court. Failing to adhere to our constitution as it stands is a violation of the highest law in our land. The ANC and President Zuma, whether you like it or not, whether you think they are lying and stealing or not, have yet to deviate from what the law requires with regards to the Inkandla saga, including the setting up of the ad-hoc committee that will now follow up on the Public Protector’s report.

question is answered, there remains no room for unruly behavior simply because one does not like what was said. Speaker Mbethe, by law, had every right to protect President Zuma after the question was answered. If the EFF, DA or any other opposition party feels aggrieved, then it should head to the next authority, and the next, all the way up to South Africa’s constitutional court. A flouting of a country’s legislation, becoming a law unto yourself and refusing to abide by existing rules because you don’t like them is as good as behaving like a dictator or wanting disorder in a place with no regulation at all.

President Zuma’s answer, I told the presenter, was correct, and once the

And who wants to live in unmitigated chaos? I know I don’t.

Julius Malema

rocking their industries

F E A T U R E

10 South Africans

under the age of 40 who are

AYN RAND WROTE “THE BETTER THE MIND, THE LONGER THE RANGE” ACKNOWLEDGING THE SYNERGY EXISTING BETWEEN INTELLIGENT, TALENT AND AMBITION. THE TEN LISTED SOUTH AFRICANS EXHIBIT THIS SYNERGY PERFECTLY. REGARDLESS OF MASTERING DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES IN A MULTITUDE OF ENVIRONMENTS, THERE IS AN ALMOST IMPERCEPTIBLE THREAD THAT BINDS ALL OF THESE ACHIEVEMENTS – A BRIGHT MIND AND AN AMBITIOUS AND ALL-ENCOMPASSING VISION.

1 Riky Rick

By Heather Clancy

RIKY RICK: FILMAKER He quotes Lupita Nyong’o on his Tumblr and it seems particularly apt. Her now legendary Oscar speech includes the line “no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid.” Musician, producer, actor and all-round-creative Riky Rick’s growing success certainly proves that Lupita was right. Recently staring in the local drama “Isibaya” Riky Rick is a natural performer. First introduced to the music industry while working in the recording studio with Bongani Fassie, Riky Rick has never looked back. Previously producing music for the likes of MXO and L-Tido, Riky Rick’s passion for the total spectrum of music is evident in his work behind the scenes. A former student of film at AFDA, Riky Rick’s recent release “Amantombazane” featuring Okmalumkoolkat, and the smash hit, “Nafukwa” are sure to be future South African classics. Recently announcing his separation from his record label, Motif Records, Riky Rick is trailblazing a new path with his album “Family Values” said to be released in 2015.

F E A T U R E

MILISUTHANDO BONGELA: WRITER

ZODWA KUMALO-VALENTINE: WRITER

There is something particularly wonderful about the fact that one of South Africa’s most loved bloggers was born in Umtata in the Eastern Cape. Away from the “New York of South Africa” mind-set of Johannesburg and not close enough to the “Little Europe” oddity of Cape Town, Milisuthando was developing her keen voice that would help her build an enviable career.

Currently the Mail & Guardian’s Arts, Entertainment and Culture editor, Zodwa is truly a woman of her words. With her writing published in all the major print publications in South Africa, including blogging for various parenting sites, Zodwa seems to be at home wherever there are words.

Image courtesy of Madelene Cronje

Image courtesy of Chris Saunders

A gifted writer, Milisuthando, best known as Miss Milli B, also works as a personal stylist when she isn’t blogging or working as a member of The Group. Often labelled “Joburg’s It Girl”, Miss Milli B is in fact anything but your typical It Girl. From blogging about fashion and South African history to creating a documentary about the politics of black hair, her inspiring work is as broad as her interests.

While many have long predicted the demise of print, Zodwa, a Rhodes graduate, was ahead of the curve adapting to the ever-changing digital landscape as early as 2001. Previously working as an online content manager for Woolworths, Zodwa is passionate about travel, food, social media, design and music. Selected as one of only thirty-eight World Design Capital Cape Town curators, Zodwa’s scope of interest is tellingly ambitious. With a career spanning well over a decade, Zodwa is an inspiration to all aspiring writers.

Milisuthando Bongela

THULANI SERERO: FOOTBALL PLAYER When you Google “Thulani Serero” the suggestions tellingly include “Thulani Serero salary” and “Thulani Serero transfer”. Born in Soweto, this in-demand 24 year-old midfielder is the only South African football star since Bennie McCarthy to break into the much coveted Champions League. Beginning his football career in 2000, Serero is a veteran despite his youthful appearance. However, when witnessing him play, his unrelenting energy hardly suggests that this former Ajax Cape Town star has been playing “the beautiful game” for more than half of his life.

Zodwa Kumalo-Valentine

Thulani Serero

F E A T U R E

DANIEL TING CHONG: ARTIST If you have had the pleasure of seeing any of designer, illustrator and artist, Daniel Ting Chong’s work then you would believe him when he says: “as cliché as it sounds, inspiration is all around and you never know when you might connect with something.” Ridiculously talented, Daniel’s extensive portfolio is aesthetic eye candy. Currently working on branding for clients in Berlin and Switzerland, as well as collaborating with a local designer in the production of basketball range of clothing, his joy for his craft is blatantly clear in his inspiring, multi-disciplinary work. Sculpting soap into pastel-coloured ice-cream cones and working with some of the biggest international brands including The New York Times and Nike, Daniel has expertly carved a fascinating career. The famous quote from Lawrence Pearsall Jacks states: “a master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play”. By all accounts then Daniel is certainly a master in the art of living.

5 Daniel Ting Chong

MOKENA MAKEKA: ARCHITECT What is a sound African aesthetic? This is the question that Mokena Makeka tries to answer every day as an architect and urban thinker. Seemingly racing against himself and so attempting to create as many inspired solid structures as a legacy of his existence, Mokena is not one to waste time. Ambitious and talented, Mokena is the founder of Makeke Design Lab and boasts numerous accolades including

7 Siyabulela Xuxu

being the two-time recipient of the CIA Award of Merit and being selected amongst one-hundred architects globally to be part of the prestigious Ordos 100. Graduating from the University of Cape Town (UCT), Mokena’s career came full circle when he later returned to UCT as a lecturer. Stating on his website his belief in the “power of design to better people’s lives in a subtle but profound manner” it is hard to doubt his conviction.

6 Mokena Makeka

SIYABULELA XUXA: SCIENTIST There are worldly achievements – fame, fortune, success, and then there are out of this world achievements. Siyabulela Xuxa, already a world-renowned scientist, prefers to specialise in the latter. After earning a reputation of somewhat of a prodigy, this Mthathaborn star was honoured by the Nasaaffiliated Lincoln Laboratory, which named a minor planet after him. Planet 23182 is now known as Siyaxuxa. Winning numerous prestigious awards and pioneering engineering solutions for Africa, this Harvard graduate says that he always had “a burning desire to figure out how things worked.”

F E A T U R E

MARY SIBANDE: FINE ARTIST

GIFT NGOEPE: BASEBALL PLAYER

Using the familiarity of the human form to express ideas of death, rebirth and identity, Mary Sibande’s work utterly silences those who are lucky enough to witness it. Showing her work in Paris, Venice, Dakar and Helsinki while sweeping up countless accolades, Mary’s art is a much needed exploration of South African history.

Affectionately known as a “gift from Africa” Gift Ngoepe was the first black South African to sign a professional baseball contract when he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008. Growing up in Randburg while living with his mother who was a clubhouse attendant on the grounds of a local baseball team, it could be said that Ngoepe was fated to be a recordbreaking professional baseball player. As a child, Ngoepe was unknowingly preparing for a future of excellence, often playing baseball with players twenty years his senior, it is not surprising that this 24 year-old hit the major league.

A Fine Arts graduate, Mary Sibande manifests her vision through photography, sculpture and painting. Mary’s most popular exhibition “Long Live the Dead Queen” features life size mannequins cast in the artist’s own face and clothed in a maids uniform. The bright blue uniforms almost resemble those of fairy tales, however, there is a somewhat sombre air to the life size woman simply known as Sophie. Making “the maid” the central figure is in itself radical. Historically demeaned to the role of adult-children – but worse, “maids” are not meant to be seen or heard. Therefore Mary’s work is an expression of rebellion and freedom. Exploring the uncomfortable question of how many dreams have gone unnoticed as countless South African women were narrowly understood and limited to their role of “domestic”? Offering no easy answers, Mary instead bravely explores the history of servitude and the legacy of dreams.

8 Mary Sibande

Gift Ngoepe

MIKHAEL SUBOTZKY: PHOTOGRAPHER Born in Cape Town in 1981, Mikhael Subotzky’s once-seennever-forgotten work is more famous than he is, and even that is fast changing. The youngest photographer to be invited to the Magnum Photo Agencies, the most esteemed group of photographers in the world, Mikhael is one of South Africa’s most talented artists. Pegged for an illustrious career, Michael was the first student to receive 100% for his major, Photography when completing his Fine Arts Degree at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Capturing some of South Africa’s most intriguing urban mythologies, Mikhael’s craft has taken him from Pollsmoor Prison to Johannesburg’s Ponte City and in-between. Participating in numerous exhibitions in South Africa and abroad, and winning several prestigious awards, Mikhael’s career is only just beginning.

Mikhael Subotzky

F E A T U R E

SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVIS M #ARABS #FREEG A PRING #BRING BA ZA DO THE ETC. WHAT DIF CKOURGIRL S SE HASH FERENC E T THE COU AGS ACTUALLY , IF ANY, M RSE OF H I S T O RY A K E I N ? By Heath

er Clancy

Image courtesy of rSnapshotPhotos / Shutterstock.com

THE POWER OF THE

F E A T U R E

ocial media is the 24/7, global freefor-all that highlights the very best and the absolute worst of humanity. It is life distilled, thoughts condensed and short bursts of genius, outrage and unity (pick your choice, it is all there). Anyone who doubts the influence and appeal of social media should be promptly silenced when noting the fact that social media has swiftly overtaken porn as top activity on the internet.

WE THE PEOPLE Every day we collectively define the meaning of social media and its significance. A worldwide social experiment in which we all are the willing guinea pigs, social media is imbued with possibility. Just like selfies, social media activism is an organic offshoot of the social media phenomenon. While selfies are usually deemed frivolous, social media activism has been often considered, rather contentiously, a serious development in the age of the internet. At the forefront of the social media phenomenon, the latest studies have revealed that Facebook tops the list of social media platforms with 1.07 billion monthly active users. While Twitter trails behind YouTube and Google+ with 271 million monthly active users. Both renowned for their ability to connect the world, Facebook and Twitter are

IF GIVEN THE CHANCE, PEOPLE ARE MORE INCLINED TO DO GOOD IF THERE IS AN AUDIENCE TO APPLAUD THEIR VIRTUE.

the sand with the aid of a 140-character tweet or a snappy Facebook update.

ACTIVISM FOR THE SELFIE GENERATION? Whereas once you might have had to attend rallies, sit-ins etc. to show your allegiance, today, an appropriately timed retweet will do. Social media activism, just like the internet itself, is all-inclusive. This means that the number of “activists” (self-proclaimed or not, misguided or not) has never been higher or more visible. Surely this counts for something?

often cited as potential springboards for Armchair activism factsheet: positive social change and a new breed of • As of May this year, social activism often dubbed “armchair #BringBackOurGirls has been tweeted activism”. With millions of “friends” and 3.3 million times. “followers” around the world and the unquestioned deference to the power of • Out of the one million-plus people the collective huddling behind a shared who had signed the “Save Darfur” hashtag, surely the possibility of a better campaign on Facebook, less than 3000 world for all is more likely than ever? people have actually donated money. The logic being, if even a fraction of the Only raising approximately $90 000 multitudes of users used their “voice” over three years, which is a pitiful for good, then surely world leaders and statistic compared to the wider Darfur influencers would be forced to listen and campaign, which raised more than respond. Not too long ago a person would $1million in 2008 alone. be labelled an activist if they were actively • Despite much of the media dubbing involved in advocating or opposing a the recent unrest in Iran a “Twitter cause or issue. Today, social media has Revolution” only 20,000 people in Iran opened up the possibility for a new breed in 2009 used Twitter. This equates to of activism. It is now easier than ever to 0, 00025% of the population. stand your ground and draw your line in

F E A T U R E

TODAY, WITH THE AID OF SOCIAL MEDIA, PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE ARE ENGAGING WITH ISSUES THAT WOULD FORMERLY BE DEEMED REMOTE AND ALL BUT REMOVED FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE

Social media activism, pejoratively known as “slacktivism”, is a new phenomenon that capitalizes on an old truth: humans are ultimately lazy and vain. If given the chance, people are more inclined to do good if there is an audience to applaud their virtue. More so, if this can be done with the minimal effort involved in posting a tweet or liking a Facebook status. While this is not to say that people don’t care about social issues, of course they do, didn’t you see how many times they retweeted that Gandhi quote about change? It is a question about how much they actually care. Enough to donate money or often equally precious time or just enough to tweet about the issue with a few caps lock hashtags thrown in for emphasis?

Kampala. As people adopt the entire world as their scope of interest, on reflection, it comes as no surprise that the film has received more than 100 million views on YouTube. Dubbed the “most viral video in history”, many Ugandans protested at the screening of the films. Expecting to see a real depiction of the surreal atrocities that they experienced, the film was decidedly self-indulgent and indicative of deeprooted ethnocentrism. However, that didn’t seem to impact the popularity of the campaign as most of the “supporters” who retweeted #stopKony didn’t seem to bother to watch the 30 minute film. Did You Know? At the height of the campaign, the hashtag #kerrystopkony was being sent every 19 seconds.

Therein lies the problem with social media activism, it doesn’t require authentic commitment. Whereas oldschool activists by definition, must Never before have world issues been more nail themselves to the proverbial cross, hashtag activists by definition vigorously debated, prior to the dawn of (however variable), are never tested. social media, there was an imbalance: The lack of authentic commitment people had mass access to information is negatively correlated with the about world events (i.e. newspapers, progress of the adopted cause. The less magazines and television) but very few real commitment required the more opportunities to genuinely engage with likely the cause is to fizzle out after that information. Today, with the aid of the social media interest has shifted social media, people across the globe are engaging with issues that would formerly to another “bleeding hearts” cause. History has shown that social progress be deemed remote and all but removed occurs because of unyielding, authentic from their experience. commitment in spite of circumstance. They say that you make the iron hot The “Stop Kony” social media frenzy is by striking it; just the same, social case and point. Created by an American progress occurs not because the world charity, Invisible Children, Inc., “Kony is somehow ready, but rather because 2012” was a short film created to spur committed individuals have decided awareness about the heinous acts of that change is simply not optional. leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Joseph Kony. Fraught with controversy and perhaps misguided, the ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF campaign perfectly highlights the wins THE REVOLUTION WILL BE and the woes of social media activism.

THE WINS AND WOES OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVISM

In the age of the internet, you can feel equal outrage from New York to

RETWEETED

Shonda Rhimes, the triple-threat

American screenwriter, director and producer recently said: “A hashtag is not a movement.” This might come as a surprise given that much of the popularity of her latest success; “The Fixer” (also known as “Scandal”) can be attributed to the burgeoning power of Twitter, with masses across the globe live-tweeting while catching the latest instalment of her show. Television pundits have dubbed “The Fixer” as “the house that Twitter built”. Evidently, Rhimes sees no contradiction in her damnation of the so-called “hashtag movement”. Perhaps this is telling, while hashtags might be great for entertainment purposes, at the end of the day a hashtag, like Rhimes says, it is “you sitting on your butt, typing into your computer and then going back to binge watching your favourite shows”. Despite the critics, we will only be able to accurately assess the impact of social media activism with the passing of time. The latent tendency is to assume that every generation is markedly worse than the previous. Yet it is hard to even compare the current social media generation with any other generation because the infinite landscape of the internet as we know it today is largely unchartered territory. However, that being said, it is hoped that in our future assessment of the so-called rise of social media activism we do not overlook the efforts of the real people living in often dire circumstance, who without much, and usually without a smart phone, challenge, confront and sometimes change the world as we know it. Their story is often too long and complicated to be captured in a tweet, but then again, the best stories always are.

EMPOWERED Meet the New Owners What is SOCIAL FRANCHISING ? A self-sustainable ‘business-in-a-box’ that uses the structures of commercial franchising to achieve social goals in the community in which it operates.

Sport for All, South Africa’s first FASA registered social franchise makes dreams a reality for entrepreneurs who want to make a difference.

GET IN THE GAME! Companies have invested B-BBEE Enterprise Development funds to assist entrepreneurs to open 21 Sport For All franchise businesses that provide youth employment and give children a chance to participate in multiple sport codes and life skills training.

Phumzile and Cingisisa Sonjani, Owner-Operators of Sport For All Plettenberg Bay

Contact the SFA Team: 087 820 4030 | info@sportforall.co.za | www.sportforall.co.za

P R O F I L E

Discipline and slaying the Ghosts of Apartheid 40 MINUTES WITH THE MUCH LOVED AND RESPECTED UNIVERSITY OF FREE STATE RECTOR, PROFESSOR JONATHAN JANSEN Words by Nick van der Leek

Your academic accolades have taken you around the world, haven’t they? The Fulbright Scholarship to Stanford University, and then the University of Edinburgh awarded you with an Honorary Doctorate in Education. How has time in especially these faraway places, America and Scotland, changed and influenced you?

themselves in the centre of places like Silicon Valley where innovation and risk are vital components of success .

My studies in the USA (MSc and PhD) changed me in several Professor Jonathan Jansen with Oprah Winfrey respects. It gave me an enduring respect for freedom to speak with courage no matter the consequences; it authored thus far and which books gave me a sense of what it really means to do you still mean to write? work hard as a scholar; and it taught me to set ambitious goals for myself, being I know why the caged bird sings, by comfortable with criticism, and that Maya Angelou, had a profound effect on standing out was a virtue especially in the my life, as did Eva Hoffman’s After Such quality and originality of your research. Knowledge. My best book is Knowledge in the Blood, but I have a better book for You’re a proponent of intellectual next year called tentatively Nearness By Resemblance, about how young people at freedom – what does that mean? universities, UFS in particular, transform It means daring to stand alone, to think themselves under difficult conditions. for yourself rather than hiding in the crowds, and to be fearless, like Joshua How are South Africans doing in Broomberg of King David, Victory Park.* the global knowledge economy

You’re a reader and a writer. Which books have influenced you the most, what’s the most important book you’ve

now, compared to say, five years ago? Are we getting better? Individuals do better than the country, especially those who leave and place

In South Korea there is a culture of reading and a culture of study, and it’s very disciplined. As a result the South Koreans have enormous human capital. How do we begin, in South Africa, to achieve a culture more oriented towards esteeming education – and educators? There is something to be said for discipline (South Korea) but more for innovation (USA); if we can combine the two, we have an ideal situation. The problem with discipline, conventionally understood, is that it inhibits risktaking and free-thinking required for entrepreneurship and original thinking.

What are your thoughts on corporal punishment? It is the work of cowards, whether as parents or teachers. You do not beat up on those smaller or more vulnerable than you, and it is especially dangerous in a violent society not only on the streets but in marriages.

When Oprah visited the Free State

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Where do you see signs of hope in South Africa? The youth, and I mean that.

What do you do for fun? I watch the Bulls demolish the Stormers, and then I read and play piano where I can find one.

As a youngster, did you always want to be a teacher, or an educator? Who or what inspired you to take this path? It came after being influenced by an inspired Latin teacher who taught me what I could become.

Do you consider yourself political? Not in the sense of party politics, but in the sense of everyday life and choices, we all are.

University campus, what was that experience like for you? Did she share anything interesting with you personally? It meant a lot for our staff, students and the surrounding community; I had met her before, and respect her deeply. What she did share personally was her appreciation and respect for the role of forgiveness and reconciliation at the university.

fundamentalist in character. On almost any contentious issue, the world is divided neatly into black and white, right and wrong, good and evil. Evidence comes second to emotion. Logic gives way to anger. There are no grey areas, no room for doubt.

Wouldn’t you say our beliefs play a large role in the generalised fundamentalism we see in South Who are your mentors? Who do African society? And how do you – and did you – look up to? we dismantle that? How do we Chabani Manganyi, a retired professor become more open, and more and clinical psychologist who is probably human, and more able to admit one of the wisest and most insightful our own mistakes? South Africans you will meet any day. And then my mother, who taught me courage and hard work, and my father, who taught me humility and service. I am blessed because of them.

What are you reading at the moment? About 15 different books and a box load of printed journal articles for my new book. A duet of books by Annette Gordon-Reed on Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, the slave owner and the slave in the American South, and what it teaches us about intimacy, nearness and transformation in a rainy season.

You once observed that we do not teach young people to doubt. In that sense, our entire society is

By teaching with our lives. This could and should be done by all leaders in how we approach complex matters whether it be the Pallo Jordan PhD saga or the Joshua Broomberg stance on Palestine, show nuance, complexity and uncertainty rather than shoot off right and wrong answers as in a multiple choice test.

Do you think the ghost of Apartheid will haunt the South African narrative forever? When will we be rid of it? It will for a long time, but it can come to be buried in the future depending on how leaders talk about that past in the present.

Controversial? Not at all. I am only labelled this way because few other people take a stand on anything. I do not like standing out for my views; in a healthy democracy I would be invisible.

Is technology doing more good or harm, in terms of arming or equipping youngsters for the working world? How should parents deal with the access young people have to so much unfiltered information? We should stop trying to shut down things we do not like; at the same time, we need to teach young people that abusing technologies can destroy real lives.

You’re also quite active on Facebook. How do you use Facebook to engage? I use Facebook and Twitter to convey a sense of connectedness to my students first, and to many others who look for guidance on education and life; it takes very little time, and it fills a hole while waiting for the delayed flights to or from Bloemfontein.

What’s next for you? Back to high school teaching. * Joshua Broomberg is the deputy head boy at King David who made headlines in his public support of the people of Palistine.

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ARTIST. "ART IS LIKE RELIGION; YOU ONLY KNOW IT ONCE YOU'VE LOST IT." GERHARD RICHTER

hen I was at art school I wasn’t being very honest with myself and how can you make art if your not interested in looking in the one place where it lives; YOU! When I left art school I was disillusioned and felt lost in the art world. I turned my back on painting and tried to move forward to something else. So I studied and worked in animation. For 5 years I didn’t touch a brush to canvas once, but I did start to learn more about me. Then one day someone very close to me died and life did a somersault, which all resulted in me picking up a brush once more. Painting again never felt so right. I resigned from my job as an animator, made an art studio for myself and started to teach myself how to paint again but this time with a more mature and honest approach. Gerhard Richter once said; ‘Art is like religion; you only know it once you’ve lost it’. This rang true to me and I knew I was meant to be a painter and nothing else. My Art background is rooted in the classical and the figurative. I enjoy drawing, as well as painting and some of my best art experience was life study when I was a student, but also as an independent artist. This has been a constant throughout my art experience. I often refer to the work of others, quoting and lifting, then departing from the quotation to try and bring my own voice to the conversation, my own experiences and my own desires. As an artist I am attracted to capturing the human form by blurring the lines between abstraction and realism. Through an experimental process each painting is built up slowly and progressively. I become wholly engrossed in the materials I use to create my work, in the different qualities of paint and how different materials react with each other, how layers can be built up and then erased to create further detail, how paint runs and splatters and its effect under different external conditions, the textures of the surface, colour composition and composition of form.

Chris Denovan

AS AN ARTIST I AM ATTRACTED TO CAPTURING THE HUMAN FORM BY BLURRING THE LINES BETWEEN ABSTRACTION AND REALISM.

Images courtesy of Chris Denovan

This is what gives the work its substance and makes art exciting for me.

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Artwork commissioned and inspired by The Afropolitan Magazine

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ARTIST BIO Christopher Denovan was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1983. He graduated with a National Diploma from Ruth Prowse School of Fine Art with a body of work focusing on Portraiture depicting Prejudice and Discrimination in gender and ethnicity. In 2006 Chris began studies at ‘The Animation School’ where he won 1st prize for the ‘Creating Characters Competition’ and graduated with internationally recognised certificates for Animation Programs; Maya and 3D studio Max. In 2008 Chris signed on at the animation studio ‘Clockwork Zoo’ as head of the backgrounds department developing international shows such as Florries Dragons, Caillou, and Mr Bebe. In 2011 Chris left the Clockwork Zoo studios to focus on his fine art career. He has exhibited his paintings in various group shows locally in South Africa while developing his own personal style. In 2014 Chris was shortlisted for the Vuleka Competition at Art b in Bellville Cape Town.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS 2014 Art b. , Bellville Rust-en-Vrede , Durbanville State of the Art, Cape Town

2013  • • • • • • • • • •

Irma Stern Museum, Cape Town Salon 91, Cape Town The White House, Plettenberg Bay Pendock Wine Gallery, Cape Town Chandler House, Cape Town State of the Art, Cape Town  2012, Studio 41 Cape Town  2011, Studio 41 Cape Town  2010, San Remo, Cape Town  2006 Cafe Mozart

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MY ART MAKING PROCESS AND INFLUENCES My art process really starts with being inspired. My inspiration comes from mainly three places: The outside world: Everyday South African people. I try to get out on my bicycle with my trusty camera and ride around snapping away trying to capture Cape Towns diversity. In my studio: Browsing through art blogs and design magazines always shows me that there are so many ways to be an artist. I like to try and absorb as much as I can from the images I see as a guide to good colour and composition choices. Creative Influences: The great figurative classic artist that have influenced me are Rembrandt, Diego Velázquez, John Singer Sargent, Titian, Schiele, Klimp, German expressionists, Impressionists. Current artist influences are Matthew Hindley, Robert Longo, Steven Conroy, Kudzanai Chiurai, and Anathi Tyawa.

I LIKE TO TRY AND ABSORB AS MUCH AS I CAN FROM THE IMAGES I SEE AS A GUIDE TO GOOD COLOUR AND COMPOSITION CHOICES. Composing an image is a very important part of each painting. If you don’t get it right at this stage the image won’t be right in the end. When doing this I keep three things in mind; Colour, Composition and Respect of subject matter. Colour: It’s important to choose a few colours that work well together. Complimentary colours are always a good start. Composition: This is so important. I’ve been doing a lot of research on dynamic composition. Balance, symmetry, the golden ration and repetition of form all help. Respect: Creating a sense of Integrity for the painting is the most difficult aspect. Having respect for my subject matter helps to add a emotional sense of depth that, if you get it right, can speaks to the viewer in that indescribable way that only art can. Visit: www.chrisdenovan.co.za

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Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts Culture and Recreation A LOOK INTO THE ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMME: The aim of the Cultural Affairs Programme is to identify, develop, support, promote the arts, preserve and protect heritage resources in the province. In so doing, the Programme contributes to the following DSACR Strategic Goals: • To enhance the implementation of integrated and sustainable arts, culture and recreation programmes; • To identify, develop and nurture artistic talent for competitive and major events; and • To identify and preserve heritage including the promotion of national days and symbols. The programme comprises of the following sub-programmes: Creative Arts, Creative Industries (including Gauteng Film Commission) and Heritage (including Language and Geographical Names).

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THE PLANS: • To convene a Cultural Initiation Indaba with all relevant stakeholders. • To reconfigure the Gauteng Film Commission in our quest to create employment in the creative industry. As part of the reconfiguration the Commission will be incorporated into the Gauteng Creative IndustryAgency (GCIA). Programmes which will be implemented by this Agency will largely benefit up and coming entrepreneurs in the film industry especially those coming from the previously disadvantaged communities. • Continue to work together with the Gauteng Department of Education to increase the number of schools which offer Visual Arts, Drama and Dance subjects as part of the curriculum especially in townships. • Bursaries will be offered to deserving Visual Arts and Performing Drama students at an amount of R2 million through the Gauteng City Region Academy. • Reinvigorate choral music competitions in schools in order to nurture musical talent

THE ENTITIES: CREATIVE ARTS: The creative arts entity is responsible for the implementation of the Theatre programme including the training of theater practitioners through Wits University. It also oversees the implementation of the Gauteng Carnival, Dance, Chorale, Visual Arts and Craft programmes. Thousands of learners from various schools participate in performing and Visual Arts programs as part of the Arts in Schools programme.

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES: It also oversees the promotion and implementation of The Live Performance Programme including supporting Music, Comedy and Poetry festivals etc. Programmes like Puisano seek to identify and give platform to live bands to perform in stages including Moretele and Standard Bank jazz festivals. There’s also the 100% mzansi campaign to promote local content music through the media. For this catch 100%mzansi hour on YFM every Saturday from 6-7pm.

HERITAGE, GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES & LANGUAGES Gives support to the Provincial Heritage Resource Authority of Gauteng (PHRA-G) which is responsible for the management of heritage resources that are of provincial significance. To date, 100 sites have been identified and are now protected under the National Heritage Resources Act, Act 25 of 1999. Permit applications for demolition of or alteration to structures older than 60 years are considered. There’s also maintenance of the the database on heritage resources in accordance with the national standards and the formulation of policy and strategy plans for heritage resources management. The entity also promotes National symbols and indigenous knowledge systems and regulates Geographical naming and renaming. See more at: http://www.sacr.gpg.gov.za/programmes/culturalaffairs/Pages/ CulturalAffairs.asp

Tel: 011 355 2500 Fax: 011 355 2505 Website: www.sacr.gpg.gov.za GPG Portal: www.gautengonline.gov.za Physical Address: 35 Rissik Cnr Fox Street, Surrey House Johannesburg 2001 Postal Add: Private Bag X33, Johannesburg 2000 Email: sacr.communications@gauteng.gov.za

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The Bus ness of war GUNPOWDER, THE AK47, PRINCE WILLIAM OF ORANGE AND SHAKA – WHAT DO THEY ALL HAVE IN COMMON? BY NICK VAN DER LEEK

s there any money in gunpowder? Yes. Bullets? Absolutely. How about tanks and bombs? Sure! In the first 10 days of the Libyan war the US administration spent $550m. That includes $340m for munitions such as cruise missiles i.e. ordinance that must be replaced. See the beauty about weapons is how quickly they can (and

usually are) consumed. Bang! It’s gone, but there’s always plenty more where that came from, just ask Yuri Orlov. Everyone cares about security. Folks in the suburbs. Rich. Poor. Even presidents. Especially presidents. Isn’t it ironic that Nkandla was financed essentially on the premise of ‘security’

upgrades, as though security – by default – is an acceptable scenario for spending gazillions in taxpayer’s money whilst expecting no one to bat an eyelid. Hey, does anyone usually? But instead of starting in Zululand, we’ll end there. Let’s begin by widening our gaze. Let’s leap backwards into history,

F E A T U R E and north towards other nations. Let’s investigate their national security issues before we find our way back home to the familiar issues in the present. In 1688 Prince William of Orange (the ruler of a pipsqueak of a country known as ‘the Netherlands’ roughly the size of the Free State) ‘embarked on a seaborne invasion of the British Isles’*. Prince William’s invasion consisted of 500 ships and 40 000 highly trained troops and marines. In 1688 that was an empireconquering ‘redoubtable’ force, and Prince William did exactly that – he sailed into London and took the throne with nary a shot being fired. What? The Dutch overcame the British? How come no one knows about this? For starters, Jardine, the author of ‘Going Dutch’ describes the invasion as ‘more like a merger’. Why? Because in 1688, Jardine writes, ‘England and Holland were already...closely intertwined , culturally, intellectually, dynastically and politically’. Secondly, since the Dutch royals failed to produce an heir while on the British throne, Britain devolved back to Britain. And then no one really spoke about the fact that, yes, the Dutch once defeated the English. They bought an army, assumed power, and then lost the plot. If it takes money to make an empireconquering force, it requires something besides that guile, guts and gusto perhaps, to hold onto it. If the Dutch

had boatloads of the latter, the British outfoxed them time and again on the former. And the English, like the Japanese, and perhaps even the Zulus and Boers, have been hated – or is it envied – ever after as a result? How much treasure is there in war? $1.5 trillion goes into military spending every year. That’s nearly 2.7% of world GDP (down from 1990 when it was 4%). If it sounds like a lot it is and it isn’t. To put this figure into perspective, the total value of global tourism is worth more than $1 trillion. Meanwhile the world’s food industry is worth 10% of world GDP (ie three times the value of weapons, and war).

THE PULLING POWER OF DYNAMITE There are no Nobel prizes for guessing the man’s name who invented dynamite. Alfred Nobel was a Swedish engineer and chemist. Nobel’s dad worked on the first torpedos in Russia, and the family business did especially well producing armaments for the Crimean War. Alfred Nobel spent time trying to understand the highly unstable (and deadly explosive) nitroglycerine. During early work a shed exploded killing five workers included Alfred Nobel’s younger brother. But Nobel persisted, using Scotland’s dunefields near Ayr on the west coast to test his explosives. Nobel finally figured out that a powder form of nitroglycerine was more stable (and thus of practical use). He patented this formula, and then went on to patent even more stable forms such as gelignite and ballistite. Despite being a pacifist, Nobel saw no harm in building more than 90 armament factories.

Ironically, when another one of his brothers died, a French newspaper incorrectly reported that the ‘Merchant of Death is dead’, except, he wasn’t. Recently Nobel’s net worth was estimated at $430 million.

KICKING IT WITH A KALASHNIKOV If bombs and blowing things up is not your thing, you might be more interested in guns and stabbing weapons. The Kalashnikov rifle, invented by a Russian of the same name, is the weapon of choice for terrorists, criminals and suburban gamers. In the movie Lord of War, the character Yuri Orlov, an arms dealer played by Nicolas Cage, gushes over the Kalashnikov: “Of all the weapons in the vast Soviet arsenal, nothing was more profitable than Avtomat Kalashnikova.... more commonly known as the AK-47, or Kalashnikov. It’s the world’s most popular assault rifle, a weapon all fighters love. An elegantly simple, 9 pound amalgamation of forged steel and plywood. It doesn’t break, jam, or overheat. It’ll shoot whether it’s covered in mud or filled with sand. It’s so easy, even a child can use it - and they do. The Soviets put the gun on a coin. Mozambique put it on their flag. Since the end of the Cold War, the Kalashnikov has become the Russian people’s greatest export. After that comes vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists. One thing is for sure, no one was lining up to buy their cars.” Kalashnikov’s net worth today? Around $20 million.

WARMONGERS OF THE WORLD UNITE, IN NORTH KOREA If you thought apartheid was dead, think again. It’s alive and well in Korea. This no black/white schism. This is a true schism between brothers. Korean

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bro's. Why is Korea separated – sliced in half – into North and South Korea? Well, a war started it. And the business of war has kept it going. Why don’t the two countries just kiss and make up? Because that would mean sharing power, and you know what that means? Exactly, that would mean sharing wealth, and neither side really wants that. So...the poor neighbour occasionally threaten to nuke Seoul (the capital of the South) and the rich South give the north handouts in exchange for continued ‘getting along’. It’s kinda like your neighbour threatening to kill you if you don’t go out and buy him groceries every now and then. If it seems like a crazy arrangement, the Koreans have been waging their nonwar for the past 50-plus years. Today South Korea is one of the world’s richest economies (it’s the 13th largest economy) while North Korea (land of gulags, forced labor camps, the world’s largest army and militarised border, and yes, bristling with nuclear weapons) is one of the poorest (200-and-something at last count).

USA – WORLD LEADERS AT WARMONGERING The Yanks are exceptionally talented at making a profit out of conflict. In fact, bounty hunters are still part of the urban fabric. The Americans love their guns, and the cowboy cliché is still pretty accurate. America is also the land of espionage and counterespionage, intelligence and counterintelligence. How many intelligence agencies are there now? FBI, CIA, NIS, DIA...

According to Jonathan Turley writing for al Jazeera “the ‘black budget’ of secret intelligence programmes was estimated at $52.6bn for 2013. That is only the secret programmes, not the much larger intelligence and counterintelligence budgets. We now have 16 spy agencies” Turley writes, “that employ 107,035 employees. This is separate from the over one million people employed by the military and national security law enforcement agencies.” Guess what? The number one private consumer of energy on the planet is the US department of defence. Can you guess what the largest industries are in the world? Oil? Oil is big but not the biggest. What’s bigger than oil? Keep reading.

SOUTH AFRICA’S SHAKA If you thought Prince William’s army of 40 000 was a big deal, think again. Shaka was able to field twice as many warriors. Shaka really shook things up. He revolutionised war, he set up new fighting styles, tactics and weapons. He shaped our nation in a big way into something resembling what it is today (and he certainly played a huge role in defining and creating the current Zulu nation). War is one way to unify a society. War involves leadership and loyalty. In the early days of South Africa the Zulu’s created a massive war zone in KwaZuluNatal, and the settlers created their own disturbances from the epicentre of Cape Town. The Xhosa started to feel hemmed in on both sides. That, in a nutshell was how South Africa was born. Nations expanding, people asserting themselves, and in some ways, perhaps many ways, we still are. And let’s face it, today many people respect who Shaka was and what he achieved. War has a way of setting up a permanent pecking order. Cut to the present and instead of war there seem to be...arms deals. These are multibillion Rand affairs. And if you’re lucky enough to be involved in these deals, and invited to the negotiation table, you could be rewarded – if you play ball – beyond your wildest dreams. What’s a little crisis of conscience amongst businessmen? Money is money, right? If newspaper

reports are to be believed, political heads of states are wined and dined in the process of wooing them into buying weapons of war. If not from one merchant, then another. Flights, fancy clothes and lavish hotel stays are all part of the ploys and plays. Along with R500 000-a-year bribes. You could work all year or for a lifetime for those kinds of savings. Or you could sign on the dotted line. Which is more likely to incur insomnia, foregoing ‘incentives’ likes that, or doing the dirty?

LORD OF WAR And if you think the arms dealers are the bad guys, and throwing them in jail is the simple and easy solution to war, it’s not. Arms dealers have friends in high places, in fact, probably the highest places of all. As Yuri Orlov says in Lord of War: Yuri Orlov: The reason I’ll be released is.... I *do* rub shoulders with some of the most vile, sadistic men calling themselves leaders today. But some of these men are the enemies of *your* enemies. And while the biggest arms dealer in the world is your boss...who ships more merchandise in a day than I do in a year - sometimes it’s embarrassing to have his fingerprints on the guns. Sometimes he needs a freelancer like me to supply forces he can’t be seen supplying. So. You call me evil, but unfortunately for you, I’m a necessary evil. According to David McCandless, a London-based author, and data journalist at ‘Information is Beautiful’, the leading industries after war and tourism are alcohol (valued at $1161 billion), just ahead of OPEC revenue ($1027 billion) and the Global Pharma Market ($950 billion). Someone once said: “join the marines, travel to exotic countries, meet exciting people, and kill them.” Do that with a disprin in one hand, a whiskey in the other, and you’ll be helping the world’s highest paid merchants surf their wave. Wars and the business of war need fear. Fear is the real currency. And terrorists are the go-to bad guys that make signatures on cheques easy to procure. The only difference between the business of war and every other business, is it’s highly lucrative whether it’s a hit or miss. The only requirement when you miss your target is that someone keeps firing. *Lisa Jardine: Going Dutch

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Africa's Top Tech

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The aim of the Kytabu project is to help children access all the textbooks in Kenya. This service leases digital textbooks at discount rates. All the textbooks are pre-installed on a low-cost tablet, so that the books can be leased directly from the tablet without a mobile network gateway. They can be accessed on an hourly, weekly, monthly, school term or annual plan so you can get the textbook when you need it, for as long as you need it.

Save & Buy is a web and mobile platform offering a savings product, which enables buyers to pre-plan online purchases and save money towards these items, securely through e-commerce channels. Users are able pay for their goods in instalments with clear payment schedules. The platform integrates a loyalty program so that savers can earn points and benefit from product discounts and loans. The company works with established e-commerce stores, offering customers these payment and savings options.

Able Wireless is an on-demand streaming service and wireless service provider in Kenya. It has been referred to as the “Netflix for Africa”, streaming documentaries, movies, music, YouTube videos, and other content; as well as providing unlimited access to broadband Internet. This service aims to create a legitimate distribution system and help eliminate piracy and torrent downloads. This high quality, affordable service will cost as little as US$ 6 per month with the devices also costing US$ 6 per month.

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Waabeh is an African Audio market place. Kenya’s version of iTunes was created to help combat music piracy and empower artists with easy upload and distribution tools, offering higher royalties to musicians. This application allows users to stream the music, embed codes into their websites, and share with friends. To date, Waabeh has exceeded 10,000 downloads and serves up over 330,000 streams of its content. The application is currently available on the web and as an Android application.

Dropifi offers an intelligent contact form helping small and medium businesses analyse, visualise and respond to incoming messages. The Dropifi contact widget allows companies to see incoming message trending data in relation to industry metrics, as well as demographic and social media profiles of the senders. Dropifi is customisable to your brand and is easy to use and install. It includes a number of features such as; anti-spam filters, sentiment analysis, analytics, rerouting to the correct person and sends automatic responses.

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KENYA

SleepOut is an online accommodation marketplace, listing a variety of unique accommodation options in Kenya. The online portal includes reviews, bookings, and contact information for all the hotels. This allows tourists to book hotels, and also base their decisions on reviews from previous guests who have visited the establishments. SleepOut CEO Johann Jenson says that the aim of SleepOut is to “match guests looking for a place to sleep with hosts and their empty beds.” http://www.sleepout.co.ke/

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION | KNOWLEDGE AT WORK Finance Finance for Non-Financial Managers 23-26 February 2015 Applied Financial Management 18 May - 23 September 2015

Project Management Fundamentals of Business Project Management 23-27 March 2015 Advanced Business Project Management 13 April - 10 July 2015

General Management Art and Science of Negotiation 26-29 May 2015 Thinking and Planning Strategically 2-5 June 2015 Operations and Supply Chain Management 8-12 June 2015 Industry Foresight and Strategic Innovation 5-8 May 2015

Leadership Development Senior Leaders Development 18 February - 23 October 2015 Future Leaders Development 5 May - 3 September 2015 Business Executive Coaching for Organisational Excellence 14 May - 28 October 2015

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Mellowcabs is a transport and advertising company that manufactures, implements and operates electronically powered pedicabs nationwide. Their main source of income is from selling advertising space in and on their vehicles, and each mellowcab has an on-board tablet computer that runs geolocation software - as the vehicles approach a certain store or restaurant, the software will trigger specific adverts. Mellowcabs complement existing transport systems by operating in a limited urban radius of 3-4 km, offering free first and last mile transport services.

Obami is a social learning platform that lets communities connect, create, share and learn, bringing people in the education system together. Students can create a profile and connect with teachers, parents and each other, encouraging social engagement between educators and learners. Obami has launched a mobile app, Obami Tutor, linking learners with tutors via their smartphones. Teachers that connect with the students guide them through worksheets and assignments, using a curriculum aligned with the school system.

ClinicMaster aims to transform the healthcare system in Uganda. It’s a startup company that is working at getting medical information online and getting doctors connected. The company has been described as “an integrated new generation healthcare information management and medical billing software”. The system allows healthcare providers, such as hospitals and clinics, to keep track of their patients, monitor medical stock, and automate transactions. ClinicMaster lets doctors store patient’s information in one electronic file so it is easily accessible.

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SOUTH AFRICA

NIGERIA

Angani is a public cloud computing provider in Kenya, that offers pay-as-yougo services to East Africa. The company buys infrastructure in bulk, virtualises it and leases it at a reduced rate, taking away the expense of maintaining your companies own IT infrastructure. With the help of Angani, companies don’t have to worry about buying hardware, software, servers, cooling systems, upgrading and maintenance. The company provides a number of pricing plans with hourly rates, so you only pay for what you use.

22Seven is a personal money management system that tracks your transactions and income, helping you visualise your spend. The app links all your accounts such as, cheque and savings accounts, credit and store cards, investments and loans into one place, which is updated whenever you log in. All your transactions are automatically categorised so that you can track exactly what you are spending your cash on. If you’re not convinced, you can sign up for a free 30 day trial and experience the app for yourself.

Naija Workman aims to create an online marketplace matching local service providers with customers who need their services. The service is safe and secure to use as all service providers are verified, so you know who is professionally licensed, qualified and has been background checked. Requesting a service comes at no cost and you are presented with three different quotes so you can review the quotes and pick the best. The platform supports the entire process so you can search, contact, schedule and pay in one place.

https://www.22seven.com/

http://www.naijaworkman.com/

https://angani.co/

NIGERIA

SOUTH AFRICA

Jumia is an e-commerce startup in Lagos, Nigeria inspired by Amazon. Since it’s inception in June 2012, the site has become the number one online retail shopping business in Nigeria, with over 500 members on its payroll. The online store offers everything from fashion, consumer electronics, home appliances to beauty products. They deliver to Morocco, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire and Uganda. Jumia was named e-commerce website of the year in Nigeria at the Beacon of ICT awards 2014.

NIGERIA Tranzit is a free web and mobile taxi booking service in Nigeria that gets you from one place to another, while also offering parcel deliveries and a discovery network. This network allows you to search for places to go to in your neighbourhood and find things to do around you. The pricing for their service is based on an algorithm that helps users get the best rates based on distance, time of day and traffic conditions.

Project Isizwe is a non-profit organisation that provides free Wi-Fi hotspots to low-income communities, with its core focus on education and economic growth throughout Africa. The organisation believes that an internet connection is essential and should be readily available to everyone, regardless of their circumstances. The Wi-Fi is available in public spaces, known as a Free Internet Zone (FIZ), where users can access free internet without any password or login details.

http://www.jumia.com.ng/

http://tranzit.ng/

[http://projectisizwe.org/]

L U X U R Y

Best boutiques to browse THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH A LITTLE RETAIL THERAPY AND SOMETIMES WE WANT TO STAND OUT AND FIND PIECES THAT ARE UNIQUE. IT’S OK TO DITCH YOUR REGULAR SHOPPING MALLS FROM TIME TO TIME TO FIND SOME LITTLE STORES OFF THE BEATEN PATH, IN SEARCH OF SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

e’ve put together a list of some amazing shops in Joburg, Cape Town and Durban, with some really great finds.

EGALITY, JHB For him and her, Egality is a stylish clothing store on one of Joburg’s most buzzing streets, Parkhurst’s 4th Avenue. The store stocks the best local and selected international designer fashion brands - including footwear, jewellery and accessories. Egality has a range of pieces to suit anyone, from modern and contemporary to timeless everyday

wear. A visit to Egality won’t have you leaving empty handed.

CERAMIC FACTORY, JHB

The Ceramic Factory on 4th Avenue in Linden is full of endearing ceramic NONNA, JHB creations, offering different collections Nonna is a lovely little gift shop situated every few months so you’ll always find in the trendy street of Parkhurst. From something different to take home. gifts and decor to teacups and vases, kids The store is fully stocked with their products and more, they definitely have ceramic gift range, décor items, light something for everyone and you cannot fixtures, collectables and tableware. get enough of their gorgeous items. From basic items such as bowls and Nonna frequently has new products jugs to whimsical ornaments, including arriving in store, ensuring you’ll find bunnies, owls, robots and dinosaurs; you the perfect gift or even a little treat for yourself. Nonna also provides unique gift will always find pieces to fall in love with hampers to fit any budget. at the Ceramic Factory.

L U X U R Y

THE OLD BISCUIT MILL, CAPE TOWN Home to the popular Neighbourgoods Market, The Old Biscuit Mill offers so much more in the form of designer stores. If you’re into artwork, decor and quirky pieces, there is a range of awesome shops perfect for you. Visit the Old Biscuit Mill if you’re on the hunt for some custom made furniture, Continuum makes some beautiful pieces from reclaimed timber, while Lime Grove offers a stunning range of decor and gift items, which are mostly handmade using natural materials.

ROMANTIQUES, HERMANUS

SHOPPE, DURBAN

Located in Hermanus, Romantiques is the best antique store you’ve ever seen - it will instantly take you back in time. The store is set up in an old house, with each room housing different types of pieces. One of the rooms is filled with gorgeous antique jewellery, vintage makeup compacts and clothing and is beautifully displayed. Romantiques is filled with nostalgia and you can find just about anything - war memorabilia, books, collectable dinkie toys, cars and aeroplanes and even the finest crockery.

Shoppe is a beautifully organised space, filled with the very best of South African designer homeware and accessories. Items gracing the store’s shelves includes ceramics, recycled pieces, textiles, candles, lighting, art, décor, books, soap, plants, cards and furniture. It’s the perfect place for fabulous gifts and quirky goodies to bring some life to empty spaces. Shoppe features a wide range of South African design and local art, and always has a constant flow of new and original stock.

MUNGO AND JAMIMA, CAPE TOWN Mungo and Jamima is a fashion-forward, upmarket women’s clothing boutique situated on Cape Town’s Long Street. The boutique is filled with amazing clothing by local designers, as well as some beautiful jewellery and accessories. Labels stocked include I love Leroy, Take Care, Selfi, Margot Molyneux, Spilt Milk, swimwear by LoveWaterLove and many more. If you’re looking for something a little different, Mungo and Jamima is the perfect place to find something unique and interesting.

SMALLER LUXURY SHOPPING CENTRES OFTEN HAVE LOVELY BOUTIQUE STORES WHERE YOU CAN FIND AMAZING NEW PIECES FROM CLOTHING TO DECOR AND ARTWORK. HERE ARE SHOPPING CENTRES WITH SOME HIDDEN GEMS THAT YOU’LL BE GLAD TO HAVE PAID A VISIT.

KZN SOCIETY OF ARTS GALLERY, DURBAN The KZN Society of Arts gallery regularly exhibits the work of established artists of provincial, national and international reputation in five exhibition spaces, each showcasing a different category of art. Visiting the gallery is a real treat as you get to view some extraordinary pieces while taking home some lovely finds from the crafts shop. Both the gallery and crafts shop support and promote local art; with the craft shop’s excellent selection of arts and crafts, you will definitely find some worthwhile souvenirs. • Michelangelo Towers Mall, Sandton - Located at the foot of The Michelangelo Towers Hotel is the superb Michelangelo Towers Mall. This iconic shopping centre is a shopper’s heaven and home to amazing brands. Browse through pieces by Jen Kahn and David Tlale, eat at Pigalle’s and relax at The Renaissance Day Spa. • Nicolway, Bryanston, Johannesburg - Nicolway includes a strong health and beauty offering, home/decor, and banking services, offering convenience and quality retail. • Oxford Village, Bluff, Durban - Oxford Village provides a unique shopping experience with with a strong family focus offering a wide range of stores, catering for all interests. • Cape Quarter, Green Point, Cape Town - Cape Quarter is an upmarket shopping centre with a light and airy ambience. Filled with unique boutiques, stores and eateries, it is just as ideal for everyday shopping as traditional malls.

Explore, Experience and Enjoy Joburg in 72 hours

As always, Joburg is jam-packed with events ranging from leisure to business. Explore the city and see why it is a preferred destination for business, lifestyle, heritage, culture, arts, sports, nightlife and shopping. Joburg’s annual calendar of events includes a line-up of renowned signature events like Joburg Shopping Festival, Bierfiest, Winex, FNB Whisky Festival, DISCOP-Africa (Africa’s TV Content & Adaptation), Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge, Mercedes Benz Africa Fashion Week, Soweto Nike Marathon, Soweto Fashion Week, Sansui Summer Cup (horse racing) and Mama Magic Baby Expo.

A trip to Joburg is not complete if you haven’t ticked off our top ten things to do: Soweto Apartheid Museum Gold Reef City Newtown Precinct Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens Johannesburg Zoo Neighbourgoods Market - Braamfontein Liliesleaf Farm Constitution Hill Maboneng Precinct

info@joburgtourism.com www.joburgtourism.com +27 11 214 0700

A D V E R T O R I A L

Paint the town red FROM WORKS BY PICASSO AND MONET TO WILLIAM KENTRIDGE AND SYDNEY KUMALO, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE FIRST-HAND MANY EXHIBITS BY INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL ARTISTS – ALL HOUSED IN THE MANY ART GALLERIES THROUGHOUT JOBURG.

ELLIPTICAL ART BUILDING Although relatively small in size, CIRCA is lofty and ambitious in its intentions. The StudioMAS-designed structure was carefully constructed to create an urban environment that is confident about the importance of public space in the city, the importance of architecture to support public space, and the need for people to be able to socialise and gather in places where they feel comfortable, safe and inspired. The gallery was born out of a love for Johannesburg. While its business is the art gallery within, its conspicuous form and design are intended to generate interest among passers-by, encouraging them to discover the myriad forms of art inside. Its sculptural architecture is a celebration of art, architecture and living in Johannesburg, as well as to functionally house an environment where a love of art in all its forms can be explored by the public.

2 Jellicoe Avenue, Rosebank t: +27 (0)11 788 4805, www.circagallery.co.za ART TOURS Specialising in African and South African art, Art Afrique Gallery showcases well-known artists that are featured in the finest private and corporate collections around the world – as well as some newly discovered artists. If you enjoy viewing art from all over South Africa, the Art Afrique daily art tour is for you. The tour begins and ends at the gallery and you will get to experience all the artwork in The Legacy

Legacy Corner, Corner Maude and 5th Streets, Sandton. t: +27 (0)11 292 7113 www.artafrique.co.za VIBRANT CREATIVE Not ENERGIES The to be Standard Bank Gallery is an missed ! inspirational exhibition space, situated in the vibrant heart of downtown Joburg. Since it opened in 1990, it has established itself as one of the city’s principal fine art venues. Each year, the gallery showcases work by the cream of the local art world and, from time to time, major international shows. One of the most popular events is the annual exhibition by the incumbent winner of the coveted Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year Award. The gallery has hosted retrospective exhibitions by prolific South African masters, including Irma Stern, Gerard Sekoto and Cyprian Shilakoe. Contemporary South African artists such as Penny Siopis, Willem Boshoff, Karel Nel and Wayne Barker have also lent their vibrant creative energies to the gallery. With excellent acoustics, the gallery regularly plays host to concerts and recitals. Guided tours of exhibitions are available.

Corner Simmonds and Frederick Streets, Joburg. t: +27 (0)11 631 1889 www.standardbankarts.com CONTEMPORARY AND HISTORICAL ART Wits Art Museum (WAM) is home to an extraordinary collection of African art, including contemporary and historical art from South Africa and art from West and Central Africa. It hosts a dynamic programme of events and art exhibitions. Currently numbering over 9 000 items, the three major collecting areas of classical, historical and contemporary artworks are unique in their breadth, geographical range and local specialisation. The Museum is one of Johannesburg’s premier tourist attractions, along with the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill. The WAM Cafe is a fun place to meet friends and enjoy delicious food and coffee. Guided tours of exhibitions are available.

3 The 2013 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Visual Arts winner. Mary Sibande’s recent exhibition, ‘The Purple Shall Govern’, at the Standard Bank Gallery was a great success.

1 Jan Smuts Avenue, Braamfontein t: +27 (0)11 717 1000. www.wits.ac.za

A terrible beauty is born.

Klein Street, Joubert Park t: +27 (0)11 725 3130, e: tinym@joburg.org.za

Group of hotels, The Michelangelo Towers, The Raffael and The DaVinci (pictured) – all which house some of the greatest collections of South African art.

Image by Jurie Potgieter, Gallery MOMO

LARGEST COLLECTION OF ART IN AFRICA The Not Johannesburg Art Gallery, to be missed often referred to as JAG, ! is located in the centre of Joubert Park in the heart of the business district of Joburg. The biggest gallery on the sub-continent, JAG boasts more than 9 000 works of art, displayed in 15 exhibition halls and sculpture gardens. In fact, only 10% of the exhibits are ever on display at one time, the rest are kept in storage. The exhibits vary between artefacts, sculptures, drawings, paintings, prints and lacework. The beautiful building itself was designed by Edward Lutyens, the British architect also responsible for the Anglo-Boer War Memorial. Guided tours are conducted on request but booking is required.

A D V E R T O R I A L

announces the first truly anti-magnetic watch movement

OMEGA has announced the creation of a watch that is resistant to magnetic fields greater than 1.5 tesla (15,000 gauss), far exceeding the levels of magnetic resistance achieved by any previous watch and solving a problem that has challenged watchmakers for centuries. The movement was introduced at a press conference at the Cité du Temps in Geneva on January 17th by Raynald Aeschlimann, OMEGA Vice President and member of Swatch Group’s Extended Group Management Board. Mr Aeschlimann opened the press conference, welcoming the media and introducing Jean-Claude Monachon, OMEGA Vice President and Head of Product Development, Michel Willemin, CEO of ASULAB, Thierry Conus, the

Director of Research & Development at ETA and Mathieu Oulevey, a Tribology and Materials engineer at ETA. In his opening remarks at the press conference, Mr Aeschlimann gave credit to Swatch Group’s unique ability to benefit from the contributions of the best engineers and researchers from all of its brand and companies. He added, “All of the heroes are here – not only my colleagues from OMEGA but from ASULAB and ETA. It was only through their shared creativity and enthusiasm that we could introduce this important innovation to you.” The technology developed by the team led to the first prototype of the movement, which has been fitted in an

OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra. Unlike other efforts to combat the effects of magnetism, the OMEGA movement does not rely on a protective container inside the watchcase but on the use of selected non-ferrous materials in the movement itself. Several patents are pending for the new movement. Jean-Claude Monachon reminded the attendees at the press conference of OMEGA’s long history of technological innovation, showing slides of highlights going back to 1894. He went on to point out that magnetism has always been an issue for watchmakers, adding that magnets are now more present in our daily lives than they have ever been before. Watchmakers have to deal regularly with the issue of magnetism, as

A D V E R T O R I A L it is necessary for them to demagnetize mechanical watches whose performance has been compromised by exposure to magnetic fields, a problem that will be solved with the new movement. He explained that G. N. Hayek, the CEO of Swatch Group, challenged OMEGA to create a totally non-magnetic watch and announced that OMEGA, with

engineers, scientists and metallurgists from its sister companies had met the challenge. Michel Willemin’s presentation focused on issues of magnetism in daily life. He gave members of the press a brief primer on magnets and magnetism and pointed out that the evolution of the strength of permanent magnets was a

THE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED BY THE TEAM LED TO THE FIRST PROTOTYPE OF THE MOVEMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN FITTED IN AN OMEGA SEAMASTER AQUA TERRA. UNLIKE OTHER EFFORTS TO COMBAT THE EFFECTS OF MAGNETISM, THE OMEGA MOVEMENT DOES NOT RELY ON A PROTECTIVE CONTAINER INSIDE THE WATCHCASE BUT ON THE USE OF SELECTED NON-FERROUS MATERIALS IN THE MOVEMENT ITSELF. SEVERAL PATENTS ARE PENDING FOR THE NEW MOVEMENT.

Available at Elegance Melrose Arch: 011 684 1380

key motivation behind the development of the movement. Thierry Conus explained how magnetism had been dealt with previously, including inner cases designed to limit the effect of magnetism. He pointed out the limitations of the approach including the facts they couldn’t handle the challenge of the increased strength of permanent magnets and that, from an aesthetic standpoint, they block the view of the movement. He then showed a short film showing how a conventional mechanical watch exposed to high levels of magnetism stopped immediately and dramatically lost its accuracy. The OMEGA prototype was subjected to even higher levels of magnetism (15,000 gauss) and continued to perform. Testing showed that the watch was as accurate after its magnetic exposure as it had been before. A live demonstration was then made that offered compelling and conclusive evidence that OMEGA’s new >15,000 Gauss movement is a landmark development in watchmaking. OMEGA expects to present the technology at the Baselworld trade fair in April. The new movement, the OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 8508, should be introduced to the market in 2013.

T R A V E L

La Dolce Vita

- The sweet life!

ITALIANS LIVE BY A SIMPLE PRINCIPLE; LIFE IS TO BE CELEBRATED FOR WHAT IT IS - A GIFT. MY WIFE AND I WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO SPEND 10 DAYS EXPLORING ITALY ON HONEYMOON, EXPERIENCING THE FOOD, HISTORY, CULTURE AND LA DOLCE VITA. By Damian Murphy

Rome, Italy

T R A V E L

Work starts in Italy between 8h30 and 9h30, and continues until about six or seven in the evening. In the middle of the day they take a two hour lunch break where they enjoy a good meal and a sleep. This applies to every industry; shops, car dealerships and even restaurants. This made finding food at one o’clock rather difficult, but once we started living like Italians, it all made complete sense. We’d

get up late, eat a late breakfast, have lunch at 15h00 in the afternoon and only go for dinner in the late hours of the evening. But all of these foreign times allowed us to leave our comfort zone and embrace a different way of living and the new routine meant we were relaxed, never rushed and gave every meal we ate the full attention it deserved.

IT IS A CULINARY ADVENTURE BECAUSE EVERY MEAL IS A CELEBRATION OF THE SIMPLE THINGS.

Images courtesy of Shutterstock

verything in Italy seems to be done on purpose, a principle quite foreign to us as Africans. We seem to spend our days doing things because we have to, not because we want to. We work to pay the bills, we eat to stay alive and the simple things in life for us are just that, simple. Italians don’t do anything in life because they need to; they do it because they want to. We couldn’t help but think that this could be the reason their economy is suffering, but when you see how content with life they all are, you have to wonder if being financially rich is as important as having a rich soul?

T R A V E L

WE MADE IT AN ESSENTIAL TASK OF OUR HONEYMOON TO MAKE SURE WE ATE WHERE ITALIANS ATE, SO THAT WE DIDN’T GET THE WATERED DOWN FOODS FIT FOR FOREIGN PALATES. Italy is regarded as the culinary capital of food tourism. If you are looking for a holiday to take as a food adventure, look no further. It is not a hotspot for food tourism because their food is blow-yourmind amazing; it is a culinary adventure because every meal is a celebration of the simple things. The ingredients are fresh, everything is handmade and they let the food speak for itself. We made it an essential task of our honeymoon to make sure we ate where Italians ate, so that we didn’t get the watered down foods fit for foreign palates. We sought out side street cafes, where the menu had no English translations and chose to eat there. Communication is rather difficult in the beginning, but Italians, unlike the French, do make an effort to communicate with you in English, albeit a very broken English and that warming attitude towards you makes your ability to learn basic Italian quite easy. By the end of our trip we were ordering in Italian and had picked up some simple communication skills.

As Africans, breakfast lunch and supper are generally one course, or two course meals, where everything in Italy is three or four courses. Breakfast is not bacon and eggs as we are used to, but fruit and yoghurt to start, some form of freshly baked pastry for second course, cold meats and bread for mains and something sweet for dessert. This kind of breakfast sounds daunting, but the portions are small, packed full of flavor and accompanied with fresh fruit juice and rich strong coffee. Lunch and dinner are always four full courses with wine. The pasta and pizza in Italy is not like it is here at home. Here it is the meal, in Italy it is only part of the meal, normally the first major part. You would begin with a fresh antipasti (a starter). Our favourite was the caprese salad – fresh tomatoes, basil and buffalo mozzarella. Most places serve this salad with a basic focaccia bread (a pizza base topped with herbs and garlic). Following the antipasti, you move onto the primi piatti (the first course). This is always

pasta and is never a very complicated meal. It is freshly made pasta with one or two simple ingredients. It almost always has a tomato base with a single standout ingredient which is how the Italians like their first course. The secondi pasti (second course, main course) is where you would eat the meat, like veal steaks, fresh octopus, fish and lamb. This course is served with just the meat and no ordinary sides. You are given freshly baked bread with your pasta course, which you generally eat with your mains. The meat is always well seasoned and the reason they serve no sides is because there is no need. If you have space there are a plethora of Italian desserts to choose from, things like tiramisu and gelato are regular favourites and well recommended.

FOOD FAVOURITE: Our favourite meal in Italy was a simple tomato gnocchi. Gnocchi is a pasta made from potato and this particular one we ate in the restaurant of our hotel in Amalfi. Bold tomato flavours, subtle herb accents and the freshest pasta. One would assume that my wife and I did nothing but eat our way across Italy, but the beauty of this country was not just the way the Italians live, but where they live. Italy seems to have it all – a rich history, a vibrant social and cultural scene and an idyllic coastline. We were lucky enough to experience a bit of it all. Arriving in Rome on a warm autumn night left us very underwhelmed with where we were. In our minds we expected Rome to be an architectural marvel, with

T R A V E L cobble streets and ancient buildings, but the real Rome is nothing more than a well graffitied city. The buildings are all very basic high-rises and we felt a bit like we had hopped off the plane and walked straight into the centre of Johannesburg. When we arrived at our hotel, Art & Industry in Ponta Lungo, Rome, we were greeted by a burly friendly Italian man. He checked us in and gave us the rundown of what to do and where. It was only with the rising of the sun the next day that we really saw all that Rome had to offer. In a small part of the old city sits every history lover’s dream come true. Rome has the Colleseum, the Vatican and museums a plenty. Every street has a story, every building has a purpose and walking the roads of such an ancient city gives you a great appreciation of how far we have come as people in the last two thousand years.

THE AMALFI COAST IS MADE UP OF MANY SMALL TOWNS BUILT INTO THE CLIFFS OVERLOOKING THE DEEP BLUE SEA. IT IS WHERE THE RICH AND FAMOUS HOLIDAY AND HONEYMOON AND IT IS WHERE THE LOCALS SAY GOD WOULD COME TO RELAX.

Amalfi Coast, Italy

HIGHLIGHT OF ROME: The monuments and museums of Rome are inspiring, but our Roman highlight would have to be the Opera we watched. The Barber of Seville, a comedy of love. People say with opera that you don’t understand the words, but you do understand the story, which couldn’t be further from the truth. You can’t understand a thing and the story takes too long to develop for you to pick up what is going on. But the sound of a live orchestra and hearing a single person belt out notes with such power will leave your mind spinning. It is truly something to be experienced. Once we had had enough of the hustle and bustle of Rome, we headed down to the Amalfi coast, a picturesque part of Italy on the South Western shores where wine and olives are grown in the sunshine and fresh Mediterranean air. The Amalfi coast is made up of many small towns built into the cliffs overlooking the deep blue sea. It is where the rich and famous holiday and honeymoon and it is where the locals say God would come to relax. There are beautiful beaches (which have no sand, only pebbles), great views and so many things to do and see that you could visit 100 times and never do the same thing twice. We stayed in a small town called Furore at a quaint hotel called Fico D’India, the Prickly Pear. Set high above the sea, there were views that quite

literally took our breath away and we were in close driving distance of famous hotspots like Positano and Sorrento.

FAVOURITE THING ABOUT AMALFI: Although there was so much to do and so much to see, which included beautiful hikes and ferry rides, our favourite thing about Amalfi was Pino, the charismatic owner of our hotel. He makes it his life purpose to ensure that everybody who stays with him gets a real taste of La Dolce Vita. His food is divine, his hotel is immaculate and his advice on what to do and see is spot on. And to top all of that off, he tells a wicked story or two and takes a keen interest in learning about where you are from and what makes your culture different to his. Italy is a magical country with plenty to see, do and taste and although we would go back in a heartbeat, we realised that there is no place like home. If we can take something from Italy and bring it here, it would be the celebration of life. We don’t appreciate the beauty of what we have and it took experiencing other people to appreciate what they have, to show us again how lucky we are to be here.

M O T O R I N G

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta

- Made with purpose

EVERYTHING IN ITALY IS DONE ON PURPOSE AND THE ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA FEELS LIKE ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MADE TO BE DRIVEN - AND BOY DOES IT DRIVE WELL. By Damian Murphy

M O T O R I N G

e were lucky enough to be given a chance to test drive an Alfa Romeo while we were in Italy on holiday. Alfa is not a brand that you regularly see on the roads around South Africa, in Italy however, if it isn’t a Fiat, it is an Alfa Romeo. The Italians love Alfas and wherever we went, people asked us what we thought of the Giulietta. They all seem to be very proud of it and they have reason to be. The model we were given to test only had a 1750cc engine, but it drove like it had more than that hiding under the bonnet. The turbocharged engine produced 173kW of power and had a brilliant six speed gearbox that allowed the Giulietta to perform to its maximum capabilities. With 340 Nm of torque at the driver’s disposal there was also plenty of grunt to go with all that power. But all those technical facts mean very little when you actually get behind the wheel of the Giulietta. It has been a long time since we have driven a car that allowed us to forget about the driving so much and just enjoy the ride. Italian drivers are very different to what we are used to back home. And we don’t just mean driving on the other side of the road, but also their general demeanor

and how they treat fellow road users. They don't care who is driving on the road with them, how you are driving or what you are driving, you really just have to care about yourself and make sure you stick to what you need to do. This is where we became very grateful we had the car we had. The Giulietta used bucket loads of power to keep ahead of the impatient road users on the narrow winding coastal roads. The low centre of gravity and extra weight of the Giulietta meant you, as the driver, felt confident through corners and the roads on the Amalfi coast that are no wider than a car and a half!

If the rumours about Alfa Romeo and their reliability are forgotten, I cannot see why anybody would not choose to drive one. They stand out, they are extremely fun to drive and are economical. But we were once told that buying an Alfa Romeo is like marrying an Italian woman, in the beginning they are sexy, fast and fun, but as they get older you can’t tell what they will be like.

Price: R280 000 - R390 000

On the open road, the Giulietta was both fast and economical and on highway speeds it felt very much within its comfort zone. Although it was a much better car on the twisting coastal roads, it gave us no issues behind the wheel. The interior of the Giulietta is both luxurious and practical. Everything you want and need is but a finger tip away and it is all finished with that famous Italian style. The boot space is not particularly big and we had to make use of the back seat for the second of our two big bags, but the passenger and driver space was more than ample.

E S A H C R U P ELLI

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VISIT

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Road-tripping!

FROM THE GARDEN ROUTE TO THE LITTLE KAROO ALL THE WAY TO THE WEST COAST! WE ROUND UP THE BEST SOUTH AFRICAN ROUTES FOR THE IMPULSIVE ROAD TRIP. By Michelle Randall

Knysna heads, Garden Route

outh Africa, with its diverse landscapes (think snow-capped mountains, sandy shores and quirky Karoo towns) offers up a wealth of scenic drives and local adventures. From the Garden Route to the Little Karoo, into the bush of the Eastern Cape, and all the way up the West Coast, if you’re tempted to hit the open road and explore Mzansi, we round up the best routes for an impulsive road trip.

and a rugged coastline of cliffs, estuaries, ancient forests and secluded seaside towns, the best way to experience this incredible area is to drive it.

Explore the protected beaches of Mossel Bay before heading along the glittering coastline into the laid-back village of Wilderness. 50km east along the N2, Knysna lazes on the shore of a shallow lagoon. You can slow things down in Sedgefield, Africa’s first Cittaslow town 1. THE CROWD PLEASER - SA’S (a worldwide organization that advocates FAMOUS GARDEN ROUTE a cultural shift towards slowing down life’s pace), before arriving in vibrant The Garden Route, which stretches Plettenberg Bay. Continue from Plett between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, to sleepy Keurboomstrand, through is perhaps the best known road trip in the indigenous coastal forests of South Africa, and serves up some of the country’s most dramatic coastal scenery. Tsitsikamma, and into the friendly city Wedged between the warm Indian Ocean of Port Elizabeth.

With a breathtaking view around every bend of the meandering highway, the Garden Route is a road tripper’s dream. It also offers a host of experiences and activities to lure you out of your car, from forest canopy tours, marine safaris and bird watching to ‘vintiquing.’ If your impulsive road trip happens to fall over late June or early July, be sure to catch the Knysna Oyster Festival. Distance: Cape Town to Port Elizabeth 750km Travellers: The safe swimming beaches along the Garden Route make this road trip a perfect choice for families, while its secluded hideaways and breathtaking vistas are ideal for a romantic getaway. With its many hiking trails and adventure activities, it’s also perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.

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2. THE SEAFOOD ROUTE - ROAD TRIP ALONG THE WEST COAST A road trip along South Africa’s West Coast, between Cape Town and Namibia, will take you through quaint towns, character-filled fishing villages, and fields of flowers. The Mediterraneaninspired landscapes here are wide, dry and grey (except for a few weeks during spring, when you’ll be surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colourful wild flowers). While this distinctive and unusual region of the country has grown in popularity in recent years, it still remains something of a secret weekend escape for Capetonians. Laid-back Langebaan is valued for its peaceful and beautiful lagoon surroundings, while picture-perfect fishing village Paternoster is famous for its crayfish. And besides hosting an annual flower festival, the village of Darling is the quirky home of comedian Pieter-Dirk Uys’s cabaret theatre, Evita se Perron, and provides for a colourful and jaunty stopover on a West Coast road trip. There are great campsites along the route, such as Tietiesbaai in the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve and the tented Beach Camp just outside Paternoster.

3. THE SUNSHINE ROUTE - EXPLORE THE EASTERN CAPE The Sunshine Coast, between Jeffrey’s Bay and East London, is a wholly underrated road trip through South Africa’s forgotten frontier, but absolutely worth it. Well known for it’s laid-back lifestyle and sandy beaches, the Eastern Cape also boasts one of the most diverse regions in the country. The route follows the N2 from Jeffrey’s Bay through Port Elizabeth, before

Paternoster

This is a road trip for seafood lovers. The West Coast is famous for its crayfish and mussels, and the myriad restaurants and eateries along the route serve up traditional West Coast cuisine against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. Easily the most famous seafood feast in this part of the world, The Strandloper near Langebaan is a must-do experience.

Distance: Cape Town to Paternoster - 150km

branching off onto the R72 at Nanaga (be sure to stop here for a famous Nanaga Farm Stall pie and to peruse the crafty goods). As you head along the R72, expect to discover historic towns, unspoiled beaches, and world-class game reserves.

worth a visit, particularly as it plays host to the continent’s biggest arts and culture festival each winter.

Some good stop-offs include Kenton-OnSea, Port Alfred, and the many small coastal villages along the route. If you’re keen to travel inland, the Addo Elephant Park will bring you within whisper distance of the region’s abundant elephant herds. Grahamstown is also

Travellers: Sandy beaches and warm seas, coupled with fun activities make this road trip a great option for families, while the wealth of history available for exploration along the route will delight and enrich culturally-minded travellers.

Travellers: With all the angling, diving, swimming and sailing activities available in Langebaan, this is a road trip that’ll suit travellers keen on water sports. Darling is a great destination for family fun, while a wintery weekend spent in Paternoster is perfect for a romantic getaway.

Distance: Jeffrey’s Bay to East London 370km

Port Elizabeth

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4. THE WINE ROUTE - GET LOST IN THE beautiful Seweweekspoort Pass to LITTLE KAROO Calitzdorp, where you can relax in the Meandering through the Little Karoo between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn, Cape Route 62 will take you along the world’s longest wine route through an area of haunting landscapes. Expect towering cliffs, crystal clear streams and an abundance of trees and indigenous flora. Hop from town to town along the way to experience typical Karoo hospitality and an unforgettable adventure. Get handmade cheese in Ladismith before driving the magnificently

Pack the ultimate Padkos The essential ingredients for any good road trip include delicious padkos and a great playlist. Curb your cravings on the road with a selection of both sweet and savory foods, and be sure to pack in

natural hot springs. Other highlights include driving the Swartberg Pass between Prince Albert - the Karoo’s unofficial culinary capital - and Oudtshoorn, a destination famous for its ostriches. Visit the historic village of Matjiesfontein, a town preserved in the heyday of its past. Be sure to explore the Karoo National Park, which lies on the edge of the Nuweveldberge, just outside Beaufort West. This park is home to specially adapted fauna and flora that thrive in the harsh conditions of the landscape. If you’re lucky, you may even spot one of South Africa’s most endangered species: the riverine rabbit.

items that won’t spoil quickly. Here’s a list of South African padkos favourites (that doesn’t include the infamous hardboiled egg): • Vetkoek, stuffed with anything you can imagine, from jam and cheese to curried mince • Biltong, of course • Meatballs • Chicken drumsticks, eaten cold. Embrace your inner-foodie and make an accompanying dipping sauce • Caramel popcorn • Homemade lemonade • Fruit. Always have fruit in the car • Same goes for water • Flask of coffee • Nuts

Then there’s the wine. From Wellington to Tulbagh, and south to Robertson, each town along the way boasts outstanding wines. Cape Route 62’s unique terrain and mild climate, combined with innovation and pride, makes for delicious (and affordable) wines. Whether you’re a connoisseur or mildly curious, stop at one of the many wineries for a tasting and cellar tour. Distance: Cape Town to Oudsthoorn 420km Travellers: This is a road trip that’ll suit anyone with even the mildest adventurous spirit, especially foodies and wine fundis.

CAPE TOWN PACKAGE MARCH 2015

• Charter Flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town R3 900, taxes included per person • Apartment Accommodation from R2 250 per couple per night • Robben Island Cruise & Lunch R380 per person • Point to point shuttle from R500 a day per couple • Wine tours from R850 per person • Car hire from R890 Terms & Conditions apply

Office 18 Bonaero Park Shopping Centre Bonaero Park Tel: 010 900 4921 Email: ult@ult.travel

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December holidays in Joburg: where to go and what to do. OVER THE DECEMBER HOLIDAYS, MOST PEOPLE ARE HOLIDAYING AT BEACH DESTINATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY OR TRAVELLING ABROAD, MAKING JOBURG THE PERFECT PLACE TO STAY AND EXPERIENCE IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY - NO TRAFFIC AND NO STRESS. THERE ARE MANY EXCITING THINGS TO DO AND WAYS TO SPEND YOUR HOLIDAY WITHOUT JETTING OFF TO OTHER LOCATIONS.

taying in Johannesburg over December? Here is a list of things to do and places to go.

SAN DECK, SANDTON Staying in Joburg over December doesn’t mean you don’t get to feel like you’re on holiday. The San Deck, at the Sandton Sun hotel, is a great place to hang out sipping on delicious cocktails

while taking in the breathtaking views over Sandton and its surrounds. You can relax on the luxurious couches on the terrace and enjoy Johannesburg’s beautiful sunsets in comfort and style. The San Bar has a fashionably modern interior and offers a wide range of wines and cocktails, as well as serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s the perfect place for sundowners, excellent food and spectacular views.

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HYATT REGENCY, ROSEBANK The newly renovated Hyatt Regency in Rosebank is a great place for a luxurious weekend getaway, without having to leave the city. The renovations have given the hotel a contemporary feel, adding lots of light. With a range of activities in the hotel and surrounding areas, from spa visits to guided tours, you’ll definitely enjoy your stay. Wether you’re staying at the hotel or you’re just after some fine dining, the hotel’s new and stylish restaurant, oneNINEone, is the place to be. The restaurant offers various cuisine from around the world, with a South African flair; and a list of more than 170 local and international wines - perfect for a relaxed night out with friends.

Hyatt Regency, Rosebank

4TH AVENUE, PARKHURTS Being cooped up in shopping centres is not the ideal way to spend your holidays; 4th Avenue in Parkhurst is a much better alternative if you’re up for some chic shopping and delicious dining. 4th Avenue offers a mix of boutiques, gift shops, hair salons, book stores, interior design, restaurants, coffee shops and bars - just about anything you need. This inviting suburb offers a vibrant atmosphere and is always buzzing with people, where you can spend the day shopping and filling up at some of Joburg’s best eateries. 4th Avenue is the perfect place to enjoy summer, as you stroll down the long street and sit out on the pavement cafés.

4th Avenue

BOTANICAL GARDENS, EMMARENTIA AND ROODEPOORT Both the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens and the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens are beautiful and lush - the perfect destinations for a picnic in the park. At the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens you can wander through a rose garden, the herb patch, or take a look at the collection of succulents. The garden nearest to the dam is also dog friendly so your much loved pets can join you on a summer outing. The Walter Sisulu Garden in Roodepoort, features a tranquil waterfall and is home to a pair of Verreaux’s Eagles, which you might be lucky enough to spot. If you’re up for some activity before your relaxing picnic, there is a hiking trail, allowing you to get some exercise in the fresh air and sunshine.

Botanical Gardens

RHINO AND LION NATURE RESERVE, KRUGERSDORP The Rhino and Lion Park Nature Reserve is an excellent way to entertain the whole family. The nature reserve boasts more than 600 animals with over 30 species including, buffalo, lion, white rhino, wild dog, cheetah, hippo, crocodile and various antelope species. You can take a drive through the reserve or organise day or night drives, that are roughly two and a half hours. The Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve is also home to the Wonder Cave offering guided tours and introducing you to a range of formations including, cave pearls, stalactites, stalagmites, popcorn formations, straw formations, mushroom formations, the Madonna, and more. End your visit off with a visit to the Animal Creche where you can pet lion, tiger and cheetah cubs.

Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve

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Maybe WITH PEOPLE WAITING LONGER AND LONGER TO HAVE CHILDREN – WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE REASONS GIVEN BY THOSE WANTING TO BRING FORTH LIFE AT THEIR OWN TIME AND BY THEIR OWN RULES. By Cath Jenkin & Heather Clancy

historian studying the 1880’s once noted that it was a time when people didn’t know the “good news that sex and procreation could be separated”. Thankfully, word got out – in a big way. With the slow-but-steady progress of women’s liberation, along with the adoption of more inclusive liberal views in many countries, individuals are now freer than ever to choose if they would like be “mommy” or “daddy” or none of the above. In addition, the pool of potential parents and children has widened. Gay couples can now adopt in many countries and adoption is slowly becoming more widespread. That being said, while individuals are not legally required to procreate, opting out of parenthood is often met with social and cultural scorn. Those who reject childless adults as social pariahs often do so without question. The latent belief being: procreation is “natural” and therefore categorically good. On the converse the thinking goes, choosing not to procreate is “unnatural” and therefore irredeemably bad.

WHILE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED TO PROCREATE, OPTING OUT OF PARENTHOOD IS OFTEN MET WITH SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SCORN

Experiences like Heidi’s illustrate the intersectionality alive in this debate. While the argument for “otherhood” arouses questions of freedom and its expression, importantly, it also highlights the sexist understanding of womanhood and the role of women in society. The freedom to decide whether to be a parent is irrevocably linked to the freedom to be an individual and not merely a living breathing gender stereotype.

B*, an online media specialist, simply says that she never “longed to be a mother” and finds it strange and frustrating how she has to regularly defend her decisions: “It’s often as if Heidi, a 30 year-old Agency Management people would understand it better if I had a more concrete reason than just Consult has often had to bear the brunt saying I don’t want any… we both just of such narrow thinking as she together didn’t feel like there was a gap in our with her husband have chosen not to lives that needed filling”. B and her have children. She laments “It seems husband have encountered a slew of some people will find any excuse to persecute. It ranges from a well-meaning, interrogation-style questions and even hurtful scenarios: “My friend even said but condescending; ‘Oh, you’ll change your mind’ to being called ‘unnatural’ I would grow old and have so many and ‘less of a woman”. regrets. The friends we had when we

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were in our 20’s have all had kids and deserted us. We stopped getting invites out to supper - different life phases, I suppose. But it hurts. It’s as if people with kids don’t have space for people without kids. Their new friends were all people with kids who could relate to them. As I mentioned above, people just don’t know how to talk to you when you tell them you don’t want kids. They either try convince you to give it a go, saying things like, ‘Go on, you’ll never be ready ’…or else they avoid you.” Christine Overall, author of the book “Why Have Children?” argues that the current logic that individuals like B who choose not to have children are required to justify their choice more than the individuals who have them is simply misguided. Overall adds that the onus of justification should be placed wholly on those who do choose to have children. Although the decision to have children is undoubtedly personal, with an estimated eight billion people on the planet in 2025, it is also a pertinent ethical decision.

Images courtesy of Shutterstock

Samantha, a 29-year old Marketing Manager has also chosen not to have children, as she and her husband decided instead to devote their life savings and time to seeing the world and not adding to the global population.

ALTHOUGH THE DECISION TO HAVE CHILDREN IS UNDOUBTEDLY PERSONAL, WITH AN ESTIMATED EIGHT BILLION PEOPLE ON THE PLANET IN 2025, IT IS ALSO A PERTINENT ETHICAL DECISION. Samantha says: “We had both considered the possibility of having children but, as time went on, we realised it wasn’t on the cards for us… people have sometimes disagreed with us and considered us to be selfish but, how can we be if there is a planet that is overpopulated already? I’m open to re-evaluating our decision when I’m 40. But, even then, we would seek to adopt a child”. Admitting the undeniable financial benefit that comes with opting out of parenthood is somewhat of a taboo. While Samantha’s reasoning is widespread, many critics feel particularly pained by such “selfish” reasoning, a kind of “you can’t have fun, if we can’t” attack. Thankfully, despite the threats of loneliness, lack of fulfilment and old-fashioned hellfire, individuals are free to determine their own definition of adulthood.

While many people opt out of parenthood altogether, many more wish to delay the journey until the time feels right. Cultural norms dictate that having children is the “right thing to do” but as the world rapidly changes the “right time” is being pushed against the limits of biology and social norms. Cathryn and her husband Neil have consciously chosen to put off having children until the ever-elusive “right time”. They “regularly check in on the subject; more because I think we both want to make sure it’s okay with each other than we’re both still happy to wait… I think the peer pressure of being this age has a lot to do with it. With every pregnancy announcement the topic of babies comes back up on the agenda but we’re lucky because our family doesn’t pressure us. Oddly enough, the fact that both of our sets of parents are already in their late 60’s is probably the strongest motivating factor for us considering it every few years. We would want our kids to know their grandparents… for now though, we’re perfectly happy with the two of us and our three dogs”. Embedded in ideas of legacy, duty and familial pressure, having children is a personal issue that is knotted to the core of the human experience: we want our lives to mean something. Having children is the tried-and-tested legacy vehicle that traditionally ensures that your life has meaning even if you do nothing more than procreate. Moreover, having children, although a deeply personal decision is also a decision made on behalf of all the people who share this planet. Bringing new life into the world changes it. There is no static idea of the future so long as people consciously and often unconsciously decide to give life to another. This is cause for celebration and concern, for nothing is given and yet there is everything to lose. With every child born, we invest more deeply in this wonderful, fearful planet that we share. *This interviewee would prefer to remain anonymous.

Stocking fillers AMARULA ASKS: “WHEN LAST DID YOU TRY SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME?” Amarula Gold is a super-smooth, stylish spirit with a bold and totally unexpected new taste from Amarula. Fun and daring with seductively spicy notes and a silky-smooth palate, it’s meant for mixing (with a 30% alcohol by volume) and is at its best on ice with soda, sparkling apple juice or ginger ale. Like Amarula Cream, it’s made from hand-harvested marula fruit, double distilled and aged in oak for 24 months to enhance its aromatic, fruity flavour,

but has no cream. Look out for Amarula Gold’s clear bottle that shows off the rich golden colour, sporting a black version of the famous Amarula golden neck tassel.

Stockists: Amarula Gold sells from liquor outlets nationwide Price: Between R139 and R149 a 750ml bottle.

WIN STYLISH SAMSUNG LEVEL OVER HEADPHONES International brand, Chaplon Tea launched its exclusive range of quality tea varieties, which are all produced following sustainable and natural principles without the use of herbicides and pesticides, into the South African market. The tantalising flavours include the Full Moon, Ceylon Single Estate Uva, Earl Grey, Quince and a Christmas blend.

Stockist: Chaplon is available in selected shops and at www.chaplon.co.za Price: R195 for a 190g tin.

EXPLORE SUTHERLANDS The Epping Bed is an iconic contemporary piece, that embraces vintage with a modern twist. Complemented by matching ottoman and side table, with retro occasional chair, this bedroom is made for modern living indulgence.

Visit www.shf.co.za

Long family Christmas trips can be a slog, zone out with these Samsung LEVEL Over headsets with Dual Diaphragms, which create a deeper, richer reproduction of sound while enjoying a comfortable fit and a sleek look that will get you through those long Christmas roadtrips.

RRP: R3 500 To stand a chance to win these great headphones, simply answer the question below: Q: What feature creates a deeper, richer reproduction of sound? To enter, please visit www.afropolitan.co.za

LI UM S

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REWARD YOURSELF WITH RICHELIEU THIS FESTIVE SEASON A REWARD 10 YEARS IN THE MAKING When the occasion calls for a touch of vintage, Richelieu 10 Year Old is the perfect choice. The rich and rewarding aromas of chocolate, vanilla and green fig go perfectly with its full- bodied palate of hazelnut, roasted coffee and dark chocolate. The lingering finish is smooth and oaky, a beautiful arrangement of taste and sophistication: the perfect gift for the refined gentleman amongst us For those moments of relaxation and reflection, Richelieu 10 is the perfect accompaniment. Presented in a limited edition tin with a beautiful Richelieu glass, Richelieu 10 is the perfect gift to make this holiday season warm and memorable.

The Richelieu 10 Gift Pack is the ideal way to share the rich rewarding taste of Richelieu 10. The 750ml bottle is packaged in a limited edition box with a pair of elegant Richelieu brandy glasses, allowing one to share and enjoy the classic Richelieu taste. It is an ideal set for those special occasions. * Alcohol not for sale to persons under the age of 18. All the above offers are available at selected outlets nationwide. *Exclusively available at Makro stores nationwide.

G A D G E T S

must haves! By Stephen Pellerade

ARE YOU LOOKING TO SPOIL YOURSELF OR A LOVED ONE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON? IF YOU HAVE HAD A GOOD YEAR AND YOUR PERSONAL BANKER IS VERY PLEASED WITH THE BALANCE IN YOUR ACCOUNT, WE HAVE A FEW SUGGESTIONS OF MUST-HAVES YOU WELL…HAVE TO HAVE! Elegantly contemporary, the 24-glass lite cluster chandelier with a rectrangular chrome base is the perfect centrepiece for any luxurious room setting.

Recommended price: R9 918 www.klight.co.za

Bang & Olufsen recently announced the launch of BeoLab 18, which is without a doubt top-of-theline in wireless speakers. With a re-engineered digital sound engine, these iconic Nordic hardwood speakers sound seriously good.

Recommended price: from R85 000 www.bang-olufsen.com

Your cigars should be stored at a humidity level that is between 68% and 75%, whilst maintaining a constant temperature that is between 16 and 20 degrees C. Sound like too much work? Then let Liebherr’s ZKes 453 Humidor automatically do it for you. Combine this with their WKes653 Wine Cabinet and you have a winning combination!

Recommended price ZKes 453: R29 990 Recommended price WKes 653: R19 990 www.liebherr.com

Just when you thought it could not get any better, Technogym introduces the updated Kinesis Personal machine. This is the most versatile and comprehensive training product ever developed, ideal for the home with its sexy mirror backing.

Recommended price: R166 400 www.technogym.com/za

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LION OF AFRICA IS AN AUTHORISED FINANCIAL SERVICES PROVIDER: FSP 17511

INSURANCE

Superdesigners Creating Ultimate Lifestyles

ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS

www.pellerade.com steve@pellerade.com 0860 877 778

A D V E R T O R I A L

Superdesigner

to the Rich & Famous

PELLERADE DESIGN HOUSE HAS DESIGNED AND FURNISHED SOME OF THE FINEST NEW MANSIONS, PENTHOUSES AND BOUTIQUE HOTELS ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT. WE SPEAK TO CEO STEPHEN PELLERADE ABOUT HIS SPECIALISED BUSINESS.

How did Pellerade come to be based in South Africa? My English/Danish parents and grandparents were involved with the diplomatic service and we were fortunate to have lived in a number of countries throughout Africa. I arrived in South Africa at the time of the Referendum in 1992 and fell in love with the passion of the people and the possibility of what lay ahead in the future. Being the powerhouse and financial centre of the continent, it made sense to create the design HQ in Johannesburg. From here our team of architects, interior architects and interior designers work on projects in South Africa; as well as in Nairobi, Lagos, Maputo, Harare and Gabon.

Tell us how you came to specialise in what you call “Superhomes” Throughout the world high-end properties in the best locations will command top prices, and are sought after tradable investments. For the very wealthy these trophy homes must be architecturally unique, and command every convenience and luxury item currently available. In addition they should be interior decorated to a standard and quality befitting this type of residence. This requires a specialised team who specifically cater for both this type of property and this type of client. Clients perceive luxury “must haves” such as internal lifts, private spas and hair salons, Hollywood home cinemas, cigar lounges and bowling alleys as

the “norm”, hence we termed these projects as “Superhomes”, the property equivalent of Superyachts !

Your own developments have consistently broken price records. How do you do this? Quite simply we ensure that our new homes are designed and furnished ready for affluent buyers to move in straight away. They come complete with every luxury expected, right down to the finest bed linens and personalised dressing gowns in the massage rooms.

What lays ahead for the future of Pellerade Africa is bursting with exciting residential opportunities, and the demand for top properties is huge … a palace in Maputo, contemporary mansion on Banana Island in Ikoyi Lagos, a grand Italian styled villa in Polokwane! We are also involved in a number of flagship apartment developments; affording us wondrous design opportunities with the penthouses. Pellerade Design House www.pellerade.com 0860-877 778

ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS

www.pellerade.com steve@pellerade.com 0860 877 778

Stephen Pellerade

White Gold Pendants Our new metal pendant range will play a dramatic part in any room, with a crystal white outer and bright gold inner shade. This exquisite range is available in four varying shapes and sizes and make a real statement when displayed in a group.

Code: CA-KLCH-100 Range White & Gold Metal Pendants Length: 150cm ~ 170cm 0: 19cm ~ 51cm 1 x E27 (230v 60W) IP 20 visit our website for detailed information Complies to SANS IEC 60598-2-1 Standard

Cape Town: 7 Kunene Circle Omuramba Business Park Milnerton Tel: 021 552 4370

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Johannesburg: Units 8 & 9, The Arena Capital Hill Business Park Halfway House, Midrand Tel: 011 312 1247

www.klight.co.za

P R O P E R T Y

By Stephen Pellerade

everal weeks after an apartment at One Hyde Park in London sold for USD220 million, which made it the world’s most expensive penthouse; the record was spectacularly shattered by the sale of the La Belle Epoque penthouse in Monte Carlo for USD308 million. This 1625m2 duplex home in the sky also features a double-volumed library, outside gardens with 4.5m high trees, a sumptuous spa and a fully equipped media centre. Not forgetting that the world’s costliest property is a 27-storey skyscraper ‘single residence’ for one family in Mumbai. Belonging to India’s richest billionaire Mukesh Ambani, it cost in excess of USD1 billion. On a recent trip to Hong Kong I visited one of the astoundingly beautiful

NOT TO FORGET THAT THE WORLD’S COSTLIEST PROPERTY IS A 27 STOREY SKYSCRAPER ‘SINGLE RESIDENCE’ FOR ONE FAMILY IN MUMBAI. BELONGING TO INDIA’S RICHEST BILLIONAIRE MUKESH AMBANI, IT COST IN EXCESS OF USD1 BILLION. penthouse apartments in Frank Gehry’s Opus building. Situated like an object of art on The Peak, it features balconies designed like boat decks taking in views of, well, everywhere. My well-heeled and fabulously rich host informed me that one of the penthouses sold late last

year for HKD$455 million; making this a record price in that region. And it appears the same trend is happening in South Africa. We were all astounded by the R110 million achieved on the sale of one of the penthouses

P R O P E R T Y

NOT TO BE OUTDONE, THE REGIONALLY WEALTHY BUSINESS HUB OF JOHANNESBURG BOASTS SOME SUPERB NEW PENTHOUSES.

Opus building, Hong Kong

at the One And Only V&A Waterfront in 2008; and there is a plethora of new penthouses with hefty pricetags emerging. So this begs the questions; “why” the demand, as well as “how” are these huge prices determined?

Not to be outdone, the regionally wealthy business hub of Johannesburg boasts some superb new penthouses. At the Regent in Sandton a triple storey four-bedroomed place is going for R60 million (R102,000 per m2). In Sandhurst, another triple storey penthouse which boasts the largest rooftop garden in the country, is on the market for R35 million (R47,000 per m2). In the trendy Melrose Arch development, a brand new penthouse has come on the market at R45 million.

Penthouse at the Hamilton, Singapore

Reception in Sandhurst house

Images courtesy of Stephen Pellerade

Penthouses in superb locations rank as the ultimate “must haves” for the world’s super rich. It’s kind of like having the Bugatti Veyron sportscar parked in your 12 car super-garage. Like Monte Carlo, space on the Atlantic Seaboard is minimal and Clifton ranks as one of the world’s finest spots to live. Little wonder that Dogon Group are currently marketing a R100 million plus duplex penthouse in Clifton’s most prestigious apartment block. On 800m2 of marbled luxury this equates to R220,000 per m2; which also includes 200m2 of outside terraces and a swimming pool, multiple garaging, and a private lift. Dogon also recently sold a 700m2 penthouse at Pinmore at the V&A Waterfont for R52 million (R75,000 per m2).

P R O P E R T Y

AT ONE HYDE PARK IN LONDON RESIDENTS HAVE THE USE OF ON- SITE GOLF SIMULATORS AND SQUASH COURTS. Sunset at the one of the penthouses at The Houghton

Within an incredible location overlooking the prestigious Houghton Golf Club, the apartments at The Houghton are setting standards in high-end vertical living. The seriously wealthy are snapping up the penthouses which are being customised and interior-tailored to their exact requirements. With price tags ranging from R40 million to in excess of R100 million they enjoy an unparalleled lifestyle. The “jewel in the crown” of this development will be The Houghton Hotel; a seven-star ultra-luxurious hotel. Residents at The Houghton will also enjoy the private dining, gymnasium and spa facilities offered right on their doorstep. You may be wondering how penthouses achieve these spectacular prices per square meter. The simple answer is that it is due to “location” as well as what I refer to as the “extravagant necessities”. If you are overlooking Hyde Park in London, Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, or hanging over Clifton Fourth beach; you will fetch premium prices. And if the said block was designed by an acclaimed architect or designer, this will add more square meterage dollars. Then of course we must look at what the particular penthouses offer. Private lifts are hugely popular, as well as separate secure basement parking. Home spas, gymnasiums and private cinemas are the norm. As well as butler suites, wine cellars and home automation. The size and quality of terraces, swimming pools, and gazebos also add to the tag.

“Wealthy clients want convenience” says Joanna Leverett, head of international developments at Savills. “Flagship developments provide services and facilities that you wouldn’t normally get in a house”. At One Hyde Park in London residents have the use of on-site golf simulators and squash courts. Residents also tap-in to the fine-dining and concierge services of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel next door, as well as the pampering spa facilities of the Bulgari Hotel a few doors down. Not forgetting you are diagonally opposite the world’s most famous shopping experience…Harrods. Private basement parking with lifts directly to your apartment is becoming the norm. However, for Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban this was just not enough. They splashed out USD10 million on a luxurious penthouse in Manhattan into which they can drive their car. Located in mid-town Manhattan, 432 Park Avenue will be the tallest residential building in New York. Their penthouse will have six bedrooms, a library and an en-suite “Sky Garage”; a car elevator that will take their limo all the way to their own floor. The building, which has stunning Hudson River views, is the first in New York City to get this feature. Around the world a common thread is that the penthouses within flagship developments sell out before the other apartments. They are in property terms

what ‘haute couture” is to “pret-a-porter” in fashion. Little wonder that developers at this end of the market partner with leading architects and interior designers to produce these luxury trophies. In terms of décor and furnishings, work on 15% of the penthouse cost. Atypically the top of the range penthouses are marketed as fully decorated and furnished by interior designers. Usually to a standard befitting trophy homes; they showcase the best of fabrics, wall coverings, furniture labels and objects. Of course, it’s not an easy task transporting baby grand pianos, five meter paintings and two ton sculptures to the top floor. Think hefty crane hire and insurance charges. With over twenty skyscrapers currently under construction in the Sandton and Rosebank precinct of Johannesburg alone, and many more in the planning process, we anticipate a plethora of wondrous and ground-breaking designed apartments and penthouses within the next few years. As we speak, the world’s most expensive apartment is being built in Monaco. With an estimated sales price of USD 400 million this five-storey penthouse will be housed in the tallest building in Monte Carlo, the Tour Odeon. Apart from its incredible position overlooking the entire principality and the Mediterranean sea, one wonders what possible new luxuries and facilities they will introduce to the world!

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F E A T U R E

FROM NIGERIA HAVING THE HIGHEST POPULATION OF TWINS TO CAMEROON HAVING 280 LANGUAGES WE LIST 34 QUIRKY AND ASTONISHING FACTS ABOUT AFRICA AND HER PEOPLE By Stacey Vee

When you think ‘pyramids’ you tend to picture Egypt. In fact, Sudan has twice as many pyramids, 220 to Egypt’s 110.

The largest frog in the world is found in the rainforests of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. It is aptly called the ‘Goliath Frog’ and can weigh up to 3kg!

ARABIC

SWAHILI

5.4 Million lives

FRENCH

It’s true! In a Nigerian town called Igbo-Ora, which is considered the world capital of twins, there is an average of 150 sets of twins for every 1000 births. The global average is anywhere from nine to 16 twins sets per 1000 births in Europe, to 18-33 twin sets per 1000 births in the United States.

OTHER

The predominant language on the African continent is actually Arabic (spoken by 170 million people). This is followed by English (130 million), then Swahili (100m), French (115m), the North African dialects of Berber (50m), Hausa, that is spoken in West and Central Africa (50m), Portuguese (20m) and Spanish (10m).

Have you seen the animated movie Madagascar, where the King of the Lemurs is voiced by Sasha Baron Cohen? There are actually more than 100 different species of lemur on the island of Madagascar.

12.

13.

The African cicada (brevisana brevis) holds the Guinness World Record for the Loudest Insect, with an average sound pressure level of an ear-splitting 106.7 decibels.

15KM

Another Guinness World Record held in Africa is for the Thinnest Continental Crust. The Goliath Frog’ is only 15km thick.

South Africa is the only producer in the world of the Mercedes-Benz C Class, right-hand drive cars.

10.

The Koeberg nuclear power station is the only commercial one on the continent – and it is built on a fault line! The Milnerton fault last saw an earthquake in 1809 (measuring 6.5 in magnitude). Scientists believe it is due for another quake soon.

11.

17.

Monkey Gland steak is a South African favourite. But did you know that the famous sauce was actually created by visiting international chefs as an insult (according to one version of the story), for locals’ habit of mixing tomato sauce and Worchestershire together?

Speaking of giraffes, did you know that they have blue tongues? And that their blue tongues are an average of 50cm in length?

The cheapest place in the world to get an openwater diving certification is Lake Malawi.

Megafauna, or ‘mammals of particularly large size’ are unique to the continent, and animals like giraffe, zebra, gorilla, hippopotamus, chimpanzee and wildebeest can only be found in Africa.

After World War II, the deadliest conflict in history was the Second Congo War, which claimed more than 5.4 million lives between 1998 and 2008.

5.4 Million lives

13.

The Sahara desert, which is the largest in the world, is bigger than the whole of the United States of America if you take landmass only into account (i.e. don’t include lakes and rivers).

14.

Deforestation is a huge problem in Africa. In countries like Kenya, Malawi and Zambia, only 1% to 5% of their original forests (called primary forests) remain.

15.

Africa might be the cradle of mankind, but it is also the youngest continent, with 50% of the population under the age of 25.

16.

Madagascar broke away from the African continent 165 million years ago, and away from India 100 million years ago. Because of this isolation, 90% of the flora and fauna on the island can be found nowhere else on earth!

18.

Did you know that there are less people with Internet connections across the entire continent of Africa, than there are in just New York City?

19.

In Tunisia, it is believed that the symbol of the fish provides protection from evil. The foundations and walls of new buildings often contain fish bones, and brightly coloured cloth or plastic fish are attached to cars and taxis, to protect the passengers within.

20.

Another fun fact for Tunisia, this one for Star Wars fans: the sets for the planet Tatooine were created in the Tunisia desert, and still stand today. You can visit Luke Skywalker’s home!

21.

Hippos kill more than 3000 people a year, and the hippo’s closest living relative is the whale.

22.

In Nigeria, the locals drink more Guinness stout beer than is consumed in Ireland.

F E A T U R E

23.

29.

24.

30.

The Soviet Union flag and its recognisable golden hammer and sickle inspired the national flag of Angola. The star on the Angolan flag also comes from the Soviet flag.

Hyenas, those most perfect of scavenger machines, and native to the African continent, are genetically closer to cats than dogs.

There are more than one million Chinese citizens in African, and China is Africa’s biggest partner in trade. This is sparking economic fears of neo-colonialism, in other words, that China is slowly but surely colonising the continent.

CITIZENS IN AFRICA

25.

>1MILLION CHINESE

South Africa is the only place in the world where two Nobel Prize winners lived on the same street. What are the chances? Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both lived on Vilikazi Street in Soweto.

26.

More than 90% of the soil in Africa is unsuitable for farming and agriculture.

27.

Let’s hope that if aliens make contact, they don’t choose to land in South Africa first – legally, they would be considered property of state!

28.

Another from the Guinness World Records: The last Sharifian Emperor of Morocco, Moulay Ismail, known as The Bloodthirsty, goes down in history as having the most decedents. He was reputed to have fathered a total of 525 sons and 342 daughters.

Somali’s pirates are infamous for taking tourists prisoner and ransoming them back to their home countries. In 2010, it is estimated Somalian pirates made $238 million in ransom money.

31.

In Angola, tipping is not standard practice. If you do tip, it should never be more than 10% of the bill, and you don’t have to tip in money – you can even leave cigarettes.

32.

Despite their name and habits, African dung beetles are fascinating creatures. Did you know that they use the starry Milky Way to navigate?

33.

More films are made in Nigeria’s film industry (Nollywood) than are made in Hollywood every year.

34.

The closest point from America to Africa is between Quoddy Head State Park in the US state of Maine to Safi Province in Morocco.

Sources: list25.com; wikipedia.org, answersafrica.com, travelground.com, nationalgeographic.com, travel.wikinut.com

L I F E S T Y L E

R E V I E W

Friday afternoon traffic. Johannesburg. Work. Stress. Late! By Belinda Lubbe

ou know what it’s like, I am describing the life of so many South Africans. Once in a while, you get an opportunity to take a step back, a breather, a chance to gain some perspective; on that particular day, this perspective came in the form of The Hyatt Regency Johannesburg. We may as well have missed our appointment at the Spa we were so late! We ran into the neatly decorated therapy centre on the upper floor, sweating, heaving, exhausted, ready to strip Joburg’s stress off and dive onto the massage table just to see if we could eke out 10 minutes of enjoyment from

what was left of our full body massage. The ladies from Amani Spa were so forgiving and kind and splashed with a fair portion of humour, they rearranged everything and we were able to enjoy Spa heaven for the next few hours. Here was our first experience of the service that caused one to feel that you were being waited on by a long lost friend. A suite overlooking the streets of Joburg highlighted the privileged position in which we found ourselves, the hustle and bustle below us and the lights of the city shining in every direction, while behind us was a beautifully appointed room, far more impressive than any in my own home but just as welcoming. I was dragged back from my thoughts by a knock on the door. A very motherly type stood outside, offering a fruit bowl and bottled water- just to ensure that I was settled in my home for the night.

The exclusive Regency Club Lounge on the 7th floor gave us some insight into the family that is The Hyatt Johannesburg. A couple of French students, a particularly intense looking Asian man and a business meeting comprising 3 men, a South African, an American and a Londoner, joined us as we watched the sun set over the Johannesburg CBD and pitied the unfortunate souls fighting their way through the traffic of the M1 in the distance. In another corner, a married couple were enjoying the view and their delicious canapés, whispering quietly to each other. A young man deep in concentration, focussed on his computer screen. The variety and class of the people was only matched by that of the food and wine on offer. But what was clear to see was that whoever you are and whatever you do you, a place can be found for you at the Hyatt. “Savour the fresh flavours of Thailand” is not quite the headline you expect to see in a South African restaurant. Dinner at the oneNINEone restaurant in the lobby of the Hyatt Johannesburg was a kaleidoscope of cultural experiences. At our table we were able to enjoy the succulent taste of perfectly cooked fillet as well delicious green curry which was so authentic it was as if it had been flown in directly from Thailand. In fact the Hyatt Regency had almost achieved the impossible – they had brought Bangkok to South Africa as they had organised that three chefs from Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok were spending the week with their South African counterparts. It just so happened that we were there on their last night and were able to see the kitchen from where we were sitting - in the midst of a very efficiently run kitchen we witnessed warm interactions between the chefs, hugging and joking with each other as though they had known each other for years. The Asian chefs, like us, had been made a part

R E S T A U R A N T

R E V I E W

of the Hyatt family. What an incredible celebration of cultural diversity! Whether for business or pleasure The Hyatt offers a unique South African experience. Situated in the heart of Rosebank, with walking distance from the Gautrain and only 25km from O.R. Thambo International Airport. Complete with a 24-hour Business Centre and 24-hour in-room dining. Adjoining to the First Shopping Centre, The Zone at Rosebank and The Mall of Rosebank with access to a multitude of shops, restaurants and cinemas. Nearby to the Sandton CBD, The Hyatt really does cater to the individual. Meeting and conference facilities include nine meeting rooms, two boardrooms and extensive garden terraces, while the elegant ballroom is the ideal setting for an exquisite banquet. And if you have a moment, enjoy an invigorating workout

DINNER AT THE ONENINEONE RESTAURANT IN THE LOBBY OF THE HYATT JOHANNESBURG WAS A KALEIDOSCOPE OF CULTURAL EXPERIENCES. in the Fitness Centre or spend the day by the outdoor heated pool. Whatever your needs The Hyatt will try to meet them! Let me be clear, I honestly believe that there is no such thing as perfect service. Either its over-done or not done well enough. Certain ways of doing things may please some people but completely annoy others. So what is the solution? The Hyatt have found a wonderful balance of excellent service delivered in an authentic way. I think that this approach allows the richness of South African culture to shine through. It is this warmth coupled with world-class professionalism and contemporary design that will ensure that your experience at The Hyatt Regent, Johannesburg is one you will want to repeat, regularly!

E D I T O R I A L

The Jammer

By Bob Mabena

am told that my father was a consummate trumpet player and mother could scat any baby to sleep. Together they were as graceful as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers on the dance floor as they won ballroom dancing competitions in Pretoria in the sixties and seventies. I never got to witness all of this because right after I was born they got divorced. I was raised in the township Atteridgeville in a very crowded space; covered and smothered with music of all kinds. My mother was into vocal Jazz and loved Sarah Vaughn. My two uncles were into all sorts of Jazz, from Hugh Masekela to John Coltrane. As for my two brothers, these two epitomized eclecticism. I was the youngest of the three and my elder brother had the strangest genre preferences. He would navigate from Roberta Flack to Queen with unflinching ease. The first time I heard a song by REM was from my brother Vic. This guy would play me all three version of the song “just the way you are” and confuse me to high heaven. I loved the Isaac Hayes version when I first heard it, but then I heard the Barry White one later and loved that one instead. As I was swimming in the melodic adventure of the two versions, my brother would spoil the party and play me the original version by Billy Joel. My other brother, Jeffrey was the first person in my house to play reggae music. For a house that ingested a lot of Jazz, this was strange and in my other uncle’s words: out of line. Peter Tosh and Bob Marley would be blaring from the outside speaker as he went about doing his gardening. But soon after he was done gardening, he would play pop songs by Super Tramp. I was an impressionable pre-teen, listening to at least five different genres at any given time. I was destined to be in the world of music at some level or another.

be stuck to Radio Bop a new and fresh sounding radio station called Radio 702. The latter drew my imagination closer and for some reason I was hooked forever. John Berks in the morning with his hilarious and imaginative prank calls, laced with music from The Rolling Stones, was the perfect morning diet. 702 had the most impressive presenter line up I had ever heard. I knew all their addictive voices and friendly faces and loved them. The pin up kid – Rob Wheatly, bespectacled Neil Johnson, super funky Cocky Two Bull, stiff and staid Mike Mills, just to mention a few. They were different from Radio Bop’s impressive and cocky Lawrence Dube,

I WAS DESTINED TO BE IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC AT SOME LEVEL OR ANOTHER. articulate Tim Modise and sensual Thuli Moagi. In the end, I was navigating between a protestant, trendy black Radio station and a fresh liberal white Radio station and sucking in every word and every style of presentation.

When I joined Radio Bop in 1989, R&B was the biggest music genre and UK soul was beginning to sound great and competitive. On the technical and delivery side of talent, presenters were not given producers and it didn’t matter which show one was presenting – prime time or not – one had to create ones own jingles, liner and an overall show imaging. Come to think of it; YFM may have been the first official youth radio station but in my era at Radio Bop we In 1980, soon after my mother’s death, had a host of young people who changed I was moved to my uncle’s house on an otherwise straight forward urban the other side of Atteridgeville and radio station into a youth station. To this is in essence where my love for start with, Zandile Nzalo bucked the Radio developed. My uncle Ron was trend and turned what was a negligible more experimental with radio station midday, housewives cooking slot into an preference. Uncle Ron listened to few overall all-inclusive slot. Ben Dikobe was “Bantu” radio stations like Radio Lebowa a more contemporary Tim Modise and and Radio Setswana but mostly he would I had a more trans-Atlantic presentation

style. We could do this because we were in charge of our own show imaging and we also challenged the music department to move with the times. With the class of the nineties; Radio Bop was changed forever and the listeners loved it. My time at Metro was an era of serious America invasion in music and fashion and we lapped it up, soaked in it and regurgitated it. The most poignant moment during my stay at Metro was when Tim Modise moved to full on talk slot and I had to replace him. My alias “The Jammer” developed at that time and I still have family members call me by that moniker. On my return from a UK trip once, I played an unedited version of the Prince song “Sexy mother…”. By the time I left Metro, I had seen and done it all on urban radio and I wanted a change. Stan Katz recruited me to 94.7 and it was there that I learned about strict format radio. Kaya FM; later, was a revelation and a more in-depth lesson because at that time, the majority songs on the playlist were African. To date, all radio stations I have worked for have been a progressive lesson in life, love and the arts. Twenty-five years later and I still love radio – my first love. This medium has survived TV, the internet, Facebook, Twitter and all other “threats” with resilience and grace and that’s a huge reason why it’s a lasting love affair I have with radio. Here’s to the next five or ten years.

A D V E R T O R I A L

Black Excellence WITH THE BACKDROP OF 20 YEARS OF INTO OUR POLITICAL FREEDOM, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BLACK AND TO BE EXCELLENT? A CALL FOR BLACK EXCELLENCE.

lack excellence, must be about how as black people in general and black professionals in particular, we live our lives. We must live excellent and beautiful lives. This excellence, this beauty must be defined by us – the inhabitants of our blackness otherwise we might get to a point where there are limitations placed on us through definitions that are not our own, that bear none of our heritage. As we live beautifully, we must observe certain responsibilities bestowed on us by our history.

will be in a position to build from past victories while defining for ourselves what great tomorrow victories we aspire to. We must hasten to appreciate that we can never live excellently without undoing the privilege of yesterday. We need to delegitimise the dominant culture of a minority that managed to assume a majority status in Corporate SA. To see past this privilege and to have both the ambition and ability to deconstruct it, we must dream new liberated dreams, envision new possibilities about our todays’ and Living excellently means that we are quite tomorrows’. There is a call here for a cognisant of the fact that, our generation, coalition of conscience. Our individual will not have any excuse for the kind of dreams have to be predicated upon our future we end up with. We thus have to, collective communal dreams. with skill and haste, be active creators of Martin Luther King, Jnr (MLK) tells the the future we want, where mediocrity story of their Birmingham campaign. As occupies no space. We do this, not being they mobilised the people there “even blinded and seduced by the trappings of the children understood the stakes wealth and success – why? Because we they were fighting for.” Young children are but our black mothers’ children, an requested and earned a place in their offspring of our communities. ranks. Amongst these young children, As we live excellently and beautifully, there was one boy whose father forbade our common understanding has to be him from participating. The boy arguing that we cannot afford to sit and wait for with his father said “Daddy I do not handouts. We cannot allow ourselves to want to disobey you but I have made my be relegated to a “crumb society.” There pledge. If you try and keep me home, are rights and responsibilities associated I will sneak off. If you think I deserve with our freedom. One of them is to punishment for that, I’ll just have to take firmly hold the compass of our lives it. For you see, I’m not doing this only in our palms. Let us therefore selfbecause I want freedom. But I’m doing it navigate this journey so we don’t become for you and mama and I want it to come roadside victims. When we self-navigate, before you die.” we do not have to look to our benefactors If we are to live beautifully therefore, we – whose purpose it is to uphold their have to pledge our allegiance to black privilege status – to decide what to give excellence. We have to be prepared for us, when and how much. and accept the pain and sacrifices that come with it. We do this knowing that a Living excellently and beautifully, we

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brighter future beckons, not because of the periodic passing of 24 hour periods. But because we are actively ushering that future through our daily decisions and actions – individually and as a collective. Paraphrasing MLK I believe black excellence as a service to our freedom will yield a positive and utopian extreme of our future. I have the audacity to believe that as we live excellently, the scars of our yesterday will be tomorrow’s stars. I believe and have this hope because when we make black excellence a reality, our beautiful tomorrows will be birthed. Let us therefore hold each other responsible as we midwife our excellence. Let us all, with all our voices, answer this, the highest call of our freedom.

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The day I learnt that BY ALYN ADAMS

was either 11, or 12 – but it was a newly minted 11 or 12, shortly after my birthday, so I was probably extraconscious of being a big boy at the time. Surrounded since birth by lots of older cousins, I was finally at the point where a few new ones had come along, so I wasn’t the baby at family gettogethers anymore. I’m fuzzy on the exact date, because in the three years that we lived in Cape Town when I was a kid (Zeekoevlei, alas, not the glamorous bit), we tried to make our pilgrimage to seek solace among our kin back in Durban every year around midwinter, thereby escaping the horizontal rain and annual flooding. But this holiday back at my grandparents’ house was definitely during our first or second year down there. It was a creaky old wood-and-iron Durban house, built like most old houses in the area on a brick foundation to keep it off the red soil and out of the termites’ reach, with two or three large terraces cut into the hillside given over to gardens, fruits trees and hedges. My grandfather also owned the property next door, almost identical in size and layout, which he let to my dad’s brother and family – my uncle being the only one of Grandpa’s three sons who followed him into the plumbing business. The two households communicated easily through a gap in the hedge, which was probably great fun for everyone except my favourite auntby-marriage, who found herself living under the gaze of her in-laws, less than a stone’s throw away. How she managed in all those years to refrain from throwing a stone, I’ll never know – because a holiday at

So it was a blessing that my uncle next door had just got a TV. The fact that SABC TV was in its infancy and offered about four hours of programming a night didn’t matter; every evening we kids would trot over to join our cousins for an hour in front of the magic box before bedtime. Until the night the waistband of my new big-boy jeans were still a little damp from the laundry. “Fine,” I said. “They’ll dry out on me.” Big Gran’s in those days wasn’t what we’d think of as a holiday today. Big Gran (she was – and was so-called to differentiate her from Little Gran, my mom’s diminutive mother) was oldschool; she wouldn’t have recognised a new-age holistic parenting technique designed to empower a child fully and keep it consciously open to its unlimited potential if she’d beaten it to death in the pantry with a crucifix, if you know what I mean. Adults made decisions and children did what they were told. A holiday at Big Gran’s was cluttered rooms smelling of furniture polish and kept dim by small windows and net curtains. The entertainment was either improving Catholic storybooks or, “Go and play outside”, which wasn’t as attractive as it sounds, what with the insects and the ringworm.

EVEN AT THAT AGE, IGNORANCE AND SUPERSTITION TRIUMPHING OVER FACT INCENSED ME

“No,” said Big Gran, “You’ll catch a cold. You can wear your shorts to go watch TV.” I didn’t want to wear shorts! All the big kids would be in longs, and they’d smirk! “Actually, a cold is caused by a virus, not damp clothing – we read it in Science class,” I protested, but Big Gran wouldn’t believe me. I was furious; even at that age, ignorance and superstition triumphing over fact incensed me – she was WRONG and I knew I was RIGHT, but I was helpless. So I threw a tantrum and refused to go watch TV at all. That’s when my favourite aunt-bymarriage became my favourite auntby-marriage – she marched across from her place, gave me a stern, no-nonsense but loving lecture, whipped me into my shorts and dragged me off to watch TV, where no one snickered or pointed and one kind girl-cousin even said, “You look nice,” no doubt because she knew I needed to hear it. It’s a story I always remember when people tell me I must defer to older people just because they’re older.

@alyndenzel www.alynadams.com