The Afropolitan Edition 46

EDITION 46

Years

Celebrating a Decade of the Afropolitan

16046

9 771993 965003 www.afropolitan.co.za

C L A S S I C R E V I VA L S

EDITION 46

EDITOR’S LETTER

8

BUSINESS

12

Escape the sidelines of history

10 Years, 10 Headlines

Celebrating a Decade of the Afropolitan

16046

EDITION 46

4

Years

ISSN 1993-9655 • RSA R30.00 incl VAT (Other Countries R26.50 excl VAT)

Contents

EDITION 46

29

9 771993 965003 www.afropolitan.co.za

BUSINESS Africa: The Great Disruptor

CURRENT AFFAIRS

62 68

Anti-Social Media

73

14

BUSINESS

18

BUSINESS

24

2

32

CURRENT AFFAIRS

37

LUXURY

44

CURRENT AFFAIRS

48

LUXURY

Passion is a Four-Letter Word

LUXURY Adventures in Your Own Backyard

LUXURY The Rise of Luxury Apartment Living

LUXURY A Vintage Affair

Freedom / Vryheid

A Decade of Decadence

The Great Homework Debate

Thula Sindi: 10 Years of Sophistication

Investing in Troubled Times

LIFESTYLE What In The World…?

52

LIFESTYLE

58

LIFESTYLE

What Fashion Trends Tell Us About Our World

Top 10 Natural Wonders of Africa

78

The Jaguar Purr

80

Time of the Reader

84

Telling Tales

86

Remember when...

88

It’s A Jungle Out There!

LIFESTYLE

CURRENT AFFAIRS

CULTURE

LIFESTYLE

COLUMN

15520

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EDITOR Brendah Nyakudya

CONTRIBUTORS

Editor’s letter

Alyn Adams Hazel Booth Nomali Cele Panashe Chigumadzi Heather Clancy Caitlin Hogg Cashe Kidd Helena Lombard Damian Murphy Tamsin Oxford Michelle Randall

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To New Beginnings...

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SALES

Damian Murphy Melanie Scheepers Michelle Jones Racquel Oliphant

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SUBBING & PROOFING Robyn Sassen

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IT AND WEB MANAGER Mircea Nicolae & Carmen Petre

When I was asked to head the editorial team at Afropolitan Magazine, I had no idea how far the journey would take me and no appreciation of how much my mind and beliefs would be challenged and stretched.

But, with every journey in life, one must take the next step and now it’s time for me to say goodbye and hand over the reins to a new voice – one that will take the brand to even greater heights and continue with the movement!

I was merely taking on a position.

So, on this my very last issue as editor, allow me to say thank you to all Afropolitans worldwide who have walked this journey with me.

However, as I delved deeper into the mind of the Afropolitan I found my own, as I sought to celebrate the splendour of Africa I learnt to find beauty in my own surrounds. As the magazine grew in numbers and the reader demographic matured, I did too. Before I knew it I was part of, and firmly entrenched in, the Afropolitan Movement.

Five years on, I can honestly say this has been the most fulfilling role I have taken in my career – inspired by a people and supported by an army, I was able to thrive.

The minds I have engaged and the places I have explored under the Afropolitan banner have made me into the person I am today.

4

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Copyright © 2016 Contact Media & Communications. The Afropolitan is published by Contact Media & Communications. All material is strictly copyright with all rights reserved. No material may be reproduced in part or whole without the express written permission of the publisher. No responsibility will be accepted for unsolicited material. The publisher accepts no liability of whatsoever nature arising out of or in connection with the contents of this publication.

Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication, the publisher does not give any warranty as to the completeness or accuracy of its contents. The views and opinions expressed in The Afropolitan are not necessarily those of the Publisher, Kaya FM or contributors.

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B U S I N E S S

THE DECADE STARTS IN THE DARK In 2005, Eskom’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant just outside Cape Town began experiencing technical difficulties. A faulty transmission busbar caused the reactor to go into safe mode.

A fire under a 400 kV transmission line caused the line to trip. A below-spec concentration of an important chemical resulted in a controlled shutdown of the reactor. And on Christmas Day 2005, a loose bolt caused severe damage to the generator. As 2006 rolled in, most of South Africa was left in the dark with load-shedding becoming the norm.

Because predictions were made in the late 1990s that Eskom would run out of power reserves by 2007 unless action was taken to prevent it, the rolling blackouts were surrounded by controversy and criticism. At the time, Eskom stated that the planned power outages would cease by February 2006, however power supply problems continued well into 2015.

10 YEARS

2006

10 HEADLINES

2007

South Africa’s biggest business and economics news from the last decade

By Michelle Randall

STAKES AND STRIKES Strike: In June 2007, almost one million public servants engaged in a 13-day strike demanding a 12% wage increase.

Essential services were affected across the board, and cities such as Durban were brought to a complete standstill.

Stake: Later that year, China’s biggest lender, ICBC bought a 20% stake in Standard Bank. The $5.6-billion cash purchase marked the biggest foreign acquisition by a Chinese commercial bank yet, in line with Beijing’s encouragement for major state firms to expand abroad, particularly in developing countries.

8

Images courtesy of shutterstock

From load-shedding to Marikana and Nkandla to Nene, we take a look at the biggest news stories of the last decade, and how they made waves across South Africa’s fiscal landscape.

GOALS AND FOULS

In March 2008, murmurs of massive money woes began making waves across the world. That same month in South Africa, the ANC National Executive Committee withdrew parliamentary support of President Thabo Mbeki, on the basis that Mbeki had interfered in Jacob Zuma’s prosecution for various counts of racketeering, money laundering, corruption and fraud linked to the contentious $5-billion arms procurement deal by the South African government in 1999.

The biggest news of 2010 in South Africa was undoubtedly the Fifa World Cup. The national government invested more than R30-billion in preparation for hosting the event, with an additional R10-billion spent at provincial and municipal levels. The event added 0.4% to South Africa’s national economic growth, translating into R38-billion in 2010, during a global recession.

Mbeki was forced to step down from office, triggering a further avalanche of government resignations.

However, the removal of Finance Minister Trevor Manuel was the biggest shock, plunging South African markets into a rapid fall after the news.

2008

2010 2009

2011

MORE MOUTHS TO FEED SOUTH AFRICA JOINS THE RECESSION South Africa finally joined the long list of economies in recession. According to data released by Statistics SA in May 2009, South Africa experienced two consecutive quarters of negative growth and a contraction of 6.4%.

The larger than expected contraction in growth was blamed on a slump in export demand that forced both manufacturers and miners to cut production.

Eight out of South Africa’s nine provinces were hit with floods in January 2011. The floods, which claimed more than 100 lives, left 33 municipalities in a state of disaster, also pushed food prices higher. As the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations announced that the general global food index had risen to 215 points, South Africa’s agricultural sector continued to bear the weight of government’s 1996 agricultural market deregulation.

9

Images by Shutterstock

MBEKI, MONEY AND MANUEL

B U S I N E S S

The mining sector’s sinkhole in 2012 was marked by its lowest point, the Marikana massacre on August 16. In what was the single most lethal use of force by South African security forces against civilians since 1960, the event, in which 44 people died at Lonmin’s Marikana platinum mine, is considered a seminal moment in South Africa’s recent history. Similar strikes followed the Marikana massacre, making 2012 the most protest-filled year in the country since the end of apartheid.

2012

2014 2013

OPULENCE ON A GRAND SCALE AND DEATH OF AN ICON In November 2013, the Mail & Guardian published public protector Thuli Madonsela’s provisional report on the suspect improvements at Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla residence under the headline “Opulence on a grand scale”. The drama that followed Madonsela’s findings (all the way to the Constitutional Court in 2016) was dubbed “Nkandlagate”.

Madonsela’s report found that Zuma was liable for at least R52.9 million of taxpayers’ money used to renovate his luxury home, yet it was laughed off by the powers that be. It damaged investor confidence in South Africa, who saw the scandal – and the inevitable cover-ups – as evidence of a democracy without accountability. And on 5 December 2013, Nelson Mandela died at the age of 95 after a prolonged respiratory infection.

10

IN THE SHADOW OF GIANTS In April 2014, Nigeria overtook South Africa as the continent’s biggest economy. The data indicated that Nigeria’s economy grew to $453-billion in 2012, instead of $264-billion as measured by the World Bank for that year. South Africa’s economy was $384-billion in 2012.

However, Nigeria’s rebasing had little effect on ordinary Nigerians – most of whom still live on less than $2 a day. The rebasing did however, improve the country’s balance sheet and credit rating.

2015 DAVID WHO? WHAT THE JUNK! On the heels of the global Brent Crude oil price collapse, the biggest fiscal news for South Africans in 2015 was President Jacob Zuma’s surprise axing of finance minister Nhlanhla Nene on December 9, which triggered an avalanche slide in the rand. Nene, was replaced with David van Rooyen, a lawmaker and former provincial mayor with limited financial experience. It was a whiplash decision by the President, and one that prompted the IOL business news headline: “David who?” Price hikes, investor scepticism, shaken confidence and the controversial #ZumaMustFall marked the end of 2015.

Image Copyright World Economic Forum www.weforum.org / Eric Miller emiller@iafrica.com (Jacob Zuma - World Economic Forum on Africa 2009) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons and Shutterstock

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C U R R E N T

A F FA I R S

ANTISOCIAL MEDIA Are We Allowing Social Media to Make us Narcissists?

With all the “connecting” we seem to be doing on a daily basis, and at time several times each hour; there is a school of thought that views social media as making humans less sociable, not only when it comes to face-to-face interaction but also for online interaction. If you look at your browsing history, the preloaded apps on your phone, or even what tabs are open on your computer, there is some form of social media present.

Whether you are more inclined to using Facebook, or Twitter is more your speed, there are social media networks to suit everyone. We rely on social media to give us the inside scoop on what is going on in the world, as well as what people are saying about current events. We are more connected than ever before, and it’s slowly breaking down our relationships and rational thought.

But, what impact does this type of behaviour truly have on society? How is social media dictating our opinions?

12

According to Johannesburg-based psychologist Dylan Ramsay, it is, and a lot more than we give credit for.

THE RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA Over the past 10 years, social media has exploded from a university chat room to a global distraction that we tap into on a regular basis. With the promise of connecting millions through an internet connection, comes the opportunity to connect with others who may or may not share your views.

We’ve seen how quickly a trend can encompass the internet with clever hashtags and opinionated views. We base our success, popularity, social standing around how many likes we can accumulate, how often we are shared across the internet.

However, what happens when people disagree with your opinion? What if you disagree with theirs? It’s easy to unfriend and block someone who

doesn’t agree with you and you’re back to the safety of the social media bubble you’re creating for yourself, where everyone else seems to be on the same page as you are, anyway.

HOW DOES IT WORK? It’s true that there are algorithms that are used to only show you what you’re interested in seeing on any given social media site. Think about it, you like cats and bikes and luxury homes and that is what you’re always seeing on your newsfeed. The same applies to opinions, political or otherwise. Social media acts as a major drive in how attitudes are shaped and often induces a shift in opinions. This kind of online peer pressure forces an individual to “pick a side”, and steers all of their future posts in that direction.

How we think is easily influenced by external forces that come from media peer pressure. This system

Image by Shutterstock

By Cashe Kidd

moves from diversity to global consensus as this pressure increases, that shifts the outcome of direct interactions between anyone who has opposing opinions.

dehumanising anyone who goes against the group, much like being back in high school. So we’re basically still in high school and you’re still trying to be part of the “in” crowd.

THE GROUPTHINK FLAW

FOLDING UNDER PRESSURE

Ramsay compares this new concept to an old social psychological idea – Groupthink. Although the social media rise is a relatively new aspect of our lives, Groupthink has been used for years to adequately describe how we react in a group. Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs in a group of people where their desire for harmony and conformity results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.

Because you’re a human being, you want to be accepted by your group of peers, irrespective of whether the group is conservative or liberal. You gravitate toward anyone who shares the views you can identify with. This mentality of caving under pressure is something you develop as an adolescent.

For instance, you agree with Bob about e-tolls being a great way to spend extra money each month (even though you really don’t think it is a good idea at all). But because Bob is the head honcho in your little circle, you don’t dare deviate from the general opinion. In other words, if you are part of a group, you will instinctively aim to minimise conflict in their social circle, and reach a unified decision without upsetting the apple cart with conflicting opinions.

It is this conflict-reluctance that also could drive you to totally remove yourself from outside influences, like unfriending someone who disagrees with you. This mentality has led to ousting anyone who you might deem “weaker” due to their opinions, simply because you don’t want your opinion bubble burst. In the same way, your loyalty to the group may lead to you avoiding controversy altogether.

In this way you may lose your individuality and independent thinking without even realising it!

This mindset brings about the illusion of invulnerability, which is the inflated certainty that your opinions are right. The “ingroup” mentality that overrates its own decisionmaking abilities and underrates the abilities of anyone who opposes the collective opinion of the group.

More importantly, this delusion of self-importance can also lead to

The teenage years are characterised by the start of the development of abstract thought in the brain, which explains the sultry, stroppy realities of being a teen, and embraces everything from identity exploration to questionable dressing to listening to ugly music and choosing very particular cliques to mix with. Do you outgrow this need for collective conformity? Mostly, no, according to Ramsay.

CONTROVERSY VS CRITICAL THINKING The internet has made finding information a lot trickier than you may think. With the focus being on page views and viral posts, there is a fine line between what truth is and what is sensationalised. When you react to something online, you

may easily confuse controversy with critical thinking, and you think you have this magnificent platform that allows you to take your “freedom of speech” to entirely new heights online.

The scourge of likes and comments feeds a new form of vanity, which may make you hunger for popularity and make you believe your opinion actually matters. You post your opinions for thousands of people to see, and focus more on what you get out of their interaction than what the information is giving to anyone else. You might not realise this, but in doing this, you’re allowing social media to create little narcissists out of you.

The question you need to ask yourself now is simple: are you allowing social media to lead your opinions? We do so much connecting online, that it seems like personal interaction is a thing of the past. It doesn’t have to be though, not if you switch off the tech and step outside.

Go back to how life was before the internet, before we could categorise our views into tidy, little tabs and engage with only those that we agree with. Re-discover the joys of speaking to people in person. Isn’t it a liberating idea though? Being able to take control of your socialising without the aid of social media. Give it a try, you might just love the results!

We base our success, popularity, social standing around how many likes we can accumulate 13

B U S I N E S S

Tsotsi in the Boardroom

Passion is a Four-Letter Word Thabang Moleya on life, passion and the South African film industry.

By Caitlin Hogg

14

Tell us about your roots?

I was born in Tembisa on 19 October 1982, and was raised by my parents and my grandmother. I am fortunate enough to say that my siblings and I are very close. I went to high school at the National School of the Arts in Braamfontein, where I majored in art and somewhere along the way I got into photography at quite a young age.

When did you fall in love with the art of film?

Like most of my peers, I grew up watching Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris films! Those movies are set firmly in the memories of my childhood. Fortunately, we were the only family on our street that had a VHS video machine, so more often than not, a lot of the kids in the neighbourhood would come over to our house and we would just watch re-run after re-run of these films. I believe it was then that I fell in love with film, it was hard not to!

Your handle on a few social media channels is Teabaging – what is the story there?

[Laughs] That was actually a nickname given to me by a close friend of mine when I was in college at City Varsity in Cape Town. Before long everyone had started calling me that, and when I made my short films, I started adding ‘A Teabag Product’ at the beginning of all my work. It only made sense.

If you had to pick five movies to be buried with you what would they be?

Too easy!

• City of God (2002), directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund.

• Raging Bull (1980), directed by Martin Scorsese.

• Goodfellas (1990), directed by Martin Scorsese.

• The Godfather (1972), directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

• Lion King (1994), produced by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff.

THABANG’S LIST OF WORKS

1990

Thabang has created commercials for both Lotto and MTN.

Hollywood doesn't want to acknowledge black excellence, people are typecast in roles all the time...

Image courtesy of ?

It’s a well-known fact that South African heritage and tradition is steeped in storytelling. It’s a culture that has, for a long time, been fulfilled by western films. The good news? Local film studios, producers and actors are rallying to produce beautiful work right here on African soil. Happiness is a Four Letter Word, the recently released Johannesburg-based romantic drama that follows the lives of three women is one such example.

We chatted to the film’s producer Thabang Moleya about his passion for film, the Pan African film industry, and where he is headed.

You are respected as one of the most talented young directors in the game. Who do you look up to?

There are many directors doing amazing work in the country at the moment and I look up to all of them because I understand how challenging this industry can be and how difficult it can be to build your name and your show reel of work. And I also realise that there is something I can learn from each and every one of them.

There have been producers who mentored me and these people helped to shape me into the person I am today.

They are more like my guardian angels, to be honest, people like Desiree Markgraaff, Tim Spring, Bongiwe Selane and Mfundi Vundla, just to name a few.

You worked on the African television series Jacob’s Cross; what made that show the success it was?

Jacob’s Cross was a story of a man torn between doing the right thing, protecting his family and carrying a legacy his father had left for him. The show appealed

K.T.V Presenter

2006/7

2007

Jacob’s Cross (TV Series) Director

Jozi-H (TV Series) Director 15

B U S I N E S S films in this country were South African – that is a major achievement and something to applaud! We have an audience that’s willing to go out and watch local content.

This is a new age of cinema in this country and it’s exciting to be a part of it.

What are the challenges you face as a young filmmaker in the process of trying to make your dreams come true?

Firstly, institutions charge way too much money for kids to study film. Filmmaking has started to become about who can ‘afford’ to study. Sadly, that leaves out a large number of youths who have raw talent but just can’t afford to study. At that stage, someone’s dreams are shattered. Secondly, we don’t have enough mentoring programmes that allow kids an opportunity to shadow those who have gone before and succeeded.

We are not empowering the future generations. Thirdly, transformation needs to be addressed. I’ll carry that message and champion that ideal until I die.

How financially viable is it for a local filmmaker to get in the game or is it still a labour of love?

Why do you think there are not more Pan African productions in the making?

In my opinion, it’s because we – as African filmmakers – are not brave enough to tackle those stories. You will find that most productions that Desiree Markgraaf creates are successful because, as a producer, she is not afraid of going into the unknown and that makes for amazing viewing pleasure.

What is your take on the #OscarsSoWhite saga?

Well, it is what it is, you know. Hollywood doesn’t want to acknowledge black excellence, people are typecast in roles all the time. There’s only a handful of successful black actors that you can count on your fingers – their stories aren’t diverse, their technical teams aren’t diverse either. They have a long road in transformation, much like we do in this country.

What, in your opinion, is lacking in the current film industry landscape in South Africa – are local filmmakers struggling to make money?

We are now in an age where local films are finally making money at the box office. Recently, two of the top three

2009

The Lab (TV Series) Director Montana (TV Series) Director

2011 16

Tokolosh (Movie) Actor

2013

What has Nollywood done right that South Africa has yet to learn or are the landscapes totally different?

Nollywood makes a lot of films, except the quality of work isn’t great. Nonetheless, they have a dedicated audience and consistent support. We are slowly getting there, and our work is competing on the international level at film festivals and in markets. We are in a better place than we were three years ago, and so time is proving to be important to our growth. It’s an exciting time for filmmakers.

What does the future hold for you and your career?

I intend to continue making great commercials and great films and to empower the youth through training initiatives. Transformation is key for me because I believe you can only leave a legacy by teaching others what you were in turn taught.

Remix (TV Mini-Series) Director

2016

Happiness is a Four-letter Word (Movie) Director

Image courtesy of ?

to Africa as a whole, the drama was captivating and the characters had such intense journeys, filled with turmoil and chaos. Working on Jacob’s Cross gave me the opportunity to work with such amazing actors and a great technical crew. I think that show became the international success it was because for the first time ever a Pan African story was told so beautifully.

Happiness is a Four Letter Word has grossed R9-million at the box office in its fifth week on circuit. By any standard, that’s amazing. Vir Altyd, another local Afrikaans film, grossed R13-million at the box office. Whoever thinks that filmmaking is not a viable option in South Africa might need to check the numbers and reconsider that.

The next stage now, which will enable filmmakers to make more money, is to attach brands to our films and get more budget through product placement.

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B U S I N E S S

Investing in Troubled The time is now!

Times With the World Bank slashing South Africa’s growth forecast recently from 1.4% to 0.8%, interest hikes and a downgrade looming, South Africa is staring down yet another tough year economically.

By Hazel Booth As Afropolitans, it’s time to consider your investment options carefully. We spoke to Mothepu Mothae, head of research for Absa Multi-Managers and Wouter Fourie, TOP INVESTMENT OPTIONS

1 CASH Mothepu: Cash offers an investor flexibility to redeploy capital in the market at bargain prices.

However, there are tradeoffs, the biggest being a no “growth” element of being out of the market.

The other downfall is that in real terms your capital loses purchasing power.

Wouter: Cash offers you stability and is not subject to market volatility. It also earns interest and allows you to move your money at any time. On the downside, cash investments underperforms the market in the medium and long term. You also pay tax on the interest that you earn.

As a rule of thumb, cash investments are a good way to store your money between longer term investments.

18

Chief Executive of Ascor Independent Wealth Managers (who was also named the 2015 Financial Planner of the Year for 2015), on the best investments to consider.

2

4

MONEY MARKET

SHORT-TERM BONDS

Mothepu: Money Market instruments, much like cash, are liquid and offer no volatility or probability of capital loss. The advantage is that the capital does have a growth component, as these are yield-seeking instruments. However, in a recessionary environment where inflation can remain high for some time, Money Market investments can also give investors negative real returns.

Wouter: Money market accounts show better investment returns than fixed deposits, but the money is immediately available. These accounts protect your initial investment, which means that even if the market turns, you will not lose the money that you paid into the account. It is a good investment vehicle for short term goals. These products are not volatile, but in return, your growth on these funds will be less than other, riskier investments.

3 FIXED DEPOSITS Mothepu: Fixed Deposits and Certificates of Deposits (CDs) are recessionary proof investments which give an investor the opportunity to save while also growing capital at a pre-defined growth rate.

Unlike traditional savings accounts, however, you have to wait a specified period in line with the set maturity to withdraw from a fixed deposit or CD accounts or risk a penalty.

Wouter: The true benefit of this type of investment is not the interest you earn, which is less than you can earn on other riskier investments. The true benefit is the fact that you cannot touch these funds if you get an itch for a new plasma TV or Prada handbag.

Mothepu: Short-term bond funds have a limited interest rate risk and credit risk. A small portion is also invested in liquid instruments to dampen volatility. The disadvantage is that short-term bond funds are not as liquid as cash or Money Market.

Wouter: You have several types of bonds, each with a different level of risk.

Government bonds offer a high level of safety, but your yields will be lower.

Company bonds can be a better investment if you are looking for higher yields, but keep in mind that your risk of losing your investment increases.

In general, this type of investment can give you a good return and ensures the relative safety of your original investment.

Bonds aren’t as liquid as cash or investments in stocks, so you cannot always move your money in and out of these bonds freely.

B U S I N E S S

5 GOLD Mothepu: Investments in gold are a good venture during a recession, as gold is largely seen as a safe investment for preserving capital and protection against a “tail risk”. Gold has an intrinsic value and will display safe haven qualities for an investor at the time of extreme bear markets. However, it does not provide any income.

Wouter: Gold is usually a haven in turbulent markets such as this, but this asset class is not without risk. Gold prices can be very volatile and subject to the whims of the global market. If you invest in physical gold, your investment is not very liquid, which means that you cannot turn it into cash right away.

The only possible growth you get in gold is from the price of gold, or the underlying instrument linked to the gold price, that goes up.

You do not earn interest or dividends from this asset class and I usually avoid it.

6 STOCK MARKET Mothepu: During a recession, remaining invested in the stock market is not a far-fetched idea, especially when prudently implemented through a dividend strategy. An investor can experience less volatility by selecting stocks with steady growth and a long-term track record of paying out regular income in the form of dividends on top of capital appreciation.

These are typically high quality blue chip stocks with strong balance sheets and little or no gearing in defensive industries where they command significant market share. It is not to say that these stocks are not risky and without potential for short-term fluctuations or capital loss, however dividend stocks can cause a stock to fall far less than non-dividend paying stocks due to the yield component that supports share price movement.

Wouter: Pick specific stocks to invest in which can be purchased through an online share trading platform or stockbroker, who can provide you with good stock-picking advice. Do not invest money that you cannot risk, because you are bound to lose on some of your stock picks. With this in mind, consider direct stock investment after your retirement and rainy day funds are established and funded.

If you are unfamiliar with stock trading, have a look at exchange traded fund. It trades like a stock, but it represents a basket of stocks, spreading your risk across many different stocks.

7 STRUCTURED PRODUCTS Mothepu: Structured products can be ideal during a recession as they provide benefits such as hedging downside risk. They deliver attractive returns and offer peace of mind. The investor typically knows what they will receive at the end of the investment period while investor capital is protected in full, or a set barrier is reached. However, structured products tend to impose lock-in periods which means limited or no access to your capital.

Wouter: Structured products are great if you are planning for a short term project, such as a wedding, or a specific event or item.

You are not looking to make much money on this type of investment, but you want it to be kept separate from your other savings or investments and you definitely do not want to lose this money. Any savings instrument that offers complete certainty has a low return. This is usually not the type of product you invest in for your retirement nest egg.

8 HEDGE FUNDS Mothepu: Hedge funds are ideally designed for investors who intend to make money, regardless of market conditions.

Their performance is less dependent on bond and equity market performance.

However, hedge funds are largely unregulated; they employ very complex structures and have high minimum investment requirements.

Wouter: This is an instrument and not a specific asset class, which means that you could invest in hedge funds that hold any other form of asset class, including gold, cash or bonds. With hedge funds you make a future call on the market and stand to gain very good returns if your call is correct.

If you made the wrong call, you stand to lose significant amounts of money. You should only consider investing in this risky product if you understand it.

BEFORE YOU INVEST Pay off your debts Mothepu: Debt is huge erosion to disposable income, and in order to weather recession, consumers need to reduce or pay off debt which will release capital for investment.

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Invest for retirement Wouter: Many people are lured to more glamorous investments and skimp on their pension funds. Ensure that you pay at least your minimum contribution to your retirement fund. New legislation that came into effect on March 1 this year allows you to contribute as much as 27.5% of your taxable income to a pension, provident and retirement annuity and deduct the contribution from your taxable income.

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Besides all other monthly costs like fuel and car installments, filling a basket with basic groceries today costs you a lot more than it did even as recently as a couple of months ago, leaving you with far less money. In a society where living in the now has become a new normal, saving is put off for later on in life. We all know that it is not a good idea to do so.

Many people are not saving, and only 6% of income-earning South Africans are properly preparing to retire and maintain a comfortable lifestyle. At Discovery Invest, we understand the different challenges that cause people not to save. At the same time, we understand how difficult it is to change behaviour so that you can save in order to provide for a lifestyle that you deserve, especially in retirement when you may no longer be earning an income.

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L I F E S T Y L E

What In The

Unique religious practices from around the world

By Caitlin Hogg One of the greatest wonders, and indeed pleasures, of this world is the diversity that exists among men. There is great beauty in the extreme variation one finds when it comes to culture, religious leaning, tradition and societal behaviour.

So in celebration of what makes us different, here is a compilation of some lesser-known rituals in religions that continue to be mainstream in various societies around the world.

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HINDUISM: THAIPUSAM - BODY MORTIFICATION During a Hindu festival called Thaipusam, celebrated in January or February each year by Tamil communities around the world, devotees take part in body mortification. That means hooks are placed through the skin and spears through the cheeks, skin and tongue.

Thaipusam commemorates when Parvati, the Hindu goddess of love, fertility and devotion gave Murugan, the Hindu God of War, a vel (a kind of spear), which allowed him to vanquish an evil demon by the name of Soorapadman. During the festival, worshippers shave their heads and attend a day-long pilgrimage, all the while carrying various “burdens” — which range from pots of milk, to the aforementioned spear through the cheeks and other variations of skin hooking and piercing.

In the ritual of the piercing, worshippers will be blessed and have their flesh pierced by a priest, either by a single long spike through both cheeks, or hook-ended ropes connected to chariots penetrating the flesh on the worshipper’s backs and arms. At insertion, it is believed the pilgrims are entranced, having meditated for 21 days up until the festival so the pain does not affect them.

Image by Shutterstock

World... ?

JAINISM: DIGAMBAR (DIGAMBARA) - NAKED MONKS It’s not every day that one sees a holy man dressed in the metaphorical Emperor’s New Clothes but this is a common sight amongst the holy men who subscribe to a branch of Jainism, called Digambar or Digambara. Meaning “skyclad” in Sanskrit, Digambara monks are required to take 28 vows, one of which is nudity, or digambar, as they consider clothing a possession that can lead to an attachment to the material. Another vow of non-violence sees the skyclad monks carry brushes made of fallen peacock feathers with them at all times, and they sweep any tiny creatures such as ants out of their path, so that they don’t kill them in error. Nudity also removes the potential of crushing small insects that are found in dirty clothing. Digambara Mothers, the female counterpart of the monks, are the only exception to the nudist rule, as their nakedness would be Digambara Jain ascetics partake in the religious considered to cause “social ceremony during the disruption.” The women, Caturmas festival at the therefore, wear white saris.

Jain temple 25

Images by Shutterstock

Thaipusam is a Hindu ceremony that is held each year during the full moon in the tenth month of the Hindu or Thai calendar.

JUDAISM: KAPAROT - THE SWINGING CHICKEN Every year, in the 10-day period between Rosh Hashanah, (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur, (Day of Atonement), some followers of the Jewish faith will swing a live cockerel or hen depending on their gender, three times over their heads, while speaking the words: “This is my substitute, my vicarious offering, my atonement. The cock or hen shall meet death, but I shall enjoy a long, pleasant life of peace.”

The chicken symbolically takes on the person’s burden of guilt for the sins committed during the year, and is then slaughtered and either cooked and eaten by the person performing the ritual, or offered as food to the poor. This practice is performed in order to express the urgency in seeking divine absolution for sins committed in the previous year.

Ultra orthodox Jewish man waves a chicken over himself during the “Kaparot” ceremony

VAJRAYANA BUDDHISM: BYAGTOR - SKY BURIALS In Tibet, a highly respectful form of burial is done in the sky. Family members transport their loved one’s remains to the mountains at night, sometimes cutting the body up so as to disperse it as widely as possible. The body is then placed on a stone structure called a Dakhma and left to the elements where the weather, insects and carrion birds, such as vultures, can have their way.

Sky burials are in alignment with the Vajrayana Buddhist belief in transmigration of the spirit. They believe the body is nothing more than a vessel for the spirit, and so what could seem to be a brutal way of handling the dead is actually an act of generosity in Vajrayana communities. Your loved one’s body is being used to feed other living things, thus perpetuating the Sky burial site Yerpa Valley cycle of life.

CHRISTIANITY: EL SALTO DEL COLACHO - THE JUMP OF THE DEVIL El Salto del Colacho is an annual Spanish holiday that celebrates the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi. During this festival, babies born in the year just past are laid on a mattress in the street as young girls shower them with rose petals and a priest blesses them. Once blessed, the babies are placed upon a mattress and a man dressed in red and yellow representing the Devil – el Colacho – jumps over them. Although its origins are unknown, the practice is done for similar reasons as the more traditionally practiced baptism, in that it is understood to cleanse the babies of original sin, along with ensuring them safety from illness and evil spirits and a safe passage through life.

The world of religion and culture is steeped in folklore, human history and tradition spanning hundreds of years. Understandably from their origins that are based in much more primitive times, these practices can seem outlandish at best. However, they are an integral part of the human history we have El Salto del Colacho woven for centuries and continue to weave, that The Jump of the Devil connects us.

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Sky Burial Image By en:User:John Hill (en:Image:Sky burial site, Yerpa Valley.JPG) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/), GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Because it has become somewhat controversial in modern times due to the potential mistreatment of the animals before the ritual, the chicken is frequently replaced by money placed in a cloth, which is then donated.

Image by Shutterstock

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B U S I N E S S

THE GREAT DISRUPTOR Africa may have had some hits in the media, but it’s setting trends and benchmarks on the international stage

By Tamsin Oxford Disruption has become the key word for 2016. It’s linked with words such as digital, data, IT, cloud, innovation and development. It is also the ideal descriptor for the African continent where technologies are leapfrogged and harsh conditions ignite invention and disavow convention. While there remain challenges which pepper the landscapes of various countries across the continent, there is also optimism and inspiration and plenty of opportunity. Africa is where the innovation disruption is taken to new levels as need and demand push the barriers of inventiveness and entrepreneurs step out of the socalled dust and onto the world stage.

“As Africa becomes more and more visible on the international stage, the world also seems to be opening its collective eyes to the

continent’s potential,” says Marco Rosa, managing director of Formula D Interactive.

Among the many factors driving transformation across Africa are connectivity and technology. Access to media channels and social media is exposing Africa to developments globally and giving them the impetus they need to create solutions which are as individual as the continent on which they live.

One example is the development of the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant in Morocco.

Powered by the Saharan sun and built to bring power to millions, the Ouarzazate solar power plant consists of four interlinked megaplants and will make up the largest concentrated solar power plant in

the world once it is completed. It is estimated that it will deliver around 580MW when the four plants have been built and will be the same size as the capital city of Rabat.

According to Robbie Cheadle, associate director deal advisory of KPMG South Africa: “Corruption, poor infrastructure and onerous business conditions in fact do not scare off investors. Total foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to Africa have increased by 20% in the five year period ended 2014 and Southern Africa achieved the largest increase in FDI inflows over this period. Central and East Africa followed closely behind.”

The World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business surveys, the Transparency International Corruption Perception 29

Image by Isofoton.es (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

AFRICA:

Photovoltaic Micro-plants

by Isofoton (Morocco)

B U S I N E S S

URBAN METRO IN ADDIS ABABA In true African style, Addis Ababa has overcome challenges around infrastructure with its urban metro system. It is the first light rail system of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa and makes no small difference to the crowded and clogged roads of this rapidly growing capital city. Ethiopia is one of Africa’s top performing economies with a growth of 10.3% from 2013-2014, a tight inflation rate and a consistently positive outlook. It is making significant strides into becoming one of the leading performers on a number of the Ease of Doing Business rankings such as Enforcing Contracts and Dealing with Construction Permits.

BOSCH BREWS IN ETHIOPIA Another organisation which has recognised the potential in Africa and stuck with it since the early 20th century is Bosch. The company is looking to further expand its mining and industrial solutions into the continent and is keen to increase its brand presence in Africa.

“With positive economic development underpinned by both a wealth of raw materials and by an increasingly well-educated workforce and growing middle class, Bosch sees great potential for its business in Africa,” says Landry Meya, key account manager mining Africa region. “The growing infrastructure and industry also offer good opportunities for the mining sector.”

Bosch has recognised that Ethiopia, one of the largest players in the world coffee market, is exporting more than 90% of its raw commodity with the majority 30

of profits generated outside of the country. The company has started developing public-private partnerships to enable entrepreneurs and farmers to actively participate in the industry through processing, roasting, manufacturing, packaging and even distribution.

“Bosch views this initiative as crucial to the progress of the African continent both in terms of economic development and sustainability as well as enhancing food security. It is a partnership as our business model is underpinned by creating long-term, sustainable solutions for emerging and developing markets,” adds Meya.

MULTIPURPOSE TERMINAL IN CENTRAL AFRICA Development in the Cameroon is slightly more waterlogged. The Kribi Port Multi Operators consortium comprising nine local operators and the Necotrans Group were awarded the contract to operate and maintain a multipurpose terminal at the Kribi deep water port. It is the only one of its kind in Central Africa and will potentially drive the economy of the Cameroon, Chad and Central Africa.

The port provides employment, accessibility and much needed transportation infrastructure to the region and plays no small role in boosting the viability of the area.

INTERNATIONAL STAGE African disruption is not limited to the waterfront or mining belt. South African comedian Trevor Noah took over from Jon Stewart on Canadian broadcast television’s CTV’s The Daily Show, an achievement which rocked both his home country of

Image by Shutterstock

Index and the KPMG analysis have found four primary factors which influence investment into African states. These include comparatively high growth expectations compared with developed economies, politically mature governments with independent judiciaries, available land and significant mineral and other resources and increased domestic consumption.

Trevor Noah took over from Jon Stewart on the Daily Show

South Africa and his new home of the United States. But wait, there’s more: Nigerian comedian Basketmouth has had a day officially named after him in Houston, Texas.

July 17 is now named in honour of his work towards connecting communities. And in Cape Town, clothing design gurus House of Monatic has been selected to manufacture clothing for fashion label, Stenströms of Sweden.

“Africans are using our culture, heritage and challenges as inspiration to develop creative and innovative solutions to African problems,” concludes Rosa. “When international clients see what we can produce as a result of the level of talent here in Africa, they’re usually somewhat surprised. They’re even more (and pleasantly) surprised when they see what we charge relative to competitors in more developed regions.”

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VRYHEID FREEDOM

Students take protests to the street.

Soweto 1976

Linguistic diversity and transformative education: will the two ever meet?

By Michelle Randall

Nelson Mandela famously said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”

It’s been 40 years since the Soweto Uprising, when school students fought – and died – for the right to be educated in their mother tongue. With recent protests by university students against the language policies at predominantly Afrikaans-speaking campuses, we can’t help but draw a parallel between Then, and Now, and ask the question: with 11 official languages recognised by our Constitution, can one take precedence over another?

On 16 June 1976, hundreds of students gathered in Soweto to march against the apartheid government’s imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in township schools. Among the first to be killed on that day, 13-year-old Hector Pieterson became a tragic symbol of the resistance when an iconic news photograph by Sam Nzima – featuring the dying boy – was published worldwide. What began as a student march quickly turned into a national revolution.

Four decades later, and the Afrikaans language has again fuelled protests. Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape came under fire for allegations of racism when Luister (Listen), a documentary highlighting inequality at the university, went viral in August 2015. Produced by 32

Contraband Cape Town, the film’s purpose was “to give a voice to a group that is being stripped of that voice.”

In the documentary, 32 students and one lecturer present reports of their experiences at Stellenbosch University, all of which put into stark focus the language barrier that they face at the predominantly Afrikaans-speaking institution. As many classes at the university are taught in Afrikaans only, students who do not speak the language say they are being denied their constitutional right of access to learning.

Speaking to Radio 702, Professor Jonathan Jansen, University of the Free State Vice Chancellor said, “It’s a singular failure of the leadership [at Stellenbosch University]. Not understanding that you cannot use language as a barrier to black students at the universities, or treat black students as second class citizens.”

Soon after, other predominantly Afrikaans-speaking campuses in South Africa, such as the University of the Free State and University of Pretoria, saw their share of violent clashes, which instead of aiding linguistic diversity, reduced the issue to a baseline rhetoric of black versus white.

C U R R E N T

A F FA I R S

Raimund Nel, 23, a student at the University of Pretoria (Tuks) witnessed violent clashes which erupted on February 22, which has become known as “Black Monday.”

Nel explained how, following lecture disruptions by members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and others, he joined a group of students walking to the Hatfield magistrate’s court to lend support to the 21 students who had been arrested by police the previous week.

we could move away from emotive language and instead focus on the financial benefits for universities to teach in [one] language, then I believe the heart of the problem could be addressed.”

However, the hearing had been postponed, and the group returned to the public amphitheatre on campus to discuss what action could be taken. “When we arrived, members of AfriForum Youth (a pro-Afrikaans civil rights group) had formed a human wall to prevent us from accessing the amphitheatre,” says Nel, adding that AfriForum members “cursed and provoked the predominantly black students with hate speech and racial slurs.

Jacques du Preez, spokesperson for the Afrikaans Alumni Society quoted Section 64 of the bill of rights when he told the SABC that all the official languages must be treated equally. “As much as we understand the question of English as an academic language [so] we also function in a place where there are certain constitutional rights attached to all the official languages in South Africa… we cannot understand why Afrikaans as a protected official language is constantly being etched away,” he says.

“I was called a traitor and a moffie for standing with students who I believed were doing the right thing,” he says.

Nel explains how a fight then broke out, and how, fearing for his life, he fled. “These movements do have meaning,” he states, but adds that awareness around the issue should focus on how South Africa’s economic system prevents the majority of its citizens from receiving basic service delivery, and not on political agenda.

But is this racial hangover realistically avoidable, when institutions such as Stellenbosch still maintain a reputation for being bastions of white Afrikaner culture?

The university is among four in the country that are considered “Afrikaans,” a notion that the ministry of education says “runs counter to the end goal of a transformed higher education system.”

The ministry’s national plan for higher education includes the creation of higher education institutions “whose identity and cultural orientation is neither black nor white, English or Afrikaans-speaking, but unabashedly and unashamedly South African.”

Nel suggests that substantive equality should be the goal, rather than formal equality. “Substantive equality puts people on the same level, where some will require more support than others to achieve the same standard.” He explains that the problem with formal equality (which aims to treat everyone equally) is that “it disregards history and the reasons why one might be at a lower level than another.”

Stellenbosch University uses both English and Afrikaans as the mediums of instruction at undergraduate level, while postgraduate courses are all conducted in English.

It’s clear though, by comments made in the documentary, that this multilingual approach is not always effective.

Ahead of the release of Luister, student activist group Open Stellenbosch issued a memorandum in May 2015 outlining their requests to redress the language policy at Stellenbosch University.

Monica Blignaut, an honours student at the University of Pretoria, says there can be no quick fix to this problem as language plays a large role in people’s identities. “But if

Open Stellenbosch suggested that the university teach all its classes in English from January 2016, a move that both the National Council of the Afrikanerbond and the Afrikaans Alumni Society described as “irrational.”

There’s a need to critically examine the role of English and linguistic diversity in education in South Africa, where history and language are intertwined in racial discourse.

During apartheid, Afrikaans was seen as the language of the oppressor, and inevitably used as a means to subvert African people. However, it should also be noted that language – as a subversive tool – was being employed in South Africa long before the dark days of Vorster.

In a 1982 essay for the academic journal Cultural Survival, author Marjorie Lilly explained that Afrikaners did not win the right to be taught in Afrikaans until 1925. “The Afrikaners’ language is the primary symbol of their sense of cultural distinctness.”

In March this year, AfriForum Youth applied for court action to ensure that the language policy at Stellenbosch University places English and Afrikaans on an equal footing. The High Court granted the application and demanded that the university implement the plan by the end of March 2016. Open Stellenbosch declared the university’s failure to oppose the application as a move that continues to put black students at a disadvantage.

At the time of going to print, Open Stellenbosch had submitted a counter-application to repeal the court order.

The 1976 Soweto Uprising heightened political awareness and saw the emergence of new leaders, changed the course of South African history and laid the foundation for a new democratic South Africa. What will transformative education look like in the future?

The film's purpose was ''to give a voice to a group that is being stripped of that voice''.

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BUZZ CEO

LUBABALO NOJIWA DRAUGHTING THE FUTURE OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION

How would you reconcile an education in draughtsmanship and architecture with a technological career?

Lubabalo Nojiwa, founder and chief executive of tech triple threats Buzz Con, Buzz Mobile and Buzz ICT has it all. And he exudes a laidback, yet enthusiastic energy to boot. We spoke to him about his what inspires him, the Buzz empire and everything in between.

Lubabalo Nojiwa (37) founder and chief executive of tech triple threats Buzz Con, Buzz Mobile and Buzz ICT.

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A D V E R T O R I A L

You have three business branches under Buzz, Mobile being the firstborn of the family.

What makes Buzz Mobile stand out?

Buzz Mobile is dynamic; we make things happen. Obviously we function primarily within a mobile space. But we pioneered the use of MMS billing statements within the municipal space. We always try to find something unique to bring to our customers, from MMS statements to mobile payments and other funky additions to our product line. We really want to push the boundaries of the time when it comes to mobile.

You began your journey into your career as an architect, talk us through the journey from architecture to mobile marketing.

I’ve always been a geek in disguise [laughs]. At school, I was quite good at art – painting, drawing, all of that sort of thing. Architecture was something that I was drawn to from a young age – I just love structures. My very first love, however, was and will always be IT. I understand technology despite not having studied it. I may not use the terminology and jargon, but I just get how it works.

After working in the construction and architectural space for all those years, I decided to make the jump to IT, and never looked back. I absolutely love what I do – I found my niche.

I’m lucky in that I was born with the ability to apply quite a structured approach to a lot of things in my life, which I believe comes from my architectural days. That type of thinking works well in IT. Well, it does for me, anyway.

What inspires you?

A lot of things inspire me. People, nature, my kids inspire me greatly.

My experiences inspire me too, as I believe that I have something to give the world. I don’t think I’m there yet, but I think there’s still something I will give birth to that is instrumental in changing the technology landscape in South Africa. I believe that that idea, when executed, could be revolutionary.

Eight years ago, when I was only beginning my journey into the ICT industry, I started a company called iJobFind. It was basically a job-search mobile app. It was a little app that you could log into and enter your mini-CV, which would be accessible by recruiters who too used the app, who would then call you up for an interview.

Some interviews would even happen through the app itself. It’s just an example of the types of things that I constantly try to bring out. I have a lot of ideas, and I think that the idea - you know, the game changer

- is still yet to come, but it’s just a matter of time.

What does the future hold for Buzz Group?

The way that they were developed, and the way that they are growing, I think that there is a lot of potential for collaboration and fusion between Buzz Mobile and its siblings Buzz ICT, our technology branch, and Buzzcon, which is more of an allround technology and construction company. The vision I have for the future of the Buzz umbrella, really, is to become a significant role player in the development of SA’s infrastructure, and beyond.

What are your hobbies when you aren’t Buzzing?

I’m a big motorcycle fan. When I’m not Buzzing I enjoy hopping on my Harley Davidson and enjoying the open road with my biking club. I also believe in taking time out to see the world both for business advantage and leisure, so I try to travel to new places overseas annually. You really learn so much. When I’m on home turf, I spend as much time as possible with my family and kids.

They are the most important people in my life.

Contact details Lubabalo Nojiwa, CEO Email: lubabalo@buzzmobile.co.za www.buzzmobile.co.za

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L U X U R Y

A DECADE OF

Decadence Can you believe it’s 2016 already? Surely it was just the other day that South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup? Surely! Except, it wasn’t. That was SIX years ago.

By Helena Lombard

Time is going so quickly and everyone seems to be having a hard time trying to keep up.

They do say time flies when you’re having fun and let’s face it, as a species we’ve definitely evolved to indulge all our senses. That being said, there’s an exclusive, elitist sub-group that do it even better: the big spenders who live and breathe a life motto that money is no object and that it can, in fact, buy happiness.

We take a little trip back to the future and look at a few of the most luxurious, bizarre and interesting inventions of the past decade.

37

37

THE PINK STAR If diamonds are in fact a girl’s best friend, then this one would be your very best friend for life: the kind of friend you would never want to ever let out of your sight. Ever. The Steinmetz Pink Star was a ring made from an extremely rare 59.60-carat pink diamond. This beauty was mined by De Beers in South Africa back in 1999. In 2013, the ring sold for a massive £51.7-million (R1-billion). The buyer and the receiver of this ring remained anonymous, but we’re sure she said “I do”… about 50 million times over.

a life motto that money is no object CHÂTEAU MARGAUX This is not the type of wine you spit out after tasting it. In fact, the longer you keep it in your mouth before swallowing it, the better…in our books at least. In fact, we wouldn’t open it at all!

Wine merchant Le Clos in Terminal 3 of Dubai Airport announced that they would be selling three Balthazars of a 2009 Bordeaux from Château Margaux at a staggering $195 000 (R2.8-million) per bottle! The price included a first class flight to France for an exclusive tour of the vineyard followed by a dinner at the chateau.

The Steinmetz Pink Star

RUIJSSENAARS MAGNETIC FLOATING BED At Afropolitan we’re all for comfort, and if we had to describe the ultimate bed it would be a king size bed, lovingly made up with soft pillows, a comfy duvet and a bedside table, filled with books and a lamp close enough so that you don’t have to get out of bed to switch off the light once you’re tucked in. To many people, this is luxury, that small indulgence after a long day at the office. The inventor of the air mattress, however, would disagree. When you think about an air mattress, you probably picture the kind you drag along on camping trips, the kind that once blown up deflates to the shape of the heaviest parts of your body in under an hour. But think again: in 2007 Dutch architect Janjaap Ruijssenaars invented a bed that levitates. It may all sound a bit David Copperfield-ish, but it’s actually just very clever science. Inspired by the 1968 sci-fi film, 2001: A Spacey Odyssey, Ruijssenaars designed the floating bed by using a matching set of repelling magnets: one set built into the base of the bed and the other inside the floor which keeps the bed afloat. If this appeals to you, it’ll cost you R21.5-million to float to dreamland. But we do suggest taking off any metal jewellery before you climb in.

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Château Margaux

Ruijssenaars Magnetic Floating Bed

Château Margaux image by Benjamin Zingg, Switzerland (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

L U X U R Y

Dolly the sheep became so 1997 in 2007 when scientists from BioArts announced you could have your best friend cloned. If your best friend was a dog, that is. And if you had about $150 000 (R2.1-million) spare change lying around. Surprisingly, five people did; the cloned puppies were delivered to them two years later. The trend for cloning pets didn’t last long, however. In September 2009 BioArts Chief Executive, Lou Hawthorne, issued a press release announcing that the company will no longer clone animals. The controversial nature of pet cloning and the experimentation that goes along with it to get it right resulted in some negative media attention. Today, despite BioArts no longer offering the service, the pet cloning business is alive and well, with several companies worldwide prepared to clone your furbaby.

Images by Shutterstock

CLONE YOUR PUPPY

If this appeals to you, it'll cost you R21.5-million to float to dreamland.

THE TESLA ROADSTER By 2008, the idea of an electric car wasn’t new, but an electric car that was actually good looking, well that got people talking, including Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney and other A-list celebs.

The electric car that got heads turning and tongues wagging was the Tesla Roadster and with a price tag of $100 000 (R1.4-million). The high-performance electric sports car was so impressive (with a top speed of 125mph) that Time magazine named it on of the best inventions of 2008.

The Tesla Roadster

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Images by Shutterstock

L U X U R Y

SUBLIMOTION: THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE RESTAURANT Ibiza is best known for its party experience and luxury resorts, but a new restaurant opened up its doors and promised a gastronomic experience like you’ve never had before. Not only does this restaurant challenge your senses, with a cover charge of $2 015 (more than R29 000) per person, it definitely challenges your wallet too. Sublimotion is the brainchild of two-Michelin star Spanish chef Paco Roncero and it has been running since 2014. Described as a “gastro-sensory-venture” this 20-course dinner allows for only 12 guests per seating and every dish is served as a sensory treat in a different environment. The result is a combination of Roncero’s natural culinary talent combined with technology, science and the study of emotions.

It’s like British celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal’s Spanish version of the famous Fat Duck and the waiting list is long. We did a quick online reservation to see, and there was a one-week gap where we could book a spot... four months from now. After that, it seems to be fully booked long into 2017. So if you’re a foodie at heart, and you’ve got the money to spend (or save), this will be an experience to remember.

Google’s Driverless Car

GOOGLE’S DRIVERLESS CAR What might seem like old news now, was big news in 2010 when Google announced that it had fitted a Prius with radar sensors, video cameras and a laser range finder and that it had self-driven a staggering 193 000km without any serious incidents. Fastforward to 2015 and these self-driving cars used for testing had grown to a fleet of 23 Lexus SUVs and

by June that same year, the fleet had driven over 1.6-million kilometres. But as is the norm with most hi-tech innovations, there have been some teething problems, including minor accidents, the latest being in February this year where one car – in an attempt to avoid sandbags in its way – crashed into a bus. Other accidents that were reported were caused when the driverless car was either taken over and driven manually by an actual human or were due to other drivers in normal vehicles. So, as far as car accidents go, these statistics aren’t bad at all.

The estimated release date of 10-million self-drive cars is set for 2020, so if you can manage to put away approximately $320 000 (R4.6-million) by then you could buy one. Hopefully, by then the cars will be able to safely avoid doing tricks like crashing into a bus rather than a sandbag.

The sophisticated audiovisual setting with a table designed for 12 unique guests with a hidden and restricted entrance

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Y A D H T U YO 16 June has become an iconic day in South Africa’s turbulent history. We have many lessons to carry with us.

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hange will come. Though slowly and incrementally, change will come – this is what we have to believe. Growing up in the dusty, matchbox constructed housing of the south western townships, a creation of the apartheid government, the young student leaders of the 16 June 1976 uprising found that the place itself was a melting pot of displaced communities who were evicted from Sophiatown, Martindale and Alexandra. The children of mine labourers, domestic workers, nurses and bus drivers grew up seeing a bleak future that reflected the oppression experienced by their parents under pass laws. It must have struck deeply inside every one of them that their future would be designated to limited choices in education and, subsequently, a lack of advancement from the poverty that surrounded them.

Image by Shutterstock

40 YEARS ON

A D V E R T O R I A L

One can only imagine the palpable exasperation in students living in the townships, created by tensions that had been built over the years when the apartheid government of the National Party introduced Bantu education. Set up in 1953 as a project of the department of native affairs, Bantu education became a tool of oppression to educate black people from an early age that they were not equal to Europeans. What may have fuelled young black children to band together and start protesting at Orlando High School in April of 1976 is not always clearly documented, as one can’t always put into words what it feels like to be told and taught that you are less than another human being. To be taught that you may never amount to anything because of the colour of your skin; to be denied a chance of advancement simply because you are black, living in South Africa.

The spirit of challenging the status quo, which seemed futile at times to the older generation who had seen the results of uprisings such as the Sharpville massacre in 1960, was once again ignited in students who had a common goal: to challenge and confront the Department of Bantu Education. A meeting at the Orlando Donaldson Community Hall, which attracted 500 students from various schools in Soweto, would be the catalyst on that fateful day when the peaceful protest of 20 000 students against the introduction of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction turned into a massacre where 23 young people lost their lives when confronted by armed state policeman.

Much is said about the iconic taking back of power by these courageous youths because, in essence, their protest sparked national and international outrage and condemnation which set in motion various protests and a change in how the black struggle for liberation story was told. Similarly, the South African youth of 2016 seem to have embarked on a similar course of civil and education rights protests and activities since 2015, making the nation take notice of their reclaiming their constitutional rights to education and now a free education. Freedom has not been free but freedom is also a state of mind and our young

people need to understand that the agency for change is not just governed by external events; there have always been challenges and obstacles but throughout history people have succeeded against all odds.

True success does not come overnight – it takes time and young peoples’ notion of time is always juxtaposed by the need for instant gratification, brought on by a restless spirit.

It’s interesting to watch as the youth steadily reclaim their wonder years of exploration and self-identification, rebuffing the exhaustive label of a self-entitled generation Y. They have recognised that they have a future and they want to own it. Their love and patriotism for the ideals of a free and fair South Africa often reflected across our screens in protests and speeches by student leaders, leave us assured that the fight for our ideals continues. In the same breath, each young person will have to stand alone in their personal struggles and challenges and build character to overcome and rise above the constraints before them.

Kaya House 195 Jan Smuts Avenue Parktown North, 2193 Tel : 011634 9500 www.kayafm.co.za 43

A F FA I R S

THE GREAT HOMEWORK DEBATE Children no longer have the time to be children anymore.

By Michelle Randall

Do we want wonder-kids? Or do we want our kids to have the wonder of childhood? Balance is getting harder to find in and outside the classroom.

Last year, Sun Valley Primary School in Cape Town made the trailblazing decision to scrap homework from children’s schedules. The results?

Happier, more engaged children and more valuable learning, according to principal Gavin Keller. We asked parents to weigh in on the debate.

Mounting financial and work pressures are stressing out today’s families. Who wants to come home from a long day at the office and have to deal with the chore of your child’s homework?

Julie Venter from Port Elizabeth, whose daughters are in Grade three and five respectively, says too much is expected of children these days.

“My girls each do a sport, music classes and are in the choir. They’re in aftercare, which assists with the homework burden, but we still struggle to fit in the evening schedule. Each year, the homework demand grows and grows, and when 44

you have two kids, it becomes a juggling act. I don’t like having to ‘do’ school again, but I don’t have a choice,” she says.

Lorren Volschenk from Durban agrees that her children are also overloaded. With two daughters, including one in high school, she’s limited their involvement in extra mural activities but still feels they’re overburdened.

“Micayla – in high school – wakes up before 5am every morning to study or complete her homework, attends school until 2:45pm, and is only finished with extra murals at 4:30pm.

She comes home, grabs a snack, and is off to her room to do homework.

Eventually at 9pm, I have to tell her it’s bedtime. Children no longer have the time to be children anymore,” she says.

According to Keller, many parents simply don’t have time to sit with their children in the evening to help

with homework, and this affects learning. He says that children who get help in the evenings tend to manage, but those without that kind of support after hours are simply being left behind.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS Keller has told several news outlets that the school’s decision to replace uniform homework with reading, personal performance tasks and revision for the assessment week each term was informed by global research, including American scholar Bill Deresiewicz’s book Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life (2014).

Deresiewicz’s research shows that it’s usually the brighter children who don’t do their work in class, and instead take it home where their parents can assist them. Because of this, many achievers at school tend to “fall apart” at first year varsity.

Image by Shutterstock

C U R R E N T

C U R R E N T

A F FA I R S

Sun Valley Primary’s new homework policy has taken years of extensive work to redesign the school’s curriculum using the Understanding

by Design (UbD) methodology, as well as BrainSMART teaching strategies

by Donna Wilson, and Brain-based Learning by Eric Jensen.

The result is a neuro-learning programme that involves REAL learning: R=Relevant, E=Engaging, A=Attention, and L=Lifelong learning.

The move away from homework is underlined by these strategies.

BALANCE IS KEY Keller told Radio 702 listeners in an interview: “We asked ourselves, what is the purpose of homework when children are already spending seven hours at school and how are these kids going to have a balanced life?”

Cath Jenkin, a Durban-based writer, agrees that balance is key. “Parents need to be aware that while there are many extra murals on offer, your child does not have to participate in all of them. Our daughter only does three extra murals per term (one sport, one cultural activity, and one service), which frees up two afternoons each week to do homework, study for tests, and maybe throw in some play time.”

WHAT ABOUT PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT? In an op-ed about the school’s decision on eNCA in November 2015, writer Georgina Guedes argued that while everyone on the receiving end of homework isn’t crazy about it, “we are required to do many things in life that we don’t like, but which have value and help to improve our circumstances.”

For Guedes, the benefit of doing schoolwork at home is to ensure that “knowledge has been properly transferred and that children aren’t doing things in a hypnotic state when their teachers are in the room.

“I also think that there are many different learning and teaching styles, and something might click for a child when a parent is explaining 46

it, after they’ve been struggling to understand what the teacher meant.

And I think it’s important for parents to understand and be involved in what their children are learning,” writes Guedes.

Jenkin agrees: “While I fully support the scrapping of homework, it could mean less parental involvement in academics, which is already a problem. I think it’ll be harder to get into a study routine for exams, if you haven’t had a homework routine to stick to. So, in that way, I worry it’ll be more difficult on the child come exam time.”

INSPIRING ACCOUNTABILITY Keller says Sun Valley’s approach is forcing children to use all their time in class to focus their attention on a given task.

“Now we are making them 100% accountable, and now we can see where they are battling immediately, and then we can plan accordingly,” he says, adding that children are doing better because they are being assessed in class, and receiving immediate feedback.

INSPIRING TEACHERS According to Keller, the role of educators, ultimately, is to get through to students, and improve their growth. This is a task which becomes cumbersome when overloaded by homework. He says that teachers have a tendency to be so pressurised by curriculum overload that they go into “default teaching mode” and assign all unfinished work as homework.

Johannesburg-based writer and mother of twin seven-year-old boys, Shelley Hutton says that this idea was highlighted during parents’ evening at her sons’ school, recently.

“We were told that the reinforcement of skills [is] necessary at this age to bed down concepts – sight words, reading fluency, doubling, halving – is not always possible by educators during class time; parental involvement is requisite, not an optional extra.”

Keller says the no homework policy has introduced a newer-based learning space to the school and that it has improved the climate of the classroom.

DO WE WANT WONDERKIDS? “Our decision to replace conventional uniform homework with reading and other personal performance tasks has certainly caused a stir,” Keller writes on the school’s blog, adding that the move seems to have scratched a festering scab on the skin of many parents, countrywide. The story was covered by several news outlets, including SABC, eTV, Cape Talk and Forbes. In a survey on News24, 88.4% of respondents felt that all schools should do away with homework completely.

Hutton says:“I think the question is less about our schools and more about our society’s expectations of where kids should be at socially, developmentally and academically.

Do we want wonderkids? Or do we want our kids to have the wonder of childhood? Balance is getting harder to find in and outside the classroom.”

Our decision to replace conventional uniform homework with reading and other personal performance tasks has certainly caused a stir

DUNE/AFROPOLITAN_JUNE16

Available at the following flagship stores: Highveld Mall, Rosebank Mall, Canal Walk, Centurion Mall, Sandton City, Baywest Mall and selected Edgars stores.

L U X U R Y

10

THULA SINDI

Years of

Sophistication

By Nomali Cele

We talk fashion, style and the future of the textile industry in Africa with the award-winning designer.

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Celebrations are always better when you share them. This is why as we celebrate our 10-year anniversary we simply had to honour fellow Afropolitan Thula Sindi, of the eponymous women’s wear brand that is all elegance and style, as his journey has also hit the decade mark!

He spoke to The Afropolitan about his dreams for his hometown, going into retail and empowering a future generations.

Sindi is a 32-year-old award-winning designer who got his break, straight out of the London International School of Fashion, when he was employed as head designer at Vlisco, a Dutch textile company, in 2005. His beginnings point to where his sights were all along: while he acquired design experience at both Vlisco and Gavin Rajah, he also interned in

fashion buying at Woolworths. His eyes were always set on more than just the design aspect of fashion.

The Thula Sindi brand was born with a different kind of fashion in mind. Fashion for the sophisticated women who live full lives and need their clothes to make sense in each facet of those lives. The lines are always luxurious but affordable.

The designs are always creative and forward-thinking but always readyto-wear. Thula Sindi – the brand – is the designer brand for women who

want to invest in well-priced, quality pieces for their wardrobes. The Thula Sindi woman is defined as having “an appreciation for well-made, intelligently designed and reasonably priced clothing.”

While the Thula Sindi woman understands fashion and appreciates beautiful designs, her fashion has to be functional and wearable.

While trends are an important part of fashion, Sindi offers elegance, function and classic style to go with those trends.

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L U X U R Y

What has been the driving force for you to get into the retail end of things?

I have always had it in my mind that if I were going to be in the fashion business, I would go in as an entrepreneur. I knew I had to own the entire value chain, from creating the design to manufacturing and distributing it. Owning my business and my destiny is the force that drives me! This has led to me opening my own stores and having control of those outlets. It has not been an easy road, I can tell you, but we are doing it alone a step at a time. Fortunately, we have very strong sales – people are buying and people are supporting our brand, which is amazing!

Is that where the future of African design is headed – designers thinking beyond a beautiful design and a great show at Fashion Week?

Yes, indeed and most designers are already in that mindset. Fashion is a very difficult cut-throat industry and like everyone else we need to make money so we can put food on our table. Most designers are entrepreneurs; it’s just some are a more in the public eye than others.

We all think beyond the design and the fashion show and try to find innovative ways to get to the customer, engage with them and get a part of the big market that is clothing, textiles and fashion.

Why did you decide to open a store in Klerksdorp where most would have said Sandton City or Cape Town?

My hometown is in the North West province and its central location makes it a great place to open a store – it’s close to Potchefstroom, Mafikeng, Rustenburg and on the way to Kimberley in the Northern Cape so there is a lot of foot traffic. But there are other important reasons that led me to open a store in my hometown. Firstly, I wanted to give back and showcase what I do and where I came from. Secondly, it made sense logistically as I’ve already got a small clothing factory that I opened in Klerksdorp. Thirdly, I am dedicated to reigniting economic activity in the province and so I’m going to be 50

creating a lot of my garments there.

That’s something that’s really close to my heart. It makes economic sense. It’s a calculated risk and already we are seeing strong support.

Cape Town would have been a terrible place to open a store because, in my opinion, people don’t care enough about clothes really.

Well, not the kind of clothes that I make anyway [laughs] so it would be the last place I’d open up a store.

What are your dreams for the next 10 years?

More retail stores and trying to bring along other designers. I think I have a good idea of how one can grow a fashion business and I would really like to support younger designers as well. There are some really talented people out there and I would like to create a structure for them to flourish. While I want to see my business doing great, I really want to see all black businesses doing great things. We need a template for that in this country and I’m trying to create that template through owning the entire value chain even though it is very, very difficult.

That’s what I want to do over the next 10 years. I also want to put a lot more effort into dominating the market across the continent and the world. Thula Sindi garments are already available in Angola, Nigeria and some places in Asia, but that is just the beginning!

I knew I had to own the entire How far away from becoming a gentleman of leisure are you? value chain, from [Laughs] Sometimes it just feels like the dream is getting farther creating the design and farther away because there is so much work to do but I do take to manufacturing care of myself. I love relaxing. I have days, some short stretches, where I do distributing feel like a gentleman of leisure. and Retirement is about 10 years away from now, I honestly thought it it.

Owning my would be a lot closer [laughs]. But having said that, I am putting things business and my in place to make sure I can live the best life I can. destiny is the force I do love to work but if I didn’t have to, life would be a lot better! that drives me!

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L I F E S T Y L E

What Fashion Trends Tell Us About Our World Fashion is visibly shifting and sending out a new message – are you paying attention?

By Heather Clancy

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Are you really what you wear? The fashion world is often portrayed as shallow and fanciful, but if it is, it’s only because it reflects our collective choices and desires. Our choices inform the movements of fashion and our desire for more strengthens the industry. We are not slaves to the fashion world, the fashion world is made in our image and if we look closely, we can see our reflection everywhere.

OUR WORLD WANTS MORE, MORE OFTEN Fashion Week, as we know it, is dead.

Traditionally, Fashion Week – most notably, in New York, London, Paris and Milan – is a fashion industry event where big name designers display their latest collections in a runway show for buyers and the media and then a whole six months passes before the various collections are available in stores. The halfyear delay was intended to allow the media and buyers a chance to preview the clothes designed for the season to come.

However, in the age of social media and live streaming from the runway, the six-month delay no longer makes sense or cents. Indoctrinated by the immediacy of online shopping, consumers want what they see

#JetLoveYourself includes women of all races, shapes and sizes and affirms their common beauty...

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L I F E S T Y L E

Think of the emergence of transgender models... and it is clear that fashion has changed from its 1990s heyday when they see it. And designers want to give it to them in order to prevent being leapfrogged by high street retailers such as Zara and H&M who are keen to copy their designs and sell them at a fraction of the cost.

Plus-size blogger Gabi Gregg

Premium labels such as Tom Ford and Burberry are adapting their rollout to reflect this shift, with their aim to produce collections immediately for sale. Other fashion houses such as Hunter, Wes Gordon and Rebecca Taylor have abandoned the fashion week format altogether. Tellingly, designer Misha Nonoo cancelled her show opting for an Instagram debut instead and as a result enjoyed 80% growth in website traffic.

OUR WORLD WANTS EQUALITY AND REPRESENTATION Think of the emergence of transgender models like Andreja Pejić, Geena Rocero and Laith Ashley De La Cruz and it is clear that fashion has changed from its 1990s heyday which birthed the word “supermodel” expressly to describe impossibly beautiful creatures such as Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford. Impossibly beautiful but stereotypically so, the supermodels of the 1990s did not challenge gender conformity or the impossible expectations placed upon women. If anything, they simply confirmed the status quo and the continued othering – to various degrees – of those who fall short.

Transgender model Laith Ashley De La Cruz

“The way we think and speak of gender is changing, and fashion is only just reflecting that,” says writer and trend analyst Sandiso Ngubane. The same can be said for race and the complexity of true representation devoid of racial fetishism. In South Africa, this issue is particularly layered and pertinent given the reality that black people, despite being the majority, are underrepresented in fashion much like western countries where black people are the minority.

Globally, black models rarely make the cover of international glossy magazines, despite the prominence of the likes of Joan Smalls, Chanel Iman and Jordan Dunn. However, locally there has been a visible shift to represent the reality of the makeup of the country.

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L I F E S T Y L E

Plus-size bloggers such as Nadia Aboulhosn and Gabi Gregg have earned nearcelebrity status by doing what was once unthinkable Plus-size blogger Nadia Aboulhosn

Transgender model Geena Rocero

The Jet lingerie campaign, known as #JetLoveYourself includes women of all races, shapes and sizes and affirms their common beauty while celebrating their unique differences. Earning gushing feedback from social media, the campaign is a product of the knock-on effect of a global movement buoyed by the resurgence of feminism, which tries to affirm self-acceptance and the varied manifestations of the female form.

With the domino-like demise of so-called “lad mags” such as FHM and Zoo due in part to the proliferation of explicit images of women freely available on the internet, an unlikely yet promising change has taken shape. This year, Ashley Graham became the first plussize model to appear on the cover of the iconic Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Invoking a dizzying furore on social media, this debut echoes the progress of popular media to represent women as they are, and more than that, to affirm that “women as they are” are sexy – despite what the haters say.

The incessant stream of online images has inadvertently impelled print publications to give consumers something that they won’t find. And as it happens, what they won’t find is a realistic representation of the majority of women.

Plus-size bloggers such as Nadia Aboulhosn and Gabi Gregg have earned near-celebrity status by doing what was once unthinkable: boldly challenging the notion that the narrow gates of fashion are only open to women thin enough to fit through them. Embracing fashion as a tool to show off their curves rather than a trick to diminish them, Aboulhosn, Gregg and many others are an empowering edifice of the future of fashion.

Despite its continued obsession with whiteness, thinness and youth, the fashion industry is being challenged, much in the same way that we as society are being challenged.

Much has been said of the age of social media, but the truth is, never have we had a broader, more inclusive platform for debate. Facebook alone has 1.55-billion active users, this means that there are potentially a billion ways to reimagine the world, for the better. If the fashion world’s crime include racism, body-shaming, repressive standards of beauty and the enforcement of the staid gender binary, it’s by our consent and it’s our responsibility to make such crimes so last season.

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TOP

10

NATURAL WONDERS OF AFRICA Explore the wild beauty that blossoms on our continent

By Heather Clancy What’s Africa’s word? If you were to try to explain Africa in a single word to someone who had never been here, what word would you use? A continent that has, for centuries, defied neat definitions, the challenge of a single word is a challenge to distill the essence of Africa, or, what Africa feels like.

From the endless expanse of Lake Malawi to the pristine silence of the green hills of remote Rwanda, one thing that seems to be undisputed is that Africa is a continent of remarkable natural wonders and its word, if there were to be only one, would be “beautiful”.

We list our Afropolitan Top 10 Natural Masterpieces that make Africa great!

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1 FISH RIVER CANYON NAMIBIA

Second in size only to the Grand Canyon in the United States, Fish River Canyon is the largest canyon in Africa, and it is estimated to be more than 500-million years old.

Hikers can expect to spend a full five days exploring the vast expanse of the canyon which is 160km long.

Difficult to comprehend without experiencing it for yourself, the vast silence of Fish River Canyon is a tonic to balance the constant chatter of modern living.

2 PITON DE LA FOURNAISE

RÉUNION ISLAND One of the most active volcanoes in the world with its last eruption as recent as 2015, Piton de la Fournaise, meaning “Peak of the Furnace” is undeniably the most exciting natural attractions on the tropical island. Often described as “moonlike” and distinct from the island’s lush geography, Piton de la Fournaise rewards visitors who hike up while the morning is still crisp with surreal views and incredible photo opportunities.

L I F E S T Y L E

LAKE RETBA SENEGAL

Located just northeast of the Senegalese capital Dakar, only a narrow sliver of dunes separates this one-of-a-kind lake from the Atlantic Ocean.

Known as “Lac Rose” meaning “Pink Lake”, Lake Retba is a pastel pleasure for the eyes.

With the playful colour most vivid during the dry season (November to June), those lucky enough to see this natural masterpiece have the lake’s unique but harmless algae to thank.

LE MORNE BEACH MAURITIUS

Earning gushing TripAdvisor reviews, Le Morne beach is the kind of setting that inspires grand romantic gestures and aha moments. Ideal for snorkelling and swimming, Le Morne is the total package when it comes to sea and sand. Ideal background for holiday selfies? You bet. Sunsets that look like they are photoshopped? Almost guaranteed. Dolphin spotting? Sure. And if you’re lucky, you will see a whole pod of friendly dolphins.

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK UGANDA

Miraculous in its abundance of nature, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is deemed “impenetrable” for its lush undergrowth of shrubs, herbs and vines. It’s no wonder that Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of the most diverse forests in East Africa, with an equally rich ecosystem, is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Besides being home to 120 species of mammals, 348 species of birds and 220 species of butterflies, the forest is most famous for being the sanctuary of half of the world’s endangered mountain gorilla population.

TSINGY DE BEMARAHA NATIONAL PARK MADAGASCAR

A land of strange pleasures, the razor-like landscape of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park is home to 11 types of lemurs and more than 100 species of birds as well as the carnivorous mongoose-like mammal, the falanouc. Meaning “where one cannot walk barefoot” in the Malagasy language, Tsingy de Bemaraha is known for its sea of limestone “blades” that create an exceptional landscape and make it impossible to navigate barefoot.

Images by Shutterstock

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Images by Shutterstock

L I F E S T Y L E

NAMAQUALAND SOUTH AFRICA

Every year after the winter rainfall (August and September), the usually arid Namaqualand transforms into a floral masterpiece that is sure to inspire your poetic side. Sunshine hues of orange and yellow mix with shades of lilac and bold pink to create a landscape of more than 4 000 species of wild flowers which looks like a living postcard. Only five hours north of Cape Town, Namaqualand’s wild flower spectacular is a visual feast that makes you feel as though you’re experiencing the wonder of colour for the first time.

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DEVIL’S POOL ZAMBIA

To witness this heavenly view at the very edge of Victoria Falls, a devilish spirit for adventure is required. From midAugust to mid-January, the water levels of the majestic Zambezi river drop enough to allow daredevils to reach this natural rock pool with undoubtedly the best views in Zambia. The saying “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” comes brilliantly alive at this popular tourist attraction.

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9 MOUNT KILIMANJARO TANZANIA

The highest mountain in Africa, “Kili” as it is affectionately known, rises 4 877m into the sky. A dormant volcano that consists of three volcanic cones, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain in the world. Offering a world tour of sorts, the mountain is flanked by lush forests with icy peaks at the top to welcome victorious hikers.

MUMBO ISLAND MALAWI

An island so pristine and untouched that it makes you feel as though you’ve been let in on a secret, Mumbo Island is a once-in-a-lifetime destination.

Found in the expansive Lake Malawi, Mumbo Island honours the “Lake of the Stars” by being completely ecofriendly with space for only 14 guests.

The absence of electricity means that the night sky achieves a special quality of darkness that seems to envelop those lucky enough to experience it.

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Devil’s Pool Image by Ian Restall at en.wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia) [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

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L U X U R Y

ADVENTURES

IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD Explore South Africa’s National Parks

By Michelle Randall

Sandstone formations in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park in South Africa.

Imagine waking up to birdsong and sipping your morning coffee while looking out over the rough-hewn cliffs of the Maluti Mountains in the Free State. Perhaps you’re up before the birds on a game drive, jostling along a dirt road towards a waterhole where you’re guaranteed a view of Africa’s Big Five.

Whether your day begins with a trek into mist-draped forests, a run along an untouched beach, or an adrenalinspiking ride down a rugged mountain bike trail; whatever it is that gets your blood pumping, your soul singing, or your body clock reset from stress to total relaxation, you can find it in your own backyard at one of South Africa’s National Parks.

We don’t often take time off to think about the fact that we live in a country that boasts some of the most beautiful landscapes anywhere in the world, but taking time off is the point: South Africa’s true riches don’t lie in gold and diamonds, but in the system of magnificent parks that stretch between our borders.

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“Our national parks are the heritage of every South African,” says South African National Parks (SANParks) general manager of sales and marketing, Bheki Zwane.

More than just a game or nature reserve, a national park’s purpose is to conserve a representative portion of the natural and cultural biodiversity of the country.

South Africa is currently home to 21 parks in six of our nine provinces. Each park protects very different habitats, from savanna and semi-desert biomes to coastal parks and floral kingdoms and parks with forests and grasslands. Many of the parks contain more than one habitat, as well as a wide range of natural, cultural and tourism activities. Some parks feature the Big Five, while others are more focused on aquatic eco-systems, vegetation, or cultural or scenic landscapes.

Because of this, visitors have an unparalleled diversity of adventure and wildlife activities from which to choose.

From the West Coast through the soulscapes of the Northern Cape and secret wonders of the Karoo, along the pine-edged coastline of the Garden Route and over

According to SANParks annual report, visitor numbers to our national parks increased by 6.6% in 2015. Zwane says: “Awareness is key to attracting visitors. People who have never visited our national parks don’t understand that there’s so much more to explore than wildlife, although observing wildlife is an important motivation for many visitors.”

Depending on where you go, there’s always plenty to do, such as hiking, birding, abseiling, mountain biking, 4x4 trails, environmental education and game tracking.

Whether you’re a newbie to our national parks or a seasoned visitor, SANParks gives you an opportunity to have an adventure in your own backyard. Want to start exploring? Here are two SANParks destinations to inspire wanderlust in 2016:

a country that boasts some of the most beautiful landscapes anywhere in the world GOLDEN GATE HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK: A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR A GETAWAY Officially proclaimed in 1963, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park derives its name from the gold-tinted glow of the setting sun as it bathes the west-facing sandstone cliffs. Perched on a hill in the Maluti Mountains in the north eastern Free State with magnificent views, the Golden Gate is only a two-and-a-half hour drive from Johannesburg and an ideal getaway for stressed-out

Sandstone mountains city slickers.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park in South Africa 63

Images courtesy of Shutterstock

the rolling green hills of the Eastern Cape to the verdant lowlands of the jewel in South Africa’s game park crown, the Kruger National Park, SANParks offer you such a wide variety of destinations and experiences that it’s almost overwhelming to choose where to go.

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ESCAPE NOW! Accommodation from R755 per night for two people Camping from R200 per night for two people 5% discount on online bookings: www.sanparks.org | Reservations: 012 428 9111 or email reservations@sanparks.org |

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ENJOY YOUR FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITES AT THESE PARKS: ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK • AGULHAS NATIONAL PARK • GARDEN ROUTE NATIONAL PARK: KNYSNA TSITSIKAMMA & WILDERNESS • GOLDEN GATE HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK • KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

L U X U R Y

Expect wide open spaces formed into unusual and moving vistas, and the opportunity to restore your balance in the crisp mountain air. Hike up the self-guided Brandwag buttress trail or the two day Rhebok trail with one overnight stop in a secluded, rustic hut or a take guided walk to the Cathedral Cave. You can also visit the Vulture Restaurant, the Van Reenen graveyard and the Basotho Cultural Village; enjoy horse riding and mountain biking, but always take a moment to soak up the panoramic views. Your wildlife encounters will also include sightings of the bearded vulture, bald ibis, black wildebeest, eland and oribi.

Stay at the Glen Reenen Rest Camp, Highlands Mountain Retreat, Basotho Cultural village or at Golden Gate Hotel, which has been revamped around the theme of the changing seasons and echoes the blues of winter, greens of spring, yellows of summer and oranges of autumn. The 4-star hotel offers plenty of activities, from horse riding, guided walks bowls and tennis to snooker, as well as a cosy pub with a fireplace to while away the frosty winter nights. Nearby Clarens – a bustling and arty little town – is also a gem that’s absolutely worth exploring.

Dam, over the rugged Zuurberg Mountains, through the Sundays River Valley and south to the coast between Sundays River mouth and Bushman’s river mouth. Forget the Big Five, Addo is home to the Big Seven and includes the southern right whale and great white shark among its residents. Where else can you wake up to a game drive and end the day walking along the shore?

The original elephant section of the park was proclaimed in 1931 when only 11 elephants remained in the area.

Today, Addo is sanctuary to over 600 elephants, as well as lion, buffalo, black rhino, spotted hyena, leopard, a variety of antelope and zebra species, as well as the unique Addo flightless dung beetle found almost exclusively in the park.

ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK: MUCH ADO ABOUT FAMILY VACATIONS

But, more than anything else, Addo is an ideal family vacation destination. Besides the holiday programmes for children hosted during July and December, there’s plenty to explore. Stay at the popular main rest camp, which features comfortable family-sized accommodation as well as a unique waterhole lookout point (floodlit at night). Treat the family to game drives, horse trails, hiking, marine eco tours and kayaking. For a truly special experience (suitable only for adventure-hounds), explore the rustic Woody Cape section of the park, which features a petrified forest* and an endless dune field.

The third largest park in South Africa, the Eastern Cape’s Addo Elephant National Park, stretches from the semi-arid Karoo in the north around Darlington

The park is also centrally located within easy reach of other major Eastern Cape tourist destinations, like Port Elizabeth, Port Alfred and Grahamstown. * A petrified forest is one where the trees have fossilised and turned into stone.

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Image by Shutterstock

Elephants in the Addo Elephant National Park

L U XL UU RX YU R Y

WHICH PARKS ARE IN YOUR PROVINCE? Northern Cape • IAi-IAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park • Augrabies Falls National Park • Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park • Mokala National Park • Namaqua National Park • Tankwa Karoo National Park

Limpopo • Mapungubwe National Park • Marakele National Park

Mpumalanga • Kruger National Park

Free State • Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Western Cape • Agulhas National Park • Bontebok National Park • Garden Route National Park • West Coast National Park • Karoo National Park • Table Mountain National Park

Eastern Cape • Addo Elephant National Park • Camdeboo National Park • Mountain Zebra National Park

South Africa's true riches don't lie in gold and diamonds, but in our natural heritage of magnificent game parks and nature reserves stretching between our borders.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU GO FOR A JAUNT IN A NATIONAL PARK: Images courtesy of Shutterstock

All national parks are accessible throughout the year and offer reasonably priced self-catering accommodation that includes camping, bungalows and multi-bedroom guest houses. Luxury full service lodging is available in Kruger, Addo, Marakele, Kgalagadi and Table Mountain National Park. Pack a camera, binoculars and comfortable walking shoes if you want a close encounter with nature on a guided or self-guided adventure walk and hikes.

To book a getaway at a SANParks destination, email reservations@sanparks.org or book online at www.sanparks.org/tourism/reservations 67

L U X U R Y

THE RISE

OF LUXURY APARTMENT LIVING With luxury living become the new chic, what can property owners look forward to in a return on their investment?

By Cashe Kidd

Imagine waking up to the constant change of the iconic skyline in Sandton. Imagine hearing the birds fly past your window while you gaze down on a bustling city below.

Picture yourself having your morning coffee on the balcony of a centrally located highrise in the economic hub of Johannesburg. This is the future of living in a city, the luxurious lifestyle that investors the world over are turning to.

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Central Square Sandton

The new kid on the blog in the land of investments has to be luxury living in the Sandton CBD. It is hard to miss the ever-changing skyline that greets any Jo’burg dweller driving into the city, and with a growing economy bringing more people to Sandton, property has, once again, become investment chic.

But why is investing in apartment living such a popular choice today?

Sergio Aquino, from Lushaka Investments says: “Factors like congestion, security concerns and being closer to work have all become massive contributors to where the growing market is looking

to purchase. There is a gap in the market for this kind of lifestyle, and out of this concept, high-rise buildings like Central Square are born.”

It isn’t to say that suburban living has lost its charm either, but with the focus being on convenience across all 69

Image By NJR ZA (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bysa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

aspects of our busy lives, luxury apartment living makes sense as an investment opportunity. One needs to consider what you need to invest when purchasing and maintaining a suburban home.

There are so many aspects to consider when comparing the kind of lifestyle that is offered with high-rise apartment developments.

So why is property still the most popular investment opportunity for the public?

Property is a sustainable investment whereas investing in a business comes at a much higher risk. Investment and property developers can cater to a vast group in the market with various residential property options that suit a variety of investment categories. Property is the investment return that keeps on growing as there is a constant need for a place to call “home”. It is also becoming an increasingly popular choice for investment opportunities as well, which can be seen when we compare what the going rate for a luxury apartment in the heart of Sandton is now, and what it was a few years back.

Michelangelo Towers Sandton

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Property guru Gijs Foden from Michelangelo Towers gave us insight into how these figures add up. So it’s easy to see why it is such a popular investment choice for both young professionals and established families.

Image By Jeff Attaway (Tower) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Michelangelo Towers and Nelson Mandela Square at night in Sandton

Central Square Rooftop

We’re catching up to the rest of the world in terms of thinking outside of the box living, does this extend to cost as well?

Aquino says: “In terms of value, South Africa lags behind by up to 15% if you compare similar apartments to some of the world’s financial and economic capitals.

Central Square Interior

So while many could claim that the price of investing in a highrise residential unit is too much, South Africa is still well below the world market. For now, the cost of property in South Africa is still within reason in comparison to what you are getting. “Everything is rising in cost,” he adds. “So while it may seem like an excessive luxury, it is

also a sustainable and long-term investment.” With new developments breaking new ground on a regular basis, it is clear that there is a very tangible return in investment in luxury high-rise living. Investing in property is the new gold, especially because the lure of investing in South Africa reaches beyond our own borders.

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VintageAffair L U X U R Y

Is vintage your vibe? While this style may not be for everyone, it has enjoyed a vibrant revival recently, with faded fabrics, shabby chic and time-worn pieces popping up everywhere. Here are three ways to introduce vintage into your home.

By Brendah Nyakudya PAST AND PRESENT

Image courtesy of Gallo Images

A vintage radiogram (a combination radio and record player) is instantly updated when given a fresh coat of white paint and placed in front of a dark wall. Keep all the accessories in one colour so that the radiogram forms the focus point of your room.

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L U X U R Y UNEXPECTED ROMANTIC TOUCHES A reclaimed basin, a small table, quaint bric-a-brac and a draped voile curtain add a sense of nostalgia and interesting focal points to an openplan kitchen.

NOT JUST ANY OLD TABLE

A NEW JACKET

Give an old table an instant but temporary facelift by draping a piece of voile over it. Gather the fabric underneath the table top following the shape of the table and use both modern and vintage chairs.

Give an old piece of furniture a new lease on life by painting or decoupaging a pattern onto the front of the doors.

Tip: Hang your curtain from a dowel stick and bunch it on the windowsill for a bit of dreaminess.

Tip: For added effect, find items decorated with a similar pattern and arrange them on or near the cupboard.

KEEP IT NEAT PASTEL TONES To keep a vintage-inspired interior from looking too cluttered, keep your colour scheme in one colour family.

Display your collected pieces of haberdashery in a printer’s tray. This one has cleverly been converted into a small wall-mountable cupboard.

SALVAGED CHAIR

Images courtesy of Gallo Images

Give a wonky chair a second chance by hanging it on hooks on the wall – this way it can still be of use as a shelf.

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L U X U R Y MODERN LIBRARY

SHABBY CHIC ON DISPLAY Put your collections, like your precious perfume bottles, on display.

Fine floral patterns and quirky collectables add a personal touch to an otherwise bare bedroom. Hang retro market finds on the wall for interest.

Shot on location at the old barn that Wilna Rabe converted into her home. Wilna is the owner of Simondium Country Lodge and the brain behind Vintage Ideas, from 26 to 28 April at Simondium, Western Cape.

“Everything is designed. Few things are designed well.� Brian Reed

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New Showroom: 10 Desmond Street I Kramerville I Sandton I Johannesburg I Tel: 010 072 0012

Images courtesy of Gallo Images

Arrange a selection of old books on a floating shelf for a modern take on a classic library look.

Cradlestone Mall

East Point - Boksburg

Menlyn

Vereeniging

Woodmead Retail Park

L I F E S T Y L E

The Jaguar Purr

Somewhere Between Good and Perfect

By Damian Murphy

The 3.0 litre Jaguar XF meshes creature comforts with a sporty feel and a slick silhouette to offer a business sedan with style. But does it stand out from the crowd?

Business sedans are a dime a dozen at the moment. Every time you turn your head on the road, someone is driving a C- or D-segment sedan. Most of the good ones are German, but some of the Korean and Japanese manufacturers have brought their models to the overcrowded table. Jaguar prides itself in offering something different and their most recent advertising material describes the XF as “cliché proof”.

The XE, the XF’s slightly smaller brother, is designed to take on the C-segment stalwarts and deliver something unique, without 78

compromising on the familiar. The XE’s exterior is slick and aggressive, with bold lines that accentuate its sporty performance. Gone are the days of Jaguar’s tired designs and if you choose one of the larger wheel options, it is easy to transform this comfort cruiser into a sports sedan.

To aid in the improvement of the XE’s performance, Jaguar have used as much aluminum in its construction as possible. This has helped them shed a bit of weight and deliver better fuel efficiency, an improved ride with great performance on a straight line and through the corners.

Even with all the weight shed, the XE still feels heavy. The extra weight and stiff ride does mean it feels sharp and responsive when driven on a winding road, but it is still extremely comfortable for day-to-day use. Despite the heavy feel, the XE’s weight loss means it can do 0-100km/h in a shade over 5 seconds. It is sharp off the line and feels at home at both low and high speeds. The 3.0-litre supercharged engine we tested pumps out an impressive 450Nm of torque thrusting you back into your seat every time you jam your foot to the floor. The 250kW of power means the XE can comfortably get

you to 250km/h at the top end. The eight-speed automatic transmission seamlessly changes gears for a flawless ride.

The interior of the XE is superbly laid out. The seats are set low in the car, with a window line that is quite high, giving the cabin a very sporty feel for the passengers and driver.

The XE has plenty of cabin room, but with the roof sloping from the middle of the car to the back to give it that sporty exterior, the headroom for taller passengers in the back is compromised. There are design elements to compensate for the lack of headroom, but it is still noticeable if you are over six foot tall.

Some of the creature comforts that come standard in the XE include dual-zone climate control, an

8” colour touch-screen display and a Jaguar sound system. Inside the sports version that we tested were a meshed aluminium veneer, an S-branded soft grain leather steering wheel and bright stainless steel pedal covers. It had all the appeal of a sports sedan, with just enough

Jaguar’s aim to stand out in a crowded room has been both successful and unsuccessful.

Standing next to its competition, the XE is different, unique and better looking, but on the road, amongst the hustle and bustle, it fades into the haze of cars and isn’t quite striking enough to turn heads. It is great to drive, it is a good fit for the target audience and we’d choose it.

But we couldn’t help but wonder where the jaw drop could come from.

The Jaguar XE is priced between R561 500 and R953 000 across eight versions (Four 2.0 litre diesels, three 2.0 litre petrols and one 3.0 litre supercharged petrol engine).

...aggressive, with bold lines that accentuate its sporty performance. Gone are the days of Jaguar's tired designs...

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Image courtesy of ?

refinement to not make it feel overdone.

C U R R E N T

A F FA I R S

Time of the Reader Where South African literature is heading

actions got the literary industry in a froth about what it would mean to decolonise South Africa’s literary industry.

Some were defensive and pointed to the progress made since 1994.

If, for example, we are to talk of black women writers specifically, much had certainly changed since 1994 where the list of published black women did not extend very far beyond Sindiwe Magona, Ellen Kuzwayo, Noni Jabavu, Miriam Tlali, Bessie Head, Phyllis Ntantala and Lauretta Ngcobo, most of whom were published overseas.

By Panashe Chigumadzi In 2015, post-apartheid South Africa’s Rainbow Nation began to reckon with the question of decolonising the country’s colonial past and present. It was a turning point. The catalyst? An incident where poo was thrown at the statue of imperialist Cecil John Rhodes on the campus of the University of Cape Town and the formation of the #RhodesMustFall movement, which eventually saw the monument deposed, and fire ignited in student awareness and hearts all over the country.

Since then we have seen women such as Zukiswa Wanner, Kopano Matlwa, Zoë Wicomb, Nozizwe Cynthia Jele, Phillipa Yaa De Villiers, Rayda Jacobs, Rehana Roussouw and Yewande Omotoso emerge. Black men writers who emerged after doors were opened by the likes of Zakes Mda, Lewis Nkosi and Mandla Langa, include Sello K Duiker, Niq Mhlongo, Fred Khumalo, Ndumiso Ngcobo, Nakhane Touré and Simphiwo Mahala.

That week, author Thando Mgqolozana used the 18th annual Time of the Writer Festival, hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal, as his platform to announce that he was quitting the white literary industry: which he described as “the colonial literary fraternity.”

He said the same thing at a bigger literary festival later that year. And the bigger the lit fest, the bigger the stir: the 2015 Franschhoek Literary Festival, which was founded in 2007 and since then has gone to become the biggest of South Africa’s literary do’s. And Mgqolozana’s 80

While those gains are appreciated, the sentiment from black authors was that it was no longer good enough. The first port of call was to acknowledge the white dominated literary value chain from editors, publishers, critics and reviewers who remain in the majority white, to festivals, retailers and awards that remain in the majority white-owned and administrated.

The list of published black women prior to 1994 did not extend very far beyond writer like Sindiwe Magona, Noni Jabavu, most of whom were published overseas.

This white literary domination certainly manifests itself in the school system where reading culture is lamented. When I was a matric student at a private school in 2009, my class read

elitism of university campuses and “went to the people” hosting its sessions in places such as KwaMashu, Clermont and Umlazi where authors interacted with audiences that included primary and secondary school learners, community leaders and municipal workers. Outside of changing existing literary festivals, we have new black literary festivals on the scene. Already, in April we will see the Rutanang Festival in Potchefstroom, December will see Mgqolozana’s Abantu Book Festival in Soweto.

Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart.

In all my 12 years of schooling in post-apartheid South Africa, this was the first time I had read a setwork by a black African author.

Remembering this as I attended the Time of the Writer Festival for the first time this year in March, I also tested whether much had changed during a talk at Durban Girls’ College, by asking the group of girls ranging from Grade 9 to matric whether they knew who my fellow festival attendee Niq Mhlongo was.

They all said no. When I asked them about the other festival authors whose names were printed on the back of my T-shirt, I had the same answer. Somewhat embarrassed, the teachers were quick to tell me that next year the Independent Education Board was going to have Chimamanda Adichie’s Americanah as a matric setwork.

In this context, it is appropriate that speaking as the co-curator of the 19th Time of the Writer festival themed “Decolonising the book”, Mgqolozana spoke of undoing a literary festival system where “[t]he vast amount of literature produced in this country is written in English, our languages come last. Bookstores are everywhere except where black people reside. Libraries are filled with everything except maybe the work of black writers. Until a few months ago, there was little to no mainstream literary activity by black writers for black readers in communities currently occupied by black people.”

Under Mgqolozana and Tiny Mungwe’s charge, this year’s Time of the Writer Festival left the

In terms of retailers, fighting the good fight in Vanderbijlpark since 2013 is the renowned independent store African Flavours Books which is owned by the wonderful Helepi couple who are fiercely dedicated and committed to African literature.

Long before the major franchises have the latest in African fiction, they are usually the first to stock them and they also maintain a hefty stock of classics published

by Heinemann’s African Writer Series. Beyond their African novels and non-fiction titles, they sell poetry anthologies and a good range of books in vernacular languages.

Emerging writers since 1994 include Zukiswa Wanner, Kopano Matlwa, Yewande Omotoso emerge. Niq Mhlongo, Fred Khumalo.

there was little to no mainstream literary activity by black writers for black readers

Very excitingly, we are also beginning to see small changes in publishing. My publisher Thabiso Mahlape has spent the last five years publishing works by black authors such as Redi Thlabi’s Endings and Beginnings, McIntosh Polela’s My Father, My Monster, and Bonnie Mbuli’s Eyebags and Dimples. Last year she made the leap from working under major publisher Jacana media to establishing her own publishing house, BlackBird Books, which has published four new black authors including myself, Nakhane Touré (Piggy Boy’s Blues), Stevel Marc (The Refined Player: Sex, Lies and Dates) and Philani Dladla (The Pavement Bookworm).

My experience in the publishing industry highlights the importance of black-owned publishing houses such as BlackBird Books. Last year I had just about given up my 81

C U LT U R E

Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Chimamanda Adichie’s Americanah two of the few school setworks by a black African authors.

publishing dreams after rejections from major publishers that often went “we like your manuscript, but we don’t think that there is a market for this kind of work”. I learnt very quickly how pervasive this sentiment was in our notoriously white-male dominated literary industry that often laments the “a lack of black readers” while ignoring that there are comparatively few books on the market that resonate with their own experiences.

Fortunately, I was introduced to Mahlape who, by then, was exclusively publishing black authors and looking for stories that she felt would

C U R R E N T

A F FA I R S

Outside of changing existing literary festivals, we have new black literary festivals on the scene. resonate with black audiences.

Tellingly, my novel along with the other books in Mahlape’s stable, have gone on to beat “market standards”, with three of four now in their second print run.

whites-only school for the first time and not fully appreciating the significance that the event has for black parents who have fought for many years for that moment to come.

As a new author the future looks rosy. Certainly, many of the changes that have been made, such as the reframing of Time of the Writer Festival to centre black audiences in their communities, have been lost on me because I have never known it any other way. I imagine that similar to my experience as a post1994 black child going to a formerly

In turn, my hope is that 10 years from now when we will have built a decolonised literary industry that has a multitude of black publishers, editors, festivals, critics, reviewers, retailers dominating the industry, the significance of this struggle is lost on emerging black authors of 2026 because they have never known it to be any other way.

TELLING TALES

C U LT U R E

Communicating history through dance The Standard Bank Young Artist awards have inspired thousands of young creatives who attend the National Arts Festival. Themba Mbuli – one of the 2016 winners – speaks about the art of success.

By Hazel Booth When an arts festival enters its 42nd year, it clearly has a relevant voice. The Grahamstown National Arts Festival has launched the careers of many local artists and an important part of the festival is the Standard Bank Young Artist (SBYA) award. In place since 1984, the SBYA, which has acknowledged 144 artists over the years, including the likes of William Kentridge, Sibongile Khumalo, Dada Masilo and Mmakgabo Sebidi, lauds the talents of emerging artists across genres, giving the winners not only a cash prize and support for participating in the festival, but also a spot in the Main Programme, still considered the most important part of the rambling monster that is the South Africa’s biggest and oldest arts festival to date.

choreographer but as an activist. I’ve had the privilege of being taught and mentored by great storytellers like Sylvia Glasser [who started the company in 1978], Gerard Bester, Gregory Maqoma, Luyanda Sidiya and Thabo Rapoo.

Selected by a senior panel of experts, the winners – who must be under the age of 40 to be considered – have several months to create a new work which will be staged for the first time ever, at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival.

It’s very frightening. I can’t believe after 16 years of performing I still get stage fright. But when I get on stage, I have to cut my ego and accept I’m a messenger.

One of the winners, dancer/choreographer Themba Mbuli, who tells tales through dance, spoke to us about inspiration, fear and breaking borders in society.

When were you first exposed to contemporary dance?

I was 19 when I first went to watch a graduation ceremony of Moving Into Dance trainees – it’s one of South Africa’s most important contemporary dance companies. I remember seeing those dancers flying on stage and telling stories with their bodies so expressively – I knew I wanted to do this.

Tell us about your association with Moving into Dance (MID).

I started as a student in 2007, became a trainee in 2009, then in 2010 I started dancing and choreographing.

MID has built my foundation not just as a dancer or 84

What was your first performance? How did that affect you?

My first performance ever was in a school play. I was 13.

I remember the audience was cheering and clapping, it felt so good to be heard and appreciated. This is probably one of the reasons I started writing and directing my own plays: I wanted to share stories and be heard.

How does it feel to perform in front of an audience?

You choreographed Dark City, which then went on to win the Pick of the Fringe Award in 2010. Tell us about this piece.

In 2007 I was part of a play (Radio Freedom) which performed at Constitution Hill in Hillbrow. It was created and directed by my Swedish mentor Kent Ekberg. Radio Freedom was inspired by the lives of political prisoners during apartheid. In researching the work, I was amazed at how little I knew about my own history. This inspired me to adapt the play into dance, which led to the birth of Dark City, and which enabled me to share this history.

Dark City led to Dark Cell which has been performed internationally. Was this expected?

In some ways it was and in some ways it wasn’t. I started creating Dark Cell when I had just become a freelancer and I had to work extra hard and do admin, producing, promoting, designing... everything. At the end 2012, I sent

Themba Mbuli

at least 70 applications to different festivals and venues, trying to sell the work even before I had finished making it. When the work started touring, I knew the behind-thescenes hard work had paid off.

Tell us about the projects you’ve cofounded and are involved in, such as Broken Borders Arts Project and Unmute Dance Company. What is the vision behind them?

There isn’t much collaboration between African-based artists. Broken Borders created a platform for African artists to start artistic conversations beyond borders.

South Africa lags behind in integrating people with disabilities into mainstream society; one of the major obstacles for disabled people is accessibility. There can be no integration if there is no access for people living with disability to live independently in society. Unmute aims to transform public and private spaces and make them accessible for people to talk about disability and integration.

What can audiences expect when your new work debuts in July?

They can expect to be provoked, entertained, challenged and amazed.

Tell me how you feel about being picked as one of the Standard Bank Young Artist winners.

It’s really an honour to be recognised with such a significant accolade. I’ve witnessed a lot of young people who are currently doing amazing artistic works throughout the country.

THIS YEAR’S WINNERS ARE: • Visual artist - Mohau Modisakeng • Playwright, director and designer - Jade Bowers • Dancer/choreographer - Themba Mbuli; • Classical violinist - Avigail Bushakevitz • Jazz trombonist - Siyavuya Makuzeni.

Catch Mbuli and his fellow Standard Bank Young Artists in action at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, June 30 to July 10.

Visit www.nationalartsfestival.co.za for more.

I can't believe that after 16 years of performing I still get stage fright.

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L I F E S T Y L E

Remember when...

A Walk Down Memory Lane

By Nomali Cele

As we celebrate a decade of the Afropolitan, nostalgia hits, we look back at the year that was 2006. From the good, all the way to the controversial.

2006 in Politics Former South African deputy president, Jacob Zuma, is acquitted of rape charges.

At the Pietermaritzburg High Court, Zuma’s corruption trial is struck off the roll. This puts him in a prime spot for the ANC’s elective conference in Polokwane the following year.

President Thabo Mbeki hosts Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Cape Town in what is the first state visit by a Russian leader.

Miriam Makeba

2006 in Culture Tsotsi wins the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award.

The stars, Terry Pheto and Presley Chweneyagae, along with director Gavin Hood, attend the ceremony.

Beloved South African artists, Tsakani “TK” Mhinga who was affectionately referred to as Black Butterfly, dies at 27. Each of Mhinga’s albums, TKO, Tsakani and Black Butterfly were South African Music Award (Sama) -winning projects.

Thula Sindi begins his eponymous fashion brand with a show at South Africa Fashion Week.

Brickz is named the best newcomer at the 12th annual South African Music Award.

Jacob Zuma

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The music legends Miriam Makeba, Caiphus Semenya and Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse perform at the 7th annual Cape Town International Jazz Fest.

The festival is billed Makeba’s “grand finale tour”.

2006 in Society South Africa passes the civil unions act on November 30, 2006, effectively legalising same-sex marriage. It becomes only the fifth country in the world to do so. Today, same sex marriages are legal in 21 other countries.

Two accused in the “Boeremag” treason trial escape from North Gauteng High Court. Back in 2002, eight bombs were set off in Soweto, seven went off in trains. Almost two weeks after the bombings, a rightwing white supremacist group called Boeremag claimed responsibility for the terrorist acts.

The Boeremag treason trialists were eventually sentenced in 2013.

The International Astronomical Union demotes Pluto as a planet and reassigns it new “dwarf planet” status. Scientists decide that Pluto is far too small to count as a planet, another factor that works against its planet status is that it cannot clear objects in its path.

In 2016, astronomers are back to debating Pluto’s status and majority are saying it should be reinstated as a planet.

2006 Oxford word of the Year

2006 in the Economy In Cape Town, the 16th World Economic Forum on Africa takes place and is attended by delegates from 39 countries.

The South African rand averages R6.77 against the US dollar and R13 against the British Pound.

The rand is currently battling to make a recovery after hitting alltime lows against the US dollar in late 2015 after the cabinet reshuffle now termed “Nenegate.” During this period, the rand hit a record low of about R17.

The Oxford dictionaries UK select “bovvered,” a word that grew in popularity after appearing in a popular sketch on The Catherine Tate Show, as their annual word of the year. It becomes a popular catchphrase and “Am I bovvered?” is all the rage that year.

New Oxford American dictionaries pick carbon-neutral as their word of the year, which is a reflection on the rise of “green” talk in the United States.

Both these words, though reflective of culture,are a long way from 2015’s word of the year, which wasn’t even a word. The “Face with Tears of Joy” emoji came up tops in 2015 and became the first pictograph to be the Oxford word of the year.

Herschelle Gibbs

2006 in Controversy Herschelle Gibbs is questioned in connection in Mumbai India with regard to his role in the match-fixing scandal of 2000 that involved the Proteas during their tour of India.

Gibbs admits to receiving an offer twice through then captain, Hansie Cronje.

Deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge makes policy changes in the ministry while the department’s minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang is ill. Government announces that antiretroviral treatment is to be made available at public health facilities. This is a move in a different direction from President Mbeki and Health Minister Tshabalala-Msimang’s previous stance on treatment, which was often referred to as HIV/Aids denialism.

Mbeki releases a series of public writings, colloquially termed the “Mbeki Letters.” In one of these letters he denies ever disputing that HIV caused Aids.

Nhlanhla Nene

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Images by Shutterstock

2006 in Science

C O L U M N

ALYN ADAMS COLUMN

It’s A Jungle Out There!

“Now,” he began, “I’ve called this meeting because some of us aren’t getting along as well as we should.

We can’t have that, if this troop is to thrive and prosper.”

“Excuse me, Chair,” said Koko, raising a leathery hand. “But on a point of order, has the committee not ruled that we are a shrewdness, rather than a troop? I mean, ‘troop’ makes it sounds like we’re actors or minstrels or something...”

There were general “ughs” around the circle.

“Whereas we’re highly intelligent primates, with a rich culture and society. As I recall, the committee decided that ‘shrewdness’ was a better collective noun, reflecting our sophisticated...”

At this point Koko broke off, because he’d spotted a juicy tick in his neighbour’s armpit. Deftly, he reached out, plucked the morsel free, and popped it into his mouth. “... social heritage,” he finished, between lip smacks.

“Sorry. Of course; we’re a shrewdness, yes, not a troop.

Thank you, Koko. I don’t know what we’d do without you and your points of order,” Tarzan replied evenly, although his eyes silently added, “But I’d love to find out.”

“Anyway,” he continued aloud, “it seems the problem is that some chaps are insulting other chaps ... Yes? What now?” he sighed, as another hand went up.

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Milee looked up from the intricate task of applying lipstick to her bottom, and responded in her habitual purr: “Point of order, Chair.

‘Chaps’ is sexist, as I believe the committee has ruled ...”

“Ah, enough with the bloody feminism,” growled her husband, Keeta. “What are you, a Bonobo?”

“Maybe if you were a Bonobo, I’d be too busy getting a decent seeing-to

to worry about feminism, have you ever considered that?” Milee shot back, to titters from the other females and guffaws from Keeta’s mates.

“Okay, steady on; we’re getting a little off topic here,” said Tarzan, blushing furiously. His residual Englishman was firmly convinced that there were some subjects a chap didn’t discuss in mixed company. Speaking of chaps ... “You see, what you cha... fello... folks must understand, is that when I say ‘chaps’, I mean folks of both sexes. It’s just a figure of speech; no offence meant. But it does bring me to my point – I might mean nothing by saying the word, but I realise that it does offend Milee. So I’ll try to do better in future.

“And the same goes for what I really wanted to talk about: this business of calling each other monkeys whenever we’re upset. It’s rude, it’s insensitive, it’s hurtful, and it’s simply not on, do I make myself clear? We’re all apes here, do you hear? In fact, I’d go so far as to say we’re all great apes, and don’t any of you forget it!”

“Anyone calls me a monkey, I’ll be hiding in the forest to ambush him...” muttered Keeta.

“You see?” exclaimed Tarzan. “That’s what I’m trying to avoid. The last thing we want is Keeta launching a guerrilla war... ” “What did you call me?” roared Keeta.

“Oh dear,” sighed Tarzan.

“Language is so tricky, isn’t it?”

Follow @alyndenzel on Twitter.

Follow @alyndenzel

Image by Shutterstock

Tarzan stood up and drummed on his chest for attention. The assembled simians shuffled into a circle.

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