Wanted December 2020 by SundayTimesZA

wanted THE

GIFT ISSUE

DECEMBER

2020

OGILVY SA 35965/E

Some see prestige. We see progress. The new Audi A5 Sportback with Audi connect.* #FutureIsAnAttitude

Standard with a 5 year / 100 000km Audi Freeway Plan. *Audi connect is not supported outside of South Africa.

ED’S LETTER

12 / 2020

EDITOR.

F YOU’RE reading this, you’ve made it. Sure, I mean this in the success sense (this is Wanted after all), but what I’m actually referring to in this instance is survival. Through economic hellfire, virus fear, home schooling, white-knuckle angst about your business and thinking you may never again leave your property — never mind the country — you hung in there. It’s no small feat and one that, I say, needs a massive congratulations and blow-out of a celebration (yes, a responsible one, but you get the drift). In fact, what I suggest is that you finish reading this mag, put the paper down and take the day off. Go out into the sun, pour yourself a G&T (it’s 12 o’clock somewhere), play a round of golf, call your mom for a big skinner — celebrate life. And if Adrian, Patrice, Sim, or Koos ask why you’ve knocked off early and aren’t answering your mails, tell them I gave you permission. And expect them to follow suit. Let’s all go and revel in the fact that we made it through this nightmare of a year and show gratitude for absolutely everything we have. I am thankful for you, our readers, and I’m thankful for the most fantastic, loyal bunch of advertisers a brand could hope for. So many of both groups have become great friends of Wanted and are an integral part of our success. I am thankful for my editorial and

LOOKS LIKE WE MADE IT

advertising teams, who blazed through the past eight months under the most extreme pressure. They worked from home, over many, many weekends, dealing with uncertainty, tight budgets, and a whole lot of stress. Yet they nailed it again and again. And then there’s the reason, I think, this magazine exists: my work wife, Yvonne Shaff. She gets the deepest appreciation of all. As our business manager she lives and breathes Wanted, and you have never met a more tenacious and passionate person, ever. This country would be guaranteed instant economic success if every company and government department had an Yvonne. In fact, I may have a word with Cyril about considering her in the next cabinet reshuffle. Everyone I’ve mentioned above needs to pour themselves a big glass of champagne and pat themselves on the back — you’re all a complete bunch of mensches. Now go and have a wonderful, relaxed, safe break with everyone you love. You deserve it.

René Lalique, red amber ‘Serpent’ vase, 26cm high, circa 1924

Showcasing the most representative works of Lalique, Gallé, Daum, Art Deco sculpture, and Art Nouveau metalware.

Cover credit Mylockme chain pochette bag, R25 800, Louis Vuitton Louis Vuitton louisvuitton.com

F O R

A L L

YO U

S E E

H E R E ,

P L U S

P L E N T Y

M O R E , V I S I T

WA N T E D O N L I N E . C O . Z A

+27 21 418 1269

info@burrmuir.com

www.burrmuir.com

EDITOR Sarah Buitendach (sarahb@arena.africa) MANAGING EDITOR Matthew McClure 082 446 0747 (mcclurem@arena.africa) CREATIVE DIRECTOR Anna Lineveldt JUNIOR DESIGNERS Carike de Jager

and Manelisi Dabata SUBEDITOR Benazir Cassim FASHION DIRECTOR Sharon Armstrong (armstrongs@arena.africa) FASHION EDITOR Sahil Harilal BEAUTY EDITOR Nokubonga Thusi (thusin@arena.africa) FASHION INTERN Nombuso Kumalo DÉCOR DIRECTOR Leana Schoeman (leanas@sundaytimes.co.za) GROUP MOTORING EDITOR Denis Droppa (droppad@arena.africa)

FINAL EYE Elizabeth Sleith DESIGN HUB ONLINE EDITOR Stephen Haw (haws@arena.africa) WANTED ONLINE DIGITAL EDITOR

Katharynn Kesselaar (kesselaark@arena.africa) BUSINESS DAY EDITOR Lukanyo Mnyanda PUBLISHER Aspasia Karras HEAD: Advertising Sales Eben Gewers CEO Andrew Gill BUSINESS MANAGER Yvonne Shaff 082 903 5641 (shaffy@arena.africa) ACCOUNT MANAGER Johannesburg Tamara Nicholson 083 604 0949 (nicholsont@arena.africa) ACCOUNT MANAGER Western Cape Samantha Pienaar 082 889 0366 (pienaars@arena.africa) ACCOUNT MANAGER Durban Gina van de Wall 083 500 5325 (vdwallg@arena.africa) Wanted is available with Business Day nationwide. Subscription enquiries: 086 052 5200 PRINTED by Paarl Media for Arena Holdings, Hill on Empire, 16 Empire Road (cnr Empire and Hillside roads), Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193

20 Our luxe gifts are all you’ll want for Christmas

26 Treat your loved ones and make the world a better place

it’s a hotel party in the usa.

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31 Celebrating MTN’s great work to bring what is most needed to South Africans

48 Go on, get in (or on) the water — you deserve it!

66 You’re gonna need our packed drinks cabinet this December

STYLE NOTES

R E AC T I O N

text Nokubonga Thusi, Sarah Buitendach & Julia Freemantle

C H A I N

Contemporary and fresh but with retro inspiration, we’re mad for these earrings by Geraldine Fenn. They’re both available from Tinsel Gallery.

e know we say this every year, but is there anything better than a Chanel holiday collection? This season, prepare to be gilded in rich tones of gold and copper with the Les Chaînes d’Or De Chanel colour collection that pays homage to the golden chains found on the straps of Chanel handbags. Expect molten payoffs and lacquered lips — perfect for holiday merriment. Chanel Illuminating Blush Powder, R1 230; Chanel Rouge Allure Lip Colour in 137 Pourpre D’Or, R760; Chanel Ombre Premiere Eyeshadow in 925 Or Antique, R655; Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in 773 Chaîne D’Or, R535

tinselgallery.com

Faceted carnelian balls with motherof-pearl discs, R1 800; Vintage silver spoon ends with cultured pearl drops and lumo-pink pigment, R1 800

NEW WAVE F

rench brand Nuxe has given its cult Huile Prodigieuse dry oil a holiday facelift through a collaboration with the French art school Penninghen. They’ve launched three collectable bottles featuring retro-style French motifs depicting life à la piscine. This beach bag must-have hydrates, repairs and nourishes face, body, and hair with its fast-absorbing, dry-touch formula. Nuxe x Penninghen Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil, 100ml, R520 each, limited edition

Could Filorga’s latest LiftStructure day cream be the answer to your skinglow prayers? Recommended for women aged 40 and above, it’s packed with marine collagen, hyaluronic acid, and cell-growth factors, which work to restore youthful glow while lifting and smoothing out fine lines. Come for the formula

SHINE

Filorga Lift-Structure Radiance UltraLifting Rosy-Glow Fluid, 50ml, R895

that imparts an instant glow, stay for the added benefits. These include a complex that colour corrects skin, exfoliates, repairs skin proteins, and rejuvenates the skin’s natural pink undertoned radiance. It’s so good that we predict even those in their 30s will be screaming “Age ain’t nothing but a number,” and grabbing this for a head start.

ape Town-based Ashanti’s latest C campaign encapsulates

relaxed holiday vibes. Who wouldn’t want to escape to a sunny nook filled with their wonderful pieces right now? This proudly African brand is big on both social and eco-consciousness (its amazing fabrics are made from t-shirt offcuts by a community in Madagascar) and we basically want everthing they produce.

ashantidesign.com

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12 / 2020

HIGH

PA R T N E R S H I P

ENVIRON’S YOUTHFUL RADIANCE DISCOVERY SET Available at participating Environ stockists, while stocks last Find out more: environskincare.com/za

01 SAVE R280 on C-Quence® Eye Gel 10ml, Revival Masque 15ml, Hydrating Oil Capsules 10s, Super Moisturiser 15ml, and Antioxidant Gel 15ml. RSP: R995

Festive flair I N D U L G E

I N

T H E

F I N E S T

THE KRONE KAAIMANSGAT BLANC DE BLANCS

The Krone Kaaimansgat Blanc de Blancs 2016 harnesses the intrinsic energy of the 31-year-old Kaaimansgat chardonnay vineyard. Made in a natural style in small batches, this terroir-specific MCC was sculpted by the vintage, expressing the distinctive character of the site — located 700m above sea level — in the cool-climate Elandskloof ward. The precise, taut nature of the MCC speaks to knife’s edge of the 2016 vintage. Restrained in its youth, it will develop further in the bottle, becoming more biscuity as it ages.

Receive your FREE FULL-SIZE AVANCE ELIXIR 30ML with the purchase of the Gold Cosmetic RollCIT®. RSP: R3 120

ENVIRON’S MICRONEEDLING GOLD LUXE SET

G I F T S

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H I M

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H E R

This golden beauty most recently took top honours at the International Amorim Cap Classique Challenge in 2019, and it’s not hard to see why. Made from 100% chardonnay grapes harvested before dawn, Boschendal’s Jean Le Long Prestige Cuvée spends five years on the lees and a further six years on the cork, guaranteeing a balanced, zesty freshness on the tongue that’s the perfect accompaniment to an end-of-year celebration. boschendalwines.com

04 MAKING

AN ENTRANCE Boschendal’s Jean Le Long Prestige Cuvée Cap Classique is an award-winning local star

TAG HEUER BOUTIQUES Sandton City 011 784 7422. V&A Waterfront 021 421 8539 Also at selected fine jewellers nationwide For further information please call 011 669 0500 www.picotandmoss.co.za

DOWN TO BUSINESS

12 / 2020

portrait treatment

Manelisi Dabata

I COLUMN.

NOW WATCHING: THE SECOND ACT “If you are text

Lukanyo Mnyanda

going to act like children, the message goes, we are going to treat you accordingly and make decisions for you”

T’S BEEN almost nine months since Covid-19 started dominating the headlines and led to the first national lockdown. A lifetime, it seems, has passed since the time we were all a bit like the outgoing US president, talking about a virus in China. Now it’s hard to shake the feeling that the population is feeling fatigued by it all and wants nothing more than a relatively normal Christmas. Politicians are not helping, with conflicting messages and rules. This lockdown has been marred by ridiculous rules that have baffled people, including government ministers themselves. They can’t decide if you are allowed to play tennis or golf with a friend, or meet another family while walking the dog. Rich people’s problems, you might sneer, but these are important for mental health in these stressful times. Some restaurants and cafés can open as long as they don’t sell alcohol. Shops can sell essential goods, but who defines what those are? How can anyone argue that baby clothes are non-essential? A national retail chain has had to issue a grovelling apology after (wrongly) telling a cus-

tomer it couldn’t sell sanitary products to her during the most severe period of the lockdown. Yet you could go to that very shop and buy a bottle of vodka. And the young people. The great scapegoats of this new wave. It’s their partying, locking themselves in contained spaces, drinking, and getting up to whatever else 20-year-olds get up to in normal times. But they are too selfish to realise that these are far from being normal times; sacrifices have to be made. “Young people don’t just spread the virus to each other, they spread the virus to their parents and their grandparents,” said a frustrated minister. Not that we older people are off the hook. Politicians are making noises about our failure to respect the rules having made the new restrictions inevitable. If you are going to act like children, the message goes, we are going to treat you accordingly and make decisions for you. And for most people, having watched their incompetence, lectures from these politicians are really hard to swallow. The public is weary already, so the last thing you need is for this to be tainted by allegations of corruption and sweet-

heart deals for people with political connections. But this is exactly what has happened. Consultants have been appointed at great cost, and failed trace-and-test providers were chosen without open tenders. A politically connected company whose test kits had to be recalled because of concerns about contamination got another testing contract valued at R7-billion, sans tender too. The vodka-but-no-tampons example should have been a clue that this is not about South Africa, but just a few of the headlines I saw during my visit to the UK in October. Surely no British minister would ever survive doing something as silly as banning alcohol altogether. Our much-ridiculed trade an industry minister, Ebrahim Patel, might otherwise have taken heart in all of this, as it shows we are not alone in our madness during these extraordinary times. But a decision to ban the sale of warm food and online shopping in the middle of a pandemic is going to take some beating. Fingers crossed that everyone behaves. It would be a terrible thing if he was forced to do it again for Christmas. Mnyanda is the editor of Business Day

L I V E YO U R PA S S I O N S L I M L I N E M O O N P H A S E S TA R S M A N U FAC T U R E FO R FU RT H ER INFOR MATION CONTACT P ICOT & MO S S (01 1 ) 669- 0500. WWW.PICOTAN DMO S S . CO . Z A

WAT C H E S

12 / 2020

N TIMES of global political and market instability, investors seek out a measure of pleasure alongside pure financial returns on their investments. As we witnessed in the period following the financial crisis 12 years ago, there is growing interest again in alternative-asset classes such as art, classic cars, and watches, which spark joy while hedging bets. When it comes to watches, there are few brands that offer a return on investment quite like Rolex does. A steel Oyster Perpetual Submariner is one of the most desirable models, past and present. Anyone who bought a Rolex Submariner 10 to 15 years ago can attest to its at least holding its value. When Rolex finally presented its 2020 novelties in September, the new-generation Oyster Perpetual 41 and 36 certainly grabbed our attention with their joyous array of on-trend, colourful-lacquer dials including coral, turquoise, candy pink, and yellow. Equipped with the new calibre 3230 self-winding mechanical movement launched this year, these pieces are direct descendants of the original Oyster from 1926 — the world’s first diver’s wristwatch, waterproof to a depth of 100m. However, the most anticipated reveal was the new-generation Submariner, a watch that, to the uninitiated, does not look very new at all. Evolutionary rather than revolutionary, Rolex continues to improve on its achievements for everyday practicality and reliability while remaining faithful to its aesthetic heritage. To the enthusiast, however, the subtle changes — such as the 1mm increase in case diameter to 41mm, narrower lugs and wider bracelet, as well as the new calibre — are front-page news and have already fuelled spirited discussion. The entire collection gets a “redesign”, losing the maxi case proportions of its predecessor in favour of vintage styling. There are seven new references of the Submariner Date presented in Oystersteel or in precious metals, but our focus is on the no-date reference 124060 in Oystersteel, which is the purest representation in the latest evolution of the quintessential classic diver’s watch, and foundation of the brand’s professional models.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner 41mm Oystersteel

COLUMN.

QUALITY TIME

Rolex updates a classic in the new Submariner

text

Gary Cotterell

Conceived with professionals in mind, Rolex began making its pioneering tool watches in the ’50s at a time when deep-sea diving, aviation, mountain climbing, and exploration were the professions of truly hardened adventurers. It is from this period that the collectable pieces start appearing — the Submariner, GMT-

Master, Sea-Dweller, Cosmograph, Explorer, and Milgauss — and establishing a lasting following based on their incredible innovation and associations with the great explorers and racing drivers. The new Submariner features a black dial and unidirectional rotatable bezel with a matching 60-minute graduated Cerachrom insert in black, first introduced on the Submariner Date in 2010. Legibility is key for any diver, and all elements of this iconic timepiece perform the job so well. The “Mercedes” hour hand, minute hand, and lollipop seconds hand are clearly differentiated by their size and shape, as are the familiar bold yet simple geometric hour markers. Another small update is the insertion of the Rolex coronet between “Swiss Made”, positioned below the six o’clock marker. The Oyster case and Triplock winding crown guarantee the watch is waterproof to a depth of 300m. The watch comes with a robust threepiece-link Oyster bracelet, first seen in the late 1930s. The calibre 3230 incorporates the Rolex-patented Chronergy escapement made from anti-magnetic nickelphosphorous. This, in combination with a blue Parachrom hairspring and patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers, offers improved overall performance and precision. The Superlative Chronometer-certified movement also offers an extended power reserve of around 70 hours. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner Oystersteel, R115 400, rolex.com or Rolex Watch Co SA 011 784 9230

iwc.com or RLG Africa 011 317 2600

DOXA, the legendary brand known for producing the first diver’s watches with colour dials, presents its new 42.5mm stainlesssteel SUB 300 COSC in six vivid colours including “Doxa Professional Orange”, inspired by the original SUB 300 of 1967. With water resistance to 300m, it was the first of its kind to feature a unidirectional bezel with dual markings for dive times and depths. The SUB uses an ETA 2824-2 Cosc-certified automatic movement, and is presented on a steel beads-of-rice bracelet or matching rubber strap. doxawatches.com

Jet fuel has been added to the growing interest in pilot’s watches with the announcement of the new Top Gun: Maverick movie set for release next year. Joining the line-up of dedicated IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s watches, the Chronograph Top Gun Edition “SFTI” takes its inspiration from the “Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor” watch, which was available only for Navy fighter weapons school (Topgun) graduates. Its 44mm case is made of black zirconium-oxide ceramic. Limited to 1 500 pieces.

NEWS Inspired by living in the moment and precious seconds, the new 36mm FRÉDÉRIQUE CONSTANT Ladies Automatic Small Seconds collection features an off-centre small seconds hand at nine o’clock. Four models are available in plated rose gold or stainless steel on brown or navy alligator-leather straps. Dial designs play eloquently with the textures of mother-of-pearl and guilloché decoration, and feature elegant Roman numerals and a date window at six o’clock. Powered by the FC-318 calibre automatic movement with 38-hour power reserve. Picot & Moss 011 669 0500

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REITLING’S NEW Chronomat 36 and 32 have been specially created for women who embody style, confidence, and an active lifestyle — just like the brand’s Spotlight Squad, made up of our own Charlize Theron, American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland, and actress Yao Chen. Theron and Copeland share their thoughts on their connection to the brand, the team, and the new pieces. I am curious about what made Theron fall in love with Breitling and whether she knew of it before she was invited to join #squadonamission. “Yeah, I was aware of it. I mean it’s pretty impossible to not be aware of Breitling. I remember seeing print ads or commercials, and always considering them in the top tier of luxury brands. So when they came to me it just felt like, wow, this is really special. Nobody had to tell me that this was really special. I was very chuffed with myself, let’s just say that, that they reached out to me. Because I knew that this was a very high-quality brand. “The more I did research on the company the more I loved this essence of responsibility. This essence of wanting to take something and really make it better, and also understanding your marketplace and who your client is. The fact that they have been making really beautiful watches, and also two-dimensional watches for women since the ’40s, was something I really responded to. “Then it’s a no-brainer. Once you meet Georges [Kern, Breitling’s CEO] and you see what they’re aiming for, how they believe in the interconnectedness of a team, people standing together — that was something that was really intriguing to me too. It wasn’t just a single-face campaign, it was a community coming together. We all bring something different to the table. I really loved that aspect of it,” says Theron. All three Spotlight Squad members have shattered the stereotypes clinging to their gender and respective fields. Theron won an Oscar for Best Actress in 2004 after playing a serial killer in Monster. In 2019, she starred in and co-produced the drama Bombshell, for which she was nominated for another Oscar. Straight after the round table, I watched her latest movie, The Old Guard, which she starred in and produced, on Netflix. I had seen the back story on the training for this gripping action epic, and was, quite simply, spellbound. A lot has been written about Copeland’s rise to fame,

The new Breitling Chronomat is for active, stylish, confident women

WHAT’S UP THEIR SLEEVES? Debbie Hathway speaks to Charlize Theron and Misty Copeland, members of the Breitling Spotlight Squad

being the second African-American woman to be promoted to soloist with American Ballet Theatre in 2007 and the first African-American woman to become a principal dancer in 2015. That year, Time magazine named her one of the world’s 100 most influential people. When I consider Copeland’s connection to Breitling, words like strength and resilience come to mind. I ask what about Breitling aligns with her values and resonates to the extent that she was happy to join the Spotlight Squad. “Definitely, those things. There are so many things that people don’t consider with a ballerina, and I’m happy that you said strength because I think

Debbie Hathway

more recently that people, especially in America, are understanding all that it takes to be a dancer, and to be a ballerina,” says Copeland. “There’s definitely a sense of tradition, putting in the work, persevering to make something look effortless… this versatility, creating something that’s going to be classic. I think all these values align with who I am as a dancer and as a person. When I look at those adjectives you’d think I was talking about a Breitling watch. There are so many similarities, as a dancer: all the work that goes into the small, minute details of training eight hours a day and producing a beautiful piece of art that Breitling creates.” Copeland is wearing the 36mm bicolour, her favourite Chronomat in gold and steel. “I’m a ballerina and have worn way too many tutus in my time, but I’m not overly feminine. I feel like this watch is more diverse. I can wear it with anything and it works. I like the bigger, more masculine feel, and yet it’s so delicate and classic and timeless,” she says. Theron, wearing the 32mm, agrees with Copeland. “It’s that feeling you get when you put a watch on… I also don’t like having the watch dictate to me what I should be doing. I can go to the gym with this watch, I can wear it tonight for dinner, I can wear this whenever I want to. That’s tricky for women. We want texture, we want things that have a juxtaposition, like the texture of the band and the smoothness of the face, the strength of the metal and the femininity of the diamonds. We’re not easy, but when you get it right we’re really happy. I think women are going to be really excited by having the freedom of picking a watch that will fit into their lives.” breitling.com

LENDING A HAND

HARLIZE THERON stands out for her work to promote peace as well as women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights. In 2007, she founded a charity, the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, to support African youth in the fight against HIV/Aids. In 2020, her charity helped launch Together for Her, a global campaign against domestic violence during Covid-19. Theron has been a UN Messenger of Peace since 2009. Misty Copeland has been devoted to diversity, equity, and inclusion in classical ballet throughout her career. She is an ambassador to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, of which she is also a National Hall of Fame alumna, as well as MindLeaps, which uses dance to help youth in post-conflict countries like Rwanda. In 2020, she partnered with the Entertainment Industry Foundation to launch Swans For Relief, which helps ballet dancers around the world cope with unemployment during the pandemic.

12/ 2020

IINNTTEERRVVIIEEW W

A SIDE HUSTLE TO SIP AND SAVOUR text & portrait

Richard Holmes

Négociant Négociant Lindile Lindile Ndzaba Ndzaba

2020 / 12

INDILE NDZABA breezes in, a bottle of wine in each hand and a broad smile on his face. In his mid-30s, affable and quietly confident, he has the gently simmering fervour of a man on a mission. And for Ndzaba, it’s a mission that began with mourvèdre. While his day job sees him managing the floor at a local artisan butchery and deli, it’s soon obvious that Ndzaba’s real passion lies not here, in Cape Town’s city centre, but in the townships that sprawl east of the city. We’re chatting at Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room, just across the road from where he got his start in hospitality more than a decade ago. That was at &Union, back then arguably the hippest bar in the city. While the regular tastings held there sparked his own passion for wine, they also highlighted the disconnect between the quality of wines sold in the city and those available in township taverns. How to reconcile the two? With inspiration and guidance from colleagues and friends, he soon found the answer. In December 2018, the first corks were pulled from bottles of Khayelitsha’s Finest Wines’ maiden release. Pouring mourvèdre sourced from a cellar in Calitzdorp, Ndzaba’s goal was to introduce great wine to the bars, restaurants, and taverns of the townships surrounding Cape Town. There’s a deep irony that Khayelitsha — where Ndzaba was born and still lives — is only a few kilometres from the verdant vineyards of Stellenbosch but may as well be on a different planet for the (lack of) access most residents have to the fruits of those vines. Ndzaba was hoping to change that. “That first batch was very well received. But it was really different to what people in the townships were used to, so there was a lot to be done in educating the market,” he says. Challenging local palates was exactly

is bringing fine wine to the township

what he was aiming for. “People do get intimidated by wines that they don’t know. They have a tendency to drink one style of wine, one cultivar, but there are so many out there to discover.” Ndzaba isn’t setting out to make his own wine just yet. Rather, he is a negociant, sourcing small-batch wines — the “juice”, in industry-speak — from selected winemakers, for his own bottling and labelling. And the response from the wine industry has, he says, been encouraging: “They have been really welcoming and supportive, especially the farmers and winemakers. Khayelitsha’s Finest Wines is something new for them. There are lots of winemakers out there who don’t have access to the township market, so I want to create that bridge.” The Khayelitsha’s Finest range changes

“People do get intimidated by wines that they don’t know. They have a tendency to drink one style of wine, one cultivar, but there are so many out there to discover”

constantly, with Ndzaba favouring an ever-changing carousel of small batches, meandering between the cultivars and regions of the Western Cape. When the brand launched, it was with a mourvèdre. Later, there was a “lip-smacking” semillon from Catherine Marshall Wines. Right now, it’s a Cape white blend in the bottle, with a new red wine under negotiation. Punting unusual cultivars and new styles of wine certainly isn’t the easiest route to selling wine in a nascent market, though. “In Khayelitsha, people mostly drink sweet wines, so the style I’m bringing in is quite different,” Ndzaba admits. “People are often intimidated by the cultivars, but it’s just a matter of giving them a taste, teaching them about the quality of the wine. When they taste the wine, they love it.” Price points are also a huge challenge, Ndzaba says. He often has to convince sceptical punters that it is worth spending R150 on a single bottle, rather than a 5L box. “It’s about education and understanding where your market is. The enlightened market in the township — those who know about the product — they don’t mind paying for the wine at all. But the curious ones, phew, it’s a mission. But they are coming around, slowly, slowly.” Along with bringing a wine culture to his own community, Ndzaba also wants to see the economic benefits trickle down closer to home. “The market in the townships has, for a long time, been dominated by the large corporate producers, the big brands. At the moment, when wine is sold, the revenue is not circulating in the township. We have such a problem with unemployment, and I hope my brand can do something to help that.” To grow the brand and bring more township drinkers into the fine-wine fold, Ndzaba runs pop-up tastings at township taverns and markets, collaborates with local eateries, and hosts his own events, the Khayelitsha Wine Jams. Today, his wines are sold at more than a dozen outlets in the larger townships surrounding Cape Town, from bars and taverns to art galleries and restaurants. “For now, it’s my side hustle, but Khayelitsha’s Finest Wines will end up being a full-time project. That’s definitely the plan,” Ndzaba says. @khayelitshasfinestwines

GIFT GUIDE

12 / 2020

THE LUXURY

production

Sahil Harilal

photography

OF GIVING

Six smoking hot gift ideas that put Santa to shame

Judd van Rensburg

2020 / 12

Diamaster Automatic Open Heart Diamonds watch, R48 300, Rado Opposite Page: PanthĂ¨re de Cartier necklace in white gold, emeralds, diamonds, and onyx, price on request, Cartier

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Acqua di Parma Colonia Futura eau de cologne, 100ml, R2 299, Skins Cosmetics Opposite Page: Sea Boat Blue drinks box, R1 499, Fieldbar

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Divaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dream necklace in 18kt white gold with 2.90ct diamonds, R666 800, Bulgari Opposite Page: Beezy Bailey, Forever and Amen 2018 Ed 1/8 bronze and gold leaf, R135 000, Everard Read

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Stockists B u l g a r i 0 1 1 8 8 3 1 3 2 5 , C a r t i e r 0 1 1 6 6 6 2 8 0 0 , E v e r a r d R e a d everard-read.co.za, F i e l d b a r f i e l d b a r . c o . z a , R a d o r a d o . c o m , S k i n s C o s m e t ics skins.co.za

DO GOOD

12 / 2020

Generosity is always in fashion, but we say up the ante by choosing gifts that keep on giving. Here is a list of ways to spoil loved ones while supporting worthy causes too SUPPORT.

COVID-, BLM- & GBVFOCUSED CAUSES

KOOS GROENEWALD 1.

ocal artist and creative powerhouse Koos Groenewald put his skills to paper for charity during lockdown with his #CoronaCommissions series. By doing portrait drawings from supplied snap-shots (deliverable on proof of the recipient’s donation to CoronaCare South Africa), he used his talent to support the local charities and institutions helping the most vulnerable South Africans. This has since mushroomed into a larger project, with other organisations now benefitting from 30% of the proceeds. They are the BoKaap Covid-19 Community Response Team (the artist is a resident), Mentor a Boy Child, as well as Black Lives Matter and gender-based violence causes. Groenewald also encourages other artists to take up the cause. Gift a loved one a one-of-a-kind original custom portrait for Christmas.

GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK text

Julia Freemantle

@juliebaby_punch_club

KIDS TO READ BOOK DASH 4.

CREATIVE WOMEN

koosart.co.za; @koooooos

JULIE BABY PUNCH CLUB 3.

MOMS IN NEED

HATCH 2.

non-profit started by Jacqui Barhouch and Christy Smith that supports new moms in underserved communities with vital-care packages, Hatch relies on donations (monetary and otherwise) to ensure that the recipients start their journey into motherhood equipped with the essentials. Included in the hamper is often a handmade quilt or blanket, and always a soft toy. Of the 15 products in each bag, the

she is. Especially with a punchneedle kit. This prompted Olivier to form a collective with local domestic workers (weavers, knitters, crocheters and the like) and set up a platform on Instagram from which to sell the beautiful pieces. Olivier initially did the majority of the designing, but the team members are increasingly expressing their own creativity and skill to execute mad cool pieces. Their work earned Julie Baby Punch Club the grand prize in an Acer competition, which gave the women business training and a cash prize to equip themselves with laptops to help them run the operation. These masterful pieces are fool-proof gifts, outright artworks, and will help the six local craftswomen continue to supplement their income.

soft toy is one of the most expensive so, rather than buying cheap imports, the founders sought another way to include this much-needed item and support local. Each charming Hilda x Hatch giraffe toy — made from donated fabrics by seamstress Hilda Riva, who also benefits from the steady income — ensures

there’s something locally and lovingly made in the Hatch bags.You can purchase a Hilda x Hatch giraffe for a new mom from S&H Kids (and in so doing cover the cost of a toy for another child), or simply sponsor a bag as a festive-season gift.

ocal illustrator Andel Olivier employed Nomvula “Julie Baby” Mxubane as her domestic worker and nanny, and during lockdown, when Olivier gave Mxubane some craft supplies, she realised just how talented

Hatch.org.za; s-h-kids.myshopify.com 3.

ook Dash began in 2014 as a project among friends with the goal of producing high-quality, affordable African storybooks for children who need them. An unaffordable luxury for many, yet an indispensable tool for learning, “leisure” books are absent in 58% of households in South Africa, further exaggerating existing inequalities. Children growing up with many books get the equivalent of three years more schooling than children from bookless homes, according to a study. Book Dash events see volunteer teams consisting of a writer, editor, illustrator, and designer creating books in a day! These are then printed and distributed. To date, 140 original children’s books have been created and translated into the official South African languages. By purchasing a Book Dash storybook, you’ll also be helping other children

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A SOCIALLY MINDED STARTUP

learn, as proceeds from sales are used to subsidise the printing and distribution of books to children who would not otherwise have any of their own. bookdash.org

GE:SKENK 8.

SUPPORT.

HANDMADE

1. 8.

KAROO HANDGEMAAK 5.

andmade Karoo Handgemaak is a self-sustaining community project that has just marked its 10th birthday. It helps the local women of Prince Albert in the Karoo earn an income from their handcrafting skills. What started with two women making simple crochet hearts to sew onto tea towels grew into a community of around 20 women of all skill levels creating beautiful knitted, crocheted, and sewn items from high-quality materials — ranging from character toys to nursery and home items. Paid for every sale, the makers’ names are on each item, so you know exactly who made yours. By purchasing one of these charming, one-of-akind pieces, you’ll help keep a breadwinner in business.

5. 6.

icki Scheffel and Flora Maloka’s Ge:Skenk is a gifting service that supplies corporates and individuals with beautifully curated and themed gift hampers (for him, her, baby, to say congratulations, etc.) while simultaneously supporting purpose-driven, largely artisanal and craft brands, small local businesses and social enterprises. Its whole ethos is built around ethical business and is driven by a desire to channel some of the approximately R9-billion that’s spent annually on corporate gifting back into creative social enterprises. Forget humdrum goods for clients — this is a seamless way to gift consciously on a large or small scale with the sourcing done for you! ge-skenk.co.za

karoohandgemaak.com

ANIMAL WELFARE JOHANNESBURG WILDLIFE VET 6.

he first of its kind, the Johannesburg Wildlife Vet exclusively cares for indigenous wildlife, free of charge, with the biggest differentiating factor that it treats medium and small wildlife. This is exceptional given that many NPOs fund conservation efforts that focus on large wildlife. The hospital treats, rehabilitates, and releases reptiles, birds, rodents, and other small mammals back into the wild. Why not make a donation (which goes towards food, medical expenses, and day-to-day running costs) in someone’s name in lieu of a physical gift this year? johannesburgwildlifevet.com

COFFEE FOR GOOD GREENPOP 9.

and international markets. The Madwa Foundation is supported financially through the sales of its products.

rise Coffee was created as a way for people to enjoy great coffee while contributing to a crucial environmental cause. For every 3kg of the high-quality organic Arise coffee sold, Greenpop plants a tree, allowing you to get your fix and lower your carbon footprint in one go. You can buy this ethically produced (and beautifully packaged) coffee at the following stores: Faithful to Nature, Tribe Coffee Roastery, Organic Living, Low Impact Living, Shop Zero, and soon also Takealot and Wellness Warehouse.

madwa.com

Greenpop.org

WOMEN WEAVERS THE MADWA FOUNDATION 7.

adwa’s beautifully crafted woven pieces from Eswatini promote empowerment through employment. The rural community has a rich weaving legacy, something The Madwa Foundation is upholding by showcasing the weavers’ skill. All of the weavers are women. Madwa also provides training, infrastructure, and assistance with product design to allow the

team members to achieve their own financial independence through their intricate creations, and to ensure that their crafts are given access to both local

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SUPPORT.

JOYFUL

ARTS AND CRAFTS

CREATIVITY IN THE CITY

LGBTQIA+ CAUSES

DLALA NJE 12.

ROYAL CHUNDU LODGE 10.

rior to Covid-19, 74% of the income made at Zambia’s awardwinning Royal Chundu Lodge went back to the local communities. Tragically, lockdown saw this crucial support falling away. Born out of guests’ interest in the bright and vibrant Chitenge items seen at Royal Chundu, and the clear demand for these products, an online portal was created. The Zambezi Joy Society grew from the Royal Chundu online store and it aims to connect people around the world with these locally made items, as well as provide a lifeline to local makers and craftspeople. With products ranging from Chitenge table linens and cushion covers to hand-carved doorbells and napkin rings or leather sandals, the online shop is a celebration of handmade and local. All the profit goes back to the makers and whatever needs they have (for example, fuel for the village garden pumps, an industrial sewing machine, and a smartphone).

12.

MUTANU AND ART 13.

lala Nje’s mission is to change and challenge perceptions and educate locals and visitors to Johannesburg via tours of parts of the city often avoided or deemed “dangerous”. These tours aim to debunk stereotypes by showing people the daily, normal life of people living and working in these areas. The proceeds go back to the community via care and youthdevelopment centres. And then, their Dlala Nje store sells fantastic fashion and decorative items sourced from designers and artisans in the area — think a glass blower in Hillbrow, a designer crafting accessories out of PPC cement bags, etc. It supports these local designers, with a percentage of the proceeds also going back to the centres. Gift a tour, goods from the store or — preferably — both! dlalanje.org

utanu and Art was started during lockdown by Korcelia Saygbay after she became unemployed. She picked up a childhood crocheting hobby as an outlet to celebrate queerness — especially for Africans and women — and creates proudly queer garments that expresses that part of her identity. She donates 10% of the proceeds made from her “Pride” cardigans (priced at R2 500) to an LGBTQIA+ organisation of the buyer’s choosing. Buy a rainbow in fashion form for someone you love (queer or straight) and contribute to ensuring someone else has a supportive community around them. @mutanuandart

13.

zambezijoysociety.com 14.

HAIR LOVE

POWER BASKET INITIATIVE 14.

BARBARA LEPHUTHING 11.

uring lockdown, Barbara Lephuthing started making and selling scrunchies to keep herself and her two children afloat. The business has grown to the point that she has now trained five other women who also needed an income. A stylish, easy stocking filler for the women in your life, these beautifully made and very on-trend accessories (she’s doing headbands too) are helping at least six women support themselves and their children. You can shop directly off her Instagram page.

@barbara_scrunchies

JUNGLE AT HOME

10.

11.

ndoor-plant company Mother City Jungle started the Power Basket Initiative to empower people who had lost their jobs because of Covid-19. Founder Ashleigh Liprini began by helping a group of people living in Maitland, training them to make floor and hanging baskets. In turn, these artisans trained more people. Liprini supplied materials, dropping them off at the makers’ houses, collecting the finished articles a few days later, and selling them from the online store. All profits from these baskets go to the makers. It’s an ideal gift for a plant-lover this festive season. They’re available online and at various retailers around Cape Town. mothercityjungle.co.za

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AGE OF

HEROES

PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE SOUTH AFRICANS DOING GOOD

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enhance access broadly so more people can enjoy the benefits of a modern, connected life.” Finding viable, far-reaching ways of bridging the digital divide is critical to MTN, Motsa says. He is determined to build and leverage partnerships across all the relevant government departments to make the future one in which everyone can use digital technology to navigate an uncertain future. “We must accept that the world is going to be very different to the one we knew pre-Covid,” he says. “This will be a world predominated by technology and by the need for access to this technology. Our path forward is clear.”

Godfrey Motsa

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE text

Keith Bain

MTN SA CEO Godfrey Motsa says 2020 will be remembered for many things, one of which is how dire global circumstances pushed digital transformation into high gear. The pandemic provided the real-time “proof of concept” that a digital work and home lifestyle is infinitely possible.

E CALLS TELECOMS the “jet fuel” that sustained us as a nation during a dark time — with mobile broadband, fixed wireless connections, and mobile apps becoming the primary tools enabling billions to stay connected. In one month of the pandemic alone, global internet traffic soared by 30% as people digitally connected with health professionals, work colleagues, educators, and loved ones. Digital solutions, he says, were activated everywhere, helping reduce the spread of infection while enabling businesses to continue operating and learners to be educated even as we stayed at home. Digital connectivity helped our country, our economy, our people stay afloat. The allocation of temporary spectrum by the government meant coverage and quality could be further extended and enhanced to reach even more South Africans. But the big elephant in the room remains the fact that, around the world, billions of people still can’t get online. Motsa says MTN despairs of the digital divide. The gaps have been highlighted more than ever during the crisis. “Technology has emerged as a key enabler for communities, governments, and businesses, but in South Africa and other developing nations, access to technology remains a major barrier to entry,” he says. For Motsa and MTN SA, bringing the benefits of a digital life to everyone is a priority. “It’s imperative that every possible step is taken now to

Game changer A major technological development that will soon shift the future is the roll-out of 5G. “What’s important to know is that 5G gives you unprecedented speed,” says Godfrey Motsa. “Such speeds enable a raft of services that rely on extremely low latency, such as the emerging dream of driverless cars. Such dreams can finally become a reality because the response time between that ping between the server and the end user becomes negligible. This will be a huge advantage to the business community because it means that we can begin developing all sorts of applications that require real-time speed. It is a major game-changer.”

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AGE

HEROES B

UT IF 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that the bottom line isn’t capital wealth. It’s human capital. People. People are our most valuable resource: our hearts and minds, our future. In 2020, heroes emerged on all fronts. Thousands of doctors, nurses, and other essential-services personnel who, in this exceptional year, worked tirelessly on the frontline. Hard-working single moms who put food on the table against all odds; cooped-up teens who kept spirits up by posting videos on social media that taught us to dance; retired seamstresses who showed us how to fashion our own face masks; and journalists who kept us up to speed with breaking news. Indeed, South Africa has a wealth of heroes, mostly unacknowledged. Ordinary folk supplied warm meals to the destitute and homeless; NGOs provided safe havens for abused women and neglected children; volunteers helped impoverished households survive job loss, hunger, depression and other threats; and countless others humbly served in whatever way they could. In recognition of the multitude of unsung heroes who helped communities keep their heads above water during one of the toughest times in living memory, MTN SA called on South Africans to recognise and pay tribute to anyone doing their bit to make a difference, no matter how small, during a time of challenge — by telling their stories on social media in a movement called #WeGoodTogether.

IN THE PAST, BUSINESS WAS JUST ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE

The point? Not only a way of generating camaraderie and solidarity to reiterate that, in the face of unprecedented challenge, our nation can overcome this crisis if we all stand together and support one another, but also to encourage others to emulate the sort of empathy and kindness that fosters social harmony. Hundreds of South Africans were celebrated. But the movement extended beyond just congratulations. In appreciation of their tireless efforts, 32 of the “Everyday Heroes” were further recognised by MTN with donations of much-needed equipment and essential items necessary to sustain their good work and reach even more South Africans with their generosity of spirit.

Sparking hope A passion project launched during this time, Y’ello Hope is MTN Group’s targeted response to Covid-19, harnessing MTN’s resources to provide much-needed relief and support. MTN acted swiftly to address the challenges brought on by the pandemic, prioritising governments, and its staff, customers, and communities across its footprint. The project was initiated to assist governments to flatten the curve during the peak of this pandemic and saw MTN partner with public figures from across the continent, and the world, to help spread the vital, life-saving message of mask-wearing across Africa. The continent-wide #WearItForMe campaign even saw Grammywinning hip-hop producer DJ Khaled step up to encourage people to wear masks. Khaled’s video clip alone was shared with more than 21-million Instagram followers.

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TIES

THAT BIND

IN A UNIQUELY DIVERSE SOCIETY, SOUTH AFRICANS HAVE A SHARED PASSION FOR SPORT AND FOR SHOWING OUR SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT TO OUR FAVOURITE TEAMS

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N A UNIQUELY diverse society, South Africans have a shared passion for sport and for showing our support and commitment to our favourite teams. Whether it’s our vibrant love of soccer or our collective pride in the world-beating Springboks, we’re distinctively passionate about our sporting heroes. The same applies to our love of music and song. Whether it be our sensational high-energy gqom and kwaito stars pulling global audiences, the soul-stirring rhythms of our world-class choirs, our sensational opera stars, or our legendary Joyous Celebration concerts that bring together many of the fiercest lungs and sweetest voices. Indeed, South Africa’s cultural wealth is defined by its rich diversity — it’s why our musicians and artists, crafters, and designers are making an impact around the globe. In a year fraught by isolation and physical distance, space between loved ones, family members, friends, and colleagues, and entire countries made suddenly inaccessible, both sport and culture — crucial components of our social world — came under threat. But even if the conditions of watching our favourite teams and gathering for live gigs were curtailed and temporarily altered, nothing could rob us of our love of the game. Which is why, with sport back online, MTN SA this year, for the 13th time, partnered with the Premier Soccer League to sponsor the MTN8 Wafa Wafa — the fiercely contested knock-out tournament featuring South Africa’s top-eight soccer teams from the 2019/20 season. Not only do the teams compete for an R8-million grand prize but the tournament also represents significant opportunity for fans to engage and — thanks to MTN’s “Recharge and Win” competition — score a share of prizes worth R8-million. That includes a R1-million grand prize for one lucky supporter in the thrilling Last Fan Standing competition. And while prizes, money, and prestige are at stake, the real spirit and magic of the thing is to be part of a collective event, a chance to use mobile digital technology to support the beautiful game and our sporting heroes even at a time when we’re unable to be at the stadiums in person. What such campaigns demonstrate is the tremendous impact that digital technologies can have in reducing the social distance between us, even when physical distance is necessary to keep us safe.

Goals for Charity

Aligned with MTN’s proud tradition of contributing to worthy causes is its annual Goals for Charity initiative that forms part of the MTN8 Wafa Wafa soccer tournament, which it sponsors in partnership with the Premier Soccer League. This year a cash donation of R20 000 goes to charity for every goal scored during regulated time throughout the tournament. That’s double the per-goal contribution of 2019.

12 / 2020

Felix Kamenga

PUNCHING

ABOVE OUR WEIGHT

South Africa has always punched above its weight,” says Felix Kamenga, chief officer of MTN SA’s mobile financial services

uch competitiveness is a significant part of South Africa’s DNA, Kamenga — like many of us — believes. In order for South Africa to compete, though, Kamenga says we need wider financial inclusivity. And we need to take advantage of the many ways that technology — digital technology especially — can not only improve people’s lives but also grant them access to economic inclusion. “Look at what IT has done for India,” he says. “And at how technology has enabled China to bring so many people into the middle class.” Two seriously significant technologies have the power to shift South Africa in the immediate future. One of these is the arrival of 5G, which is set to accelerate our part in the digital revolution. The other, already in play and already changing the lives of millions of South Africans, is mobile banking. Kamenga believes that this is a fundamental development happening within the fintech space that is helping to dramatically extend the reach of financial inclusion to people who can’t afford the costs of traditional banking.

MTN’s Mobile Money — or MoMo — app (powered by UBank) has already, within months of its launch, made fundamental inroads into people’s lives. Of course, it seems almost fortuitous that MoMo’s launch coincided with the global crises precipitated by Covid-19. It forced a rethink. “One of 2020’s dramatic realisations was that transacting in person could be hazardous,” Kamenga says. “It just wasn’t as straightforward — or necessarily possible — to go out and buy things you needed.” But a platform like MoMo provides a solution; it offers the means to navigate economic life digitally, without transacting physically. “Our Mobile Money app came at a critical time,” Kamenga says. “We’ve made it easier for people to access all kinds of services, everything from paying your satellite subscription to buying airtime and sending money to other people without having to handle cash. We’ve made it possible to perform those payments from the safety and comfort of your home — without the worry and

“I’m proud of how MoMo is contributing to improving South Africans’ lives. It’s really the small things, for example, providing cheaper data that enables someone to discover something new on YouTube and honing their skills. It’s that small contribution that lowers the barrier for access to information and knowledge” — Felix Kamenga

“We want to be on the world stage as a country and as a people.We want to be among the best, we want to deliver the best, we want to be able to contribute in a meaningful way”

inconvenience of having to be sanitised 25 times for a simple transaction.” The pandemic prompted the introduction on the MoMo platform of free peer-to-peer payments for amounts under R200. The burden on consumers was further eased by zero-rating instantEFT payments and discounts on cardto-wallet transactions and payments to agents and participating retailers — all effective for the duration of Covidrelated restrictions. Additionally, the platform brings with it out-of-the-box innovations to simplify daily life. “During Covid, MTN MoMo made it possible for people to, for example, pay their offerings and tithes in churches; to pay insurance policies; to donate to charities; to buy Lotto tickets, to buy electricity; and to renew and pay for car license discs, which we then deliver,” Kamenga says. Such innovations aren’t dreamt up in a vacuum. Measuring the nation’s “pain points”, as Kamenga calls them, is grounded in extensive fieldwork. “We travelled the length and breadth of the country, to all the provinces, and we sat and talked with people in communities to hear them identifying their most pressing needs.”

PA R T N E R S H I P

“We believe access to the internet has the power to change lives and bridge inequalities,” says Godfrey Motsa, MTN SA CEO

“B

The idea was to develop a deep understanding of how everyday people — everywhere — interact with financial services in order to come up with truly novel solutions to address those concerns. “It was about speaking to people, finding out what products and services could add value to their lives, and alleviating their woes and niggles,” Kamenga says. The payoff for listening to the people? A platform that has seen 2-million wallets opened in 10 months. “And we have a whole stash of new features and services lined up,” he says. Coming up soon is a service that will enable you to send money across the border; micro-loans and insurance. “We are looking into enabling small businesses and supporting businesses. And small-scale share-trading. These are already novel prospects, but Kamenga says he can look even further ahead. MTN SA’s Mobile Financial Services is already working with spaza shops to help them digitise payments in order to bring their retail operations into the modern era. It’s all about “enhancing your competitiveness”, says Kamenga. “We want to improve your ability to stand out, so that we can — as a nation — compete on that world stage, whilst caring for our people and accelerating our recovery.” “To achieve that, we need to come up with clever solutions, and I wholeheartedly believe that the solutions to the majority of our problems are in this country, whether it’s unemployment, health, security, or education. Technology, collaboration, and optimism can help us solve those problems.”

2020 / 12

BROADENING EVERYONE’S HORIZONS

“I like getting up each morning knowing that I work for a company that contributes to bettering people’s lives through digital technology. Being part of a company that has made access to mobile services possible — not only for South Africans but also for millions of people across the continent — is something I’m proud of.” — Felix Kamenga, MTN SA Mobile Financial Services

EFORE Covid-19, MTN had already mapped out a plan to build a digital operator, moving our customers from a voice-centric world into a world of mobile data and digital services, including digital financial services,” says Motsa. “The pandemic is accelerating this move.” There are hurdles, however. A major threat is the country’s lack of spectrum — the radio frequencies allocated to enable communication over the airwaves. “Spectrum is our oxygen,” says Motsa. “We need it to breathe. Additional frequencies across both coverage and capacity bands will mean we can connect more people and offer faster speeds.” During the pandemic, the government temporarily extended the frequency allocation to accommodate an unprecedented 68% growth in data traffic. Government has extended the temporary spectrum, while also initiating its much-awaited auction. “The imminent spectrum auction is a powerful demonstration of both our government and regulator’s commitment to help more people to access data. Access to spectrum reduces the need to build more base stations, towers, and masts so, by reducing our costs, we can, in turn, drive down the cost to communicate,” Motsa says. He says that there have been important strides made by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa and, most notably, by the Presidency’s Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution. “The commission’s insights are helping drive the move towards enhanced access to digital solutions,” he says. Motsa believes such partnerships are vital if we’re going to bring more people into the digital age. “We’re making immense strides to ensure more people across the continent gain access to technology, key information, and digital solutions, like mobile banking. We believe if governments, regulators, and business work together, the obstacles can and will be overcome. “Technology has emerged as a key enabler for communities, governments, and businesses, but in South Africa and other developing nations, access to technology remains a major barrier to entry. Covid-19 has delivered a devastating blow to our alreadylimping economy, so it is imperative that every possible step is taken now to enhance access, and help our economy recover and grow to the benefit of all.”

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PA R T N E R S H I P

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

THE STAKES WERE ALREADY HIGH; THE PANDEMIC PUT THE SQUEEZE ON. AND, AS WE KNOW, IT TAKES ENORMOUS PRESSURE TO PRODUCE DIAMONDS

HICH IS WHY, viewed through a particular lens, 2020 has been a year of tremendous digital acceleration. “We’ve seen people taking a giant leap during this period,” says Kholo Magagane, head of marketing for MTN SA Business. He believes that 2020’s exceptional circumstances prompted us to recognise the advantages technology offers and the power digital platforms have to positively impact our lives. “We’ve seen, out of this crisis, people opening up to the digital transformation, whether they’ve shopped online for the first time or engaged in video conferencing. People are now truly embracing the power of technology.” This, he says, is one positive thing to have come out of a dire situation: “It has helped us realise that a whole lot of things can be done from the comfort of our homes — and that technology is valuable in that sphere.” It’s within this context of digital transformation, Magagane says, that MTN SA Business is passionate about establishing businesses. “One of our main drivers is creating a digital space where new businesses can access the economy and people can easily join the start-up world. Because the more people who start up, the more jobs we’ll create.” Magagane says the dream is to “make the circle bigger” by creating “an enabling environment for more businesses to start and to flourish”. These are not empty wishes. One of the unique ways in which MTN SA has helped stimulate and propel startup culture is through its MTN Business App of the Year Awards, designed to encourage expansion within the digital technology sector. Since 2012, this programme has been an increasingly potent stimulus for empowerment, a real force that is directly helping to expand the circle by creating businesses, job opportunities, and useful services for society. Apart from being the country’s foremost app-development programme, the awards are a celebration of local talent and out-of-the-box thinkers who drive disruption, innovation, and change.

This year’s ninth annual edition of the competition unlocked an app called EasyEquities. “It’s a platform for people to start trading in shares,” Magagane says. “It not only simplifies trading but also allows you to make an investment, irrespective of how little you have left at the end of the month.” One distinctly South African app is StokFella, which enables stokvels — which have an estimated membership of more than 11-million — to consolidate their activity in a streamlined visual platform. Magagane says there’s a lot more to the awards than merely recognising excellence. “The main driver is not who wins; it is identifying the thinking around it, examining the business case around it, and figuring out how we can support developers who might need assistance in setting up their businesses”.

“We wish to champion digital transformation and give everybody access to a modern, connected life. Because they break what would have been traditionally known as social segregation, because when you get into a digital space everybody has a fair chance and an equal opportunity.” — Kholo Magagane, head of marketing: MTN SA Business The MTN Business App Academy was launched this year to expand the ecosystem that has evolved around the awards. Established to upskill aspiring talent, the academy is an online appdevelopment programme providing tutoring and mentorship by experts. “It’s for non-techies who want to create tech-based solutions for their ideas,” says Magagane. In other words, it trains people — who have ideas or expertise in a particular field and are looking for ways to translate their innovative ideas into digital solutions — to code. And it mentors them towards achieving their goals. Aspiring developers participate in a six-week online coding programme, culminating in a 72-hour virtual hackathon, with the objective of developing an app that solves a common social challenge facing South Africa.

Kholo Magagane

The top three apps are given the chance to grow into fully fledged solutions, with a go-to-market implementation strategy. In other words, making the circle bigger. No stranger to ground-breaking apps, MTN in 2019 introduced ayoba, essentially a home-grown instantmessaging platform with similar functionality to WhatsApp. It’s been described as “WeChat for Africa” — created for Africa, in Africa. Like WhatsApp, ayoba is free to use across all networks. What sets ayoba apart is that it allows users to also communicate with others on phones that only have basic features — and with those that don’t have the ayoba app. While data is required to send messages and files, MTN provides 1GB of free data monthly — that enables anyone to stay in contact with friends and family, even when airtime has run out. “Ayoba gives you a monthly data allocation so that you can access your basic data services,” Magagane says. “So, you can check the news, check on job-market vacancies, browse general websites between midnight and 5am, and ensure that people are able to keep communicating”. Additionally, MTN zero-rated two ayoba Covid-19 channels for the sharing of pandemic news and updates. Plus, the network provided free usage of a USSD (data) line for Covid-19 reporting. At the same time, MTN extended its zero-rated website access beyond universities, education portals, and Wikipedia with the launch of MTN OpenTime, and provides a monthly quota for customers to access over 1 000 public-benefit service sites that include health and employment sites. “All these developments, whether or not they’re specific to the conditions created by Covid-19, are happening in the interests of expanding South Africa’s access to the digital world, Magagane says. “Whether we’re helping to create apps, or providing access to apps and other digital services, we’re just proud to see how the country is advancing in the adoption of digital services,” he says. “As a network provider, we create the engine that you’re going to plug into, and we see that as one of the spaces where MTN has great potential to bring the country together.”

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HILDREN’S homes needing blankets, food, and toiletries. A hospital in Sterkspruit, Eastern Cape, needing face masks and a water tank. Healthcare workers without basic personal protective equipment. Women without sanitary pads. Entire communities on the brink of starvation. A year of crisis not only revealed chinks in our armour but also compelled us to pay attention to the disparities between the haves and have-nots. “Covid-19 reshaped our responsibility but — more than anything — it reshaped our responsiveness in the time of crisis,” says Kusile Mtunzi-Hairwadzi, general manager of the MTN SA Foundation. “Many breadwinners suddenly had no income, many households were faced and began to deal with bread-and-butter issues, with no food.” Mtunzi-Hairwadzi says that while the MTN SA Foundation, a Section 21, notfor-profit company, primarily focuses on programmes covering education, health, and skills development, in a crisis, the ad-hoc challenges, such as the effects of Covid-19, guides the Foundation to take on projects deemed national priority. “The pandemic meant we deviated somewhat from our main focus to address the most pressing needs,” she says. “We partnered with other NGOs to identify our neediest communities, and sourced and distributed food parcels to the value of R5-million. The speedy response was made possible by the various partners from government, other corporates and NGOs on the ground, driven by meaningful collaboration.” Pandemic needs went beyond food, of course. Many organisations sought digital support or assistance with communicationtechnology equipment to enable them to operate at the height of the crisis. We at MTN South Africa believe we can do more good when various partners and stakeholders come together. We partnered with government, NGOs, and communities to supply smartphones to healthcare workers; tablets with data to community-healthcare workers so they

LIFELINES could capture and record information from the various community screenings in real time; and desktop computers and subsidised Wi-Fi at field hospitals to smooth admissions and manage isolation and quarantine. Across the country, MTN supported NGOs and community centres with free data, while an array of NPOs were supplied with Wi-Fi routers and preloaded data to enable essential work to continue in remote rural areas and offgrid communities. Similar support was provided to homes where vulnerable and orphaned children are sheltered; to centres providing care for abused and neglected women and children; to NGO-run healthcare facilities and organisations working with people suffering from depression. MTN offered digital support to help them stay connected and manage their communications as they navigated the crisis.

“It has been a phenomenal year. We have — overall — achieved what we would not ordinarily have achieved, but Covid showed us that it’s possible to do anything when you set your mind to it.” — Kusile Mtunzi-Hairwadzi, general manager: MTN SA Foundation

A partnership between the MTN SA Foundation and the department of health saw the supply and distribution of nearly R2-million worth of sanitisers and face masks to healthcare facilities. Some 156 800 face masks and 39 600 units of hand sanitisers were donated, along with 400 thermometers for schools that were reopening. MTN SA also spearheaded the South African National Editors’ Forum Relief Fund for Journalists, which sought to bring financial relief to reporters and editors and other media workers who lost their livelihood as a result of the pandemic. MTN SA kickstarted the fund with R500 000 — an amount that has since grown to almost R5-million — which continues to be used to alleviate the essential-needs requirements of outof-work journalists with small grants. Looking at ways of making a difference in the lives of its customers, MTN SA launched its revamped loyalty programme, MyMTN Rewards and rewards currency, YelloBucks. Until 31 January, MTN is rewarding subscribers with a share of R100-million in prizes in its #Remake2020 campaign — offering an opportunity to make up some of the ground lost this year. “The idea comes from wanting to help people fulfil some of the big dreams they might have hoped to achieve in 2020,” explains Godfrey Motsa, MTN SA CEO. “Whether their plans were to get married, graduate, or go on their first overseas holiday, since Covid scuppered so many of our big hopes and plans, MTN is providing an opportunity to make some of those dreams a reality.” Because we could all do with a bit of a lifeline this year.

PA R T N E R S H I P

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Kusile MtunziHairwadzi

EDUCATION

South Africa is rich with the hopes, dreams, and ambitions of children

OUTSIDE

UT THEY are growing up in a fast-changing world, one with ever-shifting jobmarket prospects, and an increasingly unpredictable future. In October, CNN reported on the dire consequences of the pandemic for education in poorer parts of the world, reflecting that, according to Unesco (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), roughly 300-million learners across Africa have been affected by Covid-related school closures. Disturbingly, Save the Children has warned that, in addition to an estimated 258-million children who were already not attending school, a further 10-million are unlikely to return due to rising poverty and funding cuts induced by the crisis. Far beyond anything anyone ever expected, the pandemic has dramatically altered our understanding of how the paradigm for learning must evolve. Covid-19’s big lesson is that there’s an urgent and fundamental need to make virtual education more accessible to all sectors of society. And digital technology is a key driver for that transformation. “If this pandemic has shown us anything, it’s that our teachers and youth need to look at harnessing the power of technology to supplement traditional forms of teaching and learning,” says MTN SA Foundation’s general manager Kusile Mtunzi-Hairwadzi, for whom education is a personal passion. Mtunzi-Hairwadzi explains that, traditionally, the MTN SA Foundation has contributed significantly towards education by supplying school multimedia in economically marginalised communities with equipment.

to think beyond today — and also think outside the box.” The pandemic prompted precisely such out-of-the-box thinking — a seismic reimagining of education. Plans and ideas that had been on the table for some time were accelerated. MTN zero-rated a range of university, TVET, and school websites that MTN enables its users to access free of data. In fact, MTN has zero-rated some 1 000 websites, including hundreds of other educational, e-learning, and publicbenefit sites.

THE BOX

The Foundation also funds training for teachers, provides support and maintenance, and works with municipalities to ensure that electricity is available for these centres to operate, while MTN itself ensures internet connectivity. During the pandemic, however, traditional bricks-and-mortar facilities at schools became inaccessible. So strategies for enabling access to e-learning had to be developed and rapidly rolled out, so that teachers and lessons could reach learners virtually. “I am not going to negate the importance of a teacher,” MtunziHairwadzi says. “It’s very important for children to interact with teachers, and to interact with fellow students. But sometimes life teaches us that we need

“The benefits of digitised curricula and e-learning platforms are many. They will complement conventional methods of learning and teaching in the post-Covid-19 era, expanding access to education and democratising scarce resources, including good teachers”, Mtunzi-Hairwadzi says. “While digital teaching may never be a silver bullet, it cannot be ignored that digital content is cheaper, it eliminates textbook printing and distribution costs. What’s more, thousands of books can be stored on a single device, and digital books and information stored in the cloud can regularly and instantaneously be updated. the genie cannot be put back into the bottle. “Education is essential, but if children can’t reach education, let the education reach the children no matter where they are,” she says. “Whether in rural areas in poorer schools, or stuck at home, everyone deserves an equal chance of education and an equal chance of realising their dreams.” This is why MTN has been enabling more learners to continue their education beyond the confines of the brick-andmortar environment, “and we will continue to go so with plans to explore a platform that will make it possible to create a huge MTN e-school that will be accessible to all South Africans. It will cover everything from grade R all the way up to tertiary level. And we want to include skills development and health education. We want it to be as relevant as possible to our communities.”

41 Sarah Buitendach’s lust list of hot US hotels will have you California (and Florida and Tennessee and, and...) dreaming T R AV E L

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UR EYES WERE firmly on America last month and, post-election, mine are still fixed. Only now, they’re on a knockout selection of new hotels that have recently opened there. As soon as I can, I plan to hop on a plane and make the most of a newfound breeze of positivity blowing across the huge nation — and a little of their luxe hospitality too.

text

Sarah Buitendach

RED,WHITEAND THE TIMES SQUARE EDITION New York For this, I’m even prepared to bend my “Stay away from tourist-trap Times Square” rule. And for a chain hotel, nogal. Yet Marriott International’s

Edition Hotels are anything but run of the mill — they are a partnership with the creator of the boutique hotel concept, Ian Schrager. They are also all seriously trendy. In this case, check out the

edgy interiors and four restaurants developed by John Fraser, who brings the Michelin stardust. And the liberal use of indoor foliage across the whole place — divine! editionhotels.com/ times-square

NEW

T R AV E L

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CAPTAIN WHIDBEY Washington state

Wes Anderson would surely fancy a weekend away at this cosy Pacific-Northwest hotel. Have a look at the pics and you’ll see why. Aesthetics aside,

THE PROSPECT Hollywood

If you’re going to hit Los Angeles, then do it properly. Ensconce yourself in a suite replete with chinoiserie wallpaper, gold-leaf

who wouldn’t want to escape to a cabin on an island a short drive from Seattle? Captain Whidbey is a revamped historical inn that has had the full hipster treatment — including rooms and

captainwhidbey.com

ceiling, leopard-print carpet, and a fourposter bed. Basically, make like you’re some glamorous star of the Old Hollywood era. The new Prospect hotel will totally

enable this kind of behaviour. The old girl is named for Prospect Boulevard (the original name of Hollywood Boulevard) and was built in 1939. Now she has been revamped by

cabins conjured up by trendy US designers. I’d bomb out, walk, watch whales, sleep, binge on moulesfrites, drink cocktails — all ideally with Jason Schwartzman.

top designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard and boasts 24 rooms that all come standard with Diptyque amenities and Derek Rose bathrobes. theprospecthollywood. com

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THE DIVE MOTEL, Nashville

In the warm heart of Tennessee, the Dive Motel offers a deep immersion into retro kitsch. And by that I mean it has 23 differently decorated rooms, ranging from rustic luxury cabins to the honeymoon suite with side-by-sidesoaking bathtubs. All the accommodation has a standard “party switch”. This spins a disco ball to the tunes

PALIHOUSE, Miami Beach

The original Art Deco Greenbrier Hotel (built in 1940) has been refashioned and is now one part the kind of destination in which you’d imagine a Florida retiree taking up, and

THE GRADUATE Nashville

A darlin’ canopied bed to lay your weary body in, a karaoke bar with animatronic backup

one part utterly chic escape. I’m yearning for a visit to one of my favourite cities, and this is where I’d choose to stay. A new addition to the Paligroup’s hotels, it boasts a laidback air, tropical but not obvious colour palette, lots

hotels/miami-beach

band, vases of bright blooms, and a rooftop bar inspired by Dolly Parton. Seriously, is this the dream getaway or what? I’m

mad about this new Nashville Midtown spot for its crazy, cool aesthetic and obvious celebration of the finest that Music City

of light, and a lovely pool. Most of the 71 suites have kitchenettes, so you can do your own thing, when not hanging out in Palihouse’s super cool neighbourhood, of course. palisociety.com/

has to offer. Meet you there to share a partytime pitcher and belt out our own version of Jolene? graduatehotels.com

of Dive Radio’s four channels: sex, drugs, rock & roll, and sleep. Guests also have access to a banging hotel pool. And the property’s Dive Bar. It’s all achingly cool, and I want in. thedivemotel.com

T R AV E L

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IMAGES JENNIFER HUGHES; STEVE FREIHON; JAIME KOWAL; AND SUPPLIED

RIGGS Washington DC Got a beer with Joe scheduled at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? Might I suggest you base yourself at the stellar new Riggs Washington DC for the visit? Because the joint is based in the previous Riggs National Bank in the Penn Quarter, there are touches of its former life everywhere. Even the hotel’s 181 rooms and suites are inspired by safe-deposit boxes. The regal but engaging establishment is pet-friendly and has its own Priority bikes that you can use to

sightsee. Its First Lady suites are super fancy. They include amenities such as a freestanding

baths, beautiful china and — wait for it — a baby grand. riggsdc.com

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12 / 2020

READ ALERT

Michele Magwood portrait Shannon Daniels text

01.

14. AFRICA’S WILD DOGS

Jocelin Kagan Rarely seen and steadily diminishing in number, the African wild dog, or painted wolf, is enjoying much attention at the moment. But if you think they’re cute, you couldn’t be more wrong. The dogs hunt in vicious packs, running their quarry to exhaustion. Wildlife photographer Kagan presents a superb collection of pictures, accompanied by fascinating insight into these uncommon predators. (Penguin Random House)

02.

BOOKS

‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE READING We’re not out of our tracksuits just yet. Climb into some new books for a quiet Christmas holiday and escape into the pages

04.

03. 05. 1. THESE WOMEN

Ivy Pachoda Head for Los Angeles and the sleazy side of the streets in this menacing literary thriller. Pachoda (a former world-ranked squash player, of all things) has been likened to the maestro Raymond Chandler, but she focuses on five women tangled up with a serial killer. The reviews have been raves. (Faber & Faber)

2. THE MEANING OF MARIAH CAREY

With Michaela Angela Davis

The singing supernova finally opens up about her life story (a poor childhood in a violent household, racist bullying, nervous breakdowns), but what makes this memoir stand out is her examination of her music and how she wields that astonishing voice: “I build layers with it, like a painter.” (Pan Macmillan)

3. THE HISTORY OF MAN

Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu After carrying off the Sunday Times fiction prize last year, Ndlovu has wasted no time in following it up with another powerful story set in an unnamed African country. She traces the life of a civil servant, Emil Coetzee, from boyhood to bloodied manhood. “What makes a man a man is his life’s story,” she writes. (Penguin Random House)

4. THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB

Richard Osman The fastest-selling crime debut ever in the UK, written by the popular presenter of the show Pointless. An old-fashioned mystery set in a retirement complex and described as “diabolically clever”, smart and funny. (Viking)

12.

12. COOK, EAT, REPEAT

13.CRITICAL BUT, STABLE

Angela Makholwa Flings and bling would probably sum up this delicious novel, about the high-flying members of the Khula social club. Of course, under the veneer of success lie shattering secrets that will shake this glitzy clique to its very core. (Pan Macmillan)

Nigella Lawson Nigella was a serious food writer long before she became a television cook, and her descriptions of food are matchless. This new book has been eagerly awaited and is less a recipe book than a collection of superlative essays interspersed with ingredients. As the book hit the shelves, pragmatic as ever, Lawson told her fans to “stuff their faces” during the new lockdown. (Penguin Random House)

11.

13. 10.

14.

06. 5. TRIO

William Boyd Few writers have been as consistently excellent over their long careers as Boyd, or as versatile in their settings and subjects. This latest offering follows a triumvirate of characters on a 1960s film set: the actress, the producer, and the novelist who hides her vodka in a vinegar bottle. An experienced scriptwriter, Boyd describes the chaotic world of the film set with raucous style. (Penguin Random House)

07. 6.A PROMISED LAND

Barack Obama A timely and eloquent reminder of what true statesmanship looks like. Obama casts back to his earliest political ambitions and charts his rise to becoming the leader of the US. Democracy, he believes, is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding, built together, day by day. (Penguin Random House)

7. HUMANS

Brandon Stanton The creator of Humans of New York has spent the past five years crisscrossing the globe, listening and gathering life stories. In interviews, essays, and photographs, he contemplates the very nature of humanity and what binds us all together. (Pan Macmillan)

08. 8. EX LIBRIS: 100+BOOKS TO READ AND REREAD

Michiko Kakutani From the respected — and often feared — former New York Times book critic, a fat collection of essays on books that ranges, wildly and satisfyingly, from Keith Richards to Dr Seuss to Zadie Smith. This is the gift to give the readers in your life, but buy an extra copy for yourself. (William Collins)

09. 09. A LIFE ON OUR PLANET

David Attenborough “I am 94. I’ve had an extraordinary life. It’s only now that I appreciate how extraordinary.” The venerated natural historian shares dramatic stories from his career and also stern warnings of the planet’s decline. You will not be able to ignore his urgent pleas to restore the world we’ve inherited. (Penguin Random House)

10. SAVING A STRANGER’S LIFE

Anne Biccard Poignant in parts, hilarious in others, this is the highly entertaining diary of a doctor who has worked in the emergency room of a Johannesburg hospital for three decades, where life and death battle it out daily. ( Jacana Media)

11. HUNGRY

Grace Dent This combines two of my favourite genres: autobiography and food writing. Dent is an outstanding, irreverent restaurant critic and columnist in the UK, but this warm memoir is a tribute to an ordinary upbringing on Campbell’s tinned soup and apple crumble. Cadbury purple, she writes, is the colour of love. (HarperCollins)

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W I L D WAT E R S

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Mark Smyth

UMMER TIME and the living is easy. Ja, right. It’s 2020, nothing is easy. What with the threat of Covid-19 and all the precautions many of us are taking, it’s not likely to be a normal summer, but we take it all in our stride and — you know what — we’re going to make the most of it and enjoy it in whatever way we can. A good way would be to take to the water. I don’t mean just jumping in the pool or going for a dip in the sea off Camps Bay

or Umhlanga Rocks, but actually doing something, making the most of our amazing weather. There’s a multitude of ways to enjoy the water, from a quick swim to surfing or chartering a superluxurious yacht for you and your friends to live the high life. Perhaps you could even learn something new like paddle boarding, kayaking, or skippering a boat. It’s cool to say you learnt to speak Spanish or achieved something similarly educational during

ROLLING THE DEEP

lockdown, but imagine being able to say you learnt some SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) during the infamous year that was 2020. There are so many choices available, and obviously we’ve been doing some of the homework to give you some great places to start. One is a website called Get My Boat (getmyboat. co.za). It’s a global operation similar to Airbnb or Booking.com, allowing you to browse everything from a scuba diving course in

Johannesburg to renting a houseboat on Lake Kariba to chartering a luxury super yacht in the Seychelles. We discovered a whole world of things to do, on your own or with friends, and across our great nation, when visiting our neighbours and also if you are able to travel further afield. If you’re heading to the Garden Route, there are lots of options. We discovered renting canoes or a dinghy in Wilderness, fishing in Knysna, or relaxing away from the

crowds on a luxurious catamaran with 11 of your friends in the waters off Plettenberg Bay. If you’re feeling more adventurous, then how about hanging out with Jaws? South Africa is well known for its sharks, and while not everyone has the stomach for it, getting up close and personal with some of the ocean’s deadliest hunters off our coastlines is an adrenaline rush second to none. For sharky options of the responsible kind, try Marine Dynamics

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Shark Tours in Gansbaai (sharkwatchsa.com). For seal snorkelling in Hout Bay, give Animal Ocean Seal Snorkeling (sealsnorkeling. com) a whirl. If you want to go deeper, then how about scuba diving? There are lots of great spots around the country providing not only the opportunity to hang with the fish, but also to explore coral reefs and shipwrecks. Even if you don’t have the experience, you don’t have to travel far to learn. There are numerous scuba-diving schools,

even far from the coast in Johannesburg. It opens up a whole new skill beneath the waves that you can use almost anywhere in the world. If you prefer to be above the waves, then perhaps you want to learn to surf, bru. Jeffrey’s Bay and Muizenberg Beach in Cape Town are popular choices for beginners — if you’re in the latter, drop Craig Johnson a line for great lessons (facebook. com/johnsonssurf). Or you can book a surf camp (booksurfcamps.com)

Boats (and boards and breathing apparatus)

and make your whole family holiday about learning to ride the waves. You can even book a surfingand-yoga camp for a combination of adrenaline and zen. Not quite ready to surf? How about paddle boarding or stand-up paddle boarding? It’s a great way to see things from a different perspective while switching off and gliding along the water. You can even do a SUP trip around Robben Island, although only when the waves of Table Bay are

to rock

nice and calm. SUP Cape Town (supcapetown.co.za) is a good place to start for all related endeavours in that part of the country. The company sells the kit, offers lessons but also — and this is key for all commitmentphobes, inland-lubbers, and newbies — rents out boards over the holiday season. If you’re in Kwa-Zulu-Natal this month, check out the SUP Durbs! Club website (supdurbs.co.za) for excellent info on where to hit the water all up and down the coast.

this holiday

W I L D WAT E R S

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If all of this sounds a bit too energetic, fear not; there are numerous ways to get your water fix while sitting down and enjoying a glass of champagne on a boat or a yacht. You don’t even need to venture to the coast. There are plenty of boats to hire on the Vaal River or at popular spots like

Hartbeespoort Dam. For real luxury though, you’ll need to head to the sea, especially if you want to charter a 20m yacht for you and your besties. The Only One is a Princess yacht moored in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, available through luxuryyachtcharters. co.za. It’ll cost you up to

R77 000 for eight hours, but it hosts 12 people during the day, or six if you want to sleep on the water. It comes with a crew, drinks, snacks, and you can even hire a DJ to play the tunes while you watch the sun go down. There are other choices too, such as the elegant Princess Emma or the

sporty Topaz. Then there are the big toys, the real super yachts. For these, you will need to book well in advance, because it’s likely they will need to be brought to you from moorings around the globe. Yachtcharter fleet.com does occasionally bring some of its yachts to South African

JUST CHILLING

IMAGES MICHAEL TURNER/123RF

waters, but mainly it’s on the request of clients. You’ll need deep pockets though, with prices ranging from a couple of hundred thousand to more than $2-million a week. We’re not even going to convert that to rands; it’s enough to make you need another glass of champagne. Oh, go on then.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE All the fan-favourite elements of the Galaxy have been bundled into an affordable package in the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition (FE). The range of stunning new colours might be what attracts your eye, but you’ll stay for the range of features. The Galaxy S20 FE features a pro-grade triple camera, first-in-category innovations such as a 120Hz display, a super-smooth scrolling 6.5-inch display, long-lasting battery, and an advanced chipset for premium performance. It is literally made for selfies with a dynamic 32mp selfie camera. The must-have elements fans called for include Galaxy S20 favourites such as 30X Space Zoom and Single Take, where the AI automatically creates a series of videos and images after you have filmed a scene for 15 seconds. Imagine having a phone that enables you to do more of what you love at an affordable price? Well, this is it.

Samsung Galaxy S20 R23 995*

Samsung Galaxy S20+ R32 995*

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra R31 995*

Galaxy S20 FE R34 985*

Samsung Galaxy S20 l S20+ l S20 Ultra The Samsung Galaxy S20 is our kind of phone — sleek, innovative, and with a camera that will knock your socks off with its brand-new architecture that combines AI with Samsung’s largest image sensor yet for stunning image quality. The S20 comes in three different sizes — S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra, all with super-high resolution to bring out the details in your snaps. The S20 Ultra’s cuttingedge technology combines nine pixels into one at the sensor level for higher-quality images in low light. The Galaxy S20 makes the experience of everything we love to do with our phones easier and better, all powered by a big, intelligent battery with fast chargers and great standard storage. This is certainly a next-generation device experience.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

Gift Smart!

It’s not easy to combine nostalgia and novelty, but the Galaxy Z Flip has certainly captured the imagination of the world in the process. Bending the laws of physics, this pioneering device features a 6.7-inch display that folds into a stylish and compact form that fits in the palm of your hand. The bold, stylish design is aimed both at people who see cutting-edge technology as a way to express themselves and gadget enthusiasts who love the latest and greatest in tech. The first-of-its-kind foldable glass is a revelation, and The Galaxy Z Flip is engineered with an innovative Hideaway Hinge, excellent camera and custom-built UX, which provides elegant new ways to capture, share, and experience content — all hands-free. The Galaxy Z Flip heralds a new decade of foldable mobile innovation. It’s no wonder it sold out in South Africa on its initial release. Galaxy Z Flip R34 985*

The tools help you be a better you. Whether you are feeling generous or treating yourself, give the gift of one or all of Samsung’s Power Devices in the Galaxy Ecosystem Samsung Galaxy Smartphones and tablets seamlessly connect to wearables like the Galaxy Watch 3 and Galaxy Buds Live, so you can track your activity and fitness goalswhile pumping your favourite playlists through an unfettered wireless connection. It also benefits from the peaceof-mind protection of Samsung Care+. This means you can enjoya personal set-up session with a Samsung Care+ Pro,dedicated support via phone or chat, discounted screen repair, and an extended warranty and coverage for accidental damage. It’s good to know you can relax knowing Samsung Care+ has got your back.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 l S7+ Say goodbye to uncomfortable earphones with the Galaxy Buds Live. They defy conventional design and fit the shape of your ear, making them easy to wear all day. Combining sound expertise from AKG with Samsung’s legacy of hardware innovation, including long-lasting battery, Galaxy Buds Live offer a truly immersive audio experience. The 12mm speaker and bass duct allow you to enjoy music the way the artist intended, and with three microphones and a voice-pickup unit, your earbuds ensure you come through as you intend on the phone — loud and clear. Active noise cancellation allows you to tune out distractions and into important conversations and a connected listening experience, which is compatible with a range of devices that can be switched on seamlessly, no disconnecting and reconnecting required. Samsung Galaxy Buds Live R3 995* *’RRP’ recommended resale price. The prices may vary per retailer.

Samsung Galaxy Note20 l Note20 Ultra If you need your phone to be more than just a device for entertainment and e-mail, the Galaxy Note20 series is the one for you — a productivity powerhouse that works like a computer and lets you game like a pro. The series comes in two versions: Galaxy Note20 and Galaxy Note20 Ultra. The large displays are crisp and clear, and both are built for efficiency, especially when you factor in the new-design S Pen that’s been supercharged for an array of incredible functions. Making it the ultimate workhorse, though, is the revamped Link to Windows and integrated Your Phone app from Microsoft, which gives you full access to all the apps and files on your PC through screen mirroring, meaning you can manage any notifications and documents, whether you are on your phone or PC. Add to that cutting-edge cameras, a powerful battery, and super-fast processor, and you can safely say you have your PC in your pocket. Samsung Galaxy Note20 R20 995*

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra R20 995*

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MOTORING

Denis Droppa

JUST GRAND

Excellence is a starting point in BMWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grand Klasse vehicles

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motor, has a combined output of 280kW and an increased electric-only range from 50km to 58km. In a very striking facelift, the 7 Series also adopted a larger and bolder grille in line with the company’s new styling zeitgeist. Where the 7 Series previously stood alone as BMW’s pinnacle model, it has recently been joined by the new 8 Series and new X7. Internally known as the “GKL” (short for “Grand Klasse” in German) range of vehicles, these cars represent the ultimate that BMW has to offer in terms of luxury and prestige, in market segments where excellence is a starting point.

8 Series The 8 Series replaced the 6 Series as BMW’s flagship coupé, and the first models to reach our shores in early 2019

“These cars represent the ultimate that BMW has to offer in terms of luxury and prestige, in market segments where excellence is a starting point”

IMAGES SUPPLIED

S BMW’s flagship sedan range, the 7 Series has, over the decades, premiered luxury and technological innovations that later filtered into the company’s other product lines. In the sixth-generation 7 Series, unveiled in 2015, a host of hi-tech features included a remote-control parking function that lets the driver stand outside the car, using the key fob to remotely move the car in and out of a narrow bay. It was also the first BMW to offer a gesture-control system that allows certain infotainment functions to be controlled without touching a button, a feature that has subsequently made its way into other BMWs. In its midlife update last year, the 7 Series was bestowed with thicker windows and more sound insulation inside the wheel arches to make the cabin even quieter. It also received engine upgrades, including the 750Li, which gets a 60kW power boost to 390kW in its 4.4-litre V8 engine. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 745Le, which pairs a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine with an electric

Main: The 8 Series Gran Coupé blends stylish allure with family practicality

Top right: The 7 Series sedan has long reigned as BMW’s pinnacle model

Bottom right: The X7 is the brand’s largest and most luxurious SUV

were the two-door versions: the Coupé and Convertible. With their restricted rear-seating room, these models clearly favour styling over space, but few would disagree that the 8 Series is the German brand’s most beautiful car, with an elegant glamour suited to cruising the streets in places like Clifton or St Tropez. Family practicality was soon added to the mix in the form of the 8 Series Gran Coupé, which is 231mm longer and has four doors. Beneath its curvy hard top is a much roomier cabin and a sensible 440-litre boot that swallows three golf bags. All three 8 Series model ranges come standard with rear-based xDrive all-wheel drive and, for a large and heavy machine, the car is pleasantly hunkered-down in the corners when the pace is pushed. Adaptive air suspension gives these grand tourers the ability to cruise comfortably or sharpen up for slicker corner-taking at the flick of a switch. A number of petrol and diesel engines are available across the range, with all three body styles offered in flagship M8 Competition guise. With the highpowered 460kW V8 turbo engine, the M8 Competition models blitz the 0-100km/h sprint in just 3.2 seconds (3.3 seconds for the Convertible), offering true supercar performance.

X7 A giant grille dominates the front end of the X7, and though there may be discord about how handsome it is, BMW’s largest and most luxurious Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) certainly has plenty of presence. The seven-seater is a full 230mm longer than the five-seater X5, and the third row is large enough for a pair of adults. Long-distance family trips are catered for by rear-seat entertainment with high-definition touchscreens, fourzone climate control, and a premium sound system. To accommodate large shopping expeditions, the third-row seats can be electrically folded down at the push of convenient boot-located buttons, and the tailgate opens and closes electrically. The X7 is able to handle rough terrain with its all-wheel drive and height-adjustable air suspension, while an optional off-road package offers the selection of xSand, xGravel, xRocks, and xSnow driving modes. At the top of the selection is a choice of M-badged models in petrol or diesel guise: the X7 M50d uses a 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine with four turbochargers to produce 294kW and a mighty 760Nm, and the M50i has a 4.4-litre V8 petrol turbo with 340kW and 650Nm.

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Di sp a t ch e s o n a l l t h i n g s c ool , c ove t a bl e , a n d c onve r s a t i o n - wo r t hy

S T E P I N T O T H E S U N , T H E WA T E R , A N D O U R P I C K T H E L O V E L I E S T S P O T S

O F

The most famous South African garden youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never heard of photography

Charles Johnstone, Arthur Mennigke, Connall Oosterbroek, and Joag van Rooyen

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Pim’s design, but his vision was to modernise it and add his own touch. “I specifically wanted to Africanise quite a Eurocentric garden,” he says. That included some stylistic changes as well as bringing its overall approach in line with current thinking about sustainability and ecology. His interventions work within the historical framework of the original design. Some of it involved seeing through Pim’s vision — now that the trees are mature, they’ve created the potential for a woodland garden, which didn’t exist before. Another part involved reviving the succulent gardens, largely devoured by kudu. He felt the main garden to be somewhat isolated and at odds with its surroundings, however, and wanted it to have more of a sense

of place. “My ethos has been to bring [aspects of] the desert back into the garden,” Mennigke says. He introduced features such as the naturalistic swathe of wild grasses that seems to “flow” through the garden like a river. In this way, he’s also given some contemporary international trends a local spin — creating meadows of veld grass. He was amused, when researching Pim’s notes, to find how similar their experiences had been: trying to find out what would grow in the harsh conditions, facing the scepticism of friends and colleagues, and learning to work with nature. “Even [now] I think, how the hell does anything manage to grow in this heat, this cold, the wind, the alkaline water?” Mennigke says. “It’s an ongoing experiment to

A lavish new book details the reinvigoration of a landmark Karoo garden you’ll wish you were in right now text

Graham Wood

or quite some time, the incredible gardens at the Mauritzfontein stud farm in the Karoo have been under the radar. But Mauritzfontein: The Story of a Karoo Garden (Africa Press), a stunning new book on its history and recent reinvigoration, has put these gardens back on the map. About six years ago, landscaper and horticulturalist Arthur Mennigke was asked to restore and rejuvenate the remarkable oasis at Mauritzfontein and bring it in line with contemporary concerns. His starting point was an already-remarkable location: Mauritzfontein is a stud farm outside Kimberley in the Nama Karoo, where racehorses are bred. It was established by Harry Oppenheimer in the late 1940s, and he brought in the legendary landscaper Joane Pim to create the 9ha garden there in the ’50s. It’s now run by his granddaughter Jessica Jell. Pim’s brief, essentially, was to create an oasis in the desert, which, miraculously, she pulled off. The bright-emerald island that she created is a miracle of horticultural ingenuity and

persistence. While it inevitably had a European-inflected aesthetic, the garden remains a pioneering example of South African gardening history, including rockeries and a succulent garden way ahead of their time. Part of Mennigke’s task was to restore aspects of

Mauritzfontein: The Story of a Karoo Garden, R475, available at all major booksellers and at books.africalife.co.za

see what actually thrives.” Mennigke’s other main additions were the extensive cutting gardens on the site of Pim’s old nursery. They supply the kitchen and keep the house filled with fresh flowers. Here, the book crosses over into inspirational lifestyle territory with beautifully photographed recipes showcasing the spoils of the garden-to-table approach at Mauritzfontein. Mauritzfontein: The Story of a Karoo Garden has the weight of a proper historical account of these incredible gardens with the inspirational character and visual allure of a coffee-table book. Like the gardens themselves, it’s the best of both worlds.

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N AV I G A T O R

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INTOTHE BLUE

Richard Holmes

Relax and immerse yourself in the coolth of summer’s ultimate symbol: water

HOW COOL ISTHIS POOL?

BAPTISTE ROOFTOP

KRUGER SHALATI

JABALI RIDGE

THE LEONARDO

THE OYSTER BOX

Cape Town

Kruger National Park

Tanzania

Johannesburg

Umhlanga

Perched atop The Marly Hotel in chic Camps Bay, this rooftop pool, bar, and lounge dishes up unbeatable sunset views. The pool isn’t huge, but the rooftop daybeds and Ibiza vibes turn it into an all-day destination worth the minimum spend (R500). With an impressive cocktail list, you’ll reach that in no time.

A train on a bridge? Doesn’t sound like much of a destination for a dip. But, then again, Kruger Shalati (opening 14 December) is all about upending expectations. This remarkable new accommodation option in the Kruger National Park sees refurbished train carriages offering 24 luxury rooms roosting on the iron branches of the historic Selati Bridge. Hanging off the central stone pillar, high above the Sabie River, is perhaps the most striking plunge pool South Africa has to offer.

With international travel opening up, this remarkable spot in the wilds of Tanzania is well worth the journey. Suspended amongst granite boulders and overlooking Ruaha National Park, the infinity pool is a memorable way to cool off after a game drive. And did we mention the pool bar stocked with specialty gins from around the world? asiliaafrica.com

Joburg summers can be capricious, but when the sun deigns to shine head straight for Aurum, on the seventh floor of Africa’s tallest building. The opulent interiors are worth a quick gander, but it’s the pool deck you’re after. Diners here are, you may be surprised to learn, welcome to grab a sun lounger or cabana and spend the afternoon enjoying the pool. Look out for cricket on the big screen and a poolside gin bar during the festive season.

The sparkling pool on the Ocean Terrace at The Oyster Box Hotel comes with the added bonus of superlative sea views. With its bright-red candystriped sun loungers and umbrellas, you’ll be hard-pressed to picture a more cheerful swimming pool this summer. If you need to be closer to the ocean, the staff will even set up a deckchair and umbrella for you on Umhlanga beach below.

baptisterooftop.co.za

oysterboxhotel.com

aurumrestaurant.co.za

Clockwise: Aurum pool deck at The Leonardo; The Oyster Box ocean pool; Shalati pool deck; Baptiste rooftop pool deck; Jabali infinity pool

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krugershalati.com

COMING AUGUST 2021

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SEA FORYOURSELF

ellerman.co.za

IMAGES SUPPLIED

erched high above the Atlantic Ocean in Cape Town’s upscale suburb of Bantry Bay, Ellerman House is nothing short of a byword for elegant luxury in the Mother City. With 13 suites, two remarkable villas, an enviable art collection, and a wine cellar to make an oenophile weep, it’s become the city’s most exclusive address. Though it was banking man Paul Harris who transformed the property into a world-class boutique hotel in the early1990s, this imposing Cape Edwardian pile is named for Sir John Ellerman, who purchased the house in 1962. Ellerman was heir to the family’s shipping business, and would — so the story goes — use the wide terrace to watch his ships sailing into Table Bay, one eye on the clock for any overdue captains. That wide terrace remains at Ellerman House, though today guests gaze out to sea, not in search of tardy cargo ships, but mesmerised by some of the best sea views the city has to offer.

Ellerman House

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NOW LAU NC H E D Citizen Hyde Park introduces secure, modern studio, 1 and 2-bedroom apartments from R840 000. Residents have direct access to an infinite amount of facilities and amenities within one address. This opportunity has state-of-the-art security, back-up power, water storage, fibre & Wi-Fi, as well as offers a furniture package solution. LOCK- U P- AND- GO LI VI NG The depictions and information herein are for illustration purposes only and are subject to change without prior notice.

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WILD WATERS

N AV I G A T O R

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SILVERMINE RESERVOIR

CRYSTAL POOLS

Cape Town

Gordon’s Bay

On the northern side of Silvermine, in the heart of the Table Mountain National Park, you’ll find a deep, dark reservoir; the waters stained teabrown by the surrounding fynbos-clad hills. There’s a boardwalk around the reservoir for nonswimmers, and braai spots to make a day of it.

There are few more rewarding ways to enjoy the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve — an hour’s drive from Cape Town — than the Crystal Pools hike. Park up on scenic Clarence Drive and within an hour you’ll be jumping into refreshing Cape mountain streams. Numbers are limited and permits are required.

sanparks.org

SALT ROCK TIDAL POOL

PLOUGHMAN’S KOP

Dolphin Coast

As if viewing the mighty cliffs of the Amphitheatre wasn’t reward enough, on a summer’s afternoon the hike to the Ploughman’s Kop rock pools at Gudu Falls is well worth the effort. kznwildlife.com

Though truly wild saltwater swimming would involve, well, the sea, this historic tidal pool makes a fine alternative for those wary of the waves. Though the huge pool was built in the 1950s for guests staying at the hotel, today it’s open for the public to enjoy.

Drakensberg

Ploughman’s Kop Gudu falls

saltrockbeach.co.za

021 444 6927

From left: Table Mountain National Park; Crystal Pools; Salt Rock Tidal Pool

TABLES WITH VIEWS OF BLUE

9TH AVENUE WATERSIDE

FICKS

GAAITJIE

Hermanus

Paternoster

Durban

The Cliff Path at Hermanus is a wonderful thing. It offers public art and you can wander its length to Grotto Beach. But you’ll really love it because it leads you to Ficks, where tables and chic lounge areas sit metres from the waters of Walker Bay. The menu of Spanish pinchos is extensive — don’t miss the lamb meatballs. Ficks doesn’t take bookings, so you’ll need to pitch up and wait for a table. With those views, that’s little hardship. ficks.co.za

Since the Kruger family took over this charming spot in 2015, it’s become a staple of Paternoster’s culinary scene. Chef Jaco Kruger adds a subtle spin to every plate, infusing much of the menu with bright, bold Asian flavours. The West Coast mussels in a broth of white wine, lime, and cumin are particularly good. Nab a table on the small terrace: protected from the wind and with endless sea views. Book well in advance.

In a glorious space designed by architect Kevin Boyd, 9th Avenue Waterside comes brimming with subtle nautical charm. Wesley Aucamp is the new head chef behind the pass, bringing years of international experience to bear on this multi-faceted dining destination. But the seafood-focus remains, with a sizeable à la carte offering meandering from generous seafood platters (SQ, of course) to line fish. 9thavewaterside.co.za

gaaitjie.co.za

CHEF’S WAREHOUSE AT TINTSWALO ATLANTIC Cape Town Restaurateur Liam Tomlin expands his small-plate empire with perhaps the most spectacular location to date: Tintswalo Atlantic boutique lodge. Chef Braam Beyers heads up the kitchen, offering a menu of eight seasonal small plates across four courses. Think fricassée of langoustine, or seared tuna with whipped queso fresco. Those ocean views? They’re mahala. chefswarehouse.co.za/ cw-tintswalo

SEAFOOD AT THE PLETTENBERG Plettenberg Bay

You’ll want to don your glad rags for dinner at what is perhaps the smartest hotel in town. With spectacular views over the bay, the menu celebrates the briny blue that stretches out below. Perhaps a bouillabaisse of local fish to start, followed by Mossel Bay sole with dill emulsion? It’s not all white tablecloths and fine dining though. Pull in for “Fish&Chip Fridays” — fish and chips for two for R320. theplettenberghotel.com

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IMAGES PETER MARSHALL, I AM WATER OCEAN TRAVEL, TIM HESTER/123RF, GROBLER DU PREEZ/123RF AND SUPPLIED

nspired by that Netflix doccie of one man and his cephalopod? Want to channel your inner Luc Besson? Perhaps you’re simply seduced by the silence beneath the waves. Whichever it is, Hanli Prinsloo has you covered. Prinsloo is a recordbreaking free diver (she once held all six South African records simultaneously) who today spends her energy as an ocean activist — look up her I Am Water foundation — and free-diving instructor. Though Prinsloo spends most of her time abroad, teaching and leading freediving expeditions, lockdown has kept her close to home in Cape Town. That’s good news for surfers, free divers, and the oceancurious looking to up their game at being underwater. “With my free-diving courses I really want to see the ocean become a place that’s more accessible for those who have felt some kind of barrier in the past,” explains Prinsloo. She is particularly passionate about getting more women in the water with her one-day Water Women Ocean Confidence Workshop. “It’s about creating a space where women can grow their confidence in the water, learning from me, and from each other,” she says. The course begins with yoga and breathwork sessions focused on lung expansion and

LAGOON LIVING T

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Richard Holmes

breath-holding, before a rigorous pool training session. “Then we get in the ocean and do freediving training, where the focus is on equalising and being relaxed in the ocean, but also ecosystem knowledge around the kelp forest,” says Prinsloo. For those wanting to, ahem, go deeper into the sport of free diving, Prinsloo and her husband, Peter Marshall

My free-diving teacher

also run two-anda-half-day Freediving Exploration courses suitable for both beginners and proficient divers. “Along with focusing on the skills and knowledge of free diving, this course is your ticket to the Cape’s kelp forest, as we share the best shore-entry dive sites all along the southern peninsula,” says Prinsloo. And no, before you ask, life-changing

octopus encounters are not included. “So many people have become interested thanks to My Octopus Teacher,” laughs Prinsloo. “It has certainly piqued people’s interest in the kelp forest, lighting a little fire. But, more importantly, lockdown has made people realise how important these wild spaces are. Now we need to teach people how to explore them.”

here’s a lot to love about Perivoli Lagoon House, the secluded luxury villa that’s just opened on the shores of the Klein River Lagoon near Hermanus. To start, it’s drop-dead gorgeous, with elegant lines by architect Gregg Goddard and covetable contemporary décor by seasoned hotelier Simoné Henckert. It’s just the right size too, with four en-suite bedrooms offering enough space for the family, or a small group of friends seeking an intimate escape. Then there’s the location: set on the edges of a pristine lagoon where you’ll spend your days swimming and kayaking. Flexibility? You can have that too, with both all-inclusive and self-catering packages available. Last but not least, your conscience will thank you: the villa is owned by the Perivoli Trust, which channels profit to conservation and education projects in southern Africa. perivoliafrica.com

F R E E - D I V I N G E X P LO R AT I O N COURSE:

15-17 December 2020, 5-7 January 2021 WAT E R WO M E N O C E A N C O N F I D E N C E WO R K S H O P S :

5 December 2020, 20 December 2020, 9 January 2021 h a n l i p r i n s l o o. c o m / c o u r s e s i a m wa te r f o u n d a t i o n . o rg

N AV I G A T O R

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THE SPOTS TO KNOW ABOUT

A couple of delicious and

d e l i g h t f u l s t o p s t h e Wa n t e d t e a m has on our radar

After being closed for many months due to Covid-19, the Nirox Sculpture Park has reopened with a bang. In addition to boasting the most beautiful gardens in Gauteng, Nirox is now home to a delicious new eatery brought to you by those South American barbecue wizards from Che Argentine Grill, as well as a new exhibition space. A weekend outing beyond Joburg’s city limits is always a good idea, especially when there is a leisurely walk, art, and a special meal involved. and then there was fire (that’s right, no caps. This is termed an “anti-brand”) is the new restaurant at Nirox, open from 10am to 6pm, Thursdays to Sundays. It’s situated where the old pavilion used to be and its menu offers a wood-fired grill, a tapas café, and a farm table option. Bits on the menu that grabbed our

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Jacquie Myburgh

C O U N T R Y

H A N G O U T

attention are naturally grass-fed beef and acorn-fed pork on the grill as well as tapas such as Chorizo Argentino, flat bread with morcilla and apple, and fish ceviche. The exhibition space has opened with a showcase of new work by Nicholas Hlobo, and look out for the magnificent rammed-earth architecture of the structure. And there are more exciting developments coming from the Nirox team next year. 58 is a holistic wellness retreat that will be opening across the road and has been billed as a place to “reconnect to ourselves, others and nature”. After what we have been through in 2020, we’ll be joining the queue. andthentherewasfire.com niroxarts.com 58.life

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Julia Freemantle

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Sarah Buitendach

IMAGES STEVE STEINFELD AND SUPPLIED

he new Boutique Haute Horlogerie concept store by Architects of Time has given visitors to the V&A Waterfront the ultimate immersion into luxury timepieces and jewellery. No guesses where we’ll be shopping for prezzies now. The expansive flagship store showcases 11 of the world’s most prestigious watch and jewellery brands in a contemporary, state-of-the-art setting, immortalising the store’s dedication to innovation, heritage, and uniqueness. Names like Ulysse Nardin, H Moser & Cie, Parmigiani Fleurier, and Zenith will sit together with Dior Haute Couture, Hermès and Ebel — alongside Messika diamond jewellery as well as the playful, prêt-a-porter luxury Italian fine-fashion jeweller, Pomellato. Conceived and designed by Rogue Projects in collaboration with Phase 3 Architecture, the store embodies BHH’s core principles of modernity, precision, and restrained luxury. “The goal was to establish BHH as the

THE PRETTY CLOTHING STORE

T H E

L U X E

B O U T I Q U E

curator for a broad range of luxury Swiss watchmakers and French and Italian ateliers, which are presented alongside anchor brand La Maison Chopard,” says Richard Moss, founder of Rogue Projects. Since the V&A Waterfront is frequented by both South Africans and tourists alike, the boutique needed to cater to a convergence of local and global cultures. This luxe lair was designed in two parts: one dedicated to Chopard, and one for the main boutique where each brand has an area to showcase its pieces. The spaces are linked by a private lounge where clients relax (and, of course, sit and peruse the gorgeous goods). The tactile space is dressed in classic stone and upholstered benches and terrazzo sales tables pave the way for seamless browsing and viewing. “We wanted a timeless, natural material that could enhance the watches in something of a sanctum exhibition space — and stone emerged as the ideal medium. It complements both centennial and new-age watch designs. Each initiative was intended to pinpoint core values of the BHH brand, with an unwavering truth to materials,” says Moss. Shop 6223, Link Mall, V&A Waterfront, 021 418 1889. For more information, contact Architects of Time, 011 669 0790

If you’re staying in Joburg for December but need a dash of that fresh coastal feeling, head to the new Jane Valken store in Parkhurst. We’re mad about their colourful, airy aesthetic and want every one of their dreamy blockprinted cotton kaftans and kimonos. And their hand-loomed pieces are to die for, especially because they have such a sense of being made with love and attention. They’re ideal poolside garb. Oh, and you can dress your house while you’re there too. Their quilts and scatter cushions would make glorious gifts. Shop 3, 30 4th Avenue, Parkhurst. janevalken.com

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Sarah Buitendach

THE BREAKFAST DESTINATION

T H E

G R I L L A

uke Dale Roberts’ The Shortmarket Club has reopened as the The Shortmarket Grill, and it’s a transformation you need to know about. And book at, if you’re in Cape Town. Space-wise it’s still the sexy, sophisticated gentleman’s club-like eatery we all love (yes, the butterflies are still there), but now it’s got an upmarket, brasserie-styled menu to match. “The Shortmarket is a beautiful restaurant and I feel it moulds effortlessly to the simplicity of excellently sourced meats and fish, simply prepared, and provides an everyday reprieve from complex food,” says Dale Roberts.

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For starters, expect the Shortmarket terrine of the day, crispy calamari and homesmoked salmon. The grill offering includes local Wagyu rump, Iberico pork chops, four-bone French-trim lamb rack, and market fish grilled on the bone, among others. Dishes can be ordered with the option of traditional sides such as Joël Robuchon’s mashed potatoes (ed’s note: these are spectacular), duckfat roasties, and buttered green beans as well as a selection of Dale Roberts’ iconic sauces, including the famous black pepper and truffle café au lait. End the meal with a classic dessert such as chocolate fondant, apple tarte tatin, or a cheese trolley boasting a selection of South Africa’s best small producers. The Shortmarket Grill is open for dinner service from Tuesday to Saturday only. For bookings, visit theshortmarketclub.co.za or call 072 382 8664.

A lobster benedict complete with bacon crumble and caviar — have you ever?! We’re thinking of setting up camp at Pablo Sandton permanently just so we can have this hedonistic meal every day of the festive season. hellopablo.co.za

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 l S7+

Samsung’s tablet family has a new addition that is all about giving you everything you need in one device. The sleek design, which houses a 10.4-inch screen in a symmetrical bezel, combines simplicity with sophistication, and the large display lets you game, stream, and multi-task with ease with a switch to the ultra-widescreen landscape mode creating a cinematic viewing experience. The fast processor, immense battery performance, and up to 64MB of built-in storage are all in a slim profile — just 7mm — and this lightweight and portable device fits into any bag, and your life, with ease.

The Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ will help you to get everything done and have some fun. Large screens, a new and improved S Pen, stunning display, and a suite of creativity features give you all the tools you need for productivity or play, enhanced with the seamless integration into the Galaxy ecosystem. The Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ boast powerful processing, an expanded keyboard, and upgraded versions of Samsung DeX allowing you to get more work done in less time with an experience that feels like a PC. Available in three statement colours — Mystic Black, Mystic Silver, and Mystic Bronze — the Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ are stylish devices that can do it all. SamsungGalaxy Tab S7 R19 995* SamsungGalaxy Tab S7+ R22 995*

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 R9 995*

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 Combining comfort and craftsmanship usually reserved for luxury timepieces, the Galaxy Watch 3 is one you’ll want to wear all day, every day. Premium materials such as stainless steel, leather, and titanium make this a timeless timepiece that allows for customisation of the face, with more than 800 watch faces available and the ability to design your own. With the popular rotating bezel, you can easily toggle between widgets, open apps, and scroll-through notifications. The seamless compatibility between the Galaxy Watch 3 and other Galaxy devices amplifies your mobile experiences and, with LTE models, you can even take calls and access your favourite apps on the go. Samsung Watch Samsung Watch 3 3LTE 41mm Bluetooth 45mm R9 495* R13 985*

Samsung Galaxy A31

Samsung Galaxy A51

Samsung Galaxy A71

Premium features in an affordable

Don’t tell the Galaxy A51 that it’s an affordable phone — it acts like a premium device. With the Infinity-O Display, you can game, watch, surf, and multi-task without interruption on a 6.5-inch widescreen display, all powered by Super Amoled technology, and never miss capturing a special moment in clear detail and stunning scale thanks to the four cameras. A large 40mAh battery ensures superior battery life, and the 15W fast-charging capabilities make charging a breeze. The Galaxy A51 also provides access to Samsung’s ecosystem of intelligent apps and services and is protected with the defence-grade security platform Samsung Knox. It’s innovative, exciting — and, at an affordable price-point, accessible as well.

The Galaxy A71 is packed with powerful features. The cameras — all four of them — are worth writing home about and, with a screen size of 6.7-inch, the display provides an expansive and immersive experience, so you can really enjoy your favourite show or enhance your gameplay in a big way. For extra power, the Galaxy A71 comes with a large 4,500mAh battery so you can use your phone longer throughout the day and includes 25W fast-charging capabilities — a real bonus when your phone works hard and plays hard. The Galaxy A71 also includes access to Samsung Pay and is protected with the defence-grade security platform Samsung Knox. This is unprecedented value.

Samsung Galaxy A51, R7 995*

Samsung Galaxy A71, R9 995*

phone make the Galaxy A31 stand out from the mobile mob. The A31 defies its category with immersive viewing experiences, longer-lasting performance, and ground-breaking cameras. Massive battery life, crystal clear display, and the latest security features, such as on-screen fingerprint security, are combined with the 6.4-inch Infinity-U Display — edge to edge of impressive screen quality. It also comes in the dynamic and bold prism colours — black, white, blue, and red. Samsung Galaxy A31, R5 995*

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 Samsung is known for pioneering, and with the Galaxy Fold the brand created a whole new mobile category — a smartphone with the world’s first 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display, which folds into a compact device with a cover display. Samsung has taken things even further with the Galaxy Z Fold2, which takes the foldable smartphone experience to the next level. User experience was a priority, and the refined interface elevates the overall quality while an expanded cover screen enhances usability. The innovative element is that the combination of the 6.2-inch cover screen and the 7.6-inch main screen makes the Galaxy Z Fold2 similar in size to a typical smartphone when folded, and a small tablet when opened. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is everything we’ve come to expect from Samsung smartphones: versatility without sacrificing performance. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 R46 995*

*’RRP’ recommended resale price. The prices may vary per retailer.

Wade Bales

DRINKS.

PACKED DRINKS really never ever been CABINET There’s a more appropriate end of the year

to celebrate with a great drink… or five. Wade Bales gathers the gifts that everybody really wants (and deserves) this festive season

ired of all the green, red, and gold this festive season? In its distinctive blue bottle, this world-famous gin offers a refreshing respite from the usual. Every drop contains 10 hand-selected botanicals from exotic locations around the world — each one vapour-infused then blended together in flawless balance.

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE

nce the juice of this premium estate’s vine-dried sauvignon blanc dessert wine has been extracted, the fermented skins are promptly used for distillation. These skins (also known as husks) produce an exceptional small-batch grappa, capturing the essence of sauvignon blanc and the spirit of Quoin Rock too.

QUOIN ROCK SAUVIGNON BLANC HUSK SPIRIT

INVERROCHE PIONEERS COLLECTION GIN

Celebrate the season with a festive flourish of bubbles. Made exclusively from chardonnay grapes, this Boschendal bubbly brings to mind lemon creams, beeswax, and toasty brioche, with a tinge of salty minerality.

A truly distinctive cognac displaying remarkable smoothness, mellowed butterscotch, baked spices, and hints of dark chocolate.

As the winner of the first Inverroche Pioneer Bartending Competition, Travis Kuhn got to collaborate with Inverroche to produce his very own single-batch, limited-edition gin (only 2 800 produced) — the Inverroche Pioneers Collection #1. The end result is a crisp and classically styled gin. It radiates freshness and warm, spicy notes and is the perfect gift for any fellow pioneer.

K N O RH O E K G I N

BOSCHENDAL JEAN LE LONG PRESTIGE CUVÉE 2009

RÉMY MARTIN 1738

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Juniper berry, lemon zest, chamomile, cassia bark, angelica root, calamus root, and orris root. With these seven humble botanicals, Knorhoek has succeeded in creating a really smooth and complex premium gin.

With over two decades of experience in the luxury-drinks market, Wade Bales’ passion is sourcing really great drinks and sharing them with really great people

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crafted using fresh citrus and is best enjoyed with premium tonic water and a slice of pink grapefruit.

T THREE SHIPS MASTER’S COLLECTION

MACALLAN 12 YO TRIPLE CASK

Made with Irish whiskeys distilled from 100% malted barley, this single malt is matured and finished in casks that impart the influence of five wine casks (sherry, port, madeira, white burgundy, and cabernet sauvignon). A unique fruit-forward flavour profile abounds — complex, balanced, and bursting with flavour.

TANQUERAY Nº TEN muchGIFT This smallBOX loved batch gin is

VEUVE CLICQUOT VINTAGE 2012

Celebrate in real style with singleharvest vintage champagne. Veuve Clicquot’s Vintage 2012 is golden in colour and class. Complex, juicy, and decadent, it’s best paired with sophisticated gastronomy, good friends, and really good times.

TEELING IRISH SINGLE M A LT WHISKEY

Lauded for its unique taste and uncompromising quality, The Macallan 12-YearOld Triple Cask Matured will make the ideal gift for whisky lovers who enjoy that taste of real luxury.

hree Ships’ fifth Master’s Collection is a superb 11-year-old singlemalt shiraz-cask finish. First matured for eight years in American-oak barrels, the whisky was then finished in seasoned shiraz-oak casks for three years. The result: a harmonious interplay of cherries, roasted nuts, Christmas cake, subtle orange and smoky undertones. With a very limited number of bottles available, you’ll have to move fast to secure yours.

LIMI T ED EDI T I O N COU RVO I S I ER V S B L AC K PAC K orget the little

HENNESSY VSOP LIMITED EDITION BY UVA Inspired by the blending process of Hennessy’s VSOP Privilège, the design (created in collaboration with United Visual Artists) of this exclusive limited edition reflects the dynamics of the immateriality of light and time.

MONKEY SHOULDER GIFT PACK

black dress, this little black bottle should be on every proudly South African cognac collector’s gift list. Designed by a trio of South Africa’s freshest artists, this all-black bottle is as good to look at as it is to drink. Blended from several crus, the fusion of younger and older cognac produces a fruity, delicate taste and a bouquet of flavours.

A festive season gift pack that’s far better than socks! Famed for its versatility, Monkey Shoulder is the world’s first 100% malt whisky made for mixing. This gift pack includes some great cocktail recipes too.

PA R T N E R S H I P

INVERROCHE CELEBRATES THE PIONEERING SPIRIT WITH GIN SCHOOL text

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HE PIONEERING artisanal gin brand Inverroche continues to push boundaries with the launch of Inverroche Gin School. A South African first, the schools will allow people to experience the wonders of gin making through a multisensory, alchemical experience driven by the pioneering ethos of Inverroche. The master class teaches the basics of creating quality gin, from botanical selection through to bottling and everything in-between, in addition to covering the spirit’s long-winding history, fun facts, and a perfect serve and canape pairing. The idea was conceptualised by the celebrated local gin brand’s CEO and founder, Lorna Scott, and was created in response to customers coming to the brand’s home, showing a genuine interest in the process, and expressing a keen desire to know more about the spirit. Unlike wine and whisky, there isn’t a set formula for tasting or understanding what goes into gin-making. However, being the pioneer she is, Scott set out to create one herself, hence the school came to be. The founder began by recreating her personal experience, hoping to take people through the creative process

of how she had first developed her recipes for Inverroche. The three-hour distillation master class will see you work from a flavour wheel of Scott’s own design — the basis being the juniper berry, the essence of all gin. Dissecting the flavours the berry presents, the wheel is then split into taste profiles — citrus, woody, floral, cool, and spicy — which are further broken down to include the numerous types of local botanicals that enhance those flavours. Fans of the brand may notice that the three profiles are reminiscent of the flavours of the distillery’s three distinct gins — Classic, Amber, and Verdant — further weaving the spirit of Inverroche through the school experience. Once you have an idea of the flavourpairing process, it’s up to you to design your own recipes, before distilling your very own gin. From selecting the botanicals to bottling and labelling, you get to create a truly unique, one-of-a-kind bottle of your own. According to Scott, it’s about teaching you to understand your senses, encouraging you to really engage with aromas and flavours that appeal to you as an individual, and giving you a full understanding of not only gin but the gin-making process — all while having

Steve Steinfeld

Come learn everything there is to know about this African luxury spirit — and have some fun along the way a serious amount of fun as you do so. “One of the values of the brand is that we come from a place of creativity,” Scott says. “The school really lets you reconnect with that ideal while sharing in the origin story of both gin and of our brand — one of creation, creativity, culture, and sharing.” The course, presented by knowledgeable experts and brand ambassadors, allows for guests in groups to explore the history of the spirit, from its origin hundreds of years ago, all the

way through to the great popularity it enjoys today. Initially starting out at the brand’s home in the distillery, the school concept has grown to include set-ups around the country — the most recent iterations having opened up in Gauteng. The first in the province are situated at the Indaba Hotel in Fourways and the Culture Club in Pretoria. In addition to the permanent schools, the always-innovating brand also boasts mobile ones, allowing Inverroche to share its craft far and wide.

Inverroche Gin Schools can be found at the following locations: Indaba Hotel, William Nicol Drive, Fourways, 2191, Johannesburg | ginschool@indabahotel.co.za | 011 840 6600 Culture Club, 12 16th Street, Hazelwood, 0081, Pretoria | ginschoolpta@gmail.com | 012 030 1343 Inverroche Distillery, Laurenskrik Estate, Old Riversdale Road, 6674, Still Bay | distillery@inverroche.co.za | 028 754 2442

DRINKS

GLENMORANGIE THE CADBOLL ESTATE

lenmorangie’s first singleestate whisky is a limited-edition, deep and creamy dram. It was created at the famous distillery itself and overseen by its acclaimed whisky creator every step of the way. Aged for 15 years, this bourbon-cask single malt is bound to win the heart of any whisky lover.

KRAKEN COLLECTOR’S GLASS GIFT PACK

collection of six of the Cape’s finest wines, selected by me and based on their proven track record and reputation, this is the case your wineadoring loved one really wants to find beneath the Christmas tree. It includes: Tokara Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon 2015,

CAPE CLASSICS, C U R AT E D B Y WA D E BALES

Rust & Vrede Estate 2017, Rustenberg Peter Barlow 2018, Thelema Shiraz 2016, and Vergelegen Reserve Merlot 2015.

Woodford Reserve is more than a spirit. It’s a spectacle. With more than 200 flavour notes (212 to be exact), it wows the senses and elevates an evening to an event. Packaged in a classy gift box, it’s also the ideal bourbon to bequest a beloved.

The Kraken is a unique Caribbean black-spiced rum. It is distilled in Trinidad and Tobago and enriched with an exotic blend of 13 secret spices. The rich black colour comes from the mysterious ink with which, as legend has it, the kraken, a squid of epic proportions, covered its prey. The tall glass is perfect to make a Kraken highball!

Buitenverwachting

Single Malt 6 YO Limited Release

WOOD F OR D R E S E RV E GI F T B OX

istilled from straight-neck stills and then matured in refillbourbon barrels for six years at Loch Lomond, this whisky is then finished in a combination of redwine barrels for a further six months from Buitenverwachting Wine Estate.

This limitedrelease gift pack includes a 750ml bottle of el Jimador Reposado, made in Mexico itself from 100% agave.

EL JIMADOR REPOSADO TEQUILA

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THE SAVVY SUMMER

A trio of superb sauvignon blancs to enjoy this summer, all offering exceptional bang for your buck. Includes Boela Gerber Sauvignon Blanc 2020, David Finlayson Sauvignon Blanc 2020, and Cape Point Sauvignon Blanc 2020.

Chosen for their uncanny ability to generate cult-like followings, this collection of extremely rare and sought-after wines is sure to elicit praise and adoration far and wide. Each case includes a bottle of Beeslaar Pinotage 2018, Delaire Graff Reserve Merlot 2018, Giorgio 2018, Porseleinberg Syrah 2018, Vilafonte M 2017, and Wade Bales Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2017.

T H E ULT I MAT E C ULT W I NE C O LLEC T I O N

PA R T N E R S H I P

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ERNOD RICARD, which has been operating in South Africa for over 25 years, is focusing on how global businesses can support local economies to recover from Covid-19. It believes that global companies must review their role in local markets to be key contributors and collaborators in the post-Covid-19 “rebuild”. Expectations are that businesses will step up with renewed energy in assisting the recovery of global economies. In many markets around the world, including South Africa, the trend towards hyperlocalisation has been accentuated during the crisis and, in navigating the dynamics of the new next, global companies must revisit “glocalisation” as a concept, in the interests of business sustainability and the sustainability of South Africa into the future. Pernod Ricard South Africa has identified four key imperatives to global companies supporting South Africa’s economy:

1. ARTICULATING PURPOSE

---------------------------------------------------------------Global companies need to stand for something that’s bigger than just selling a product or service. In recent years, Pernod Ricard has finetuned its intent of “Bringing Good Times from a Good Place” to create a more convivial world — a world without excess.

ECONOMY THROUGH

SUPPORTING OUR

GIVING BACK

Enjoying good times with friends and family is what makes the festive season so special. This year, Pernod Ricard South Africa aims to make you feel even better as you celebrate the holidays by ensuring that your purchase of the company’s premium global brands — including Absolut vodka, Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s Scotch whisky, Jameson Irish whiskey, and Beefeater and Inverroche gins — makes a contribution to our local economy 2. SOLVING, WHILE SELLING

----------------------------------------------------------------Global companies need to be aware of the difficulties facing people in local markets and be sensitive and empathetic towards finding appropriate and meaningful solutions. In South Africa, the consequences of the pandemic have been dire and, in a festive season that will undoubtedly be challenging, Pernod Ricard South Africa will be “gifting differently” by investing in the local economy. The Sisonke Mzansi campaign sees Pernod Ricard’s flagship brands standing together with local artists, manufacturers, and brand activators to create a range of truly South African “gifts that give”. Through the #SisonkeMzansi campaign, 268 new jobs have been created and a further 220 manufacturing, artisanal, creative, and service jobs sustained, benefitting 2 550 people in local communities and supporting the alcohol and hospitality sectors hard hit by the pandemic.

3. OFFERING HOPE AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER

----------------------------------------------------------------The basic human need for connecting with others has never been more evident than during the pandemic. It’s time to highlight inclusion and the connections that are made, celebrating what we can do by standing together — in the spirit of conviviality.

4. BEING A RESPECTFUL GUEST

----------------------------------------------------------------It’s also about being respectful of the environment and people in a host country. The group’s Sustainability and Responsibility Roadmap to 2030 outlines four big commitments: nurturing the environment, valuing people, circular making, and responsible hosting.

As South Africa emerges from a prolonged alcohol ban during the Covid-19 lockdown, Pernod Ricard South Africa continues to fight alcohol misuse and has entered into a partnership with Springbok captain Siya Kolisi as corporate brand ambassador for responsible drinking. Global companies have a vital role to play in the recovery postpandemic, and now is the time for them to step up and use their resources and creativity to make a difference. #SisonkeMzansi GIVE GIFTS THAT GIVE Not for sale to persons under the age of 18

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SARAH BUITENDACH Here’s what our ed would love to find in her Christmas stocking (it’s a supersized one, okay?) 1. Wade Bales Shiraz Rosé 2020, wadebaleswinesociety.co.za 2. Miss La Motte yarn, beinspired.africa 3. The Emperor’s Babe by Bernadine Evaristo (Penguin Random House), lovebooks.co.za 4. Dr Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap in Lavender, farmtable.co.za 5. Charvet Editions tea towel, charveteditions.com 6. Wild Olive Terra Flora body butter, wildolive.eu 7. Midnight Tiger pyjama set, karenmabon.com 8. CBD drops, 600mg, goodleaf.co.za 9. Hermès Heure H 26mm in rose gold with white-lacquered dial and Barenia-calfskin strap, bhhboutique.co.za, Cape Town 021 418 1889, Johannesburg 011 325 4119 10. Limited-edition “Festive Variations Italia” Nespresso capsules, za.buynespresso.com 11. Arizona Valentino Garavani Black Birkenstocks, birkenstock.com 12. Dokter and Misses armoire, alwayswelcome.store 13. Thabang Lehobye, The Lady (with a clutch bag full of hope), @thabang.lehobye 14. Ring with round, brilliant-cut diamonds, double-claw-set, cushion-shaped green tourmaline, and two claw-set, cushion-shaped gooseberry garnets in 18kt rose gold, charlesgreig.co.za, 011 325 4477/021 418 4515 15. Medinilla magnifica plant, folha-shop.myshopify.com

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Technology has emerged as a key enabler for communities, governments, and businesses, but in South Africa and other developing nations, access to technology remains a major barrier to entry. This is why it is imperative that every possible step is taken now to enhance access broadly so more people can enjoy the benefits of the digital life.

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Godfrey Motsa MTN SA CEO

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We have been privileged to play a leading role in connecting the lives of so many citizens at home and across Africa, and our focus is to continue shaping the very best future for all our customers and communities

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Godfrey Motsa, CEO: MTN SA