Indwe August 2008 by Brett Rothmann

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M AG A Z I N E

AUGUST 2008

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HONOURING SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN W H O S O A R T O N E W H E I G H T S Y o u r

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Shumbalala Lodge - An African Dream In the vast wilderness of South Africa’s hot northern plains, adjacent to the famous Kruger National Park, deep within an ancient tapestry of natural wonder, you will chance upon SHUMBALALA LODGE. From your early morning game drive or bush walk in the Big 5 Thornybush Game Reserve to lazy afternoons at the pool and a sunset safari, tales of the day are told in the wine cellar as you prepare for a sumptuous dinner fire-side al fresco or candle-lit indoors. Choose from four luxury suites or the Presidential Suite, all of which have private viewing decks and picture window bathrooms. Wake up knowing that each day will allow for the adventure and peace of Africa to enter your soul – in a place where the lion sleeps.

Winter Special valid August to September – pay for 3 nights and we will include a 4th with all meals and standard activities for free! For more information on this and other specials, visit our website at www.shumbalala.co.za

Enquiries & Destination Routing: Tel: +27 (0)72 812-2172 • Fax: +27 (0)15 793-2226 E-mail: reservations@shumbalala.co.za • Website: www.shumbalala.co.za South African Express has direct scheduled flights to nearby Hoedspruit.

Own a Holiday Villa F R O M FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP BASIS

4 WEEKS HOLIDAY TIME PER YEAR

· ZIMBALI VILLA FROM ONLY R399 000 · PINNACLE POINT GOLF ESTATE & SPA FOR ONLY R495 000 · ZEBULA (MABALINGWE) LODGE FOR ONLY R420 000

Shot on location - Zimbali Golf Estate & Spa

OWN THE BEST ADDRESS ON EARTH AT A FRACTION OF THE PRICE Genuine Ownership · Make your holiday work for you · Great Return on Investment Seeff Manages & Maintains all Properties · Finance of up to 50% available · Low shared levies SEEFF FACILITATES ALL LETTING | RE-SALES | EXCHANGES

Call the fractional team at 0861 733 331 E-mail fractionalownership@seeff.com fractionalrentals@seeff.com www.seeff.com

ONLY

R180 000!

Pinnacle Point Golf Estate & Spa Mossel Bay - Garden Route for only R 515 000

Zebula Golf Estate, Nature Reserve & Spa Limpopo - Bela Bela for only R 445 000

Arabella Golf Estate & Spa Hermanus - Western Cape for only R 515 000

Sparrebosch@Pezula Knysna - Garden Route for only R 485 000

San Lameer Golf Estate KwaZulu-Natal - South Coast for only R 295 000 * (* 2 weeks holiday time per year)

Pecanwood Golf Estate Villa Hartebeespoort Dam - Northern Province for only R 460 000

Barra Dunes Villa Mozambique for only R 180 000

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront Apartments Cape Town - Western Cape for only R 365 000 * (* 2 weeks holiday time per year)

Pearl Breeze Apartment Umhlanga - Kwazulu Natal for only R 250 000

Shelley@Sea Apartment KwaZulu-Natal - South Coast for only R 210 000

Horizon Bay Apartment Blouberg - Western Cape for only R 299 000

www.adlab.co.za - fractional/indwe/088

Zimbali Golf Estate & Spa KwaZulu-Natal - North Coast from only R 419 000

Magnificent Views Superior Furnishings Designer Finishes Low Levies Villas offer at least: 4 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms Private Pool Boma and Golf Cart (where applicable) Apartments offer at least: 2 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms On a Fractional Ownership basis with a rotational roster in place

FRACTIONAL

CONTENTS august 2008

Features

Flying High

Changing Times, Changing Fashions

Tips to Save Energy

Office Ornamentation

Scoring in 2010

House of Love

102

Musical Brothers

120

Travel

112

Namaqualand

Hôtel Le Vendôme

Thula Thula Private Game Reserve

Victoria Falls

Swakopmund Coast Region

Paradise Found

112

Mariner's Wharf

118

Go West

127

Ingwenya Country Escape

138

River Lodge

146

Business Woman of The Year 2007

Health Medi-Clinic and IT

132

Indulgence 84 12

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Chef Diane Kay From Reuben's Kitchen

68 130

H a nd m a d e in I t a l y The Planet

Worldwide Delivery

Sandton City Lower Level • Rivonia Road • Sandton 011 883 4716 Bakos Brothers Decorating Centre 226 Jan Smuts Avenue • Dunkeld 011 325 2400 Design Quarter Cnr William Nicol & Leslie Road • Fourways East 011 465 0130 www.bakosbrothers.com

CONTENTS august 2008

Motoring Mazda Magic for the Masses

Subaru Forester

110

Farewell to Nissan 1400

140

Regular

Letter from the CEO

Travel Tips

Letter from the Editor

Letters from Passengers

At a Glance

Diary of Events

148

Gizmos

152

South African Express Kgatile Nkala

South African Express Timetable

154

Service Excellence

156

South African Express Fleet

158

South African Express Services

159

Route Map

160

S O U T H

A F R I CA N

E X P R E S S

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M AG A Z I N E

AUGUST 2008

Cover South African Express Pilots:

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W O M E N ’ S

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HONOURING SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN W H O S O A R T O N E W H E I G H T S Y o u r

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Standing: Asnath Mahapa, Aloma Stevens, Eva Palai Kneeling: Puleng Cadribro, Chrisna Dicks

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On the Radar

Letter from the CEO – Siza Mzimela South African Women Set To Soar It is inspiring that women’s prominence worldwide continues to grow from strength to strength. In addition to the strides that we have made 13 years into our hard-earned democracy, we as South African women must continue to be strong and persevere. Looking back on the momentous milestones we have achieved thus far, it is evident that women are exploring new avenues of power. We are making inroads and hold leadership positions in political, philanthropic, business and entrepreneurial arenas. Women are also becoming increasingly influential where science and technology are concerned. However, we have only just scratched the surface, and more work is required to ensure that women become the formidable force they are destined to be. Though we are making progress and strides in other areas, there are still some challenges in the aviation industry regarding the empowerment of women. The scarcity of influential executives, skilled engineers, technicians and pilots is a setback for the industry. South African Express is currently attempting to address this shortage by attracting and retaining vibrant, qualified women who are passionate about aviation. Women make up 41% of South African Express’ total employee complement, and our airline is hard at work to ensure that our gender profile increases by a minimum of 3% year-onyear over the next three years. Another initiative that South African Express is proud of is our newly launched exclusive cadet pilot training programme, which is designed to creatively address the shortage of black pilots and empower previously disadvantaged pilots. A total of eight Mach 2 cadets were announced a few weeks ago. Of these cadets, three are women, who, over and above the relevant aviation endorsed credentials, training and flying hours, have either established their own charter companies or were working as instructors at prestigious aviation schools. South African Express truly prides itself on the calibre of our new cadets, who are proof that empowerment does not equate to compromising high standards. We celebrate our cadets and wish them all a long and prosperous career at South African Express! Also, a fantastic Women’s Day to all the women of South Africa, particularly to the women at South African Express – may you soar to fabulous new heights! “The reason someone tells you, you can’t do something, is because they’ve never tried or they’ve failed the first time and never got back up again.” Unknown

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“The reason someone tells you, you can’t do something, is because they’ve never tried or they’ve failed the first time and never got back up again.” Unknown

travel tips

Getting Closer to You as our

Valued Customer South African Express recently conducted an intensive Customer Survey to determine your needs and to ensure that they are at the core of our airline’s objectives.

he most important area of improvement, as recommended by you, is for our airline to enhance its communication channels to ensure adequate and timeous feedback. South African Express is proud to launch a brand new web-based service that will allow quick and easy access to information pertaining to Customer Service.

Follow these simple steps: Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Step 4:

Log onto www.ﬂysax.com Click on the “Customer Care” tab Click on the “Feedback/ FAQ” tab Insert your keyword/s in the space provided Step 5: Click on “Search” Step 6: Wait for your results

If the results do not address your query, do the following: Step 1: Click on the “Enquiry/ Feedback” tab Step 2: Complete the form including Enquiry Information (Ensure that all the mandatory information is submitted in the form.) Step 3: Click on “Continue” and provide your contact details Step 4: The System will tag your query with a Reference number Once this is complete, your form has been successfully submitted to South African Express for processing.

South African Express is proud to launch a brand new web-based service...

indwe – AUGUST 2008

travel

Electronic Ticketing T

he International Air Transport Association (IATA) ensured that all member airlines migrate from paper ticketing to electronic ticketing (e-ticketing) on 1st June 2008. This means that airlines and travel agents suspend the issuance of paper tickets and exclusively convert to the use of e-tickets. South African Express complies with this IATA requirement as electronic tickets are issued on all our routes. Previously, paper tickets had to be collected from an airport or any South African Express ticket sales oﬃce. This often involved queues. The advent of electronic ticketing has made the pre-ﬂight experience more seamless and convenient. This is how: • Upon a successful online purchase, the system generates an e-ticket and a printable itinerary receipt will

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be displayed. The itinerary receipt is confirmation of travel. • An email with the status of your booking will be sent to you. You can print the confirmation shown on your screen or print the email. • Then all you have to do is, walk into the airport and check in with a valid photo identification and printed itinerary receipt. Your boarding pass will be issued against the itinerary receipt or confirmation email. Alternatively, you can check in online at home or work; or at a self check-in kiosk at the airport. So if you prefer seamless travel, whereby the only queue you encounter is at the boarding gate, then book your ticket online, use the online self check-in facility and print your boarding pass before you get to the airport.

The advent of electronic ticketing has made the pre-flight experience more seamless and convenient.

travel

CARGO O

O u r a i r l i n e o ffe r s a n e x p re s s p ro d u c t a t h i g h l y c o m p e t i t i v e ra t e s . . .

ne of South African Express’ strategic goals is to focus on the Cargo services available on our reliable route network. Our airline offers an express product at highly competitive rates and caters for all time-sensitive consignments with the maximum dimensions as per aircraft door size. The maximum weight for cargo is 30 kg per parcel and customers have the added advantage of booking in their consignment at least 45 minutes prior to departure. Through our express cargo service, your consignment benefits from the priority given to express cargo when loading prior to the departure and during retrieval at the destination. South African Express cargo service allows you to focus on your core business and keeps you a step ahead of the competition. Call +27 11 978 3366 or send an email to cargo@flysax.com for more information.

of Company p y and Intellectual Pr Office of Company p y and Intellectual Property p y Enf ce of Company and Intellectual Property ce ofOffiCompany and Intellectual Mandate:To create a competitive and enabling economic environment that will inspire confidence amongst economic citizens through the effective and efficient enforcement of Company and intellectual Property legislation and the promotion thereof. OCIPE consists of three Directorates: • Monitoring and Complaints • Investigations • Education and Capacity Building These three directorates work together to provide a focused and efficient approach to the enforcement of Company Law and Intellectual Property Law. Essentially OCIPE is mandated to administer both the Companies Act 61 of 1973 and the Counterfeit Goods Act of 1997.

and referrals to determine whether a matter falls within the mandate of the office or whether there is another enforcement or regulatory body that will be better suited to deal with the matter. The unit has close working relationships with various government and statutory bodies to mention some, the Financial Services Board (FSB),The South African Reserve Bank (SARB), The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), The Specialized Commercial Crimes Unit – South African Police Services (SAPS) and The Securities Regulation Panel.

Merchandise Marks Act and Close Corporation Act

2. Directorate: Investigations

In terms of the Companies Act, the Minister of Trade and Industry is empowered and, in certain instances, obliged to appoint inspectors to conduct investigations into the affairs of companies. In terms of the Counterfeited Goods Act, three government departments are responsible for enforcement, namely the department of trade and industry (DTI), South African Police Service (SAPS) and South African Revenue Services (SARS). The Act defines inspectors and allows them certain powers to seize suspected counterfeit goods. OCIPE receives complaints from various entities which relate essentially to transgressions in terms of the Companies Act and the Counterfeit Goods Act.

1. Directorate Monitoring and Complaints The Directorate: Monitoring and Complaints (D: M&C), acts as a point of first entry for all complaints and referrals. The D: M&C will screen all complaints

The role of Directorate: Monitoring and Complaints and Investigations has been amended. After many deliberations it was agreed that Monitoring and Complaints will investigate all matters until a recommendation can be made to the Minister to appoint inspectors. The Directorate: Investigations is a dedicated unit of investigators specialising in investigating the affairs of companies. The unit investigates private and public companies where there are circumstances present in the conduct or formation of a company such as: • Fraud • Misconduct • Prejudicial or oppressive conduct to shareholders • Withholding information from shareholders • Formation of the company for fraudulent or unlawful purposes

ce off C Company andd IIntellectual ll l PProperty EEnforce f

fice of Company and Intellectua fice

roperty p y Enforcement ce e (OCIPE)) forcement ((OCIPE)) Offic ppan EnforcementEnforcement (OCIPE) Property f (OCIPE The unit in conjunction with the Investigations directorate, Monitoring and Complaints directorate acts upon referrals from other enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies, complaints from members of the public and complaints received from members or shareholders of a company. The unit conducts a dual task in its investigative role when: â&#x20AC;˘ Upon receipt of any referrals or complaint the unit will conduct a preliminary investigation in to the merits of the referral or complaint. â&#x20AC;˘ Once a need or justification recommendations to the appointments of inspectors is identified the unit makes detailed recommendations to the Minister of Trade and Industry who has the discretion to appoint inspectors in terms of the Companies Acts to investigate the affairs of the company.

stakeholderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capacity by providing them with training workshops in order for them to implement their programmes more effectively and efficiently. The primary target audience of this directorate is law enforcement officials who together with the DTI officials have a mandate to enforce both the companies Act and the Counterfeit goods Act. These Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) may include members of SAPS, Customs officials, the NPA as well as members of the Judiciary. Education and capacity building strives to provide a holistic solution to company and Intellectual Property problems such as piracy non-compliance in the case of companies.The directorate has expanded its client base to include non-governmental organisations (NGOs), consumers, industry associations, paralegals and other government enforcement agencies involved in the field of companies and intellectual property (IP).

3. Directorate: Education and Capacity Building Part of the Office of Company and Intellectual Property Enforcements strategy is education and capacity building. This unit is working towards strengthening

For more information on education and capacity building programmes, please contact: Fax: +27 12 394 2782 or +27 12 394 2517 Email: TFenyane@thedti.gov.za or KNtshangase@thedti.gov.za To lay a complaint relating either to companies or intellectual property, please contact the Director: Monitoring and Complaints, Ms Amanda Lotheringen: Fax: +27 12 394 2512 Email: amanda@thedti.gov.za Phone: +27 12 394 1512

ement (OCIPE) Office of Company and Intellectual Property Enforcement (O

al Propert Property EEnforcement f t (OCIP

E^n\epX Cf[^\ Own a Grandstand View of the Kruger’s Wildest Action Ngwenya Lodge is situated on the southern bank of the Crocodile River where it flows across one of the richest game viewing regions of the Kruger National Park. The unique setting of Ngwenya provides what is arguably one of the finest views of the Kruger National Park – a magnificent floodplain with game viewing opportunities as good as they get. At Ngwenya the drill is to be as inactive as possible. There’s no need to break a sweat. To view game

you simply saunter out onto your riverside veranda (think of it as your own viewing deck), settle back in a comfortable chair with binocs in one hand, refreshment in the other and a camera close by. Then decadently savor a breathtaking view of Africa’s wildest action. And, if the lowveld heat becomes overbearing, ease back into the comfy air-conditioned interior of your superbly appointed unit where your refrigerator serves as your private waterhole and your lounge has a view to buy for. You see, at Ngwenya Lodge, it’s not uncommon to spot at least three of the Big Five on the riverfront simultaneously. Breeding herds of elephants come and go as do huge herds of thirsty buffalo. From time

to time, all of the Big Five may be seen in a single day. The floodplain provides an ideal hunting ground for lion, leopard, wild dog and cheetah. Lumbering old “dagga boys” and waterbuck spend their days munching reeds. Kudu, warthog and impala are all part of daily riverfront scene as are wallowing hippos and basking crocodiles. Amidst this serenity kills happen. It’s up to you to remain vigilant.

At Ngwenya the drill is to be as inactive as possible For many a visit to the Kruger isn’t primarily about the game - it’s also about birds and the never-ending quest

to add more species to life lists. In this regard Ngwenya is nothing short of a birders’ paradise and here’s why. Major rivers that cut across the Kruger serve as veritable avian highways and the Crocodile River is no exception. With Ngwenya’s bird list having topped the 300 mark, twitching simply doesn’t get much better. From the common to the rare they are all seen here and the riverside verandas provide an ideal “bird’s eye view” of the avian traffic that passes by. Your Kruger Park experience is enriched by the sounds of the bush at Ngwenya Lodge. Hippos grunt day and night, the distinctive calls of fish eagles resound across the floodplain and, after sunset, night is heralded in by reverberating frog choruses, the eerie whooping of hyenas and pinging of fruit bats. Ngwenya is one of the few places that you can put your feet up and let the Kruger’s Big Five come to you - year after year. This is because you can now own your favorite seasons for

Ngwenya’s world class setting provides one of the finest views of the Kruger National Park visiting the Kruger in our new TGCSA 4 star graded riverside units ( 2 and 3 bedrooms) appointed with leather couches, fully equipped granite-top kitchens, luxury bathrooms with Hans Grohe taps and comfortable beds. Talk about going wild in style! And if you happen to think of Ngwenya as “Africa for Sissies” you would be right and we would be happy. When you invest in timeshare, fractional or whole ownership at Ngwenya Lodge you will soon discover that there is no urgent need for tediously long game drives. Huge petrol savings aside, Murphy’s Law of Game Sightings at Ngwenya dictates that as soon as you head out on a game drive the same animals that you seek to find will pitch up on the floodplain in your absence. So the choice to leave your riverside veranda

will be entirely up to you. However, should you decide to risk it, the full spectrum of game related activities such as guided walking safaris, open vehicle night drives and tigerfishing are reachable within minutes. Maputo is also an easy drive. Because of the limited availability of riverfront land adjoining the Kruger National Park, the demand for riverside units at Ngwenya Lodge is high. Only quick decision makers will be able to secure ownership of these premier view units. Sound like your kind of place? Call Winchester Marketing Toll Free on 0800 117 622 for further details www.winchestermarketing.com wildthing@winchestermarketing.com

winchesterdesign.com 011 327 7620

indwe

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AUGUST 2008

Letter from the Editor – Siyabonga Memela

SOUTH AFRICAN EXPRESS: Tel: +27 11 978 5577 Dileseng Koetle Corporate Communications & Public Relations Manager dkoetle@ﬂysax.com PUBLISHER: Siyaya Publishing (Pty) Ltd 343 Lynnwood Road, Lynnwood, Pretoria, 0081 Tel: +27 12 425 5800 or 0861 THE MAG Fax: +27 88 012 346 2367 mail@siyayapublishing.co.za Wilhelm Loots wilhelm@siyayapublishing.co.za

Dear Reader I am ashamed to say that I belong to a large group of men who only think, and perhaps, feel compelled by circumstances to say something about women's development during Women’s Month in August. Like my fellow men I feel somewhat embarrassed by the fact that we reduce women’s advancement to a mere once-a-year topic. We cannot blame the world for doing nothing to heal us from the scourge of indiﬀerence to honest women's development. Conferences, seminars, roundtables and all manner of awareness campaigns have been embarked on to try and alert us to the nobleness of being committed to women's advancement, but it seems that little achievement has been made. Many men need women on the boards of their public companies, or partners in their close corporations, but for what reason? The quick answer is that they feel that women are needed simply to get state tenders, or to comply with equity legislation. These women are not sought for their immense contribution that they make as intelligent, productive human beings, but instead they are reduced to numbers, and are used as a means to an end. It therefore becomes logical to expect that genuine and meaningful change for women can only be brought about by women themselves. They cannot rely

on men to facilitate a change in their status. This can be compared to the struggle for elimination of oppression in our country, wherein black people were treated as subhuman by other races. Many whites fought alongside blacks for the elimination of Apartheid. However, blacks did not abdicate the struggle for their freedom to the mercy of whites. They led their struggles, and constantly reminded their white counterparts that they can only advance the course of black struggle but not lead it. The same can be said about women’s struggle for emancipation. It is and can only be a ﬁght for women. As the men of our country, we should take our rightful position of being supportive of this struggle. This support should begin in our families, churches, workplaces, political organisations, social clubs and multinational forums. I know I may be persecuted by my fellow men and women for daring to say this during the women’s month, but there comes a time when we need to practise introspection and admit where we have gone wrong. I wish all the mothers, sisters, daughters and heroines of our land a joyous Women’s Month.

EDITOR: Siyabonga Memela siyabonga@siyayapublishing.co.za MANAGING EDITOR: Shannon Manders shannon@siyayapublishing.co.za DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR: Laura Cooke laura@siyayapublishing.co.za ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR: Chantelle Meintjes chantelle@siyayapublishing.co.za ADVERTISING SALES: SENIOR SALES DIRECTORS: Pierre le Roux: 084 525 2431 André Scharneck: 072 739 8855 SALES EXECUTIVES: Jeanette Gosling: 082 371 3083 Andrew Scharneck: 079 897 0550 Johan Bruwer: 082 300 9465 Julie Tyrer: +27 11 794 6552 Calvin van Vuuren: 082 582 6873 Neal Kinnear: 076 742 3523 Willem Hattingh: 072 327 3378 Robyn Shillaw-Botha: 082 795 5995 Funeka Zondani: 073 871 1376 MEDIA TRAFFIC MANAGER: Carey Melhuish carey@siyayapublishing.co.za IMAGES: © Gallo Images / Getty Images, iStockphoto.com & L’Esprit Photo DESIGN & LAYOUT: Virtual Da Vinci Creative Room Aneska Schmidt Tel: +27 12 460 3324 mail@virtualdavinci.co.za WEBMASTER: Henco Meintjes webmaster@siyayapublishing.co.za PROOFREADING: Clive Moses PRINTING: Business Print Centre, Pretoria

Enjoy the read! Enjoy the ﬂight! Siyabonga Memela

Planet Fitness Goes Platinum

Planet Platinum, a unique fitness club, will be opening its doors in Sandton, Johannesburg in October.

CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE: Shannon Manders, Bernard K Hellberg, MEDI-CLINIC, Reuben Riﬀel, Laura Cooke, Natalie Gillman, Toni Ackermann, Jacqueline Cochrane, Anna Marx, Michael Vlismas, Roy Watts, Ilza Roggeband, Charles Parkinson Indwe is published monthly by Siyaya Publishing, on behalf of South African Express. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Siyaya Publishing, South African Express or any of their clients. Information has been included in good faith by the publisher and is believed to be correct at the time of going to print. No responsibility can be accepted for errors and omissions. No material (articles or photographs) in this publication may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without speciﬁc written permission from the Editor.

Planet Platinum – part of the Planet Fitness gym group – will offer a new level of services. Members can experience an authentic Bikhram Yoga facility, a full Kinesis Studio, an indoor virtual golf driving range, an electronic personal training system, a standard indoor Olympic running track and a heated indoor pool with underwater music and light therapy.

Submissions of articles and photographs for publication are welcomed, but the publisher, while exercising all reasonable care, cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage. Please ensure that all material is posted by registered mail or is sent by courier to 343 Lynnwood Road, Lynnwood, Pretoria, 0081.

Membership to this exclusive establishment will be by invitation only. To take advantage of this opportunity, interested parties can call 0860 CHOSEN (246 736).

SMS & WIN! Five lucky Johannesburg-based readers can each receive an exclusive invitation to the facility for a month's use. SMS the word SAX followed by the word PLATINUM to 35131. Cost per SMS is R3. Competition closes 31st August 2008. By entering this competition, you consent to receiving electronic information pertaining to Indwe and/or South African Express.

CECILIA’S ICON

Welcome to Cecilia’s Icon. This luxurious development consists of 59 stylish apartments with breathtaking views over Nelspruit town and Crocodile Valley. It includes a choice of studio apartments as well as one or two bedroom apartments. Each is designed to maximize the interior space while taking full advantage of the stunning views. Positioned on the popular van Wijk Street, it is a convenient location near the business centre of Nelspruit and easily accessed from all major routes.

APARTMENT SPECS: 38 TWO BEDROOM APARTMENTS • 6 STUDIO'S • 15 ONE BEDROOM • 1 PARKING BAY PER APARTMENT • BALCONIES WITH BRAAI AREA FOR EACH APARTMENT

For more information contact: Nazeeh Abrahams (Operations Manager for JF Carstens Fam Trust) Cell: 082 385 3725 • Tel: 021 853 0666 • Fax: 021 853 7778 • nazeeh@carsfam.co.za

ORCHARDS OFFICE PARK

The largest sectional title security office park in Nelspruit Orchards Office Park will consist of 10 office blocks with 6 sectional title 2 offices comprising 120 to 220m each with ample parking. Other benefits will be: • Internet friendly • Lifestyle landscaping, creating a friendly working environment for employees to relax in • Design your own internal requirements at an early stage • Access from the N4 and du Preez Street

ORCHARDS O F F I C E PA R K

For more information contact: Nazeeh Abrahams (Operations Manager for JF Carstens Fam Trust) Cell: 082 385 3725 • Tel: 021 853 0666 • Fax: 021 853 7778 • nazeeh@carsfam.co.za

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Letters from our

Passengers Write to us at indwe@flysax.com

Letter of the

Month The writer of the Letter of the Month will receive a Harley-Davidson Ballpoint Pen Pen, sponsored by Corporation 4 Pens, tel +27 11 483 1640.

Dear Editor I ﬂew CPT – ELS on Flight SA1365 on 26th June and ELS – CPT on Flight SA1366 on 1st July. I would like to thank the cabin crew on both ﬂights for their excellent service and their support of a VERY nervous passenger – me! Also, to the co-pilot on SA1366, thank you for coming back to reassure me

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Dear Editor I ﬂew to Bloemfontein on Flight SA1003 at 08:00 on Tuesday 15th July. As I got onto the airplane I became aware of the fact t that I had left my cell phone at the security check point (in t plastic tray). I thought it would be hopeless to retrieve it, the b nevertheless informed the South African Express hostess but ( (unfortunately I did not learn her name). Between her and Captain Venter, they not only managed to t track down my phone, but Captain Venter brought the phone b back to Bloemfontein later that day on his return ﬂight. I was a able to collect it from the airport just after lunch. I was so overwhelmed and impressed by what these two people did to retrieve my cell phone. It certainly renewed my faith in people. I cannot begin to thank your two employees and South African Express. I will be eternally grateful. Thank you most sincerely. Maryann Phillips

regarding the turbulence. I absolutely hate ﬂying, and the cabin crew were very supportive and sympathetic. Thank you all very much. South African Express provided me with the least horrible ﬂying experience I've had (I could never say it was good, no matter how hard I try...). Regards Shirley Jenner

Write to us at indwe@flysax.com or fax: (088) 012 346 2367. Letters may be edited for clarity and space. For any customer-related queries, please contact South African Express Customer Care: Tel: +27 11 978 2355 Email: customercare@flysax.com

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With Open Eyes

Kgatile Nkala “‘You must keep your eyes and ears open all the time.’ This may be layman’s advice but it can be applied to many different situations – and I know when to keep quiet and listen!” says Kgatile Nkala, Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP). Text & Images: © Laura Cooke

gatile joined South African Express in December 2007 as one of the three HRBPs in the company. South African Express implemented the concept of HRBPs for the ﬁrst time in 2007. “My role is to partner with the business and look after what is known as Corporate, that includes all departments except Technical and Operations,” she explains. “A typical day involves assisting managers to make HR decisions – which range from assisting with managing employees to supporting the business when there is growth. This means I ensure that where there is growth, there are human resources, systems and processes that are functional in order to support the business. I also assist with benchmarking – looking at what the industry does and applying best practices. The part of my job that I really enjoy is communicating HR ﬁndings and recommendations through workshops with managers."

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Operations and Technical each have a dedicated HRBP. “We are all generalists and are au fait with the different aspects of Human Resources. We aim to offer a onestop shop to business,” she says. Upon joining South African Express, this newly created position was a challenge that Kgatile was ready to tackle head on, and she brought an extensive HR background, gathered in the aviation industry, from manufacturing right through to logistics. “I started as an HR consultant and then became a Manager for Denel, where I moved from one division to another throughout my five years in the company. Thereafter, I worked for a company that provided ground handling to airlines – South African Express being one of them. I was the national training manager. Coming from a generalist background, I enjoyed specialising in training for some time. At a later stage, I was on the lookout

K g a t i l e ’s educational b a c k g ro u n d h i g h l i g h t s how her passion for HR has developed over the years.

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indwe – AUGUST 2008

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for general HR employment and South African Express was, for the ﬁrst time, looking for Business Partners and I joined the team in December last year.” Kgatile’s educational background highlights how her passion for HR has developed over the years. Born in Soweto, Kgatile was schooled at the Leaf school in Bisho, in what was then known as the Ciskei. This was a school for gifted students and placed an emphasis on science and maths. After matriculating, Kgatile began a science and chemistry degree at the University of Natal, though she soon realised that spending the rest of her working life in a laboratory was not for her. She then shifted her focus to a social science degree, majoring in psychology and industrial psychology. Kgatile comments on her decision, “This was where my passion for HR began.

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During my stay at the university, I was also a warden at two residences. That is where I put the skill of HR to practice. I completed a postgraduate diploma in HR management and personnel management. This skill was, and still is quite rare, and is my speciality. I also completed my honours degree in industrial relations.” The new environment at South African Express has brought with it a host of new challenges, confesses Kgatile. “I came from a big company where HR had a long history with established corporate governance systems. South African Express is growing very fast and requires speciﬁc systems in order to stay aﬂoat in an environment that has lots of competition,” she explains. “Partnering was a challenge – it was a new line and I realised that I needed to step up and rise

to the challenge. Looking back, I realise I have skills that I never thought I had!” Kgatile shares some of her personal goals for South African Express, “I want to tackle the challenge of retaining skills, especially the critical skills. We have recently launched a long-term incentive scheme as a means of encouraging good performing employees to stay for longer periods so that our working relationship can be mutually rewarding. I am also dealing with the results of a culture climate survey – which aimed at assessing what South African Express means to employees. It is exciting to implement initiatives that flow from the results of the climate survey and communicating these to others in a culture where all employees work together towards one goal, with the Business Partners driving this process.” “What I enjoy most about HR is that you come to understand the business as a whole. I am of service to both managers and employees, for example, I can advise on how to manage staff, and from the employee side, I can assist with rights and obligations. I’d love to see both managers and employees fully utilising the HRBPs more,” says Kgatile. A mother of two, Kgatile enjoys a “wonderful husband and family support system.” The little spare time that Kgatile has, she spends with her family. Her family enjoys “Sho’t Left” South African holidays with a recent vacation adventure being Hluhluwe Game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal for five days. “It’s good to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city,” she adds. Kgatile is determined and focused – she believes that if you want to achieve something in life, you must simply do it. She also believes that it is important to surround yourself with “positive people who complement you and help you go forward in life. It is easy to follow the negativity of others, but you need to move away from negativity as it can pull you down,” she asserts. This is the message that she gives to pupils from KwaZulu-Natal schools when she meets with them every year at the University of KwaZulu-Natal during their career planning Indaba called “Fast Forward.” She emphasises that a career does not unfold in a straight line and that one has much to learn from life experiences, provided that one has the tenacity to know when to apply these life experiences. Kgatile keeps her eyes and ears open at all times, ensuring she grabs any opportunities that come her way and makes the best of them. With a positive, optimistic energy and bubbling enthusiasm, she is destined to achieve continued success.

at a glance

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Wedding Dose

Phakalane Golf Estate Wins Leading Resort

According to a Condé Nast Bridal Media survey, one quarter of the engaged women polled believe that no one understands them quite as much as other brides-to-be. This survey also revealed that 49% of brides become obsessive list makers once the wedding planning begins and 25% admit to forgetting things. With stats like that, it’s not hard to understand why so many brides suﬀer from pre-wedding day stress. From choosing the most beautiful wedding dress to the ensuring perfection in the tiniest décor detail, brides can do with a little helper, accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Bridesbuzzing.com, the all new and fabulous, daily South African bridal planning blog is ﬁlled with great information, advice and ideas to help all those brides-to-be plan the perfect wedding. The site is a great local meeting place to discuss topics of relevance and bounce ideas from one buzzing bride to the next. Visit www.bridesbuzzing.com.

Phakalane Golf Estate, located in Gaborone, Botswana, has been awarded the title of Botswana’s leading resort at the World Travel Awards, hosted in Durban on 12th May. The World Travel Awards acknowledge and recognise excellence in the world’s travel and tourism industry, and are regarded as the very highest achievement that a travel product could ever hope to receive. Phakalane is managed by the Three Cities Group, and Director of Operations, Glyn Taylor, was present to accept the award on behalf of the magnificent golf estate. Presenting one of Botswana’s most spectacular courses, Phakalane Golf Estate offers the corporate and leisure traveller a host of activities in grandiose style. Situated a mere 15 kilometres from Gaborone, the 18-hole golf course, designed by DDV Design Group Golf – Douw van der Merwe, offers 15 dams, 75 bunkers and provides a challenging yet pleasurable course to play. With luxurious accommodation and five-star cuisine, Phakalane is one of Botswana’s premier destinations.

Healthy Mouth,

Healthy Pet Most pet owners understand the need to spend time and money on grooming, feeding and exercising their pets, yet the majority appear to underestimate the importance of oral care. As a result, oral disease is one of the most commonly diagnosed pet health problems and, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society, aﬀects over 80% of dogs and cats aged four and older. August is national Hill’s Pet Dental Month, and a time to brush up on your pet’s health, as a lack of regular oral care can have serious implications for its well-being. “Oral disease can be painful and, if untreated, can be potentially life-threatening,” says veterinarian Dr Guy Fyvie, spokesman for Hill’s Pet Dental Month, “Yet it is easily prevented with a regular dental routine that includes brushing the pet’s teeth regularly and/or feeding a food that is clinically proven to clean the teeth.” For more information and expert advice, speak to your local vet, or call the Hill’s Pet Nutrition Careline toll-free on 0800 228 783.

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at a glance

Yeesh!

Johannesburg is full of parents who haul their kids off to paid-for play areas – but leave feeling woefully underserved by the venue. That is all changing with the launch of Yeesh! – a top-class destination that is designed to offer a great experience for both parents and their offspring in a secure, all-weather environment that opened in the beginning of June. Located in Woodmead, Yeesh! is the brainchild of qualified clinical psychologist, Dr Sandy Gilchrist who has specialised in child and family counselling as well as adult leadership training. As a parent of three, she understands intimately parents' desire to offer fun, stimulating entertainment for their children. The emphasis at Yeesh! is as much on safety and security as it is on fun. Says Gilchrist, "We are very aware that safety is something that no parent wants to compromise on and so we have spent a great deal of time and money in establishing systems that offer a safe, fun environment." For more information, contact +27 83 923 2306, or mail yeesh@mweb.co.za.

Time to Ditch That Second Car? If you are feeling the pinch, perhaps it is time to get rid of your second vehicle and save as much as R81,000 annually by renting rather than owning. Avis Rent a Car Managing Director, Wayne Duvenage, says the current South African mindset of owning a second family car – used more for recreation or leisure purposes – has become a costly exercise. It would be wiser to rent an SUV or microbus for a holiday trip or a luxury car for special occasions than to pay for a car that is under-utilised. While the perception is that renting a car is expensive, the cost pales in comparison to owning a vehicle that is not utilised on a daily basis. In addition, renting a vehicle gives the customer a much greater choice of vehicle with add-ons such as tow bars, GPS or hand controls (for paraplegic renters) where necessary. Not only do customers have a greater choice of vehicle and will invariably receive a low kilometre vehicle (average 20,000 km) and latest models, but Avis conducts a thorough safety and quality check on every vehicle prior to rental.

Archiving Children’s Artwork Every family has a pile somewhere of their children’s drawings. Since culling out and saving the best works isn’t easy, two moms/entrepreneurs from New Jersey devised a solution: theArt:archives. How it works? Parents send in their kids’ drawings and theART:archives team professionally photographs each one and sends back a DVD catalogue that can be viewed on a computer screen or TV. The start-up’s founders suggest ordering a separate DVD for each school year to create a complete record of a child’s accomplishments. The company’s business model loosely resembles that of other cottage ventures that employ digital technology to reduce clutter, among them small businesses that transfer home videos to DVD or digitise a CD collection for iPod use. While millions of families own scanners and are tech-savvy enough to create DVD artwork collections on their own, many are likely to appreciate the time-saving convenience of a service that will handle the process for them. One to start up locally? Visit www.theartarchives.com.

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Flying High “Flying does not rely so much on strength, as on physical and mental coordination.” – Elise Deroche, first lady to solo an airplane. Text & Images: © Laura Cooke

omen have been ﬂying since the early days of aviation, and as the industry has grown and developed, more and more women have chosen ﬂying as their occupation

of choice. Indwe had the opportunity to meet ﬁve determined female South African Express pilots who are a handful of the approximately 15,000 pilots in South Africa.

Aloma Stevens, Captain, has been flying for the last 27 years. Since the age of 12, flying h has been all that Aloma has ever wanted to do. What is the most satisfying part of your work?

are readily accepted and more and more enter the ﬁeld every day.”

“Just doing what I love to do – and the time oﬀ aﬀords me the freedom to pursue my other interests.”

What is one of the most common questions you get as a pilot?

How has the industry changed for women since you first began? “In the early days, learning to fly and finding a job was a lot more difficult than it is today. People just didn't take you seriously, and once qualified there were no jobs available for women in the aviation field, except for an instructor’s rating and teaching flying. No airlines employed women and the charter market was very male-dominated. Today, women

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“From passengers it is, 'Are you going to get me there safely (in one piece)?’ My standard response, with a smile, is 'No, I'm going to get myself there safely and you are just along for the ride.' The other popular one is, 'Do you enjoy ﬂying?’ My response is, 'It beats working for a living.'”

What is the hardest part of your job? “The hardest part is sometimes missing special events with loved ones, for example, when I have to ﬂy on Christmas day.”

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Asnath Mahapa, First Officer, has been a pilot for eight years. Hearing a pilot friend of the family talk about flying sparked her passion for flying. From then on, she read magazines and has been fascinated by the career ever since. What is the most satisfying part of your work? “The fact that I do what I love for a living is the most satisfying part – not a lot of people get to do what they love.”

Are there any challenges you face as a woman in the aviation industry? “The industry is still very much maledominated, and as a woman, you have to work much harder to be accepted. Unfortunately you still ﬁnd those males who cannot accept the fact that woman can also become pilots.”

What is the hardest part of your job? “Unlike many careers, with this job comes the responsibility of keeping current on a lot of things. For example, there are many procedures to adhere to, such as practising emergency procedures. You have to be at the top of your game the whole time – there is no time to snooze.”

What is one of the most common questions you get as a pilot? “‘Aren’t you scared of ﬂying?’ Of course, the answer is 'No – that’s why I do it.' "

Tshegofatso Eva Palai, Junior First Officer, began her training in 2004 as a cadet and graduated in 2005. She knew that she wanted to become a pilott after seeing a road show during her matric year. At first, her family was against the idea, but have since nce come to accept that flying is where Tshegofatso's so's heart lies.

What is the most satisfying part of your work? “Each day is diﬀerent and has its own challenges, so I never get bored.”

Are there any challenges you face as a woman in the aviation industry? “Yes. As a woman you constantly have to prove yourself because the aviation industry is still dominated by men. This gives people the idea that you have to be masculine to be able to take an aircraft

oﬀ the ground and land. People look at us and think we can't ﬂy because we look petite, which is not right.”

What is one of the most common questions you get as a pilot? "'How do you manage to ﬂy when you are so tiny?' And my answer is, ‘Size does not matter. If a man can do it, so can I.’”

indwe – AUGUST 2008

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Chrisna Di Dicks, Junior First Officer, had her first flying experience in 2002 an and has been flying for four years. She fell in love with flying duri during school, and knew she didn’t want to do anything her life. She wants to encourage anyone who has a else with h passion for fo aviation and says, “The possibilities are endless, just don’t ever eve give up on your dream.”

What is the most satisfying part of your job? “I love handling the aircraft, and when you manage to put down a smooth landing, as most pilots will tell you, you feel absolutely elated. It’s also the adrenalin and the challenge every day, and every day is diﬀerent. Also, if the conditions are not good you work under more pressure, and it’s satisfying to deliver a service that’s just as good, even if it was a more challenging day.”

Are there any challenges you face as a woman in the aviation industry? “Personally, I have a rather small build, and I was worried it might be a problem. I discovered with great pleasure that it doesn’t make any difference whatsoever to your flying, it simply makes it easier to get in and out of the flight deck!”

What is one of the most common questions you get as a pilot? “‘Arent you too tiny to fly an airplane?’ ‘How old are you?’ Or when I have finished paperwork outside the aircraft just before a flight, ‘Are you

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a ﬂight attendant or the pilot?’ – the latter accompanied by some fear and trepidation as to what the answer might be. I have learnt that a swift answer is easiest. I tell them that even though I am young, I am indeed the pilot, and I hope that they enjoy the ﬂight.”

What is the hardest part of your job? “I love that I don’t have a 9 to 5 job. But, sometimes it’s hard when you work over weekends when your loved ones are relaxing at home and you'd rather spend the day with them. The love of my life is also a pilot, and it is more diﬃcult to spend time together when your schedules are so diﬀerent. Also getting up at 03:30 am a few times a month is painful for me, as I love my sleep.”

“Flying is the best possible thing for women.” – Baroness Raymonde de Laroche of France, first licensed woman pilot, on receiving her license, 8 th March 1910.

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Puleng Cadribo, Junior First Officer, received her Private Pilot License in 2004 and has been fascinated by airplanes planes since childhood. For the most part, her friends and family have shared her excitement and applauded her for following her er dreams.

What is the most satisfying part of your work? “The responsibility and trust that comes with transporting passengers from one place to the next safely every day. I also find flying in itself very fulfilling!”

Are there any challenges you face as a woman in the aviation industry? “Times are certainly changing rapidly to accommodate women in previously male-dominated ﬁelds so the challenges have been minimalised to a huge extent. But then, of course, there will always be

the stereotypes people hold – the expectation that women ought to be at home and that ﬂying is not for women. I enjoy breaking that stereotype!”

What is one of the most common questions you get as a pilot? "'When and why did I decide to become a pilot?' My only response to that is that I cannot recall a moment in my life that I didn't know that this is what I was going to do.”

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Changing

Times, Changing Fashions The brassiere, from sports bra to silk lingerie, is a fashion item, a practical undergarment, and best of all – it’s optional. But, this has not aways been the case. Text: Laura Cooke | Images: © iStockphoto.com

he clothes that we wear are inextricably tied up in the history of women’s rights and emancipation. The shifting fashions of the times, and the fashion items that were either endorsed or forbidden, reveal changing attitudes towards women. Let’s start with the corset. In the 19th Century, it was the norm that all women wore corsets to slim the waistline. This may seem to be an acceptable use for a fashion item, but corsets can cause a number of problems. Corsets from this era interfered with breathing, caused fainting, and in some cases, illﬁtting corsets even broke ribs. Some more extreme corset wearers, so-called tightlacers, used corsets to reduce their waist to an unnaturally small size. There are still some people who practise tightlacing, although often as a fetish, with the Guinness World Record going to Cathie Jung and her 37.5-cm waist. This tiny-waisted generation of women could not last forever and during the late 1800s, campaigners denigrated the tightlacers, corsets and their potential health risks. Feminists picked up the cause and argued that if women where ever going to be able to become more involved in society, they certainly would not be able to do so wearing a restrictive corset, and sportswomen called for “emancipation garments” that would allow freedom of movement – the

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corset was on the way out and the era of the brassiere began. The exact origin of the modern bra is unknown, but it was during the 20th Century that the bra became an essential wardrobe item. The First World War saw the traditional role of the woman shift as women were called upon to fill the roles their husbands were unable to carry out while fighting for their country. Women “manned” munitions factories, cared for the injured, and demonstrated that women could be valuable additions to the economy. The war sparked a bra craze as women were forced to leave the chunky corset behind and adopt the revolutionary bra to be able to work efficiently. In 1918, women were granted the right to vote in the United Kingdom, marking the beginning of the movement towards gender equality. (In South Africa, white women were given the vote in 1930, and black women were first allowed to cast their vote in the first free and fair elections, following the fall of Apartheid, in 1994.) During the Second World War, the military promoted bras as a form of “protection” (from what exactly, who knows?) and made the bra a compulsory item for low-ranking women in the military. From this point onward, bra technology improved, new fabrics and designs came into play, prices dropped and bra sales rose.

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In the 1960s, the bra took on a new meaning as the feminist movement adopted the bra as a key symbol against the patriarchal society that reduced women to the status of sex objects. At a legendary protest against the 1968 Miss America Pageant, a group of 400 women demonstrated against a competition they saw as an oppression and objectification of woman. Despite the myth of a mob of women ripping off their bras and setting them alight, this never happened. Instead, a “Freedom Trash Can” was filled with “items of torture” and symbols of oppression, such as high heels, curlers, pantyhose and bras – but nothing was set alight. However, from this point onwards, feminists have been called “bra-burners.” Today, corsets and bras are all the more popular precisely because if you don’t want to wear one, you don’t have to. There are hundreds of variations of the bra. Sexy, sensible or solid – there is a bra for every woman. Corsets have also made a comeback, although apart from a few extreme fetish wearers who follow the “old traditions,” these are unlikely to break any ribs or reduce your waist size. Corsets and bras are only two items, from one specific culture and it is obvious that these undergarments have fuelled gender equality debates, and even movements. Throughout the world there are hundreds of similar battles that have been won, or are still in the process of being fought, wherein society has dictated what is compulsory and what is forbidden for women. South Africa, with its multitude of cultures and peoples, preaches tolerance and acceptance of the diversity of its citizens – and what people choose to wear is one of these. Of vital importance is woman’s rights, and South Africa’s constitution condemns discrimination on the basis of gender. Women’s rights have to be constantly championed, and in South Africa, although we have come a long way, there are still many challenges to be overcome. The 2008 BWA South African Women in Corporate Leadership Census, released on 12th May, revealed that the percentage of women in government has increased to a clear majority of 54.76%. Despite this extremely encouraging result, there are still many prejudices against women,

with issues including inequalities in the workplace, such as lower salary levels for women and the absence of women in top executive positions, as well as violence against women. There are a number of organisations committed to women’s rights, such as POWA (People Opposing Women Abuse), and the Commission for Gender Equality, which is one of six state institutions supporting constitutional democracy whose aim is, “to promote gender equality and to advise and make recommendations to Parliament or any other legislature with regard to any laws or proposed legislation which aﬀects gender equality and the status of women.” Women’s struggle for equality has been going on for generations, and will continue for many years to come. But at least in South Africa, women are allowed to wear whatever undergarments happen to tickle their fancy.

indwe – AUGUST 2008

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Nothing Less than

Namaqualand South Africa’s Most Exquisite Wild Flower Display

Namaqualand, wedged between the border of Namibia to the north, and the barren stretches of the Knersvlakte to the south, lies forgotten and seemingly infertile for the most part of the year. That is, until these desolate expanses explode with colour and beauty to form one of our planet’s most dazzling wild flower displays. Text: Jacqueline Cochrane | Images: © L’Esprit Photo, Jacqueline Cochrane

t is a quiet night in Garies. The sky overhead is free of clouds, its velvety blackness interrupted only by the twinkling of the stars. The kitchen in Sophia’s Guesthouse is large and airy, and it feels like we’re in a farmhouse. Dinner is traditional boerekos (farmer’s food), a carnivore's delight. Locals Wouter Jordaan and his wife are seated at our table, nodding vehemently in agreement as we recount the incredible vistas of ﬂoral beauty that we have encountered so far. “This year has been particularly good. But you

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should see Nababeep, the town looks as if it’s on fire!” The next day I see what they mean. Our floral foray had thus far wound its way from the Langebaan Lagoon, northeast towards Clanwilliam, to the tiny Moravian Mission Station of Wupperthal and back through the Bokkeveld Escarpment towards Vredendal. Every stretch of the journey had been met with gasps of elation, with each carpet of colour more dazzling than the next. Nothing, however, had prepared us for the fiery beauty of Nababeep. It seemed

Nothing, however, had prepared us for the fier y beauty of Nababeep.

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indwe – AUGUST 2008

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as though the dorpie had spent the entire year secretly conspiring to spring forth into what can only be described as an outrageous floral fantasy. Every bit of earth, in any given direction, was covered in masses of orange daisies, their petals set on fire by the strong afternoon sun. At this stage, we had all learnt that the flowers always face the sun, and that the best viewing is therefore done walking or driving from north to south, with the sun on one’s back. The flowers are therefore also at their best during the hottest times of the day, normally between 11:00 and 15:00. Namaqualand locals and floral fanatics often refer to the flower seasons as either “good years” or “bad years.” Anyone who has visited this region more than once will know that no two years offer the same views; everything depends on when it has rained, and how much rain has fallen. While the annual flower season starts roughly in July and terminates in October, there are no hard and fast rules about when the best time is to visit the area. Many visitors opt for the last week in August, and the first week in September.

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Although many of the towns in Namaqualand do not have ATMs, cellphone reception or five-star accommodation, the genuine warmth and friendliness of the inhabitants is unparalleled. A few words of Afrikaans will simplify things significantly, but don’t let language stand in your way. Locals are also very aware of where the best viewing can be done, so it is worth asking for their advice when planning routes. The next evening, in Springbok, we are told of a wealthy businessman from Johannesburg, who had jetted in to enjoy the floral feast just for a day. Some hours later, I lay in bed, breathing in the peaceful Namaqua night air, and watching daisies spin in front of my closed eyes. I count myself lucky to have had several days to absorb one of our planet’s most bountiful displays of floral brilliance.

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Self-drive Tour for

Viewing Flowers Leave Cape Town and take the N27 to Darling. Proceed to Yzerfontein and then to the West Coast National Park, where you can visit the Postberg Nature Reserve for wildflowers and game viewing. From there, proceed to Clanwilliam for a visit to Ramskop Nature Garden and overnight. Drive to Vanrhynsdorp for a visit to a succulent garden. The road takes you to Bitterfontein and Garies and then to the Skilpad Nature Reserve. Continue your journey to Springbok for the night. Make a circular drive to Nababeep and Okiep the following morning. Return to Springbok and conduct a flower drive through the Gougap Nature Reserve. Head back to Garies and drive to Clanwilliam. On the way you can stop at a wine boutique to taste some of the wines of the Olifantsriver Valley. Overnight in Clanwilliam or continue back to Cape Town.

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Cultivation

&Compassion Linda Nghatsane Winning the “Shoprite Checkers Woman of the Year Award” 2007 has made Linda Nghatsane’s life even busier. This compassionate woman combines a keen business sense with hard work, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to empowering others. Text: Laura Cooke | Images: © Ivan Naude and Matt Stow Photography

inda Nghatsane is a public health practitioner who left the health industry in 2004 and turned to farming. This abrupt change in career was inspired by women she encountered regularly during basic nutrition training sessions. “The women responded by saying that they had gathered a lot of useful information but because most of them were poor and unemployed, it would be diﬃcult for them to implement the lessons learnt,” explains Nghatsane.

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“It became so unbearable for me that I was determined to ﬁnd a way to make a diﬀerence to their lives. The only ideal and practical way that came to my mind at that stage was linking public health and practical agriculture. When I had an opportunity to buy a farm in 2004, it was then that I realised that I could teach by example by starting to farm myself.” This was not without its challenges, and Nghatsane shares some of the hurdles she had to overcome, “When

This abrupt change in career was inspired by women she encountered regularly during basic nutrition training sessions.

Gauteng Department of Housing

Budget Review A total of 56 informal settlements in Gauteng will be upgraded and formalised in this ¿nancial year to bene¿t more than 380,000 families. This will be done through the installation of basic infrastructure such as roads, water, sanitation and other social amenities. Gauteng MEC for Housing Ms Nomvula Mokonyane made the announcement during the presentation of her budget speech for the 2008/2009 ¿nancial year at the Gauteng Legislature on 24th June. She said the department is con¿dent that the 2014 vision of eradicating all the registered informal settlements is achievable. “In achieving this milestone, we will continue to execute our strategy through our ¿ve key programmes, namely Mixed-housing Development, Eradication of Informal Settlements, Alternative Tenure, and Urban Renewal Programme, and 20 (PTP) Prioritised Townships Programme,” said Mokonyane. MEC Mokonyane said the R3,099,253,000 billion budget, which shows an increase of 16.64% from the previous ¿nancial year, will be used to consolidate the gains made in the delivery of houses in the province. She said the Department identi¿ed 122 informal settlements in 2004 that will be upgraded by 2009. To date, 68 informal settlements have been formalised (upgraded insitu) and this has resulted in 325,000 people having access to water and sanitation. “It is our goal to provide necessary services and tenure to about 710,000 people by 2009. Our ongoing commitment to the public is to ensure that all our people live in decent, secure and habitable environments,” she said. She went on to say that the her department, together with the National Department of Housing and provinces are in a process of drafting a bill that will stamp out the unregulated mushrooming of informal settlements and shack farming. Mokonyane commended the people of Gauteng for their co-operation by allowing to be moved as the programme of upgrading goes ahead. She said there are some forces that are against development and continue to discourage people by telling them all sorts of fabricated stories and negative propaganda. The MEC said as the department strives for excellency with the mixed Housing Development Programme, the province will continue with the construction of human settlements in the identi¿ed projects across the province. “It remains our commitment to integrate our communities. The eradication of hostels, which will see a number of them demolished throughout the province, attests to this commitment,” she said. She said the work should not be seen as a PR exercise but a manifesto that is aimed at providing citizens with decent houses.

Issued by the Gauteng Department of Housing Media Relations and Research Directorate. For more information, contact Aviva Manqa at +27 83 600 3830 or Mandla Sidu at +27 83 602 6169

The KIMBERLEY CLUB Famous Since 1881

The Kimberley Club has a tradition of its own with stories not confined to its buildings. It’s seen the “comings and goings” of some of the foremost personalities in the world whose vision and energy have pioneered new territories. The history of the Kimberley Club is intrinsically bound with the history of Kimberley itself.

Stay at The Kimberley Club Newly refurbished, the Kimberley Club offers 21 en-suite rooms tastefully decorated with the ambience of a bygone era. Facilities include all the “modcons” one would expect of a 4-star boutique hotel. The club boasts a member’s bar, lounge and dominoes room, an à la carte restaurant, a ladies’ bar, 3 dining facilities, a reading room and a billiard room. The ideal venue for functions, weddings and conferences. Tel: 053 832 4224 • Fax: 053 832 4226 E-mail: info@kimberleyclub.co.za Website: www.kimberleyclub.co.za

“One meets t everybody b d who is anybody at this club”

my husband Johnson and I bought the land in 2004, it was a mere patch of overgrown land with trees and shrubs, and no infrastructure. There was neither water, electricity, nor road. The first priority was to manually clear the bush and sink a borehole, which proved to be difficult and costly, but we persevered. After two years the Department of Agriculture and Land Administration joined the party and provided some funds for more infrastructure through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme.” Today, Nghatsane’s farm has poultry houses with the capacity for 36,000 broiler chickens, two plastic tunnels (green houses) for vegetables, an oyster mushroom house and a shade net infrastructure for cultivating vegetables using the gravel flow technique (GFT) method of hydroponics. One of the key motivations for this endeavour was to share her knowledge with others. “I am involved in community development projects and encourage women to be self-reliant by producing their own food from backyard gardens using simple methods that are not labour-intensive and do not require large spaces or lots of water,” says Nghatsane, “I discourage women from being totally dependent on others and external sources for food supply, as this robs them of their dignity and creativity.” For Nghatsane, one of the most satisfying aspects of her work

is that through training others, she is able to equip people with practical skills they can use to improve their lot in life. Some of the initiatives that have already contributed to the upliftment of others through public-private partnerships include, “an in-school youth project where secondary school children (especially girl children) are encouraged to participate in agricultural initiatives. Groups of rural women have been mobilised and encouraged to start backyard gardens using simple agricultural methods and small-scale backyard egg production units with a capacity of 36 laying hens so as to augment income for the households,” says Nghatsane. Nghatsane has been involved in farming since her childhood, “I was born in a rural village called Mhlaba Cross and grew up in a township called Nkowankowa near Tzaneen in the Limpopo Province. My parents were farmers and as children we were involved in farming activities. My involvement in farming activities at a tender age coupled with my public health background provided fertile ground that influenced my decisions later in life to get involved in agriculture.” The decision to farm has led to great success for Nghatsane, and since winning the “Woman of the Year Award,” her life has certainly changed. “My life has suddenly become very busy with a lot of exposure to the media. My horizons have widened greatly, allowing me to learn through the networks that I have established in South Africa and overseas, within the business and agricultural sectors, as well as the social spheres of life.” Nghatsane’s goal is to have a proﬁtable business that contributes to the economy of the country, food security, employment, as well as skills development in the public health and agricultural sector. Linda Ngatsane has achieved enormous success over the last four years, and with a clear vision for the future, and a strong work ethic, she is more than likely going to continue to positively inﬂuence those around her and grow her business even further.

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Hôtel Le

Vendôme It’s All About The Je Ne Sais Quoi Yes, Hôtel Le Vendôme is superbly located. And yes, your stay here will be punctuated by one luxurious touch after the other. But there is something else that keeps guests returning to this graceful establishment. Text & Images: © Jacqueline Cochrane

here exists a strange, contradictory impulse inside us humans that simultaneously craves both change and stability. We go on holiday, eager to immerse ourselves in foreign environments, desperately desiring a change of scenery. But once we’re there, we paradoxically start searching for the comforts of home, often before anything else. We expect things to be a certain way and, when we ﬁnd them to be diﬀerent, we often experience awkwardness, frustration and discomfort. Monsieur Maurice Danon – owner,

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Managing Director and Manager of Hôtel Le Vendôme – seems to harbour a deep understanding of this peculiar human yearning. He anticipates his guests’ longing for extraordinary luxury as much as he understands their need to feel at home. “I love people,” shares the charismatic hotelier. “My philosophy is to treat every guest like a king and a queen.” Since its doors were ﬁrst opened to the public in 1998, Hôtel Le Vendôme has established itself as an opulent haven in the heart of Sea Point. Half an hour’s

drive away from Cape Town International Airport, Le Vendôme is a mere 50 metres away from the Sea Point promenade – a shore-hugging walkway favoured by sightseers, strollers, dog-walkers and joggers. Its central location also oﬀers visitors easy access to some of the Cape’s most scenic regions, including the Cape Peninsula and the winelands. Business travellers have also come to treasure Le Vendôme as a sumptuous sanctuary. Le Salon de Concorde is a conference and banqueting area that can accommodate up to 220 delegates in its

x - clusive three multi-purpose, interconnecting rooms. Here, business is made easy with state-of-the-art technology such as Global Videoconferencing, and private boardrooms are available. Corporate guests will also be pleased to find the rooms equipped with features such as Internet connectivity, in-room facsimile facilities and a Guest Link system with on-screen messaging. Hurried visitors will certainly appreciate the express check-out service. Furthermore, the Business Centre offers guests the convenience of full secretarial services. All aspects of Hôtel Le Vendôme combine to create an unmistakable ambience of elegance, charm and sophistication. The classy French atmosphere is complemented by warm South African service, ensuring that guests’ every need is attended to. This adherence to a traditional sense of hospitality is followed through in the hotel’s 143 rooms and suites. The décor sees opulent, heavy drapes offset by delicate pieces of pale-coloured furniture; a scene from a French chateau, if it weren’t for the fresh sea breeze drifting in from the balcony. Rooms also boast well-stocked refreshment stations, complimentary tea and coffee-making facilities, 24-hour inroom dining, satellite television, built-in international adaptors, an in-room safe,

and the preference of smoking or nonsmoking floors. Among others, these features anticipate and fulfil guests’ desires before they can be uttered, completing the lavish experience dictated by the décor. It was inevitable that the hotel’s trademark touches of French finesse would extend itself to the fine dining department. At restaurant Rive Gauche, guests can tantalise their taste buds with many a culinary masterpiece, served in equally tasteful surroundings. Visitors are, however, spoilt for choice. At Le Cygne, a bright and breezy restaurant overlooking the sparkling pool, one may enjoy a casually elegant eating experience. In this oasis of tranquillity guests may also indulge in an alfresco breakfast, a light refreshing lunch or cocktails at sunset. Le Salon Chantilly, the hotel’s classic lounge, is ideal for high tea or a pre-dinner aperitif, and is the perfect place to end a day with a cognac and cigar. The plush décor of the establishment evokes nostalgia for a bygone realm of old-fashioned elegance, where the exquisite perfumes of well-heeled guests compete with the lingering fragrances of fresh floral bouquets. But just what makes a stay at Hôtel Le Vendôme so memorable? Yes, luxury leaves a lasting impression,

but in addition to the giant white bathrobes, the delectable cuisine and the hotel’s elegant atmosphere, one remembers a stay at Hôtel Le Vendôme as if time was spent in the company of good friends. This is certainly the case, if owner Maurice Danon has anything to do with it. Often seen interacting with guests in the lobby, the corridors, or while they have breakfast, Hôtel Le Vendôme is infused with Danon’s charisma. “Our aim is that when people walk in, they leave the world behind,” he says. And perhaps it is this small touch of magic that keeps foreign dignitaries, holidaymakers and corporate guests returning year in and year out. For more information, call +27 12 430 1200, email reservations@le-vendome.co.za, or visit www.le-vendome.co.za.

perates xpress o frican E flights d le u d South A e h iently sc line at n e n v o n k o o c o Town. B e p a C to . sax.com www.fly

indwe – AUGUST 2008

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Top Twenty Tips to

Save

Energy Yes, there was bad planning and general incompetence somewhere along the line. No, things are not improving at the rate we would like. But the horrible electricity situation is here for now and it is best we learn to deal with it. Text: Natalie Gillman| Images: © iStockphoto.com

e are all responsible for the resources we use, and we are now learning that those resources we took for granted in the past should be conserved. It isn’t all that difficult. Learning good habits when it comes to energy conservation is easy. Just a few changes will make a huge difference, and save you money in the process. 1. Most of the time you use hot water you dilute it with the cold stuff. Reduce the temperature of your geyser so that you don’t have to use as much cold water in your baths and while washing dishes, and turn it off when you don’t need it. 2. If you’re cooking with a small pot or pan, use the smaller stove plate and save energy. 3. By closing your windows and doors while you have the heater on, you’ll keep the warmth where you want it, not going needlessly outdoors. 4. Close the fridge door to conserve energy. It needn’t stay open for the

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whole time it takes you to make a sandwich. Boil only as much water as you need in the kettle. Apart from the energy saving properties this tactic entails, it’ll also mean your tea/coffee/hot chocolate will be ready more quickly. Keep your geyser as toasty as you would like to be at this time of year. Buy a geyser blanket, or go the shabby chic route and use newspaper, old blankets or whatever else strikes your fancy to keep the old boy warm. There is no need to keep every light in the house burning. When you leave a room, switch off the lights. Easy. Unless you have seven mud-loving children there is probably little need to wash your clothes on the full cycle. Use the quicker cycle and avoid the pre-wash cycle if your clothes aren’t terribly dirty. I used to think that pushing the “off ” button on appliances meant they were off. It turns out that those

Learning good habits when it comes to energy conservation is easy.

Positioned in the most romantic valley on earth, Franschhoek Country House & Villas is an exclusive boutique hotel reminiscent of a village in Provence yet with an elegant Cape sensibility.

Set in gardens of

lemon trees, lavender and vines – with fynbos draping the nearby mountains – the original, charming country maison includes 14 standard and luxury rooms as well as the award-winning Monneaux Restaurant while the 12 Villa suites are havens of privacy & understated opulence.

Swimming pools, a candle-lit

cellar, a treatment room and sun-down verandas are all a traveller needs as you live la vie extraordinaire.

Winter Special valid August to September – pay for 2 nights and we will include a 3rd for free! For more information on this and other specials, visit our website at www.fch.co.za. Tel: +27 (0)21 876 3386 e-mail: info@fch.co.za

Luxury

Build your dream together with Absa Development Company.

Large freehold stands

R520,000

www.cedarcreek.co.za

VDV1330INFLIGHT www.virtualdavinci.co.za (012) 425 5800

little red lights indicate that the TV and DVD player are in standby mode and are using up unnecessary electricity. Turn such appliances off at the wall. 10. It may seem more expensive to buy energy-saving light bulbs, but they last much longer and will save you money in the end. 11. Bribe your kids. If they practise reserving energy or water, buy them a treat. 12. Don’t use your dishwasher to wash just a few dishes. Wait until it is completely full before using it. The same is true of your washing machine: wait until there’s a full load before doing the washing. 13. Think ahead. Defrost your food in the fridge while you’re at work, which will cut down the electricity it takes to defrost in the microwave. But using the microwave to cook the food rather than the stove top is more energy-efficient. 14. Keep your appliances in good working order. Faulty appliances often end up using more energy. Make sure fridge doors close properly, the dishwasher doesn’t leak and your dishwasher and air conditioner’s filters are clean. 15. Don’t overcook your food. It tastes horrible, the nutrients are lost, and it wastes energy. 16. Electric blankets, if used correctly, are one of the best ways to ensure a warm sleeping experience. Heat them before you get into bed, and turn them off once the bed is warm. But remember that nothing beats a snuggly hot water bottle. 17. Water is precious. Fix leaking taps! 18. Take showers rather than baths. If you are the kind of person who loves bathing and can’t bear the thought of giving it up, treat yourself once a week. Use luxurious oils, the softest sponges and sweet-smelling candles (which will save electricity too). 19. When shaving or washing your hands, plug the basin so all the precious water doesn’t, literally, go down the drain. 20. Finally, make the best of the situation. Use times of load shedding to play Monopoly by candlelight with the family, or go for a picnic during the weekend. Use electricity-free times at work to do the filing you’ve been avoiding since early 1999. And bathe with your partner to save water (I bet you haven’t done that since the heady early days of your relationship). Putting these and any other tips to work will mean we can honestly say that we are doing our part to help the energy crisis. And only those people who are part of the solution, rather than the problem are at liberty to moan about the situation. And that’s an extra reward.

Don’t wait, phone today because only R5,000 will secure your dream in a 24hour access controlled estate. For Cedar Creek enquiries, call Des at Absa DevCo on (011) 671 7465. www.absa.co.za/devco

Show Us the

Money

City of Matlosana

A l l t a s k s c urre ntly be ing under taken in th e City of Matlosan a (ol d K l e r k s d o rp) are ge a re d toward econ om ic growth . Th is is in lin e with th e vi s i o n o f mak ing Matlo s a na o n e of th e cou n tr y’s top five mu n icip alitie s by t h e ye a r 2 0 1 6 . W it h t his in m in d , it wou ld seem th at Sip h o Mab u d a , D i re c t o r o f Eco no mic D eve lo pm en t, h as h is wor k cu t ou t for h im .

conomic development for Matlosana means, in Mabuda’s opinion, the alleviation of poverty and unemployment. “We want to ensure we make the greatest impact on our community and have divided all our current and ongoing projects into Big Bang projects and micro-projects,” says Mabuda. The Big Bang projects are those that will make the greatest impact on the community. The N12 Treasure Route has been identified as the spine of economic development within the city and it is hoped that this corridor will facilitate incredible growth in the region. “We have identified a number of huge projects along this highway that will make a significant contribution to the community. We really want to develop a multi-faceted economy to ensure sustainability and get away from relying on one key industry,” explains Mabuda. Mabuda believes that there will be a great surge in the tourism industry with a number of hotels springing up in the area. “We are also looking at demarcating areas for residential purposes where we will build houses. This means that the industries that are along the same corridor will have a readily available labour resource. We are also in the process of planning the upgrade of the airport, which will also be linked to the N12 development.”

To expound upon the virtues of the development corridor, and draw likely investors to the region, Matlosana will be hosting an international investor’s conference on 22nd September. “We hope to attract investors, both local and international, to join hands with the municipality and develop all avenues of industry. We would like to see tourism and big industry take off, and also get these businesses to invest in micro and light industries. This conference will go a long way to make sure that we fulfil our promise and obligation to create a better life for our people.” When looking at small, medium and micro enterprises, Mabuda believes that there is a real need to uplift them. “We realise that large industry is vital to any economy but it is in the small business sector where many people can earn a living and have gainful employment. We must however realise that the majority of the community does not have the know-how to establish businesses, so we have a directorate to assist all those who seek help.” The municipality intends to expand this initiative into the rural areas and, so far, has actually made substantial progress. “People have received farms through the Restitution of Land Rights Act and we are assisting these individuals to make sure that they convert their farms into viable businesses,” says Mabuda.

Mayor Dodovu

Moses Moadira, Municipal Manager

It is all well and good to talk expansion and growth, but without any incentives, there is no way Matlosana will attract any investors. It is to this end that they have drafted a policy that will entice investors to the area. Mabuda adds, “This policy will ensure that we have land available for whoever wishes to set up shop in the area and that there will be sufficient infrastructure available to cater to all their needs.” The municipality prides itself on being virtually crime-free. “We have created an environment that is conducive to doing business and raising a family in a safe environment. We have all witnessed the recent xenophobic violence plaguing the country but here in Matlosana we have nipped it in the bud before it could happen. It is this kind of proactive governance which really sets us apart.” According to Mabuda, people should invest in Matlosana as it is incredibly ambitious. “We have emerged from the old name of Klerksdorp with the new name Matlosana. There are new ideas, new initiatives and we have a whole new positive attitude. We believe that whoever comes to invest in our city will get real value for money. With a municipality that is willing to assist in any way it can, success is certainly here for the taking.”

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Office Offices are funny places. Stereotypes abound, and the air is filled with electronic humming and the clichés and jargon that make office-speak a language all on its own. Creative décor and furnishing can help break the image of the office as a lacklustre and uninspiring place. Text: Natalie Gillman | Images: © iStockphoto.com

he Monday office scene looks something like this: weekend sports results and the romantic goings on in the office are being discussed in the smoking room or around the water cooler. Adam is trying to work out how to land that big account, and Abigail is trying to work out how to land Adam. Nthato and Clifford are asleep at the desk – the weekend having only just caught up with them – and, odds are, all this takes place against a dreary and lifeless backdrop. Most people try to add a little colour to the small office that is their home away from home for eight hours a day.

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Jude from Human Resources has pictures of her hubby and kids. Ambitious Thembi has festooned her walls with magazine cut-outs of Oprah and Donald Trump, as well as a host of not terribly creative slogans from motivational books. Carol, terminally entangled in an endless cyberspace of gigabytes and megabytes, has “Computer geeks do IT with gadgets” as a screensaver and a USB stick shaped like R2-D2 (interested Star Wars fans should have a look at www.mimoco.com). And then there’s Gladys, with her collection of saccharine email “forwards” of kittens frolicking and puppies hugging.

Décor affects work output. So smar t bosses are tr ying not to bore the brains out of their employees or keep them sitting in a state of discomfor t, hunched over their PCs, developing carpal tunnel syndrome and a bad back.

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i n f o @ r a l p h e n s e n g r. n e t â&#x20AC;˘ w w w . r a l p h e n s e n g r. n e t

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With such clear visual evidence that people try their best to improve the look of the place where they work, it is a wonder that more companies do not invest more resources in making the oﬃce a nicer place to be. Given the number of hours people spend at work, it seems the proper thing to do. Beige walls, tacky oﬃce “art,” and a scraggly palm gathering dust in the corner are hardly likely to stimulate a person’s creativity or engender a desire to do the best job he or she can.

Décor affects work output. So smart bosses are trying not to bore the brains out of their employees or keep them sitting in a state of discomfort, hunched over their PCs, developing carpal tunnel syndrome and a bad back. There is no longer any excuse for such cruelty. Companies such as Waltons, Office Furniture Direct, and Enviro Office Furniture sell comfortable and handsome ranges of office furniture that give the dreary office a welcome injection of personality. A more upmarket class of

Happy Birthday

corporate art and design is also available from the likes of Balthi du Plessis & Associates or FusionDesign. Ergonomics – the study of how people and objects interface – has led to equipment that, more than ever before, is safer and more comfortable to use. The effect of ergonomic design is evident in everything from the chair we sit on to the computer mouse we employ (check out the really smart ones from the likes of Logitech and Microsoft). Lexmark, Konica Minolta and HP have helped increase the productivity ratios of many organisations, and multifunction equipment means that printing, scanning and copying can be done on one machine. One of the developments in computers that had a huge effect on the way we live and work is the advent of laptops and electronic notebooks. These devices mean that we can work any time, from anywhere. For most businesses, however, the great majority of work needs to take place at the office, and better surroundings may just make it possible for employees to get more work done. For clearer corporate impact, suffice to say that transforming the workspace can impact performance. In terms of office furniture, “functionality” is the buzzword. Best practice would be to utilise value-added products to maximise employee output. Proactive and dynamic out-of-the-box thinking and strategic planning around office layout, furniture, and décor can and will improve the company’s big match temperament and overall brand identity, and will have a knock-on effect vis-à-vis the big picture: improving the bottom line. At the end of the day, an aesthetically pleasing office will act as an incentive towards better workforce cohesion and an increase in morale. The implementation of bad design will, however, lead to suboptimal performance. Set the benchmark: going forward, ergonomics and design should be the order of the day.

Madiba

City of Matlosana salutes you on your 90TH BIRTHDAY we wish you health, peace and joy. The City of People on the Move From

AdValue 018 468 7535

ONE TEAM ONE VISION Tel: +27 (0)18 487 9600 • Fax: +27 (0)18 462 2365 www.klerksdorp.org • e-mail: marketing@klerksdorp.org

pump brand ideas 1282

Talking business can be a pleasure.

Announcing our new, improved conference and exhibition facilities. We've been working hard to make Champagne Sports Resort the perfect place to work and play. We now boast a total of eight conference venues including the new state-of-the-art Summit Exhibition Centre and the new 1000 seater Sentinel Room. Following recent hotel developments we can now accommodate up to 700 delegates at the foot of the majestic Drakensberg mountains. Our top 20 ranked golf course is rapidly growing in stature and was recently rated as South Africa's most beautiful golf course. So whether you are wearing a golf cap or your thinking cap there is no better place to find inspiration!

Telephone 036 468 8000 Facsimile 036 468 1072 Head office 031 765 7100 or 031 765 5195 Email conferences@champagnesportsresort.com Head office email macquetbros@mweb.co.za www.champagnesportsresort.com

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Experience

Ultimate Luxury, Adventure and History at Thula Thula It was a chance meeting between a Parisian model and a passionate South African conservationist. They met in a London taxi queue and the rest, as they say, is history, or in this case, the magnificent Thula Thula Private Game Reserve, where Lawrence and Françoise Anthony have created a sanctuary for wildlife and guests alike. Text: Big Picture Marketing | Images: © Thula Thula Private Game Reserve

et in KwaZulu-Natal and steeped in history, Thula Thula is the Zulu word for “peace and tranquility.” This ﬁve-star private game reserve is the oldest in the area and is situated on a majestic landscape that was once the hunting grounds of the mighty Zulu Warrior, King Shaka. The Nseleni River at Thula Thula was the setting for the ﬁrst meeting between Shaka and his father, Senzangakhona, which set the stage for the creation of the Zulu Nation.

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Two hours northeast of Durban in a malaria-free area, the reserve abounds with wildlife, including a breeding herd of elephant that were reintroduced to the area in 1999, and were the ﬁrst elephants to roam this land in over a century. It is to these elephants that the Elephant Safari Lodge owes its name. Oﬀering an exclusive bush getaway experience, the lodge’s tastefully appointed rooms are decorated in Afro-Colonial style, in keeping with the

This five-star private game reserve is the oldest in the area and is situated on a majestic landscape that was once the hunting grounds of the mighty Zulu Warrior, King Shaka.

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reserve’s natural heritage. The Suite Royale and the Suite Imperiale are exquisite in detail and design, providing the perfect ambience for honeymooners and other special occasions. Thula Thula’s tented camps provide a breathtaking setting for a relaxed family breakaway. In true African safari camp style, the luxury tented camp is decorated in such a way that it brings the warmth and ambience of the bushveld indoors. Victorian en suite bathrooms allow you to gaze across the vista while soaking in the comfort of your bathtub. Retire to your private viewing deck from where you can observe the marvels of nature in all its splendour, or relax in a tree-suspended hammock over the swimming pool deck. Owners Lawrence and Françoise are every bit as passionate about game and wildlife as they are about life itself. Lawrence Anthony is world-famous for his daring and remarkable rescue of the zoo animals in war-stricken Baghdad in 2003. His recall of this adventure is scripted in his recently launched book Babylon’s Ark and a major Hollywood production studio has bought the rights to create a motion picture titled Good Luck Mr Anthony, which will portray his heroic tale.

South Africa’s very own latter-day Lawrence of Arabia, Lawrence was presented with the Earth Day Medal and the Earth Day Award by the United Nations in 2007 for his heroic exploits in rescuing the animals at Baghdad Zoo, amidst the Iraqi conflict. A passionate conservationist, Lawrence has previously made the headlines with his unique ability to tame a herd of seven elephants from Mpumalanga, earning himself the reputation of “the elephant whisperer.” Today, his unique relationship with Nana – matriarch to a band of reformed elephant delinquents – and her herd remains one of the drawcards that compels tourists and locals to visit Thula Thula. Lawrence’s newest book, The Herd, explores this extraordinary relationship and is due to be published later this year. Thula Thula is one the most renowned gourmet destinations in KwaZulu-Natal and French born Françoise Anthony will certainly entertain you with her gastronomic fusion of exotic FrancoAfrican flavours, created with passion and flair. Choose from a selection of seafood, venison or vegetarian dishes, which include seafood bouillabaise creole, oxtail bourguignon with garlic

crushed potato, three cheese and pesto feuillete on tomato compote, venison terrine with marula jelly, fillet of impala served on sweet potato cake with red wine and bacon sauce – all guaranteed to delight and satisfy even the most discerning gourmet. An easy two hours drive from Durban and approximately five hours from Johannesburg, Thula Thula is the ultimate destination at which guests can experience a true taste of Africa. Thula Thula Private Game Reserve is offering some great winter special packages for the months of August and September. For more information, contact Thula Thula Private Game Reserve on + 27 35 792 8322 or visit www.thulathula.com.

perates xpress o frican E fl ig h ts d le u d South A e h ie n tl y sc k o n li n e a t co nve n oo rb a n . B to D u x .c o m . sa ly .f w ww

indwe – AUGUST 2008

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Headed for

Greatness Chef Diane Kay Chef Diane Kay is headed for greatness, there’s no doubt about that. She has worked in some of South Africa’s swankiest hotels, and was a member of the 2004 Culinary Olympics team. Her most recent and greatest achievement, however, was being selected to represent South Africa at the ultimate individual culinary challenge: Bocuse d’Or, which takes place in France in early 2009. Text: Toni Ackermann | Images: © SACA

iane Kay grew up surrounded by food, and believes she learnt a lot of what she knows from her mother, an excellent cook who exposed her to the culinary arts from an early age. Not all too certain what direction to head in after matriculating, it was Diane’s mother who suggested she join the newly opened Prue Leith College of Food and Wine. “People always need to eat,” she said. Eighteen months later Diane found herself thoroughly enjoying what she was doing, and soon found employment as a trainee in the vast and imposing kitchens of Johannesburg’s Westcliﬀ hotel. Diane says she has always been selective about where she has worked,

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though she considers herself lucky to have cooked alongside some outstanding head chefs. Her places of employment include the Merrion Hotel, Avianto, Gham gourmet, the Michelangelo Hotel, Western Cape Hotel and Spa, and Macdonald Frimley Hall Hotel and Spa, her current place of work just outside of London, England. When asked what she most enjoys about her line of work, Diane responds, “I love trying new ideas, working with fresh produce and the stress of service – everyone else is emotional, but for me it’s just great fun.” She says the creative aspect of the job, and the currently emerging trends and concepts, are some

Diane says she has always been selective about where she has worked, though she considers herself lucky to have cooked alongside some outstanding head chefs.

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of the highlights of what she does. I ask what goes through her mind while she is in the kitchen preparing food. “Everything,” is her fervent reply. “I am always making plans – usually to do with where I am going for my next holiday, as I love to travel.” And travel she most certainly will, as she is set to compete in Bocuse d’Or 2009, which will be held in January next year, in Lyon, France. Diane is the first female South African entrant in the history of this country’s participation in the contest. She trained tirelessly for three months to prepare for the Bocuse d’Or trials, which took place in January this year, and saw her pitted against three other national entrants. Diane’s winning entry was distinguished by the Cape Malay flavours with which she enhanced the food, as the competition required the adding of South African influence to the menu entries. She made a tomato tart, wrapped her fish in cucumber lettuce, and finished it all off with a tomato essence with raita. Diane will soon start many months of gruelling training under Chef Garth Shnier, who will be her South African mentor in the months coming up to the competition. Currently, this intense preparation is Diane’s greatest challenge, “I have my concepts for the meat and fish platters,” she says, “Now it’s just a case of practise, practise, practise.” Although she doesn’t have a particular philosophy when it comes to cooking, Chef Diane firmly believes that if the time ever comes when you think you’ve learnt all there is to know, then you may as well hang up your apron and change careers, because the industry is constantly changing and new ideas are frequent, and worth taking up.

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A Side-serving of I ask her to tell me a little about the diﬀerence between Diane and Diane the Chef. She considers before answering, “I am quiet, a bit shy in the beginning, but still outgoing. I enjoy going out, I love dancing, and being around my friends. When I am Chef Diane, I am quite strict and rather a perfectionist, which has its ups, but also its downs, though I would never want to change that about the way we work in a ﬁne-dining establishment.” Diane continues, “What I love most about cooking is that it can take you all over the world, and through that you meet the most incredible people. The food that you expose yourself to is also spectacular, which just increases your knowledge even further. Sure, being a chef has its challenges, but you have to be a special sort of person to do this, and have a definite passion for the work you do. Then, your job will never be boring.”

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Chef Diane What is the one ingredient you simply cannot be without? Salt – because without it food is just dull and flavourless. What ingredient do you most respect and why? I have a weakness for scallops and mussels. What was the first dish you ever made? Macaroni and cheese, which is still one of my favourite dishes today – it’s my comfort food. What food is your greatest indulgence? I love fine dining food – yes, the kind that is covered in butter and smothered in cream.

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AVG in South Africa AVG is now distributed and supported locally in South Africa. AVG South Africa (www.avgsa.co.za) has made it easy to purchase their products online and they also have an option to pay off-line using standard electronic fund transfer (EFT) methods. AVG is well known amongst South Africans for its AVG FREE Edition, which AVG makes available to home users. AVG FREE is the most popular application on CNET’s Download.com where it was downloaded more than ¿ve million times during the last week of May 2008. consistently high BelleThe Donne number of downloads reinforces the product’s continuing and growing appeal to users. AVG has a full range of business protection products to cater for the demands of businesses and corporates, with security solutions for workstations, ¿le servers and email servers. The powerful AVG Central Administration tool makes deployment, management and distribution of virus updates across networks seamless and easy. The award winning software is steadily gaining market share with over 70 million current users worldwide. South Africa already has a large install base across small and large businesses alike.

Leading Alternative AVG is the leading alternative to the traditional anti-virus and Internet security software competing solutions. More than half of computer resellers surveyed in the USA, preferred to offer alternative solutions such as AVG to their customers because of its better performance. “AVG offers businesses low performance impact, whether it be for older, legacy PCs or for the latest PCs running memory-intensive software such as Windows Vista. Performance and low system impact were among the top reasons for choosing AVG.” All the AVG products are available in an unrestricted 30 day trial version that can be downloaded from their website. After the trial period, the product can be activated with a license key without the need to re-install or re-con¿gure the software.

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Mazda Magic for the Masses

Traditionally, the Mazda brand is associated with reliability and value for money. The all new Mazda6 now adds excitement and sports car-like performance to the mix, bringing the brand front and centre of the South African saloon stage. Text: Bernard K Hellberg | Image: © Mazda South Africa

oming hot on the wheels of the award-winning Mazda2, the new Mazda6 builds on the foundation set out by its predecessor to create an even more dynamic, sporty car with enhanced refinement and quality. Further enhancing Mazda6’s exclusive experience is a new top-of-the-line engine, the MZR 2.5-litre petrol, to replace the MZR 2.3-litre petrol of the outgoing model. It not only produces more power (125 kW) and more torque (226 Nm) than the 2.3-litre, but also uses 6.9% less fuel at 100 km/h. The 2-litre engine has been significantly modified, producing 109 kW and 184 Nm, while using 10.3% less fuel than the previous model. Buyers may choose between two types of transmission. This includes a beautifully light yet firm 6-speed manual gearbox and a 5-speed Activematic with manual shift mode. The steering wheel is fitted with paddle shift gear controls on all Dynamic Activematic models. The new Mazda6 inherits the same athletic look, albeit more aggressively

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styled than the previous model, and is both wider and taller with a longer wheelbase. On the inside, the new Mazda6 is even roomier and more inviting than before. It has higher levels of quality with interior forms that are appealing to look at and use. It has a ﬂoating-look instrument panel that gives a sense of roominess.

The new Mazda6 inherits the same athletic look, albeit more aggressively styled than the previous model... Comfort is improved too, with new seat frames for good long-trip and side support and a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system with separate temperature controls for the driver and the passenger. New features such as Bi-xenon headlamps, Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS) – available on all Dynamic

and Individual models – a Smart Start System, which includes keyless entry with a push-start button, and a premium BOSE audio system make the journey enjoyable in the Dynamic and Individual models. Active and passive safety systems round up the new Mazda6’s outstanding package of attributes. It has larger diameter ventilated front disc brakes and 280-mm rear brake discs, backed up by ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) on all models. The top of the range Individual model adds Traction Control (TCS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) as standard. The Mazda6 boasts 15,000-km service intervals, an impressive 4-year/120,000 km fully comprehensive manufacturer warranty, as well as the Mazda Motion 5-year/90,000 km service plan. A 3-year roadside assistance plan is standard. Expect to pay between R219,990 for the 2-litre Original and R278,990 for the thumping, top-of-the-range 2.5-litre Individual.

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How

Brand South Africa Can Score In

2 10 As the 2010 FIFA World Cup approaches, South Africa would do well to learn from the lessons of Germany in 2006. Text: Michael Vlismas | Images: © iStockphoto.com

“I

only want to hear one click.” That was always the perception of Germany. Zero defect, zero personality. Then for 30 days in 2006, their young girls started wearing German-ﬂag bikinis, and for the ﬁrst time since World War II, the Germans had fun. “The Germans are positive. The Germans are friendly. How can this be?” was how the popular German magazine Der Spiegel described the amazing transformation the country made during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In fact,

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if Germany was an infomercial, it would declare: How to go from humourless to carefree in 30 days. This transformation astounded everybody, including Dr Nikolaus Eberl, a brand historian who specialises in nation building. “I just had to lock myself away and analyse how Germany managed to transform their brand image so dramatically,” he said in an interview on Carte Blanche. The result was his highly successful

And as South Africa prepares to host its World Cup in 2010, BrandOvation has become a mustread for the officials of the Boerewors Nation.

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book BrandOvation: How Germany won the World Cup of Nation Branding. And as South Africa prepares to host its World Cup in 2010, BrandOvation has become a must-read for the officials of the Boerewors Nation. Even President Thabo Mbeki has referred to it in his online Letter from the President. “It (the 2006 FIFA World Cup) transformed the archetype of the ruler into the new image of the lover,” Eberl said of the German tournament that had perhaps a more profound effect on a nation than any before it. And the true beauty of the transformation that took place is that Germany was hardly in a healthy state prior to the World Cup, which again gives South Africans hope. According to Eberl, two years before the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Germany was suffering from a population existing under a cloud of despondency, with jobs being lost and consumers not buying anything. There was also a sceptical and highly critical media, the global perception of

Germans being a serious and humourless people, and let’s not mention the War. “Germany used the World Cup as an opportunity to apply a change management programme for the entire nation. They realised if you want to change your image, you have to change your behaviour. And to change your behaviour, you have to start with your people,” said Eberl. “In the ﬁve months leading up to the World Cup, the German Tourism Board trained 100,000 touchpoint providers – all the way from airport handlers to taxi drivers to hotel staﬀ and waiters – on how to adopt a friendly attitude.” In a country such as South Africa hoping for a tourist boom and drop in unemployment from the 2010 World Cup, the results from Germany 2006 are heartening. After the World Cup, Germany’s tourist bookings increased by a third and unemployment was reduced by 20%, leading to such strong declarations from the rest of the world that “Germany has

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reinvented itself.” Innovation was also a key to the success of the 2006 World Cup. Germany set up 12 Fan Festivals around the country, where those without tickets could still enjoy the matches. Twenty one million people took advantage of this. “The introduction of Fan Festivals was necessitated by simple arithmetic,” said Eberl. “Out of 2.9 million tickets, less than 24% had been allocated to German fans. In other words, less than 700,000.” “Contrast this with 45 million Germans known for having an interest in watching the World Cup, and you quickly understand that the German Local Organising Committee was hard-pressed to reinvent the viewing experience of the 2006 World Cup.” German soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer was one of those who praised the Fan Festivals. “Watching the fans celebrate jointly ... this is how the dear Lord wanted the world to be,” he said. As Eberl explained, “The implications for South Africa 2010 are clear: it is no longer enough to entertain visitors

with soccer alone. The Fan Festival phenomenon is calling for branding the soccer experience uniquely through other dimensions of entertainment, such as music, arts and culture and the natural beauty of the South African landscape ... these provide for unique touchpoints that have the potential for turning visiting fans into raving supporters of Brand South Africa.” But perhaps the biggest asset South Africa will have in its quest to make 2010 a success is attitude. As the article in Der Spiegel pointed out, “Germany was always full of friendly and optimistic people – it’s just that they were often drowned out by all the complainers and pessimists. The World Cup hasn’t changed the foundations of the country, but it has changed the balance within it.” And as Eberl himself points out, “For 2010, a national friendliness campaign is required that will unlock the massive people potential South Africans are known for.” Let the branding begin.

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Victoria

Falls Safe and sound at the Victoria Falls – Africa’s greatest destination. Text & Images: © Roy Watts

imbabwe is in a state of chaos and reputed anarchy, with several countries issuing travel alerts. Why then would anyone visit the Victoria Falls? The answer is simple – it is still one of the greatest destinations in the world, and moreover, it is perfectly safe. Universally considered to be one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Falls is the Golden Goose supplying most of this benighted nation’s foreign exchange, and as such is a trouble-free tourist canton completely divorced from the realities associated with Zimbabwe. Before setting off at the behest of the GoToVictoriaFalls.com campaign, I was given this assurance, but my arrival on a flight from Johannesburg was still tinged with a little apprehension following bad press after the election debacle. My trepidation was soon dispelled by the welcoming attitude of the immigration officials, which was quite contrary to my expectations. A ride into town with affable Messias Maoneni who runs “Victoria Falls Anytime,” a slick shuttle service using modern air-conditioned vehicles, set the tone for a visit characterised by friendliness and harmony – the consequence of a community completely divorced from the civil unrest plaguing the hinterland (messias@mweb.co.zw). Although I have seen the Victoria Falls several times before, I am nevertheless always overawed by the sight of five million litres of water powering over the craggy basalt chasm every second.

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Stretching 1.7 kilometres in length and plunging 100 metres into the gorge below, the consequent curtain of spray rises over 400 metres. Visibility stretching some 50 kilometres fully justifies its ageold reputation as Mosi-oa-Tunya (“The Smoke that Thunders”). Unlike the Niagara Falls, which has succumbed to crass commercialism, visitors to the Victoria Falls enjoy a pristine eco-experience little changed from the day it was discovered by David Livingstone in 1855. Just seeing this spectacular phenomenon is reason enough for a visit, but over the years the opportunities presented by millions of tourists have led to an infrastructure of superlative hotels, and activities to satisfy everyone from adrenaline junkies to serene-agers drifting down the river. Perhaps the most time honoured of these, is the iconic Zambezi Sunset Cruise. As the flaming fireball set behind a pyrotechnic sunset, our boatload enjoyed drinks and snacks in an idyllic atmosphere. Beneath the serenity of this great sweep of water, crocodiles lurk with malice aforethought, hippos loiter without intent, and an ongoing wilderness procession patrols the banks. To witness this, we were hosted by the Shearwater Tour Group, the oldest and one of the most popular ecoadventure operators in Southern Africa. Their range of activities is impressive and includes helicopter flights over the Falls, interactive elephant safaris, jet boating, day and night game drives, walking with

Although I have seen the Victoria Falls several times before, I am never theless always overawed by the sight of five million litres of water powering over the craggy basalt chasm ever y second.

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lions, riverboarding, bungee jumping, zip lines, a canyon swing, canoeing and the celebrated Zambezi white-water rafting expeditions. The charming Shearwater ground handling crew runs a pre-arranged airport arrival to departure schedule operating with Swiss watch efficiency (www.shearwatervictoriafalls.com). Perhaps the biggest surprise is the wonderful range of hotels on offer, each offering a unique atmosphere. Some 12 kilometres from the town is the Victoria

Falls Safari Lodge, a majestic celebration of timber and thatch designed to resemble a giant tree house. Built on a promontory, the open-sided restaurant and bar commands a spectacular view of a National Park with a nearby watering hole as the focal point. Spectacular sunsets and an ongoing wildlife parade are the major features of this excellent hostelry. Right next door is the Boma Restaurant oﬀering a truly diverse culinary adventure. Designed along authentic

African lines, guests are entertained by hyperactive dancers spurred on by the frenetic throb of tribal drums. This is also the place to sample crocodile, warthog, and mopani worms along with a Bacchanalian Buﬀet of extraordinary diversity (www.vfsl.com). Down the road from the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is the recently rebuilt and refurbished Elephant Hills Resort. This imposing complex would be the sportsman’s choice with its 18-hole

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championship golf course, tennis and squash courts, bowling greens, and sprawling swimming pools that meander around the front of the property. It is also a well-equipped and very popular conference centre. Occupying the premier site in the town, is the “Grand Old Lady of Africa,” The Victoria Falls Hotel, which enjoys a commanding view of the nearby bridge and gorge. Built in 1904, it exudes all the charm and grace of its colonial history, and has an atmosphere that would be impossible to replicate. It is also one of the most famous hotels in the world, having played host to a long succession of kings, queens and the world’s most prominent celebrities (www.victoriafallshotel.com). A short distance away is The Kingdom – the brash “new kid on the block,” which is a post-modern version of the Zimbabwe Ruins. If you liked Disneyland and the Lost City in the Pilanesberg, you will love this place, which is built around a dominant archaeological theme. It also has a string of exclusive retail outlets and a casino. Detailed information on The Kingdom and the Elephant Hills resort can be summonsed at www.africansunhotels.co.za. Also in town and within easy range is the Ilala boutique hotel with an atmosphere evoking an era of early adventure and discovery. This is where Frederick Courtney Selous, the historically famous hunter and adventurer might have stayed. It is the closest accommodation to the Falls, and

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dining alfresco under an African night sky in the impressive Palms Restaurant, one hears the roar of the water in the background. These are just a few of the dozens of really impressive accommodation options available in a wide range of tariﬀ categories ranging from super deluxe to backpacker budget (www.ilalalodge.co.zw). For my adrenaline rush I was in the hands of the Wild Horizons adventure group, who run a “High Wire” series of escapades across the Batoka Gorge in sight of the railway bridge. Most thrilling was a zipline (fooﬁe slide) sprint across the ravine above the most spectacular vista. Stepping into space and enjoying a 70-metre freefall in the gorge swing was also an exhilarating experience, as was the “Flying Fox” caper, where one crosses the 200-metre chasm on a silvery thread. Wild Horizons also run whitewater rafting, canoeing expeditions and elephant back safaris. The latter is a wonderful opportunity for jumbo lovers to get up close and personal with

these amiable creatures. And the recent arrival of a baby elephant will strike a chord with the maternal instincts of all the womenfolk on these high-backed ambles through the African bush (www.wildhorizons.co.zw). Eco-tourists are really spoilt for choice, and the most stimulating option for me was strolling behind a couple of sub-adult lions on the walks run by African Encounters. These animals have been trained since cubhood to ramble naturally through the bush followed by expert handlers who guide tourist groups through the unforgettable experience. Once the lions reach 18 months of age, they undergo a series of programmes that prepare them for a return to the wild, thus ensuring species continuity in the face of declining numbers. The Victoria Falls really is a place for all seasons, and is a great escape from winter. And if there is another place in Africa that oﬀers as much along with the same glorious weather – I’d certainly want to know about it.

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R270

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FOR FASTER ENTRY USING CREDIT CARD: From within South Africa, orders may be FAXED FREE to: 0800 980 648 or call TOLL-FREE: 0800 980 657 (Mon–Fri 5pm–6am; Saturday 5pm–1am, SAST). From outside of South Africa, fax to: INT’L + 1 604 675-2708 or telephone: INT’L + 1 604 675-2704.

The Jupiter Drawing Room 31139/E

Parliament Buildings 1910

Union Buildings 1913

Fort Hare University 1916

Loftus Versfeld 1923

Unisa 1946

Hillbrow Tower 1970

Van Staden’s Bridge 1971

Carlton Centre 1973

Koeberg Power Station 1984

Chapman’s Peak 2003

Berg River 2006

And that’s just the beginning…

BAINS GAME LODGE Bloemfontein - Free State Bains Ga Game Lodge is a top class supplier of co ferenc conferencing, banqueting and accommodation fac ities. Located just a few kilometres from the facilities. univers university and the Mimosa Mall, it is the ideal location to relax and rejuvenate yourself. B Boasting 54 brand new hotel rooms and 8 Exe Executive self-catering chalets. Two A la Carte re restaurants and the recently opened Firkin Fun pub on the premises cater for your culinary and entertainment needs. We are currently upgrading to become the biggest and the best establishment in Bloemfontein focusing on conferences and banqueting by providing venues for up to 800 persons and more than 200 accommodation rooms. We are developing our property to become the biggest tourism village in the Free State.

Luxury Accommodation in self & non-self catering chalets Conference facilities Function rooms for Weddings & Year end functions Tel: 051 451 1761

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Swakopmund Coast Region

A Sandstorm of Desert Adventures Situated on the southwestern coast of Namibia are a contrasting multitude of quaint towns, desolate beaches, a bleak history and character, and nature reserves to revive flagging spirits and excite the imagination. Text: Shannon Manders | Images: © iStockphoto.com & Namibia Tourism Board

ocated within this area are the two towns of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, both of which are popular holiday destinations, each with a wealth of activities to oﬀer the adventurous traveller.

Swakopmund Swakopmund is Namibia’s second biggest town. The boom of the surf on the notorious Skeleton Coast is an everpresent reminder of the icy Atlantic Ocean beyond, and once you have recovered from the shock of being in a little corner of old Bavaria wedged between one of the world’s harshest deserts and even harsher coastlines, you will be captivated by the enchanting wilderness. The area of Namib Desert around Swakopmund is named the West Coast Recreational Area. And recreation is the town's number one draw card.

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Just outside Swakopmund, an area of towering dunes has been set aside for recreational purposes – sand boarding and skiing, quad biking, camel rides and off-road driving, to name but a few. Swakopmund also offers a host of other attractions, including excursions by boat to see dolphins and seals, shorebased angling (some of the best in Africa), skin diving, surfing or just simply lazing on the beach. And, of course, the town is surrounded by the Namib Naukluft Park, one of the most bewitching desert wilderness areas in Africa for one-day trips or longer safaris for the ultimate desert camping experience.

Walvis Bay Walvis Bay (the country’s largest port), with its uniquely desolate coastline, has high coastal desert sand dunes that stretch inland. Set between the golden

Walvis Bay (the country’s largest port), with its uniquely desolate coastline, has high coastal desert sand dunes that stretch inland.

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EXPERIENCE THE RMS ST HELENA ail on this unique 128 capacity passenger-cargo liner the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) St Helena. Journey between Cape Town and Walvis Bay and enjoy a cruise reminiscent of a bygone era.

You can take your vehicle, drive back or do the journey in reverse. Alternatively you may choose to simply return by air. Cape Town to St Helena is another option and is situated 1800km north west of Walvis Bay. Steeped in history with breathtaking scenery, discover this real treasure! Depart from either Cape Town or Walvis Bay sailing via Ascension Island. Ta

ilor m For further packag ade es a information or to availab lso le make your booking, please call Andrew Weir Shipping on

(021) 425-1165 or email sthelenaline@mweb.co.za or visit www.rms-st-helena.com

www.rms-st-helena.com | email: sthelenaline@mweb.co.za

Quad Biking

dunes of the Namib Desert and the cold currents of the Atlantic ocean, this city is the proverbial oasis of opportunities. Walvis Bay is blessed with wide open spaces, scenic beauty and unique marine and plant life. With its sun-soaked recreational activities and breathtaking vistas, this area oﬀers an endless variety of sporting adventures. Walvis Bay is well suited to the outdoor lifestyle, boasting sports such as sand boarding, kiting, surﬁng, swimming, angling, sailing, golf and other in and outdoor pursuits. No visit to Walvis Bay or Swakopmund is complete without experiencing the desert and the sea to their maximum potential with the following activities:

Desert Quad Biking There is no better way to explore the magniﬁcent sand dunes than on this desert thrill. Quad bike operators are intent on conserving this desert environment and make use of designated routes through the dunes. Desert Explorers Quad Bike Tours oﬀer exhilarating excursions, and are located at the Swakop River Bridge en route to Walvis Bay.

Lagoon Kayaking A magical experience is oﬀered with these popular single or double kayak trips. The spectacular bird life of the lagoon will fascinate both nature lovers and photographers alike.

Dune Paragliding Qualified instructors offer introductory courses on the dunes, preparing participants for the world of flight. Paragliding equipment is available for hire, but the experience is subject to weather conditions.

Dune Sand Boarding Varied dune rides are available, which you may chose to try standing up or lying down. While no experience is needed for lie-down boarding, stand-up boarding is similar to snow boarding and maintaining balance is rather challenging. Speeds of up to 80 km per hour can be reached.

Kuiseb Delta Adventures These adventures oﬀer tourists an opportunity to explore the oldest desert in the world in a unique and exhilarating way. The tours promise to be ﬁlled with interesting sights and facts, allowing

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Abandoned old shipwreck on the Skeleton Coast

visitors the ability to enjoy the thrill of being in a desert dune region. 4x4 and quad bike rides are available.

boat ﬁshing is also done using modern ski boats and equipment. Professional guides are also qualiﬁed skippers.

Beach or Ski Boat Angling

Namib Desert Tours

Full-day angling adventures by ski boat or from the beach are available to test visitors’ skills. Beach angling covers the area from Sandwich Harbour south of Walvis Bay northward up to Terrace Bay in the Skeleton Coast Park. These trips are hosted by professional angling guides in 4x4 vehicles, with a maximum of four to ﬁve people per car to ensure personal attention and maximum catches. Ski

Scheduled tours with qualified tour guides will make a visit to the Namib Desert an unforgettable experience. One such company – Namib Enviro Tours – offers visitors guided off-road self-drive tours in the Central Namib, departing twice a week and lasting either three or five days. All you need is an off-road vehicle and an adventurous spirit.

Parasailing This provides another opportunity for the energetic and young at heart to experience the Namib. Speed records are predicted in the strong afternoon southwesters.

Scenic ﬂights Chartered ﬂights cover Namibia's most scenic destinations. Operators make use of single and twin-engined planes, as well as helicopters. Professional tour companies and pilots are ready to assist all those interested.

Come sail with us on our 45’ Royal Cape Catamaran Silverwind and EXPERIENCE THE BAY - IN LUXURY

Cell: 0811295393 We depart daily from the Walvis Bay Yacht Club and take you on an unforgettable adventure journey in the Bay - searching for the marine’s Big 5 Experience Dolphins swimming alongside the Catamaran, seals being fed aboard, Sunﬁsh sharing secrets of the depths and shy Leatherback Turtles surfacing. In season we also have Humpback Whales, Southern Right Whales and the Orcas breaching about. Tel: 09 264 64 200 798 Fax: 09 264 64 200 598 E-mail: seawolf@iway.na Web: www.namibiancharters.com

Walvis Bay whale watching

Horse Riding Walvis Bay has a reputable equestrian club, and horses are readily available on request.

Catamaran Charters

Bakery, Café & Restaurant P.O. Box 434, Walvis Bay, Namibia Tel: +264 64 202 744 Fax: +264 64 206 908 E-mail: seawolf@iway.na Web: www.namibiancharters.com

Departing daily from the Walvis Bay Yacht Club, these charters take passengers on an unforgettable journey in the Bay, searching for the marine world’s “Big Five” – dolphins, seals, sunfish, leatherback turtles and whales. There is also much to do for those visitors who are intent on a more laidback stay in the area. Die Muschel Book & Art in Swakopmund offers an exceptional selection of local and international fine art, and also stocks an updated range of Namibian, German and English books. Voted as one of the top ten companies in the area in terms of service excellence, Die Muschel offers pleasant surroundings and soft background music while visitors leisurely browse through their selections. Additionally, one may visit Karakulia Weavers, who invite visitors to tour their creative workshop where they may enjoy

watching the carding, spinning, dyeing and weaving of pure karakul wool into rugs and wall hangings. Regardless of what they decide to do there and where, visitors from all over the world ﬂock to Namibia to experience the timelessness and beauty of the Namib, its silence contrasting with the turbulence of the Atlantic Ocean. And, while the cool Namibian coast oﬀers relief from the intense heat of the interior, the bewitching desert and all its exciting adventures beckon.

perates xpress o ts to frican E igh ﬂ d le South A u ed ntly sch ie y. Book n a e B v n is co lv and Wa k e o . h d m Win ysax.co t www.ﬂ online a

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House

Love of

For both hyper-excited bridezillas and reluctant neophytes, a good place to start where wedding planning is concerned, is the venue. Text: Natalie Gillman | Images: © iStockphoto.com

een (some might say “obsessive”) brides may well have a file of pages torn from bridal magazines. Illicit glances stolen at opportune times when others aren’t around are coupled with fleeting glimpses through bridal shop windows, or, for the more intrepid wannabe bride, full-on visits to try on dresses, false names clandestinely adopted. Some of these brides may even have been secretly scouting for a venue at conferences and evenings out and have compiled a mental rolodex of possible places to get married. Their eagerness, however, as the big day looms, will begin to pay off. The less fervent bride, happily going about her single days with few thoughts of

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anything related to the matrimonial will, as her wedding day approaches, be in a state of panic and high tension. There is just so much to do. The venue you choose will to a large degree define what your wedding will be like. An awful lot of planning and expense will go into just the few hours that make up the actual wedding reception. All that will remain after the caterers have packed up and the flowers have wilted are the memories of the happy day, confidence in a rosy future and, on the more tactile side, the wedding album. The first thing to take into consideration may be the opportunities the venue offers for good photographs. Lush gardens and photogenic architecture will work for this.

T h e v e nu e yo u c h o o s e w i l l t o a l a rg e d e g re e d e fi n e w h a t yo u r w e d d i n g w i l l be like.

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Most brides want to be photographed outside, but beautiful interiors, whether modern or with a warm antique feel, can make for spectacular photographs, and there’s no chance of your photo session being rained out. Photographs can be taken oﬀsite, but this means your guests have to wait around while you drive to the site and back. Consider taking the photos before the wedding ceremony to keep your guests happy. Next, think about the size of venue you’ll need. The 2,000 person-capacity

ballroom you may have imagined as a little girl will no doubt make a beautiful reception, but it’s going to look a little pathetic if filled with just 100 people. On the flip side, any sense of glamour or luxury you want to portray will be stifled if you pile 300 people into a venue designed for half that many. The venue should fit the necessary number of tables (assuming a reception with a sit-down dinner), and have enough space for a dance floor for the obligatory chicken dance and drunken falling about to Zorba the Greek.

The geographical location must also be key factor in the choice of venue. Obviously, you should consider which spot would be accessible for your guests. Some venues oﬀer lodging onsite or nearby, where friends and family could stay the night. This means not having to worry about drunk driving, and has the beneﬁt of allowing your friends and family to stay at the party till late into the night. The season may partly dictate the venue choice, or vice versa. Spring and summer are the most popular seasons

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for weddings, but a winter wedding shouldn’t be rejected out of hand. They have the beneﬁt of being unusual and memorable. Granted, you’ll have to deny yourself photos taken in a garden, unless you’re very well-wrapped up indeed, but there are plusses. The cold and stormy weather outside will beautifully oﬀset a warm, decadent and romantic inside wedding. Lower lights and warmer hues will keep your invitees happy and content (just think how everyone loves a visit to a toasty pub on a winter’s evening). Consider the tone of the venue, or

choose a blanker canvas like a conference venue to design as you see fit. Elegant and old-world won’t work in an Afrochic venue complete with live elephants outside and animal print fabrics indoors. Ditto, your dream of an African-inspired wedding day won’t come to life in a quaint colonial country hotel or übercool conference venue. Then there’s the price. This crucial factor will have a big effect on the wedding day you end up having. Spend what you can afford without damaging your financial security (it sounds obvious but is a factor

ignored by many couples). Venues which are beautiful already may cost you less than a bare room that will take acres of fabric and a rainforest worth of greenery and ﬂowers to adorn. Also, ask whether the venue does catering. Some will insist you use their caterers, which may increase the cost considerably, while many venues oﬀer combined catering and venue hire that actually amount to less than it would cost to hire a separate caterer. Lastly, trust your gut. It’s your wedding day and, wherever you choose to tie the knot, make sure you love it.

Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris AFRICAN TOURISM WINNER: SOUTH WELCOME AWARDS 2006

Sunrise flights depart from Harrop’s new, traditionally exquisite and beautifully appointed Club House Pavilion and Restaurant. More space, more individual attention, more capacity and more exclusive service.

Where dreams become truly cherished memories.

BEST TOUR Recognising Providers of OPERATOR World Class Visitor Experiences TEL (011) 705-3201 FAX (011) 705-3203 MOBILE 083 379-5296

WEB www.balloon.co.za EMAIL indwe@balloon.co.za BEE Compliant

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New

Subaru Forester Arrives Subaru fans (and that includes most motoring journalists) are giving rave reviews to the latest generation Foresters. Here are the reasons. Text: Bernard K Hellberg | Image: © Quickpic

nyone who has, at any time in the past 15 or so years, been in the market for a capable and practical off-roader that still exudes enough style and charm to satisfy even the most sophisticated sidewalks, would never have had to look any further than a Subaru Forester. For the third generation of this great vehicle, Subaru has taken a new design direction from a clean design sheet that shares little but the chassis philosophy with its predecessor. All key measurements are up and overall height is 1,700 mm, the bumper to bumper measure is now 4,560 mm and the wheelbase has stretched by 90 mm. The Forester measures 1,780 mm door-to-door – a significant 45 mm width increase. Importantly, in a segment where many of the contenders are SUV-like in name only, Forester retains class-leading dual-purpose ability thanks to the unique combination of constant Symmetrical AllWheel Drive and horizontally-opposed Boxer engines. All models have increased ground clearance and are normally aspirated. Manual transmission versions continue to offer a unique advantage thanks to the fitment of a low-range

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transfer case. With three specification levels, two engines and three gearboxes, there are seven models to choose from. The Forester range starts with the Forester 2.5 X 5-speed manual (priced at R269,000), and tops out with the flagship 2.5 XT Premium SportShift, which retails for R387,000. Buyers can choose from the proven normally-aspirated SOHC powerplant, which is now upgraded to 126 kW with 229 Nm of torque, or the acclaimed DOHC turbocharged engine with its 169 kW and 320 Nm of torque. Both powerplants are similar to those used in the previous generation, but have been extensively updated to improve driveability and fuel efficiency. All Foresters now have VDC – Vehicle Dynamics Control. While the system can be switched off via a dashboard button, it retains an element of brake-assisted traction control. New for the 2009 Forester is the addition of Brake Assist (BA) to an upgraded all-disc braking system that already includes anti-lock (ABS) and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD). The new double wishbone rear suspension plays an important part in the Forester’s all-round competence,

contributing to better ride comfort, enhanced insulation from road inputs, increased suspension travel and enhanced interior space. The compact suspension design is key to the Forester’s wide and flat luggage compartment, and with the rear seats folded, a total cargo volume of up to 1,660 litres can be achieved. Low levels of noise, vibration and harshness have been achieved which, along with classy materials and tasteful use of wood or metal-look trim (depending on derivative) add up to a premium ambience, even in the entrylevel model. All versions feature electric windows and mirrors, air conditioning, auxiliary input socket, a trio of 12 Volt outlets, height/reach adjustable steering column, and steering wheel controls for cruise control and sound system. The XS and XT models add features such as full climate control, 6-CD changer and self-levelling rear suspension. They can be identified by the addition of alloy wheels, front fog lamps, body-coloured mirrors and metal-finish door releases. Premium models add full leather interior, a sunroof and electric adjustment for the driver’s seat.

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Paradise

Found Places to Drop Your Anchor Nothing captures the imagination quite like an island retreat, and the feeling of being totally free from all cares and complications of the mainland. Text: Shannon Manders | Image: © iStockphoto.com

sland getaways are often the closest to paradise most people will get, and while they are usually quite a ways to go, they are well worth the trouble to get there.

Zanzibar Zanzibar is still the best-kept secret in the Indian Ocean, with its fascinating history and magniﬁcent beaches. An Archipelago made up of Unguja and Pemba Islands and several islets, Zanzibar is located some 40 kilometres from the Tanzanian coast. The Archipelago is characterised by beautiful, sandy beaches with fringing coral reefs, and the magical Stone Town – said to be the only functioning ancient town in East Africa. The coral reefs that surround the East Coast are rich in marine diversity, making Zanzibar a great destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. Predominantly hot all year round, Zanzibar has an average temperature of 25°C. The heavy rain season sets in from April through to May,

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while the short rains occur in November. The three main cultures that exist on the island are those of Arabic, Indian and Swahili, and the predominant religion is Muslim. It is important, as a matter of respect, to follow some guidelines when visiting Zanzibar: revealing clothing, such as bikinis, mini-skirts and vest tops should not be worn in villages or in town. Topless sunbathing is not considered appropriate – neither are public displays of aﬀection. Swahili time is another concept worth noting, as it runs from dawn to dusk, rather than midnight to midday. 7 am and 7 pm are therefore both one o’clock, while midnight and midday are six o’clock. If you become confused, simply add or subtract six hours in order to convert Swahili time to European time, or vice versa.

Mozambique A mere stone’s throw away from South Africa, Mozambique oﬀers a mix of historical and cultural heritage, rich

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A deserted beach on the tropical island of Zanzibar

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Mozambique

Statues on display in Stone Town, Zanzibar

Mauritius

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architecture, tropical beaches, coral reefs, spectacular landscapes, and small desolate islands close to the coast. The Bazaruto Archipelago comprises a string of six islands off the Mozambican coast between Vilanculos in the south and Inhassoro in the north. Declared a national park in 2000, the Archipelago is home to a diverse range of environments, including forest, savannah, and wetland ecosystems. Just off Bazaruto and Benguerra islands you can explore some of the world's finest diving locations in a crystal-clear ocean warmed by the Mozambique Current. These aquamarine waters are home to dolphin, dugong, game fish, giant lobster and several species of marine turtle. Avid sport fishermen also know Bazaruto to be one of the best spots for catching marlin, kingfish and other large game fish. Probably the oldest European settlement in East Africa, the town of Moçambique is situated on the small coral island of Ilha de Moçambique. For centuries the island was a trading post and its town the country's capital. More recently, disregard and decades of civil war have left it a hauntingly beautiful ruin. Northern Mozambique holds unforgettable experiences and sights for those travellers yearning to escape the beaten path. The town of Pemba is situated on the southern

peninsula of Pemba Bay. The beaches here remain deserted for most of the year. A coral reef protects the beach, ensuring safe swimming and excellent snorkeling conditions. The Quirimba Archipelago’s 32 islands are scattered along 100 kilometres of Mozambique’s northern coastline. Stretching from Pemba to Mozambique’s northern border at the Rovuma River, it is a favourite among diving aﬁcionados.

Mauritius Situated to the east of the African continent and 6,000 kilometres west of Perth is the island of Mauritius. This small, subtropical island was shaped by a series of volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. It is protected by a coral reef, and extends over 62 kilometres from Cap Malheureux in the north to Souillac in the south, and is 46 kilometres wide from Quatre Cocos on the east coast to Flic en Flac on the west coast – an area that is blessed with the most constant and holiday-friendly climate. There is a warm, dry winter from May to November, and a hot, wet and humid summer from November to May. Cyclones aﬀect the country during the summer. Mauritius has amazing pointy mountain peaks, superb shopping, a renowned gastronomy, and a diversity of sophisticated resorts and world-class hotels. The island is also well known for its exceptional natural beauty. “You

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Pura Ulun Danu temple on Lake Brataan, Bali

gather the idea that Mauritius was made ﬁrst and then heaven, and that heaven was copied after Mauritius,” noted Mark Twain in Following the Equator. And with its signature sunny days, the world’s third largest coral reef surrounding the turquoise lagoon, and sandy white beaches, the island certainly comes close to blissful paradise.

Bali The Indonesian island of Bali is its country’s largest tourist destination, and is renowned for its highly developed arts, including dance, sculpture, painting, music and leatherwork. Both magical

and mystical, this island of volcanic lakes, stunning tropical beaches, ancient temples and palaces is an exotic melting pot of cultures. Bali is so picturesque, that you could be fooled into thinking it was a painted backdrop; rice paddies trip down hillsides like giant steps, volcanoes soar through the clouds, the forests are lush and tropical, and the beaches are lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Although signiﬁcant tourism exists in the north, centre and east of the island, the tourist industry is overwhelmingly focused in the south. The main tourist locations are the town of Kuta, Sanur,

Sites in Bali

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Jimbaran, Seminyak, and the newer development of Nusa Dua. Bali enjoys tropical weather, being only a few degrees south of the equator. This results in minimal temperature variation throughout the year. The friendly people and the absence of any serious criminal activities guarantee visitors a totally relaxing stay. And, in spite of many changes caused by the rapid development of Bali’s economy and local and international tourism, readers of all major travel magazines regularly vote the island as the most enchanting travel and holiday destination in the world.

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Reliving the past at

Mariner’s Wharf Children run along the pier, ice cream cones in hand and labradors in tow. Crayfish trawlers bob in the waters of the harbour and the air smells fresh as anglers offload the morning’s catch. Further along the pier, a group of minstrels entertain the crowd with their singing and dancing. Mariner’s Wharf, situated at the entrance to Hout Bay Harbour, is a mix of all that a hot South African summer day encapsulates, and offers visitors a truly eclectic experience. Text: Anna Marx | Images: © Mariner’s Wharf

fter visiting the USA in 1974, Stanley Dorman conceptualised, created and developed Mariner’s Wharf, inspired by the hustle and bustle of other cities’ waterfronts, particularly that of San Francisco. Together with what he had discovered through his travels, he used his knowledge of and familiarity with several decades in the ﬁshing industry to create something similar in South Africa. Stanley grew up in Hout Bay, which made this the location of choice for his masterpiece. He began assessing waterfronts around the globe and ideas started to take shape in his mind. He wanted something diﬀerent, something original, something memorably South African and authentically Cape. After ten years, his thoughts evolved into

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Mariner’s Wharf, South Africa’s very first harbourfront emporium. Mariner’s Wharf is now worldrenowned and comprises an impressive complex of outlets that specialise in seafood and maritime products. Far from being pretentious in its design and architecture, Mariner’s Wharf offers something completely distinct. As a whole, the Wharf serves as a sort of working museum, with the antique shop crammed full of most things maritime. The shop keeps a remarkable array of items ranging from carved whale’s teeth, to maps, bells and shipwreck artefacts. The Wharf is also home to a fish factory and the Fisherman’s Wharf Fish Market, where the remarkable hull of the original 1940’s trawler the "Kingfisher"

welcomes visitors inside. The Fish Market is stocked with fresh seafood delicacies, including internationally renowned Cape Coast Smoked Snoek, which is produced at the Factory’s Smokery, also situated at the Wharf. Adjacent to the Fish Market is Ye Olde Wine & Liquor Locker, the ﬁrst bottle store in South Africa to be licensed for Sunday trading. Stocking an extensive selection of local wines and liqueurs, stacked in alphabetical order mind you, one can even pick up a special bottle of wine made exclusively for Mariner’s Wharf, presented in a ﬁsh-shaped bottle. The Wharfette Seafood Bistro is where it’s at for tasty take-outs. Be warned however, that because the Bistro’s reputation stretches as far as the horizon, so does the queue. It’s a

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very popular place. The Mariner’s Chest is the oﬃcial stockist of Republic of Hout Bay Passports, and overﬂows with ocean treasures, shells and souvenirs. In the Wharf’s Pearl Factory, visitors can harvest their own pearls by picking an oyster and cracking it open. If they so desire, the shop manager will set the shimmering jewel in gold or silver, a dazzling reminder of the brief treasure hunt. The Wharfside Grill Restaurant has a distinct historic, maritime theme. Through extensive perusing of waterfront harbours in places like Tokyo, Seattle, Sydney and Reykjavik, Dorman has acquired an unrivalled collection of maritime memorabilia, much of which he used as décor in the Wharfside Grill Restaurant. Throughout the restaurant,

memorabilia from days gone by decorate the interior restaurant space and delight visitors plucky enough to dodge the busy tables and explore a little. Divided into precincts, namely the Foredeck, Chartroom, Midships and Long Room, plus six private dining cabins, the Grill also has a Sundeck for alfresco dining. Each of the six themed and named dining cabins has been individually decorated with artefacts from famous liners or pieces of maritime history. The Wharfside Grill has an open-design kitchen, where food is prepared in full view of diners, so you can see just how that lip-smacking plate of prawns was prepared. The Grill’s menu is extensive and extravagant, stocking a "cargo of goods"ranging from Hout Bay Chowder and fresh oysters to succulent ﬁsh, juicy

prawns and exquisite desserts. The food is indulgent and utterly delicious and Dorman takes pride in the well-developed menu, using the slower winter months to experiment with new dishes. In season, as many as 10,000 visitors a day pass through Hout Bay and the 340-seater Restaurant hosts up to 1,800 customers a day.

p e ra te s x p re ss o fr ic a n E fl ig h ts d le u d S o u th A e h ie n tl y sc o k o n li n e a t n e v n o c . Bo e To w n to C a p .c o m . x sa ly .f www

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Musical brothers are

Proudly South African With the incoming Vodacom Tri-Nations, two sets of very talented South African brothers will be on stage to sing the national anthems of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Text: Ilza Roggeband | Images: © Jurie Senekal, SA Rugby

hen Vodacom Tri-Nations fever hits South Africa, two families of brothers will be part and parcel of that excitement. South African music has become a big part of South African rugby over the last couple of years, and with the Vodacom Tri-Nations it will be no diﬀerent. On 16th August South Africa meets New Zealand at Newlands, on 23rd August it is the Springboks against Australia at the Absa Stadium in Durban and on 30th August the two teams meet again at Ellis

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Park in Johannesburg. On all three of these occasions, the anthems and prematch entertainment will be provided by Broers and The Bala Brothers. Broers is a group of very talented brothers from Cape Town. Christo Snyman is the oldest sibling, Cobus is the middle brother and the younger brother, who performs under the stage name Nic Stevens, is the "baby" in the family. Christo and Cobus have been performing as a duo for more than 16 years and Nic is well known as a solo performer.

South African music has become a big part of South African rugby over the last couple of years, and with the Vodacom Tri-Nations it will be no different.

Nic and Phelo

Three years ago they decided to start performing together and the result has had fans and music lovers in awe. "We really enjoy our performances at the big rugby matches," says Christo. "Our ďŹ rst performance for the Springboks was at their Sasol send-oďŹ&#x20AC; dinner before last year's World Cup. We also performed at the annual Springbok golf day on their return. We were responsible for the onďŹ eld entertainment at the tests against Wales and Italy, but with the Vodacom Tri-Nations we will also be singing the national anthems with the Bala Brothers." The Bala Brothers are Zwai, Loyiso and Phelo. They are originally from Uitenhage and all three are ex-pupils of the prestigious Drakensberg Boy's Choir. "We are really looking forward to the

Vodacom Tri-Nations,'' says Zwai, the eldest of the Bala brothers. "It is such a special event and a huge honour for any artist to perform before a test match. Just to be given the opportunity to sing and be there is amazing." Working with the Snyman brothers is a pleasure, states Zwai. "We just click. I don't know if it is because we are two sets of three musical brothers working together, but we get along very well. We really respect each other and working with them is a breath of fresh air." Do the Bala brothers still get nervous before singing in front of such a big crowd? "It all depends on how well we know our words!'' Zwai laughs. "Truth be told, we really enjoy singing in front of big audiences and singing in a sold-out

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rugby stadium is as good as it gets!" "It is a huge pleasure and honour to work with the Balas," says Christo. "Their talent is mindblowing! At the test between South Africa and New Zealand at Newlands, Broers will be singing the South African anthem and the Balas will perform the New Zealand anthem. In Durban, when the Boks play against Australia, we will sing the Australian anthem and the Balas will sing the South African anthem. At Ellis Park on 30th August, the six of us will sing both the South African anthem and the Australian anthem. It is going to be great!" The MC responsible for the music while the Vodacom Tri-Nations games are being played is Henré Pretorius, who is a well-known presenter on the television music channel MK. And if there is one thing Henré is going to stick to, it is South African music. "Why listen to international music if you have the best local music to choose from? I am going to get spectators in the right mood with a cross spectrum of local music – from Kurt Darren, Lianie

May and Snotkop to Johnny Clegg, Mandoza and Kabelo as well as songs by bands like The Parlotones and AKing," explains Henré. "South African music is on a level that it has never been before. We can use rugby and tournaments like the Vodacom Tri-Nations to showcase the best music South Africa has to oﬀer." South African Rugby is very proud of their support of South African music. "Entertainment is almost as big a part of a rugby match as rugby,'' says Jenny Wentzel, events manager of SA Rugby. "These days, spectators expect to be entertained before the match and each stadium has their own music that they like to play during the games. An example is Steve Hofmeyr's Lieﬂing that has become an institution at Loftus. Since 2005, only South African music is played in stadiums when a test is played and it is a huge honour for any artist to be asked to perform the South African anthem before a test. To many of them, it is the highlight of their career."

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Go West

South Africa’s Magnificent Nor th West Province The North West province is a veritable melting pot of all that is South African, with its welcoming and hospitable people, its captivating hotchpotch of customs, its numerous natural wonders, and its spectacular scenery. But it is the rich, cultural heritage of the area that stands out the most. Text: Toni Ackermann | Images: © South African Tourism

overing an area of almost 118,800 km2, the North West province was created in 1994 by the merger of Bophuthatswana, one of the former Bantustans and the western part of the then-Transvaal. It is bounded on the north by Botswana, on the south by the Northern Cape and the Free State provinces, and on the northeast and east by the Limpopo province and Gauteng. Maﬁkeng, formerly Mafeking, serves as the provincial capital, with other important towns including Brits, Klerksdorp, Lichtenburg, Potchefstroom, Rustenburg and Sun City. The arrestingly diverse landscape of the North West is occupied by charming people whose dependability on the land parallels their sturdy sense of tradition. The culture of the people of this province can be found in almost every aspect of daily life: in their beadwork, their pottery, their houses, music and song. The majority of the province's residents are the Tswana people, whose mother tongue is Setswana. These nationals can trace their origins for many

centuries through a turbulent history of war and migration across the plains and valleys of the province to the borders of the Kalahari. Other groups touching the North West are the Ndebele in the east and the Sotho in the south. Nowhere is today’s commitment to education and advancement more evident than in the North West province. Artists of every talent, be it ﬁne arts, music, jazz or dance, are rapidly emerging, and swiftly excelling. And the provincial government of the North West is dedicated to assisting in the upliftment of its people through joint venture projects and the provision of facilities. Tourism is no exception here, with the emergence of dynamic entrepreneurs in every ﬁeld. Visitors to the area will know that roadside arts and crafts stalls are not uncommon, neither are the gifted choirs that provide impromptu entertainment every so often. The North West province has several cultural villages that interpret South Africa’s people, though the three that stand out most are Motseng Cultural

The arrestingly diverse landscape of the North West is occupied by charming people whose dependability on the land parallels their sturdy sense of tradition.

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Ndebele Woman

Potchefstroom

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Village, Gaabo Motho Cultural Village, and Lesedi Cultural Village. Motseng Cultural Village is situated in the Sun City Resort and is a visual experience that concentrates on the eight main tribes of South Africa, with reflections of cultures, traditions, architecture, dress and regalia. These eight groups share their history, beliefs and customs with guests by way of praise singers, poets, narrators and dancers. Close to Hebron, the Gaabo Motho Cultural Village, a scenic mountain-top hamlet, offers the best in traditional African fare. This village, situated in the Bojanala Region, is also one of the most attractive villages in the province. The village relays ancient survival and birthing practices and features a fusion of the different types of provincial traditions including Zulu, Venda, Mokhukhu, Tswana and Ndebele. Here, visitors can also meet an authentic traditional healer. Lesedi Cultural Village, out in the Cradle of Humankind, offers a full-day experience where guests indulge in the warmth and hospitality of rural African culture. Browse the Ndebele village and African craft market, attend a visual presentation of the history and origin of Africa’s people, and enjoy a tour of four traditional homesteads – Zulu, Xhosa, Basotho and Pedi. Traditional song and dance, as well as a Pan-African feast, finishes off the experience. The North West province is also home to three World Heritage Sites – the Taung Heritage Site, the Cradle of Humankind, and the Vredefort Dome.

The Cradle of Humankind is shared between the North West province and Gauteng, and is home to “Mrs Ples,” and “Little Foot.” Here, visitors can explore the various finds that have led scientists to suggest that this was the corner of Africa where humankind first appeared. Around 2,000 million years ago, a massive meteorite struck the Earth, creating a crater some 300 kilometres wide. Vredefort is the world’s largest and oldest known impact structure and, although it has been deeply eroded after two billion years of geological activity, the Dome provides a spectacular impression of the violent rock deformation that the impact caused. Visitors can also sneak a peek into the deeper levels of the Earth’s crust, which are exposed by way of several outcrops and quarries. Further important historical sites in the North West province include Mafikeng, the traditional capital of the Barolong people, where a British garrison was placed under siege by Afrikaners during the Boer War; and Boekenhoutfontein, the farm of Paul Kruger, who was the last president of the South African Republic, from 1883 to 1902. The three oldest towns of the old Transvaal are all located in the North West province. They are Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp and Rustenburg. Indeed, Mother Nature sure smiles on this province. From curious cultural finds to undying historical discoveries; untamed bushveld to metropolitan cities; traditional homesteads to sophisticated five-star lodges, the North West province is an idyllic contrast of old and new.

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From

Reuben's Kitchen

Muscat Crème Brûlée

Serves 15

Ingredients 1,400 g cream 2 vanilla pods 16 egg yolks 150 g castor sugar 300 g hanepoot wine

Method Scald the cream together with the two vanilla pods. Cream the sugar, yolks and hanepoot wine. Whisk the scalded cream into the yolk mix. Strain the mixture and ﬁll into ramekins. Bake in a bain marie at 135°C for 30 minutes or until set. Allow to cool before serving.

To Garnish Serve the crème brûlée with preserved grape and plum ice cream and decorate with berries and mint sprigs.

Reuben’s Restaurant & Bar, located in Franschhoek, has rapidly become the hot spot on the South African culinary scene. During the restaurant’s first year of business, Reuben was announced Eat Out Magazine’s 2005 Chef Of The Year and his restaurant was named 2005 Restaurant Of The Year. www.reubens.co.za

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Technology backbone strengthens healthcare offering In recent years, healthcare providers worldwide invested substantially in information technology solutions to enhance their service offering to patients and streamline operational processes. No longer is it a case of IT solutions providing an added-value service to the providers of healthcare. On the contrary, progressive and reliable IT solutions form the backbone of this fast developing industry, continuously enhancing the healthcare service offering, improving the flow and quality of information, reducing costs and preventing medical errors. Text: MEDI-CLINIC | Images: © iStockphoto.com

ccording to Theo Pauw, MediClinic Southern Africa’s General Manager: Information Technology, Medi-Clinic, as one of the bigger players in the Southern African private healthcare industry, is following this trend. "A recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers forecasting the top ten issues in the healthcare industry today indicates that three of these issues are directly related to the implementation, adoption and use of information technology.” These issues include the dependence on IT to reduce medical errors and improve tracking and reporting of safety and quality standards; the use of

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IT to capture, store, retrieve and report quality information, and improving the technology infrastructure to assist in claims processing, create electronic medical records, reduce medical errors, and track performance. To this eﬀect, IT giants worldwide such as Microsoft, Intel, IBM and Cisco have invested hugely in dedicated healthcare divisions that are solely focused on the development of enhanced IT solutions for the various players in the healthcare industry. "IT in healthcare is an exciting environment," Pauw continues. "The convergence of technology with

The Medi-Clinic IT team has to have a good understanding of specific patientcare procedures and treatment to identify gaps, and to find streamlining and value-added solutions.

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healthcare remains a challenge. But what differentiates this from the traditional and seemingly mundane IT environment is that you literally become part of the medical and specialist teams.” The Medi-Clinic IT team has to have a good understanding of specific patientcare procedures and treatment to identify gaps, and to find streamlining and value-added solutions. The advantages that integrated IT solutions can bring to healthcare are limitless. Worldwide there is a focus on the development of a central patient repository where a single electronic record gives access to the full medical history of the patient, including patient demographics, clinical information, previous hospitalisation records and nurses' notes, radiology reports and copies of x-rays and ultrasound scans, laboratory reports, and more. The central patient repository will allow for timeous and extensive medical intervention and a more streamlined process as it will minimise time and personnel-intensive administration. Advanced IT solutions also reduce the burden on nursing practitioners who spend considerable time on administrative tasks. Wireless devices are now being developed that bring

greater mobility to bedside patientcare. These devices are connected to patient monitoring equipment and measure, capture and store patients' vital signs without the need for paper-based record keeping. Data are stored with all other patient information on the single electronic record to which nursing practitioners have access. Computerised physician order entry (CPOE), is the process of electronic entry of physician instructions for the treatment of hospitalised patients under his or her care. These orders are communicated over a computer network to the medical staff (nurses, therapists, pharmacists or other physicians) or to the departments (pharmacy, laboratory or radiology) responsible for fulfilling the order. An example would be the placement of an electronic prescription with the resident pharmacy, ensuring that all medication is available when the patient is discharged. CPOE decreases delay in order completion, reduces errors related to handwriting or transcription, allows order entry at point-of-care or off-site, provides error checking for duplicate or incorrect doses or tests, and simplifies inventory and posting of charges. Physicians are not the only ones to order on CPOE, nurse practitioners

and physician assistants order on CPOE as well. IT is very much a part of the digital or multimedia operating theatre today. In these theatres all medical equipment and monitors are connected to the central hospital information network, capturing the entire process and transmitting full patient and procedural information straight to the medical specialists' consulting rooms. This information is also stored in the electronic patient record. Pauw says there is an international drive towards the establishment of a global medical village. To this end, Medi-Clinic has piloted Doctor Network Communities at four participating MediClinic hospitals. "This pilot project has major advantages for comprehensive patientcare, and is expected to roll out further soon," Pauw says. "The MediClinic Information Technology division is experiencing healthcare IT in motion," he says. "We see the tangible results from reliable and advanced IT solutions, such as streamlined in-hospital processes and instantly available patient information. "Ultimately, appropriate technology solutions ensure improved patient outcomes – the fundamental vision of all providers of healthcare.”

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Ingwenya Indulging Body, Mind and Soul Ingwenya Country Escape borders the Cradle of Humankind, a world heritage site, located not far from the metropolitan areas of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Text: Charles Parkinson | Images: © Ingwenya Country Escape

his manicured estate is set on the banks of the meandering Crocodile River, on 160 hectares of pristine land encompassing beautiful gardens, man-made lakes and forests and a prolific bird life. Ingwenya offers a wonderful escape for the stressed executive in need of rejuvenation or for families looking for something different to do over weekends. Ingwenya, meaning “crocodile,” is equipped with an African Spa and an African Retreat, both of which offer a variety of pampering packages. The Retreat offers anything from a simple back massage to a luxuriant stay-over package and is run by a team of healthy lifestyle practitioners and therapists who will tailor a package or series of treatments to ensure guests are able to embrace a holistic, healthy lifestyle. The rustic yet sophisticated African Spa is situated on the banks of the river. The ancient African treatments on offer here are provided by skilled therapists instructed in the arts of rituals and

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ancient healing, beauty therapy and rejuvenating treatments. Ingwenya’s guest house has six individually themed suites, all of which are exquisitely decorated in the style of the country they are named after – French, English, Shanghai, African, Beijing and Mexican. Ingwenya’s other accommodation option is the Manor House, which consists of 35 wellappointed rooms, equipped with DSTV, a bath and a shower. Alternatively, there are also the 21 Studio Rooms, ideal for conference stay-overs. The accommodation here includes single rooms, double rooms and a double bed suite. All rooms are en suite and are equipped with televisions.

Conference facilities Ingwenya’s conference facilities can accommodate between 10 and 400 delegates, and are well-equipped for a wide range of activities, including product launches, team building events and conferences.

Ingwenya, meaning “crocodile,” is equipped with an African Spa and an African Retreat, both of which offer a variety of pampering packages.

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Weddings Weddings at Ingwenya are unique, and there are a variety of outdoor and indoor options to choose from. The Chapel, which lies alongside the Crocodile River is a highly sought-after venue for couples to start a new life together.

Dining When it comes to food, Ingwenya has an array of restaurants to choose from. Guests can indulge in fun dining at Pangea, where food is served on swords, or opt for a more sophisticated dining experience at Origins Restaurant, inspired by the Origins of Humankind, which celebrates nouvelle cuisine complemented by an array of top South African wines. Also on oﬀer is Tangiers – an intimate restaurant consisting of six tables for six. This is where guests can indulge their inner chefs as each table is equipped with three means of cooking food – a fondue pot, a steamer and a lava rock for grilling. Guests choose their own ingredients and

cook their own food – an activity that has proven to be a fun option, especially for team building.

Stonehenge Ingwenya’s outdoor area, modeled on Stonehenge, is both mystical and aweinspiring. This area, similar to a traditional lapa, is equipped with a bonfire in the middle and very low lighting. Activities such as stargazing and drumming may take place here, and as such the area is ideally suited for conferences and similar functions. When guests have eaten their fill, the Ashanti whisky bar, which overlooks the beautiful gardens, is the ideal place for that special nightcap as it offers a wide range of whiskies, liquors, and freshly ground coffee. The adjacent Rituals Cigar lounge offers a wide range of superior cigars. Sundays at Ingwenya are an idyllic affair with tractor rides being offered to the children, as well as fishing and golf as options for the adults. A fully equipped gym is also available.

A buﬀet breakfast is served from 7 am until 10 am and an indulgent buﬀet lunch is served at the Manor House from 12 am. Seating for meals takes place both indoors or in the beautiful garden. With live music and a children’s play area and swimming pool, this is certainly a lovely relaxing way to end a weekend of indulgence. For more information, contact +27 11 300 9950, 0861 900 100, email info@ingwenya.com, or visit www.ingwenya.com.

tes ss opera an Expre d ﬂights ic fr A th Sou hedule e iently sc ok onlin conven urg. Bo sb e n n a . to Joh om .ﬂysax.c at www

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Farewell to a Legend Remember the strange looking bakkie with the once ill-fitting body panels and the indestructible engine? Well, after 37 years of loyal service to South Africa, this Datsun/Nissan workhorse has been put out to pasture. Text: Bernard K Hellberg | Image: © Quickpic

ith more than 275,000 units sold in South Africa, Nissan’s iconic 1400 half-ton bakkie is the longest serving vehicle in the history of the South African motor industry, and Nissan South Africa has formally confirmed its run-out. Originally, the Nissan 1400 (as we know it today) made its debut in South Africa in 1971 as the Datsun 1200, which then evolved into the Datsun 1400 in 1980, and was finally branded the Nissan 1400 in 1990. It has earned a well-deserved reputation as the ultimate small workhorse, thanks to its excellent reliability, low maintenance requirements, and modest sticker price. Before the days of the Internet, the cell phone and even the colour TV, the Nissan 1400 was a trusted South African transport partner. While fads like bell bottoms, Rubik’s cubes, Star Wars, Nintendo, DOS computers and stonewashed jeans came and went, the Nissan 1400 bakkie remained ever-present and proved to be a reliable friend to so many South Africans in everyday life and everyday use. Small business owners by their thousands and many fleet operators continue to swear by the evergreen 1400 bakkie, and are saddened by the news

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of its farewell. Many of its drivers talk about the 1400 bakkie as if it is a friend that you can rely on and trust anytime and anyplace. To commemorate the end of an era, Nissan South Africa will offer a limited run (150 units) of Heritage Edition 1400 bakkies. The numbered units will carry Heritage Edition decals, a certificate of authenticity, a rubberised loadbox, nudge bar and a tow bar kit. The cabin is appointed with bucket seats and exterior styling is finished off with spot-lights and a tonneau cover. While only a few will have the opportunity to purchase one of these limited edition bakkies, one lucky South African will have the opportunity to win one. Nissan South Africa is inviting past and present owners to send in their Nissan 1400 bakkie stories, movies or photos describing their fondest Nissan 1400 memories. One winner will walk away with number 1 of 150 Heritage Edition Nissan 1400 that will then be the final vehicles that roll off the plant. You too can upload your tall Nissan tales to www.thelast1400.co.za. Alternatively call 0800 NISSAN (647 726), fax 086 686 9602 or email infodesk@nissan.co.za.

Nissan 1400 History in Summary 1932:

First Datsun truck

1967:

The first B20 Datsun Sunny Truck introduced in Japan

1971:

The Datsun 1200 introduced in SA

1976:

Renamed Datsun 120Y bakkie

1979:

40,000 unit sales recorded

1980:

Datsun 120Yi Improved to 1.4-litre

1986:

Sport and De-Luxe derivatives were introduced

1989:

100,000 sales recorded

1990:

Introduction of the current Nissan 1400 Standard Bakkie

1993:

Introduction of the Champ derivative

1995:

150,000 sales celebration

2004:

250,000 sales celebration

2008:

275 000 unit sales recorded

2008:

Nissan 1400 farewell/ Heritage Edition

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Left to Right: Dr Rob Davies - Deputy Minister, DTI, Mr Rodger Stewart - Chairman, SASA

Left to Right: Mr Rodger Stewart - Chairman, SASA and Dr Rob Davies - Deputy Minister, DTI

OPENING OF THE The South African sugar industry marked the start of the sugar season at the Opening of the Season function held on 2nd April 2008 at its KwaShukela building in Mount Edgecombe, Durban. Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies delivered the key note address saying that the sugar industry was a national asset. The Chairman of the South African Sugar Association Mr Rodger Stewart highlighted the industry’s challenges, while light entertainment rounded off a well-attended event that included growers, millers, industry leadership and dignatories.

Speaking at the function, the Deputy Minister Dr Davies said that the South African sugar industry is an important economic sector that makes a signiﬁcant contribution to income and employment. “An estimated one million people depend on this industry for their livelihood. The industry is a low cost producer and we are convinced that it will continue to have a signiﬁcant contribution to make to our growth and employment objectives as well of those of economic transformation. We are pleased to see that the growing industry has taken a lead in the promotion of Black Economic Empowerment in the agricultural sector,” said the Deputy Minister. He further highlighted the Inkezo Land Company, which operated as an independent land reform entity by the industry, and which has already managed to transfer 17% of the freehold land under sugar cane cultivation to black growers. “Progress has also been made in terms of BEE initiatives in the milling sector. Two black owned milling companies, Ushukela Milling and Umvoti Transports, jointly own 12% of South Africa’s

sugar milling capacity and 10% of South Africa’s reﬁning capacity. Tongaat Hulett sugar, which accounts for 30% of the sugar industries total annual production, has also sold 25% of its shares to black owner-growers,” continued Mr Davies. “It is pleasing to note that study undertaken by Jeff McCarthy of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, found that the quality of life in rural towns and areas with sugar mills is higher than that in other comparable towns or areas in rural KwaZulu-Natal. Sugar milling towns and areas were found to have lower levels of unemployment and higher per capita incomes than other towns or areas; the transport infrastructure is more advanced; and there are opportunities for ﬁrms to supply inputs to the milling and farming operations. It was also found that virtually every town in the mill and sugar growing areas has an HIV/Aids programme and clinic and that the organised sugar industry was directly involved in these initiatives as well as in various educational and training programmes.” “In short, the industry is a very important actual and potential contributor to livelihoods and economic opportunities for large

Left to Right: Mr Trix Trikam - Executive Director, SASA, Mr Martin Mohale - Vice Chairman, SASA, Dr Rob Davies - Deputy Minister, DTI, Mr Rodger Stewart - Chairman, SASA.

Back to Front: Councillor Logie Naidoo - Deputy Mayor, eThekwini Municipality (back) and Dr Rob Davies - Deputy Minister, DTI (front), during ceremonial cane cutting.Stewart - Chairman, SASA.

2008 SUGAR SEASON numbers of people in the rural areas of this province.” The Deputy Minister concluded by saying that the sugar industry was regarded as an important national asset. Chairman of the South African Sugar Association, Mr Rodger Stewart said that the opening of a new season was always a time of reﬂection. With regards the season ahead Mr Stewart said that the reality was extraordinary volatility of the global agribusiness environment, while he noted the numerous challenges that included the speedy resolution to outstanding land claims. Mr Stewart went on to mention that sugarcane ranks as the sixth largest agricultural product in South Africa; that it contributed about 6% of the annual gross value of agricultural production in 1998/1999; and that the estimated national multiplier for the sugar industry is 3.2, implying that for every R1 increase in output from sugar farming, milling and reﬁning combined, national GDP will grow by R3.20. Current net proceeds in the industry amounts to R6.5 billion, which translates to an annual value added of R14.3 billion. “The sugar industry is an integral part of the socio-economic fabric of the rural communities that it operates in and has the potential to make a very substantial contribution to new national imperatives, such as renewable energy,” said Mr Stewart. “As South Africa faces an electricity supply crisis, the sugar industry is able to make a meaningful and timely intervention. The industry’s

annual crop of sugarcane contains biomass, which is the energy equivalent of 1.75 million tons of coal renewable annually. At present, the sugar mills are designed for energy balance – they use the biomass to generate steam and electricity for their own internal needs. However, these factories can be modiﬁed to maximise the biomass energy available for electricity generation. This could be achieved at two levels. Firstly, if all of South Africa’s sugar mills were to invest in boiler modiﬁcation, these mills would be able to generate within two years, approximately 400 MW – which represents 1,2% of Eskom’s effective generating capacity or electricity to service a town the size of Bloemfontein, Kimberley or East London.” “At a second level, with major changes to our cane supply methods and using new boiler technology, the industry’s theoretical maximum generation capability could be increased to 1600 MW. This represents 4,8% of Eskom’s effective generating capacity or enough electricity to service a town the size of Rustenburg, Pretoria or Klerksdorp.” Mr Stewart said that as in most other countries, electricity generation and distribution are heavily regulated and it was not possible for the sugar industry to contribute to the electricity pool without some adjustment to the current regulatory framework for electricity generation and supply. For the full speeches, please visit www.sugar.org.za.

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River Lodge Deep in the Valley of the Olifants in Hoedspruit in the Limpopo Province, lies River Lodge. This quaint and pristine lodge is positioned at the foothills of the awe-inspiring Drakensberg mountains, where guests are sure to succumb to the spell of the mountain magic and the wealth of the local flora and fauna. Text & Images: © River Lodge

urrounded by the iconic citrus farms of the Hoedspruit area, River Lodge provides its guests with the ideal amount of privacy. Take a leisurely stroll in their picturesque gardens along the Olifants River, laze beside the swimming pool or enjoy a sundowner under an ancient Baobab tree. This family-friendly lodge provides the ultimate opportunity for guests to enjoy nature at its best, and as such oﬀers trailing, quad biking and a host of other activities in the pristine splendour of the Valley. The lodge is also able to arrange hot air ballooning, game drives, boat rides on the Blyde River Canyon as well as visits to the nearby cultural village. River Lodge is surrounded by more

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than a dozen game farms, and is located a mere 60 kilometres from the Phalaborwa Gate to the Kruger National Park and less than 45 kilometres from the East Gate Airport. For a day’s outing, take the scenic drive through the Panorama Route to one of the many spectacular natural sites located within close proximity: the Three Rondavels, Echo Caves, God’s Window, Bourke's Luck Pot Holes, Blyde River Canyon, Moholoholo Animal Sanctuary, game farms, a silk farm, and many more. River Lodge’s spacious rooms are tastefully and comfortably furnished. The air-conditioned executive rooms are equipped with selected DSTV channels, complimentary coﬀee and tea facilities, hair dryers, en suite bathrooms and bar

This family-friendly lodge provides the ultimate opportunity for guests to enjoy nature at its best...

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fridges. Guests may opt to spend their nights in either their exquisite cottage or their well-positioned single rooms overlooking the fields. Indulge in the taste of Africa with the tantalising fare served around a blazing fire in the Kgorong Boma, accompanied by the sight and sounds of traditional music and dance. Alternatively, enjoy the variety of light lunches and scrumptious dinners served in the different dining areas on the property. River Lodge serves meals with organic vegetables grown on site. The lodge is equipped to host various functions including weddings and conferences. Their function facilities can accommodate between 10 and 300 delegates and the rooms can be configured to specific requirements. River Lodge welcomes children of all ages and provides a variety of facilities for them. River Lodge is currently offering a winter/spring special: pay for four nights and stay for five nights, or pay for five nights and stay for seven nights. Rates

are from R275 p/p/n/s to R385 p/p/n/s. Terms and conditions apply. River Lodge is aﬃliated to Future Travel, a travel and holiday club that provides aﬀordable travel and holidays to its members.

tes ss opera an Expre d ﬂights ic fr A th Sou hedule iently sc ok online at conven . Bo it ru sp d to Hoe . sax.com www.ﬂy

Future Travel Future Travel is gradually becoming the alternative and preferred provider of competitive and high-value lifestyle holiday membership benefits to the individual and family markets. Having positioned itself as the provider of affordable holidays, Future Travel is proud to be associated with the quality holiday establishments (such as River Lodge) in its network. Future Travel holiday benefits can only be accessed through the Future Travel membership club. Call Future Travel now on 0861 106 319 or visit www.futuretravel.co.za to join the club and start exploring the world at affordable rates. For information and to make a reservation, contact +27 15 793 0358 or reservations@rivlodge.co.za. For central reservations, call +27 12 345 3454, or visit River Lodge on www.rivlodge.co.za.

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diary of events

From Japan to Jozi The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz – the premier event on Johannesburg’s jazz calendar – runs in Newtown from 28th – 30th August. The 2008 festival has an all-star line-up of contemporary and classic, as well as local and international jazz musicians. One of the highlights of the show, Japanese smoothjazz supremo Keiko Matsui, will share the stage with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Other jazz heavyweights include saxophonist Joshua Redman, The Spinners, Norway’s Tord Gustavsen, Israel’s Avi Lebovich Orchestra, guitarist Doc Powell and the Original Superstars of Jazz Fusion featuring Roy Ayers. South African performers include Pat Matshikiza, Simphiwe Dana, Abigail Kubheka and Yvonne Chaka Chaka. For more information on the line-up and venues, visit www.standardbankjazz.co.za. Tickets are available through Computicket.

The Baby Expo Durban

Fun for the whole family, The Baby Expo Durban will be held from 29th – 31st August at the International Convention Centre, and this year Durbanites are in for a special treat. Having already established itself as the only exhibition in South Africa to showcase the world’s best loved dinosaur, Barney, The Baby Expo Durban will now include “Barney and Friends” BJ and Baby Bop with their beach show. The Baby Expo Joburg, held at the Coca-Cola Dome from the 15th – 18th May was a resounding success and cemented its reputation as South Africa’s leading pregnancy, parenting and baby exhibition with over 28,000 visitors attending. Visitors were treated to an amazing array of exhibitors as well as great entertainment for the whole family. This year, The Baby Expo embraces and encourages the importance of wholesome food, active healthy living and a balanced lifestyle. Visitors are guaranteed vital information for during and after pregnancy from professionals who will make their lives much easier. For more information, visit www.thebabyexpo.co.za.

Cape Winemakers Guild Showcases Rare 2008 Auction Wines Taste an exclusive selection of rare and unique wines made by South Africa’s leading winemakers at the 2008 Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) Auction Showcase to be held in Cape Town and Johannesburg during August. The Auction Showcase in Cape Town on Thursday, 21st August, and in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 27th August, gives wine enthusiasts the opportunity of meeting the 38 winemakers that constitute the CWG and sampling some of the finest wines produced in South Africa in an informal and interactive environment. The Nedbank CWG Auction Showcase offers wine lovers a preview of the wines made especially for the prestigious Nedbank CWG Auction, which takes place on Saturday, 27th September at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Since its inception in 1985, the Nedbank CWG Auction has become a quality benchmark of what can be achieved by South African wine producers. The auction also offers the public and the trade alike, both local and from abroad, the opportunity of bidding for the crème de la crème of South African wines.

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elite Life in Digital Style www.e lit e ma g. co. za

elite

elite Life in Digital Style

Life in Digital Style

elite Life in Digital Style

Classic Kenyan Safari

World Environment Day Matjiesfontein

Mike Horn

Super Rug Rugby gby

Lexus LS600h

· Chocolate · Eco-car Concepts elitemagazineissuetwo

elitemagazineissuethree

Audi Joburg Fashion Week Nelson Mandela

Maserati

What to Wear?

elitemagazineissuefour

elite Magazine is South Africa’s first online luxury lifestyle magazine. Available FREE at www.elitemag.co.za. elite is fully readable on both Apple Mac and PC, with no downloads required.

diary of events

Shop till You Drop at Sanlam SA Fashion Week This year’s Sanlam SA Fashion Week Spring/Summer Collections, to be held from 27th – 30th August at the Sandton Convention Centre, will offer a fabulous retail experience to the public, with a bumper designer retail space that will serve as a complementary addition to the runway collections. These designer installation stores will allow fashionistas and socialistas alike to stock up on their must-have designer items for summer – hot off the ramps – in one central space that will boast over 120 stalls. Fashion followers will be spoilt for choice with a designer line-up that includes Abigail Betz, Story, Mantsho, Amanda Laird Cherry, House of Olè and Terence Bray as well as exciting new designer brands including NN Vintage by Nhlahla Nciza, Diamond Face Couture by Uyanda Mbuli and Gert-Johan Coetzee and Rkjay by Reginald Molamu. The retail floor will also include a bespoke Menswear Lounge with ranges by both new and established menswear designers. Tickets are available from Computicket (www.computicket.co.za).

National

Boat Show

Picture a lifestyle where your family spends every weekend and holiday together, soaking up the sun, playing in the water and creating the kind of memories that hold families together for a lifetime. Sound like a fantasy? Then go and live the reality at the 2008 National Boat Show. The National Boat Show takes place from 15th – 17th August at the Coca-Cola dome in North Riding, Johannesburg and will present an irresistible array of exhibits, spanning 24,000m2 and created by more than 200 exhibitors. See boating at its best, as you run your hands and eyes over the more than 250 leisure, power and bass boats, jet skis and other craft. Experience scuba diving at its ﬁnest, as you take in all the latest gear, destinations, gadgets, courses and more. Get a load of the hottest water toys, ﬁshing rods, leisure goods and accessories, and even shop for your family’s very own waterfront property and the whole new life that comes with it! For more information and to sign up for the Splash e-newsletter, visit the website: www.nationalboatshow.co.za.

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Totalsports Celebrates Womanhood The Totalsports Ladies Race presented by Asics, invites all women to celebrate womanhood by taking to the streets on Saturday, 9th August (National Women's Day) and competing in either a 5-km fun walk or 10-km run. This year, both the Stellenbosch and Johannesburg events have moved to brand new venues, namely to Coetzenburg and the Roosevelt High School in Emmarentia respectively. These new routes will deﬁnitely guarantee renewed excitement. Both the Stellenbosch and Johannesburg 5km and 10km routes are available to walkers and runners, and moms with prams are more than welcome. Husbands, friends and family are also encouraged to join in the fun and show support on the day. All entrants stand a chance to win a magniﬁcent Nissan Micra and Vuka Scuta. Race numbers will be entered into the two lucky draws that will take place at the end of the race in each city. For further information, contact Top Events on +27 21 511 7130 or visit www.totalsports.co.za.

Upon Touchdown NO DIET DIET

Bains Game Lodge BLOEMFONTEIN Luxury Accommodation Tel: +27 51 451 1761

You too, can look this good (for the hottest body in town) • 6 Weeks • 6 Injections

Bains Game Lodge is a one stop conference facility for up to 200 people, with 108 rooms, including 54 brand new executive rooms, four conference venues and two exciting restaurants.

Th e o n l y s o l u t i o n , a M e d i c a l s o l u t i o n . Cellulitis, weight control Programme.

Luxury Accommodation in self & non-self catering chalets Conference facilities Function rooms for Weddings & Year end functions

Contact DR Gregory J Gieryn on Tel: +27 11 803 3299 / Cell: +27 82 555 2938

To advertise here contact Julie Tyrer on +27 11 794 6552 or email julie@siyayapublishing.co.za

Hotel Heinitzburg

20th

century

This castle, built at the turn of the by Count von Schwerin for his fiancée Margaree von Heinitz, offers accommodation in plush

romantic

elegance.

Perched high above Wind Windhoek, hoek, “Leo’s” at the Castle Restaurant offers spectacular vistas of the city lights below, not to mention unrivalled African sunsets. Savour masterfully prepared d game dishes and relish fine wines from the country’s largest private wine cellar.

Yours in true e hospitality

Family

Rates: On Request Contact: heinitzburg@heinitzburg.com E-mail: heinitzburg@heinitzburg.c com Windhoek Namibia +264-61-249597 Tel: +264 61 249597 Fax: +264-61-249598 www.heinitzburg.com

Raith!

gizmos

A Market

First

The Digital Experience

Goes Mobile Sony Ericsson has long been renowned for its consistent range of outstandingly high-tech, sleekly appealing and innovative mobile devices. But even these the masters of technology seem to have outdone themselves this time, with the arrival of the new C905 – Sony Ericsson’s first ever Cybershot slider, and its most advanced camera phone yet. With an 8.1 megapixel camera and real camera flash among its cutting-edge capabilities, it offers easy photographic functionality in a phone that derives its looks from a digital camera, and offers superb picture quality to match. This is a complete digital camera experience embodied in a phone, with features that include face detection auto-focus, smart contrast, image stabilising technology, a 2 GB Memory Stick Micro and USB adapter for easy phone-to-computer transfers, and the added benefit of GPS capability for geo-tagging of photos and navigational support. For more information, go to www.sonyericsson.co.za.

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Uniross has launched the Traxdata Yego, a new 2GB USB flash drive that includes two additional USB connections. The flash memory storage device works like a USB flash drive but with the ability to connect to a multitude of digital devices through a single USB port. The Yego has also been designed with the environment in mind and has a power saving mode. This can reduce power consumption as well as being both WEEE and RoHS compliant. The Y-shaped design addresses the needs of the ever-increasing mobile community that uses digital cameras, MP3 players, laptops, mobile phones and PDAs, and needs to transfer or transport photos, music, movies, software and office documents regularly. This nifty device also has an optional partition and security function available for those that require it. Available from Incredible Connection from R349.

Nightlife Mapping Tool

Deciding when and where to go out on a Friday night just got easier for San Francisco consumers with a new, mobile map application that automatically shows where the hotspots are. Sense Networks' CitySense gives users a real-time view of how busy the city is as well as where the busiest places currently are. There's no need to sign up – users simply download the free application onto their Blackberry (iPhone support is coming soon) and view a "heat" map of activity throughout the area, linking to Yelp or Google to zero in for more information about the hotspots. A billion points of GPS and wiﬁ positioning data from the last few years complement the real-time feeds underpinning the technology, which operates on Sense Networks' Macrosense platform. Focusing on nightlife, the next version of CitySense will be able to tell users not just where the activity is, but where people like them are concentrated. By tracking and comparing users' history and preferences, it will be able to show them where they are most likely to ﬁnd people with similar tastes at any given moment. How long before this comes to other cities? Visit www.citysense.com.

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SERVICE

e x cel l en ce OUR VISION

South African Express’ vision is to be the most successful regional partner airline with the mission of providing the best service to our customers while optimising proﬁts.

Fly South African Express

from Cape Town South African Express boasts frequent, reliable and timeous flights from the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town to breathtaking destinations in Southern Africa. The airline connects Cape Town to Bloemfontein, the judicial capital of South Africa, a total of 20 frequencies every week. South African Express also caters for travellers who wish to explore coastal destinations such as East London and Port Elizabeth from Cape Town. Regionally, South African Express operates between Cape Town and popular leisure destination Maputo three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The airline’s leisure product, Expressions of Africa, offers convenient midweek and weekend packages from Cape Town to Maputo. Namibia is both a thriving business hub and a captivating leisure destination. South African Express provides services between Cape Town and Walvis Bay as well as Cape Town and Windhoek. By logging onto www.flysax.com South African Express passengers can take charge of their travel itinerary, explore the airline’s product offering and discover value-for-money fares. Book online www.flysax.com today.

S o u t h

Frequent Flyer South African Express is a full partner in the South African Airways Frequent Flyer programme, Voyager, whereby passengers earn ‘miles’ each time they ﬂy with us. The Voyager programme is an ideal travel incentive where passengers can redeem their miles for future free air travel on the services of the Voyager partners, either domestically or internationally.

Outstanding Service We pride ourselves on offering an incomparable service standard. With highly trained cabin crew and ground staff, we subscribe to service excellence, hence our slogan ‘Expressing Excellence.’ Our on-board service is unique and we offer passengers a variety of meals or snacks on all our flights. We pioneered our unique meal box concept and meal choices are frequently updated and designed using balanced food criteria – appearance, taste and nutritional value. At no additional cost, passengers can enjoy a wine and malt bar service on specified flights and refreshments on all flights.

A f r i c a n

Indwe is the Xhosa word for the Blue Crane (Anthropoides Paradiseus), South Africa’s national bird. The Blue Crane is widely spread throughout South Africa, is highly gregarious (when not breeding), flies strongly and soars to great heights and is indigenous to South Africa, which makes it an appropriate name for the inflight magazine of South African Express.

E x p r e s s

F o r m o r e i n f o , p l e a s e v i s i t o u r w e b s i t e a t w w w. f l y s a x . c o m

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restaurant & bar Restaurant of the Year*

Chef of the Year*

No 19 Huguenot Street, Franschhoek, 7690 Tel: 021 876 3772 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: 021 876 4464 reservations@reubens.co.za www.reubens.co.za Bookings essential two weeks in advance

* Eat Out Johnnie Walker Restaurant of the Year 2005 * Eat Out Johnnie Walker Chef of the Year 2005 * Unilever Foodsolutions By Invitation Only Chef of the Year 2007

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OUR fleet South African Express operates some of the most sophisticated aircraft to ensure maximum passenger comfort. The 74-seater De Havilland Dash 8 Q400’s form part of South African Express’ elite ﬂeet. These advanced aircraft boast the quietest turboprop cabins in the sky. South African Express also operates the Canadair Regional Jet Series 200 BER. These are some of the world’s most modern

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fleets of 50-seater aircraft. Locally this aircraft is also known as the Express Jet. Manufactured in Canada, these superior aircraft offer a new level of passenger comfort with leather seats and sophisticated design features. The aircraft offer outstanding performance and comply with European noise and emission control standards.

De Havilland Dash 8 Series Q400 Turboprop

Canadair Regional

De Havilland Dash

Jet Series 200 BER

8 Series 300 Turboprop

Manufacturer: Bombardier Maximum cruising speed: 360 knots / 414 mph /667km/h Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A turboprop engines Range: 1565 miles / 2 519 km Maximum altitude: 25 000 ft / 7 620 m Seating capacity: 74 passengers Crew: 2 pilots and 2 cabin attendants Wing span: 93 ft 3 ins / 28.42 m Overall length: 107 ft 9 ins / 32.83 m Overall height: 27 ft 5 ins / 8.34 m Maximum take-oﬀ weight: 64 500 lb / 29 257 kg Minimum runway length: 4 580 ft / 1 396 m

Manufacturer: Bombardier Maximum cruising speed: 474 knots / 545mph / 879 km/h Engines: 2 General Electric CF34-3B1 Range: 1 662 miles / 3 080 km Maximum altitude: 41 000 ft / 12 496 m Seating capacity: 50 passengers Crew: 2 pilots and 2 cabin attendants Wing span: 69 ft 7 ins / 21.21 m Overall length: 87 ft 10 ins / 26.77 m Overall height: 20 ft 5 ins / 6.22 m Maximum take-oﬀ weight: 51 000 lb / 23 134 kg Minimum runway length: 6 295 ft / 1 919 m

Manufacturer: Bombardier Maximum cruising speed: 285 knots / 328 mph / 528 km/h Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney PW123E turboprop engines Range: 1 250 miles / 2 000 km Maximum altitude: 25 000 ft / 7 620 m Seating capacity: 50 passengers Crew: 2 pilots and 2 cabin attendants Wing span: 90 ft / 27.4 m Overall length: 84 ft 3 ins / 25.7 m Overall height: 24 ft 7 ins / 7.49 m Maximum take-oﬀ weight: 43 000 lb / 19 505 kg Minimum runway length: 3 775 ft / 1 150 m

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SAFETY i n f o Health regulations at certain airports require that the aircraft cabin be sprayed. The spray is harmless, but if you think it might aﬀect you, please cover your nose and mouth with a handkerchief.

board the aircraft as it may interfere with the aircraft’s avionics system. Heart pacemakers, hearing aids, clocks, watches, timers and medical equipment approved for use in airplanes, however, may be used without restrictions.

Remain seated

Cellular telephones

As a safety precaution passengers are requested to remain seated with the seatbelts fastened after the aircraft has landed, until the seatbelt sign has been switched oﬀ by the captain.

Cellular telephones may be used on the ground while passenger doors are open. Cellular telephones must be switched oﬀ as soon as the cabin doors are closed and when the senior cabin crew member makes an announcement on the public address system.

Health regulations

Portable electronic equipment Passengers are requested not to use any electronic equipment on-

Laptop computers Laptop computers (excluding CDROM), handheld calculators, electric

SPECIAL

services South African Express will accept one piece of cabin baggage not exceeding a total dimension of 115cm and 7kg in weight.

shavers and portable personal listening devices may not be used on the ground during taxi but may be used during the ﬂight when the seatbelt signs are switched oﬀ and with permission from the captain. Should circumstances dictate otherwise a public address announcement cancelling this concession will be made by a crew member.

Prohibited equipment Portable printers, laser pointers, video equipment, CB/AM/FM/FHF/Satellite receivers, two-way radios, compact disc and mini disc players, scanners, remote controlled toys and power converters are prohibited for use at any time.

Special meals Passengers with special dietary requirements are provided for through the following special meals: Kosher, Halaal, Moslem, Hindu, Low Fat and Vegetarian meals. Orders for special meals should be placed at the time of making ﬂight reservations. The airline requires a minimum of 48 hours notice prior to departure in order to assist with conﬁrmation of requests.

Passengers requiring special attention Passengers requiring either wheelchairs or assistance with unaccompanied minors (passengers under the age of 12 years) should state their requirements at the time of making the reservation. Owing to the size of the cabins on our aircraft types, the airline is not in a position to carry stretcher passengers or incubators.

Cabin baggage South African Express will accept one piece of cabin baggage not exceeding a total dimension of 115cm and 7kg in weight. For safety reasons, cabin baggage must ﬁt into approved stowage spaces: either the overhead luggage bin or under the seat. Owing to limited storage space in the aircraft cabin, cabin baggage may be placed in the Skycheck at the aircraft for hold stowage.

Skycheck This is the airline’s special hand luggage facility that assists with in-flight comfort, speedy boarding and disembarking. When boarding one of our flights, simply place any hand luggage that will not be required during the flight onto the Skycheck cart at the boarding steps of the aircraft. This hand luggage will be waiting for you as you disembark from the aircraft at your destination.

Baggage liability Valuable items including cameras and accessories, computers including laptops and notebooks, mobile telephones, perfumes, aftershaves, colognes, legal and company documents, legal tender including cash, credit cards and cheques, bullion, leather jackets, all types of jewellery and any other items with a value in excess of R400 must be removed from either checked-in or Skycheck baggage as the airline is not liable for loss or damage to these items. Veriﬁed baggage claims are settled on the basis adopted by IATA (International Airlines Transport Association) – payment of US$20,00 per 1kg of checked-in luggage, to a maximum of 20kg (US$400).

indwe – AUGUST 2008

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