The Newspaper – March Edition 2023

Cape Town and the Western Cape is blessed with a bounty of natural beauty, cultural attractions and sophisticated facilities. It has proven itself to excel in hosting world-class events that draw in audiences and participants from across the globe.

Annually the Western Cape plays host to numerous events ranging from conferencing, sport, leisure, business, wine, culinary and lifestyle, and is the meeting place for expos, festivals and other shows.

The Western Cape is known for its hospitality and excellent service, making it an ideal place to host an event. Its vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere provides the perfect backdrop for any occasion.

Being able to attract international events to our shores and provide support to local home-grown events every year, allowing an environment where these show-pieces are able to grow in stature and provide a lasting experience for attendees.

March is cycling month in the Western Cape and Cape Town is the hub from where all the action takes place. The Cape Town Cycle Tour is the flagship road cycling event that takes place in the Mother City on 12 March, while mountain bikers can look forward to the Absa Cape Epic from 19 - 26 March 2023.

Photo: The Cape 1000

Explore Cape Town From A Sidecar

If you are an avid sightseer, this might be just the thing for you. Cape Sidecar Adventures makes exploring the Cape an especially fun and adventurous activity.

Cape Sidecar Adventures boasts a fleet of sidecars, available for team building, corporate events, weddings, anniversaries, tour visits and even unique children’s parties.

The vintage World War II motorbike sidecars provide chauffeured tours and transfers around the city of Cape Town, the Cape Peninsula and the Cape Winelands. A great, safe way to explore the Cape without the worries of crowds and confined spaces.

Brody the Dog

A member of the crew is Brody, the dog. He is well trained, wears his buff and goggles and sits perfectly upright in his own sidecar. Brody is a graduate of the DARG (Domestic Animal Rescue Group) rescue shelter based in Hout Bay. He has become more famous than the sidecars. He mostly travels with his dad, Tim, and can be booked for a ride in exchange for a handful of biltong.

What was Richard Quest doing in Cape Town?

British journalist and CNN news anchor, Richard Quest visited Cape Town in February on two assignments. The first, “Quest’s World of Wonder”, - a project that explores different destinations from a tourist’s point of view and gains insight into a region’s heritage and culture. The second assignment, “Quest Means Business”, which focuses on a country’s current events.

While in Cape Town, Richard also enjoyed some of the great activities Cape Town has to offer, including a stunning sunset sidecar outing with his new bestie, Brody the dog.

The Western Cape

Your Ultimate Playground (Continue reading from Page 1)

Wine: The 2023 Concours Mondial du Sauvignon will take place from 13-17 March 2023 in Franschhoek. A total of 35 international judges will be hosted in Franschhoek for five days, with wine tasting sessions over three days.

Travel: The World Travel Market (WTM), part of Africa Travel from 3 – 5 April will see international and pan-African industry professionals connect under one roof.

Sport: For sports fans, the calendar in April 2023 includes the world’s most scenic race, the Two Oceans Marathon shaping up to be an elite fest, with a stellar field once again lining up on the weekend of Saturday, 15 and Sunday, 16 April 2023 for the ultra and half marathon, respectively.

Conferences: Conferences secured in Cape Town and the Western Cape include aviation, engineering, entrepreneurship, green economy, investment, medical, manufacturing, travel, veterinary science, as well as the tech sector.

“Every visitor is a potential investor. The Cape Convention Bureau looks forward to hosting delegates from around the globe – providing us with the opportunity to showcase the capabilities of our local industries spanning a wide range of sectors,” said Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities in the Western Cape, Mireille Wenger.

Business events are intrinsically linked to leisure tourism – creating a positive knock-on effect for local hotels, restaurants, and attractions. The economic spin-offs from events in the Western Cape generate a ripple effect of job creation during and after events, and these visitors spend their money locally and have a positive impact on the local economy. It also enriches knowledge in hosting and creates opportunities for some of the people working on the events to initiate, and grow, their own businesses.

For more events visit page 15

The Cape 1000 - SA’s Most Beautiful Drive

Following the success of the first Cape 1000 classic car tribute in 2022, the second iteration, takes place from 19 – 24 March 2023. Competitors will take on the scenic roads of the Western Cape from the Mother City to Hermanus and then to George and Franschhoek, before heading back to the V & A Waterfront.

Inspired by legendary tribute races all over the world, the Cape 1000 sees participants compete on some of the best roads in the world over four days and five nights. As the event’s name suggests, it is run over 1000 miles (1 600 km) with 60% of the route consisting of “grand touring” and the remaining 40% comprising challenging regularity stages, during which navigators and drivers have to work closely together and meticulously follow the stage’s timing and speed instructions to achieve success and, hopefully, score some points. So, it’s not a race, but certainly still a challenge, one which is won through consistency, reliability and accuracy.

This year’s instalment of the Cape 1000 will include a restomod/recreation class. Cars will compete in five different classes: 1927-1957 (Tribute), Pre-1976 (Classic), 1977-1996 (Modern classic), 1997current (Sports), and Restomod/recreation.

Some special cars have been entered, with the oldest dating back to 1933. Beneficiaries of the Cape 1000 include the Motorsport Legends Benevolent Fund and QuadPara Association of South Africa. The Cape 1000 promises to not only be a memorable experience for the participants, but also for those watching and cheering from the side lines.

Sa’s Wine Industry Pays Tribute To Its Flag Bearers For The Future

The South African wine industry has formally honoured four outstanding individuals at the annual Wine Harvest Commemorative Event, hosted on South Africa’s oldest wine-producing farm, Groot Constantia on 2 February 2023.

The Wine Harvest Commemorative Event is a strong tradition in the South African wine industry, inspiring new levels of excellence in an inclusive way. This year’s event, held to celebrate the birth of South Africa’s wine industry 364 years ago, included the blessing of the new harvest and tributes to four individuals who have shown the way for future generations, unlocking their talents to ultimately leave a unique and proud legacy for South Africa. They were honoured in four categories: Visionary Leadership, Growing Inclusivity, Wine Advancement, and Viti- and Viniculture.

According to Dr Ernest Messina, Chairperson of Groot Constantia, it is heartening to witness the growth in reach and scope of this annual occasion. “Year on year, more wine people from diverse backgrounds are nominated to be recognised for their work,” says Dr Messina. “This is in line with our objective of honouring all who are contributing to our proud wine industry. I trust that by recognising the four 2023 honourees, others will be inspired to take the industry to even greater heights.”

Photo L-R: Dr. Erna Blancquaert (Recognition for Viti- and Viniculture), Ken Forrester (1659 Visionary Leadership Award), Rydal Jeftha (Recognition for Growing Inclusivity), and Wendy Jonker (Recognition for Wine Advancement).

Brackengate Business Park 1 | Brackenfell

Stonewood Business Park | Kraaifontein

Brackengate Business Park is one of the most strategically positioned light industrial parks in Cape Town, set on the ‘golden triangle’ surrounded by the R300, N1 and N2. Ideally positioned. This warehouse unit is perfect for light manufacturing enterprises.

Stonewood Business Park is an exclusive new light industrial development, situated on Hexrivier Road, Kraaifontein, adjacent to Okavango Road. The development comprises of 16 units, each unit has a warehouse with reception/office area and first floor office. Tailored to suit your individual business needs.

Photo: The Cape 1000 - Photo Credit: JoNo Nienaber

Campaign Launched

To Position Cape Town As Gateway To Antarctic

Where else can you go from sun and beautiful beaches to Antarctica in just 5 hours?

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis launched a drive to position Cape Town as the ‘Gateway to Antarctica’ by taking the world’s most extraordinary day-trip from the Mother City to the remote continent recently The Mayor was joined by Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities.

Cape Town is well-placed to reap the economic benefits of being an Antarctic gateway city, with a 5-hour direct flight across the Southern Ocean, touching down in the 24-hour Antarctic daytime on Wolf’s Fang runway in Queen Maud Land.

Antarctic tourism is growing rapidly, with more and more tourists making the trip to this truly unique destination. At the moment, many tourists depart from elsewhere – but Cape Town is undoubtedly the best place to come before heading to Antarctica.

Flights are shared between visitors and the scientific community, reducing environmental impact and supplying logistical support for scientists at research bases operated by several countries, including South Africa.

“It was a privilege to witness the Antarctic’s pristine wilderness first-hand via a short flight from Cape Town. We want more people to choose our city as their preferred gateway to reach international scientific bases, or to experience the continent’s unique sustainable tourism offering. We are launching a new destination marketing campaign with a clear message – Cape Town is the best place to come before you head way down South.”

“It was also great to learn that so much of the accommodation materials, and much of the equipment and supplies for Antarctica, are made right here in Cape Town. Visiting the world’s remote seventh continent is the closest anyone will come to experiencing life on another planet.”

“Except this is our planet, and the only one we’ve got. Sustainable tourism holds not only economic and job creation benefits for our city as a gateway, but also enhances the viability of scientific research on the continent,” said Mayor HillLewis.

Walking into Henri’s, you’ll be greeted by the owner, Pierre and his staff, who will treat you like guests in our own home. Henri’s combines an inspired menu with a casually sophisticated setting in a heritage house conveniently situated on Somerset West Main Road.

We also welcome larger groups, our top floor has been renovated and can be used for private functions. Our inviting, comfortable dining room is the perfect place to enjoy a great meal.

Our menu can be described as comfort food with a modern global influence. We are well known for our aged grass-fed beef as well as the freshest local seafood. Alongside our à la carte menu, we offer a light lunch menu during the day and also have a kiddies menu. We also serve homemade, thin based pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven.

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A Critical Time To Invest In

Green Opportunities

The importance of Solar Power Africa 2023 summit that took place in Cape Town in February 2023, cannot be understated.

“Our world has experienced more and more extreme weather events caused by a globe that’s warmer than ever. And of course, because of the unprecedented scale of power outages in South Africa, a country whose energy supply is still very much dominated by coal.”

“Here in Cape Town, we stand apart because we successfully deploy the use of our Steenbras Hydro Pumped Storage Scheme to protect City customers from up to two stages of load-shedding where possible. City of Cape Town customers were protected from more than 1 700 of Eskom’s 3 000 hours of load-shedding between February and November 2022.”

According to the International Energy Agency, Africa is home to 60% of the world’s best solar resources, yet it hosts only 1% of the global installed solar PV capacity.

Renewable power plants are more cost-effective, with a recent study in the US finding that coal is now being economically outmatched by renewables to such an extent that it’s more expensive for 99% of the country’s coal-fired power plants to keep running than it is to build an entirely new solar or wind energy operation nearby.

In Cape Town, the City is pushing ahead with projects that seize on such energysupply opportunities or otherwise encourage a creative, out-of-the-box approach.

This includes: The City can now pay cash for power fed into the local electricity grid. Businesses, and in time residents, will receive cash for selling their excess power into Cape Town’s grid. A tender for the engineering, procurement and construction of a 7 megawatt solar power plant in Atlantis. A 200MW procurement of renewable energy was concluded last year and tenders will be awarded in the coming months. The city also issued a tender for third-party aggregators who will reward so-called ‘Power Heroes’ for reducing their electricity usage.

A report actually showed that the solar PV industry alone could create up to 30 000 jobs per year.

Investing in green energy in Africa is good – and necessary – for business, people, and the planet.

Cape Town Tourism

Creates the Ultimate African Adventure

As the African continent opens-up to travellers, research shows that the ‘Ultimate African Adventure’ from our international source markets includes two or more African cities. It makes total sense, to connect the only two Natural Wonders of the World on the continent to tick off your bucket list in one amazing adventure.

The greatest falling sheet of water in the world, Victoria Falls, and the single most iconic landmark of South Africa, Table Mountain, can expect an increased number of local and international visitors following the announcement of a new city partnership between recently launched tourism community of Victoria Falls, We are Victoria Falls, and Cape Town Tourism (CTT).

The partnership was announced at the founding ceremony by We are Victoria Falls Board Chair, Mrs Barbara Murasiranwa-Hughes and CTT’s Chief Marketing Officer, Leigh Dawber at the local community cornerstone the Three Monkeys Restaurant and Bar in Victoria Falls.

The partnership will now mature into joint marketing initiatives that cross-promote the two destinations along the theme of ‘African Routes’ and are working with key airlines and private sector operators on a campaign that will be launched in 2023, exploring ways to inspire travel between the two destinations by sharing tourist markets and encouraging visits to both destinations.

The Bird Cage at Chocolat

Chocolat Bistro in Durbanville’s owner, Wilma Basson, has spared no effort in creating a new luxurious private function space on the same property as the Bistro. Her innate style and love for the French aesthetic is evident in every small detail. From the unique Bird Cages converted into lights to the exquisite wall art, The Bird Cage at Chocolat Bistro oozes a sophistication that cannot go unnoticed.

The idea for the Bird Cage originated from the demand for sophisticated yet reasonably priced function space in central Durbanville where friends, family and colleagues can celebrate in their own private space.

With covid restrictions being a distant memory, patrons are increasingly seeking spaces to celebrate life with family and friends, whether that be birthday’s, bridal showers, baby showers, weddings or corporate functions.

Bird Cage at Chocolat is a totally private venue apart from the main restaurant and boasts its own fully equipped bar with fireplace, kitchen, restrooms and function area. They offer various function and set menu options and can customize your event to meet your desire in every way.

Patrons will host their guests in complete elegance with Jenna Clifford crockery, crystal glasses, fine table linen, fresh flowers, and sumptuous meal choices.

The premium quality wireless sound system also allows guests hassle-free streaming of their own music choices should they prefer, and back-up power is also available during load shedding.

The Bird Cage can host up to 60 guests for breakfast, lunch, dinner and high teas, which makes it a unique space in the centre of Durbanville.

Enjoy every corner of this illustrious space at your leisure and revel in the wondrous experience they have to offer.

For more information, reservations or to view this unique function space contact 021 975 2426 or bookings@chocolatbistro.co.za

African Fashion International

Cape Town Fashion Week Is Back

Cosentino Launches

Dekton® Pietra Kode

The Cosentino Group, the global leader in producing and distributing innovative and sustainable surfaces for architecture and design, introduces a new highperformance, ultra-compact stone collection: Dekton® Pietra Kode, the vision of renowned designer and architect Daniel Germani.

Pietra Kode reinterprets the timeless beauty of three classic Italian stones: Vicenza, Travertine and Ceppo di Gré. Each of these antique natural stones is decoded and then recoded within three Dekton® concrete series, enhancing their properties and the many possibilities for their use in architecture and design. Each colour breathes contemporary elegance into the design, with the rich shades and textures creating a sensory experience beyond what the eye can see. The carbonneutral Dekton® surface allows the collection to be used for a virtually limitless range of indoor and outdoor applications.

African Fashion International (AFI) is excited to bring back its iconic Cape Town Fashion Week to the Mother City from March 21- 25 March 2023.

The theme of “Fashion, Art & Design” promises to bring cutting-edge fashion innovation and technology to the Mother City, creating a stimulating atmosphere of creativity.

As part of their 15-year celebration, AFI Cape Town Fashion Week will bring together established and young designers, fashion lovers, influential figures, and the youth, through music, fashion, and art. There will be runway shows, designer presentations, the AFI Masterclass, and networking opportunities with key stakeholders. It is the perfect platform for local and international buyers, media, and celebrities to discover Africa’s hidden gems.

AFI has played pivotal in establishing Cape Town as one of the important global fashion cities alongside New York, Paris, London, Milan, and Johannesburg. “The Mother City offers an unparalleled combination of skillful designers, quality infrastructure, and famous landscapes that make it ideal for showcasing the best African fashion – which is exactly what we will be doing as we mark our 15th anniversary.”

AFI Cape Town Fashion Week will be staged at multiple locations in the Mother City. The venues will be announced in due time.

HAVAL and GWM

Are Storming Into The SA market

THE VICENZA KODE SERIES consists of four warm and versatile colours that reinterpret the code of classic Vicenza stone. With neutral tones reminiscent of the earth and rich design that flows to the edges, all coexist in perfect harmony and complement cream, wood and taupe palettes.

HAVAL N1 City is part of the REEDS MOTOR GROUP which has been in business for over 100 years which specializes in building relationships and creating customers for life.

As a Chinese brand leading the industry in the Asian market. GWM has been operating in South Africa for over a decade and has experienced a swift embrace from the South African public. HAVAL, the professional SUV sub-brand of GWM, has only recently been introduced to South Africa, but has already been nominated as a Cars.co.za Consumer Awards semi-finalist, making it the first Chinese vehicle to achieve this post. Topping Chinese sales for 14 consecutive years, HAVAL and GWM are storming into the South African market with vehicles that are trustworthy and perfectly suited to the job at hand.

HAVAL and GWM are gaining authority worldwide with introductions in the Middle East, South America and Africa as the brand continues to expand. In South Africa, the HAVAL and GWM vehicles have proven that they are able to cope with South African terrain to work as powerhouses as well as stylish vehicles. Whether you’re looking for ruggedness, economy or style, you’re in the right place.

“To become part of the HAVAL and GWM revolution, contact us today and let our experienced staff show you exactly what HAVAL and GWM have to offer. Our new range includes sleek passenger vehicles, classy SUVs and tough double cabs, so you can be sure that we have the vehicle that you need.”

For more information contact 021 596 2600 or visit www.reeds.co.za

THE TRAVERTINE KODE SERIES recodes the stone out of which Rome was built, into a new technological vision of the material that made classical art shine and inspired Renaissance architecture. Two elegant designs are full of nuances, reminiscent of the quiet majesty of classic style.

THE CEPPO KODE SERIES reinterprets the beauty of the Ceppo di Gré stone, often used in architecture in Milan, to design spaces that inspire and connect with nature. Like Vicenza Kode, Ceppo Kode features design along the edges, making it ideal for revealing applications.

The Retirement Collection

By Devmark Property Group

From the West Coast to the South Coast - Where would you like to spend your golden years?

South Africa’s top retirement destination, the beautiful Western Cape, boasts nine Devmark estates designed to give you total peace of mind.

“Enjoy a secure and fulfilling retirement in our estates offered by the Retirement Collection, which includes: Langebaan Manor, Langebaan, Helderberg Manor, Somerset West, Imhoff Manor, Kommetjie and The Plettenberg Manor, Plettenberg Bay.”

With features including state-of-the-art security, clubhouse, library, gym and more, residents enjoy convenience and beautiful scenery in a vibrant retirement community. The Retirement Collection offer different options from Assisted Living Suites, Luxury Apartments and Luxury Homes selling from R775 000.

Fall in love with your retirement and discover a life worth living!

For more information visit www.retirementcollection.co.za

AN AUTHENTIC TASTE OF FARM LIFE

WILL FILM TOURISM

PUT DESTINATION SOUTH AFRICA IN THE SPOTLIGHT

With youth unemployment at an all-time high, South Africa urgently needs to find ways to create jobs. One industry that has been successful in this area is film production. In fact, the audio-visual and interactive media sectors added a whopping R48.4 billion to South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021.

South Africa’s film industry definitely stands out amongst its African peers, according to Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro. She explains the film industry plays a role in promoting destinations to a global audience—and Wesgro provides assistance and information for film producers looking to shoot in South Africa.

“Some of the world’s most iconic destinations have been put on the map by the film industry, such as New Zealand, thanks to movies like The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and locations in the UK that were used for the Harry Potter movies,” says Stander.

Escape to exceptional accommodation on a historic working farm and experience for yourself why Boschendal was rated as one of the nine best family hotels in the world by Condé Nast Traveller.

The historic farm, nestled in the spectacular Franschhoek Valley, offers guests a unique opportunity to experience authentic farm living while enjoying world-class dining, award-winning wines and a range of activities catering for all ages.

With accommodation offerings that range from the spectacular Mountain Villa to the historical Herbert Baker-designed Cottage 1685 and the beautifully restored cottages in the Orchards, Werf and Retreat, Boschendal gives guests a chance to be immersed in the best of sustainable farm living.

Offering open access to the historic farm, Boschendal gives guests the freedom to explore and discover everything that makes this such a unique part of South African history.

Take to the trails to enjoy world-class mountain biking and hiking, or spend long afternoons sampling award-winning wines. Boschendal’s Farm and Homeware Shops offer the best of locally sourced and artisan goods, as well as farm-fresh sustainable produce. Art lovers can trawl through the art collection, or just soak up the many opportunities to relax and breathe in the splendour of nature.

For young guests, the Outdoor Programme offers an authentic outdoor experience, with morning, afternoon, and all-day slots open, guided by the expert leadership of the Tree House team. Free-range kids are also welcome, with play at the Tree House playground or some two-wheel fun at the pump track to let loose their spirit of adventure.

ORIGINS OF EARLY SOUTHERN SAPIENS BEHAVIOUR EXHIBITION

South African National Parks (SANParks), together with a team of archaeologists, will be launching a new exhibition at the Cape of Good Hope Buffelsfontein Visitor Centre (BVC) in Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) in April 2023. The exhibition will showcase the discovery of our early modern human origins and innovations in southern Africa, under the banner of the ‘Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour.’

Although the preparation of the internal exhibition area for the Origins exhibit installation commences on 20 February 2023, the rest of the BVC facility (eg toilets, office, outside exhibition area) will remain operational and open to all visitors and tour operators.

The Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour exhibition, curated by awardwinning documentary filmmaker, Craig Foster, and archaeologist, Petro Keene, showcases the culmination of some 30 years of archaeological research in the southern Cape.

The remarkable discoveries highlight the rich archaeological records of three unique South African archaeological sites: Blombos Cave, Klipdrift Shelter and Klasies River, all situated on the southern Cape coast of South Africa. These sites were occupied by early Homo sapiens (humans who behaved and looked like us) between 120 000 and 50 000 years ago – a key period in the evolution of modern human behaviour.

“The aim of this exhibition is to create an understanding of our common ancestry with the ‘We are all One’ concept that strongly points to the evidence that all Homo sapiens, people like us, have their origins in Africa. Past ancient lifeways are richly portrayed to inform and educate visitors of all ages about their own past and to encourage a sense of pride in us with the knowledge that we all originally evolved in Africa,” says Archeologist Petro Keene.

The exhibition, Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour, comprises 19 unique display panels, including six videos by Craig Foster and Damon Foster, and bespoke Sea Change Project content, allowing visitors a unique multi-sensory experience.

While blockbuster films such as Mission Impossible 8 (filmed in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal) and the popular Dutch TV show Wie is de Mol? (hosted in the Western Cape) have drawn big-budget crews to South African soil, Stander says there is also enormous potential for the gaming film market.

Valerie Rose, a travel and accommodation coordinator in film and television who regularly works with Netflix and CBS, says that beyond assisting the crew with travel post-COVID, she helps many international team members with bookings for their families to join them. Bookings can span anything from two months to a year, she says.

“The Waterfront Marina precinct benefits a lot from international crews because it is safe, close to amenities, and easy to get onto the highway to the Cape Town Film Studios”, says Rose. She highlights that apartments in the area are popular because they are private, peaceful, design-led, and fully serviced—ideal for teams that regularly push 12-hour workdays. Luxury hotels also benefit from international production teams. Rose works with a range of budgets, with most bookings in the R2 000–R3 000 per night range.

Large crews of up to 400 people can make a place their base for a few weeks, transforming quiet backwaters. The positive spinoffs are endless, declares Rose, adding that clients often leave South Africa vowing to return as a tourist or to purchase property.

“When there is downtime, they want to go and explore South Africa. Cast and crew that can afford it will choose the luxury safari option. If timing is tight, they visit reserves that are close to them”, says Rose. Opportunities abound for travel managers to tailor-make experiences to suit their needs and budget.

WTM AFRICA 2023

Africa Travel Week is calling on the inbound and outbound African travel community to attend WTM Africa 2023 from 3 - 5 April at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

“Registration is already open for exhibitors, hosted buyers, Buyers’ Club members, the media, and travel trade professionals,” says Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director: Travel, Tourism & RX Africa Marketing.

Held annually as part of Africa Travel Week, the three-day event will see international and pan-African industry professionals connect under one roof to conduct business and continue recovery efforts for Africa’s tourism industry.

Along with a proven mix of pre-scheduled appointments and live networking opportunities, the show programme promises to excite and inspire with informative content sessions led by industry experts from around the globe.

Guests at WTM Africa 2023 can also register to attend its various bolt-on events running concurrently at the CTICC at no extra charge. These include International Business Market Africa, EQUAL Africa powered by IGLTA, Travel Tech, Sports and Events Tourism Exchange (SETE), and the Africa Tourism Investment Summit (ATIS).

For more information visit

DESIRES PERFORMS THE IMPOSSIBLE

As Blair grew older, he took notice of things around him and never doubted that he would hear and speak one day. His father was convinced that if he could even hear slightly, he might develop a hearing capacity.

The little deaf boy went through the grades, high school, and college without being able to hear his teachers, excepting when they shouted loudly, at close range. He did not go to a school for the deaf. His parents were determined that he should live a normal life, and associate with normal children.

Eventually, Blair acquired limited hearing with the help of a phonograph, picking up sound vibrations via bone conduction, enabling him to “hear” music. Blair had tried hearing aids, but had never found a device which worked for him. In his last year of college, he tested an Acousticon hearing aid, which was specifically designed for him by the Dictograph Products Company.

The hearing aid proved to be absolutely perfect for Blair, improving his hearing to 100 percent, and thereby enabling him to hear and to converse at normal levels of conversation.

This was the most important turning point in Blair’s life, for his and Napoleon’s dream of normal hearing and speech was now fulfilled.

Blair next sought was to determine a practical plan for converting his former handicap into an equivalent asset of value to others. He wrote to Dictograph to provide grateful feedback on their design. In response, he was invited to visit their headquarters and to tour their factory.

One of the most inspiring stories in Napoleon Hill’s life was his own son’s. Blair was born without external ears; doctors feared that he would be deaf and mute for his entire life. Hill, of course, refused to accept this negative diagnosis. “The outlook was far from encouraging,” he wrote, “but desire backed by faith knows no such word as impossible.”

Hill challenged the doctor’s opinion and decided that Blair would hear and speak – he did not accept the reality of his son’s affliction. “More than anything else, I decided that my son would not be a deaf mute,” Hill exclaimed. He wanted to find a way to transplant into the child’s mind the burning desire to convey sound to his brain without the aid of ears.

Through a positive mental attitude and a burning desire for a specific outcome, Hill set about helping Blair. As soon as he was old enough, his father filled his mind with a burning desire to hear. Every day, Napoleon renewed the pledge he made to himself, not to accept a deaf mute for a son.

Napoleon’s plan included: creating bedtime stories for Blair with themes designed to develop in him self-reliance, imagination, and a keen desire to hear and to be normal, as well as to establish the belief that his affliction was not a liability, but an asset of great value.

PHD STUDY CAN HELP THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED

Blind or visually impaired persons access documents by using a screen reader that reads a text out loud or displays it on a special hardware braille device. However, a large body of technical and scientific material remains inaccessible to them because mathematical equations and diagrams are represented as images and not as text that a screen reader can read.

This is according to Dr Rynhardt Kruger who recently obtained his doctorate in Electronic Engineering at Stellenbosch University (SU). For his PhD, titled technical document accessibility, Kruger developed methods that could make it easier for blind or visually impaired people to read non-textual graphical information in electronic documents.

As someone who was born blind, Kruger says he knows first-hand how difficult it is to read equations and diagrams in scientific documents. “During my studies, it was not always easy to access the material in my textbooks. I realised that many technical documents do not adhere to existing accessibility standards for blind or visually impaired people.” Despite this, Kruger became the first blind person at SU to obtain both his BSc honours and master’s degrees in computer science. For his Honours project, he developed a programme that allows blind musicians to study music notation. For his master’s degree, Kruger researched methods to allow blind people to access online virtual worlds.

He is passionate about broadening access for people with disabilities and says it is important to continuously search for assistive technologies that blind or visually impaired people can use to read equations and diagrams in scientific texts.

Next, Blair devoted a full month to researching Dictograph’s marketing system and to devising a two-year plan for reaching out to those with hearing difficulties worldwide. Accepting Blair’s proposal, Dictograph promptly hired him to implement the new plan. Thus, Blair’s long journey to wholeness found fruition, as his seeming limitation finally, through faith and perseverance, was converted into a priceless asset, of value not just to himself, but to multitudes.

Life Lesson: The starting point of all achievement is to have a burning desire, followed by a persistent desire, backed up with enduring faith and belief. No matter what happen to us, our thinking and thoughts make us who we become.

Who was Napoleon Hill? In 1937, Napoleon Hill published his most famous work, Think and Grow Rich, which remains one of the leading books on personal motivation and self-help to this day.

Hill’s focus was not simply wealth, however; he provided tips and ideas for achieving any goal through self-confidence, enthusiasm, cooperation and tolerance.

ZANDRIA-SIMONE POST

ROAD TO THE CROWN

Bloubergstrand’s own gorgeous Zandria-Simone Post can now add Mrs South Africa Semi-finalist to her impressive resume as she joins the class of 2023.

Following the announcement, the semi-finalists took part in a jam-packed two-day conference filled with motivational talks, workshops, upskilling sessions, socialising and networking opportunities, and an introduction to the famous Mrs SA sisterhood.

“I expected this result as God has placed me in this amazing opportunity, and I am working towards the crown, at the end, so Semi-finals is the first step getting there,” Zandria-Simone said.

Mrs South Africa is foremost a self-discovery and empowerment programme that celebrates diversity, ambition, and confidence while showcasing some of the country’s most phenomenal and talented women, and giving them the skills and tools needed to achieve their dreams.

Sharing more about her decision to enter, Post says, “After years of procrastinating this destiny that was put aside for my life, I finally had no more excuses. I decided that this is my calling and I will follow it. After 13 years of not being a mother, I feel I share the heartache of infertile woman and I want to do my part in creating hope for these women out there. If I can contribute to helping just one woman to carry the title of a mother, my journey was completed and successful.”

As part of her journey, she hopes to take the title of Mrs South Africa and part of this journey she wants to create awareness on anxiety and fear and most of all awareness and support systems for people suffering from infertility. She wants to support and advocate for Fertility clinics and support further studies in this field.

Zandria-Simone Post fully embodies the values that Mrs SA holds most dear, and is representative of their tagline for the year: #EveryWoman. Be sure to follow Post’s journey on the Mrs South Africa Instagram and Facebook pages.

Discover the Western Cape with Cape Cycle Routes

There are few things more immersive than cycling through nature, the call of the wide open spaces allowing you to truly experience the majesty of a place.

Cape Cycle Routes allows you to immerse yourself in the heart of the Western Cape with its five routes showcasing the majesty of the province’s regions.

The Cross Cape, Karoo Crossing, Overberg Meander, Cycle Tour 364 and the Cederberg Circuit allows for intrepid adventurers to discover the six regions in the Western Cape like never before.

From the lush greens and wide-open spaces of the Garden Route and Klein Karoo to the awe-inspiring valleys of the Cape Overberg, from the majestic mountains and vineyards of the Cape Winelands to the wide open spaces of the Cape Karoo and the Cape West Coast (Weskus), the Mother City and all its splendours, the routes are as diverse and beautiful as the regions they travel through.

It’s a true journey of the senses, with plenty of adventures in store for cyclists and explorers alike, and there is no better way to discover the majesty and beauty of Cape Town and the Western Cape.

Cycle Tour 364

Cycle Tour 364 takes you over 123.3km through all the trendiest Cape Town hotspots, over Chapman’s Peak to the Cape Point Nature Reserve, and back again. Filled with awe-inspiring views, intense hill climbs and unforgettable adventures. The route mimics that of the iconic Cape Town Cycle Tour.

Cross Cape

The Cross Cape cycle route takes you over a distance of 742km through four distinct geographical areas of the Cape, each of which offers a multitude of invigorating and unique experiences.

Karoo Crossing

The Karoo Crossing takes you on a 358km adventure as you journey through towns each with its unique charm, winding historic mountain passes and semi-desert plateaus.

Overberg Meander

The Overberg Meander takes you over a distance of 364km through historic towns, passing through the Southern-most point of Africa and with stretches of unspoilt beauty.

Cederberg Circuit

Cederberg Circuit takes you over 247km through winding historical mountain passes, historic rock art and past crystal clear rivers and luscious nature reserves.

New Wedding Services for 2023 | at Benguela Cove

Did you know, you can get married at Benguela Cove Wine Estate, and save on venue hire fees? Couples planning a wedding in 2023 are invited to meet with Megan Lockwood, who has joined Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate as weddings and conference coordinator. Megan is advising on the new range of event facilities and attractively-priced packages at the vineyard estate. She says: “Arranging a wedding or even a large conference can be stressful. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s best to start planning and visit venues as soon as possible, even if the event is in the spring or summer of next year. First, decide on your vision for the day. As a Hermanus wine farm, Benguela Cove offers a stunning oceanfront location, as well as the space and flexibility to create a classic or contemporary style for your big day, whatever your vision.”

“Whether you want it to be small and simple or major and magnificent, you should decide the kind of vibe that you want from the outset. Then, when planning details like invitations, food and décor, you can make sure they reflect your vision.”

The estate offers a variety of locations for daytime and evening weddings. This includes seating for up to 180 guests in the Moody Lagoon restaurant, as well as for 100 people in the Barrel Room for a vineyard theme. The Vinotheque room has seating for 12 guests for more intimate dining. Other choices include a braai and beach-side event, as well as a range of internal and outdoor areas. Couples can discuss their dining preferences with resident chef Annie Badenhorst. She can advise on menu selections, including halal and vegetarian options, and choices from the best South African wines.

A further consideration is where to stay the night before and on the day of the wedding itself: “On the estate we have luxurious accommodation for up to 32 people in four oceanside villas, each with a fully-equipped, modern kitchen for self-catering, a pool and braai. So, you could book for both families to ensure everyone is close by on the big day, and turn it into a lovely holiday.”

An onsite generator ensures that if there is a power outage, electricity is automatically restored, within 30 seconds, to the whole of the hospitality area, including restaurants and facilities.

Creative marketplace| for all things handmade

Guests can book a variety of activities for their stay, such as visiting the Art of Living Exhibition, a pontoon boat trip with wine tasting on the lagoon, dining at the new seafood and oyster bar on the estate, and guided tours of the winery and vineyards.

They can also take advantage of the year-round events calendar. Starting in March, there is a salsa dance night every Saturday at 18:00, with live music, cocktails, and food. ‘Bottomless Bubbly, Mimosas, and Live Music’ is also available at the Hermanus restaurant every Saturday and Sunday from 09:30 to 12:00, as well as every public holiday except Christmas Day.

There are still a few places left at the Hermanus wine farm for the annual harvest lunch in March. Guests are invited to take part in grape picking in the morning beginning at 10:30, followed by lunch at 12:00 and live music from 13:00 to 16:00.

For more information visit www.benguelacove.co.za/wedding-venue

Crowdgifting| solutions for family and friends

Clubbing together to get a perfect gift for an anniversary, birthday or special occasion is hardly a new challenge; what is new is that tech-savvy South Africans can now use an innovative digital platform to set up or participate in ‘crowdgifting’ solutions for family and friends’ memorable life-stage milestones.

ChipIn – which is one of Brand Hubb Group’s (BHG) growing list of e-commerce properties – is among the easiest-to-use and most cost-effective gifting services available to local consumers today; and is making waves by changing how South Africans buy and give gifts.

Choosing an impactful gift is as simple as logging into the ChipIn platform and buying or contributing to a gift that has been pre-selected by the giftee, or recipient of a gift. The experience ensures that users ‘get that feeling’ associated with choosing and gifting a desired, meaningful item.

Moksi offers a delightful shopping experience to buy unique crafts from the Creative Entrepreneurs of South Africa.

Moksi was born in 2022 out of a passion for craft and business, and the desire to help South African Creative Entrepreneurs grow. “We believe that there is nothing better than owning something uniquely handmade by a skilled artisan. Some of the most desired brands still stand by the allure word of ‘handmade’ which is coupled with that of quality.”

With over 3,000 beautifully crafted products to choose from, this platform is the perfect shopping place for unique, creative and, off course, handmade products. With categories covering home décor, clothing, jewellery, art, accessories, pets and even handmade consumables such as mushroom biltong, you can rest assured that there is something for everyone!

Moksi has partnered with some of the finest Creators all over South Africa and the product range is growing daily. As you browse through the range of products, you can appreciate the thought, design, hours, and creative process that led to the eventual completion of the craft. Moksi invites Creators from South Africa to join their platform to gain exposure and sales.

The quality of the products is uncompromised, and the authenticity is guaranteed. Now buy and sell handmade items on Moksi to satisfy your craft and art aesthetics. Browse through thousands of handmade items in various categories. Hundreds of Creators have contributed the unique handmade creations on Moksi for you to buy online.

Buying authentic handmade crafts has become easier with Moksi, as we make the process easier, safer, quicker and transparent.

For more information visit www.moksi.co.za

This changes thanks to ChipIn, which empowers the giftee, or the person organising an event on his or her behalf, to register online and set up a wish list of suitable items. “You can think of ChipIn as a virtual store, pre-stocked with the goods that the giftee really wants. Each gift-giver is able to select and pay for an item on a pre-populated wish list or make a cash contribution towards it. And thus, gift-givers ensure that giftees also ‘get that feeling’ of receiving the perfect gift,” says Rob Anderson, CEO of BHG.

For more information visit www.chipin.co.za

ChipIn is an online solution that unites the gift-giver and gift-receiver around the common goal of a perfect gifting experience. It makes the gift-giver’s life simpler by removing the need to shop in the physical world and strips out the uncertainty of scanning thousands of pages of goods online by providing a list of gifts, preapproved by the receiver.

Cape Town Cycle Tour Expo

Franschhoek to host

prestigious Concours Mondial du Sauvignon

The 2023 Concours Mondial du Sauvignon will take place from 13-17 March 2023 in Franschhoek. A total of 35 international judges will be hosted in Franschhoek for five days with tasting sessions over three days, as well as excursions to Sauvignon Blanc areas such as Durbanville and Constantia Wine Valley.

The Cape Town Cycle Tour Lifecycle Expo is South Africa’s leading cycling, health and fitness exhibition. It serves as the only registration venue for the Cape Town Cycle Tour, with thousands of excited cyclists passing through the Expo. Their family and friends and Expo visitors also come along, adding another 15 000 to 20 000 visitors to the event.

Many products are available for a highly focussed audience of individuals, who have been thinking of this event since they entered in late September. They have been training, keeping fit, eating well and are knowledgeable of the sport and fitness in general. The Cape Town Cycle Tour contributes significantly to the tourism industry of the Western Cape, bringing many families from outside of Cape Town to visit our beautiful city.

Over the years many new products have been launched at the Expo, some cycling or health specific and many others from every day industries such as communications, general health products to financial products.

“As an organising team, we offer a professional service made up of industry leaders in a world-class venue. Many of our clients have been with us from inception in 1990. We look forward to welcoming you to the Cape Town Cycle Tour Expo.”

The Expo will run from Thursday, 9 March – Saturday, 11 March 2023, with the Cycle Tour taking place on Sunday, 12 March.

Tokara Rare Plant Fair

The competition is hosted by the cultivar association Sauvignon Blanc South Africa in partnership with national, as well as international partners. Platinum partners are the National Convention Bureau, WESGRO, Vinventions and Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and bronze partners are Boutes, Tonnellerie Garonnaise, Tonnellerie Sylvain, Enartis, Beveratech, FNB, Porex and Hillebrand GORI.

“As a platinum partner and company invested in wine, we highly value our customers, our people, and our business partners,” says Johan Conradie from Vinventions. “Together with you, we want to write a story of success. A story that connects all of us across the globe, a story that inspires and exceeds our customers’ expectations. Together with Concours Mondial du Sauvignon we want to foster our relationship with Sauvignon Blanc and be part of that success story in helping these wines to succeed in the marketplace.”

V&A Waterfront Kids Market

The V&A Kids Market is an exciting platform for children to showcase their creative businesses to the greater V&A Waterfront community – and make money too! The previous markets had kids selling their handmade products, while learning what it takes to run a profitable venture from a young age, and the kids had loads of fun doing it!

“Catch them at the V&A Waterfront from 10h00 to 15h00, our young entrepreneurs are excited to show and sell some of the cuties, tastiest and most creative goodies for you to enjoy!” Market Dates: 25 March, 8 – 9 April

For more information contact (021) 408 7600

Africa Energy Indaba

The Africa Energy Indaba 2023 will be an in-person event, with all conference sessions, side events and the exhibition taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) between 7 – 9 March 2023.

Africa Energy Indaba Conference: 7 – 8 March 2023

Experience Tokara in all its autumn splendour when this acclaimed Stellenbosch family wine and olive estate opens its extensive farm garden to the public for the annual Rare Plant Fair on Saturday, 22 April 2023.

Meander through tranquil walks dotted with sculptures by local artists, while taking in the magnificent vistas over the large garden dam. The dedicated indigenous garden, textures in the cork oak forest and the fresh scents wafting from the terraces of the picking garden will captivate all the senses.

The latest addition to the farm’s inspiring collection of natural marvels is the indigenous Adamastor Moss Garden. The serene space, inspired by ancient gardens of Zen Buddhist monks, is 100% local with all the rocks and moss originating within a few kilometres away. Created by international moss gardener Gert van Tonder, it shares the beauty, humility and harmony of the Zen gardens of Japan, yet is quintessentially Tokara. As the moss garden takes shape, you can see how local sandstone and granite blend with indigenous mosses and fynbos to recreate the ambiance of an ancient Japanese garden.

Other enchanting secrets worth discovering are the inspiring vegetable garden, wetlands and the gurgling mountain stream flowing into soothing lily ponds. The wide variety of plants on sale, from indigenous flora such as fynbos and proteas to the more exotic, will appeal to all garden enthusiasts. Besides coffee and other refreshments, Tokara will be well represented with their elegant wines and awardwinning extra virgin olive oils.

For more information visit www.tokara.com

Modern, affordable, reliable and sustainable energy is critical for economic growth and the provision of access to modern energy contributes tremendously to improved health care, better education and opens up economic opportunities in both urban and rural areas in Africa. The Africa Energy Indaba is the definitive energy conference for Africa, providing an annual programme that shapes energy policy for the African continent. The 15th Africa Energy Indaba Conference will discuss, debate and seek solutions to enable adequate energy generation across the continent. Delegates, drawn from all continents, represent an unrivalled combination of industry experts, project developers, financiers, energy users, government officials and manufacturers.

Africa Energy Indaba Exhibition: 7 – 9 March 2023

The Africa Energy Indaba Exhibition, taking place alongside the annual Conference, provides you with an excellent opportunity to showcase your products and services to decision-makers and influencers from the power & electricity industry in the region and Africa. The Africa Energy Indaba Exhibition is relevant to companies involved, showcasing solutions for the benefit of Africa.

Dress up and win with AFRICANX

Celebrating its 13th anniversary at the iconic Houw Hoek Hotel the weekend of 17 – 19 March 2023, SA’s premier threeday stage trail run, the AFRICANX TRAILRUN will once again close off on a high note with entrants vying for the coveted title of “Best Dressed Team” on Sunday during the third and final stage of the event.

“Dress Up Day is one of the many highlights of the AFRICANX TRAILRUN,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Event Founder. “The competition is fierce, with trail runners pulling out all the stops to secure the coveted ‘Best Dressed Team’ title. The trail running community has a wicked sense of humour. In 2022 we had runners dressed as super-heroes, peacocks, beer ladies, doctors and nurses, firefighters, lifesavers, minions, even a boxer and his coach to mention just a few examples.”

“The Dress Up competition definitely brings additional excitement to the final stage of the AFRICANX TRAILRUN when runners are feeling tired after two consecutive days of running,” continues Meyer. “With Stage Three being the shortest of the three stages, Dress Up Day gives runners the boost needed to complete the stage on a high note. Runners are guaranteed to start the stage laughing. To be in the running to be crowned the best dressed team and win an entry into the 2024 AFRICANX TRAILRUN, we are looking for commitment and flair.”

“Both runners need to wear their outfits for the duration of the stage, from start to finish. Don’t leave it too late, get those creative juices flowing and close off the 2023 AFRICANX TRAILRUN in style by being the Best Dressed team.”

For more information visit www.stillwatersports.com

U17 Boys race announced for Cape Town Cycle Tour

The Cape Town Cycle Tour is pleased to announce the addition of a U/17 Boys race into the 2023 Cycle Tour line-up. This means that Cape Town Cycle Tour Sunday will now feature an elite men’s race, an elite women’s race, a U/17 Girls race in the 42km Cape Town Cycle Tour, a U/15 Boys race in the 42km Cape Town Cycle Tour and the U/17 Boys race.

As always, the men’s elite race will take place over the traditional 109km route with the women’s 78km elite race starting in Fish Hoek and ending in Green Point.

The new U/17 Boys race will also take place on the 78km route, with the boys starting at 6am in Fish Hoek. All entrant hopefuls into the Boys U/17 race need to be registered with Cycling South Africa (CSA). UCI rules will apply.

With the Cape Town Cycle Tour celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2023, the inclusion of a new distance (the 42km Cycle Tour) and multiple age-group events cements the event’s commitment to developing a culture of cycling not just in Cape Town but, across South Africa.

“This is a very exciting development for the Cape Town Cycle Tour,” says David Bellairs of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, the organisers of the Cape Town Cycle Tour. “We have worked with Cycling South Africa on the concept, and we believe a U/17 Boys race will spur our young riders into action. Cycling is a sport and hobby that can be done for life; with these age-group categories, we’re really trying to create a culture of bike riding that starts at a young age. Of course, having a U/17 Boys race also gives us an opportunity to celebrate our best young cyclists and to help them prepare for elite racing.”

Photo: Firefighters, Justin and Mieke Roome - Photo Credit: Chris Hitchcock

Photo Credit: Volume Photography