The SA issue 26 by The South African Magazine

The

Issue number 026 April/May 2012

South African

CONNECTING SOUTH AFRICA AND NEW ZEALAND

Inside:

Great SA Dancers:

Juliet Prowse see page 12

SAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bravest Cartoonist:

Zapiro

see page 13

Free

The

South African

From the editor We have recently come back from a trip to Europe, especially Holland. We went to a very large immigration expo in Amsterdam and met hundreds of people that want to immigrate out of Holland to find new lives elsewhere. The people we met had already visited New Zealand and some had relatives here. This is so different to South Africa where 98% of the interested immigrants do not know anything about New Zealand beside what they have read and on the internet. It was very refreshing. The sad part of the expo is that so many people in the Euro Zone are looking abroad to change their lives because of lack of jobs and political instability. This gives me confidence about New Zealand and Australia which have fared far better during the recession than Europe and America. Right now the New Zealand economy is destined to improve over the next 4 years on the back of the global economy, as well as the Christchurch re-build and the housing shortage. Some are saying that residential property will double in the next 5 years, so rents will not drop, but increase slowly over that period. I believe commercial property development will slowly follow. So is the current government doing well? I think so, and it is going to be difficult cutting jobs and tightening belts; however, it is necessary in order for us to move forward. I do not know a business that has not cut overheads during this recession and a country is no different. We have not been forced to do this, like Greece has, but we need to reduce the overseas borrowing by selling off state owned assets which will definitely help with the balancing of the books. The best example of this strategy that I was taught many years ago was when Checkers & Pick n Pay signed 20-year leases with new landlords and then sold the properties they occupied and owned. Raymond Ackerman said:- “Our business is in supermarkets not property; we can make more money selling food than we can owning property.” Makes you think, doesn’t it? Once again we have a full magazine with lots of variety. Happy Reading Regards

Peter Woodberg

The

South African PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Peter Woodberg e-mail : jepwood@xtra.co.nz; mob: 0274 520 794 CO-EDITOR & ADVERTISING

Ted Woodberg e-mail: tedw@orcon.net.nz; mob: 021 027 030 11 ADDRESS

The South African, P.O.Box 300 155, Albany, AUCKLAND 0752 17 Corinthian Drive, Albany, AUCKLAND, 0630 JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!

Click on http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-SouthAfrican-Magazine/194177903992955 and continue “Like” this page CLUBS & ASSOCIATIONS

The SANZ Charitable Trust – George Deeb Tel: 09-486 1415 e-mail: george@georgedeeb.co.nz The SANZ Social Club – Natalie Sparg Mob: 021 659069 e-mail: info@spargsautotune.co.nz The SANZ Biznet Group – Richard Pearce Mob: 0275 357535 e-mail: r.pearce2@barfoot.co.nz Die Afrikaanse Klub – Thys Oosthuizen e-mail: die.afrikaanse.klub@clear.net.nz THE SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH COMMISSION, WELLINGTON

Tel: 04 815 8484 Level 7, State Insurance Tower, 1 Willis Street, Wellington. e-mail: consular@sahcwellington.co.nz MISSION STATEMENT

“The South African Magazine shall provide current, high quality, relevant editorial on subjects relating to the links between South Africa and New Zealand. It shall be the vehicle for SA immigrants living in NZ to integrate socially with their own community and to advertise their products and services.” All rights reserved “The South African” is subject to copyright in its entirety. The contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or in part without the consent of the Editor. Opinions expressed in the magazine are those of its contributors and not necessarily those of the Editor. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, the Editor assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences of reliance on this publication.

                                                                                           

The

South African LEGAL UPDATE: EMPLOYMENT LAW

Who says the grass is always greener on the other side? In this issue our in-house employment law expert Eska Hartdegen explores the pitfalls of taking on lucrative jobs in foreign countries.

n the October 2011 article of the magazine, we explored the risks for immigrants who apply for jobs from overseas countries such as South Africa and, who on moving to New Zealand find to their detriment that promises made do not always materialise.

In 1966, oil was discovered in the Middle East. This led to a massive influx of foreign workers. In 1971 the modern emirate of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and four other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates. In 1979 a free trade zone was created, allowing foreign companies unrestricted import of labour and export capital. Today, cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which is one of the world’s largest producers of oil, have grown into cosmopolitan metropolises. Tourism has boomed, and with that so has construction projects. With the downturn in the global economy and a rise in unemployment, tax free high-paying jobs in the Emirates attract more ex-patriots than ever, with around 4,000 New Zealanders in the UAE at any one time, and up to 100,000 South Africans living and working there. A recent employment case decided in the Employment Relations Authority illustrates the devastating consequences for a family when a New Zealand employer did not ensure that their employee had a work permit to work in Abu Dhabi before relocating him and his wife, and they did not inform the Abu Dhabi Company that he had a medical condition. The employee had signed an individual employment agreement which included the following clause: “The offer of employment is based on information provided by the employee in the employee’s application form, resume, pre-employment questionnaire and formal job interview(s). If any false or misleading information was given or any material facts suppressed, then the employee may be dismissed for serious misconduct.” The job offer was for a one-year fixed term contract, on a tax-free monthly salary of 7,000 Euro, plus accommodation costs paid and paid return flights to New Zealand annually for holidays. On applying for the job, the employee had informed the employer of his medical condition, which was fully medicated and posed no problem to him doing the job. The employee and his wife sold their car at a loss, put their furniture into storage, and his wife resigned from her 8-year long permanent employment. An arrangement with IRD meant that that no tax would be payable in New Zealand on the proviso that the employee could not return to New Zealand for more than 40 days in any one year. The employee’s work visa was to be stamped into his passport on arrival in Abu Dhabi, but this did not happen. Once there, he was required to work without a visa, on the understanding it had been applied for, but he was working illegally. During their five months there, the employee was under constant threat of arrest for working illegally. On one occasion, as a precaution, he was taken off-site for two weeks when the Immigration Department came to inspect the

Eska Hartdegen

site. Because their visitors’ visas had to be renewed every 30 days, they had to endure border runs into Oman so that on their return into Abu Dhabi they would be given new visitors’ visas in order to stay in UAE “legally”. One morning the employee was simply removed from the site apparently due to his medical condition, which his employer had not declared to the company in Abu Dhabi, but which they had found out about; soon after they were flown back to New Zealand, where they could only stay for 40 days. Having no other choice, they went to their daughter in Australia, where the employee was not registered to work. He was paid notice, but he was not paid for the remaining 6 months of his contract, being a sum of 42,000 Euro or $67,000. The employee lost the case, with the Authority deciding that the employer had not failed in its duty for not informing the Abu Dhabi Company that the employee suffered from a medical condition and $2,000 was awarded to the employer as a contribution to legal costs. The moral: take advice before accepting a job offer in the Middle East when the employer is a New Zealand company.

The

South African

Out of Africa 2012

Report back by the organisers, Analie and Braam Swanepoel

Many thanks to everyone who made the time to come out and enjoy all the great food and entertainment on this day. It started off slowly with a few raindrops falling down early morning. The whole atmosphere came alive when the air was filled with the smell of pancakes with cinnamon, boerewors, and great samosas and bunny chows! During lunch time, the Lamb on the Spit was a hit and people queued up for lamb, pap and salad. Inside the people gathered around craft stalls, with some great African crafts on display. The live entertainment outside was great. We had some excellent feedback and we also took note of some suggestions that were made by those attending that we will definitely put in place next year to make the event bigger and better than ever. Our hearts are for people young and old to have a fun day out with family and friends and to meet and greet other South Africans. We are in the process of planning to relocate the event to a more open, convenient area, which will be more accessible for all. So look out for our updates!

BELOW: Little Miss and Little Mr Out of Africa 2012 were crowned for the first time, and we had entries from 1 year old, through to 10 years. Here Our Little Miss Out of Africa 2012 was crowned.

BELOW: Jurie Els entertained young and old with some great songs.

It was once again a day with traditional flavours to it, and we are looking forward to this yearly event.

The traditional Boeresport attract a few brave contestants

The

South African

Record crowds attended this year’s festival that was held on Saturday 10th March 2012 at the Browns Bay Municipal Showgrounds, Inverness Road.

t was “standing room only” on every patch of grass unless you managed to hi-jack a chair from somewhere! Local fans from all parts of Africa ignored the overcast weather and descended en-masse on the venue to create the biggest crowd ever seen at this annual function that has been running for over seven years now.

Every type of South African food from potjie-kos to pannekoek was available if you were prepared to stand in long queues! The flea-market stalls abounded and the African music pounded amidst the wafting smoke and unmistakable smell of the braais that kept the spare ribs and borewors rolls flowing. Everything African was available for sale from art to music and even everyday groceries that you don’t find normally here in NZ. The Cairo to Cape Town Festival is organized by the Browns Bay Municipality. The authority on selling businesses

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VE THIS AD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. NOTE THAT ANY ALTERATIONS MUST BE FINALISED BY OUR MATERIAL DEADLINE.

Buddy’s motors means quality repairs in any language! Whether you speak English or Afrikaans, we know exactly what you want! You want the best automotive repair service in Auckland, and that is exactly what we deliver. Buddy’s Motors doesn’t go in for unnecessary and expensive repairs, just great service and highly competitive pricing.

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Owned and operated by our team Bulla, Jan, Riaan and Rosemary, Buddy’s has the latest diagnostic tools for quick trouble shooting. Bulla has 21 years of international a n d Ne w Ze a l a n d experience as an automotive technician (including Mercedes Benz) and he is ably assisted by Riaan, our topflight auto electrician and Jan, our WOF inspector and automotive specialist. Rosemary is also a qualified motor mechanic although she now focuses on the admin side. Her simple explanations in plain English/Afrikaans are highly appreciated by most customers! “Since taking over, our team has noticed some recurrent themes in the vehicles they service and repair,” she says. “We do a huge number of repairs for serious issues that could have been avoided with early maintenance. Problems arise from not doing basic things like using antifreeze, changing the brake fluid, or doing a yearly oil change and engine flush.” Her advice is that you should always service small faults before they become major problems. “Corrosion, leakages and replacement radiators are way more expensive to have fixed and we’d much rather see people invest in a little timely maintenance than have to face huge repairs down the track,” she says. “When you book your car in, Buddy’s can provide you with a courtesy car (on request) to keep you on the road. We also offer a drop off/pick up facility. Buddys is very central - just a short walk to Pak ‘n Save, Glenfield and close to the motorway interchange, so you can get your vehicle serviced or get a WOF while grocery shopping or grabbing a meal nearby. Buddy’s Motors is at 237 Archers Road, Glenfield. Phone 444-4547.

The

South African NEW PROPERTY GROUP FOR AUCKLAND

Passive Income is the pathway to retirement! R

From Left to Right: Gary Duberly, John Vincent, Gary Hey, George Deeb, Neil Clark, Peter Woodberg

ecently a number of professionals got together to form an association to assist people to put this theory into practice. Most people have heard the word “passive income” being bandied about, but they do not necessarily know how to acquire it, and most importantly, how safe is it?

What is passive income? It is income received on a regular basis, with little effort required to maintain it. Some examples of passive income are: 1) Earnings from a business that does not require direct involvement from the business owner. 2) Rent from property 3) Dividends & Interest on investments likes stocks, securities & bonds. The professional group are individuals who run their own businesses but who would like to create a one stop investment shop for all those that are thinking ahead about their savings and passive income investments. Most do not know how to do this and we will show you how. When you invest or save you need to have the right vehicle, family trusts, partnerships, wills, company formation and so on. The group is made up of a lawyer, George Deeb, a mortgage broker, Gary Hey, an Insurance consultant Neil Clark, an accountant John Vincent and a property and business broker Peter Woodberg. The object is to tailor make the investment to the individual, as one size does not fit all. The group will undertake to convene mini-seminars in order to educate would-be investors; where they should invest and how, and then conduct one-on-one personalised coaching to assist the unique investment vehicle for that particular investor. In order to properly assess each individual, the group will take into consideration age, aspirations and the money required

at a certain age to continue to support their current lifestyle at retirement age of say, 65 or 70. The younger you are the better but there is still hope for the slightly older generation to get their passive income in place before their retirement. In Robert Kiyosaki’s book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” as well as Harv Eker’s the “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind,” both authors say that one of the biggest reasons why people do not provide for their future is that they do not take action, often because of lack of knowledge and apathy. You have to want to do it. With the group we will give you the knowledge to make the right decisions for a comfortable future. If you are an investor that needs assistance please contact one of the group and ask about the next seminar. Spouses are encouraged to participate together as this is one of the most important commitments you will make for your future. George Deeb george@georgedeeb.co.nz Gary Hays gary.hey@mortgagepeople.co.nz Neil Clark neil@hwp.co.nz John Vincent john@dva.co.nz Peter Woodberg jepwood@xtra.co.nz

Let the experts take you on Safari. Making tracks to Africa? South African Airways offers direct non-stop flights out of Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg, with convenient code-share connections from New Zealand. We can get you to South Africa faster. Once you’re there we offer more African flight connections than any other airline so you can easily get to where you need to go. So visit www.flysaa.com or your local travel agent or call us on 09 977 2237 to get started on your adventure today.

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25/05/11 12:49 PM

The

South African

from here to there... we’ve got the gear

Top Gear – the destination for outdoor gear Calling all South Africans….keep in touch! Over the past decade, New Zealand has become an increasingly popular ‘place to call home’ for our South African compatriots. One of the key factors in this attraction is the proximity of natural landscapes and wilderness, and the outdoor opportunities such landscapes provide.

“Finding financial solutions” ...and many more top brands

The market leader in specialist knives and cutting tools Rosedale Plaza, Unit 5, 215 Rosedale Road, Albany Phone: 09 415 8145 www.top-gear.co.nz

Our in-house financial expert, Braam Swanepoel of Kingdom Financial Services will be embarking on an interesting series of articles that will be lifechanging and of interest to all of our readers. Here is his first contribution:It is often said, ‘The only constant thing in life is change!’ Everyone needs change in order to move forward. Your Financial Planning both personally and in business is no different. Those who embrace change will understand the importance of future-proofing. The key questions every individual and business owner must ask is ‘how will my personal situation or business adapt to change if I do not?’ and ‘do you as an individual or business owner fully understand the financial services and products that you have in place?’

Mortimer Hirst has been the Eyecare and Eyewear practice of choice for the discerning patient since 1951. Providing expert clinical care and advice, Mortimer Hirst continues the tradition of being a leading independent practice in New Zealand specialising in clinical eyecare, contact lenses and handpicked eyewear collections. Theo, Mykita, Dita, ic! Berlin, Oliver Goldsmith, Lindberg, Paul Smith, Oliver Peoples, Gucci, Ray Ban, Lafont, Tom Ford, Roberto Cavalli to name but a few.

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9 HI GH S TR E E T, A U C KL A N D C B D | TE L. 0 9 3 7 9 8 9 5 0 14 MAHEKE STREET, ST HELIERS, AUCKLAND | TEL. 09 575 8650 E M A I L . I N FO@ MOR TI ME R HI R S T. C O. N Z | W W W. M O R T I M E R H I R S T. C O . N Z

The

South African Much like Africa, it’s a landscape of wild oceans and tranquil lakes, isolated beaches and forests, and lofty mountain ranges. In New Zealand, however, these ‘wild places’ are only a short drive away from any city, and pursuits such as hunting, fishing, hiking, orienteering and climbing are available to all. We see many South Africans at our Top Gear store in Rosedale Road, as yours is an outdoor culture – cut from the same cloth as the locals. We’re regularly told that our selection of outdoor gear, which includes tools and knives, is, in many ways, a reminder of home and, perhaps

more than anyone else, our South African friends understand the value of high-quality outdoor gear in a demanding environment. Top Gear stocks a variety of home-grown and well-known South African products, including Warthog sharpening systems, which are rapidly becoming more popular than the benchmark Lansky. Top Gear is New Zealand’s premier outdoor gear provider and we specialise in catering to all your outdoor needs; from backpacking and tramping to tactical and survival gear; sports watches, torches, sharpeners and headlamps;

not to mention offering one of Australasia’s largest selections of quality cutting tools and knives. Feel free to stop in for a chat and peruse some of the 3000 quality outdoor products we have in stock. Visit Top Gear at 215 Rosedale Road, Albany, Auckland 0632, or visit www.top-gear.co.nz. We will ship any item of stock to any destination in the world, including to your family and friends in South Africa!

“A big part of financial freedom is having your heart and mind free from worry about the what-ifs of life.” Suze Orman If the answer to either of these questions is ‘yes’ then are you truly placing yourself, your family and your business in the best possible position to make the most of the various opportunities available in today’s ever changing world? Over the next few issues we will explore what you as the end user should expect from all of your Advisors; whether they are your Accountant, Solicitor, Financial Advisor, Mortgage Broker, Insurance and Risk Advisor or Trust professional. All have a role to play and unless you understand these roles, are you really in control? By the way you also have a role to play and this will also be covered. I intend to take you on a journey, so keep an eye out as every issue will provide you with ‘Simple Solutions with Vision’.

At Kingdom Financial Services and with over 20 years of financial experience, we have been helping individuals and companies (large and small), develop good financial principles and planning. Our seven fold structure includes: -

Protecting your loved one’s Financial Freedom Mortgage Structuring Health Care

- Restructuring of ACC levies - Peace of Mind - Seven Sound Business Principles

For more information contact Braam Swanepoel 09 440 9029 Email braam@kingdomfs.co.nz Web www.kingdomfs.co.nz

Why rental properties remain vacant too long Renting a property quickly to the right tenant is essentially the most Licensed REAA (2008) important task any agent can do for their client, however, we find there are a number of factors that can cause a property to remain vacant for longer than desired. Professional Property Management With these factors in mind, we can improve the chances of renting a property quicker and for the right market rent by being aware. Let’s & Body Corporate Management Swanepoel & Theuns Lubbe / Kingdom Financial Services Ltd - new brand identity / Half page ad - school journal - concept 1 take a look at some of these Braam factors : Established for over 30 years The market rent is too high- with easy internet search functions allowing prospective tenants to become quickly aware of comparable Our large team of licensed Property Managers and Letting properties for rent in the area, tenants are more educated on market Agents manage more than 1500 properties Auckland wide. rents than ever before. For every week it is vacant it costs 2% of your annual rental income, therefore getting it priced right, and renting it quickly is everybody’s business! North Shore Property Management specialist Presentation problems- first impressions are everything and poor Melissa Geers garden presentation, ‘tired’ rental properties with poor paintwork, old carpets and out-dated décor can deter good tenants who want to make a home out of the property and judge what they see first. If it looks unattractive and neglected they will drive right on by, unless it is the only property available in the area. Oversupply- sometimes there are more properties available than prospective tenants. This could occur for seasonal reasons or as a result of a number of developments in the area flooding the market with vacant properties. Having a tenant sign a lease that ends in a high demand time, and also being aware of developments occurring in the area can assist us to possibly avoid this vacancy issue. For Melissa's expertise: Local facilities- being close to facilities like shopping centres, transport, health care and education are factors prospective tenants look for, so Phone DDI: (09) 6382515 or Mobile: 021-02065670 when you are considering your next investment property, forgo the or email: melissa@aucklandproperty.net temptation of ‘just chasing a bargain’ and think ‘location’ as a key determining factor. Properties purchased in the right area tend to have a very short vacancy period. Put Your Property in Our Hands Please Note: The above assumes normal market conditions apply.

Web site : www.aucklandproperty.net

The

South African

Always love your dog hen I was a little boy, my Daddy said to me, “Boy, you must always love W your dog.” And I used to say “Why, Daddy?” And my Daddy used to say “Because boy, your dog loves to lie beside you.” And I said, “OK, Daddy. I will always let him lie beside me.” Then my Daddy said: “If he gets hungry you must feed him.” And I said: “How will I know when he is hungry, Daddy?” “Because he will come and lie beside you, boy.” “Ok. And what if I get hungry too?” My Daddy said:” Then you must still get up and feed your dog, boy, even if you are hungry.” And I said “Ok, but what if I get so hungry that I die, Daddy?” nd my Daddy used to say: “Don’t worry son, because even if you’re dead, A your dog will still come and lie beside you.” That is why you must always love your dog. Spell “dog” backwards, my Daddy always used to say. Author unknown.

The

South African

Running a home business in New Zealand Business expert and freelance consultant Heather Douglas, has some valuable thoughts on how to cope with a widely fluctuating income stream in your home business.

ew home businesses manage to avoid falling into the feast-or-famine trap, going from complete overload one week to a dearth of business the next. Larger companies also have busy and quiet times but the home business operator is more susceptible to these fluctuations as, being generally a one-person business, he or she cannot delegate any of the workload, and the cost and hassle of employing or contracting part-time assistance adds substantially to overheads and is often not cost-effective. Riding the income rollercoaster is not only stressful, it can impact significantly on the quality of work presented or the availability of the home business owner to regular clients who may expect a rapid response to an order or query, or need work done to deadline at short notice. When the operator is under pressure and unable to respond as Heather Douglas needed, the business can lose a good client, plunging it back into having to win new contracts when the volume of work drops off. More than that, because the home business person has typically been expending all their time and energy supplying the goods or services required during the peak time, he or she has not been marketing the business and often has no new work lined up when the busy period is over. How, then, can home business operators overcome the challenges of having too much work to handle one day, and not enough the next? It’s probably impossible to ensure a completely steady work or income flow if you are self-employed, but there are several steps which a home business owner can take to help even out the workflow and make life a bit easier. Deciding whether the reason you run your own business is just to give you an income - i.e. to be self-employed - or to build a bigger business is a critical part of the equation. It will help you determine whether you would like to use any excess work to grow your business, tactfully turn it away or find ways to deal with what you can’t handle. A range of practical things you can do to manage your work and income flow is listed below. You’ll find some of them contradictory - having a clear goal in mind will help you choose those that will work most effectively for your business. • Predict busy times, e.g. if the business is seasonal - and prepare for them by having help on standby, or a plan for dealing with overflow when it happens • Set your prices so that you can outsource tasks, subcontract or hire in part-timers to handle additional workload or administrative jobs without giving away all your profit • D iscourage clients who take lots of your time and earn you proportionally less income - and concentrate on winning more business from those who pay well, on time and with whom you can work efficiently • Market consistently even when you are busy - and especially before predicted quiet periods or well before the end of a project if you have nothing lined up to follow it • Tap into the efficiencies of automation (see last two issues) to gain more hours in the day without it having to cost you money to free up your time • Educate your clients and customers. There may be times when just

knowing when your busy times are can help them plan more effectively, or knowing how long a project takes from start to finish can help to ease the pressure on you • Offer an incentive to use your services or purchase your product when you are less busy - especially if you traditionally have identifiable periods when business is slack • Introduce a surcharge for work that has to be done to an unreasonable deadline - it often helps a client decide their work is not so urgent after all! • Network with trusted home businesses to find others who may be able to share your workload when you are busy and pass some of theirs along when you are not • Establish a regular newsletter or email newsletter to cross-sell your other services or products to existing customers - it will often bring in a steady trickle of business • It’s tempting to rope other family members in to help for little or no pay - before you do, make sure everyone is happy with this arrangement. It’s easy for them to become resentful if they feel their time and labour is taken for granted • Learn to say ‘no’ - and mean it - when you really can’t take on additional work • Use down time on strategic planning, marketing or administration which has been on the back burner while you’ve been busy • Learn to make the most of the busy times, save some of the extra income, and take time out to enjoy life when business is quiet recognise that the ups and downs are all part of being in business! This article was supplied by Home Business New Zealand, which provides free information, resources, support and networking opportunities to home businesses nation-wide. For more articles like this, visit www.homebizbuzz.co.nz.

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South African FAMOUS SOUTH AFRICAN PERFORMERS This highly talented lady, born of South African parents, spent the majority of her life on the overseas stage in a relentless search for the limelight and true international fame. She will never be forgotten as a true daughter of the “old country.”

Juliet Prowse

by Ted Woodberg

“

The stage bouncers stood aside as ‘blue eyes’ himself pushed towards the wings of the stage where the curtain had just fallen on the movie set of ‘Can-Can,’ a new Walter Lang film that was all the rage in 1959 on the Hollywood set, featuring a number of unknown but highly talented dancers. Frank Sinatra had his eyes on the tall, 1.8m leggy blonde who was laughing and hugging her fellow dancers in the aftermath of the show. He caught her eyes as he boldly moved towards her, waving away the other performers. Her flashing smile welcomed him and they hugged each other centre stage. By that time the paparazzi had found their way onto the stage and, in a typical theatrical pose, she threw Sinatra away from her. Slightly shaken, ‘blue eyes’ recovered his composure and held his hands out quizzically, as if to say, “Hey, what’s up, Babe?” She then waited for the cameras to focus on her and then she put her hands on her waist and whipped a saucy hip at Sinatra. As though hit by a missile, ‘blue eyes’ recoiled, but came out with the famous saying: - “Hey, don’t point, babe. It’s rude!” Thus began a torrid affair between the completely unknown dancer, Juliet Prowse and Frank Sinatra which immediately became tabloid news. Unbeknown to them, the set had already been visited by famous Soviet leader, Nikita Kruschev. He had watched Prowse perform her rather fetching routine with disdain, later publicly declaring that the show was “immoral.” This statement had the complete opposite effect, and instead of bringing the show to disrepute, it sent the ratings soaring and put Juliet Prowse fairly and squarely on the entertainment map, attracting huge crowds to the box office when the movie was finally released. She went on to appear with Sinatra and other notable guests, including Ella Fitzgerald, on the Frank Sinatra Show during 1959 where Prowse would dance and sing in the chorus before being sung to by Sinatra himself. They became engaged in 1962, but Prowse soon broke off the relationship, citing Sinatra’s drinking as a problem. Undaunted, she went on to attract the attention of the King of Rock, Elvis Presley himself, and they performed together in the movie “GI Blues” where they had a well documented affair. Juliet wanted to be a dancer from the day she was born. At the age of 4 her South African parents sent her to ballet classes. When she reached her

teens, her parents were given the bad news – she could no longer perform ballet because she was too tall! Devastated, she decided to try her luck on the London stage by performing as a chorus dancer. This led her to the Paris nightclubs where she was spotted by Hollywood choreographer Hermes Pan who signed her to her first movie role in “Can-Can” together with Shirley McLaine and with Sinatra playing a cameo role. Her career continued mainly in the nightclubs on both sides of the Atlantic, but she did make minor TV appearances in the 1965 series “Mona McCluskey” where she played a nutty Hollywood starlet. Juliet had a very successful run on Broadway with a number of shows that repeated consistently over the eighties and nineties including “Sweet Charity,” “Kismet,” “Irma La Douce,” “Mame” and “The Pajama Game.” In 1994 she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and finally she gave up the fight in 1996 and in that year she passed on to join the other great dancers of the last century. Who knows? Had she been slightly smaller she could have been another Anna Pavlova. But fate had other plans for Juliet. Her beauty and grace on the stage will forever be etched on our memories. We salute you, Julie! Source: Face Book

GEORGE DEEB A S S O C I AT E S Barristers ~ Solicitors ~ Notaries Public

Are you SorTed? For expert legal advice, from a team with 30 years combined experience in New Zealand and South African law, call us. We’ll help you sort out your affairs and make sure your new life in New Zealand is successful. Property - Trusts and Estate Planning - Company and Commercial Business Law - Immigration - Matrimonial ENSURING YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR PRACTICE

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The

South African FAMOUS SOUTH AFRICAN CARTOONISTS Boy, have you been Zapped!

Zapiro by Ted Woodberg

rom American presidents and senior politicians to the top members of the African National Congress and even President Zuma himself; nobody who calls himself somebody in this world can escape the acid-tipped ink pen of famous South African cartoonist Zapiro. If he can possibly raise a laugh by “ pulling your chain,” boy, will he ZAP you! Zapiro has faced lawsuits all over the world running into millions of dollars, but his legal team has always won the day by using the strongest tenets of journalism, freedom of speech, as their defence. He first made headlines in 2003 when the Faith and Politics Institute, an American organization, lodged complaints against three of his cartoons at an exhibition for visiting American congressmen that depicted President George W Bush with a raised middle finger in a comment on American unilateralism and Bush’s stance on The World Summit on Sustainable Development. In 2006, current President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, threatened to bring defamation action against the press for attempting to “try him through the media” on allegations where he still professes his innocence. Of the approximately R63m demanded by his legal representatives, R15m related to Zapiro cartoons! Zuma is typically portrayed by Zapiro with a shower on his head as a reminder of Zuma’s public statement that “having a shower after intercourse will prevent Aids!” Just prior to Zuma’s election as President he was inundated with allegations of rape and corruption. One of Zapiro’s cartoons delicately suggested that Zuma’s first Presidential office in his new role would in fact be a prison cell! Another cartoon shows retiring President Thabo Mbeki standing at the rostrum making the statement:“It is now time to put corruption behind us!” Seated behind Mbeki is…… you guessed it, Zuma himself! Such blatant political satire in any other country would be highly dangerous to the perpetrator. But Zapiro is still free, doing his thing and taking the mickey out of anyone who dares to go public on anything controversial. Zapiro was born Jonathan Shapiro in Cape Town to Jewish parents, Gershon and Gaby.

The nickname was derived from fellow Rondebosch Boys’ High School pupil, Martin Szapiro, whose friends called him Zap. After Martin’s death in a mountaineering accident, Jonathan took over his nickname, and he called himself Zapiro to honour his dead friend. Initially Zapiro studied architecture at the University of Cape Town but found it unsatisfying and he moved to the art campus, Michaelis. Shortly thereafter he was conscripted to the army for two years, where he refused to carry arms. In 1983 he became active in the newly-formed anti-Apartheid movement, the United Democratic Front and as a result he was arrested under the Illegal Gatherings Act and subsequently monitored by military intelligence. After his military service he applied for and was awarded a Fullbright scholarship to study cartooning at the School of Visual Arts in New York for 2 years. Zapiro started out as cartoonist for South newspaper in 1987 and thereafter he moved on as cartoonist for The Sowetan newspaper from 1994 to 2005. His popularity has grown immensely since then and now he does cartoons for the Cape Argus, the Mail and Guardian, the Sunday Times, the Cape Times, the Star, the Mercury and the Pretoria News. Zapiro has won a string of local and international awards for his brave and tireless work as a satirist exposing all kinds of dodgy behaviour by public figures. In 2007 he received the “Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award” at the annual Cartoonists Rights Network International dinner and in 2008, he won the Best South African Humorist Cartoon Award. As South Africans, all we can say is:- “Go Zapiro, but make sure you don’t get zapped!” Source: Face Book

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MB BCh (Wits), FRCOG, FRANZCOG, MBA, M Phil, BA (UNISA)

Gynaecologist and Uro Gynaecologist

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The

South African GREAT SA SPORTSMEN

Oscar does it again! Known as the fastest man on no legs, SA sprinter Oscar Pistorius recently “walked” away with one of the most prestigious awards in international sport, the 2012 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year in a disability category.

e has two prosthetic lower legs made of carbon fibre that could be the secret to his success. They provide exceptional additional spring to his already cracking pace on the track putting him way ahead of the rest of the field. This ability led to an investigation into the possibility that Oscar may be able to compete against able-bodied contenders, but the idea was scotched after he ran a series of ‘laboratory’ tests that showed his inability to start a sprint in the same way as any other able-bodied athlete. In 21 February 2009, Oscar suffered serious head and facial injuries in a boat accident on the Vaal River in Johannesburg. He was airlifted to hospital and was in intensive care for five days. The accident altered his lifestyle and strengthened his focus. He recovered from his injuries and turned his attention to continuing to break Paralympic records and working to achieve the required time for Olympic qualification.

In January 2011, a slimmer, trimmer Pistorius won three IPC Athletics World titles in New Zealand but was beaten for the first time in seven years in the 100m by American Jerome Singleton. Oscar subsequently won the T44 400m in 47.28s and the 100m in 11.04s at the BT Paralympic World Cup in May to reassert himself as the world’s leading paralympic sprinter. Oscar competed across a number of able-bodied races in the summer of 2011 and posted three times under 46 seconds but it was in Lignano, Italy, on 19 July that Oscar set a personal best of 45.07s in the 400m, attaining the World Championships and Olympic Games ‘A’ standard qualification mark. Oscar will represent South Africa in both the 400m and 4x400m paralympics relay in Daegu, Korea, at the end of August. To be selected for the South African team to compete at the Olympic Games in London, Oscar must again run inside the 400m ‘A’ standard of 45.25 seconds between January and June 2012.Oscar will also be looking to represent South Africa in the Paralympic Games to defend his T44 100m, 200m and 400m titles. Good luck Oscar. South Africans all over the world will be watching!

james pretorius B.Ch.D. M.Ch.D. (Pret)

orthodontist Suite 3, North Shore Medical Centre 326 Sunset Road, Mairangi Bay Auckland 0632, NEW ZEALAND Telephone: Surgery (09) 479-7963 Fax (09) 479-7941 Home (09) 413-9854 Email: j.pretorius@clear.net.nz

The

South African MORTGAGE PEOPLE

How to negotiate the mortgage minefield

Gary and Amanda Hey.

“

Lately we have noticed a definite pattern to the enquiries that we receive from folk out in the market place. They have approached their retail bank with what they thought was a viable case for a home loan, only to be turned down. Disaster!!!

In reality, it could actually be a case of the wrong fit between their circumstances/requirements and the bank they have chosen to approach; or the way their case has been ‘argued’. Gone are the days where debt serviceability of a half-decent property was enough to ensure an approved mortgage. The application process is now a minefield of tick boxes used by the banks to decide whether clients meet the qualifying criteria. That, along with the fact that different banks are fighting for a different portion of the market, at different times, makes it near impossible for anybody to keep up with the banks’ mood swings. Often their criteria change overnight making it difficult to know which bank to approach. Contrary to any fluffed up marketing campaign you may have heard, only 2 or 3 retail banks are contemplating 95% mortgages, and only an absolutely perfect application in every other way, would pass their strict criteria, but that’s not to say it can’t be done. Please bear in mind that at least 5% of any value/selling price must be saved and the banks will want to see proof of that saving. By the way, Kiwisaver is viewed as a genuine savings plan and you must have been in the plan for at least 3 years before you can use this form of savings as a deposit. Similarly, all high Loan to Value ratio loans will have the same 5% saved deposit rule, with strict property and serviceability scrutiny.

     

The moral of this story – let the experts run the minefield for you! Contact Mortgage People today!”

                       

                                 

                  

      

      

            15

The

South African IMMIGRATION ADVICE

Immigration stress - how does it affect you?

South African Visa Free Status in Jeopardy

In a recent survey new immigrants to NZ were studied to ascertain the effects that immigration had on them and how they coped with the problem. We present part one of this most interesting study. The research project was carried out by Dr Tienie Bekker of the “Afrikaanse Christen Kerk van Nieu-Seeland” who studied the effects and trauma that immigration has on people, and these are a few of the general results of his study: 1. Of the 468 respondents who participated in the research project, 256 were female (54.7%) and 212 male (45.3%). 2. The average age of the respondents was 42.5 years. 3. The youngest respondent was 12 years old and the oldest was 84. 4. The average age when people immigrated was 38 years and 3 months. 5. The average time that people lived in NZ was 4.2 years. (The shortest was a week and the longest was 35 years.) Although different age groups revealed different results, there was no clear distinction with regards to what males and females experienced as positive or negative about the entire immigration process. Herewith some positive factors which helped people in the immigration process:1. More than 52% of respondents said the fact that they had family/friends in NZ was the biggest positive factor in the immigration process. 2. 36% said their involvement in a church was the biggest positive factor and 51% said it was the 2nd biggest positive factor in their immigration process. 3. Having support and culture organizations was rated as the biggest positive factor by 1.5% of the respondents whilst 42% said it was the 3rd biggest positive factor in the immigration process. 4. Other positive factors that were mentioned included: i. The fact that they had a good job/and supporting colleagues; ii. New friends whom they met here. iii. Families became more closely knit and their faith in God carried them through the difficult times. Some negative factors in the immigration process:1. The biggest factor was the separation from families and friends. (55%) 2. The second biggest factor was problems around finding a job (23%). 3. The pressure to obtain residence was set at 30%. Don’t miss our next issue! We will deal with a whole lot more issues that came out of this study.

he visa-waiver agreement between New Zealand and South Africa is to be reviewed amid suggestions that terrorists and criminals are travelling on fraudulently obtained passports from the republic.

A Cabinet paper recommends Immigration Minister Nathan Guy and Associate Minister Kate Wilkinson review the arrangement by the end of the year. “There are concerns about the fraudulent use of South African passports by non-South African nationals and the availability of fraudulently issued legitimate South African passports,” Mr Guy said. “While Immigration New Zealand has been very successful in managing these risks to date, it is appropriate to reassess the current visa-waiver arrangement to determine whether a change is warranted.” In the past five years, 5057 foreign nationals were refused entry at the border - 3262 were believed to have non-genuine reasons for travelling and 448 were seen as “likely to commit a crime in New Zealand.” However, an Immigration NZ spokesman said yesterday there was no breakdown of how many were travelling on South African passports. Anneli Botha, senior terrorism researcher at the International Crime in Africa Programme, says South Africans can use their driver’s licence, identity book or a birth certificate to apply for a passport, and fake South African birth certificates can be bought easily on the black market. In an article for the Institute for Security Studies, she lists a number of alQaeda-linked terrorists caught with South African passports, including two alleged to be part of a 2006 plot to blow up airliners.

U-Bag connecting South Africa & New Zealand U-BAG is a leading specialist cargo logistics company in South Africa that focuses on providing hassle free travel for the Business, Leisure and Sports Air Traveler. U-BAG services are designed to give the best value for money by sending extra luggage as unaccompanied baggage to over 500 destinations worldwide. Now with our own branch in New Zealand, U-BAG can connect families and businesses in both SA and NZ to handle all your air freighting requirements. Our Great Benefits are: • U-BAG is convenient – We’ll collect from you and deliver to your home, business and / or hotel at final destination. • U-BAG is safe & secure – We’ll shrink wrap your luggage for added security at no cost to you. Get free loss, theft and damage cover (terms apply) • U-BAG is affordable and reliable – Visit our 24/7 online quote engine and get the cheapest quotes. Track & trace your baggage online. • U-BAG Price Match Guarantee – If you find a lower quote elsewhere, we’ll commit to not only matching it but we’ll discount it too(terms apply) U-BAG looks forward to serving all South Africans living in New Zealand.

Immigration service you can trust Established over 18 years ago on the North Shore of Auckland city, North Shore Immigration is one of the leaders in the private sector of the immigration field in New Zealand. We have a sound reputation as providers of highly personalised service and assistance in all aspects of immigrating and relocating to New Zealand, from temporary and business visas to residence visa applications. Specialising in immigration to New Zealand, all our advisers are fully compliant with the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007. We have three licensed immigration advisers and three support staff, operating on the North Shore in Albany. We offer professional immigration advice in English, Afrikaans, Russian, Chinese & Romanian.

Our mission and values: l To provide an accurate assessment of our clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; chances of being granted the right to temporarily work and/or study in New Zealand, as well as the right to live permanently, by obtaining Residency status. We only accept clients whose applications we believe would be successful l Full commitment to prospective migrants l Honesty, reliability, security l Abide by the Code of Conduct of the Immigration Advisersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Authority (IAA) and the Code of Ethics of the NZ Association for Migration & Investment (NZAMI) (copies available on request) l To be your Immigration consultancy of choice

We provide specialist immigration solutions for: Residence (Skilled Migrants, Business, Family) Business Visa (Entrepreneur and/or Investor Categories) Work Visa (for those who have a job offer, based on their skills & experience) l Work/Student visas for their immediate family members l Student Visas for those who wish to study in New Zealand, and l Job Search Visas for students who have completed their NZ studies. l l l

We also offer help and assistance with: l unabridged birth certificates l police clearance certificates l passport renewals l translations l assessment of overseas qualifications l obtaining NZ registration for occupations where this is

Immigration service you can trust We specialise in all forms of Immigration policies from Student Visas , Long term Business Visas, Family Work Visas, Investor Category, Permanent Residence. Work Visas, Family Category, Student Visas

Call now on 09 415 3392 North Shore Immigration Services www.nsis.co.nz Email: peter@nsis.co.nz Address: 17 Corinthian Drive Albany North Shore

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South African

SA social On Friday 2nd March SANZ had their regular social that was extremely well organized with braaing facilities laid on; salads and rolls to go with your meat; a disco and a special treat for the kids, “Sammy the Little Steam Train.” Fortunately the weather held out and the kids were able to have quite a few rides on the train that puffed away and gave all the authentic noises of a genuine steam train, despite being driven by an electric motor. Those interested in hiring “Sammy” for any special occasion for the kids should contact Keith on 09-480 7348 or mobile 027 4760772.

Left: Clif and Cheryl Garcia of “Let’s Dance @ Dansbaan”

ion Train in Act Little Steam e th y m m Above: Sa

The

South African PROPERTY CORNER This regular feature is written by Richard Pearce of Barfoot & Thompson, Residential. In this issue we present practical advice on:-

Weatherproofing your home for Winter Winter will be here in a few months, and the best time to prepare your home for winter is before the cold and rainy weather arrives. This article covers the key areas that owners and occupiers need to review.

Safety When working on your home, your personal safety should always be your main priority, so be careful when climbing ladders, make sure they are standing securely on the ground, and get someone to hold them. If in doubt, rather call in a professional.

Roof, Gutters and Downpipes Starting at the top, it is a good idea to look at your roof and assess its overall condition. It may need a repaint, or there may be obvious areas of concern. Gutters and downpipes (spoutings) will need to be checked for condition and cleared of leaves. If there are nearby trees that will shed leaves onto the roof, the gutters should be checked and cleaned regularly. An alternative is to install a system that prevents leaves getting into the gutters, such as LeafScreen as shown below.

Also inspect the condition of the paint on your walls, as the paint system provides the outer layer of waterproofing for your walls. Paint coating deteriorate due to weathering and exposure to UV rays, and many specifications call for a full repaint every five to eight years. As an interim measure, house washing and/or treatment with an anti fungal spray may be required to remove or prevent algae build-up. An important additional step is to check that there is sufficient height clearance between the bottom of the cladding and the ground level. At least 150mm is recommended.

Windows and Doors Wooden and steel windows and doors may need repainting, and the seals on aluminium windows and doors may need replacing.

Stormwater and Rainwater Control The next time it rains, get out your umbrella and walk around your house to see where the rainwater from your house and from neighbouring properties is running. Also lift all grates and remove any leaves trapped under them.

Conclusion Take the required time to check and prepare your home for winter in advance, as it is much easier to do in good weather than in bad. If significant repairs are required, or if you are unsure of what is required, consider calling in a professional.

Walls Inspect the exterior walls of your home and look for cracks and defects that may allow water penetration. These should be repaired and sealed immediately. Entry points for cables such as TV aerials can be points of water access, and these should always be looped and should enter from below.

The

South African LOCAL SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC

SA Gold is a big hit! by Ted Woodberg

he unique brainchild of South African impresario Jurie Els, the ‘SA Gold/SA Goud’ music production made a huge impact on the local SA community when it gave its debut performance in Mairangi Bay on 24th February this year.

Miteline Moolman, JP Enslin and Jurie Els I was really impressed by the quality and ingenuity of this production that had all the features of a top notch Broadway show, sans the dancers! I loved the voice-overs of famous South African comedians like Leon Schuster while you were waiting for the show to begin. At this stage you would be munching away on a sample of traditional SA fare served with much aplomb at the entrance to make sure that you didn’t miss out on your evening meal. The SA Gold band are all accomplished musicians and once they embarked on their nostalgia tour across the history of the great South African artists of the past and present, with the huge visual backdrops depicting their great moments, I was transfixed. Full marks to Jurie. He had his audience eating out of his hands as they sang along to the old ‘liedjies’ of the past, with the words of the songs displayed on the side screens of the stage, making it easier for those who wanted to follow with full gusto even if they didn’t know the words! The highlight of the evening for me was to hear the old Springbok Radio adverts and jingles that kept me tied with rapt attention to the radio during those early days in the 1960’s while we were growing up as kids; with no other form of free entertainment in the home. We didn’t have TV in those days, so the radio was our focus. The SA Gold band are made up of Edwin Randell (keyboards), Fritz de JP Enslin (drums), JP Senekal (bass guitar) and Petrie Fourie (guitar). These Wet (guitar), guys are also excellent vocalists and they provided the harmonies and leads when necessary. Miteline Moolman stood out as the most outstanding vocalist of the SPECIAL DISCOUNTED INSURANCE evening, giving us relaxed renditions of all of the great SA hits of the past like ‘Timothy,’ ‘Master Jack’ and other hits of the past SA female genre. RATES AVAILABLE Less than standard market insurance rates for: There were also outstanding guest appearances by Ane Dicks and the highly talented brothers, Jacques and Etienne Auret. Insurance: Life Cover; Trauma Cover; Income Protection Medical: Hospital; Specialists & Tests; General Practitioner; We are hoping to see them again soon on the 22nd September at Dental & Optical the Point View School in Howick, Auckland. Watch this space for more Mortgages: Access to Bank & Non-Bank options information. Investments: Unit Trusts; Managed Funds; Kiwisaver Jurie Els gave an amazing performance at the Cairo to Cape Festival on Financial Services the main stage in front of a hugely appreciative crowd on 10th March. Well done, Jurie. Your SA GOLD concept is brilliant, and we hope to see Phone: 09 915 0100, Mobile: 021 609 247 Email: enquiry@hwp.co.nz more of your shows around New Zealand in the not too distant future. www.hwp.co.bnz www.hwp.co.nz (12 years in NZ - HWP Ltd trading since 2001)

Neil B Clarke

ex Durban. Authorised Financial

Adviser (AFA)(AFA) FSP10261 Adviser

The

South African

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS Come and be a part of the vibrant ex-pat SA community here in auckland. Join in the fun and help each other by networking effectively. SOCIAL EVENTS: NORTH SHORE - We have a monthly fun social get together at the Browns Bay Bowling Club, Bute Road, Browns Bay on the first Friday evening of each month starting at 6pm. Kids allowed. A cash bar is available and a light meal will be on sale. The first Friday in April is Good Friday, so we have decided to bring the function forward to the 30th of March. After that the next social will take place on Friday 4th May 2012. OUR NEXT SOCIAL This is due for 30th March, and it is going to be a real humdinger! There will be a choice of Fish and Chips or Pizzas for supper and we will have scintillating music to entertain you, so bring your dancing shoes! It is a good time to catch up with friends and make some new ones. The evening will be sponsored by North Shore Immigration. See you there!

NORTH SHORE - Meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month at the Browns Bay Bowling Club, Bute Road, Browns Bay commencing 6pm. The next meetings to be held in April will be on Wednesday 4th and 18th and in May on Wednesday 2nd and 16th. If you would like to be on our North Shore business mailing list, please contact Richard Pearce on r.pearce2@barfoot.co.nz or on 0508 742 4273. He will make sure that you are informed of all business events. If you are aware of any other SA Clubs in the Auckland region, please contact the editors.

We would like to get new chapters up and running in Central, East and West Auckland. If you know of suitable venues, please let us know. BUSINESS NETWORKING: As new immigrants you will be given a chance of introducing yourself to our regular attendees and we will ensure that you are entered on to the SA Biznet data base in order for all members to be able to access your details. Bring some of your business cards!

Whether you’re new to NZ or starting to sound like a Kiwi, let’s talk. You don’t have to be born a local to be treated like one. You can apply for a personal or business loan with the team at your local Westpac branch, so you can get a straight answer, straight away. Riaan Wilson Business Manager L3 Corinthian Towers 9-11 Corinthian Dr Albany Phone (09) 448 0926 Mobile 027 498 0756

Eddie Biesenbach Personal Manager Westpac Birkenhead 29 Birkenhead Ave North Shore Phone (09) 480 3325

Michelle Hutchens Personal Manager Westpac Albany 219 Don McKinnon Dr Albany Phone (09) 414 3928

Applications for finance are subject to Westpac’s applicable lending criteria. An establishment charge may apply. See www.westpac.co.nz for further details. Westpac New Zealand Limited

The

South African

How to get by on only $100 per week! by Peter Woodberg

ur Editor has some sound advice for those families worst hit by the recent recession. He maintains that your family of four won’t go hungry on this ingenious money-saving food-buying programme. There have been many stories on how to feed your family frugally without compromising on their health. Recently Immigration New Zealand challenged an immigrant family that it was impossible to feed four people on $100 per week. I set out to either prove or disprove this statement. Armed only with $100 I went shopping for groceries at Pak’ N Save and for fruit and vegetables at the local Chinese veggie shop. In order to buy wisely you need to know your prices and you also need to buy only fruit and vegetables in season. Why? Because they are so much cheaper when in season. For example, avocados in season can be as low as 50 cents each but on the verge of the new season they can skyrocket up to $3.00 each. Lettuce, fruit and all your greens fall into this category as well, so buy only when in season. A tip about tomatoes, they recently went up to $13 per kg whereas they are normally $2.99 kg, so rather use tinned tomatoes when prices go crazy. Potatoes can fluctuate from $6 to $15 per 10 kg bag. Buy when cheap and buy by the 10kg bag. Join forces with your neighbour or family and share potatoes and onions which can both be bought in 10kg bags. On this basis you will find yourself spending no more than $15 on fruit & veggies a week; not at your local Countdown or your nearest Dairy; but from one of the Chinese supermarkets/veggie shops. For groceries you cannot beat Pak’ n Save. The list goes like this:24 eggs per tray @ $5.

One frozen chicken @ $12 can make 2 meals if split up and used with lots of rice or potatoes. Mince meat: $6 will make 3 meals, once again with rice or potatoes & lots of vegetables. Cheap meat for stews & slow cooking with vegetables: $6. Breakfast cereal: $6 Skippies mixed with weetbix Milk: $14. Bread: $12. Soup mix $4. Use chicken bones and cubed dry chicken or beef stock for flavour. Salt and other condiments: Use $1 per week to build up your pantry Margarine: $2 Sausages: $6 Lunch meat for school sandwiches: $3. Rice: $5. These items come to $82 per week, leaving $18 for vegetables, which is within the planned budget of $100 per week. Teach your children to drink water with every meal. It is God’s gift. Start weaning them of fizzy drinks. They are bad for your health, anyway. You will notice there are no takeaways in this budget; no snacks; no alcohol and no cigarettes. This is basic frugal living, and any family can do it if they set their minds to it.

The

South African THE SOUTH AFRICAN RECIPE REVUE

Traditional South African Oxtail Stew! Those who have not grown up with this unique meal as part of their normal diet will probably turn up their noses at the thought of using a cow’s tail as a special delicacy. Yet we South Africans have been doing it for years and it is with much pride that we unveil this closely guarded secret recipe direct from the epicurean vaults of history! What you will need:

• 2 cups dry red wine

• 2 tbsp. garlic, crushed

• 1/4 cup peanut oil

• 15 sprigs fresh thyme

• 1 tbsp. tomato paste

• 4 lbs. oxtail pieces

• 5 sprigs fresh parsley

• 1/2 cup pitted olives, chopped

• 1 tbsp. bacon drippings (from about 4 strips of bacon)

• 5 sprigs fresh savory

• 1 lb. twisty egg noodles

• 1 bay leaf

• 2 medium yellow onions, finely chopped

• 2 cloves garlic

• 1 lb. frozen vegetable medley (carrots, peas, green beans and corn)

• 1 lb. Yukon Gold boiling potatoes, diced

• Zest of one orange, cut into one long spiral

• Cheesecloth

• 1 qt. beef stock

• 1 sweet onion, peeled

• Kitchen twine

Method: Rinse the oxtail pieces. Put thyme, parsley, bay leaf, cloves and savory into the middle of a piece of cheesecloth. Wrap and tie with kitchen twine. In a slow cooker (at least 5 qt. capacity), place the cheesecloth bag, olive, orange zest, garlic, whole onion and tomato paste. Cover with red wine and beef broth. In a heavy skillet or wok over medium-high heat, add the peanut oil and wait a few seconds for it to smoke. Add oxtail to the oil and rapidly sear the pieces. Be careful of the hot splattering oil. Transfer the oxtail into the slow cooker after searing. Add the bacon drippings to the skillet. Place the chopped onions and diced potatoes in the skillet and stir often. Turn heat down to medium and continue to cook until everything is browned. Remove the potatoes and onions and place them in the slow cooker. Do not stir to mix. Reduce heat to low and let simmer; covered, for 5 to 6 hours. Stir the stew every hour or so. Prepare the noodles and vegetables just before the stew is done. Discard the cheesecloth then remove the slow cooker from heat. Serve oxtail stew over egg noodles and vegetables. Serves 4-6 people. Source: SA Recipes

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                                                       

    

 

               

“We do the planning, you do the packing” Travel Shack www.travelmanagers.co..nz/terms.html Travel Managers Group Ltd, P.O.Box 12, Shortland Street, Auckland, New Zealand. DX CP2401 Elna Tempelhoff, previously from the South African Travel Club, now offers you …..Travel Shack!! “It was time for me to move on,” says Elna, “and Travel Shack has ‘seen the light’ - still offering the best airfares to South Africa for South Africans and any other destination in the world. I started off with South African Airways 30 years ago and for me there were many stops en route; visiting more than 23 different countries in Europe, America (North & South), Africa, Asia and Australasia. I have significant experience in the travel industry, the most challenging of which has been arranging conferences and incentive programmes. In addition, I have conducted, promoted and marketed my own tailor made groups. I have travelled as tour leader and guide to various places around the world with groups of up to one hundred participants! Having a real passion for travel, I enjoyed sharing my experiences as a Senior Tutor and Head of Studies at one of the largest Travel and Tourism Colleges in New Zealand. Whether you’re looking for a cheap airfare to visit relatives; a Mediterranean cruise; a self-drive through the English countryside; a tour through Europe; taking the kiddies to Disneyland in Los Angles or just indulging yourself by taking a shopping tour to Thailand, you can depend on “Travel Shack” for amazing results! Call me first for the best service and prices. Right now we have an offer which we call the “Pay off- Fly Later “option to South Africa for only $300.00. Secure your seat and pay at your own pace.” Elna Tempelhoff, Personal Travel Manager ddi: + 64 9 235 7515, m: + 64 21 93 9696, e: elna@travelshack.co.nz

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       

              



                       

   

    

                                                       

         

    

                    

  

     

    

     

        

                

      

                                      

   

    

 