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Die Antwoord brings Donker Mag to the UK

| WAT POMP JULLE? Die Antwoord are set to perform at O2 Academy Brixton on Saturday 17 January British-built car set to travel 1.4 times the speed of sound in South Africa page 2

News

Cancer patient Jordan Smith safely back in SA after a holiday in the UK that went horribly wrong page 3

News

How the demographic of South Africans living in the UK has changed over the last decade page 4

Community

SA: our pride and our shame (an interview with Peter Hain MP) page 8

Community

21/10/2014 11:48

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| 6 - 13 January 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

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Editor: Deva Lee Production and Design: Andisiwe Juta Registered office: Riverbank House 1 Putney Bridge Approach Fulham SW6 3BQ. Tel: 0845 456 4910 Email: editor@thesouthafrican.com Website: www.thesouthafrican.com Directors: P Atherton, A Laird, J Durrant, N Durrant and R Phillips Printed by: Mortons of Horncastle Ltd

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Lights off to save money in UK; lights off to save electricity in SA | While Britain’s councils are flicking their street lights on and off to cut costs, South Africa is being forced into darkness to avoid a national blackout. Are the British overreacting?

by Katy Scott

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There has been a significant increase in the number of street lights in the UK that have been dimmed or switched off at night since David Cameron implemented his policies in 2010.

According to the Labour Party’s survey the number of street lights which are switched off or dimmed has increased from 148 000 in 2010 to 1.36 million in 2014 – nine times the original amount.

Shadow communities secretary Hilary Benn said the increase was owing to a “great pressure” on council budgets as well as the high cost of electricity. Councils have reported that the money they save on electricity bills can be used for core services such as road maintenance and social care.

A total of 106 of the 141 councils were said to be dimming or switching off street lights in the survey of 141 of the 150 councils in charge of lighting the

streets in Britain. It was found that Tory councils are more likely to switch off or dim lights with 29% of streetlights switched off or dimmed in Tory areas compared to 13% in Labour ones.

The worst hit areas include Surrey (where 99% of streetlights are dimmed at night), Essex (where 83% of lights are turned off) and Northamptonshire (where 29% are switched off and 54% are dimmed).

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said that switching off street lights saves a great deal of money and reduces crime “because burglars love ambient lighting”.

However, after a series of burglaries a few weeks later, police demanded the streetlights be switched back on.

Benn believes that the money saving measures put pedestrians walking in the dark at risk.

“Streetlights ensure that people are safe on our roads and feel safe

walking home, especially at this time of the year when the nights have drawn in,” Benn said.

Research conducted by the Road Research Laboratory shows that improved street lighting at 64 sites resulted in a 30% average reduction in night accidents and a 45% reduction in accidents involving personal injury.

Research further indicates that the number of road accidents increased by 20% in areas where street lights were switched off.

Head of road policy for the AA, Paul Watters said: “We need to get a handle on what’s going on because lots of authorities are doing it and clearly there appear to be some disbenefits probably outweighing the savings that are being made on energy, certainly when it comes to human life.”

Pickles contested earlier in 2014 that “[Britain] can’t have lights burning all night on the off chance someone wants to do

aerobics at 3am”.

A number of local authorities are in the process of switching to LED street lights as an energyefficient alternative to dimming or switching them off.

Light dimming vs Load shedding While street light dimming and/or switching off is a money saving measure, load shedding in South Africa is an electricity saving one.

Load shedding, according to Eskom, is when it becomes necessary to interrupt electricity supply to certain areas, as there is not enough electricity available to meet the demand from all Eskom customers. It is a means to avoid a national blackout resulting from a total collapse of the electricity supply grid.

In November 2014, Eskom Chief Executive Officer Tshediso Matona warned that load shedding could be a reality for South Africans over the next few months.

British-built car set to travel 1.4 times the speed of sound in South Africa | The British are at work producing the world’s first supersonic land vehicle which will reach over 1600 km/h. Bloodhound SSC is set do the almost impossible in South Africa

Seen our new website?

THE South African features a brand-new design on its website THESOUTHAFRICAN. COM. Keeping up with the latest news from Mzansi is now even easier with this userfriendly and stylish design.

Catch up with the latest sports news, read up on current events, find a recipe for dinner, learn about the latest events for the expat community and be in touch with your South African heritage more than ever before.

by Katy Scott

At this very moment, a team of rocketeers, engineers and coders in Bristol are manufacturing the first car to travel over 1600 km per hour: Bloodhound SSC. Later this year, Bloodhound will run for the first time in the UK at 322 km per hour before heading to South Africa to go beyond 1236 km per hour (the speed of sound) to a top speed of 1690 km per hour.

The Bloodhound team will head to Hakskeen Pan, a remote area in the Northern Cape.

A 19-kilometre long, threekilometre wide track is being prepared in the desert pan. The supersonic land vehicle will be manned by the current world land speed record holder, Wing Commander Andy Green.

The 6985 kg car combines a

Rolls-Royce EJ200 jet engine with a cluster of Nammo hybrid rockets to produce a horsepower of 135 000. This is the equivalent of 180 Formula One cars.

Bloodhound requires a 5.5 litre, 550 bhp Jaguar V8 engine to pump oxidiser into the rocket, as the car burns through its supply of rocket fuel incredibly quickly.

The Bloodhound project is an education project designed to inspire children to become scientists and engineers.

Approximately 5700 schools in the UK and 600 in South Africa use Bloodhound education materials in the classroom.

Unlike other engineering ventures, all the information about the research, design, build and testing of Bloodhound SSC is available to teachers, students and visitors to the website.

| Image: by Flock and Siemens

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Cancer patient safely back in SA after a holiday in the UK gone wrong | Things didn’t go according to plan for 12-year-old Jordan Smith while he was on holiday in the UK. He has since been rushed from Paris to Durban to receive urgent treatment

by Katy Scott

In 2014, 12-year-old Jordan Smith spent 107 days in hospital in Pretoria undergoing 19 chemo treatments and seven operations. He has Chrondoblastic Osteosarcoma, also known as bone cancer. In September he underwent his final chemotherapy treatment with a promise from his uncle that if he made it through he would be sent on a holiday to the UK. He arrived in the UK on 27 December after a bumpy journey.

His parents, Tracy and Andrew Smith, shared a post on the Facebook page explaining that Jordan was not well. He was promised a trip to Disneyland in France but was rushed to a children’s hospital shortly after arriving in Paris, only to discover that the cancer had spread to his lungs and brain. The family sat awaiting an emergency medical escort back to South Africa on 31 December.

The doctors in Paris could not begin treatment as the Smiths were not financially covered, and they were told by Discovery Health that it would cost an excess of R1.1 million to get Jordan medically

assisted back to South Africa in order for him to receive necessary radiation treatment. According to a Facebook post on Jordan’s Journey on 1 January, the hospital in Paris had contacted the South African embassy for assistance without success and the Smiths’ travel insurance had offered to pay out R100 000. Tracy and Andrew Smith appealed to followers of Jordan’s Facebook Page to help by depositing money into their bank account or the Cupcakes of Hope fund account.

In another Facebook post on 3 January, Tracy and Andrew explained that Discovery Health was helping to pay for Jordan’s flight to Johannesburg. Later that day, paramedics arrived at the hospital in Paris to escort Jordan to Charles de Gaulle Airport. He has since flown to Johannesburg and has been transported by ambulance to Durban. Smith arrived in Durban on 4 December and is currently in surgical ICU. A Facebook post indicates that the doctors are reviewing his scans and it is hoped that Smith’s treatment will begin shortly.

| Jordan Smith is now back in SA

London hospital may host second Ebola patient

WE WILL TAKE YOU HOME/ONS DOEN DIE GROOT TREK HUIS TOE...

| Ebola patient Pauline Cafferkey’s condition has deteriorated just as she seemed to be recovering. Meanwhile,an unnamed patient displaying symptoms is currently being tested.

by Katy Scott

Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey was diagnosed with the Ebola virus on 29 December after returning to Glasgow from Sierra Leone where she had been volunteering.

Cafferkey is currently being treated at the Royal Free Hospital in North London with an experimental antiviral drug as well as plasma from another health worker who recovered from the disease. She cannot be given the drug ZMapp, which was used to treat recovered nurse William Pooley, as there is none available in the world, doctors told The Telegraph.

On 31 December the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust stated that she was sitting up in

bed in her quarantine tent, talking, reading and chatting to her family through an intercom system. On 3 January the hospital announced that her condition had “gradually deteriorated over the past two days and is now critical”.

A senior microbiologist told The Telegraph that it is difficult to judge her chances of survival because the new drugs were experimental and not enough is known about how to counter the virus.

Using the blood from a recovered Ebola patient to treat Cafferkey is the best chance for her recovery, Prof High Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Arberdeen told The Telegraph.

Meanwhile, an unnamed patient in South Gloucestershire has

displayed signs of the Ebola virus after returning from West Africa.

Hospital officials have confirmed that she was rushed to a hospital in Swindon after showing symptoms of the virus.

The suspected patient will undergo a series of tests for a variety of things. She will be transferred to London where Cafferkey is being treated if it is a confirmed Ebola case, a spokesman for the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust . told A patient in Truro and a woman in Aberdeen were both suspected to have contracted the virus in December after returning from West Africa. They both tested negative for the disease.

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How the demographic of South Africans living in the UK has changed over the last decade | The demographic of South Africans living in the UK has changed over the last ten years. We’ve been booted out, settled into a comfort zone, married into the family or just grown up, but we’re still reading TheSouthAfrican.com

by Sandi Durnford-Slater If you’re reading this in the UK, you are probably sitting on a bus or tube in London, or you may be out in the countryside. Perhaps you are reading online from the comfort of your newly purchased home in Woking, Twickenham or the Slough, having taken advantage of the stamp duty reduction.

Likely you’re sipping a hot mug of Rooibos, dipping a rusk and pondering your own story. How did you get here? Why did you stay? What were the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors for leaving South Africa and coming to the UK? “The UK has a lot to offer. It’s a safe environment and there are lots of opportunities. Coming from South Africa, the crime was a genuine push factor,” says Marilu, living in Molsey. She and her husband arrived in the UK seven years ago on Ancestral visas and naturalised this year.

TheSouthAfrican.com has a readership of 380 000 per month.

Among the South African readers, many were in the UK when the site launched just over a decade ago in 2003.

According to the Office of National Statistics, as of December 2013, there are roughly 221 000 South Africans living in the UK. The late 90s and early noughties saw a bumper crop of short and long term migration to the UK from South Africa.

“I came to the UK for an extended holiday to see the world.

I arrived on a working holiday visa, but switched to an ancestry visa after two years. Now I’ve been here 14 years,” explains Gerald who lives with his wife near Epsom.

“I came to the UK in 1999 on a two year working holiday visa.

I worked as a supply teacher travelling in my holidays,” recounts Gregg “Back then teacher pay in London was much better than what I was getting in South Africa.”

The picture has changed over the years. “Overall, there has been a general decrease in immigration to the UK, as the UK Home Office is making it more difficult for people to come to the UK,” explain JB Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants Ltd, “Except for the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme, which is basically the new ‘Working Holiday’ scheme, all the UK immigration routes are still open to South Africans.”

In addition, 1st Contact reveals that South African numbers applying to enter the UK on

| South African expats cast their vote in London in 2014. Photo by Katia Frank

the available work visas “has consistently fallen from 29 300 in 2004, to 2060 in 2012.”

So who is coming? And who is going?

“We have certainly seen a trend in high net-worth clients immigrating, and businesses setting up branches in the United Kingdom in order to expand into the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) markets,” confirm Breytenbachs.

There are a number of factors influencing South Africans to remain in the UK. The reason they came to the UK is the first consideration, suggests the Home Office: “Migrants who arrive in the UK with family visas or as skilled or highly-skilled workers are more likely to naturalise than those with student visas or temporary work visas.”

Jeff was born in South Africa and came to the UK on a British passport. He has been here for 15 years: “I now have a family and run my own business. We have purchased a home on a part buy part rent scheme. There used to be a struggle in me, but I have come to realise that just because

the weather is better in SA, that doesn’t mean that life is better.

Most of the reasons I love being here are about the opportunities my family can have in terms of education, quality of life and exposure to the world.” Jeff lives in Enfield, which he considers to be a taste of “both London and the countryside”.

“I would like to go home for climate, lifestyle and family, but I am staying for job security, stability for the children and my husband is Irish,” says Fiona, now living in Hemel Hempstead, having arrived in the UK 17 years ago on a British passport.

In a recent European study of naturalisation trends, several factors were identified as being associated with higher likelihood of naturalisation.

“Naturalisation is more likely for migrants who speak the destination country’s language, who have a parent born in the destination country, who reside longer within it,” find researchers Dronkers and Vink (www.gov.org.uk).

Another argument is that migrants from a former colony of the destination country are more likely to naturalise. Though she was born and raised in Klerksdorp

in South Africa, secondary school teacher, Leslie recalls, “I came to the UK as my family is originally from Scotland. I have always felt an affinity with the UK and felt more British than South African even when I lived in SA.” Leslie lives in Bracknell, in Berkshire having arrived in the UK on a British passport 7 years ago.

Dronkers and Vink claim that higher naturalisation rates occur “where citizenship law is relatively permissive. British citizenship law does not require renunciation of prior citizenships in order to naturalise.”

In addition, the citizenship laws in the sending country are relevant here. South Africans, with permission, are allowed to hold more than one passport. Zimbabwe does not permit dual citizenship, probably lowering naturalisation rates among Zimbabweans.

Many, of course, have returned to South Africa. Natalie has dual citizenship, she is a mother of three young children, now living in East London, South Africa: “Once the kids came, our days in the UK were numbered. We had to get closer to grannies, grandpas, uncles, aunts and cousins.”

How have those of us who stayed begun to show our age?

Ten years ago we might have spent New Year at the Walkabout, The Slug, or Hogmanay; now we prefer a dinner at home with friends because the kids will wake us up early anyway. Ten years ago we were living in digs with other 20-something working travellers; now we’ve bought that house a little bit out of London in order to achieve the #bestofbothworlds.

A decade ago we were single and fancy free; now we divide our lives between continents and hemispheres, talk of jumpers not jerseys, own trainers not takkies and instead of a holy-huddle of South African expats we now have a motley assortment of friends of different nationalities and our children speak with a British accent.

But not everything has changed: most of us still live in Merton, Wandsworth and other parts of the South West; we have not lost our taste for a braai (though we may call it a BBQ); we still visit the South African shops and we still read TheSouthAfrican.com.

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Help Starfish transform the lives of vulnerable South African children in 2015 | The Starfish Greathearts Foundation has lots of exciting sporty challenges coming up to help you kick start your 2015 fitness. Get your New Year’s resolution underway and sign up today

BY Staff Reporter 24hour Spinning® Marathon It’s not as tough as you might think: you don’t have to cycle nonstop for a day and night. Just be part of a team that pedals around the clock. With fierce competition, free flowing food and drink and a chill out zone, this will be a day and night to remember.

When: Friday 27 - Saturday 28 February Where: Putney Pedal Studio Starfish Breakfast Run and Picnic Put a spring in your step this March and take part in this familyfriendly fun run. Suitable for all levels there will be 5km, 10km and 15km routes as well as a kids 100 metre dash and a tasty picnic basket for all runners. Register by 12 January to take advantage of the Early Bird offer.

When: Sunday 15 March Where: Clapham Common Royal Parks Half Marathon One of the UK’s most popular half marathons, taking place right in the centre of London. Starting in Hyde Park, the course takes runners on a scenic route through

Kensington Gardens, Green Park and St James’s Park. You will pass London’s iconic landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye and the Royal Albert Hall.

With paths lined with cheering crowds, this is an atmospheric race and certainly a day to remember.

Last year our runners raised an incredible £36 000, helping Starfish to provide life-saving healthcare to vulnerable children in South Africa. With your support, the Starfish team can raise even more in 2015.

Starfish will provide: A fundraising pack with exciting ideas to help you smash your targets Ongoing support and pre-event information A free Starfish branded running vest Cheering support from the loudest voices on the course to keep you motivated Jaffa Cakes and bananas to boost energy levels When: Sunday 11 October Where: Hyde Park, London Prudential Ride London Set yourself a challenge for 2015 and be a part of Britain’s biggest

festival of cycling. The ride starts in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, then follows a 100-mile route on closed roads through the capital and into Surrey’s stunning countryside. With leg-testing climbs and a route recently made famous by the world’s best cyclists, this promises to be a truly spectacular event for all involved.

Starfish will provide: A fundraising pack, including sponsorship forms to help you reach your target Ongoing support and pre-event information A free Starfish Cycle jersey to train in and wear for the event Personalised training schedule and training ride with other members of the Starfish team Cheering support on the day and finish line refreshments When: Sunday 2 August Where: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park British 10km London Run The run takes you through the heart of London on closed roads, past the many iconic and world renowned sights that London has to offer.

Starfish will provide: A fundraising pack, including

sponsorship forms to help your reach your target Ongoing support and pre-event information A free Starfish branded running vest Cheering support on event day and finish line refreshments When: Sunday 12 July Where: Pall Mall, London, UK Thames Path Challenge The Thames Path National Trail is steeped in history and boasts beautiful and varied scenery. It’s the perfect back drop for these three endurance walks or ultra runs: 100km – Putney Bridge to Henley.

A 24-hour walk or ultra-marathon run 50km – Two daytime walks or ultra runs, plus a moonlight walk 25km – Four Walk options; two run options Join as a team of friends, colleagues or family and support each other, or on your own and meet fellow challengers along the way. Most will walk it, some will jog parts of it, and quite a few will run the full 100km. However you tackle the Thames Path Challenge, and whatever your distance, you’ll be fully supported by our team.

The challenge is fully inclusive

— you have all the food and drink you need to keep your energy levels up — with hospitality and facilities every 12.5km for you to rest, relax and recuperate as you go.

“The Thames Path Challenge 100km was hands down one of the best days running (and let’s be honest, walking) I’ve ever done.

The nervous buzz at the pre-dawn start in Putney, watching the sun come up along the Thames near Chicswick, the tourists cheering you on as you edge past Hampton Court, the whole day is magical.

The support on the course is great, whether you’re doing the 100km run, the 100km walk or one of the 50km or 25km options, everyone offers encouragement. You’re all in it together. Evey goal is equal.

A special race with special people on and off the course. You won’t regret doing it.”

— Kieran, Thames Path Challenge Participant 2013 When: 12 -13 September Where: Thames Path, Putney Bridge – Henley For more information go to their website or contact Stephanie on 0207 597 3797 or stephanie. kitson@starfishcharity.org

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I know you are crying on the phone, Mom | I know you are crying, Mom”, I say to the headset thingie-ma-bobbie sitting skew around my ears while Skype dictates the connection I have to my expat family by staff reporter

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Ahh, the headset. An expat’s dream device. You almost feel normal connecting with family and friends whilst washing dishes, folding laundry, making the bed — “oh-sorry-no that wasn’t the flush, it was the in-sink garbage disposal” (they have that kind of thing in America), tidying toys and making school lunch. Yip, all the things that may be taking place if your mother was actually in the room.

But she’s not. She is 7000 miles away in another country, and neither of you are in South Africa where you both yearn to be.

I know you are crying on the phone, Mom. I keep telling myself it’s okay.

You know, to be by choice living without your family or the people who really care about you. Heck, everyone seems to do it these days – and not only South Africans.

In America, people have family dotted across the states. I only know a handful of people who were born and raised in the area we now live, who still live here, and still have the majority of their family here.

I never really convince myself though. Quickly, I go back to feeling an enormous sense of absurdity. My mother is alive and around, willing and wonderful, loving and likeable – but completely unavailable and inaccessible to me or my children.

Except of course when her Skype is green.

I know you are crying on the phone, Mom. I can tell by your ‘hello’ what kind of day you are having. It’s like I have had to learn about you

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in an all-new way. The fluctuations in your voice, the time of day you call, which line you ring – all indicators of mood or discussion topic. A new form of relationship with an expat mom, a new social intelligence that one has to develop when you are living on different continents.

I cry too, Mom. But I want you to know something.

On those days when, if it weren’t for the next item on my to-do list, I would be packing my bags to go home because I can’t bear it anymore… those days when I simply cannot answer that question “Why am I doing this?” with enough conviction. On those days, I think of you when you were my age and rigorously raising me in Africa with an abundance of perspective, patience and wisdom.

I think of my accidental broken glass in the kitchen and your “It’s not serious, its just a glass”. I think of my childish failures and your “There are more important things”.

I think of my “I don’t want to” and your “Sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do”. I think of my wild pace and your “Steady, child. The tortoise and the hare”.

And today, I think of your wobble and weave with your walker after this second brain tumour has nearly destroyed you, and your “It’s just going to take time”.

Emigration isn’t for the fainthearted Mom. Not for folks who are afraid of tears, for sure. But, Mom, I know you and you are Bata-toughees tough.

I know you are crying on the phone, Mom. Don’t cry.

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| Lend with Care aims to help entrepreneurs in developing countries reach their goals using microfinance

by Moira Rowan One morning on the way to work, I picked up £20 – a wise woman previously told me that one should never benefit from someone else’s misfortune. I am sure the person who lost the money would have felt the lost, but given that I did not know who the person was, I was not able to return it.

Getting to work, a colleague suggested I drop it in the collection plate at church. I cannot remember the last time I saw the inside of a church, so this would not have been an option.

By nature, I am a very charitable person, I donate to various charities regularly and if I see someone begging in the streets or someone shaking a collection bucket I will give.

So I was elated when I read an article on an organisation called Lend with Care, set up by Care International, to address poverty and to help impoverished families transform their lives.

Lend with Care This is how it works: a person in a developing country wants to transform their lives and the lives of their families. They have an idea for a business which will accomplish this goal. In order to grow the business quickly, they approach a microfinance institute for a loan, if the company feels there is merit in the business they will grant the loan, and offer support and expertise to the entrepreneur.

The sponsor, i.e. you or me, looks at the list of entrepreneurs on the Lend with Care Website, and then chooses the entrepreneur they wish to sponsor. The website gives a detailed profile of the person, what type of business they operate, what they want the loan for, and how much they wish to loan. They also explain how they envisage paying back the loan once they are 100% funded.

Other details regarding how many other people are sponsoring that person and their profiles.

The minimum loan is £15 which is a once off payment. In effect, you have a number of sponsors that club together and take over the original loan from the microfinance institute, who will go onto help other entrepreneurs.

From the £20 I found on the street, two people benefited: one lady was a shop owner from Ecuador, who wanted a loan of £420.38. Her shop had an excellent location and attracted passing customers, and she

wanted a loan to buy more stock for her shop, mainly foodstuffs for example rice, pasta, sugar and cooking oil.

From her profile I gleaned that she liked to pay her suppliers in cash so she could get a discount, which I thought was a good plan.

From her business plan she aimed to pay back the loan within five months and I noted that there were 17 lenders to make her loan possible. At the time of me sponsoring her she was 88% funded and no sooner had I sent off the money I got an email from Lend with Care to say she is now 100% funded and would soon start to pay off the loan. I have received regular payments from her.

The second person to benefit was me. I felt so happy for this lady, and that with such a small amount of money was able to give her a helping hand. It’s a complete win-win situation, the borrower gets to grow their business, and takes pride in the fact that they have not taken a handout — they have worked hard to pay back the loan. The lender gets their original loan paid back, and knows that in a small way they have helped transform another person’s life.

You have the further option of taking the original loan, once it has been paid back and reinvesting it into another venture.

The concept of microfinance was created to help very poor people gain finance, as they would otherwise not have access to formal finance services, and business training that would be vital for the success of their enterprises. Of the 500 million micro and small business owners less than 2% have access to financial services. Typically these micro and small business are made up of grocery shops, market stalls, car repair, carpentry and other workshops. Around two thirds of micro finance clients are women.

Lend with Care operates in Ecuador, Cambodia, Pakistan, Vietnam, The Philippines, Toga, Benin, Zambia, Malawi and from next week, Rwanda, in total there are 10 countries. They have potentially found a partner in Zimbabwe and could start work in 2015.

So why not investment in South Africa?

I put this question to Dr Ajaz

Ahmed Khan, Senior Microfinance Advisor for Care International, who said: “There are two challenges.

Despite relatively well developed financial sector, the microfinance sector that targets the poor is not well developed and we do face difficulties in identifying potential partners. Secondly, the interest rates charged by microfinance institutions are higher than we feel comfortable with.”

Dr Khan stated that they have for some time been exploring extending Lend with Care to South Africa, but have not been able to identify a suitable local partner organization that meets their eligibility criteria.

Earlier in the year they had several teleconferences with an organization that assisted small scale entrepreneurs in Soweto, but decided not to pursue this option.

Identifying suitable local organizations is the most challenging aspect of Lend with Care. They always travel to each country where they intend working and spend two weeks undertaking checks on potential partners to ensure not only that they have sound financial basis but that they possess a strong social development mission.

Dr Khan goes on to say that they “are willing to work in South Africa if [they] can identify a suitable partner and we will continue to explore possibilities”.

For myself 2015 is going to be a year of budgeting and finance.

I spent an obscene amount of money over the festive period on toys, gifts, Christmas cards, wrappings, trimmings etc and I cannot say I have anything really to show for it. Some of the toys have been broken, I have put on weight which I cannot afford, and I am sure one of my loved ones acquired gifts that they did not necessarily want or need (ditto for myself). Wouldn’t it have been great to have received a £15 gift voucher from Lend with Care knowing that this is the ultimate gift that goes on giving as it can be reinvested, and would potentially help a small business owner and their family out of poverty?

Lend with Care is very keen to find a partner to work with in South Africa, so if any of the readers have any suggestions, they need to contact the organization at www. lendwithcare.org.

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| 6 - 13 January 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

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SA: our pride and our shame (an interview with Peter Hain MP) | Peter Hain, the MP for Neath since 1991, served in the Cabinets of both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He was an anti-apartheid activist of note, and is author of a number of books. His most recent book Ad and Wal tells the story of his parents’ struggle against the oppressive apartheid regime and his new book Back to the Future of Socialism will be published in late January somewhat. Leaders of mainstream unions (like NUM in the run-up to Marikana), were remote and not in touch with the feelings of discontent experienced by their members. That said, some of these rival unions only offer confrontation; I don’t know of a trade union in the world that can succeed and has survived long term when confrontation is its modus operandi. Sometimes a strike is the only option, but I get the impression that certain leftist, militant unions start out by looking for a fight. This is not sustainable in the long run as such an approach is not in the interest of their members.

by Graham du Plessis Nelson Mandela passed away over a year ago and South African democracy is now almost 21 years old. How far do you feel South Africa has come as a nation and of what can it justifiably be proud?

I think South Africa has made amazing strides compared with the dark abyss into which it was collapsing towards the end of apartheid. At the time of Nelson Mandela’s release, the country was at risk of civil war and the economy was in tatters. Over the last two decades millions of homes have been built, millions of citizens have gained access to electricity, running water and sanitation, and school attendance has improved. Overall there has been a significant rise in real living standards.

It is only 21 years since the country was rescued from horror though; one cannot expect change and transformation to be wholly completed in so short a time.

In light of the Marikana massacre, continued labour unrest, and accusations of nepotism and corruption levelled at the country’s leadership, do you feel that South Africa will be able to achieve social justice and fulfil its potential as a country – the potential that Madiba and others dreamed of?

Despite the fantastic progress that the country has made, there are huge problems facing the government. Corruption is like a cancer and needs addressing all the way from municipal level right to the very top. Whilst there are undoubtedly many excellent public servants, sadly in some cases the main motivation to seek office seems to be the opportunity to stick the hand in the public till. Many within the ANC are determined to get on top of this, but equally there are those who are benefiting from corrupt practices and will resist giving them up, in the same way that a number of wealthy, white South Africans under apartheid did not want to give up their privileges.

Service delivery is also extremely variable. If one considers the huge amount South

| Peter Hain

Africa spends on education as a proportion of GDP, the fact that the country is ranked so low down out of 130 countries is unacceptable. Funding is not the issue. The quality of teaching is at best inconsistent, with a shocking lack of professionalism in many cases. The teaching union (SADTU) has fought against initiatives to drive up standards. As a Trade Unionist myself I must say that the job of a union is not to defend bad practice.

Urgent reforms are also required within the police force. Marikana was an appalling disgrace.

A couple of decades on from apartheid, we really should have seen professional, riot-control techniques, not this militarised

approach which resulted in tragic, needless deaths.

It is sad that there are still these significant shortcomings to address, especially following the wonderful World Cup in 2010, when the world got to see such a great display from the Rainbow Nation. There is a lot going for South Africa: a strong economy, good infrastructure, a well run financial system, good corporate governance, an independent judiciary, and a world class, robust constitution. For South Africa to fulfil its potential though, it needs to build on these strengths and combat the issues I’ve mentioned.

With the emergence of Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters and

reports of NUMSA forming a new political party following the formation of The United Front, how do you feel the political landscape is changing?

The emergence of the EFF and the United Front could be a healthy kick up the backside for the ANC (whom I support, by the way). The ANC has allowed itself to become complacent and I think this is why corruption has taken hold within some quarters of the party. The ANC needs to keep an eye on the United Front, as many of its supporters are very credible, exstruggle heroes who have roots in the ANC. Rival unions like AMCU have also shifted the landscape

Expats are often accused of harbouring negative views towards their homeland; what role do you feel expats could play with regards to the development of South Africa?

Expats enjoyed huge levels of investment during their education in South Africa. I hear a lot of negativity though – often factually inaccurate. I sometimes wonder whether these expats were genuinely supportive of the changeover to democracy.

Sometimes one comes across a determination to denigrate everything in the new South Africa, whilst not conceding that terrible things happened under apartheid – including horrendous levels of corruption. Many expats have a privileged life as a result of apartheid or apartheid’s legacy.

As a matter of duty, expats should support and promote the country.

You are stepping down as MP for Neath in May. What plans do you have for life after front-line politics?

I had intended to stand again having been re-selected by my local party back in November 2013. Ed Miliband suggested to me, however, that I might make a bigger contribution to the party and assist him if I played another national, political role. For a variety of reasons I cannot yet say what that role is, but it will become clear around May. We look forward to finding out more in a few months time. Thank you, Mr Hain.

9

thesouthafrican.com | 6 - 13 January 2015 |

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A travel writer's take on the challenges and rewards of expat life in Europe

Make Christmas wishes come true

| Travel writer and blogger Elizabeth Joss shares her thoughts on "McDonald's travelling", finding your feet overseas, priceless experiences of being a South African expat in Europe, and her baby, The Museum Times

by Katy Scott

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What is the most unusual thing that has happened to you while travelling/being in a foreign country?

While living alone in Barcelona and working remotely for a South African company, the company went bust and I had to find another job and very quickly at that! I didn’t want to leave Europe so I applied for positions all over the continent, got a job in The Hague and the rest is history.

That’s where I’ve settled now and I must say I love the place things happen for a reason.

What is the funniest reaction that you have got to being a South African overseas?

I was living in Rome for three months in a very Italian suburb where hardly anyone spoke any English and I mostly used hand gestures which was highly entertaining. I lived in a twobedroom apartment and the other bedroom was up for rental as my flat mate was moving out. A young Italian guy and his girlfriend came to view the apartment. When he found out I was from South Africa he smiled from cheek to cheek and although he couldn’t formulate a proper English sentence he blurted out two names, “Die Antwoord AND Oscar Pistorius!” and then he said something like, “Si, si, no?".

I have never laughed so much in my life (and nearly cried too!). But after my surprise was over, it made me think about what South Africa is known for around the world and it also made me want to really challenge those ideas.

What would you recommend as must-do experiences for South Africans in Europe?

I think every single person has a different idea of what they want out of travel. As South Africans living in Europe we’re in an advantageous position to be able to be able to fly to a completely different country and culture in a

matter of hours. I think you need to do what you want to do and what you want to experience; there is no right or wrong and certainly no bucket list for Europe because we all have our own tastes. However, I do think that there needs to be a movement whereby people don’t just do ‘McDonald’s’ travel -- where they have a taste of a country in a single day. They need to go beyond that and really stay in a country for longer periods to better understand those cultures. It makes for much more rewarding travel experiences especially when you really interact with locals on a deeper level.

Are there any special words that you live by?

I strongly believe in Picasso’s quote: "I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” I love this quote because I feel that it’s important to challenge oneself - to do things outside one’s comfort zone. If I didn’t challenge myself I’d never have had the experiences I’ve had. I’d be sitting at home, dwelling on life and doing the same things over and over. You’ve got to go beyond what you know and do in order to shape yourself. Not only in terms of travel but also in terms of career and a myriad of other things too. We live in a great age where we can do all that if we really put our minds to it.

What is your greatest achievement to date?

One of my greatest achievements (but also one of the biggest challenges I had) was moving abroad. It’s difficult to leave everything you know, your family and friends and move to Europe alone (I was 27 when I left). But I did it (with a single suitcase!). I’m grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been given along the way.

For more on The Museum Times visit: themuseumtimes.com

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Elizabeth Joss always knew she had a story to tell. In December 2012 she left South Africa for the museums, art and culture of Italy. In April 2014 her passion and talent came together in the form of The Museum Times, a niche site for arts, culture and museum lovers, showcasing the latest museum and arts and culture news from around the globe.

A seasoned traveller and South African at heart, Joss shares the secret to experiencing Europe and living outside one's comfort zone.

Please tell us more about The Museum Times, where did it evolve from, where do you hope to see it go?

When I left South Africa I continued my work on a remote basis for a South African company (while living in Rome and in Barcelona). As a Senior Content Manager I was responsible for client websites but also a number of travel blogs. While blogging for others, I realised that I also have a few things to say and that I needed my own space in which to do so. I was eager to document my experiences of living abroad.

So I first begun blogging under my own name. I then quickly realised that I loved blogging mainly about cultural experiences and I enjoyed making stories out of the trips I did. And so I created a more niche site called The Museum Times as a means to document these cultural experiences. I write a lot about museums (as the name suggests of course) but it’s not limited to museums. I’ve also been sent on a few travel blogging trips as a result of my blog which was a very rewarding experience since I met so many people like me too. A fellow South African and friend of mine from my university days, Kevin Myer, is a guest blogger on the site too, writing about museums in Scotland (where he currently lives) and museums in other European countries he visits. So the site is open to those who love art, culture and museums and we have readers from all over the globe -- mainly the US, Brazil and Russia. But I hope we’ll get more South African readers in 2015 too.

Where is "home" for you and why?

Home is where I am. But it’s also a melange of places. Of course home is mostly Cape Town where I grew up but it is Rome, The Hague and Bournemouth too. I believe home can be anywhere in our global, ever-changing world.

It’s what you make of it but it’s also important to maintain one’s roots and visit one’s real home frequently.

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| 6 - 13 January 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

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Take the road less travelled: | Cape Town may be the most popular spot in SA, but it can become rather crowded at times and have you yearning for wide open spaces.

A mere 25 minutes north of the city, a whole new world awaits

by Staff Reporter There are few places more festive, entertaining or fun to visit than Cape Town, especially during the summer holidays.

Offering everything from stunning natural beauty and world-class beaches to the finest wines, myriad entertainment and top-class restaurants, the Mother City has rightfully claimed its place as an awardwinning international destination, consistently being ranked in the top five by the likes of Condé Nast, The Lonely Planet and The New York Times.

However, this does mean that the city can become rather crowded at times and have you craving a respite from the masses and yearning for wide open spaces. The good news is that a

mere 25 minutes north of the city, a whole new world awaits; one of rugged and unspoiled beauty, pristine beaches, quaint fishing villages and a host of outdoor leisure activities for the whole family.

Just a short drive along the scenic coastal Route 27 or N7 is the West Coast Biodiversity Corridor, an area so special that it is one of only 35 such corridors recognised in the world. Home to a rich diversity of marine species, wildlife and endemic flora, it is also the gateway to the Cape West Coast which stretches all the way to Namibia.

Whether you need a short respite of just a day from the hordes or fancy a longer journey along the road less travelled, the West Coast is the perfect destination for a road trip. To

plan your adventure, simply access a new tourism initiative called West Coast Way by web, Facebook or Twitter to find all the highlights and must-sees up the coast. They have even created two spectacular self-drive routes which you can follow at your own pace to ensure you don’t miss a thing. The GroeneKloof Route focuses on cultural and heritage destinations and can be completed in a day although a stop-over is advised for a more relaxed trip. The BlueBenguela Route focuses more on laid back leisure activities and takes you to the quaint seaside towns like Paternoster for which the West Coast has become famous.

An adventure up the West Coast is also easy on the pocket as, once you have filled the tank,

you will find that many places and activities are free of charge which leaves more to spend on a sumptuous seafood feast, laden with crustaceans and the freshest of fish.

There are 21 stops and attractions on these routes, which offer adventure and fun for the whole family. The Groenekloof Route includes: Blaauwberg Nature Reserve, Melkbosstrand, Koeberg Nature Reserve, Silverstroomstrand, Witzand Aquifer Nature Reserve, Mamre Mission Station, Groote Post Wine Cellar, Darling, Buffelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve, West Coast National Park, Yzerfontein, !Khwa ttu San Cultural and Educational Centre.

On the BlueBenguela Route you will visit Langebaan, Saldanha, Jacobsbaai, Paternoster, Shelley

Point, St Helena Bay, Hopefield, West Coast Fossil Park and Thali Thali Game Lodge Each place offers myriad things to do and see, and highlights this season include: The West Coast Fossil Park only a short drive from Langebaan but takes you way back in time. Contrary to how the West Coast looks today, millions of years ago the area was dominated by riverine forests and wooded savannah, and was home to exotic animals that are now long extinct. Earlier mining exposed one of the richest fossil deposits ever discovered, and the property has since been declared a National Heritage Site. A highlight of the park is the ‘live’ exhibit of an ongoing excavation of early Pliocene fossils and this unique 5-million-year-old

11

thesouthafrican.com | 6 - 13 January 2015 |

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the West Coast Way playground is also offering a fun school holiday programme which includes a museum hunt and a mock dig, all at wallet-friendly prices.

Buffelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve is a private reserve which offers spectacular game drives as well as day trip safaris. In addition to a variety of buck, you can expect to see lion, cheetah, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, Blue Wildebeest and Red Hartebeest. Also present, but more elusive are the African Wildcat, lynx and honey badgers.

The reserve also offers luxurious accommodation units located near the waterholes, where you can relax and watch wild animals quench their thirst and there is also a large swimming pool in which both guests and day visitors are welcome to cool. Also

on site is a shooting range for target shooting and clay pigeon shooting.

Jacobsbaai boasts a 2 km stretch of rugged, rocky coastline with seven small, sandy bays tucked in between which make the landscape both picturesque and unique. Kwaaibaai is popular amongst surfers, while Toothrock and Bamboesbaai are renowned for diving and fishing. Smalbaai is popular with Oystercatchers and cormorants which sun themselves on the rocks and Mauritzbaai can be awash with hundreds of terns roosting on the rocks in the shallow waters. The sandy beach of Hospital Bay is ideal for swimming and sunbathing.

Shelley Point is a tiny, unspoiled peninsula that gives it the illusion of being an island surrounded by sea. It lies in the

calm waters of Shelley Bay which makes it ideal for sailing and fishing, and also provides shallow, safe water for children to splash about. Here you can completely unwind, taking scenic walks along the pristine beach, collecting mussels or just enjoying the sheer pleasure of the unspoilt natural beauty. And when you feel the need for a little pampering, there is a luxurious spa in the Wellness Centre. !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre offers a fascinating insight into the culture, heritage, knowledge and modern-day life of the San of Southern Africa. During a three-hour tour, San guides will demonstrate their skills and share their ancient knowledge about oral history, tracking animals and identifying edible and medicinal plants. The tour includes a ride in

an open-top vehicle, a visit to the replica traditional San village and an interactive session about San languages at the traditional boma.

The beautifully restored original farmhouse is now a restaurant which serves breakfast and lunch.

Thali Thali Game Lodge is a pristine privately owned game and fynbos reserve which is home to a wide variety of antelope as well as many other species. Kudu, oryx, giraffe, red hartebeest, eland, zebra, springbok, black wildebeest, duiker, bontebok and steenbok are all easy to spot and, as there are no predators in the park, guests are free to explore on foot to view the birds and animals. Daily game drives are available as well as many other activities including archery and a 3D bow hunting track. The four-star restaurant at the lodge is renowned for its fine fare and is

the perfect place to recharge after all the excitement.

For instant access to more information about all these places, and loads more exciting West Coast destinations, a fun, informative and free app is also available for download from Google Play store, Windows Phone store and the Apple iTunes store.

West Coast Way’s 101+ Points of Interest app is available as part of an internationally recognised travel app called Tourism Radio City Guides, and showcases over 101 fantastic things to see and do on the West Coast.

For more information on West Coast Way visit www. westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777.

Connect with West Coast Way on Facebook and Twitter at WestCoastWaySA.

12

| 6 - 13 January 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

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Here's how to safeguard your South African citizenship | Saffas need to apply for the Retention of South African citizenship before gaining British citizenship

by Breytenbachs BIC consultants unfortunately often have to witness the frustration of persons who have lost their South African citizenship, either by choice, inaction, or by simply being uninformed about the process of retaining one’s South African nationality.

In 2014, there has been widespread interest in the media about the retention and resumption of South African citizenship, when acquiring another nationality. Unfortunately, changing the system is not the easy route, and South Africans about to apply for citizenship of another country bear in mind that preventing losing your South African citizenship is definitely better than trying to remedy the situation. By following some simple administrative procedures you could save yourself a lot of heartache and trouble.

South Africans who are about to apply for British citizenship should take note that they have to apply for the Retention of South African citizenship before they acquire British citizenship, in order to safeguard their SA citizenship. This way their SA

citizenship is protected and they are able to hold dual citizenship – South African and British.

If you fail to formally apply for dual citizenship permission before acquiring British citizenship through naturalisation (including the Ancestry visa route), you will automatically lose your South African citizenship. Naturalisation is of course when you acquire British citizenship in your own right and not through descent.

Persons who acquire British nationality via descent, will not automatically lose their South African citizenship, and do not have to follow the process of retaining their SA citizenship. Descent is passed down by a parent only – namely British parents that pass their citizenship down to children born outside of the UK. The process to retain your South African nationality has two stages.

The first is to apply for a Certificate of Non-Acquisition from the UK Home Office. This is a letter confirming that you have not yet acquired British nationality.

Once this letter is received one will be able to submit the second stage of the application to the South African High Commission. This is when you will be applying for your Certificate of Retention, which will

mean that, when you become a national of another country, you will still retain your South African nationality, and will thus be a dual citizen. This application can be done in person or via post. Please speak to your BIC consultant for more advice in this regard.

It is possible to re-instate one’s South African citizenship once it has been lost, but may cause quite an administrative hassle, and involves you having to live in South Africa for an extended period of time. One could apply for a returning resident and so forth but it is a lot of hassle and money and a lot more effort than taking the time to protect it at the onset.

Please contact your BIC consultant for more information or for more advice in your unique circumstances. www.bic-immigration.com or info@bic-immigration.com

13

thesouthafrican.com | 6 - 13 January 2015 |

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| 6 - 13 January 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

Sport

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Saracens take on the Blue Bulls at Allianz Park | Hargreaves and the team look forward to tackling the Bulls on Saturday 31 January

By Saracens Saracens will play Blue Bulls at Allianz Park on Saturday 31 January, 2015.

The 2014 Premiership league winners have an unbeaten record against South African opposition, having defeated the Springboks, The Sharks and most recently Western Province.

Alistair Hargreaves, Saracens captain said: "The Bulls have long been one of the leading teams in the southern hemisphere, and it will be a great thrill for us players and our supporters to welcome the Pretorian team to Allianz Park – a place that we players are immensely proud of."

The Blue Bulls touring party will include Springbok stars such as

SAT 31 JAN | KO 15H15 BOOK NOW 0844 847 1876 | WWW.SARACENS.COM/BLUEBULLS

| Alistair Hargreaves

iconic lock Victor Matfield, hooker Adriaan Strauss, bulldozing back rower Pierre Spies, half back Francois Hougaard, plus young stars Handre Pollard and Jan Serfontein.

On facing the Blue Bulls, Hargreaves added; “They are always an extremely tough team to play against. They are physical and have traditionally produced a very big pack of forwards, and it promises to be a great clash here in north London. The last two games at Allianz Park against the Sharks and Western Province have both proved to be great occasions, and as a team we can’t wait to face the Bulls this January.”

Ticket details can be found at www.saracens.com/bluebulls

thesouthafrican.com | 6 - 13 January 2015 |

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Walk off the Christmas wobble by joining a touch rugby team | What a year it has been for all the players and the game of Touch in London

By in2touch The Sunday Individuals Team joined in on the festive spirit for their final game of the season, sporting traditional Christmas attire.

2014 was a fantastic year for Touch in all the social and competitive leagues and competitions. O2 Touch is also growing quickly and has gotten many clubs interested in playing touch, gaining new touch ambassadors coming through all the time. With so many new players learning the game of touch it is always good to have some established leagues to help the process like we do in London.

There are seven different venues around London which have leagues running each night of the week from April through to August, which is the peak Spring and Summer Leagues.

There will be a Winter League that starts in early February on Sundays from 12 pm - 3 pm at Clapham Common and it has Men's, Ladies and Mixed divisions. This is a social league where teams play for eight weeks every Sunday and you could either enter your own team or as

an individual and we can put you into a team for the whole season.

There is also an Active Touch league running from the middle of January at two different locations, the first venue is at Canary Wharf on Mondays from 6:45 pm - 7:45 pm and the other is at The Wandle Recreation Centre in Wandsworth on both Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm.

Active Touch is an indoor game that is played with four team members, two ladies and two men for 30 minutes non-stop. It is a fast-paced, skillful game that is a cross between touch, football, netball, ultimate Frisbee and a few other sports.

With a brand new year and many exciting touch competitions, leagues and parties to look forward to everyone is getting their teams together and making sure to get a spot in the upcoming leagues of 2015.

If you would like to find out more about any of these Touch leagues in London then please feel free to send an email to tracy@ in2touch.com or have a look on our website,www.in2touch.com/uk for more information.

Sport 6 – 13 JANUARY 2015

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Saracens take on the Blue Bulls at Allianz Park on Saturday 31 January

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Walk off the Christmas wobble by joining a touch rugby team

NEWS FOR GLOBAL SOUTH AFRICANS www.thesouthafrican.com

Don’t miss the biggest sporting events in 2015 | We bring you a major sports event for each month in 2015, making sure you get your priorities straight this year

by Tyron Barnard

June — French Open Final Does Serena Williams take another step to the record? Does Novak Djokovic complete his career Grand Slam? Does Federer win one more major, or will Nadal be fit enough to win his 9th French Open? We will find out in early June.

As most South Africans head back to work on 5 January and begin planning for the work year ahead, an important glance must be cast in a sporting direction.

January — Dakar Rally The World’s toughest race will take place for the 37th time. Still named the Dakar rally, but nowhere near Dakar anymore, the race still pulls together the best in Rally across the different disciplines.

July – FINA World Swimming Championships The world’s best swimmers will head to Russia for the 2015 World Championships with the current best swimmer in the world being a South African, and the best coach in the world being one too.

Michael Phelps will have served his suspension and Ryan Lochte will also be there. South Africa will be hoping for an improvement on the five medals won in 2013.

February — AFCON Final Bafana Bafana have qualified for a tournament for the first time since the 2008 AFCON (they only qualified for 2013 as hosts).

Although the tournament undertook a last minute move — Morocco were scared to host owing to Ebola, but still hosted the FIFA Club World Cup and a few high profile friendlies — the excitement is starting to build as Bafana are at a tournament on merit for the first time in seven years.

March — ICC Cricket World Cup Final The premier showpiece in world cricket, and the one that keeps getting away from the Proteas, takes place in Australia and New Zealand.

The pitches downunder largely suit the South African team, but the format does not.

April — The Masters The ultimate golfing tournament of the year will potentially pass on the illusive green jacket that is currently under the stewardship of Bubba Watson for the second year

| LOOKING TO THE FINAL: The Bokke hope to make South Africa proud at the IRB Rugby World Cup in England in October 2015. Photo of Pat Lambie by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images/Getty Images

in succession.

May — Comrades Marathon The Ultimate Human Race was won by a South African in

2014 when Bongmusa Mthembu completed the South African hattrick after Moshiywa and Mamabolo in 2013 and 2012 respectively.

August — IAAF World Championships Usain Bolt will return to the scene of his 2008 double Olympic Gold and double world records as the World Athletics Championship heads to Beijing. South Africa have won 17 medals in the 11 editions we have competed in. We will desperately want to improve on the one bronze medal from the 2013 World Athletics Champs, and would also love to win the first gold medal for the nation since 2009.

September — All Africa Games I remember growing up the year that South Africa hosted the All African Games. It was 1999 and our first major event since the AFCON in 1996; it brought the

continent together in this multisport gathering. South Africa won the event by finishing top of the medals table that year. This year the All African games take place in Brazzaville in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

October — IRB Rugby World Cup Final The last time the Rugby World Cup was in Europe, the Springboks took home the prize. In 2015 South Africa will be looking to do the same again. The big three will all look to be the first nation to win the Web Ellis Trophy for the third time, while New Zealand wants to be the first defending champions to win it again. If the Springboks win their pool they could face the hosts in the Quarter Finals.

November — FIA Brazilian Grand Prix If the 2014 season is anything to go by, then the final race of the 2015 season will surely be a classic. With Mercedes duo Rosberg and Hamilton going headto-head and Alonso at Mclaren, Vettel at Ferrari, we are poised for a humdinger.

December — FIH World League Final The FIH World League has brought the best to hockey and given all teams an opportunity to qualify for the World Cup and Olympics. This is the 2014-15 final which takes place in India. South Africa will hope to qualify for the Semi-Final round first and sneak into the final, thus securing their Olympics spot.

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