The South African, Issue 485, 16 October 2012

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Issue 485

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OVERSTAY VISA BY 28 DAYS AND YOU’RE OUT

New Border Agency rules mean if you have limited leave to enter or remain in UK, your application for further leave will be refused if you overstay your visa by more than 28 days

C

by STAFF REPORTER

SHARK LIFE: Midnight feast’ by Thomas P Peschak is one of the South African entries that will go on display at the Natural History Museum this week as part of the world-renowned annual Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. See more exhibition photos and details on page 10.

UK Immigration • UK Visas • Permits • EEA visas • Residency • Citizenship • Appeals • Sponsorship Licences South African Immigration

HANGES to the United Kingdom Immigration Rules from 1 October now mean it will be a lot more difficult for those overstaying in the UK to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

If you are applying to extend your visa under the points-based system, all working and student routes, visiting routes, long residency routes and discharged HM Forces and UK ancestry routes, new rules apply.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has said that as of 1 October, if you have limited leave to enter or remain in the UK and wish to extend your visa, you must apply within 28 days of your current visa expiring. Your application for further leave will be refused if you have overstayed your visa by more

than 28 days when you apply.

According to the UKBA, “If you have no right to be in the country we expect you to leave voluntarily and we will enforce your return if you fail to do so. Where we need to enforce someone’s return they may be subject to a ban on reentering the UK.” Anyone on a valid visa looking to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain who loses their visa because of this rule will not only need to return to their home country, but will also lose all the time they have accrued towards ILR (five years). Should they be allowed back, they would have to start all over again.

Therefore, anyone wanting to extend their leave to remain must submit their application on time to avoid losing their right to stay in the UK. The 28-day rule was already in

place for applications made under the family migration route.

The rule changes don’t affect the existing requirement for migrants who wish to switch from a study route to Tier 2. If this is the case, the applicant must have valid Leave to Remain at the time of application.

Those applying to extend their Tier 4 (student visa) must ensure that the gap between the end of their current Leave to Remain and the start of their studies is no more than 28 days.

Do you think this new immigration rule makes sense and will it affect you?

Leave your comment online...

TheSouthAfrican.com/ News

0845 074 0514 info@bic-immigration.com www.bic-immigration.com

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| 16 October – 22 October 2012 | thesouthafrican.com

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Can SA artwork beat record sale of £3 million?

Editor: Heather Walker Production: Paul Christopher Daniels Publisher: Gordon Glyn-Jones Registered office: Unit C7, Commodore House, Battersea Reach, London SW18 1TW. Tel: 0845 456 4910 Email: editor@thesouthafrican.com Website: www.thesouthafrican.com Directors: P Atherton, J Durrant, N Durrant and R Phillips Printed by: Mortons of Horncastle Ltd

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Irma Stern holds the record for SA art with her painting ‘Arab Priest’, which sold for £3 million at Bonhams last year. Can another of her works, or perhaps one of Pierneef’s, beat that figure this week?

by ELIZABETH GLANVILLE

BONHAMS, one of the world’s largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques, will be holding its South African sale from 16-17 October.

They will be hoping to beat the previous record sale of South African artwork, ‘Arab Priest’ by Irma Stern (1894-1966), which sold for £3 million last year.

South Africa’s other leading artist Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef (18861957), who focuses on landscapes and sweeping vistas, will have a number of pieces in the exhibition including his views of Simonsberg, near Stellenbosch and Kransberg, near Rustenberg.

Meanwhile “Portrait of a Sheikh, Zanzibar,” by Stern’s rival, South African artist Freida Lock (19021962) will also be on offer.

Lock and Stern were both immigrants to SA, from England and Germany respectively, and both were big fans of Zanzibar; the country inspired much of their

work and resulted in resemblances and similarities between these two pieces.

The artists’ passion for the archipelago resulted in rifts and rivalries between them, not least in their joint use of ornatelycarved wooden Zanzibari door frame strips, in which they framed their works. Stern asserted her unique authorship over the use of the frames, but “Portrait of a Sheikh” and “Arab Priest” are both displayed in such a manner.

“This battle over Zanzibari door frames does not reflect well on two of South Africa’s leading artists,” said Hannah O’Leary, Head of South African Art at Bonhams.

“But both women were passionate about Zanzibar and both loved to use its carved doorframes to frame the work they did locally. It certainly adds to the interest of this image.”

If any piece is going to beat the £3 million record it is likely to

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Tube Closures Circle: Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October, no service.

District: Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October, no service between Earls Court and Edgware Road and between Barking and Upminster.

Metropolitan: Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October, no service between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Aldgate.

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Could this Pierneef painting beat the £3 million SA art record in London?

be one of the works by Pierneef or Stern. Both artists are still recognised as providing two of the most important and significant windows on South African life and landscape in the twentieth century despite, or maybe because of, their differing and contrasting approaches and ideals; Stern remained focused on capturing the subjects of her works in a personal

manner, compared to Pierneef’s vistas of the African veld.

The exhibition includes work by many other big names in SA art, such as sculptors Anton van Wouw and Sydney Kumalo, and painters Maggie Laubser, Alexis Preller, Pieter Naude, Maud Sumner, Vladimir Tretchikoff, Gerard Sekoto, Maurice van Essche, Cecil Skotnes and Walter Battiss.

SA Business Awards 2012: Time’s running out to nominate

by STAFF REPORTER

NOMINATIONS for the South African Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2012 will close in two weeks, which means you’d better get your nominations in fast!

The annual awards recognise trailblazing South African business people in the UK within the following categories: • Business Leader of the Year • Charity of the Year • Entrepreneur of the Year • Innovator of the Year • Rising Star of the Year • Woman in Business of the Year There are 3 ways you can get involved: 1. Nominate your friends and colleagues. If you know someone

who should be nominated, visit our website and nominate them.

Nominees will then be contacted for their approval and their complete CV and biography before being submitted for public vote.

2. Vote for your chosen nominee once their bio goes live on this website. Each comment posted on their bio, which is connected to a unique, legitimate e-mail address will be counted as a vote.

3. Register to attend the awards at the South African High Commission in London on 28 November. Registration for the event opens soon – watch this space for more info.

Visit www.thesouthafrican. com/business-awards to start nominating now!

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At last year’s SA Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, Achumile Majija accepts his award for Rising Star of the Year 2011 from chairman Mary-Anne Anderson and Reg Bamford of Sable Group.

thesouthafrican.com | 16 October – 22 October 2012 |

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Two dead after tourist boat capsizes in Hout Bay

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

A Welsh tourist has died on the last day of his holiday in South Africa after the charter boat he and his family were on capsized

by STAFF REPORTER

A South African crew member and a British tourist and have died after a charter boat capsized offshore near Hout Bay on Saturday evening.

National Sea Rescue Institute spokesman Craig Lambinon said 41 people were on board the Miroshga when it overturned near Duiker island.

The navy and police launched a major search and rescue mission, during which they pulled 34 people out of the water before sending dive teams in to search the ship, which was bobbing upside down in the waves.

64-year-old Peter Hyett from Wales was on the last day of his two-week holiday in South Africa with his wife and daughter when the boat capsized. His family members were rescued but Hyett was declared dead on the scene.

According to City of Cape Town spokesman Wilfred SolomonsJohannes, three frightened passengers used air pockets in the

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www.southafricanremovals.com hull of the boat to stay alive until they were rescued.

The body of John Roberts, a member of the Miroshga’s crew was found 21m below the surface on Sunday morning by divers from the SA Navy.

Cape Town Mayor Patricia de

Lille has sent condolences to the families of the deceased and paid tribute to the disaster response teams who “went beyond the call of duty to save the other passengers”.

The cause of the accident is still being investigated.

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SA nursery school teacher caught squashing 19 children into her car

by STAFF REPORTER

A PRETORIA nursery school has been caught transporting 19 children in her tiny Renault Clio.

Melanie Minnie and her class from Rietfontein nursery school were on a school trip to the local Spur when she was pulled over with six children in the boot, at

least three on the front seat and the remaining 10 in the back.

According to Die Beeld newspaper, a concerned member of the public called the police when Minnie parked at the Jacaranda Shopping Centre and 12 children got out of the car.

The children were left at the Spur’s

When your loved ones receive at

play area while Minnie returned to the school, about 1km away, to fetch the second group of 19 pupils.

Minnie told Die Beeld she got the fright of her life when the Tshwane metro police stopped her.

A police spokesperson said Minnie was fined R1 500 (about £100).

FNB

Help to end hunger on World Food Day WORLD Food Day is held each year on 16 October, the date on which the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations was formed in 1945.

Mark this World Food Day by playing your part in fighting what has been described as “the world’s most solvable problem” – hunger.

One easy and cost effective way to make a meaningful difference is by sending a text message to support FoodBank South Africa.

South Africa can produce enough food for its entire population, yet 20% of households have inadequate access to food.

These hungry people either cannot afford or cannot reach the available food.

FoodBank South Africa was

formed in 2009 to provide a coordinated and scaled solution with the vision of ‘A South Africa without hunger or malnutrition’.

Today, FoodBank South Africa supports eight urban food banks.

These operate an award-winning Food Rescue Programme which receives donated surplus food from producers and supermarkets and distributes it to over 1,700 community based organisations helping over 377,000 people.

In this way approximately four thousand tonnes of viable food are rescued from landfills each year. Additional staple foods are bought via a Food Procurement Programme, taking advantage of FoodBank South Africa’s economies of scale.

In rural areas, FoodBank’s Food

Development Programme works to make smallholder farmers viable, creating jobs and new sources of food for its food banks and for commercial markets.

Finally the Hunger United programme aims to coordinate the country’s efforts to feed the hungry millions.

FoodBank South Africa can provide a meal for just 12 pence.

Please take a moment to help by texting: • FWFD01 to send £1 (enough for FoodBank South Africa to provide 8 meals), or • £3 (enough for 25 meals), or • £5 (enough for more than 40 meals).

For more information visit www. foodbank.org.za

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| 16 October – 22 October 2012 | thesouthafrican.com

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NEWS IN BRIEF

South African panning team brings home the gold

by STAFF REPORTER

SOUTH Africa is home to the world’s top gold panners. The local team claimed first position and 16 medals – the most it has ever won – at the 2012 World Gold Panning Championships, which took place in the historic town of Pilgrim’s Rest in Mpumalanga, where gold was first discovered in 1873.

Sibongile Nkosi, director

of communications for Mpumalanga’s Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation (DCSR), confirmed that the local team outperformed Finland, one of its biggest competitors, to win five gold, six silver and five bronze medals. Finland came second, with 12 medals, and Sweden claimed third position with four medals.

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The gold medals went to South Africa’s Bianca Brower, Morele Keabetswe, The Tigers threeperson team, Albie Nyschen and Mia Mason.

“It is the first time that we got so many medals,” Nkosi says, adding that the team’s success will help to market the sport in South Africa.

The South African Gold Panners Association (SAGPA) partnered

Show how much you care

in 2005 and again this year.

The South African events have also drawn competitors from the UK, Caribbean Islands, the US, Canada, Mozambique, Botswana, Switzerland, New Zealand, Zambia and Namibia.

- www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com

SA still a hit with tourists

by STAFF REPORTER

TOURIST arrivals to South Africa grew by 10.5% for the first six months of 2012, more than double the global average of 5% for the same period.

According to the most recent tourism figures, tourist numbers to South Africa increased by an impressive 10.5% during the first half of 2012, which is double the global tourism growth rate of 5%.

"Stats SA's tourism figures indicate that South Africa experienced an excellent first half of the year, attracting 4, 416, 373 tourists to the country between January and June 2012, compared to 3, 996, 760 tourist arrivals for the same period in 2011," said the Department of Tourism in a statement.

The tourism industry experienced particularly strong growth in overseas tourist arrivals, recording

17.1% growth in arrivals from outside the African continent.

A total of 1, 163, 477 overseas tourist arrivals were recorded for the first six months of 2012, compared to 993 364 tourist arrivals for the corresponding period in 2011.

"Despite the global economic downturn, our focused marketing efforts and the hard work of everyone in the tourism industry are paying dividends," said Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.

"Although the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) does predict a slowdown in global arrivals in the second half of this year, we are delighted with our very strong start in 2012, and are confident that it will be a year worth celebrating for us as far as the tourism industry is concerned," he added.

- SAnews.gov.za

SKA gives Africa a chance to shine

by STAFF REPORTER

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with the Pilgrim’s Rest Museum and DCSR to generate more publicity for the sport. In 1997, the country participated in the South African Open Gold Panning Championships for the first time and since then, South Africa has hosted the world tournament twice,

THE opportunity to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) has given South Africa and Africa as a whole a platform to prove to the world that the continent has what it takes to deliver the cuttingedge science project, says SKA Associate Director Professor Justin Jonas.

Speaking at a gala dinner in Carnarvon on Monday, ahead of President Jacob Zuma's visit to the site of the SKA in the Northern Cape, Jonas expressed faith in the ability of South Africa and its partners on the continent to successfully pull off the venture.

"I am confident we are going to do that," said Jonas.

In May this year, the SKA Organisation announced that South

Africa and Australia were to share the hosting of the most advanced scientific project in the world.

The two biggest components of the SKA will be built in Africa, while one will be built in Australia.

About 70% of the facility will be built in Africa.

Both South Africa and Australia have been working on precursors to the SKA, the 64-dish MeerKAT telescope and the six-dish SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) respectively.

According to Professor Jonas, the SKA will be a massive scientific infrastructure, and its development and construction will require participation by a wide range of industries to achieve its ambitious performance, schedule and cost targets.

- SAnews.gov.za

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Northern Cape Acting Premier Grizelda Cjiekella, Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor, President Jacob Zuma and Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom visit the Square Kilometre Array site in Carnarvon, Northern Cape.

thesouthafrican.com | 16 October – 22 October 2012 |

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4 -Africa: Four South Africans on an epic adventure

A four month 4×4 trip from London to Cape Town to help stop human trafficking

by DEBBIE MYBURG

£13: THE AVERAGE price paid for a child sold in human trafficking and worryingly, more than one person is trafficked across borders every minute, which is equivalent to 10 jumbo jets every day (www.stopthetraffik.org).

Some truly frightening statistics, but here in the UK there are some South Africans who have had enough and are doing all they can to speak up about these injustices.

4-Africa is a team of four dedicated South Africans (Daniel and Maud Esterhuysen, and Stephan and Sunita Malherbe) who are incredibly passionate about ceasing this global organised crime and who are devoted to making a positive difference to raise the level of awareness of trafficking.

In order to raise funds for the work of the A21 Campaign, the team recently put on a spectacular African Ball which was held in Woodford. South Africans from all over the UK dressed up glamorously and gathered at Tamar Square for a formal dance (or ‘sokkie’) and a sumptuous spit roast dinner.

The evening was a huge success and against the backdrop of a typical African sunset, everyone listened intently to the team.

The not-for-profit event raised funds for an extraordinary charity expedition: a four month 4×4 excursion from London to Cape Town to raise awareness, do grassroots level research on human trafficking in Africa and establish contacts in support of the A21 campaign.

The plan is to spend four months going through East Africa, attempting to establish and build relationships and interact with a wide range of groups such as everyday people living in villages, children, government officials, NGOs, etc.

Their aim is threefold. Firstly it is to raise awareness about human trafficking at pre-arranged events and schools and generally raise awareness at every given opportunity.

Secondly, the team are keen to do groundwork research to gather information on the problem of human trafficking specific to that

The 4-Africa team. Photo by Trix Brummer Photography.

area and thereby gain as much insight into the forms of trafficking and methods used.

Lastly, on arrival in South Africa the aim is to set up a new A21 office in Cape Town. On the way there, they will make contacts and build relationships for future projects in Africa. Having learnt and absorbed all they can in the last four months, the team will be well equipped to do this.

Of course being on the road for

four months is hard work and a lot of preparation and money will be required. 4-Africa relies solely on donations. If you are keen to contribute and make a difference please visit the website: www. justgiving.com/4-Africa, which is a registered charity account.

To find out more about the project and other fundraising events that you would like to be involved in please visit www.4africa.net

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| 16 October – 22 October 2012 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

Have you been spotted?

4-Africa charity ball

HAVING A BALL: 4-Africa (www.4-Africa.net) hosted a charity ball in London to raise money for its awareness and research trip in support of the A21 Campaign who assists in the fight against human trafficking. With a spit roast dinner and guests dancing until early morning, the night was a great success.

TheSouthAfrican.com/ Photos

Win a £25 Spur meal voucher

Visit www.ukspur.co.uk to locate your nearest Spur

If you have been spotted in the circle on this week’s scene page please call us on 0845 456 4910 or email your address to editor@thesouthafrican.com to claim your prize.

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thesouthafrican.com | 16 October – 22 October 2012 |

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FANIE os oppie jas

FANIE VAN DER MERWE

Oor Die Grootste Afrikaner van Alle Tye. Deel II.

OM in Londen se Parliament Square in brons verewig te word, voorveronderstel ’n merkwaardige lewe. Dit verteenwoordig ’n sonderlinge eerbetoon en was tot op hede slegs vir drie buitelanders beskore. Om dus ’n boorling van Riebeek-Wes, naby Malmesbury, op dié wyse neffens Winston Churchill uitgestal te sien, noop mens om nadere ondersoek in te stel na die man agter die standbeeld.

Jan Christian Smuts (1870-1950) was ’n fenomeen. Sóveel so dat sy mees omslagtige biografie uit twee volumes bestaan. Maar ten spyte van die oorvloed beskikbare leesstof oor sy lewe, blyk dit dat veral die jonger garde maar min van dié Afrikaanse reus weet.

Soos dat hy, ná sy studies by die Universiteit van Stellenbosch, met ’n gesogte beurs aan die Universiteit van Cambridge studeer het. En dat Lord Todd, die Meester van Christ’s College, in 1970 die volgende te sê gehad het: “...in 500 years of the College’s history, of all its members, past and present, three had been truly outstanding: John Milton, Charles Darwin and Jan Smuts”. Vir die laaste twee jaar van sy lewe was Smuts ook die Kansellier van dié toonaangewende universiteit.

Ja, Smuts was akademies briljant.

Vandaar sy bynaam ‘Slim Jannie’.

Sy akademiese kwalifikasies was in die regte, maar die natuurwetenskappe het hom in só ’n mate gefassineer dat die boek ‘Holism and Evolution’, na jare se verfyning van dié idee, in 1924 uit sy pen verskyn het. Die konsep ‘holisme’, wat tot vandag toe in verskeie wetenskaplike dissiplines toegepas word, is dus ’n breinkind van Smuts.

Hy was egter veel beter bekend as ’n militêre leier en strateeg. Op 31-jarige ouderdom het hy as Boere-generaal ’n kommando op gewaagde wyse diep die Kaapprovinsie ingelei om ondersteuning vir die Boererepublieke onder die Kaapse Afrikaners te bewerkstellig.

Tydens die Eerste Wêreldoorlog het hy die Suid-Afrikaanse magte tot ’n oorwinning oor die Duitsers in Suidwes-Afrika en Oos-Afrika gelei en tydens die Tweede Wêreldoorlog het hy as veldmaarskalk in die Britse Leër gedien.

Maar dit is straks vir sy rol as politikus wat hy die helderste in die geheue sal voortleef. As minister in die Suid-Afrikaanse regering het hy verskeie

portefeuljes beklee en het hy ook die unieke prestasie behaal om op twee afsonderlike geleenthede as eerste minister van Suid-Afrika te dien (1919-1924 en 1939-1945).

Daarbenewens was hy tydens albei wêreldoorloë ’n lid van die Britse oorlogskabinet én hy was selfs vir ’n paar dae die waarnemende premier van Brittanje, toe Churchill besoek aan vegtende Britse soldate afgelê het.

Smuts was gesout in die kuns van oorlogvoering, maar sy deugde as vredemaker het wêreldwyd ook groot agting afgedwing. Na afloop van die Eerste Wêreldoorlog was hy ’n gematigde stem by die Versaillesvredesonderhandelinge en het hy die Geallieerdes (sonder sukses) gewaarsku teen die instelling van maatreëls wat gebaseer was op vergelding teen die Duitsers. Ten spyte hiervan het hy tóg die Vrede van Versailles onderteken en was hy uiteindelik die enigste persoon om beide dié vredesooreenkoms, sowel as die een wat ná die Tweede Wêreldoorlog gesluit is, te onderteken.

Smuts was verder ’n grondlegger van die Volkerebond en was, saam met die Amerikaanse president Woodrow Wilson, verantwoordelik vir die ontstaan, ontwikkeling en implementering daarvan. Jare later was hy boonop die outeur van die inleiding van die handves van die Verenigde Nasies, die opvolger van die Volkerebond.

Al het baie Afrikaners hom as antagonisties jeens Afrikanerbelange beskou, was Jan Smuts ’n visioenêr. Dink net hoe die Suid-Afrika van 2012 sou lyk indien ons wél die witbroodjie van die Empaaier kon wees.

En as ons wél die Duitsers tydens die wêreldoorloë ondersteun het?

Waar sou ons dán gewees het?

En sê nou net ons kon reeds in 1948 begin het om rasse-integrasie geleidelik in te stel, eerder as om die Apartheidspad te stap.

Hoe sou Suid-Afrika vandag daar uitgesien het?

Dis egter nie net sy intellek, of sy staatsmanskap, of sy militêre vaardighede wat regmerkies verdien nie. Dis Smuts se versiendheid wat hom myns insiens Die Grootste Afrikaner van Alle Tye maak. En te oordeel aan die nege-en-twintig eredoktorsgrade van universiteite van regoor die wêreld en die agttien stede wat aan hom die vryheid van hul stad toegeken het, staan ek nie alleen in my oortuiging nie. Maar die feit dat hy, ’n boerklong, die Britse jingo’s van die vroeë 20ste eeu in só ’n mate kon beïndruk dat hulle vir hom ’n standbeeld in hul heligsvierkant laat oprig het, is ’n onomstootbare bewys dat sy grootsheid nie bloot aan my vooroordeel toe te skryf is nie, maar dat hy werklik, ook in die oë van die res van die wêreld, die grootste Afrikaner van alle tye was.

TheSouthAfrican.com/ People

The OPTIMIST KAREN DE VILLIERS

Life was simple before the pioneering stage

HAPPINESS is sitting in LPQ with Elinor in Brooklyn.

Ellie from Welkom and Karen from Kroonstad. We met in Pietermaritzburg and life decided to take her to Ellis Island and me to SW19.

Ellie has been playing the immigration game much longer than I have. At three years I am still a newborn to the rules of the game. Kept listening for a trace of a nice American twang but no, there was the Natal version still intact and it was so lekker to giggle about how we lived our lives before and just how much our lives have changed.

Both landed in the middle of the alphabet soup, a letter of insignificance just swirling around in the broth, lost and at odds with the patterns. Life was simple before the pioneering stage.

Women do not leave their circle of friends without pain. Men seem to just get on with it, catching up now and then, but we women, we manifest ourselves through our relationships with others, building on our roots, nurturing ties – we are suckers for girly things like birthdays and special occasions.

Leaving all that behind makes us insecure. Some things you cannot

What’s on

Josie Field and Malory Torr Date: 17 October, 8pm Venue: The Troubadour South African singer–songwriter Josie Field will be performing in London next month, supported by peer musician Malory Torr.

Josie, deemed “not good enough” for Idols six years ago, is the recipient of six South African Music Award (SAMA) nominations, including Best Female Artist as a result of her 2011 album 1984.

Malory will be playing from 8:15pm – 9pm and Josie from 9:10pm – 9:40pm.

Desmond Tutu: Conversation for Change Date: 23 October, 7.30pm Venue: Fairfield Concert Halls International peace campaigner Archbishop Desmond Tutu will host a public debate called Conversation for Change, which will also include his daughter Reverend Mpho Tutu, an ordained priest in the Anglican church.

His talk in Croydon will focus on how to resolve tensions

“Women don’t leave their circle of friends without pain”. Photo by Patrick Ashley.

discuss with someone who does not understand how bad hair days work. The mere thought of finding a new hairdresser, or worse, a new beautician you are going to get naked before for the waxing fills us with dread. Fabulous home to flat. It’s a control thing, even if our universe is small. Captains of our own little schooners and then we meet up with other captains and compare notes. And recipes.

Only to turn 50 without our friends. I remember feeling so depressed that only a cupcake from Lola at Selfridges could suffice.

Darling did not understand, he was there, but it just is not the same without our ‘wimmen’ friends to tell you how fabulous you look and that you will age like Audrey Hepburn. They do not notice the muffin tops, the leather hands or liver spots creeping up on your face. If they do, they are suffering from the same afflictions and so the bond is complete. Being all

alone in a new country plays havoc with your ego. So we both tried to get out there and find work to make a statement and justify ourselves in some way. So qualified, if I have to say so myself, so experienced, and so totally unemployable. Strike two for the self confidence.

It doesn’t take long for us stay down. Ellie is now a budding novelist with her first book under her belt. Sometimes we need adversity to thrive and there are many others like us out there doing just that. They say you can’t keep good women down, no matter where you toss them in this world because we have one major advantage. We women find women to make us strong.

South Africa. England. New York. To all those woman out there who have re-located, such a subtle phrase, it’s not over until we say so. To all women who are good friends, the fat lady is still singing.

Not that we are fat!

brought to you by

and divisions in the UK, and is expected to address the causes of the riots in the borough last August.

Members of the public, organisations and schools are invited to what the Tutu Foundation UK said would be a “historic national conversation in words, dance and music”, on 23 October.

ACTSA’s annual conference: ‘Justice for South African miners’ Date: 3 November Venue: The Human Rights Action Centre, Amnesty International UK, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA This year’s conference will explore the crisis in the mining industry and the struggle against the exploitation of workers and for safe working conditions and decent jobs. It will look at the underlying problems which led to the tragic loss of life at Marikana and have given rise to strike action in other mines across South Africa.

Keynote speaker- Peter Bailey,

Josie Field (above) and Malory Torr, 17 October at The Troubadour Health and Safety Chairperson, National Union of Mineworkers South Africa.

The conference will take place after ACTSA’s AGM, where you will have the opportunity to elect ACTSA’s Executive and decide its priorities, to register for either please emailinfo@actsa.org.

Please email your events to: editor@thesouthafrican.com For more listings, please visit www.thesouthafrican.com/events

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| 16 October – 22 October 2012 | thesouthafrican.com

Entertainment

Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

COOKING with Steele

ANGIE STEELE

Boozy banana bread recipe

THIS is the classic rescue recipe for those bananas that are slowly going black, feel a bit squidgy and generally have a selection of food flies flying above them. Don’t ever throw them away! Think booze and think cake, and hello boozy banana cake. It takes 10 minutes to make, it is super delicious and best of all that’s your afternoon cake done and dusted. Give it a go and tell me what you think.

Happy cooking, team!

Ingredients: • 100ml rum • 80g pecan nuts, roughly chopped • 280g flour • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda • 1 tsp cinnamon • A pinch of salt • 110g butter • 225g castor sugar • 2 eggs • 5 bananas, mashed • 85ml milk

Use up those old bananas with this boozy take on a banana bread recipe

Method: • Pre heat the oven to 180°C • Using a small saucepan, bring the rum to the boil and pour it over the chopped pecan nuts • Leave the pecan nuts to cool in the liquid • Grease a 20 x 12.5cm loaf tin • Sift flour, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon and salt into a bowl • In a separate mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy • Add the eggs, soaked pecan nuts and rum, mashed bananas and milk to the creamed butter and sugar mixture and mix well • Fold in the flour mixture until it all comes together and resembles a smooth mixture

• Pour the mixture into the loaf tin and bake for 45 minutes or until risen and golden brown • Remove from the oven, leave it to rest in the tin for 5 minutes and then turn out onto a cooling rack • Serve warm with soft butter Top South African chef Angie Steele hosts fun cooking classes at The Avenue cooking school in Putney.

These include Dinner Party Demon to brush up those key skills to help you impress, and Ready Steady Date for single cooking with loads of laughs.

To book visit www. theavenuecookeryschool.com/ courses/angie-at-the-avenue or e-mail angie@angiesteele.com

Review: Nadine Gordimer’s ‘No Time Like the Present’ The grande dame of South African literature has done it again with this thought-provoking portrayal of the nation post-Mandela

by SANDY CADIZ-SMITH AMAZINGLY, Nadine Gordimer published her first story in a Johannesburg magazine before the Second World War. Her first collection of short stories Face to Face, was published in 1949 just after apartheid became state policy in South Africa. She’s always been a political activist who has spent her life trying to put the somewhat tortured development of South Africa into perspective. She’s now 88, so it’s fair to say she’s really seen change in South Africa!

She won the Booker Prize for The Conservationist in 1974 and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991.

No Time Like the Present is set in democratic, post-Mandela South Africa and looks at the progress (or not) in the country through the lives of one family and their friends. Steve’s an industrial chemist with Jewish and Christian parents who makes bombs for the ANC during the Struggle when he meets and marries Jabulile, who’s a teacher from a Zulu family. They live in exile and then in secrecy in South Africa fighting for the rights they now have. “She was black, he was white. That was all that mattered. All that identity was then. Simple as the black letters on this white page. It was in those two

identities that they transgressed.

And got away with it, more rather than less.”

Post-apartheid South Africa (and the rights they’ve fought for) mean they can live together openly and move to the Suburb, have a family and start to deal with the day-today realities of the New South Africa. Gordimer doesn’t hold back here, what with car jackings and rising crime generally, poverty, immigration, unemployment and education issues, positive discrimination (which turns Steve’s university into turmoil) and ANC corruption, it doesn’t paint a pretty picture.

Election time comes and Jabulile can’t vote for the ANC, but votes COPE instead, while Steve can’t even bring himself to vote amid growing frustration with the system. “How’s it possible to believe that these same comrade leaders have forgotten what they were, what they fought through – in exchange for freedom as bribes, freedom as money.”

His disenchantment leads him to start planning the unthinkable – emigration to Australia. But can they really leave everything behind?

Gordimer presents you with a matter-of-fact history of the time in the context of the lives

of people battling to come to terms with what’s happening around them. She gives you plenty of information and the challenge to make up your own mind. The impressive chronicle of the continuing development of a country that’s clearly still in its adolescence ends in 2009 with, quite honestly, nothing but unresolved issues to face (except for the excitement of the football World Cup 2010 to look forward to). Okay, maybe it’s not quite that bleak, as I said, you’ll have to make up your own mind.

9

thesouthafrican.com | 16 October – 22 October 2012 |

Entertainment

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“I knew Marie Antoinette and Diana in a past life”

A new book by South African author and formerly wealthy socialite Alexandra Levin tells the fascinating tale of her connection to the princess

by STAFF REPORTER PERHAPS better known as the wife and muse of leading South African couturier Chris Levin, Alexandra Levin appeared regularly in South African high society reportage in the ’80s and ’90s – a highlight of which was her place on the podium at the inauguration of Nelson Mandela, alongside Marieke and FW de Klerk – Chris was Marieke’s style guru during her time as South Africa’s first lady.

I go to meet her at her daughter’s home, on a leafy street in North London, to talk about her latest book: Marie Antoinette, Diana & Alexandra: The Third I. My heart is racing by the time I get to the top of the stairs leading to the front door of a white stucco villa – more from the climb but also from the anticipation of what Alexandra has to say about the unanswered questions that still surround the death of Princess Diana.

I love a good conspiracy theory.

I ring the bell and a few moments later Alexandra appears looking worried.

There is a huge drama unfolding, she says.

I’ll have to call her daughter to let her know what’s happened. Is she being surveyed by some secret service man in a white van or has she just received an ominous phone call from someone telling her to stop promoting her book about Diana?

No. That’s not it. We’ve been locked out of the flat.

So, while we wait for her daughter to return home to let us in, we start talking on a bench across the road, in the shade of a giant oak tree.

It’s the first time she’s had the opportunity to see both her grandchildren in the same place, at the same time. Alexandra tells me her younger daughter, Oriana, lives in Israel and is visiting London while she is here to drum up publicity for her new book. Alexandra also tells me she had a career in advertising as an award-winning copywriter.

This experience was the basis

for her first book, published by Penguin South Africa in 1997: If Advertising’s The Most Fun You Can Have With Your Pants On, How Come My Knickers Are Always In A Knot?

Daniella arrives soon enough and we settle down with tea and biscuits, as Alexandra begins to tell me how her latest book came about.

“My spiritual journey began at Pick ‘n Pay Norwood.

I used to shop at Thrupps. Do you know Thrupps? Chris came home one day and told me that we were on an economy drive and I would have to start shopping at Pick ‘n Pay. Can you imagine?

“So the first day I went to Pick ‘n Pay Norwood, through a side entrance so I wouldn’t be seen, I saw a small esoteric shop called Moon Tide, with a sign outside that read: ‘Psychic in attendance’ and I thought, this has got to be more interesting than shopping in Pick ‘n Pay.” Her appointment with Mouneen Forrester, a well-known South African clairvoyant, spurred her to write her second book: Out Of This World – The Alternative South African Spiritual Experience, also published by Penguin South Africa, in 2003.

She’d never had a spiritual thought in her life before. As her marriage and life of wealth and privilege was unravelling, Alexandra began to question everything. Visiting healers, spiritualists and soothsayers, while she wrote Out Of This World, she began to find a way to answers about the real purpose of her life.

In the book Marie Antoinette, Diana & Alexandra: The Third I, a parallel is drawn here, with the life of Diana Spencer – both lured into a gilded-cage, then spending the rest of their lives looking for direction, once they’d found an escape route. After a number of coincidences and events following visits to different spiritualists, Alexandra’s spiritual connection to Diana became more and more clear.

What about the Marie Antoinette connection?

“This is who I was. Look,” she says, handing me a photo of herself in a ball gown that would have turned heads at any of the lavish balls that were held at the Palace of Versailles. I can see the parallels and how connections could be made between all three of these women – certainly in the story of how they all became public figures. Marie Antoinette was given a priceless diamond choker just before the revolution and it was her acceptance of this, though under duress Alexandra tells me, that led to her being reviled by the starving masses outside the walls of Versailles.

“When I was pregnant with my youngest daughter I had a perfect ring of acne around my neck. Like a necklace.” And there are other connections in the book that point her family to French nobility, during the time of the revolution.

But I wonder if the book isn’t really more about Alexandra’s journey, trying to find faith and a sense of self, after everything she trusted to be right and true, vanished in a series of events that were beyond her control.

Perhaps channelling her own experiences back through the lives of the women she writes about in the book, through a kind of retrospiritual comparative role-play therapy.

Whatever form it takes, selfdiscovery is a journey most of us will embark upon at some stage of our lives, if we’re lucky enough to survive the dress rehearsal. I email Alexandra a few days later to find out if she’s arrived home safely and to ask her: What does it mean to be South African?

“I believe that South Africa has

South African author Alexandra Levin in a gown designed by her fashion designer husband Chris Levin in his heyday.

produced two of the greatest men in living memory. Nelson Mandela, who is deservedly a world icon and the author, artist, psychic and sangoma, Credo Mutwa – a man of great knowledge, not only of African culture and history, but also of events, both seen and unseen; in this world and in other dimensions.

My proudest moment as a South African is to have met with both these legendary

leaders.”

Marie Antoinette, Diana & Alexandra: The Third I is available from Strand Publishing UK, www. strandpublishing.co.uk.

Her previous book Sexty, published by Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie (UK) in 2011, is as raunchy and light-hearted as her spiritual autobiography is serious, and is available on www.waterstones.com.

TheSouthAfrican.com/ Entertainment

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10

Entertainment

| 16 October – 22 October 2012 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

SA wildlife photos at Natural History Museum

Read the stories behind some of the award-winning images by South African photographers, which will be displayed in this year’s Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London

by STAFF REPORTER A NUMBER of images by South African photographers go on display at the Natural History Museum this week as part of the world-renowned annual Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

Now in its 48th year, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is an international showcase of the very best nature photography. It provides a spotlight on the rarely seen wonders of the natural world.

Being accepted into this competition is something to which wildlife photographers across the world aspire. Professionals win many of the prizes but amateurs succeed too.

Each year, tens of thousands of entries are received and judged by an international jury of photography experts.

The 100 winning images that will be on show are selected from thousands of international entries and are beautifully displayed in sleek backlit installations.

Four images by South African photographers will be displayed among the commended images from this year’s competition.

There may more South Africans among the winners, who will be announced on 18 October.

The South African commended images are: Leaping lemur Verreaux’s sifakas are found only in southern and southwestern Madagascar. They are not as endangered as many of the island’s lemurs, but their numbers are falling, mainly because of deforestation. They are most often photographed crossing open areas of ground, jumping upright, as if on springs. But when Heinrich found a group feeding in trees in the Nahampoana Reserve, what impressed him was the

The commended South African photos on display are, clockwise, ‘In the light of dawn’ by Frits Hoogendijk, ‘Dive robbers’ by Jean Tresfon, ‘Leaping lemur’

by Heinrich van den Berg, and ‘Midnight feast’ by Thomas P Peschak.

extraordinary way they use the technique to leap from one tree to another.

“They spring off their back legs, then twist in the air to land perfectly on the next trunk,” says Heinrich. The photographic conditions were ideal – the sifakas in shadow and a bright background behind – enabling him to use a slow shutter speed for the background effect of movement and a flash to freeze the leap.

Dive robbers For five days, Jean had been trying to photograph the feeding frenzy that develops when sardines and herrings migrate off South Africa’s Wild Coast. His luck finally changed in clear water a few miles off Port St Johns. “Activity was intense, with dolphins herding the fish into a ball from below, while Cape gannets rained down from above. I couldn’t wait to get in the water.”

Gannets were plunging down several meters at great speed, catching and swallowing several fish in a dive. In contrast, Cape cormorants diving from the surface were much less successful. But what they lacked in fishing skill they made up for with thievery.

“In this picture, the gannet is desperately trying to swallow a herring as a gang of cormorants gives chase.”

Midnight feast In the dead of night, the young whale shark was feeding close to the surface. The challenge for Tom was to capture an image of it. The southwesterly reaches of the Gulf of Aden are the world’s only known gathering site for juvenile whale sharks. Most sharks encountered here are around two years old and less than 8 feet in length. This is also the only location in the world where whale sharks have been documented feeding at night. The sharks have learned to feed on the zooplankton attracted to the lights of small boats manned my Somali and Afari

fishermen. The lights of the fishing boats were too dim to allow Tom to photograph without flash (which would disturb the sharks) so from his boat he hung an additional light (a weatherproof movie light) above the water.

“The cone of light was just large enough to illuminate the small whale shark emerging from the gloom. If this had been an adult I would have only been able to see part of the animal illuminated in the frame,” he says.

“The shark was about two and a half metres long, but if it had been an adult, it would have been at least four times longer”.

In the light of dawn The pride hadn’t eaten for several days. They were hungry, and a hunt was very likely. A blanket of fog lay thickly over the Okavango Delta’s Duba Plains, Botswana, and the dawn light was very low.

It was hard to make out anything, but fortunately the lions were still lying where Frits had left them the evening before. A short while later, the females set off to hunt.

“I wanted to photograph one out in the open, in the wet and misty weather. So we positioned the vehicle where they might walk towards us. When this lioness stopped by a tuft of grass and peered into the distance, it was perfect. I love the intense green, the drops of dew on the grass and the soft light and detail on her body. Her focused gaze captures the intensity of a hunt that hasn’t yet happened.”

The exhibition runs from 19 October 2012 until 3 March 2013 from 10am to 5.50pm daily.

View the other images on www. nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/ temporary-exhibitions/wpy/ competition/preview.jsp Which is your favourite SA image and why? Comment on our website.

TheSouthAfrican.com/ Entertainment

11

thesouthafrican.com | 16 October – 22 October 2012 |

Business: Gateway to Africa

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Trade & Investment

Bank of India opens Joburg branch

The Bank of India’s creation of a branch in Johannesburg cements its presence in SA and shows that growing trade and investment between India and Africa remains a lucrative potential source of revenue for global banks

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by JEREMY KUPER THE BANK of India has established a branch in Johannesburg as it positions itself to take a piece of the growing trade links between India and Africa. The bank, which already has a representative presence in South Africa, as well as locations in East Africa, plans further expansions in the region, according to reports in the Indian press.

The move is indicative of an increased awareness by Indian corporates of the potential of African markets for their goods and services. “Speeddating” events, matching Indian businesses with local partners, are a frequent occurence in hotels around the continent, often under the auspices of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, or the Confederation of Indian Industry, the large trade associations which have become so important in the country’s engagement with African economies. “These are the drivers of India’s Africa strategy. It’s very much a commercial process linked to trade, investment, loans by the Indian Eximbank, setting up of what they call significant actors at a regional level,” Sanusha Naidoo, research director at the South African Foreign Institute,print Nedbank Policy Golf Challenge said in an interview.

Earlier this year, Indian business, backed by government, held a conclave in Ethiopia. These meetings, unlike other summits organised between BRIC countries and Africa, focused far less on intergovernmental relations and far more on bringing together investors and projects.

“What is interesting is that it is a platform that does not distinguish between private sector and public sector. So it will bring in

governments, it will host African governments and invite them to share the platform with the private sector, but from the Indian side, it’s very much driven by the private sector,” Naidoo said.

“You’re looking at big companies like Tata, Mahindra, Bharti, Reliance Industries, Colusco Pumps. And of course power generation companies as well, and oil and gas. In the oil and gas sector you have an interesting mix of private and public sector actors.”

The government, too, has worked to promote this mercantilist, private sector-led approach, helping to broker deals between investors and governments, particularly in friendly countries, such as Ethiopia, where India is the largest investor.

In many cases, Indian businesses have a lot to offer African countries, and vice versa. India’s development, in particular in the agricultural sector, came from a similar base of demographic opportunity and economic hardships as many places on the continent are now experiencing.

The market structures that are there to be tapped in Africa are not dissimilar to the conditions at the birth of many Indian enterprises.

Entrepreneurs who grew up or began1 their businesses in postad.Page 21/9/12 11:16:47 Green Revolution India have had the opportunity to commercialise the innovations in Indian agriculture that saw India emerge from near-starvation to become first self-sufficient, and then a net exporter of food. In the main, this was down to a combination of subsidies and market policies, irrigation and the dissemination of new seed types to the mass of smallholder farmers that made up – and still make up – a large swathe of Indian society. These

Innovations in Indian agriculture saw the country emerge as a net exporter of food. Photo by Vinoth Chanda.

farmers complement a growing commercial scale sector, but have not yet been replaced by it.

Alongside this revolution grew new players that were experts in small-scale irrigation systems, seed production and distribution and in farm machinery specially adapted to a developing world context. The Indian seed industry has created businesses, such as Vibha Seeds, based in Andhra Pradesh, which rival Monsanto and Syngenta on the domestic stage, and which are actively seeking to take market share in African markets. In a similar vein, Indian construction companies and power generation businesses, who have built and continue to build the infrastructure driving the Indian domestic economy, need to find alternative sources of revenue as they grow. With experience in the emerging market context that they were born in, they are often quite quick to adapt to African markets.

It is this kind of business that Bank of India will hope to intermediate in, as well as to provide services for entrepreneurs in the diaspora.

TheSouthAfrican.com/ Gateway-To-Africa

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African growth remains robust in face of European crisis, IMF claims

by JEREMY KUPER THE European crisis has affected Africa, but will not derail growth, a top IMF official said last week.

Speaking to Reuters, Antoinette Sayeh, IMF Director for Africa, said, “We think the crisis in Europe has had an adverse impact on SubSaharan Africa but not, to date, on a scale that would derail growth in the region.”

The October 2012 IMF Regional Economic Outlook for subSaharan Africa projects 5 percent growth in the region for the current and following year. In an accompanying statement Sayeh said, “Economic conditions in

sub-Saharan Africa have remained generally robust against the backdrop of a sluggish global economy.”

The IMF found that most economies in Africa have remained resilient. Inflation has fallen in 2012, as pressures on food and fuel prices ease, and structural transformation has continued in the economies of most countries.

However, South Africa, which has strong financial ties with the eurozone, has suffered. Earlier this week, the IMF cut its growth forecast for South Africa to about 2.6 percent for 2012 and 3 percent next year.

12

Business: News

| 16 October – 22 October 2012 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

THREE INSIGHTS INTO: Getting the right website for a start up business

by PAUL HARRISON WEBSITES are crucial for any small business and can often make a huge difference in revenues generated, especially with the explosion of online purchasing in

Romany Thresher, of Romany Thresher.com, shares her top three website start-up insights with us.

niche areas.

Paul Harrison asked Romany Thresher of RomanyThresher.com for her top three insights on the process.

Insight 1: I want a website!

Most people have an idea of what they want but are generally not sure where to start. Ask: What is it that I offer and what is the end result? Is it a site where you are going to be selling products or services, perhaps you want a website that is community based or maybe you are an artist or photographer, then you need to have something with a portfolio feature perhaps? Knowing exactly what you want your customers to do when they visit your site and what you offer will help you determine the best way forward in design and webhost packages.

Insight 2: Choosing the right platform A website is a part of your business, therefore it should be a top priority. Get all the facts you need about the various options available to you. Give it as much thought and care

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as you would when choosing your office or shop. Ask lots of questions, educate yourself in the basics. Think continually of your customers and what they would like to see and use on your website. Look at your competitors, see what they are doing that you could do differently.

Insight 3: Choosing your web developer Take your time in choosing a web developer. A developer is an integral part of your team. Find someone who is web and tech savvy. These people will look at the big picture, share their knowledge with you and offer long-term solutions. Make sure the developer you choose explains things clearly and communicates with you. If they cannot explain things to you in a language you understand then it’s best to find someone else.

Don’t just accept that they know best, remember web developers are very good at building websites but they do not necessarily know what is best for your business or your customers.

Romany answers Sherri-Dawn’s website questions How will I take payments on a website?

You would use something like Paypal or Google checkouts.

Sherri-Dawn Knight of ‘Back in time SA Style’ is a UK-based South African who is keen to develop more business via her website.

What website do I need if I want to sell products?

To sell your products you need something called a shopping cart, not really a website. However, it also depends on the nature of the products. If you are selling cakes and delicious treats then you could do very well setting up a website with a blog where you can post interesting stories, recipes and tips to attract people to buy your goodies. Comes back to end user experience - what will your customers enjoy most?

Can I have a shopping cart on WordPress?

Yes, you can have a very basic shopping cart, ideal for small businesses.

For more information you can visit www.RomanyThresher.com and if you have any other questions you would like answered, please email Paul@MOBIvation.com

Sherri-Dawn Knight

Rand finally gains some ground after consistent five week lows BETWEEN 8 October and 12 October one Great British Pound fetched between R13.916 and R14.196 South African Rands.

The Rand also fetched between R8.67 and R8.85 to the United States Dollar.

The Rand started the week near 3.5 year lows, falling at one stage to R8.97 to the Dollar, as strikes continued to grip the country.

At this stage, the markets were trading purely on emotion and sentiment (Fin 24).

While Tuesday saw the Rand ease slightly against major currencies, rates still remained near the three year lows. With no respite from the strikes in sight, economists maintained their poor

outlook for the currency.

Tuesday afternoon however, saw the Rand strengthen against all major currencies. This came after news that members from the unions engaging in the transport strikes would return to work on Wednesday morning. The Rand was trading at R8.7491 to the Dollar from Monday’s worst level of R8.9945 and it was bid at R11.3153 to the Euro from its previous close of R11.5222‚ and at R14.0006 against Sterling from R14.2327 before.

The Rand continued to strengthen in midweek trade, further distancing itself from the 3.5 year lows.

The Rand strengthened on

Thursday, despite news that striking SA gold miners had rejected the latest wage offer made to employees.

Friday saw the Rand reach its strongest level in a week against the Dollar, trading at R8.59 as the transport strike was finally resolved.

The Rand has started the week on the back foot against the Dollar, after a Standard and Poor’s ratings downgrade that caught the government by surprise (Fin 24).

GBP / ZAR: 14.02 EUR / ZAR: 11.30 USD / ZAR: 8.73 Correct at 8.43am, 15 October Compiled by Ruth Laatz-Reineke

Note: The above exchange rates are based on “interbank” rates. If you want to transfer money to South Africa then please register/login or call us for a live dealing rate.

Make use of a Rate Notifier to send you alerts when the Rand exchange rate reaches levels you are looking for.

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Legally Speaking: Elderly dependents

Q

: I have recently received my British citizenship, following a work permit and ILR last year.

I want to bring my elderly mother to the UK to live with me, as she is on her own following my father's passing earlier this year. I have no other siblings to look after her.

A

: Unfortunately the new immigration rules from 9 July 2012 with regards to elderly dependents are very strict.

The requirements that need to be

met in order to bring a successful application are as follows; • Your mother must need longterm personal care to perform everyday tasks, such as washing and cooking.

• The care your mother needs must not be available in the country where she is living, either because it is not available and there is no person in the country where she is living who can reasonably provide it or it is not affordable.

• You must be able to show that you are able to provide adequate maintenance, accommodation and care for her without having to rely on public funds.

Please contact our offices for further assistance with your case.

JP Breytenbach, Director of Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants Ltd

13

thesouthafrican.com | 16 October – 22 October 2012 |

Business: News

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thesouthafrican

PROMOTION

Keeping a business ship-shape South African Kyle Tiltman, of Five Oceans Moving & Storage, chats to us about his family-run business in England

by STAFF REPORTER BARRY and Kyle Tiltman have proven that family-run businesses offer a great combination of personal service and professionalism. Kyle chats about how his family’s company, Five Oceans Moving & Storage, offers the best hands-on service in town.

How long have you been living in the UK? We left South Africa in 1998 and have been living in England and Southern Ireland.

How did Five Oceans Moving start up?

My dad started his own moving and storage business in Ireland and sold that in 2006 to an international moving group just before the housing bubble burst. At the end of 2007 we relocated back to England and set up our head office for Five Oceans Moving & Storage in Oxford.

Tell us a bit about the company.

Five Oceans Moving is a familyrun business with our head office in Oxford. We have two other branches, one in London and one in Birmingham, so we cover the South of England.

We realise that no two moves are the same and we offer personal service for our customers whether they are moving their whole house or just a few boxes.

We have a weekly service to Italy via France and Ireland and also offer a regular service to the rest of Europe. We also ship a large number of consignments to all corners of the world.

Recently South Africa has experienced a boom of expats returning, and we shipped four 40-foot containers from our head office last month. As a South

African and with our contacts within the moving industry we know the South African market and its pitfalls.

What is your role?

As directors we are responsible for everything, from customer service to answering the phone, dealing with enquiries, health and safety, training our staff, getting the best possible rates for our customers, estimating volumes to be shipped, administration and arranging shipping.

As our policy states we will not employ part-time labour, sometimes when we are busy I can be seen wrapping furniture for export, driving trucks, loading containers or driving the forklift in our warehouse.

As business owners we have learnt to adapt to be able to do all the jobs of the moving trade.

How has the company grown and developed since you first started it?

Over the last few years it has been a bit of a struggle as we all know the housing market has taken a huge downturn worldwide.

At Five Oceans we have offered a first-class service to our customers and we believe this has paid off, as we have been really busy over the last 12 months. We have had to increase our vehicle fleet size, train new staff on our moving teams, and increase administration staff in our shipping department as we have seen a large increase in moving within the UK and abroad.

What puts Five Oceans Moving a cut above its competitors?

Five Oceans Moving & Storage is a family-run business. We are strategically located to cover southern England. We get to know

Five Oceans Moving & Storage offers a personalised, hands-on service.

our customers’ needs and offer services that match. We take pride in our work and only use the best packing materials available.

All materials used are recycled.

Our purpose-built modern fleet of vehicles are regularly serviced and are all LEZ compliant. All our staff are fully trained by BAR and all of them are permanently employed with Five Oceans Moving, unlike other major moving groups who use untrained temporary staff.

We offer a quality service at reasonable prices.

What are the most important criteria to consider when choosing a moving company?

In today’s market, when so many companies (big or small) are being liquidated, pay by credit card.

Yes, it costs you a small bit more, but you are protected if the job is not done and will get your money back.

Ensure they offer you insurance and get an insurance certificate for shipping, as ships are still being hijacked by pirates; containers are still being lost at sea.

Remember accidents do happen and when they do you want to be covered. With regards to price, cheapest is not always best; these are your possessions that have taken you years to buy. You want your goods to get to the other side in reasonable time and in one piece; not lost, stolen or broken.

Ensure customs clearance is handled efficiently, as long delays from incomplete paperwork can

create huge bonded storage bills for you on the other side that could be avoided if handled correctly.

Does the moving company know the regulations of the country you are moving to? If your goods arrive before you have found a house will your moving company store it for you? Does the company have a good reputation? Ask for references from their customers!

What are the top management tips you’ve picked up during your time with Five Oceans Moving?

Customer service! Customer service! Customer service!

For more on Five Oceans Moving & Storge and its services, visit www.fiveoceansmoving.co.uk, email kyle@fiveoceansmoving. co.uk or call 01865 349017.

Zimbabwean cricketer Henry Olonga speaks in London

by STAFF REPORTER THE next SAAX Group event will feature Zimbabwean former national test cricketer Henry Olonga and will be held on Tuesday 23 October at Towers Watson’s Tothill Street office in Westminster.

As this event has appeal beyond the actuarial community, it is open to interested members of the public, particularly the Southern African community in London.

However, registration closes on Tuesday 16 October, so get in fast to avoid missing out.

Drinks will be served from 6:30pm, with the talk starting at 7pm, followed by a sumptuous buffet dinner and drinks.

The main event should be

finished by 10pm and you are more than welcome to stay and chat over drinks until 11pm.

Swiss Re will be sponsoring this event, having been in Southern Africa for 60 years, and doing their fair share in developing global and well-rounded Southern African actuaries.

So what will Henry touch on?

As the youngest player to represent Zimbabwe on his debut in 1995, and being the first black cricketer to play for Zimbabwe, Henry will speak about his time on the Zimbabwe cricket team.

This will include the 2003 Cricket World Cup, where along with teammate Andy Flower, he

publicly protested against policies of Zimbabwe’s government led by Robert Mugabe.

Henry will also speak about his personal experiences, including growing up in Southern Africa and his transition to life in the UK, which should resonate with us Southern Africans.

As an emerging tenor, Henry’s singing voice, which was behind the popular Zimbabwe anthem “Our Zimbabwe” and is regularly displayed during arts festivals, will also be on show.

If after his talk you still want to know more, there will be plenty of opportunity to speak to Henry, either through questions from the floor or over dinner and drinks.

I’m in, so how do I register?

Registration is open until 5pm on Tuesday 16 October.

The cost per person is £20 (£25 for non-SAAX Group members).

This includes dinner and drinks.

Please confirm your interest by payment of the fee, including your name as the transaction reference (Bank: Lloyds TSB, Account name: SAAX Group, Account number: 15465168, Sort code: 30-94-92).

Please also e-mail contact@ saaxgroup.org including the names of any guests you invite for security purposes on the evening.

Venue: Towers Watson’s office: 21 Tothill Street, SW1H 9LL. Details: www.saaxgroup.org

Former cricketer, Henry Olonga.

14

Business: Careers

| 16 October – 22 October 2012 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

THE GRAFT IS GREENER New jobs in Africa Gary Engelbrecht | Head of Sales & Commercial at Ribbon Fish Ltd

by PAUL HARRISON Born: Durban. I spent my formative years in Cape Town and the majority of my professional career in Johannesburg and London.

How long in UK: I have lived in the UK for 4 years Job name/ position: Head of Sales and Commercial at Ribbon Fish Limited Motto: Rightly or wrongly make a decision and move on, that way you always have a 50/50 chance. Not making a decision will render no chance at all.

OFFSHORE PAYMENT SOLUTIONS Contractors, Self Employed & Freelancers - Maximise Earnings

Payments Gross & Direct (criteria) Free BACS Payments to your A/C UK or Offshore Ltd Coy 3.95% Mgt Fee £1M Prof Ind & Public Liability Insurance Accepted by major Agencies/Employers Suitable for a range of Industries No Admin costs - 24 Hour set up Phone: 0870 609 3523 www.dpsconsultingservices.com

Tell us about your background: I began my career within the property industry focusing on asset management with a focus on increased property yields.

My hunger for knowledge led me to complete my BCom with a specialisation in Law from Unisa. The tertiary qualifications expanded my experience into the retail sector where I was responsible for the Group Commercial Management of a multinational retailer.

My continued thirst for more challenges led me to the UK where I joined software provider Keystone, looking after UK and SA sales and commercial requirements.

What do you do in your job?

I have recently joined Ribbon Fish Limited, a consultancy-based company that specialises in the publishing sector. Coupled with consultancy, Ribbon Fish also owns a bespoke title management and software management platform. I am responsible for the sales and commercial objectives of the company within the UK as well as strategy for the global roll out of project management software In my spare time, I am working on my first book titled Commercial depth in shallow water.

What is the most exciting thing about your job?

Due to the diversity of Ribbon Fish services, we get involved with so many interesting and diverse companies.

Future plans?

I am completing my LLB, due mid-2013, and will be selfpublishing my book towards the end of 2012.

Do you think being South African helps you in your job?

Most definitely. I have found that the pure South African determination and strong work ethic plays a pivotal role in the long hours often required to ensure completion of projects.

Read more Graft is Greener pieces at www.thesouthafrican. com/business

The latest vacancies available on our newlylaunched Jobs in SA website

by STAFF REPORTER Customer Service Representative • Company: Tracker • Industry: Retail • Location: Middelburg • Description: Tracker requires the services of a CSR for the Mpumulanga region. The successful candidate will be based at the Middelburg office and be responsible for all administrative and customer service related activities.

Learnership/internship in Telecommunications Technology • Company: Telkom SA Limited • Industry: Telecommunications • Location: Cape Town and surrounding areas • Description: Candidates will receive theoretical training and practical exposure and experience in the telecommunications field.

Finance Internship • Company: Discovery • Industry: Financial Services • Location: Sandton • Description: Discovery is offering the opportunity of a lifetime. We are looking for

an enthusiastic and dedicated south african to join our finance internship. The internship programme is for learners/ students who are studying toward a 3-year diploma or degree and require work experience in order to graduate or gain professional registration; or for unemployed post graduates who need work experience.

Hr Graduate Trainees • Company: Toyota • Industry: Automotive • Location: Durban • Description: The Graduate Programme comprises of six modules, the first of which involves three weeks of initial training and orientation. Further classroom and rigorous on-the-job training follows on placement in a specific department, with support from a direct supervisor and mentors.

To read more about these available posts and find more career opportunities, visit the jobs site by clicking on the ‘Jobs in SA’ tab located on TheSouthAfrican. com.

Alternatively, you can go directly to the site by visiting http://jobs. thesouthafrican.com

15

thesouthafrican.com | 16 October – 22 October 2012 |

Business: Classifieds

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thesouthafrican

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NO1 SOUTH AFRICAN SHOP Lots of lekker stuff for a taste of home.

Including fantastic biltong, droewors and boerewors. 5 Marlow Drive, St Catherines Hill, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 2RR. The shop is about 2 miles north-west of Christchurch town centre and 6 miles north-east of Bournemouth town centre.

There’s loads of free parking and the shop is easy to get to from the A338.

Tel: 01202 496041 10’ish to 6pm 7 days a week. www.no1southafricanshop.co.uk QUALITY SOUTH AFRICA Biltong £22 per KG Droewors £20 per KG Game Biltong £40 per KG Chilli Sticks £22 per KG Cheese Grillers £14 per KG Koeksisters £3 for 5 And many more For more great prices find us on www.qualitysouthafrica.co.uk or contact Christopher on 07543106591

FOOD & DRINK ABANTU BUTCHERS Abantu Butchery boerewors specialist, supplying wholesale and catering and retail shops as we are fully EEC licensed, we can also supply vacuum packed steaks in any quantity you may require.

Probably the best boerewors you have tasted at a remarkable price. 19 City Arcade, City Centre, Coventry, CV1 3HX Tel: 02476555767 CAMBRIDGE & VILLAGES Toft Shop – Village Shop & Post Office With a South African section selling all your favourite tastes from home! Pop in and pick up your treats – Biltong; Boerewors; Koeksisters; Rusks; Sweets; Chips; Groceries etc. Web: www.ToftShop.co.uk Tel: 01223 262 204. CB23 2RL THE CHICHESTER BILTONG COMPANY www.biltongcompany.co.uk The best of British from a friendly bunch of South Africans who made Sussex our home. But there was one thing we couldnt live without from our native land..Biltong!

So we made our own using traditional recipes handed down through generations.

We only use the finest prime British beef!

Get our “readers 10% EXTRA FREE” offer by using the VOUCHER CODE ‘SA10’ CRUGA Home of CRUGA biltong. Cruga’s factory shop offers a full range of South African and Zimbabwean groceries plus boerewors, droewors and of course biltong. Tel: 01908 565 432 Email: biltong@cruga.com Web: www.cruga.com Address: Tilers Rd Kiln Farm, Milton Keynes, MK11 3LH

SHEBEEN BAR Edinburgh’s only South African bar has opened in Leith. A unique, stylish bar with something for everyone,delivered by experience and friendly staff. As expected we stock a large range of South African beers, wines, ciders and snacks, including a classic selection of cocktails and Dom Pedros. Opening hours are from 12pm to 1am. Come down and enjoy a true taste of Africa.

3-5 Dock Place, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6LU. 0131 554 9612.

Snoggy’s Food Shops

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367 Upper Richmond Rd, SW15 5QJ Tel: 02088762050

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BREYTENBACHS IMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS LTD: UK & SA Immigration Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants specialises in UK and SA Immigration.

We pride ourselves on our reputation for excellence, fast results and friendly personal service. Registered by the OISC to level 3, you can be assured that your case is in safe hands!

We can assist you with: • All Points-based Immigration matters • UK Visitor visas • Tier 1 / HSMP • Tier 2 / Work permits & Sponsorship • Tier 4 / Student Visas • Dependency, unmarried partner and civil partner visas • Ancestry Visas • Indefinite leave to Remain / Permanent residency • British Citizenship • Appeals • English Language Tests • South African Immigration Prices have been set competitively with you in mind, enabling you to receive expert advice at affordable prices.

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NEED TO SEND MONEY TO SOUTH AFRICA?

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KALAHARI MOON WESTON The Southern African Shop in Weston (Opp Tesco car park entrance). Wide range of SA and Zim products. Relax in our licensed cafe while shopping. And try our South African homecooked food.

7 Lockling Road, Weston Super Mare, BS23 3BY. Tel: 01934 708089.

Email: Info@kalaharimoon.co.uk KALAHARI MOON The Southern African Shop in Bristol.

Wide range of stock including excellent boerewors and biltong. Centrally situated, friendly service. Connecting South Africans.

Tel: 0117 929 9879 Address: 88 - 91 The Covered Market. st Nicholas Market, Corn Street, Bristol, BS1 1JQ Email: Info@kalaharimoon.co.uk Website: www.kalaharimoon.co.uk

THE SOUTH AFRICAN SHOP We stock most SA consumer goods in our large store in Maidenhead or order online and get next day delivery service throughout the UK. Your home away from home.

Mon – Friday: 9:30am – 5:30pm Saturday: 9:30am – 6pm Sunday: 11am – 4pm www.southafricanshop.co.uk.

Tel: 01628782511 ST MARCUS FINE FOODS Largest importers & producers of SA foodstuffs in UK. Retail & wholesale. 1 Rockingham Close, Roehampton, Putney SW15. Tel 020 8878 1898. Biltong Factory is now open to the public. 8 types of Boerewors. All SA foodstuffs stocked.

Free Parking. Tel 020 8878 1898 / 21C Holmethorpe Avenue, Holmethorpe Industrial Estate, Redhill, RH1 2NB Email:sales@stmarcus.co.uk Web: www.biltongstmarcus.co.uk

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Tel: 0208 878 1898 www.biltongstmarcus.co.uk Email sales@stmarcus.co.uk

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SUSMAN’S BEST BEEF BILTONG CO LTD If you’re missing home give us a call, supplying you with all your favourite South African products and more.

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16

| 16 October – 22 October 2012 | thesouthafrican.com

Travel

Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

Take a break in the Beacon Beacons Hong Kong from £480 Kuala Lumpur from £494 Singapore from £480 Bangkok from £504 Dubai from £315

South Africa

For bookings & details call us on 020 8133 4980 www.directfromairlines.co.uk

Bloemfontein from £1000 Cape Town from £540 Durban from £540 East London from £1017 George from £896 Johannesburg from £515 Phaiaborwa from £998 Pietermaritzburg from £1026 Pietersburg from £1027 Port Elizabeth from £705 Richards Bay from £1030 Upington from £1140

by JONATHAN WALDHEIM SUMMER holidays are a faint memory, Christmas is a distant dot on the horizon and rain is hitting office windows across the country.

“I need another holiday”, you might be thinking, and although work might not allow you to get to warmer climes, weekends are still the well earned breaks they have always been.

How about a trip to the rugged countryside of South Wales?

The next place your wandering soul should definitely visit is the Brecon Beacons, where country retreat meets adventure holiday and fresh food, stunning vistas and friendly locals await!

South Wales’ highest mountain range has a wide variety of activities for all tastes, and since I have an adventurous spirit I decided (with my brother in tow) to try out what the great Welsh outdoors has to offer.

Bushcraft Accompanied by ex-military man Jeff Calligan and Bushcraft expert Neil Feist, my brother and I ventured into the woods near the town of Pontneddfechan to learn about ancient living methods.

What we weren’t prepared for was the unbelievable knowledge of these guides. As we strolled through the woods we learnt about the plants around us; any plant that could be useful to survive was noted and explained in detail.

Our afternoon was a ‘snapshot’ of what Burnt Bark Bushcraft and Mountain and River Activities offer, as each man has so much knowledge to pass on that a week wouldn’t suffice, let alone a day.

The essence of Bushcraft is resourcefulness and our first task was to make a shelter from deadfall (fallen branches). With instruction from the two experts and some serious lifting, two hours later our structure was looking

South Wales’ highest mountain range has a wide variety of activities to cater to all tastes. Photos by Visit Wales Image Centre/Welsh Assembly Government.

mighty fine!

The next thing we needed to make was a fire. Without any matches or lighters in sight, we were shown how to make fire, caveman style! Man has always been fascinated by fire - anyone who says they haven’t dreamed of making fire from rubbing wood together is lying - and when we managed to get an ember and create a fire the sense of satisfaction was irrepressible.

Shelter. Tick. Fire. Tick.

Next? Food. Admittedly we didn’t catch the trout we cooked, but I was lucky enough to be shown how to prepare it… Gutting a fish is not pleasant.

But eating one is! After eating our freshly barbecued fish we set about following the Bushcraft mantra of “Leave no trace” by dispersing our fire in such a manner that it would be impossible to know we had been there.

Back in Pontneddfechan, I began to realise how amazing what we had done really was. Not only had we learned how to make shelter and fire but we’d learnt how large a resource the outdoors can be.

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The Welsh mountain range of the Brecon Beacons offers something for everyone, from gourmet dining to survival courses and gorge walking

Gorge Walking After the outdoor experience of Bushcraft, Jeff took us on a gorge walk, which admittedly was more swim than walk! Gorge walking used to just involve walking along gorges but in the age of the adventure sport, it has evolved into a recreation that involves getting significantly wet! Leaping about on rocks, somersaulting into the water and crawling under icy waterfalls were all definitely experiences worth repeating!

Gliffaes As tempting as staying in our shelter may have been, when you have a hotel room in Gliffaes Country Hotel near the quaint little village of Crickhowell to return to, there really is no contest. This superb hotel is a real retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. Accessed down a windy lane, Gliffaes is situated on a 33-acre estate of beautiful gardens and woodland, has a small river where days can be spent fishing, and is a fabulous base for the keen walker.

At Gliffaes not only is the landscape inspirational, the restaurant which serves locally sourced food made into gourmet three-course meals is a real delight.

Even if you didn’t want to try out any of the activities the area has to offer and just wanted to read your book in peace, Gliffaes caters beautifully for everyone’s tastes.

The Brecon Beacons are without doubt one of the most exciting places to visit in Great Britain.

So, if you haven’t been there yet, book yourself a weekend. And if you have, go again! I know I will.

17

thesouthafrican.com | 16 October – 22 October 2012 |

Zimbabwe Community

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Zimbabwe could sue Britain for crimes of colonial era

by ELIZABETH GLANVILLE LEGAL experts and political analysts have postulated that Zimbabwe should think about prosecuting Britain for crimes against humanity during the colonial period.

Suggestions have also been made that Zimbabwe could sue the British government for failing to deliver on funding the land reform programme, which was agreed upon under the Thatcher administration but failed to come to fruition after Tony Blair’s New Labour came to power.

Advocate Farai Mutamangira said that, by law, the British government was responsible for cruelties inflicted on black Zimbabweans during the late 19th and early 20th century. “It is legally feasible to sue,” he said, as reported on allafrica.com. “There are many wrongs which the colonial regime committed against the people of Zimbabwe, and it is something that we can pursue.” Mutamangira said that Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence did

not absolve the British government of responsibility, although Kwekwe-based legal practitioner, Mr Valentine Mutatu, said that the withdrawal of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth might be used as a technical hitch against the country.

“We can successfully sue because we were under the Crown until we withdrew from the Commonwealth, [although the subsequent] withdrawal from the Crown might be a technical hitch that might hold us back,” he said.

Former chairperson of the Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association, Comrade Patrick Nyaruwata, proclaimed the notion of launching a legal suit “noble”, although he said that the current strained relationship between Harare and London could prevent Zimbabwe from getting a ruling in its favour.

This latest development follows a London court ruling last week that three Kenyans could sue for damages due to abuse experienced when imprisoned during the Mau Mau rebellion. The court threw out

Britain failed to deliver funding for land reform under Tony Blair’s power. Photo by World Economic Forum.

Britain’s claim that the rebellion happened too long ago to allow for a fair trial, as well as an earlier one that said the Kenyans should be suing their own government instead of Britain. Local legal analysts

have raised concerns that this case could encourage any affected person to initiate legal proceedings against Britain.

Mutatu said that any court rulings against the British government

concerning Zimbabwe would now be bound by the Mau Mau case.

TheSouthAfrican.com/ Zimbabwe

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March in Peterborough, the sleepy English town where Ntando Moyo was buried. Photo by Gwydion M. Williams.

‘Unexplained death’ of Zimbabwean carer in UK

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A Zimbabwean woman working in the UK was found dead earlier this year. Her death has been recorded as unexplained, although sudden unexpected death syndrome has not been ruled out An inquest into her death was held at Winchester last week, which concluded that it was unexplained; the coroner was unable to determine the cause despite reports from doctors, forensic scientists and the police.

The verdict was recorded as open, although deputy coroner Simon Burge said that they had not ruled out sudden unexpected death syndrome.

Moyo’s sister, Khanyisela

Moyo, said that the inquest hadn’t allowed for a deepenough examination of the facts in order to ascertain the cause of death. “I feel let down by the police investigation. I lost my only sibling and I was hoping to get answers. I just think the investigation should have covered more,” she said.

Ntando was buried last spring in a church in March, a small town near Peterborough.

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by STAFF REPORTER NTANDO Moyo, a Zimbabwean woman working as a live-in carer in Nether Wallop, Hampshire was found dead in a shower earlier this year.

Moyo was unconscious when her employer, who was carrying out a routine site check at the home of the elderly woman, discovered her. Paramedics were called but Moyo, 35, was pronounced dead at the scene.

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18

| 16 October – 22 October 2012 | thesouthafrican.com

Sport

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SAFA failing Bafana Bafana A legacy of incompetency will send Bafana further into the mire remains to be seen just how SAFA plans to deliver on these lofty targets.

Gordon Igesund’s appointment as the new Bafana Bafana coach a few months ago was by the far the best decision SAFA has made in a long time. Given his credentials, Igesund is undoubtedly the best man for the job. However, many will argue that his bosses are simply setting him up to fail.

Igesund’s mandate is to progress through to the semifinals of AFCON 2013 and successfully qualify for the 2014 World Cup. This is a tough ask for any national coach, but especially one whose charges are currently ranked just 19th on the continent and 76th worldwide.

Bafana Bafana’s recent 1-0 loss to Poland (they also play Kenya today in Nairobi) was just another indication of just how much more work needs to done before the continental showpiece in January.

Under Igesund, they are showing great signs of improvement, however three months is just too short to make any significant progress. So Bafana Bafana could be without a coach as early as February 2013 if Igesund fails to meet the ridiculously high performance objectives set out in his contract.

Sadly SAFA remains unaccountable with players being served up as scapegoats each time the national team fails to deliver. A case in point is Steven Pienaar’s recent retirement from international football. The clubversus-country saga rears its ugly head every time around AFCON, and as such it’s a small wonder why SAFA has not intervened in

Is Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund being set up to fail, like all his predecessors?

order to minimise the commitment burden for overseas players.

Instead, the role of mediator has been left to coaches, who themselves don’t last longer than 12 months. More worryingly, there seems to be no further dialogue between SAFA and those

Sarries smash Edinburgh; tougher test awaits

by WESLEY MCKAY SARACENS opened their 2012\13 Heineken Cup campaign with an impressive display, earning a 45-0 bonus point away win against Edinburgh in Pool 1.

Sarries dominated all aspects of the game at Murrayfield and went into half-time leading 16-0, before putting four second-half tries past the Scots to complete the lambasting.

Saracens were on top right from the start and Tomkins marked his Heineken Cup debut by claiming the opening try when Edinburgh were caught out by a quick tappenalty move in the 16th minute.

Flyhalf Charlie Hodgson converted before adding three penalties before half time.

Hodgson’s perfect kicking from the ground and the air saw Sarries completely dominate their opposition in terms of territory.

In the second half, the proverbial floodgates opened not long after Edinburgh’s scrumhalf Richie Rees had threatened with a powerful run from deep in his own half, only to be brought down 10 metres short of the Sarries’ line.

Former Springbok Schalk Brits was handed a ten minute spell in the sin bin for not releasing Rees after he had been tackled, but Sarries coped comfortably with being a man down and Hodgson thumped over a long-range penalty to extend their lead.

Owen Farrell had only just come off the bench when he crossed over in the corner for a second Sarries try just before the hour mark.

Former Springboks John Smit and Neil De Kock also made substitute appearances midway through the second half as Saracens eased further away to victory.

By then Edinburgh were looking

a well-beaten side and Ashton underlined the visitors’ superiority as he held off tacklers to dive over near the posts for a third try.

Alex Goode provided the finishing touch to a flowing move to claim a fourth score and secure the bonus point.

Hodgson then capped his impressive performance with a trademark charge-down try, pouncing on Harry Leonard’s attempted clearing kick and strolling over for Sarries’ fifth and final score.

Sarries will know they face a much sterner test this Saturday however, when they ‘host’ Springbok centre Frans Steyn’s former club Racing Metro 92 at the Stade Roi Baudouin in Brussels.

This fixture is yet another example of the innovation that Saracens have become known for in the last few years.

For the latest sports news, visit www.thesouthafrican.com/sport

by SAMMY MNCWABE AS the country’s football governing body, SAFA is tasked with providing an effective administrative structure. Yet recent events have highlighted remarkable failings. The level of SAFA’s incompetence has been demonstrated in its failure to capitalise on the 2010 World Cup success. While it was obvious that there was no strategic planning leading up to the World Cup, there was hope that SAFA would learn some crucial lessons.

Instead, two years on, the association still lacks a vision, is plagued by a short-term attitude and has failed to provide a proper a development plan for nurturing young talent. According to SAFA CEO Robin Peterson, the goal for the next decade is to be ranked in the top three in Africa and top 20 in the world. However, with a recorded loss of over R50 million in the current financial year, it

overseas players who have retired prematurely from international football. Therefore, no lessons are ever learnt, with the players simply branded as unpatriotic, and future poor team performances are attributed to their ‘untimely’ departures.

With three months to go before hosting AFCON 2013, it would be expected that SAFA would be working hard behind the scenes to build a lasting legacy. Yet it has been revealed that South Africa is just one of ten countries worldwide that has not yet benefited from FIFA’s R2 billion GOAL fund.

Under the scheme, associations are expected to identify suitable projects, which are then funded by the world governing body.

SAFA has failed to submit a single project plan while 199 other associations have received funding for three to four projects.

SAFA’s lack of leadership is to blame for the dire state of football in our country.

19

thesouthafrican.com | 16 October – 22 October 2012 |

Sport

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MIND THE RUCK ROB FLUDE

Campo: Rugby is boring LAST week I was privileged enough to be invited along to a dinner in the Square Mile; a place that has become synonymous with some of man’s greatest failures and fraudsters. The guest speaker was a fellow named David Campese, a former Wallaby wing from the 80s and 90s, and the content of his speech drew a fierce parallel between the current state of rugby and the aforementioned location of the event.

Are we, as fans, being defrauded by the current rugby product and doing nothing about it?

‘Campo’, as he was known in his heyday, didn’t suggest this was the

case; he outright told us that rugby had become boring and that the All Blacks were the only team in the world that deserved our respect.

Now, one might be tempted to treat anything that this guy has to say with a factory of salt. Campo is known to be a controversial figure, so much so that even the Australian administrators have shunned him from being involved in anything at any level in their country. Hence, he and his South African wife Lara live in Durban, and he helps out at the Sharks from time-to-time inbetween doing some sideline commentary for SuperSport.

He told us a story about Stormers backline coach Robbie Fleck, who came up to him before a game earlier this year and asked if he could show him some attacking drills for the backs as the management had taken a decision this year to focus almost completely on being the best defensive unit at the expense of attack! During his day, the coach used to spend five minutes on defence at training; nowadays it seems that amount of time is spent on attack, barring of course the All

Blacks. While the game has indeed changed, Campo admits that rugby league has had too much of an influence on union.

He also likes players like Danny Cipriani, who, like himself, is different and hence seen as controversial. However, Quade Cooper is the exception to this rule; while he is different and attempts crazy stunts during a match, Cooper thinks he’s bigger than the game and spends too much time on Twitter!

It was at this point that the politely-spoken Campese let rip,

tearing into current Wallaby coach Robbie Deans. Perhaps building up into too much of an angry tirade, Campo then told the winner of the auctioned Wallaby jersey that he may as well burn it, as Deans had ruined the team. He thought even less of Australian Rugby CEO John O’Neill, who funnily enough resigned last week!

Campo’s parting remarks were that players have become like robots, playing mostly for money.

He says parents should let their kids play every sport possible at school. That way if they choose

a sporting career, they will do so because they love it. Not rocket science is it?

I couldn’t help but grab a moment with the great man, who scored 64 tries in 101 tests, and referred to an interview I saw with him in the match programme from the opening World Cup match in 1995 at Newlands. Under occupation, Campo had replied: ‘Rugby icon’. Certainly, he is anything but boring.

TheSouthAfrican.com/ Sport

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SPORT

SAFA FAILING BAFANA BAFANA

P18

SARRIES SMASH EDINBURGH; TOUGHER TEST AWAITS P18

PATHETIC KP SHAMES US ALL

16 October – 22 October 2012

NEWS FOR GLOBAL SOUTH AFRICANS

www.thesouthafrican.com

Last week’s accusations from KP and England the last straw in Textgate saga

I

by MARK HORTOP N ADVANCE I would like to apologise to all those readers who have KPBSF (Kevin Pietersen Bull S**t Fatigue). This refers to Pietersen’s BS, and the BS written about him.

However, as a teacher who can see how Pietersen and certain top footballers destroy the sense of responsibility and respect for others that we try to inculcate in our students, I felt I needed to write this.

I wrote an article a while back criticising Kevin Pietersen and suggested that his behaviour gave South Africans a bad name - Pietersen shames us all. There were howls of outrage from ‘loyal South Africans’ who cited his ‘success’ and ‘ability’ as reasons why he should not be subject to the opprobrium that he regularly has to face.

I posit that ‘success’ and ‘ability’ are relative terms. Chelsea FC is ‘successful’ but it is owned by an alleged gangster and captained by a virulent racist thug. Its malign influence destroys the sanctity of sport just as Pietersen’s sporting existence makes a mockery of the game of cricket.

In the previous article I wrote, “His stubborn arrested adolescent development is evident in all his dealings with authority figures.”

Continuing the adolescent, Freudian theme; KP has now grassed his mates out to the

headmaster - the ECB’s daddy figure - chief executive David Collier. In the style of a gutless schoolboy KP has said he was ‘provoked’. 'They made me sir – it wasn’t me, I didn’t want to.'

In the style of a half-wit, Collier has regurgitated this nonsense.

Pathetic.

If this is not an example of Pietersen ‘shaming us all’ what is?

Of course Pietersen will not listen to mere mortals (anyone other than Pierce Morgan that is), but he might heed the words of Marcus Aurelius, who said in his Meditations: “Remember that man lives only in the present, in this fleeting instant: all the rest of his life is either past and gone, or not yet revealed. This mortal life is a little thing, lived in a little corner of the earth; and little, too, is the longest fame to come.”

A sportsman’s career is one that is briefer than the life alluded to by Aurelius. Pietersen needs to wake up or his legacy will be one composed of a few statistics, wasted talent and the bitter taste of petulance and arrogance that has poisoned the game and the minds of youngsters who so desperately wanted him to succeed.

As a postscript, unless Pietersen has balls enough to step from behind his inept PR machine and agree to an interview with a fellow South African, this will be my last word on him (cue weeping from

CAN’T STOP ME: Dewald Potgieter of the Blue Bulls scores a try, despite the intentions of Willie Britz of the MTN Lions.

The Bulls won 50-29 to secure a Currie Cup semi-final against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday. Western Province face the Lions in Johannesburg in the other semi-final. Photo: Anton de Villiers/SASPA.

my five readers) – but seriously at some stage the little boy; in a man’s body; with a genius’s talent, is going to have to man

up and face the music. I am now thoroughly bored with his PR and spin. He does, at this stage in his career, shame us all.

Are you angry with or bored of KP’s antics? Have your say online at www.thesouthafrican. com/sport

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29/03/2012 14:00